Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 5 i Creative Photography The Complete Manual

ISO AND LIGHT SENSITIVITY ISO in its simplest sense is a measure of how sensitive your camera's sensor is to light. ISO comes from traditional film photography where the ISO rating of the film stock indicated how sensitive that roll of film was to light. On modern cameras, altering the ISO value just renders the camera sensor more or less sensitive to light. Low ISO values mean it is less sensitive and high values mean it is much more sensitive. Less sensitivity means that you require more light over a longer duration for a good exposure and high sensitivity means that you require less light over a shorter duration for the same conditions. This assumes your camera's settings are unchanged apart from the alteration of the ISO value. It sounds…

WHAT LENSES DO I NEED? It's no surprise that if you purchase a new camera with an interchangeable lens system, one of the first questions you might ask yourself is ‘which lens should I buy for my camera?’. That is not quite as easy a question to answer as you would hope. Manufacturers offer increasingly varied lenses to suit different photographers’ requirements. To add to the confusion, there is also quite a varied range in price and quality to take into consideration. On top of that there is also the cropped sensor and full-frame issue to consider. Certain lenses will only work with certain camera bodies because of the mounting system used, and so on and on it goes. Everyone shoots differently, with a different style and preference and the type…

The new EOS R lens mount system comes with four new lenses, built specifically for this system, which will give you unrivalled clarity and image quality across a range of prime and zoom lens types. Utilising the image stabilised 15-35mm wide-angle zoom lens, 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 24-240mm f/4-6.3 zoom, gives you a great set of lenses to capture every detail. They are built to new levels of quality and, if you choose any of the L-series lenses, you ‘re assured of top-level optical performance and build. Don't worry if you have already invested in other EF and EF-S lenses as Canon have made the new EOS R system compatible with their vast range of existing lenses. A lens mount adapter is available that allows you to use all your…

Olympus has recently produced their new weather resistant FL-700WR flash unit. This new flash has been designed to be compatible with their OM-D camera system and is built to be dust proof, smash proof and freeze proof; able to withstand some of the worst the weather could throw at it. It is able to keep working in temperatures as low as -10°C. The FL-700WR is able to keep up with the demands of amateur and professional photographers alike, employing wireless radio shooting and a maximum guide number of 42 (ISO 100/m). With its built-in receiver, it is able to function as a wireless commander unit or as a flash unit. When used as a commander unit, it can trigger up to three groups of flashes, with an unlimited number of…

SHUTTER SPEED: HOW IT'S DONE Knowing when to use your camera's shutter speeds to their greatest creative effect is something that is easily learned but can often take time and practice to master. You have an immense range of shutter speeds to play with, from the fastest shutter speeds of 1/8000s down to durations measured in minutes or even hours. That is a lot to take in, but once you start exploring the effect of shutter speed on your images, you can start to understand its impact on your shots and its great potential. Camera shake notwithstanding, in scenes where there are no moving objects at all, the shutter speed is less important than in scenes where there is a lot of movement going on. You can choose to freeze…

FOCAL LENGTH AND ZOOM Nearly all modern compact cameras have zoom lenses, and most users of digital SLRs or CSCs will also have at least a couple of zooms in their kit. Focal length is one of your primary tools for adjusting composition. Selecting the right focal length for the scene allows the photographer to control perspective, angle of view and magnification, and can radically alter the mood and style of the photo. Some focal lengths are more suited to particular types of photo, and the properties of wide-angle and telephoto lenses can be used to produce particular effects. Understanding how focal length works and how it affects your photos is a vital photographic skill. Lenses and Focal Length There are basically two types of lens: those with fixed focal…

METERING MODES Nearly all digital cameras, from top-of-the-range DSLRs to the humblest budget point-and-shoot compacts, have multiple light metering options. Knowing how and when to use these different metering modes can make a dramatic difference to the quality of your photography; unfortunately most people don't understand what the different modes are for, how they work or how to use them. Depending on your camera you'll find metering options either in the menu or with their own separate control. In cameras with a fully-automatic setting, this will usually disable the metering options, automatically selecting multi-zone metering as the best option for day-to-day scenes and snapshots. The most common light metering modes are found on nearly all digital cameras. They are spot metering, centre-weighted metering and multi-zone metering. The symbols used for…

