Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

6 From basic to creative THE SHOOTING mode dial of most Canon cameras is divided into Basic Zone and Creative Zone modes. The former includes Scene modes like Landscape and Portrait, while the latter is for more expert use and contains P (Program), Tv (Time value), Av (Aperture value) and M (Manual) modes. Bridging the gap between the two zones is the CA (Creative Auto) mode. In this case, the Quick menu (Q button) gives access to easily adjusting the background blur by widening or narrowing the aperture. For wider-ranging control over all available shooting attributes, switch to Program mode. A better description is ‘Program shift’ because, while the camera aims to serve up the ideal combination of shutter speed and aperture, you can shift the settings by turning the…

Vang Vieng, Laos. 06:12 local time. 23 March 2009. 01 Portrait of a woman taken near Vang Vieng, Laos Lens Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM Exposure 1/400 sec, f/1.2, ISO100 02 Colourful chillies for sale in Vang Vieng marketplace Lens Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L USM Exposure 1/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO100 I have an ongoing love affair with south east Asia. Quite frankly it’s difficult for a year to pass without inventing the excuse for a few weeks in Siam, Cambodia, Vietnam, or Malaysia. But one former province of French Indochina had been neglected: Laos. Now was the time. Thoughts on what the objective of the trip should be were embarrassingly vague; maybe an over familiarity with the region bred an insouciance. A hectic schedule in the month before departure meant…

01 HAYLEY ATWELL Jillian photographed actress Hayley Atwell for Interview magazine, just as she came to prominence in 2007 THERE ARE two very different aspects to Jillian Edelstein’s photography. One is shooting portraits of the famous, from actors and musicians to the occasional Prime Minister and President. The other side is her documentary work, which stems from an acute political awareness developed in apartheid-era South Africa. Here she talks about her approach and working methods, the key moments in her career and how she became one of the leading portrait and documentary photographers of her generation. Do you see yourself as mainly a portrait or documentary photographer? There was a point in my career when I’d have said probably I’m a portrait photographer. Nowadays I just think of myself as…

Ready to turn your hobby into a living? In this issue we look at how to get a full-time job as a professional photographer CONON EXPERT Peter’s been a passionate photographer for well over 20 years. He’s worked on PhotoPlus since the very first issue, back in 2007, and has been the magazine’s editor the past six years. Even though most photography work is self-employed or freelance, there are still some opportunities for full or part-time employment. You’ll need to do plenty of searching on job sites such as www.indeed.co.uk, or trade bodies such as the Association of Photographers (AOP), to find photography jobs, and you’ll also need to be flexible in what positions you’ll consider. None of the jobs we’ll be discussing comes up very frequently, and competition for…

PhotoPlus EXPERT CANON PRO Brian is a freelance photographer and photo tutor, based in Oxfordshire. He has unrivalled EOS DSLR knowledge, after working for Canon for over 15 years, and is on hand to answer all your EOS and photographic queries “The Auto Focus back button on my new EOS 200D is in the wrong place for my finger, can I use another button?Caron Wilson, Durham” BRIAN SAYS… Back button AF is possible with just about every EOS DSLR camera, and as you have found the EOS 200D is no exception. Due to its small sized body there is not space to locate the AE-lock (*) button to the left of the AF selection button. Canon have recognized this and there is an option that switches the operation of the…

01 3 Legged Thing QR11 Universal L-Brackets Change your perspective. Fast £60/$60 www.3leggedthing.com THE QR11 bracket is designed to make switching from landscape to portrait on a tripod quick and easy, as you re-mount your Canon, rather than adjusting the head. By keeping the sensor in a near-fixed position, you also get improved compositional continuity. Both the horizontal and vertical mounting plates are Arca Swiss compatible and have strap mounting points. The vertical plate also features a standard ¼in mounting point to attach accessories. The recently released QR11-FB variant boasts a larger vertical plate for compatibility with gripped DSLRs like the EOS-1D X Mark II. 02 Canon PIXMA G printers For high-volume, low-cost photo printing £180/$243 www.canon.co.uk HOME printing can get pretty pricey, but Canon’s G-series printers are designed to…

