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Editorial

Welcome
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Contributors
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C
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 ISSUE 266
APRIL 2023

HOW TO COMPOSE LIKE A PR

O 50

FIX YOUR

© Samantha Stephens | cupoty.com

FRAMING!
Rule of Thirds Leading lines … and more
42
Hotshots – The winning images
from the Close-up Photographer
of the Year 2022 awards

69
Practical Photoshop _ Get
the most out of Lightroom and
Photoshop with our tutorials

Photo skills Regulars

8 One to One
On location with Vince Lowe,
39 The Art of Seeing
Ben Brain goes on an artists’ retreat
a hybrid analogue and digital
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42 Hotshots
Close-up Photographer of the Year
Photo Active
16 Fresh inspiration on every page –
60 Reader Gallery Gear & tests
choose from 10 all-new projects Presenting the month’s best images

Fix your framing! Shot of the Month 98 Canon EOS R8

50 Expert hints, tips and advice on how
68 ‘Brecon in Winter’ by Will Davies
Another full-frame mirrorless joins the
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to compose images better – whatever
style of photography you like to shoot
90 In Focus 102 Nikkor Z 400mm
The latest camera kit and accessories f/4.5 VR S
69 Practical Photoshop A new super-tele for Nikon Z shooters
Tutorials covering the latest features
94 Behind the Lens
of Lightroom and Photoshop, plus
our latest batch of software extras
Benjamin Rasmussen talks to us about
The Good Citizen, a new photo book
103 Sigma 18-50mm
f/2.8 DC DN C
New standard zoom for Sony E and Leica L
Radiant Photo Jon Devo column
76 96
Concluding our sponsored tutorial
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106 Group test:
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118 Interview
Luc Kordas discusses New York Unseen

86 Photo Answers
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plus Tech Check and Image Rescue
132 What the f-stop!
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4 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023
 HURRY!
WHILE Contents
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This
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Luc Kordas
Photographer

New York Unseen is a new book

that lives up to its title – we catch
up with its author to chat about
what inspired the project and how
it came together, from page 118

Vince Lowe
Photographer & videographer

8
One to One _ Vince Lowe is fanatical about film photography but uses Don’t go against the grain, says
a hybrid approach which also involves digital – on a jaunt to the seaside, this hybrid photographer –
we get to see his setup in detail and why it offers the best of both worlds embrace it instead. Lowe takes
us behind the curtain of his
shooting style, from page 8

Benjamin Rasmussen
Documentary photographer

The Good Citizen is a work that

explores what it means to be
American today. Rasmussen
discusses how the new book
came together, on page 94

Jon Devo
Photographer & writer

Our resident tech columnist

Luc Kordas

considers the latest photographic

trends. What’s behind the
rediscovery of early digital
cameras, he wonders? Page 96

118
Interview _ Polish-born but US-based Luc Kordas shoots a variety of styles
of photography, but his New York Unseen book focuses on the street – we
find out more about how Kordas makes his candid black and white images Liza Kanaeva-Hunsicker
Photographer

Photo Active _ 10 things to shoot, edit or create this month. Learn how to
In part one of a new series
16 get your eye in on your local sports field, try focus stacking with a macro
lens, relive the joys of film photography and shoot an Easter-themed still life!
of projects, the co-author of
Shooting Film explains how to
create an authentic retro look
by adding light leaks, on page 32

Stuart Hamon
Landscape photographer

Living on the island of Guernsey,

Hamon gets plenty of opportunities
to shoot the epic seascapes that
have become his signature. Read
more about it on page 22

APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 5
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6 D I G I TA L C A M E R A JANUARY
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2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com
one
to
one
Film is very
much alive Vince Lowe
Alistair Campbell joins Vince Lowe for 35mm film and
digital photographer
an afternoon of cinematic nostalgia and videographer

Proficient in all things creative,

day we’re heading focused on creating cinematic Vince studied media, music,
to the outer edges of stills. Owning several 35mm film photography and film during

T Weston-super-Mare, cameras, Vince has opted to college and university. His style
is a hybrid mix of vintage and
a Somerset seaside bring along a half-century-old
modern, finding the cinematic
town that bustles Yashica Electro 35 GTN.
in natural everyday life.
with holidaymakers As we make our way down Instagram: @vinnyzfilm
in the height of summer. It tends the steep and precarious stone
to be far quieter in the spring steps along the walkway above
months, lending itself to the sea and rocks, Vince sets his
landscape photography, which backpack on the ground, pulls
makes it a great time for joining out his camera and a roll of film,
analogue and digital hybrid- and loads it into the Yashica.
photographer, Vince Lowe. “I’m shooting with Cinestill
Vince is a film fanatic in every 400D film, a ‘new’ film stock
sense of the word, whether it’s added to the collection that
shooting 35mm analogue stills Cinestill already offers in 800T
or cinematic videos for YouTube and 50D,” he says. “The main
camera reviews. Vince’s passion thing that instantly stands
originates in filmmaking – he out in the Cinestill line is the
studied at Weston College’s occurrence of halations in the
Westcliff Campus, ironically spill from the highlights. Their
just a stone’s throw away from films are essentially repackaged
today’s shooting location near Kodak Vision3 motion picture
the abandoned Birnbeck Pier, film stock, but with the Remjet
but recently has been more layer removed, enabling the film
one
to
one

