Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

01 PERSPECTIVE BY ANDRÉS LUIS DOMÍNGUEZ BLANCO CATEGORY: 12–14 YEARS. GOLD AWARD WINNER AND YOUNG BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024 “I photographed this Eurasian nuthatch at Grazalema in southern Spain using a wide-angle lens. An oak tree next to a river provides cover for species such as woodpeckers and nuthatches coming down to drink. I used a remote-control set-up and waited. This species likes to climb trunks so I wanted to emulate what their perspective would be like.” 02 BLACK AND WHITE HIPPO IMPRESSION BY DAVID STOWE CATEGORY: BLACK AND WHITE. GOLD AWARD WINNER “This photograph shows a hoaryheaded grebe as it disappears below the surface of the water to feed, pushing into the depths with its huge paddlelike feet. I took the image from a raised platform high…

Kópasker, Iceland. 14:15. 1 December 2016 Over the last 20 years of persevering with photography in adverse conditions, I feel as though the weather has called upon me to diversify my ideas. What do you do when the weather doesn't work out in Northern Iceland? Many fellow photographers drink coffee, use Facebook, clean their cameras or do some hotel-room image processing. I prefer to go out and follow power lines. One winter while running a tour of southern Iceland, I was stuck with the group in Skógafoss. You will know it well whether you have been there or not; the huge rectangular waterfall that has now become an international drone airport and influencer backdrop. The whole of Highway One was snowbound in either direction, east to Jökulsárlón ice lagoon and…

Summer has vanished and autumn’s cool and wet weather has descended, bringing colder temperatures, later sunrises, earlier sunsets and an increase in activity in our gardens. Step out of the backdoor into your garden and you’ll likely be greeted by a fantastic display. Tiny spiders weaving their intricate, beautiful webs adorn your shrubs and trees and, if you don’t have a garden, a short walk to a local park or nature reserve will present you with plenty of chances to capture a webbed wonder with your EOS camera. Now, simply pointing and shooting at a web may return results you won’t be completely happy with. Instead, a little consideration into lens choice and other factors will elevate your images into something worth sharing. Spider webs, by their nature, are small…

Artificial intelligence might be causing concern within the photographic community, but there are ways in which machine learning makes editing our photos quicker and easier. For me, the best implementation of AI in Photoshop CC is its object selection technology. This lets you quickly isolate areas of an image so that you can make local tonal adjustments – perhaps to lighten an area, boost the detail or tweak the colours. As anyone who’s spent time making a mask or selection by hand will know, automatic object masking is very welcome. These kinds of tonal adjustments are best done to RAW photos: they contain more colour information than JPEGs, and therefore more headroom for tonal adjustments, as well as the option to alter white balance after the fact. Our pre-dawn Start.jpg…

Photo essays from PhotoPlus readers and professional photographers alike I was given a small camera as a birthday present when I was young and what started as a hobby became a passion. This led me to becoming a photographic assistant, and after 18 months I went all in as a pro and never looked back. My first professional camera was a large-format 5/4, a Sinar F1. When digital became viable I moved onto asort of Frankenstein camera made up of multiple camera components from Arca-Swiss and Leaf Aptus and more. It worked for a while but was heavy and slow. I bought my first Canon, an EOS 5D Mark II initially as a backup camera, but I found myself gradually using it more and more, until eventually I was using…

In part 46 of our series: A quick manual override that could improve your images with minimal intervention The exposure compensation setting is one of the most accessible manual overrides you can use on your camera. It enables you to quickly make your images brighter or darker, and dial in everything from subtle 1/3-stop shifts in brightness to more substantial full-stop adjustments without having to take your eye from the viewfinder. Depending on the camera, you’re able to compensate the exposure by up to three or five stops brighter or darker. The readout in the viewfinder only runs up to +/-2 or +/-3 stops, but you can set exposure compensation beyond this point (assuming your camera allows you to do so) via the Quick Control screen or the ‘Expo.comp/AEB’ option…

Do you choose the exposure mode to suit the subject, or stick to Aperture priority for everything? With five different choices of exposure mode each offering different levels of control, are you making the most of what your camera offers? Program (P), the most automated mode, lets the camera make the decisions about depth of field and shutter speed, to get a sensible exposure. Boring but useful. Not many know that turning the main dial accesses program shift to change the combination of shutter speed and aperture after you’ve metered the scene. Used with Auto ISO, it’s near foolproof for getting accurate exposures. Determining the depth of field or how movement is captured means you need to control either aperture value or shutter speed. Select Aperture priority mode (Av) to…

