Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

01 Backup Max Rive, Netherlands “I took this shot in Italy’s Dolomite mountains – the church is called St Johann, and these particular mountains are called the Odle range and are 3025 metres high. I was aiming to capture a sunrise with some fresh snow on the highest parts of the mountains, so I wasn’t very happy with the clouds at first, but as the weather cleared another peak became visible in the background, creating a more symmetrical composition.” www.maxrivephotography.com Nikon D800e, Nikon AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, 1/80 sec, f/11, ISO 02 Swan in Mire Sigi Zang, Germany Second place, Birds “This was taken at a former Russian military training area south of Berlin, which is now a conservation area. I tried to capture the swan in the mire…

THE MISSION ■ Get creative with off-camera flash to produce striking and original portraits TIME NEEDED ■ One hour SKILL LEVEL ■ Anyone can do it ■ Some tricky aspects ■ Advanced technique KIT NEEDED ■ Nikon D-SLR ■ Flashgun ■ Large blank wall NEXT ISSUE… We share a cunning way to liven up boring school photographs One great way to make your portraits a little more unorthodox is to throw a massive, clearly identifiable, shadow behind them. This simple technique creates fun portraits and is really only limited by your imagination. The idea is to create a silhouette that your model can interact with, whether that’s an item for them to mimic holding onto (as in our image here) or a shady threat to flee from. You could also…

PROJECT INFO MISSION To capture a fascinating miniature world of colour and patterns PHOTOGRAPHER Alan Ai tchison AGE 63 LOCATION Wakefield, UK KIT Nikon D5100, Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF VR, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro Potteric Carr, at the southern edge of Doncaster in the UK, is the flagship nature reserve of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. It has wetlands, woodlands, meadows, 14 hides and extremely helpful staff. Just about all my macro shots have been taken at Potteric – I enjoy taking a walk around the reserve, whether or not I’m taking pictures. My favourite time to visit Potteric is in the summer, when there are plenty of insects about and the light is good for handheld macro shots. I got…

PROFILE ■ Wildlife is Steve Andrews’ real passion, but he’s also striving to improve his portrait photography enough to achieve a signature end product. I currently own a Nikon D3200, plus four lenses. I shoot whatever inspires me. I was visiting my bowling club when I spotted these three gentlemen [3], and I just enjoyed the image. I often spend some time just sitting waiting for these guys [2] not to be disturbed by me, and I usually get a few good pictures. I recently bought a flash umbrella and thought I would practise with my grandchildren. I was quite pleased with this naturallooking shot [1]. I often think my photos could be better framed and composed. I mostly use manual mode as I like to try to stay in…

‘Looking at, not looking through’ is at the heart of using Live View as an alternative to a D-SLR’s optical viewfinder. Given that the SLR’s raison d’être is being able to actually look through the lens at the exact scene you’re about to capture, it might seem odd to side-step all that pentaprismand-mirror engineering in favour of an electronic view, but Live View can be extremely useful. There is, of course, a new generation of mirrorless cameras for those who feel the D-SLR design has had its day, but for those of us still committed to D-SLRs, it’s the additional functionality of Live View that makes it so valuable. This includes being able to shoot from awkward angles and preview exposure and colour balance, plus live histograms, precision focusing, and,…

There are two main methods of autofocus. Phasedetection is the preferred system for speed plus accuracy, and works by comparing two offset images, in a similar way to how a rangefinder camera works. If they match (i.e. are in phase), the subject is in focus; if not, focus is adjusted until they are. To do this, the camera’s mirror allows a small amount of light through, onto a smaller sub-mirror, and this directs the light down to a Phase Detect sensor. Light from opposite edges of the lens is directed to two sensors per AF point (and there can be many of these). That slight difference in position, from one side of the lens to the other, is measured, and the lens alters focus accordingly. Contrast-detection works on the principle…

I’ve owned a D5100 with a 18-105mm kit lens for the past three years. I want to buy a reasonably cheap prime lens to complement my zoom lens, but I’m not sure whether to go for a 35mm or 50mm. I’m attending a friend’s wedding soon, and I would like to use my new lens to take photos of the day. Which lens do you think would be the better option, both for the wedding, and as a walkaround lens on the D5100? I’ve read in some reviews that the 35mm does not produce as nice-looking bokeh as the 50mm, and this could be a factor in my wedding photos in particular. Arkaprava Acharyya, Kolkata, India Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM | Art £670/$950 The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM…