THE CONTENDERS Your monitor is the cornerstone of your whole digital photography workflow, yet too often it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. But what constitutes a good monitor? There are some big technical differences between an ‘average’ monitor and the kind of display needed for precise photographic work. For a start, budget PCs and laptops generally come with TN (Twisted Nematic) screens which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture yet have fast response times, ideal for gaming. However, poor colour and tonal accuracy along with limited viewing angles make them a poor choice for viewing photos. VA (Vertical Alignment) panels tend to deliver improved colour and tonal performance but can lack colour accuracy. IPS (In Plane Switching) monitors are the best choice for digital photo viewing and editing, with good…

The colour space or ‘gamut’ of a screen is a measurement of how much of the visible spectrum can be displayed. All of the monitors on test can support 10-bit colour depth, theoretically being able to display 1.07 billion different colours. Based on our lab tests, the adjacent charts show the effectiveness of each monitor in displaying the range of sRGB and extended Adobe RGB colour spaces.…

Any given colour and brightness level should look the same across the whole area of a monitor screen. For example, if you fill the entire display with a particular shade of grey or solid colour, it shouldn’t look brighter in some areas than in others, and the colour shouldn’t vary. These charts show the results of our lab tests, and how colour accuracy varies across the surface of each screen, measured at a brightness level of 50 per cent. Higher scores indicate a greater deviance (Delta E) from the correct colour value.…

£920/$900 Not so long ago, a 32-inch widescreen display was regarded as perfectly respectable for a living room TV. The ViewSonic is a 31.5-inch screen but that still makes it noticeably larger than the 27-inch models on test. Even so, the ultra-thin bezel on all four sides keeps the overall size from becoming intimidating, while the full 4K UHD native resolution admirably maintains highly detailed image quality. Around the back, there are DP, MiniDP and dual HDMI inputs, as well as the practically ubiquitous fitment of a USB 3 hub. The control buttons are also at the rear of the casing, which makes menu navigation a bit fiddly. Similarities with other monitors on test include a 350cd/m2 maximum brightness rating, 5ms response time (grey-to-grey), 178-degree viewing angle on the horizontal…

Peter Travers Editor • 5D Mark III peter.travers@futurenet.com “Photographing wild animals inside a studio sounds like madness, but Tim Flach has turned it into an art form as he taught to our Apprentice this issue.” PAGE 8 Lauren Scott Staff writer • 7D Mark II lauren.scott@futurenet.com “People-watching fascinates me, so this month I hit the streets of Bristol armed with a subtle focusing technique for capturing kooky characters.” PAGE 48 Rod Lawton Head of testing • 6D rod.lawton@futurenet.com “We take pictures to try and capture memories, so what could be better than a photo book? It’s a chance to bring photos together to share a story.” PAGE 98 James Paterson Technique writer • 5D Mark IV james.paterson@futurenet.com “My gig this month was to shoot a rock band’s gig in the…

12 Priority modes METERING is still automatic in Aperture Priority (Av) mode, but you select the aperture you want to use and the camera adjusts the shutter speed accordingly. It’s vice versa for Shutter Priority (Tv) mode, as you set the shutter speed and the camera adjusts the aperture. Beware of a blinking aperture or shutter speed display in the viewfinder, which indicates that you’ve set a value outside of the range that will enable a correct exposure in the prevailing lighting conditions. 13 Drive modes IN THE Single shooting drive mode, only one shot will be taken, despite how long you hold down the shutter button. Continuous drive mode is better for action sports and wildlife, and some cameras have options for fast and slow frame rates. Be aware…

Staff Writer lauren.scott@futurenet.com Sharpen up your photography skills with our all-new photo projects and expert guides HELLO! If you’ve made a resolution to try out new photo genres this year, we’ve got a great mix of projects to inspire! Shooting gigs can be a challenge, but basic camera knowledge is all you need to get started. Rock your Canon and improve your shots with our hands-on approach to live music. We explain a stealthy method for focusing on street subjects and getting more candid results. If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at colourful drop shots, we’ll be shooting paint as it unfurls in water for awesome abstracts. Last but not least, if the aim is to get better macro results, find out how to focus-stack frames for fully…

