Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Jan-2016 i Amateur Photographer

I love photography’s ability to hold up a mirror to society and say something interesting about the way we live, or at least draw attention to it in a fresh and original way. For example, I suspect we’re all aware of how, in the past decade, technology has transformed our culture and how we interact with each other. Mobile phones in particular have enabled us to connect across vast distances, but they also, ironically, isolate us from those around us. We’re increasingly withdrawing into our own bubbles. Many photographers have attempted to illustrate this phenomenon, but Eric Pickersgill’s project (pages 29-31) really struck a chord with me. His reconstructions perfectly highlight the antisocial side of these most social of gadgets. They have made me think about my own behaviour and…

THE LATEST camera gear is set to be showcased at a trade show, which takes place in London from 22-24 January. The event is part of The Societies' Photographic Convention and Trade Show, which opens on 20 January. The trade show element, which runs from 22-24 January, is free to enter for visitors who register before 15 January. Otherwise, entry costs £10. More than 150 exhibitors, including major industry players, are expected at the event, which promises special deals on products. The show will also feature masterclasses, hands-on seminars and workshops, with tickets priced from £50 for a masterclass day pass. The Societies' Photographic Convention and Trade Show takes place at the Hilton Metropole, London. For full details, visit www.swpp.co.uk/convention.…

PANASONIC'S third new product is a premium telephoto zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras. The Leica DG100-400mm f/4-6.3 OIS is a weather-sealed, optically stabilised lens with a 200-400mm equivalent range. With silent autofocus and a stepless aperture mechanism, it's optimised for both stills and movie shooting, including 4K. It's also compatible with the Lumix DMC-GX8's dual IS system. Measuring 171.5x83mm and weighing less than 1kg, the lens is relatively compact considering its lengthy zoom range. Its optical formula consists of 20 elements in13 groups, and the filter thread measures 72mm. The lens has a built-in tripod mount ring with a detachable foot. It will be available in March, priced £1,349.…

Craig Roberts Craig is a professional photographer specialising in travel and landscape. He regularly writes technique articles for photography magazines and offers these along with videos and eBooks as part of his e6 Subscription available from his website. www.craigrobertsphotography.co.uk GOING to the gym is all about getting fit, losing weight and inevitably working muscles you've not used for a long time. In the process, you get exercise, lose a few pounds, build up those weak muscles and become physically – and mentally – healthier. Well, the same ethos can be applied to your photography. So, start the new year with a new regime. It's time to ditch the auto modes weighing you down, and flex your muscles with modes and features you've not used before. It's the perfect way to…

‘IN ONE sense, I'm ambivalent about citizen journalism,' says Stuart. ‘Everyone has a camera phone, every one can be a photographer. However, just because the man on the Clapham omnibus is first with the picture doesn't mean that his picture is necessarily the best, nor is it to be trusted. There is an ethical dimension here. The point seems to me to be that professional photographers have to set themselves apart from amateur citizen journalists. The veracity of what we as professionals produce should be the defining factor. Our images should be the trusted ones – analogous to a journalist's direct quotes. ‘I'm all for embracing the future and utilising whatever medium makes the best image at the time. I've shot work on everything from 5x4in to 6x6cm to panoramic.…

Securing buckles Oddly placed clips on either side of the bag secure the lid closed. Suitcase strap This can be attached over the handle of a wheeled suitcase and is secured in place by Velcro. Adjustable webbing strap This has a sliding buckle to set the length, and a grippy shoulder pad. www.manfrotto.co.uk £99.95 At a glance Messenger bag for camera gear, 15in laptop and personal items Front holder for travel tripod Top zip for easy access to kit Rain cover Andy Westlake reviews a camera bag by tripod maker Manfrotto MANFROTTO is best known for its tripods, but recently it has taken to producing bags in all shapes and sizes. Its latest design aims to solve a common conundrum: how do you carry a tripod as well as your…

Manual-focus matters Q One of the benefits of using Sony's NEX-3N camera is the ability to use focus peaking and MF assist together when using either ‘legacy' lenses or manual-focus lenses such as my Samyang 12mm f/2 and the Kelda 300mm f/6.3 mirror lens. I used the custom ‘?' button to call up the MF assist, when either of these lenses was attached to the camera, and both of these aids helped with manual focusing. Seeing the Sony Alpha 5100 at a very attractive price in the Black Friday sales, I have purchased this camera as a replacement upgrade to the NEX-3N. The touchscreen (for focus point), and the improved sensor/processor made it the obvious choice, and I can use all my existing lenses with the new camera. On the…

LAUNCHED 1955 PRICE £36 8s 9d [£36.43] PRICE £25-£50 INTRODUCED in1955, the Agfa Super Silette was, in the age of coupled rangefinder cameras, the logical and very successful development of the popular Agfa Silette 35mm viewfinder camera. Most commonly found now in the UK with a 45mm f/3.5 Apotar in Prontor SVS shutter, the premium version of the Super Silette in1955 had a 45mm f/3.5 four-element (Tessar type) Solinar lens in a Synchro Compur shutter. In 1956, Agfa introduced what is now regarded as the most collectable model, with a six-element 50mm f/2 Solagon lens in Synchro Compur, one of which I used when shooting photographs for my book, Collecting and Using Classic Cameras, during the 1980s. However, the f/3.5 Solinar delivers superbly crisp negatives. What’s good Brilliantly bright rangefinder…