There are many professional photographers who will tell you that stock photography is dead, but that’s not really the case. The market for stock photography has changed dramatically over recent years, though. In the ‘good old days’ you could get good returns from a few images, but with the proliferation of images and low-cost ‘microstock’ sites, nowadays the returns per sale of individual images can be extremely low. This means that making an income from stock is now mostly about getting many lower-return sales, rather than a few bigger ones. Don’t let that put you off, though – if you’re determined, you can do it, and we’re going to show you how with our step-by-step guide... DO YOUR RESEARCH There are many stock libraries that could sell your images, so…

Serious landscape photography – as in landscape photography that wins you prizes and pays the bills – involves much more than a bracing country walk. Marc Adamus has been frozen, soaked, dodged bears and nearly got stuck under a glacier, so this is not a genre for the fainthearted or your typical Sunday afternoon rambler. You need to be tough and determined, but, as Marc reveals, you don’t have to weigh yourself down with equipment to succeed; indeed, he describes both his approach and his camera bag as “minimalist”, but is very clear that you have to bring something different to the party these days to really stand out. It’s been 15 years since Marc first picked up a camera to photograph a landscape, and he’s gained plenty of insights…

Your window onto the working life of a professional photographer Back in March, I visited the city of Prizren in Kosovo to photograph the family of Shejh Adrihusein Shehu. The Shejh is the leader of a group known as the Rufa’I Sufis and at his Tekke (Sufi meeting place) he and his sons celebrate a very special ritual called Ijra. During this ritual the Sufis pierce their cheeks with long needles called ‘zarfs’, and I’d come to record this unique event for Geographical Magazine. Such an assignment requires planning, and you need to have an angle. I did a lot of research to locate the best place to shoot Sufis who practise Ijra. Once I had a rough plan I used social media to find contacts in the area and…

OFFER 1 PRINT ■ FREE Manfrotto Lumie Play LED Light and Accessories worth £44.95* ■ Save up to 35% ■ 13 issues delivered to your door ■ Free gifts in each issue, including a cover disc From £26.49 (based on a six-month subscription) Quote code: NLPRINT15 OFFER 2 DIGITAL ■ Interactive videos and galleries ■ Digital versions of all gifts included with the print edition ■ 13 issues in a one-year subscription ■ Always have the latest issue to hand From £19.99 (based on a six-month subscription) Quote code: DIGITAL15 *The Manfrotto Lumie Play LED Light & Accessories are available with the Print and Print + Digital subscriptions to N-Photo for new UK customers only. FREE GIFT! MANFROTTO LUMIE PLAY The Manfrotto Lumie Play is a great multi-purpose LED light,…

TEACH YOURSELF LIGHTROOM PART 6 MODULE WATCH OUR VIDEO! Missed an issue? If you’re a Light room novice and would like to get the past five issues, they’re still available in digital form via the Apple Store, Google Play, Zinio, Magzter and PressReader THE MISSION ■ To learn what’s in Lightroom’s Library module, and why it’s so useful TIME NEEDED ■ Ten minutes SKILL LEVEL ■ Anyone can do it ■ Some tricky aspects ■ Advanced technique KIT NEEDED ■ Lightroom 5 NEXT ISSUE… Sorting and rating for easier searching In the past five issues we demonstrated how you can import images into Lightroom. We also touched on ways to organise your shots by placing them in Collections. Over coming issues we’re going to take an in-depth look at the…

THE MISSION ■ Rearrange a portrait into an unusual distorted collage TIME NEEDED ■ 45 minutes SKILL LEVEL ■ Anyone can do it ■ Some tricky aspects ■ Advanced technique KIT NEEDED ■ Photoshop CS NEXT ISSUE… Add a ‘sketching hand’ to a photograph Cutting up an image is a great way to make even the most plain portrait appear out of the ordinary. It gives an almost three-dimensional effect, as the seemingly tilted segments imply the mechanics of a rotating billboard, which adds interest and intrigue. The technique involves taking a single image, dissecting it with selection tools, then recomposing the image as a sequence of overlapping segments. The key to creating an effective final shot is accurate repetition. A wide array of tools are required for this technique,…