What to look for Canon EOS camera ranges Canon splits its EOS range into mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Its older DSLR line-up includes beginner, enthusiast and pro ranges; the EOS 4000D is the most basic, the 850D for intermediates, the 90D and full-frame 6D Mk II for advanced enthusiasts, and the full-frame pro-level 5D and 1D lines. Over the page are the two EOS mirrorless ranges: Canon’s smaller, older APS-C EOS M cameras, and Canon’s EOS R System APS-C and full-frame cameras that offer the very latest digital technology. The APS-C crop-sensor EOS R50, R10 and R7 are smaller, affordable entry-level options. Meanwhile the EOS R8 up to the EOS R6 Mark II, R5 Mark II and flagship R1 are full-frame for serious enthusiasts to professionals. Canon’s EOS R cameras…

Letter of the Month Wow! I’ve been reading your Canon photography magazine for about three years now, and I’ve used your tips myself when I head out to the local coastline to try and take nice ‘seascape’ photos. So I was both inspired and impressed when I saw the latest PhotoPlus Apprentice article, with Canon photographer Drew Buckley, and featuring the Gower peninsula. My gosh! You were all very lucky to get a) sunshine, b) colourful sunrise shots, and c) amazing sunset skies as well. To say I’m jealous is an understatement! I will endeavour to strike it lucky myself with such vivid colours in the skies for my next seascape adventure at sunset up the coast. Steven Jones, Cardiff Glad to hear you enjoyed our article, and best of…

CANON PRO NAME: BEN HALL CAMERA: CANON EOS R3 PRO CANON wildlife photographer Ben, 46, is based in Cheshire, and began taking photos when he was a teenager. Turning professional in 2003, he’s since won countless bird and wildlife photography awards. He runs group and 1-2-1 workshops throughout the UK, focusing on iconic British wildlife including red deer, as well as running trips to photograph more exotic overseas wildlife from tigers to bears. For more info, visit www.benhallphotography.com APPRENTICE NAME: MARTIN SMITH CAMERA: CANON EOS 6D MK II MARTIN is a grounds and goods attendant at Venue Cymru, and based in Llandudno, north Wales. Martin has been an enthusiastic amateur Canon photographer for over 30 years, and enjoys outdoor photography, from landscapes to wildlife, as well as shooting local events. He asked for our…

It’s coming to that time of year where you might be gifted a new Canon camera by a loved one, or maybe you’re treating yourself to an overdue upgrade for your older Canon body. Cameras rarely perform how we want them to straight out of the box, but that’s half of the fun! Creative Canon EOS cameras such as mirrorless and DSLR models have interchangeable lenses and a seemingly endless supply of settings which you can dial in and tweak to make them more suitable for your specific style of shooting. So we’ve condensed the most essential elements from your Canon’s user manual and put it into an easy-to-follow guide to help you get set up, along with the very first settings you should change, must-have accessories you need to…

I find watches to be an absolute marvel of human engineering, and while I could stare at the inner workings of a watch all day, I’d be lying if I said I had a clue how they work. I think that’s why they’ve become so sought-after over the years, and while digital and smart watches are now available, there’s something special about more manual, analogue time pieces. When a family member offered to lend me his collection of Omega watches for a photoshoot I jumped at the chance – he was also happy to have some pictures of his watches, which are his pride and joy, too. You can of course try this with more humble watches; I took a few shots of my budget-friendly Fossil, too. Watches are full…

There’s something truly magical about shafts of sunlight, especially when coupled with low-lying fog and a woodland scene. If you’re lucky enough to come across them with your camera, then it’s possible to capture beautiful photos even in the most mundane of forests. Without the atmospheric fog, these kinds of scenes can often seem overly busy, with an abundance of detail but no clear composition to draw the eye. As such, mist and fog can be a great simplifier in forest scenes because it softens the details, fades the distant scenery and helps to create a sense of depth. Of course, there’s nothing better than heading out to the woods in the early morning light to capture beautiful light rays in the flesh. But if this isn’t possible, then there…

Canon expert Brian explains how Canon’s free DPP software makes light work of printing your prized shots Digital cameras have made the creation of images so simple, but many still baulk at the task of printing. Digital Photo Professional simplifies the print process to assure you of great results. Given that Canon also manufactures photo printers, it’s no surprise that there is full support for the extra capabilities and printer plugins within DPP. You don’t even need to convert RAW images to JPG or TIFF before printing. Canon colour science is often a factor in choosing to shoot with a Canon camera, so it makes a lot of sense to use that across the whole imaging pipeline, from capture to output. From direct within DPP there are several printing options…

GuruShots is billed as the world’s leading photo game. It’s an online platform that gives global exposure to people who love taking photographs. GuruShots members start out as Newbies and compete with other photographers to win challenges, increase their ranking on the site and eventually progress to coveted ‘Guru’ status. Challenges are voted on by Gurus and the wider GuruShots community, and there’s a fresh photo challenge every day, such as the Moments in Macro featuredhere. Winnersreceive prizesfromGuruShots’ sponsors, including Lowepro, Kodak and Lensbaby. Check out www.gurushots.com to find out more.…

THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR CANON USERS! FREE VIDEO GUIDES! In the next Canon Skills chapter… ■ Set up a remote EOS camera for wildlife ■ Pet photos at Christmas ■ Learn to print Christmas cards ■ Photoshop, Lightroom and Photoshop Elements 2025 tutorials PLUS ALL THIS… ■ PhotoPlus Apprentice: Our Canon pro teaches you how to capture black-and-white movie-style noir portraits ■ Canon Profile: Great Swedish bird photographer, Jonas Classon ■ Canon Gear For Christmas: We help you choose the best new kit for gifts! ISSUE 225 ON SALE 5 DECEMBER 2024 * Content subject to change…

MARTIN’S COMMENT “Thank you so much PhotoPlus and Ben for a once-in-a-lifetime photography experience. I was worried I wouldn’t be up to the task, but with Ben’s gentle guidance and help setting my EOS camera correctly, I was soon capturing shots of stags I’d previously only dreamed about. For this shot of the big stag in the long grass, I put into play the skills I’d been taught – I used the EF 500mm at f/4, and an ISO of 800 gave me a fast shutter speed of 1/4000 sec. I placed my AF point on the stag’s head, and knelt down to create a blurred foreground, and cleaner background beyond.” BEN’S VERDICT “It was fantastic to see Martin soak up the techniques I showed during our red deer shoot…

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The typical approach to flower photography is to use a long lens or macro lens and blur out the backdrop with a shallow depth of field, so that the focus is on the subject. But why not take a different approach to background blur? In this project, the aim is to blur the backdrop with motion. To achieve this, there are two key factors. First, we need to get set up for a long exposure: so all of the usual long exposure tricks apply, like use of a tripod and neutral density filter. Secondly, we need to work out a way to keep some parts of the scene still, while the others are in motion. This is where our secret weapon comes in: a leaf blower. We can use the…

Winter is Milky Way season in Galway. The long nights make it an easy subject – weather-dependent, of course. I’ve always shot it as a single exposure. This year, I’ll be using a tracker. This allows for either more prolonged exposures without star trails, or for sequences of shorter shots that can be stacked later. Most people will still be going down the single-exposure route, getting out while they can. These may not have the impact of the tracked shots, but you can still improve these captures in Lightroom Classic (and Camera Raw). Your main aim is to correct the overall image, then the sky, and work on the foreground. As most night exposures of this type are ISO1600 or higher, it’s also a good idea to apply Lightroom’s amazing…

ARCHITECTURE is part of Canon photographer Fernando Guerra’s DNA. From a family of architects, a young Guerra trained at the Lusíada University in Lisbon and worked for five years as an architect in Macau after graduating. Soon after, he opened the FG+SG studio with his brother (Sergio Guerra), and the duo have been working together for 25 years on architectural commissions globally. Both partners understand the gaze of an architect, but Fernando has been taking photographs since he was a teenager, starting as a hobby in 1986. Initially, he was into street photography, and that passion combined with his architectural practice into a full-time career. There are usually elements of people in Fernando’s photos of buildings – a tree, a cat, children playing – as these layers of life, as…

Instantly install our PhotoPlus app for your Apple devices to enjoy your No.1 Canon magazine in digital format – all of our great content and inspirational photos look even better on screen! Access our amazing discount offers on our digital editions. Scan the QR code to get the app today! It’s easy to get PhotoPlus for your iPad and iPhone Wherever you are in the world, you can get new issues when they go on sale in the UK! 1. GET THE APP Scan the QR code (left) or go to the App store on your Apple device and search for ‘photoplus’ and then install the app. Now you can open the app on your iPad and/or iPhone. Any issues you buy will be stored in My Library. 2. USE THE APP…

THE CONTENDERS APS-C THE CONTENDERS FULL-FRAME The original EOS R changed everything when it launched back in 2018. It plundered 30 years of EOS heritage and shoehorned it into a game-changing mirrorless full-frame body. Not only that, but companion RF lenses set new benchmarks for image quality and all-round performance. And while RF lenses were thin on the ground to start with, mount adaptors ensured compatibility with Canon’s back catalogue of EF and EF-S lenses. Indeed, unlike with full-frame DSLRs, you can use EF-S lenses on full-frame EOS R System bodies in crop mode, giving yet more options for compact, lightweight shooting. And speaking of compact, the delightfully diminutive EOS RP launched months later. Let’s jump in the time machine and fast forward six years to right now. There are…

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