Documentary photography and reportage have often faced criticism for aestheticising the hardship and suffering of others. However, many photographers believe that to deliver a message effectively, an image must have photographic value. This photograph is a case in point: pictured are Kashmiri mourners in Vejbeour, an area 28 miles south of Srinagar in India, carrying the body of Adil Sheikh, a local pro Kashmir rebel killed in a gun battle with Indian government forces. Thousands of Kashmiri Muslims attended the funeral procession of three pro Kashmiri rebels of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest militant outfit in Indian-administered Kashmir. The image, taken by Getty photographer Yawar Nazir, is a clear case of a photograph that is both strikingly beautiful and informative. Words & numbers “The camera sees more than the eye, so…

There's been much talk on these pages about the challenges we face in keeping our digital photos alive. Failing hard drives and rotting optical discs require constant vigilance, and it's even been said we should print out all our images as the only sure-fire way to ensure their survival. While worrying about this subject, it occurred to me that the world of TV might provide a solution. The amount of data generated in shooting video is huge, and archive material is a valuable commodity. I decided to investigate The Gadget Show's workflow. These days, virtually all the show's footage is recorded onto memory cards, which are reused once the material has been copied onto our Avid editing system. As you'd expect, this system includes a server with dozens of spinning…

I felt I had to respond to Richard Smith's letter ( Inbox AP19-26 December 2015) about photography's ultimate aim being to represent ‘the real'. If our intention is to capture that perfect moment in time, to store it for the future, then yes, real is what we want from our photography. My belief, however, is that is too limiting for the creative power we have in our hands these days. Our cameras and editing software capabilities have opened up such massive opportunities to exploit our own creative visions that it seems a shame to say that we have to ‘keep it real'. I understand the technical relationship between aperture, speed, ISO and so on, I'm comfortable shooting digital, 35mm and medium format, but only recently have I felt that digital,…

£46 www.joby.com IF YOU'RE an avid cyclist and own an action camera, you're probably used to mounting it on your bike to capture some interesting point-of-view video footage. Basic bike mounts such as GoPro's Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Camera Mount (£19.99) are fine if all you want to do is attach an action camera and nothing else, but if you'd like a broader range of mounting configurations you'll want to look at a more sophisticated alternative, such as Joby's new Action Bike Mount. Designed with multiple attachment points, the handlebar mount allows you to set up your action camera in a number of ways, with the option to attach other accessories via its 1×4-20 mounts. For example, it's possible to attach a GoPro securely to the front mount and keep the top mount…

Handy flash bounce card Manfrotto has launched a pocket-sized flash bounce card, designed to attach to all standard flashguns for a softer light. Aimed at beginners and ‘advanced hobbyists’, the foldable bounce card attaches to a flashgun via the supplied silicon strap. The white surface measures 18x19cm when open, and closes to a third of its original size when folded away for storage. The Lastolite by Manfrotto EzyBounce Bounce Card costs £24.95. Visit www.manfrotto.co.uk/nbsp-fb7209. Red Cross winners Britain’s young photographers were recognised at London’s Palace of Westminster where winners of the 2015 Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards were announced. Mario Barriocanal, 24, was named winner of the age 18-25 category with a portrait praised for its ‘great colours and composition’ (above). Maud Lewis, 13, scooped the 17-and-under category in the…

OLYMPUS has unveiled the 300mm f/4 IS Pro, touted as the world's most compact, lightweight telephoto lens. The company claims the 1.4-metre close-focusing distance makes it ideal for professionals seeking ‘top-notch lenses that match the usability of their small-format, Micro Four Thirds cameras'. It also states that, when attached to the OM-D E-M1 or OM-D E-M5 Mark II, for example, an AF speed of under 300ms is possible. Olympus sets great store by the compact quality of the lens, which measures 227mm in length. Billed as dustproof, freezeproof and splashproof, the 300mm f/4 IS Pro includes six-step image stabilisation, while in 35mm terms the focal length equates to a 600mm lens. The lens, due out in the spring, is priced at £2,199.99. The announcement coincided with the Consumer Electronics Show…

‘THE ADVICE often given to people who are just starting out shooting digital film is, “Don't move the camera too much.” Well, I'd add, “Don't move the camera too much for the sake of it, but if it enriches the viewer's experience or holds the viewer's attention, then move the camera.” ‘I've tried everything, from just handholding the camera to using huge robotic control arms. There are so many great devices on the market to support your camera, but one thing that I have seen used, that works really well, is a standard monopod. It gives bottom weight and really nice balance. It also offers a steadier, handheld feel. ‘When filming, even something as simple as just slightly drifting in and out can engage the viewer a little bit more…