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY If your friends know you're a keen photographer, then sooner or later you're going to be asked if you'll take the official photos at someone's wedding. The best advice would be to politely decline. Unless you are totally confident in your ability and have the appropriate top-quality, utterly reliable camera gear that you know exactly how to use, then under no circumstances should you agree to shoot anyone's wedding photographs, especially those of your close friends. If you make any mistakes, you'll be responsible for ruining what is supposed to be the happiest day of someone's life. If you have any doubts about your ability to do a totally satisfactory job, advise your friends to hire a professional wedding photographer instead. You'll be doing them and yourself a…

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH WOMEN As a photographer, if you are ever required to create portraits of women, there are a number of key factors that are worth bearing in mind that can make or break a successful outcome. If both you, as the photographer and your subject, as the model are not experienced professionals, then knowing how to pose for a photo is the thing that will ensure a successful outcome. All the best lighting, exposure and composition in the world will not save the image if your model looks awkward and unhappy. Here then are a few helpful hints to get your female portraits looking truly professional. The curve It is considered flattering for a subject to angle their body away from the camera, rather than square on to…

Aperture Behind the lens of your camera is a movable circular iris which opens and closes to control the amount of light falling on the sensor. This is usually controlled by the camera's light meter, although some cameras have a manual aperture control. Altering the aperture also changes the depth of field. Aperture priority This is one of the semi-manual exposure options found on some cameras. The user sets the aperture according to the depth of field they require, and the metering system sets the shutter speed to obtain the correct exposure. Artefacts When an image is stored in your camera's memory it has to be compressed to fit, usually into a JPEG file, and in the process some information is inevitably lost. When the image is uncompressed for viewing,…

APERTURE AND DEPTH OF FIELD Aperture is one of the three main aspects of photography that help control the brightness of your photographs, and also how sharp your photos are throughout the scene. Aperture is responsible for how much of your scene is blurred or sharp; it is also known as an f-stop. This is a reference to the early days of photography when the aperture was actually adjusted by using cards with different sized holes in them. They were slotted into the camera behind the lens and were known as ‘stops’. That terminology has stuck and it has been with us ever since. The f number These days, cards have been replaced with mechanical diaphragms which use a series of curved blades that can expand or contract to alter…

EXPLORE YOUR CAMERA'S SCENE MODES Most modern cameras have a selection of scene modes, usually chosen by a dial on the top or back of the camera via a menu. Easy-to-use, mainly automatic cameras in the range will only have a few scene modes, whilst the more sophisticated cameras such as the DSLR may have as many as a dozen, including manual exposure options and user-programmable special settings. What are scene modes? Scene modes are provided on the majority of cameras to aid new photographers. They are a number of presets that set the camera up automatically to shoot in a variety of lighting conditions. You simply need to match the settings to the scene you are about to shoot and then you can take the photo safe in the…

KNOW YOUR CAMERA Cameras come in many shapes, sizes and prices. At their heart though, they all do the same thing: capture light on a sensor and turn it into a digital image. That's a gross oversimplification but you get the general idea. Modern cameras also come with many features and functions. Although it would be difficult to list them all, here are the main dials and buttons that you can expect to find on many cameras. Different brands and models vary in their button and dial layouts as well as certain naming conventions but we've put together a little guide to the main controls and displays. “Cameras come in many shapes, sizes and prices. At their heart though, they all do the same thing: capture light on a sensor…

WHY DO I NEED A TRIPOD? Camera ownership goes through a number of phases. First is the decision about which camera to actually buy, then comes the choice of lenses. Then come the choices with accessories. It may sound like an exaggeration, but one of the best accessories you can get to improve your photography, is a good tripod. In fact, it might be safer to upgrade it from the status of ‘accessory’ to ‘essential purchase’. You might wonder why a tripod would be considered one of the top key factors in taking better photographs. Well, have you ever wanted to take photos in challenging low light conditions and wondered why your images are coming out blurry? Have you ever taken photos of some distant subject with your superzoom camera…

