Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

At this time of year, you just don’t know what the weather’s going to throw at you. One day it could be snow, the next storms, the following day winter sun. But it matters not a jot for Edyta Rice, who shows you how to get stunning landscape shots, whatever the weather, in this issue’s lead feature. We explore the backstreets of the city of London with Nikon Creator Darren Boyd, who takes our apprentice for an outdoor urban natural light portrait shoot with a professional model. In our Big Test we compare the latest photo-editing software, including industry leader Photoshop, a major update of low-cost rival Affinity Photo, new kid on the block Radiant Photo – and plenty of others besides. We also check out popular third-party lens maker…

Looking out of the window, the sky is tar-black. The big clouds are moving towards me and I can suddenly hear a tapping on the window. Puddles begin plinking as the rainfall becomes heavier… Shall I go out with my camera, or shall I stay in the comfort of my home…? We’ve all been there. But the truth is that while the weather plays a huge role in landscape photography, there’s always a photo opportunity to be had. Depending on where you are right now, you might be basking in the heat warm sunshine – or sloshing through rain puddles, or even enduring a storm. Every good landscape photographer needs to know how to make the best of any type of weather. After all, photography is less about the subject itself, and more…

www.bit.ly/np147rain It’s tempting to stay at home in the warm when it’s a rainy day, but if you’re willing to regularly brave the elements you’ll be rewarded with some truly breathtaking landscapes thanks to moody skies, concentrated rays of sunlight and even rainbows. And if you’re shooting somewhere such as the Lake District, ever-changing weather patterns mean that – even on a good day – you can quickly find yourself caught in a deluge. It’s therefore essential for outdoors photographers to understand the limits of their equipment and how best to protect it. Unless you happen to own a Nikonos camera – developed exclusively for underwater use – your Nikon camera is definitely not waterproof. It’s easy to assume that cameras and lenses that are weather sealed, weather resistant or…

www.bit.ly/np147sky When it comes to shooting landscapes, we can’t always be in the right place at the right time. If you’re in a good location, the first box will be ticked, but getting the right conditions to coincide with the time you are there is down to Mother Nature! You may have the bones of a great scenic shot but if the sky is a dull grey or cloudless blue – you wait and hope. If your schedule means you can’t wait for the light to change, this technique gives you a digital route to a better shot. It involves compositing, where a single image is created from multiple different components. This is a skill used in areas such as commercial and advertising photography, where the impact of the end…

Robert Canis Profile ● After studying photography at Paddington College, London, Robert worked as an assistant photographer and technician before stepping out on his own, aged 22. ● Since then he has established himself as one of the UK’s leading landscape and wildlife photographers with a primary focus on his home patch in north Kent. ● In 2014, Robert was awarded the Royal Photographic Society’s Gold Medal. Other honours include awards in the International Garden Photographer of the Year, Bird Photographer of the Year and British Wildlife Photography Awards. ● His work has been widely published in British and European photo titles as well as BBC Wildlife, Birdwatch and Country Walking magazines. ● Every year, Robert leads photo workshops across the UK, as well as tours to Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and…

78 Nikon Know-How Master your Nikon’s histogram for better exposures 82 Photo Software Part two of our Radiant Photo series + three months free! 86 Ask Matthew Your techie problems resolved by our Nikon know-all NIKON KNOW-HOW How do I use the histogram? Get better shots using your Nikon’s exposure graph with our in-depth guide Knowing whether you’ve exposed a scene correctly is easy with a Nikon DSLR or mirrorless. As soon as you fire the shutter, a preview of your picture flashes up on the camera’s LCD. You can instantly see if the shot is too bright or too dark, so it seems unnecessary to have a second, more scientific, way of judging the suitability of your exposure settings. So why should you bother looking at the histogram? First and…

Photographic manufacturers have been turning out budget-friendly 70-300mm zooms for decades, stretching back to the 35mm film era. They’ve been equally popular in the digital age, both for full-frame cameras and for APS-C format bodies, such as Nikon DX mount, on which they give a mighty zoom range of 105-450mm. They’re fairly basic lenses, with an eye on cost-effectiveness rather than lavish thrills or sophisticated extras. First developed for the Sony Alpha series of cameras, the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is now available in Nikon Z mount, and is not only Tamron’s first foray into designing lenses specifically for Nikon’s mirrorless range, but is currently the only option if you want a native Z-mount 70-300mm telephoto zoom. Key features The lens features RXD (Rapid extra-silent stepping drive) autofocus…