What you said ‘While my nearest and dearest support my hobby, they do not contribute towards the acquisition of much-needed equipment despite the hints!’ ‘I am 71 years old, and the last time anyone gave me anything photography related was 35 years ago when my late father gave me a Praktica LTL. Everything I now own was bought with my own hard-earned cash!’ ‘My new MacBook Air is sort of photography related as I’ll be installing Photoshop and Lightroom on it, so it’s a yes, I’ve been good’ Join the debate on the AP forum This week we ask Do you own a mirrorless/CSC camera system or are you planning to buy one this year? Vote online www.amateurphotographer.co.uk…

Documentary and reportage are perhaps the most powerful tools we possess. The camera can be even deadlier than a gun in terms of causing shifts in the public consciousness. Take Vietnam, where the imagery that was transmitted back to the American public caused widespread condemnation; or the Gulf War, an event that was fought largely on our television screens and beamed into the homes of millions. Good imagery can, to use the BBC’s motto, ‘inform, educate and entertain’. Maybe the most impressive feat of documentary work is its ability to create an emotional connection between people who do not necessarily know one another, or the context within which the pictures where taken. People separated by gulfs of land and sea can connect through the magic of photography and, to some…

How to apply an Upright adjustment THE LOW angle of view in this photograph by Adrian Holt has produced a nice composition. The strong daylight and clear-sky background bring out more of the cranes' definition. The photo required some additional post-edit capture sharpening work. I noticed some fall-off in sharpness to the edges of the frame, which is something to be expected with a regular zoom kit lens. The edge detail was improved with the Enable Profile Corrections and Remove Chromatic Aberration options enabled in the Lens Corrections panel. 1 Basic panel adjustments This photograph did not need too much in the way of tone and colour corrections. I set the white balance to a Daylight preset setting, while the exposure was pretty much spot-on. I just boosted the overall…

Nick Dungan As a child, Nick went to British Touring Car races with his father. This boyhood fascination kickstarted an award-winning career as a professional photographer. He now travels the world, capturing some of the most exciting moments in motor racing. Instagram @nickdunganphoto At a glance 42.4MP, full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor 0.5in, 2.4-million-dot OLED EVF ISO 100-25,600 (50-102,400 expanded) 5fps continuous shooting 4K video (100Mbps) £2,599 body only My fascination with motorsport predates my love of photography. In fact, it was my desire to get closer to car racing that inspired me to buy my first DSLR. I loved cars and motor racing when I was growing up. My dad used to take me to British Touring Car races, and it was great watching from the pit garages and…

Resolution There is no word for the resolution of this lens other than ‘exceptional’. It performs as well wide open as most do closed to their optimal apertures, and at its own optimal aperture it is astonishing. Best at f/5.6, it is also excellent right through the aperture range. Rarely do we see fine-detail corner resolution matching centre resolution at all, let alone at a middle aperture like f/5.6. Shading Vignetting is dramatic at f/1.4, with 1.5 stops fall-off in illumination at the corners of the frame. It decreases slightly at f/2, but is for all intents and purposes gone by f/2.8 – or by f/4 for the particularly fussy. Again, this is an exceptional performance characteristic of a first-class lens. Curvilinear distortion For most of us there is no…

1 Billingham Hadley Small shoulder bag Carrying less forces me to think more about lens choice. It means I usually only take a two-lens kit or small primes with me on a shoot. This bag allows me to access my kit easily while remaining mobile. 2 Nikon Df The 16MP sensor’s high ISO performance is so good it means that slow shutter speed is rarely a problem – it’s like carrying around a mini Nikon D4. The Df is only 765g, but leaving the tripod at home is the ultimate weight saving here. 3 Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AI-s Nikon’s 35-year-old all-manual, all-metal forgotten gem, with wafer-thin depth of field, is a lovely creative lens in a 360g compact. Because there are no AF motors in these old AI-s lenses, they…

At the top end of the camera market there seems to be a concerted move, at least among the top three manufacturers, towards ‘full frame,' or, in more precise terms, ‘135 format full frame. With a flurry of new-generation releases expected in 2016 from the two major manufacturers, the discussion surrounding new ‘flagships' is beginning to warm up. The likelihood of an APS-C or DX (depending on brand) flagship should generate considerable discussion, so it's worth considering what a larger sensor brings. It's often reasoned that a larger sensor brings higher image quality, and that's true, up to a point. If we think of image quality being defined broadly by resolution and noise, then the larger sensor will often win on resolution, simply because the lenses don't have to be…

If you do not know who Piaf was; if you do not know that, in this image, she is about to go on stage at Paris’s Olympia music hall; if you do not know that she is already ravaged by a decade of morphine and alcohol addiction after a serious car crash in 1951; if you do not know that, two years later, in 1963, she will be dead at 47; if you do not know any of this, what does this picture say? If you do know about her, of course, then the opening bars of her most famous song are probably already running in your head: ‘Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien.’ You probably know that piaf means sparrow. The tiny woman with the incredible…