Tripods come in so many varieties these days that it can be hard to choose one from another and, in many cases, the costs of particular brand leading models can be prohibitive and put the more cost-conscious photographer off getting themselves this most invaluable piece of kit. Either that or they invest in a very cheap model that ends up being about as stable as soggy cardboard. Happily, though, there is a middle ground that offers good build quality and value for money in the shape of the Benro GoPlus Travel S1. When teamed with a B2-PU60 ball head, this tripod becomes a versatile travel companion. The 180° centre column allows very flexible camera positioning possibilities. You can use it vertically, horizontally and even invert the column entirely. The legs use…

Canon's 1 series cameras are top of the range professional models and they began with such models as the EOS-1D in 2001. Other models joined its illustrious ranks such as the 1Ds, which boasted an 11.1MP full-frame sensor. Over the years the line-up has grown and in 2012 we saw the introduction of the 1D X range. We come up to date with the new Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, which now incorporates many new features and bleeding-edge technology to make it the most high-performing DSLR in Canon's lineup. Its AF system has its own dedicated Digic 8 processor and commands 191 AF points, of which 155 are sensitive cross-type. Although it only boasts a 20.1MP sensor, this particular sensor has such amazing sharpness and detail that it can outgun…

Nikon has already given us their first full-frame mirrorless cameras in the form of the Z6 and the Z7, however the Z50 heralds their first foray into the APS-C mirrorless format. Happily, this new design still has many elements and features that are familiar to any Nikon user. The full-frame Z system camera's menu system and interface have been implemented here and the sensor used by the Z50 is virtually the same as the one used in the D500. The marketing blurb from Nikon suggests that they are pitching this camera at a particular set of users who may not be photographers as such but could use a camera to capture those impromptu moments at a party, or capturing your child's first bike ride at 11fps. The large LCD monitor…

FOCAL LENGTH AND ZOOM: HOW IT'S DONE When buying new lenses, it is important to know what different ones are used for and which are right for you. The focal length of a lens is actually measured from the point of converging inside the lens to the sensor, not from the front of the lens. Ultra wide-angle Usually in the 14-24mm range, these lenses are considered specialty devices and do command some very high prices. Ultra wide lenses are often used in landscape, architectural and event photography to get the maximum amount of scene into a single photo, or when space is restricted. Wide-angle With focal lengths starting at 24-35mm, these lenses are widely included as kit lenses starting at 24mm with a zoom range up to about 105mm. They…

Having talked about metering and the various options available, we thought it would be wise to show them in action with a simple practical demonstration. In most cases, you could happily leave your camera in evaluative mode, where it measures the entire scene to work out an average for it but it's good to know that you have the other metering alternatives. They say: it's good to have them and not need them rather than need them and not have them. We have as a theoretical example, a particularly tricky backlit scene, which is the usual bane of digital cameras, with a lot of contrast between the brightest and darkest parts of the shot. Hopefully we can demonstrate the different ways your camera can approach how it measures the light…

COMPOSING YOUR PHOTOS: HOW IT'S DONE Having read the theory of how to compose your shots, it's time to get out there and start shooting with a fresh eye for composition. As we've said regarding most rules and techniques, they are for guidance and are a good place to start but can be open to interpretation based on your creative preferences. Sometimes you can bend the rules, push the limits of composition and place the subject of your shots far off the intersecting lines of the imaginary rule of thirds grid. This can create a certain visual tension that actually works in your favour. Rather than composing a portrait image using the rule of thirds guide, you can push them far over to one side, even cropping part of their face…

STILL LIFE AND PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY If you've ever been on certain auction websites where people are selling items, chances are you've encountered a lot of product photography. Chances are equally good that you've encountered a lot of bad product photography too. If you want something to look good in a photograph, then you need to take care about how it is lit. Placing it on a table and snapping away with direct flash is not going to render you results that people will be attracted to. You'd be amazed at how a little extra care when photographing the item, will yield results that stand head and shoulders above the rest. We've already covered how to get some great captures of glass objects like wineglasses, and now we're going to have…