We reserve the right to edit any queries for clarity or brevity. You can also write to us at N-Photo Magazine, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, UK, BA1 1UA ■ Keep your copies of N-Photo neat and tidy with our bespoke binder. Each stores a year’s worth of your favourite photo magazine – and costs from £9.99! Order yours today at… www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/n-photo-binder TIME DIFFERENCE I’ve just received my April issue of N-Photo, and I wanted to comment on a few items. 1. I don’t know when UK readers get their April issue, but here in the USA I received mine on April 16. I found it curious that you would advertise the Photography Show, which was held in Birmingham from March 21-24, in the April edition. 2. In reference to…

■ The basis of Live View is a direct video feed from the sensor to an LCD. For Live View, the sensor needs to stay exposed to the light entering through the lens, but almost everything about D-SLR operation is designed to limit that exposure to the moment of capture, with a mirror staying locked up until that moment. One change that this makes to autofocus is that the phase-detection system (which is more efficient than contrast-detection) cannot be used in Live View (see ‘Two different autofocusing methods’, opposite). Phase-detection needs the mirror and its sub-mirror, but in Live View these are locked up. Instead, Live View focus relies on contrast-detection. This is slower, and can have a hard time in low light, though it does have some advantages (see…

■ Although contrast-detection autofocus works more slowly than normal pentaprism-and-mirror shooting, it’s by no means an inferior option, even though it’s been imposed by needing the mirror to be constantly up in Live View. It actually allows greater accuracy, for two reasons: one is that by using the Zoom button you can magnify the live image and check the focus at 100% view – and even switch to manual focus and fine-tune it yourself. Manual focus in normal shooting doesn’t work particularly well because there simply isn’t the level of detail visible in a full-frame view, but it’s a straightforward matter to zoom into a small area with Live View. The other way in which contrast-detection allows accuracy is that you can move the focus rectangle anywhere in the frame,…

NIKON KNOW-HOW JARGON BUSTER Key terms explained GPS GPS-equipped cameras can use the Global Positioning System to embed the longitude and latitude co-ordinates of a location in the metadata of images shot there. SIDECAR FILE When you adjust a RAW file’s labels or ratings (or geo-tag it) using ViewNX-i, this information isn’t applied directly to the RAW file. A separate ‘sidecar’ file is created, and stored in a NKSC_ PARAM folder. ViewNX-i is a rebranded and updated version of ViewNX 2, Nikon’s free asset-management software. This new incarnation is designed to act as a hub for Nikon’s other free apps, including the photo-fixing Capture NX-D and ViewNX-Movie Editor. As with Capture NX-D, ViewNX-i enables you to browse your stills and video clips, and organise them by adding ratings and keywords;…

VERDICT Manfrotto’s XPRO Geared 3 Way Head is much less expensive than most geared heads and offers a level of precision that isn’t possible with a traditional three-way head. However, the X-PRO 3-Way Head has a few refinements over a standard head, including friction controls to make small adjustments easier, and retractable handles to make it more convenient to carry. Its build quality is also little higher, so it’s a better choice for most photographers and shooting situations.…

FREE! Essential Nikon Skills digital Book PORTRAIT SKILLS GET MORE CREATIVE WITH FAMILY PHOTOS We head out on location with queen of the candid Kate Hopewell-Smith EXPERT ADVICE MAKE CASH FROM PRINTS Discover the different ways you can print and sell your images, from someone who’s done it! FREE VIDEO DISC! Learn all this in the next set of Nikon Skills… ■ Tell a story with your photos ■ Get to grips with reflectors ■ Combine a portrait with a sketching hand ■ Create a cool landscape collage ■ Have fun capturing ‘squished’ kids ■ And more! Plus all this… ■ Try your hand at shooting video on your Nikon with Michael Freeman’s ultimate beginner’s guide ■ Legendary cricket pro Patrick Eagar shares the highlights of his remarkable 40-year career…

