Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2020 i N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

APERTURE PRIORITY Ross says… I favour Aperture Priority. I can quickly select my desired f-stop, and the camera will set a suitable shutter speed. I use it in combination with Easy Exposure Compensation (Custom Settings menu b2), which allows me to apply compensation using the rear command wheel. HIGH QUALITY Ross says… On Julian’s Z 7 we selected NEF (RAW) and set the image size to Large. We also told the camera to capture 14-bit lossless compressed images to retain image quality, but prevent impractical file sizes. Setting the camera to its lowest native ISO (64) further maximized image quality. WHITE BALANCE Ross says… Auto white balance does a great job in most shooting situations, and if you shoot Raw you have the luxury to refine colour temperature and tint…

The Morning Catch BY ZAY YAR LIN Three fishermen throwing their fishing nets in the lake nearby U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar. Camera: Nikon D850 Lens: 16-35mm f/4 Exposure: 1/320 sec, f/10, ISO200 Clos Saint Patrice Sample BY PATRICK DESGRAUPES Jerome is filling up a sample of Clos Saint Patrice at Châteauneuf-du-Pape to send to the laboratory. Camera: Nikon D800E Lens: 50mm f/1.4 Exposure: 1/60 sec, f/1.8, ISO200 Eating Pancakes BY ANNA WŁODARCZYK Anna’s son, Olek, eating pancakes in their summer Kashubian house. Camera: Nikon D610 Lens: 50mm f/1.8 Curry Banquet BY PHILIPPA ASKEW Curry Banquet shows a range of vegetable dishes at Mowgli’s Indian school. Here we see Tiffin dishes accompanied with Puri bread. Camera: Nikon D5300 Lens: 40mm f/2.8 Caramel Lady BY DIANA KOWALCZYK Preparation can be…

Since the dawn of photography artists have been experimenting with different compositions. Over the past few centuries, however, we’ve come to accept some basic fundamental rules that you can employ if you’re struggling to get a decent composition of the scene in front of you. Many of these compositional tricks have been borrowed from other visual mediums, like paintings or drawings, and are seen as easily transferable to photography. You’ll have likely heard of the rule of thirds before, and it is one of the classic compositional approaches that we’ll explore in more depth below. The reason you’ll have heard of it before, and probably even used it to frame your shots previously, is for good reason – it’s a tried-and-tested method that forces you to position and space your…

Lead-in lines, also known as leading lines, are so-called because they lead the eye towards a specific point in a photograph. If positioned carefully, they can gently guide the viewer’s eye towards the subject of a landscape, such as a tree or structure that will anchor the image. They’re a very handy framing device that you should always consider when composing your shots, so it’s worth having a look around to see if there are any natural formations such as the coastline in this image (right), or man-made structures like paths or fence posts that can be used to guide the eye from the outside of the frame in towards the centre. You’ll be surprised what you can use to lead the eye and how often you’re able to do…

Now that we’ve covered the classic techniques and all of the technical jargon, it’s time to embrace all of this new-found wisdom and decide whether to use a tried-and-tested technique or something completely different. You won’t always have a scene in front of you that works with the classic methods, or perhaps your creative vision doesn’t neatly fit into the rule of thirds grid, but that’s okay! Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing and show you that it can be worth going off-piste from time to time, potentially taking a shot that’s even more incredible because of it. Here we’re going to explore the moments and opportunities when it’s okay for your horizon to not be perfectly level, to stray away from the rule of thirds,…

Set the scene We went for Click Props’ Urban Tokyo backdrop, and used a backdrop roll holder to secure our vinyl, carefully unrolling it to form a curve where the floor and wall met. Ensure it hangs flat – kinks ruin the illusion! We used a couple of sturdy alligator clips to lock the backdrop firmly against the holder. Settings When working with studio lights, it’s crucial that you work in Manual mode. You’ll also have to set the shutter speed below your camera’s max sync speed – 1/200 sec on most Nikons, 1/250 sec on some high-end models. We set 1/200 sec, f/11, ISO100. Taking a test shot without the lights should result in a black (or near-black) frame. You’ve been framed We used a tripod to ensure our…