UP IN SMOKE! Wispy, ethereal and endlessly changing, smoke is a fascinating subject that for many, is an art form in its own right. Whichever way you view them, smoke patterns are wonderful organic creations. Thankfully, they are also quite easy to photograph. With a few quick steps, you too can have some smoky art adorning your wall or desktop wallpaper. The Basic Setup The most basic setup requires the source of your smoke of course, and generally incense sticks are the most preferable smoke generator. You can use them individually or bundle a few together for a greater outpouring of smoke. You'll need to set up your camera with a medium zoom lens. For this example I am using my trusty Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L series lens. Setting your…

HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY Just to clarify, when we say high speed, we don't mean that we are doing it very fast! In point of fact high speed, in this context, refers to being able to catch rapid movement in such a way that you effectively ‘freeze’ the action. There are two basic ways we can do this. First is to have enough light pouring on to your scene to give you the required shutter speeds (in excess of 1/2000th of a second) to have a hope of stopping an event dead in its tracks. The second method relies on the stopping power of flashguns and not the settings used on your camera. The camera, depending on how many flashes you are brining to bear on the scene, is normally set to…

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY Back in the day, it was always something of a cliche to shoot or paint a bowl of fruit as an indoor still life project. It doesn't have to be that way, especially in the world of digital photography. Using fruit as your still life subject can be given a little twist with this easy to setup tabletop project. Rather than having a bunch of fruit in a bowl, how about something a little more creative? Sliced fruit pieces are a lovely, translucent material, in a range of great colours. All well and good, but what if you shine a strong light through them? Now things get interesting. Suddenly the fruit glows and internal shapes and structure are seen. This is not how you normally see fruit and it sounds…

“Now, let's talk about the types of equipment you can try out to begin your first foray into the macro world.” If you have never attempted macro photography before, you may be forgiven for thinking that it is a very specialised photographic subject. While that is true to a certain degree, there are plenty of ways you can dip your toe into the subject without having to spend large amounts of cash. Macro photography remains one of the more popular genres and if you take a look through any photo library or image sharing sites, like Flickr, you will find any number of groups dedicated to this fascinating subject. Now, let's talk about the types of equipment you can try out to begin your first foray into the macro world.…

WHAT IS SHUTTER SPEED? Shutter speed is another of the three main pillars of photography. It is used in conjunction with the aperture and camera sensitivity settings on your camera to get a correct exposure of your subject. A camera's shutter is just a mechanical curtain that stays closed, covering your camera's sensor until you press your shutter button. When the shutter button is pressed, the shutter opens and allows light to fall onto the camera's sensor. Based on the settings used, the shutter stays open for a certain amount of time until enough light has been collected for a correct exposure, and then closes again preventing any more light hitting the sensor. The amount of time the shutter allows light to hit the sensor is referred to as shutter…

THE RULES OF COMPOSITION The difference between a good shot of your favourite view or subject and a truly awesome one is simply down to how you compose the shot and the elements within it. A tree here, a lake there, it all adds up to elevate a photo to a piece of photographic art. The first and most important thing to remember is to take your time. Look at the scene in the viewfinder or on your monitor and try to see it not as simply a view but instead to imagine it as a finished print hanging on your wall. Ask yourself whether there's any way that it can be improved by maybe zooming in a little, by moving the camera, changing the orientation or just making sure…

THE RIGHT CAMERA FOR YOU The number of camera models available to the budding photographer is vast. All the main manufacturers have a large number of different models and types of camera to suit every taste and also every pocket. A wide variety of choice is fine but it can be somewhat overwhelming when it comes to choosing a camera for yourself. It isn't helped by the fact that the distinctions between various types of camera system have become quite blurred as the quality and the capabilities of these devices keep expanding. With that in mind, we have put together a little guide to the main types of camera out there. Hopefully it will help point you in the right direction so you get the right camera for the job.…

Once you get beyond the basics of photography and you find yourself wanting to add a little creativity and take more control of how the light affects your shots, then that is when you need to take a look at additional lighting in the form of flashes. Your first experience of flash might be the tiny pop up flash you find on the top of a lot of compact cameras and a number of DSLR models. They are useful to light a subject when all else fails, but to be honest, if you want your shots to appear more than just selfies, then you need to look further afield. We are referring to the dedicated flashguns that can be mounted in your camera's hot shoe, or for even greater flexibility,…