1 Nikon D810 (£2350, $2995) ■ What’s it for? It’s my main camera, and replaced my D800e last summer – the AF is much better and the buffer much larger. I use it with an MB-D12 grip (£270, $430), which takes a D4 battery, so I can shoot with it all day. ■ Plus points Unrivalled image quality and dynamic range, especially at low ISO settings which is where I always use the camera. ■ Minus marks With the grip it’s heavier than a D4s. Flash pops up too easily. 2 Nikon AF -S 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF VR Macro (£620, $879) ■ What’s it for? The 105mm Macro lens has amazing resolving power, and it has an ideal focal length for most products and portraits, too. A very small minimum…

When buying a Nikon camera, most photographers begin learning the ropes using the kit lens supplied – maybe a 18-55mm or an 18-105mm. This is fine to start with, but sooner or later you’re likely to want lenses that are faster, sharper or longer, or designed for the kind of photography you want to do. So what are the five must-have lenses that should be in every photographer’s kit-bag? The ones that can tackle any situation a snapper is likely to find themself in? We put our heads together, and came up with five essential pieces of glass from the Nikon range. We chose three primes: a classic fisheye, a classic wide and a 50mm; plus two zooms: a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm. We looked at their qualities, their pros…

THE MISSION ■ Get to grips with the Nikon WMU app TIME NEEDED ■ 30 minutes SKILL LEVEL ■ Anyone can do it ■ Some tricky aspects ■ Advanced technique KIT NEEDED ■ Nikon D-SLR ■ Android or iOS tablet or smartphone ■ Internet connection NEXT ISSUE… Not sure how best to use a reflector? Let us illuminate you! Wi-Fi is a useful addition to modern D-SLRs, enabling you to connect your camera to a smartphone or tablet computer running Android or iOS. With Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Utility, or WMU, app installed on your device, you can begin taking images remotely, changing certain settings and firing the shutter from a distance, and checking images. Before you start our tutorial you’ll need to download Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility from iTunes or…

THE MISSION ■ Create a cool light painting using a Pixelstick TIME NEEDED ■ One hour SKILL LEVEL ■ Anyone can do it ■ Some tricky aspects ■ Advanced technique KIT NEEDED ■ Nikon D-SLR ■ Tripod ■ Flashgun ■ Pixelstick NEXT ISSUE… 24 hours in photos: create a collage of a landscape over a day Capturing images in the woods presents as many rewards as it does complications, from the confusing background to the impressive levels of detail, the dappled light falling through the leaves to the large shadowed areas. It gives the adventurous photographer plenty of chances to play with light, as the dark corners can be given some inventive illumination from mobile lighting such as flash. Another option is to use a device such as a Pixelstick…

GET £50 FOR EVERY PHOTO STORY WE PUBLISH! Come on in! This month’s Photo Stories feature two readers who take a very different view of things – literally – with one pointing his camera upwards to capture New York’s famous skyline and the other peering down into the macro world of bugs. We also give two more readers feedback on their portfolios, and we’ve got the latest round of our Nikon Photographer of the Year competition – this issue we’re featuring the best of your portrait images, including the Judges’ and Crowd Vote winners. Inside over to you … 66 Photo Stories 70 Portfolio Review 74 Letters 77....... Photographer of the Year WE WANT YOUR STORIES, PICTURES AND LETTERS! SEND THEM TO: N-Photo Magazine Future Publishing Ltd Quay House The…

PROFILE ■ Graham Western uses his Nikon D3200 to capture his daughter growing up, indulging in occasional wildlife photography whenever the opportunity arises. At the end of 2013 I bought a bridge camera to take pictures of my little girl. It wasn’t long before I knew I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. By Autumn 2014 I’d decided to buy my first D-SLR. I chose the Nikon D3200. It came with 18-55mm and 55-200mm kit lenses. I have since bought a 50mm f/1.8G and a 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, which brings me to my passion for bird pictures. I’ve loved animals since I was a kid, but birds of prey have always stood out for me. What better way to test my new lens than to go to the local bird…