Blue Tajinaste TONY NORTH 1st Place, Breathing Spaces & Overall Winner Echium thyrsiflorum is endemic to the mountains of La Palma island – from high up, there was a magnificent view of both the caldera below and the stars above. The UNESCO La Palma Biosphere Reserve encompasses the entire island, with the Caldera de Taburiente containing mountains including the Roque de los Muchachos, the highest peak at 2426m. To achieve this image, I combined two different exposures together; one of the sky and one of the foreground. Camera: Nikon D500 Lens: Tokina ATX-i 11-16mm f/2.8 CF Exposure: 211 secs, f/3.2, ISO1250 Dancing Birch Tree ANETTE HOLT-SCHWEIZER 3rd Place, Abstract Views Taken in Stapleford Woods, Lincolnshire, this autumnal birch tree looks as though it was dancing in the woods. I created…

This stunning long-exposure effect was captured from a train running on the New Transit Yurikamome as it passed through Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge. It’s an automated transit system, so there was no cab to block the view. The leading lines create a chaotic vibe, while the smoothness evokes a feeling of calm. You can apply these skills on similar forms of transport. 1 Street smarts To pass through the Rainbow Bridge, you need to take the Yurikamome line. I recommend travelling with prepaid card, instead of paying for a one-off ticket, as you may need to make multiple trips to get the perfect shot. Avoid rush hour to maximize your chances of getting a good view. 2 Camera settings Adjust your camera settings before you reach the Rainbow Bridge. I advise switching your…

www.bit.ly/np147gels Off-camera flash can be wonderful for portraiture. It picks out your subject and gives your shots a unique style. But many of us who use it pay little attention to the colour temperature of the light our flash is blasting out. By controlling the colour and our camera’s white balance settings, we can create all kinds of interesting effects. Measured in degrees Kelvin, colour temperature is a scale for the colour of light, from warm orange shades (lower Kelvin value) to cool blue shades (higher Kelvin value). Natural light shifts back and forth along the scale at different times of day, from morning warmth to midday cool to sunset warmth again. We can alter our camera’s white balance so no matter the colour of the light, white objects appear…

F or a long time, Photoshop was considered the definitive professional photo editor, and still is by many photographers. But when it’s compared with other software around today, its specialist focus and limitations become apparent. Photoshop may still be the best for in-depth photo editing, manipulation and compositing, but it’s really designed for working in depth on individual images. Lightroom, for example, is much better suited to handling busy professional photography, where it can quickly display, organize and enhance whole batches of images. While Photoshop might be the ‘best’ in some respects, other programs offer organizing tools, effects presets and inspiration that Photoshop doesn’t. The fact that both Photoshop and Lightroom are both included in the Adobe Photography Plan makes them a great double-act that fills any gaps left by the…

NIKON D3500 IT’S GETTING HARDER to find the D3500 in stores, but it’s worth the effort. With a classic design making it easy to learn, it’s a perfectly capable camera with fantastic image quality that makes a fitting choice for people looking to take their first steps into the world of DSLR photography. Bundled with 18-55mm kit lens. TESTED IN ISSUE 95 • £550/$650 Sensor 24.2Mp, DX (6000x4000) Processor EXPEED 4 Viewfinder Pentamirror, 0.85x, 95% ISO 100-25,600 AF 11-point (1 cross-type) LCD 3-inch, 921k Max burst (buffer) Memory card 5fps (16 Raw) One SDXC UHS-I NIKON D7500 AN ADVANCED DSLR that’s easy to use, the D7500 delivers superb performance and image quality, plus great value. The D7500 steals most of the best bits from the now-discontinued pro-grade D500, and squeezes…

Darren and Martyn arrived at the Barbican an hour before their model for the day, so they could recce the brutalist complex for suitable locations. “I love it here,” said Darren, his breath condensing in the chill air. “You’ve got leading lines, beautiful pockets of light and that utilitarian urban architecture; it contrasts beautifully with flamboyant outfits.” Martyn added: “Perhaps the images would look good in black and white?” Darren nodded: “They really would, but let’s try shooting in colour today. I rarely shoot in mono – that’s just my style. When I work with a model, they hire me for my style and by showing you how I work, I’m hoping I can help you develop your style.” THE APPRENTICE NAME: Martyn Hayes CAMERA: Nikon D90 Civil servant Martyn has been…