There are quite a few instant print cameras on the market at the moment. Even large manufacturers like Canon have got in on the act. Fujifilm has their own system, the Instax Square SQ10 Hybrid Instant Camera (we'll call it the SQ10 from herein). Although called a camera, it is perhaps more accurate to refer to it as an instant digital print system. Strictly, this is not what you would call a digital camera in the true sense. Think of it more as a tiny photo printer/developer with a lens and sensor. You do have a few digital controls, but this is a modern take on a good, old Polaroid camera. The device lets you capture and store up to 50 images using its internal memory and you can store…

Back in the good old days of photography, before we had amazing digital devices and cheap electronic equipment at every turn, the process of remotely activating your camera to take a shot without touching it was a very mechanical process. It used to require a squeeze bulb attached to a tube, which activated a plunger screwed on top of your shutter release button. When you squeezed the bulb, the plunger was forced into the shutter button and effectively pressed it for you. It is why cameras now have a ‘bulb’ mode on them. It is a throwback to when keeping the shutter open required you to keep pressing for the duration and then let go. It developed into a cable release and then, eventually, electronics took over allowing you to…

APERTURE AND DEPTH OF FIELD: HOW IT'S DONE Much like learning when to use fast shutter speeds or slow ones, how you use aperture to control depth of field in your shots is just as important a creative choice as any in photography. Whilst it does come down to personal preference, there are a couple of golden rules we've mentioned that are worth bearing in mind. A good portrait photo with a cluttered background for instance, is not going to work if the background is in sharp focus along with your subject. The shot will be confusing and that background will just be an eyesore. That's when setting your lens to its maximum aperture to create shallow depth of field will help massively. A good prime lens around the 50-135mm…

FOCUSING: HOW IT'S DONE Along with unwanted camera shake, one easy way to ruin a shot is to incorrectly focus on your subject. This can be down to the camera's autofocus system being confused by other obscuring objects in the scene and attempting to lock on to that instead of your subject; or just good old human error in the way you might have set up your autofocus options. We can speak from embarrassing experience where a number of portrait shots at an event were taken when the lens’ autofocus button was knocked onto manual and we didn't pay enough attention to the fact that the focus confirmation light wasn't coming on. Luckily we noticed during a quick review of the shots taken, and could remedy the problem, but could…

FLASH TECHNIQUES Flash is used mainly for taking photos in low light conditions but few people know how to use it properly. However there are some simple techniques that are possible, even with budget-priced equipment, that can seriously improve your photography; or if you don't use it correctly, can actually ruin a shot. Direct Flash Of all the flash techniques around, this is not really a technique at all, this is the way in which most flash photographs are taken. The flash, either built-in or mounted on the camera, is pointed directly at the subject when the photo is taken. Although the subject is brightly lit, the photograph is very harsh with glaring reflections and hard-edged shadows. It is very unflattering and gives your subjects the startled rabbit in the…

Even shooting at your camera's lowest quality setting will still produce acceptable results under most circumstances. These three photos were taken using a DSLR using the Maximum, Medium and Minimum quality settings. As you can see the differences are very hard to spot. The next picture is the same Minimum quality shot as above, but resaved as a JPEG using Adobe Photoshop using the Medium compression setting. While the quality is a little lower, the image is far from useless. For comparison, this next image takes the Minimum quality original and is then resaved in Photoshop using the Minimum quality compression settings. Now more compression artefacts are visible in the image.…

Don't worry, this isn't going to turn into a maths class, or a lecture on physics. It's an old adage that photographers work with light and understanding a little about how light affects your scene is a useful thing to know. In reality, you don't have to be able to carry a headful of fractions and do mental arithmetic, just know that light has some interesting properties as it travels from its source, to your subject. This brings us to the inverse-square law. This law applies not only to light but any physical quantity, but for our purposes it states that the intensity of a light source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from that light source. Reading that you may be tempted to flip over to the…