The Mission – Learn about the new features in Photoshop and Camera Raw, and make a fun portrait Time – 15 minutes Skill level – Intermediate Kit needed – Photoshop CC VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 We’re used to seeing Adobe roll out updates to Photoshop and Lightroom, and this summer they’ve come up with the goods again. Those with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription can take advantage of a range of excellent new features. The real showstopper here is Select Subject. First introduced in 2018, the command uses AI to isolate your subject with an auto selection. It’s always been impressive, but the latest updates take it to a new level, because now it can cut out hair. The results are great, even on windswept hair like the…

It is a Tuesday morning in New York when I call Nina Berman for the interview that we’d arranged two weeks earlier. Little did we realize that in the ensuing days between reaching out to fix a date and talking face-to-face via Skype, the whole political landscape of America would change. In that time, 46-year-old George Floyd was arrested by Minneapolis Police for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bank note. Pinned face down to the street with a policeman’s knee to his neck, Floyd died in a matter of minutes. Led by the Black Lives Matter movement, protests against police brutality towards African Americans soon erupted across America, culminating in violent clashes with police, looting and even more deaths. Then, the day before Nina and I are due to speak,…

1. Go Skate Day Protest HENRY WARD Sometimes, subjects just line up, almost as if they’re meant to be, which is just what happened here during the Go Skate Day Protest. Henry’s also managed to convey a fantastic sense of energy and personality in this picture. 2. Amur Leopard JULIO CASTRO This photograph of an Amur leopard was shot at the San Diego Zoo. Julio says that he has nothing but praise for the glorious Nikon Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR lens he used to capture this wonderfully intimate shot. 3. Embrace Nature STEVEN SABORIO In this portrait, Steven’s model is framed by some heavenly bokeh and some even more luscious nature to craft a delightful composition. Something he says he’s been aching to try since lockdown began months ago.…

Q A camera dealer sold me a D7500 with a Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens but, in the June 2020 issue (N-Photo 111), you recommended the Nikon 18-200mm. Have I been given bad information? Gary Heath A The Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Contemporary is a perfectly good lens and it’s very good value at around £259/$399. Image quality is almost as good as from the Nikon 18-200mm. It’s not quite as sharp in the short to medium sector of the zoom range, but has less barrel distortion at the short end. The Sigma’s handling isn’t as refined, as the focus ring rotates during autofocus. The Nikon has a ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system in which the manual focus ring remains stationary, but can also be used for the manual…

Lab tests explained Sharpness A chart with multiple sharp boundaries is photographed, the extent of blur at the centre, mid and edges showing how many line widths per picture height the lens can resolve. Simply put, the bigger the numbers the sharper the lens. Fringing Chromatic aberration is visible as purple or green fringing around high-contrast boundaries, caused by different wavelengths being focused on different areas of the sensor. The larger the number, the worse the score. Distortion A lens that bulges towards the edges of the frame produces barrel distortion, shown as a negative score. Pincushion distortion produces a positive score. A score of zero indicates no distortion. Our awards in a nutshell The best performance, design and value A product that gives you more for your money The…

Billingham Hadley One From £249/$399 www.billingham.co.uk Billingham makes a lot of camera bags, but the Hadley One’s standout feature is a 13-inch laptop slot behind the main compartment. It’s a practically sized bag without being unwieldy, although you only get a half-width padded insert included. The insert provided will swallow a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, plus an ungripped full-frame body with a 50mm lens attached. Two large front pockets, meanwhile, are ideal for keeping lenses reachable during a shoot. These look low-tech with press-stud closure, but the gusseted sides mean they can expand to hold more equipment than you might expect. But the real reasons you buy a Hadley One are its supreme quality and a timeless style that’ll suit any occasion. The smell of the leather straps and the reinforcing…