“I photographed Nelson Mandela in 1997, as part of a commission to document South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” says Jillian. “He was the President at that time and I went to meet him at the presidential house. When I was photographing him, I was using a light meter and he put out his hand to grab it. I explained to him that I was taking a light reading. Mandela smiled, and said, slightly embarrassed, ‘Oh… I’m just a country bumpkin.’ He was so modest, easy and helpful, completely humble and giving. I was given a total of ten minutes for the shoot. At that time he was going through a difficult personal time and he had recently divorced from Winnie Mandela. What I managed to capture, in an off-guard…

“When I started out, I began volunteering for a local non-profit organization – they had a project set up to give budding photographers the chance to conduct shoots for local charities to gain experience and add to their portfolio. The charities benefitted by having good quality photos to use for their promotional materials. After working as a volunteer, I was asked to interview for the position of co-ordinator for the project, and I was successful. From there I photographed more and more, and got work retouching for the fashion industry. I’ve always been more of a photographer than a retoucher, however, so I carried on shooting whenever I could. Eventually, I’d gained enough experience to become a staff photographer for international fashion brand Superdry. Superdry’s photo studios were the biggest…

DIGITAL photography has revolutionized the way we take pictures; however, it’s all too easy to leave your best images languishing on a hard drive. But if printing photos for an album is too last-century for you, try a photo book instead. These are fully customizable books that feature your photos printed directly on the cover and inside pages: an ideal memento for a special event. Deciding which company to use isn’t easy, with each offering numerous book size, design, and paper options. We selected six highly regarded printers and picked a landscape-format book close to A4 size. Each contained the same colour and monochrome photos, along with a printer test chart image to expose printing anomalies. But even high print quality isn’t much good unless you’re able to nail the…

LEGENDARY pro photographer Ansel Adams famously said, “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print the performance.” It’s all down to darkroom prowess and, nowadays, the computer has become our digital darkroom. The quality of the monitor screen is of paramount importance. It’s futile to painstakingly edit a photo so that it looks its best on an inaccurate screen, especially if you plan on sharing it with others or photoprinting a physical print, as it’s likely to end up looking completely different. But for these latest high-resolution screens, and for photo-editing in general, you need a computer with a bit of clout. Slow processing speeds and tardy screen redraws can waste time and ruin your creative flow, turning what should be an enjoyable experience into a…

What to look for Canon EOS DSLRs Canon splits its EOS lineup into entry-level, enthusiast and professional ranges; the 1300D and 200D are the most basic, the 750D, 760D and 800D for intermediates, the 77D, 80D and full-frame 6D Mk II for more advanced enthusiasts, while the 7D, full-frame 5D and 1D lines have pro-level features. With more expensive models, expect greater ease of use (thumb-operated scrollwheels replacing cursor keys), more robust build quality (weather-sealing and tough magnesium-alloy shells), more advanced functionality, and full-frame rather than APS-C image sensors. ENTRY LEVEL CANON EOS 1300D (REBEL T6) TESTED IN ISSUE 120 PRICE: £289/$449 (US PRICE WITH KIT LENS) CANON’S entry-level, budget-friendly EOS DSLR gets up a minor upgrade over its predecessor with added Wi-Fi and NFC to make it easy to…

1 What to do first! FIRST THINGS first, and the best place to start is to get everything out of the box and check it’s all present and correct. It’s likely that there will only be minimal charge in the battery, so pop it on charge while you get a few other things sorted out. It’s well worth attaching the supplied neck strap to your camera, to avoid expensive accidents later on. This is also a good time to install Canon’s excellent free software onto your computer, like Digital Photo Professional for processing Raw files, and the EOS Utility program. Once the battery is fully charged, remove it from the charger and insert it into the camera’s battery compartment. 2 On the menu INSERT a memory card, attach the lens…