ASSIGNMENT: CIRCUS Planning a themed photo shoot is a great way to explore your imagination and get your creative juices flowing. Once you have an idea, the prospect of planning and preparing for it can be quite daunting if you intend to start from scratch: sourcing your props and materials and finding suitable venues and models. However, the wealth of knowledge you pick up when planning your shoot makes the experience worth all the hard work; and the unique images you will create bringing your imagination to life makes it well worth taking up the challenge. Before you decide upon the nature of your shoot, it is a good idea to do a little research, to help you decide on a theme that interests you. On this occasion we decided…

GREAT DIY PHOTOGRAPHY HACKS Anyone who has ever stepped up from using their cameraphone as their primary photo capture device to a DSLR, will no doubt be aware that it can be an expensive hobby. If you find yourself wanting to add new lenses and accessories to your current setup, you'll discover that the acquisition of new gear for different effects, filtering and lighting is not cheap. Higher-end gear, such as full-frame cameras and mirrorless full-frame cameras, is the cutting edge in image capture; however the prices they command are wallet emptying and poverty inducing. That's before you even get to the lenses or any accessories! Then you have additional equipment such as flashguns that can be expensive, particularly if you want to get into creative, multiple light, flash photography,…

We love our pets. In fact for most people they are more than mere pets and become more like family members, the recipients of love, affection and lavish attention. It is likely then that their owners, at some point, are going to want photographs of their furry friends (or scaly, feathery or otherwise). We have a dog, and the number of photos that include him specifically outnumber those of all other family members put together. However, pet photography presents its own special problems. Animals, as we all know, can be unpredictable, lazy, aggressive, hyperactive and downright cute. If you're thinking of trying pet photography, here are a few useful pointers to get you started. Pet personality profile You don't need to sit the pet in question on a psychiatrist's couch…

LIGHT UP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY If you're new to portrait lighting then we have a little cheat sheet you can reference which shows a series of lighting setups and how the illumination will fall upon your subject as the angles change. You can use these as the starting point for creating your own lighting recipes. It shows the way light strikes a human head from various points around an imaginary clock face. The light is above head height and is pointing down at roughly a 30° angle. There are also some that show how two or three lights will interact with each other too. The diagrams also indicate which light is the key light, and which is the fill light. A key light is essentially the brightest source of light in the shot.…

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH MEN Since we have just discussed how to photograph women, it seems only right to pass on a few tips about how you can photograph men and produce great portraits in a few simple steps. The general rules for men are slightly different in approach than those of women. As with women, if your male subject is not an experienced model, then they are likely to turn to you for guidance and you can help them out by knowing some of the basics and hopefully give them some confidence in front of the camera to get your shots looking next-level awesome. Angles and lines The first major difference to be aware of when photographing the fellas is that you actually want to be able to emphasise lines,…

LIQUID FLOW PHOTOGRAPHY “The results are surreal and there is an infinite amount of variation each time you do it” This project is a great indoor photographic project. If the weather outside is not playing ball and you fancy trying something a little different, then liquid flow is the way to go. In essence, liquid flow is the capture of the movement of paints, dyes and other viscous liquids dropped, or injected, into a small body of water. The results are surreal and there is an infinite amount of variation each time you do it. Every liquid flow shot is unique. At its simplest, you can shoot with a compact camera, a strong single light source and a glass of water if you wish. For this tutorial, we're going to…

ESSENTIAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS The following pages detail some of the main elements you should be keeping in mind as you start out on your black and white journey. Naturally, as you develop in both skill and confidence, you will find through trial and error what works best for your particular creative vision, which you will want to be seen by the world. It is by no means an exhaustive guide, but hopefully it can set you on your way by outlining what are generally regarded as the essentials for black and white photography. Shoot colour and Raw A lot of modern cameras have so-called creative functions that give you the option to capture your images in black and white at the outset. Doing this may actually result in…

BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAITS The power of the black and white portrait cannot be denied. A wise soul once said: ‘If you want fashion, shoot in colour. If you want emotion, shoot in black and white.’ As we've mentioned before, there is a power and depth to a black and white shot that is often swamped by colour. The story behind a shot is easier to comprehend when it is in black and white and the distraction of colour has gone. Even if there is no real story being presented in the shot, you can suddenly find yourself paying more attention to a black and white portrait. Texture, form and tone become important to the shot. It draws you in more than a colour shot ever could. “If you want fashion,…