Flimsy tripods from manufacturers you’ve never heard of can cost next to nothing, while range-topping models from premium brands like Gitzo can come with four-figure price tags. So how much do you need to spend for a tripod that’s fit for purpose? The first question is what ‘purpose’ you have in mind. Most of us want a tripod that we can carry around easily, whether we’re in town, strolling through the countryside, or travelling to far-flung destinations. As such, ‘travel tripods’ have become increasingly popular over recent years. Current models almost exclusively feature swing-up legs to minimise packing size. Indeed, a couple of the tripods in this Big Test fold down to just 32cm, so you can fit them inside many photo bags and backpacks, rather than strapping them precariously…

When Tiger Woods hits a golf ball, he doesn’t just take the shot. He has a few practice swings and stands behind the ball to visualize where it’ll land. Only then does he step up to the tee, plant his feet and swing. This pre-shot routine is more than just a ritual. It affords him the time to relax, take stock and set himself up for success. Similar tactics are replicated, physically and mentally, throughout the sporting world and beyond, and I’m willing to bet us photographers can learn a thing or two by implementing them into our own shooting routines. Now, I’m not suggesting you bend your legs and cup your hands like Johnny Wilkinson every time you take a photo, but I am suggesting you take the time…

Things have been a bit frantic this issue. Just before we went to press, Nikon gave us an advance sneak peek at the new Z 5 – a full-frame mirrorless with a launch price of just £1719 with kit lens – see page 82. With people able to get out and about more and more, this issue’s lead feature offers a refresher course on improving your landscape compositions. And one person who is no stranger to the subject is Ross Hoddinott, who took this issue’s Apprentice into the wilds of Dartmoor to capture its moors and tors in all their rugged beauty. When it comes to capturing landscapes, a tripod is your very best friend, and this issue we put a selection of ‘affordable’ travel and traditional, carbon fibre and…

BRACKETING Ross says… Exposure blending is useful when a tall object breaks the horizon and prevents you from using a graduated ND filter. Begin by using your camera’s bracketing mode to capture three (or more) images of the same scene with varying levels of exposure. MERGE YOUR HDR Ross says… In Adobe Lightroom, select the images in your bracketed sequence and click Photo>Photo Merge>HDR. While in HDR Merge Preview, ensure Auto Align is selected and, if you notice any ghosting, increase the Deghost Amount accordingly. CONVERT AND EDIT Ross says… Click Merge and the software will create a new DNG file. You can now process the image like any other Raw file, the only difference being that you will have a far larger range of tones to work with, than…

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It’d be easy to think that when you take a picture you’re completely in control of how the landscape will look in the frame, but in many ways you’re locked into the predetermined aspect ratio. For a printed image your aspect ratio would be the proportion of the width compared to the length, so an image 30cm wide by 20cm tall would have an aspect ratio of 3:2 (or 2:3 in portrait). An aspect ratio of 3:2 is standard for many Nikon cameras and is determined by the design and size of the electronic sensor inside of the camera. Some Nikon compact and bridge bodies buck this trend and have a native aspect ratio of 4:3. Although you are tied into the natural framing that your sensor outputs, you can…

Perspective is a huge part of composition and is often overlooked. The spacing between objects or your foreground and background, and also the distance of the camera to the floor, can dramatically change the aesthetic of your landscapes. Many of the pictures we take are shot at head height, but simply crouching down or reaching up with your camera can change the perspective of your images massively. Plenty of Nikon cameras now employ articulating LCD screens, making it much easier to compose at these awkward angles, which are a simple and quick way to achieve a completely different look. Just changing the shooting height can make your subject look more or less dominant by introducing a high or low angle, which alters the mood of the shot. Many of the…