Digital display opens up many new possibilities, and with Live View Nikon has taken full advantage of these by enabling you to superimpose details of your choosing. As you’d expect, all of the usual information that you’d find in the viewfinder is laid out bottom and right, from creative modes, to shutter speed, aperture, ISO and so on. An extra row of additional information, such as autofocus, Picture Control and D-lighting, is optional. The AF rectangle is visible in whatever position you have it, in red when it’s focusing, and green when it’s locked on. Cycling through the display options shows, in order: 01 A live histogram. 02 Grid, useful for shooting architecture or a horizon. 03 A virtual horizon that works on two axes (both roll and pitch), which…

The digital SLR landscape was very different in 2008, and there weren’t nearly as many full-frame models on the market, with Nikon only offering the bulky D3 to challenge more portable competitors such as the Canon 5D Mk II. Enter the Nikon D700, which boasted a 12.1-megapixel full-frame sensor, magnesium alloy, weather-proof body and three-inch LCD screen. Many of the major specs, including the sensor and EXPEED processing engine, were the same as in the D3, making the D700 a worthy tool for the professional, but thanks to the drop in price since its launch, the D700 is worth considering for anyone stepping up from a DX body, especially keen landscape photographers. The 200-6400 ISO range is useful for working in low light, and the 51-point AF system is still,…

4th Equal positi on held by the D800 and D7000 for submissions to stock image sit e Shutt erstock 30 secs Length of time taken for an exposure in Zone 7 for a shot of Withdrawn by Luke Jerram THE SIZE DIFFERENCE PHOTTI X CLAIMS EXISTS BETWEEN THE D750’S HOTSHO E AND OTHER NIK ON HOTSHOES, CAUSING COMPATI BILIT Y ISSUES WIT H SOME HOTSHOE ACCESSORIES FACEBOOK IF YOU COULD USE ONE NIKON THIS WEEKEND, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 37 MINUTES LENGTH OF EXPOSURE FOR FLICKR USER JANNE’S ‘MOON TRAIL’ IMAGE, SHOT ON A D800 10 ST OPS COVERED BY THE ND FILTER 10 HOURS MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME THE TURNSPRO (P118) CAN OPERATE FOR WHEN CAPTURING A TI ME LAPSE 3840 x 2160 The resolution of 4k video recording…

1986 Wichita, Kansas, USA Nikon FM2 In 1986, Joel Sartore was a photographer on the Wichita Eagle in Kansas, with dreams of working for National Geographic. However, the assignments were pretty mundane, which was frustrating for someone who liked to be creative with his pictures. One day he was assigned to take a portrait of a girl with her prized horse, but strayed from interpreting the brief literally. He recalls: “I went out there and this horse kept putting his head right over the top of the girl. She was standing in a beam of light and it looked like she had a horse’s head. I just exposed for her jacket and that’s what it looked like.” When Joel gave the print to his boss, the reaction was not what…

CSC Nikon 1 J5 £429, $496 (with 10-30mm kit lens) www.nikon.co.uk Whether you’re travelling or simply in a situation where you want to take ‘snaps’ rather than create art, sometimes you just want a lightweight camera. Nikon’s latest compact system camera could be of great interest to Nikon D-SLR owners looking for a smaller alternative, as it’s pocketable yet still gives you plenty of control. It could easily take the place of a compact as your everyday camera. The J5 looks smarter and more retro than the J4 it replaces, especially in the two-tone colourway. The body is plastic, but it looks like metal and feels nicely put together. With its new 20.8-million-pixel CXformat (one-inch) sensor, the J5 has the highest resolution of any Nikon 1 camera yet. Additionally, it’s…

THE CONTENDERS 1 Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II £360, $500 2 Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM £400, $650 3 Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM £520, $700 4 Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED £640, $810 5 Nikon AF-S 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED £520, $750 6 Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM II £600, $950 7 Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR £830, $1260 8 Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED £1320, $2000 EQUIPMENT KNOW-HOW FEATURES TO LOOK FOR … Make sure your ultra-wide lens ticks all the right boxes Get shorty Shorter focal lengths translate into wider viewing angles. For most of us, this is more important than the overall zoom range of a wide-angle lens. Autofocus All the lenses in this group can autofocus on any Nikon D-SLR…