17 Switch to Manual FOR ULTIMATE control over exposure settings, switch to Manual mode. You can still use the camera’s metering modes, and the viewfinder’s exposure level indicator. You’ll need to switch to Manual mode when using studio flash heads. Preferred settings are often a shutter speed of 1/125 sec, at f/8. You then adjust the power of the flash heads until you achieve a correct exposure. 18 Flatter your lenses MANY cameras have features that flatter lens performance. The Lens Aberration Correction option in the shooting menu compensates for peripheral illumination (vignetting) and chromatic aberration (colour fringing). But these are only available on genuine Canon lenses, and you may need to download data for some lenses using the EOS Utility program. Also, if you shoot in Raw and don’t…

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Jillian began working as a press photographer in Johannesburg in 1981. She later moved to London and became a freelance photographer specializing in portraiture. Her editorial clients have included The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair and The Sunday Times Magazine. She has also worked for organisations including Oxfam, Save the Children and Comic Relief. Her book Truth and Lies, in which she documented the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, was published in 2002. She has judged major awards including the World Press Photo awards and the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. Her own awards include the Photographers’ Gallery Portrait Photographer of the Year award and an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. Next issue: Amazing aviation photography…

In this Digital SLR Essentials section we explain all you need to know to keep your Canon gear clean and maintained PHOTO EXPERT Marcus has been passionate about photography for more than 25 years. A former editor of our sister publication Digital Camera he has written about photography and cameras for a wide range of clients, including Canon and Jessops, and uses a Canon EOS 5D Mk III. Your camera might be packed with sensitive electronics, but it’s built to withstand the rigours of use in a wide range of conditions, from freezing temperatures to tropical heat. However, it’s wise to take precautions for less than perfect shooting conditions and to be prepared to carry out a little DIY maintenance to keep your camera and lenses firing on all cylinders.…

Head of testing rod.lawton@futurenet.com Welcome... THIS month Matthew Richards looks at high-resolution monitors for photographers. They’re a key part of our workflow, but often we don’t give them a second thought! We test six beauties and tick off the computer specifications you’re going to need to run them properly. We also test the new Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS lens and compare photo book services. HOW WE TEST TESTS & AWARDS WHEN IT comes to testing Canon DSLRs, lenses, photo gear and services in PhotoPlus, we tell it like it is. We’re 100 percent independent and we use our in-depth lab tests to find out how kit really performs and compares. Here are our main awards… Buy for the best combination of quality and value Only the best of best…

£1,070/$1,100 Like most of the monitors in this test group, the BenQ has a 27-inch screen with a 4K UHD native resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, equating to a very fine pixel density of 163ppi (pixels per inch). It also has the usual 10-bit colour depth, equivalent to more than a billion colours. It is well built with a sturdy case and a particularly rigid stand, which keeps the monitor wobble-free throughout the full range of its tilt, swivel, height and pivot adjustments. Factory preset sRGB and Adobe RGB modes are available, along with an HDR mode. BenQ claims no less than 100 per cent coverage of the sRGB range and 99 per cent for Adobe RGB. ‘Palette Master Element’ calibration software is supplied with the monitor, to maintain optimum colour…

Choosing lenses Key factors to watch out for THE MAIN factors to consider in a lens are its focal length, maximum aperture, and whether or not it’s full-frame compatible. We’ve categorized lenses by focal length range – from wide-angle to telephoto. The larger a lens’s maximum aperture, the ‘faster’ it’s considered to be – allowing you to control depth of field more, and offering better options in low light. Zooms are more flexible than primes, but tend not to have such fast maximum apertures. Full-frame lenses will also work with ‘crop-sensor’ EOS DSLRs, but crop-sensor lenses aren’t compatible with full-frame cameras. WIDE-ANGLE ZOOMS TELEPHOTO ZOOMS STANDARD ZOOMS SUPERZOOMS WIDE-ANGLE PRIMES Contacts Canon www.canon.co.uk Peleng www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk Samyang www.samyang-lens.co.uk Schneider www.linhofstudio.com Sigma www.sigma-imaging-uk.com Tamron www.tamron.co.uk Tokina www.tokinalens.com Voigtlander www.robertwhite.co.uk Zeiss www.zeiss.co.uk STANDARD…