The Mission – Increase your chances of capturing glorious lighting with a mixture of planning and patience. Time – 30 minutes Skill level – Intermediate Kit needed – Weather/photo apps– Tripod– Remote shutter release– Waterproofs– Filters VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 There are plenty of techniques out there to help improve your landscape photography, but ultimately a good landscape hinges on three things: subject, composition and light. We have complete control over the first two, but the latter is what can quickly send even the most promising shoot into disarray. Planning is a key factor when it comes to getting perfect lighting. Keeping an eye on the Met Office website or using a weather app is a good place to start, but what can you do to improve your…

The Mission – Utilize ICC profiles to ensure that your printer produces accurate colours and high-quality prints Time – 30 minutes Skill level – Intermediate Kit needed – Monitor calibrator– Printer VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 If you print photographs, but hardly consider yourself a seasoned whiz, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered problems when trying to match what comes out of your printer with what’s on your monitor. The fact is that printers – even great ones – often don’t produce consistent colours, which can be a problem if you’re looking to produce high-quality prints; the camera, lighting, exposure and editing all contribute to its aesthetic, and when a single stop here, or a tweak to the saturation there, can make all the difference, accurate prints are crucial.…

Where to get Instagram A HANDY TOOL – Instagram is available on iOS and Android platforms through the App Store and Google Play. It can be accessed, in a limited capacity, via an internet browser too. VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 Ponder what has changed photography the most in the past decade and you’ll likely settle on a class-leading camera or revolutionary accessory, but there’s a strong argument this accolade belongs to Instagram. The social media platform launched in 2010 and is one of the most popular websites in the world. Its focus on imagery attracted the attention of amateur and professional photographers alike. In 2015 Instagram – then famed for only allowing 1:1 images or videos – introduced portrait and landscape orientations, and thus provided an even more…

Camera: Nikon Z 7 Lens: 14-24mm f/2.8 Exposure: 1/20 sec, f/10, ISO100 MISSION: Use natural light to showcase enticing living spaces in the leisure, hospitality and real estate industries. PHOTOGRAPHER: Kieran Brimson LOCATION: Cornwall, United Kingdom KIT USED: Nikon Z 7 and D800, Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED and AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED WEBSITE: www.kbrimsonphotography.com INSTAGRAM: @kbrimsonphotography I always had an interest in film-making, which I studied at the University of Gloucestershire. It wasn’t until a family trip to Florence in 2011 that I realized photography is just as – and in many cases more – rewarding. Since then, I‘ve been hooked on everything photography. Interior photography is a unique challenge. No two rooms are ever the same, and the light sources are ever changing. Styling a property, and…

Q What’s the widest-angle zoom that I can get for a low outlay, to use with my D610? Brian Jones A Matthew recommends… I’d go for the Mark II edition of Sigma’s 12-24mm zoom, which gives a phenomenal maximum viewing angle of 122 degrees on a full-frame DSLR like your D610. Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM THIS INCREDIBLE ZOOM LENS CAN SHOEHORN A HUGE AMOUNT INTO THE IMAGE FRAME RELEASED: 2011 PRICE NEW: £600/$950 ‘Excellent’ £395/$399 ‘Good’ £275/$295 For a rectilinear rather than fisheye lens, this Sigma really does go extra-large on viewing angles. Taking over from where a 24-70mm standard zoom leaves off, it’s great for everything from architectural interiors to sweeping landscape vistas, as well as for getting creative with perspective effects. The Mk II represents a…

When Nikon entered the full-frame mirrorless market almost two years ago, they did it with top-end cameras that showcased the very best of the technology in the shape of the Z 7 and Z 6. The Z 7 was modelled on the pro-level D850, with the same-resolution 45.7Mp sensor, while the Z 6 shared similarities with the enthusiast/semi-pro D750, with a lower 24.3Mp count, but improved low-light performance. However, with top-end tech comes a top-end price tag, and while prices have fallen since launch, they’re still out of reach of many punters’ pockets. So now we have the Z 5. It sits below the Z 6 in the range, but unlike the Z 50, is still a full-frame camera. Indeed, you get the same 24.3Mp sensor with 273-point autofocus system…