Photographing birds in flight is one of the most challenging and demanding areas of wildlife photography, and perhaps even photography in general. The advanced AF systems and fast burst speeds of Nikon’s latest DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have certainly made life easier, and I’ll be the first to admit that I wouldn’t be without my Nikon Z 9 and super-telephoto primes. However, even the best camera equipment money can buy will only get you so far. Capturing birds in flight requires a high level of skill, which takes a lot of practice to perfect. By following these tips, you can fast track your bird-in-flight photography so you’re off the starting blocks like a peregrine falcon. If you’re willing to put the work in, the results will be spectacular and rewarding.…

I decided to photograph the homeless in my hometown of Sydney in the winter of 2019, shortly before the Covid pandemic shut down Australia and the world. Homelessness is an extremely hard life: it is a public experience, but it is also being ignored and unseen. Being homeless is a lonely existence. It is a very lonely existence. Homelessness made me – like many other passers-by – feel uncomfortable. I would often turn away or get busy on my mobile, rather than stop and say hello. So, in these photographs, I wanted to show their lives and tell their stories to portray their resilience and restore their dignity as human beings – like you or me – who had just suffered the misfortune of destitution. But first, in order to photograph…

WORTH £5299! When we reviewed the Nikon Z 9, we called it: “Simply the best camera ever!” And now, together with Nikon UK, we’re giving you the chance to win the flagship Z camera. It’s an incredible prize that’s worth a whopping £5299/$5499. All you have to do is enter any of the 12 rounds of NPOTY 2023 to be in with a chance of taking Nikon’s most advanced camera home and being crowned N-Photo’s Photographer of the Year 2023. Mirrorless behemoth The Nikon Z 9 features some truly ferocious specs, as you’d expect from a pro-grade, full-frame, flagship camera. It boasts a stacked 45.7Mp CMOS sensor and runs via Nikon’s EXPEED 7 image-processor. It also packs Nikon’s most advanced AF system and can shoot bursts at an astonishing 120fps,…

Q I’ve just upgraded from a D5300 to a used D850 with a shutter count of just 1500. I’m really chuffed with it but can you suggest an inexpensive remote controller? Martin Dunsmore A The official Nikon option is the Wireless Remote Controller Kit WR-R11a + WR-T10, which comprises a transceiver and transmitter. It’s also compatible with other Nikon cameras that feature a 10-pin accessory terminal, including the D500, D6 and Z 9. The kit enables control of autofocus, video recording, continuous shooting and silent shooting, plus an additional option assigned to the Function button. Based on wireless RF technology, it doesn’t need ‘line of sight’ and works over a range of up to 20 metres. However, it’s a pricey option at £209/$277 Lower budget alternatives include the likes of the Aodelan…

Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S £TBA/$TBA www.nikon.co.uk A new Z 85mm S-line has been on Nikon’s Z-system lens roadmap for quite some time, and while we’ve long-suspected that it will be an f/1.2 optic, this detail hasn’t been confirmed until now. The first pre-production sample of the lens was unveiled at January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA, and will be joining Nikon’s existing Z 50mm f/1.2 S as a fully professional portrait lens for use in the studio. It is one stop faster than the company’s previously released Z 85mm f/1.8 S lens. Certain to be in demand from portrait professionals, this fast mid-telephoto prime lens promises superior rendering performance, as well as great subject separation and beautiful bokeh. Firm tech specs are a little thin on…

Combining Lightroom and Photoshop apps, it’s a competitive package of vital software offering great features for the perfect finish The winner – for now – is still the Adobe Photography Plan. It really is greater than the sum of its parts as it includes Photoshop and Lightroom Classic, two of the best photo editing applications of all, and which work really well together. You also get Lightroom for a fully cloud-based workflow, though you will need to pay for extra storage to use it effectively. The fact is that the Adobe Photography Plan is a really good deal, and while it’s still possible to buy a license to other programs outright, do you really want to sacrifice features and capabilities just to dodge a subscription? That said, if you do…

I t’s been a busy month. First, I captured a long exposure of a waterfall before visiting the Cornish coast to capture summer blooms. Then, I photographed the Milky Way core (in the middle of the day) and finished by capturing a blurry image of the Loch Ness monster. And that was all before I photographed a portrait of a person who doesn’t exist and a zebra, riding a unicycle… The war against the machines If you haven’t already guessed, I didn’t actually photograph any of those increasingly absurd images. Instead, I used an artificial-intelligence image generator, DALL-E 2. This clever browser-based software uses AI to generate images of whatever you type into a search bar. Admittedly, it’s not perfect and struggles to deal with more complicated or abstract requests. However,…