THE PRO NAME: Ross Hoddinott CAMERA: Nikon Z 7 Ross is one of the UK’s best-known landscape and wildlife photographers. He’s the author of several best-selling photography books and cofounder of Dawn 2 Dusk Photography, where he runs workshops and tours. The multi-award-winning pro is a Nikon Alumni, LEE Filters Master and an Ambassador for Manfrotto. He lives in north Cornwall, with his wife and three children. For more on Ross, visit: www.rosshoddinott.co.uk THE APPRENTICE NAME: Julian Baird CAMERA: Nikon Z 7 Julian is a consultant for a large IT company and lives on the outskirts of Exeter, in Devon. He previously lived in Scotland, where his love for the Scottish Highlands first got him interested in landscape photography. He started to take his photography more seriously when he moved…

The landscape genre is a brilliant photographic avenue to explore, and whether you’re well versed or are yet to turn your hand to it, post-lockdown is the perfect time to get out there and expand your portfolio. The UK is full of scenic mountains, forests, gardens, and coasts that are never far away, and many other countries are spoilt for choice when it comes to stunning vistas too. All these locations make for strong photos, whether dappled in sunlight or drenched in a torrential downpour, so you can be sure to capture something exciting all year round. Composition is key to a great landscape, and there will usually be a main element you can place in your frame to make it the focal point you want the viewer to be…

Wide-angle lenses cram in plenty of the scene in front of you. The trade-off is often barrel distortion around the edges of the frame, which usually becomes more apparent the wider you go. This focal length has a higher magnification and narrower field of view than the standard 50mm. Your image will appear more compressed and you may start to notice pincushion distortion. This versatile focal length is often referred to as ‘standard’ because it has a similar angle of view to the human eye, so images taken at this focal length look more natural to us. Magnification is much higher and the field of view is even narrower. Distant objects are easy to isolate and appear larger in the frame. Perceived compression is exaggerated too.…

The Mission – Use a pre-printed backdrop to bring a variety of locations to a home studio Time – Two hours Skill level – Advanced Kit needed – Home studio lighting kit (or pair of flashguns)– Tripod– Pre-printed backdrop– Smoke machine (optional) VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 Getting to suitable locations for a shoot can be easier said than done in these uncertain times – and for overseas locations you might as well forget about it. So if you can’t get to Japan, then why not let Japan come to you? With a pre-printed photo backdrop you can transform a home studio into all manner of exotic locations, from enchanted forest glades and tropical paradises to grungy backstreets or industrial scenes. These backdrops are usually made from hard-wearing rolls…

The Mission – Enhance your sunset photos with simple tonal tools in Affinity Photo Time – 15 minutes Skill level – Easy Kit needed – Affinity Photo VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEOS ONLINE www.bit.ly/NPhoto114 Have you ever returned from shooting a stunning sunset only to find your photos look slightly underwhelming? Those reds, yellows and oranges in the sky that seemed so bold at the time can occasionally come out rather dull. But with a few simple tweaks we can boost the sky, enhance the tones and produce an image that looks exactly how you remember it the day it was shot. Affinity Photo has lots of colour boosting tools to choose from. In this tutorial, we’re going to use a neat trick that involves the Channel Mixer adjustment. As the…

Camera: Nikon D750 Lens: 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Exposure: 25 secs, f/13, ISO100 MISSION: Experience and shoot some of the most beautiful and unique urban locations in the world PHOTOGRAPHER: Donald Yip LOCATION: Australia KIT USED: Nikon D750, Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, MeFOTO RoadTrip tripod WEBSITE: www.donaldyip.com INSTAGRAM: @donaldhyip My interest in photography began around the time digital cameras were becoming affordable in the early 2000s. The technology amazed me as a teenager, because I could take an infinite number of photographs and view them instantly! I brought my camera on family holidays and outings, and enjoyed shooting a variety of subjects. Eventually, I began using photography not only as a pastime, but also as a means to relax. I especially enjoy shooting cityscapes.…

1. Gothic Bride BY PETE BRISTO A lone bride runs through the haunting Victorian Gothic architecture of Margam Castle. She was asked to twirl her dress so it lifted off the steps, while a high ISO allowed a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the naturally lit scene. We particularly love the use of a 16mm fisheye lens and how the distortion crams in the 19th century interior, emphasizing its imposing scale. Camera: Nikon D3S Lens: 16mm f/2.8 Exposure: 1/320 sec, f/3.5, ISO2500 2. Light Painting BY MATHEW BROWNE Online platforms have arguably increased what’s expected of wedding photographers. Social media-savvy couples are asking for increasingly creative photographs to share online, and light painting is a popular choice. This fantastic image paired a long exposure with an LED light stick…

The kit lens that launches alongside the Z 5 is a lightweight 195g ‘pancake’ lens, with a zoom range extending from a wide-angle 24mm to a 50mm standard focal length. It has a similar form factor to the 16-50mm lens that accompanies the APS-C sensor Z 50, and when retracted barely extends beyond the camera’s grip. But while the Z 50’s lens has an effective focal length of 24-75mm and 3.75x zoom range, this one loses out at the telephoto end, with a zoom range that’s just a shade over 2x. Both share a f/6.3 maximum aperture at the long end of the zoom range, which is slow, even for kit lenses, but is mitigated by their host cameras’ excellent high-ISO performance. The lens uses 52mm filters, and is extended…

Let’s get this out the way… This is a pro-grade optic tailor made for pro sports photography, and is probably not meant for you. It has applications beyond this, of course. The 120-300mm focal length makes it one of the best portrait lenses, as well as one of the best lenses for bird photography and wildlife – though a little more reach obviously better behooves the latter. So, does this hyper-specialist optic warrant its premium price tag? Let’s take a look… KEY FEATURES As you’d expect of a 9.5K lens aimed at professionals, the Nikon 120-300mm arrives with much of Nikon’s best tech. As well as Vibration Reduction (offering four stops of image stabilization, along with Sport mode for erratic subjects) and an electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism (that affords stable aperture…

SWING-UP LEGS The five ‘travel tripods’ featured in this test group all feature swing-up legs to reduce stowage size, so the feet surround the head when folded down. TWIST OR FLIP Twist-action locking clamps are generally more popular for locking the leg sections, but the Manfrotto 190 bucks the trend with equally effective flip locks. LOW-ANGLE ADAPTER For ultra-low-level shooting, the Benro Mach3, Kenro and Novo tripods are supplied with a low-angle adapter (LAA), which can be used in place of the centre column. BALL HEAD Ball heads are more popular for travel tripods as they’re more compact. They’re often preferred for conventional tripods as well, as they’re quicker to set up. COLUMN PIVOT The centre columns of the Manfrotto 190 and Kenro tripods have a 90-degree pivot facility. A…

Ticking all the right boxes, the Kenro Karoo Ultimate Travel tripod kit has a modern design with swing-up legs that enables a compact carrying size. However, unlike most travel tripods that have a distinctly limited max operating height, the Kenro beats even the conventional ‘full-sized’ tripods on test in this respect. Also, unlike the vast majority of travel tripods, it features a pivoting centre column, adding versatility. The aluminium version is great value, as is the dearer carbon fibre edition. For an ultra-compact travel tripod, the Benro Slim Travel and SIRUI T-005 both fold down to just 32cm in height, and they’re both lightweight at just over a kilogram. The SIRUI has a greater load rating and max operating height, but the Benro feels a little more luxurious, constructed from…