IɖǴǣˡǼȅæ‫¨ٮ‬ȸȒ‫א‬

Using a digital camera to create a ‘film’ effect

“Being a major player in the film days makes Fujifilm the perfect partner in what I try to achieve
with my hybrid workflow,” says Vince. “Its film simulation modes are inspired by their classic
analogue emulsions. How much closer can I get to replicating film using a digital camera? In
terms of design and feel in today’s market, the X-Pro rangefinder line is one of the closest to
resembling film cameras. Featuring manual dials and an optical viewfinder, it really feels like you
Using adapters for are holding a film camera. Adding to this, I use an adapter that enabled me to attach a 1980s
Minolta manual-focus prime, completely immersing this camera in being as film-like as digital
old-school lenses can be! If you want to really push the boat out, you can turn off the picture preview and image
review after shooting. This way, you’ll have to wait until later to see what you’ve shot at home.”
Modern lenses are great but when it
comes to vintage glass, they just can’t
reproduce the look of something that
has been weathered by time. Old camera
to be developed in the standard C-41 process cameras, so I made the decision to purchase
lenses have different glass and aperture
rather than the less accessible ECN-2 a film camera to re-ignite my creativity.”
blades when compared to modern
process – in short, the side effects are With the film now locked and loaded, the
alternatives. You’ll experience just how
possible static artifacts and halations. It’s sun is beating down on Weston without
much magic is in the lens without doing
that beautiful red glow that gives the images much cloud cover, the light beaming
too much in post processing. Using a
so much character. The aim today is to across the ocean and wet rocks right
vintage lens can force you to become
accentuate those halations as best as I can. into our eyes. I ponder aloud that I imagine
more intentional when practising your
“The issue I have with film is that it has the light is pretty challenging for him.
photography – how creative can you be
become very expensive – it is currently “It is a challenge, but these conditions
if the camera does everything for you?
costing upwards of £15 for a premium brand will not be a problem for film. You’ll find that
Many adapters are available, varying roll of 36 shots. Add the cost of developing negative film such as this one has a very wide
in price and quality – be sure you buy and scanning, and you’ll find that it’s exposure latitude. With 400 ISO film I will
the correct mount for your system. starting to cost at least £1 per shot.” probably be overexposing, but this should
On how he got into shooting film, Vince give us good halations, and highlights are
says, “I had noticed the recent resurgence in harder to blow out than with digital sensors.
shooting film and it sparked the nostalgia of In fact, it is better to slightly overexpose
being a kid, watching my dad take photos on than underexpose, as it’s harder to recover
his Minolta. The sound of the shutter, the murky shadows. However, with digital
winding of the film, the grain and warmth I would do the opposite.”
of the resulting images and my visual and We head on down some more steps and
audial memories of these times are rose- out onto the stony beach, where Vince sets
tinted, but completely justified. I’ve become up his tripod and pulls out a third camera.
quite disconnected from the overly clean and “I use my Fujifilm X-S10 with a wide-angle
clinical look of digital images from modern 16mm F1.4 lens for mainly shooting

10 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Hybrid film photography with Vince Lowe
Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2
‫חדِא‬ȵȅ
Lens Minolta MD 50mm F1.7
Exposure 1/8000 sec at f/2, ISO 320

Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2

Vince Lowe
Lens Minolta MD 50mm F1.7
4.45pm Exposure 1/8000 sec at f/4, ISO 250

5.15pm

Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2

Vince Lowe

Lens Minolta MD 50mm F1.7

Exposure 1/8000 sec at f/1.7, ISO 200

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 15

 one
to
one

‫א‬

Vince’s essential kit

for hybrid shooting
Shooting 35mm film, digital and video

1 IɖǴǣˡǼȅX-S10 Yashica Electro 35

A 26MP APS-C mirrorless, plus a
Fujinon XF16mm F1.4 R WR lens.
Consider your choice of film in a film camera
‫א‬ Yashica Electro 35 For those young enough to not remember film, there are some important things to consider that
GTN 35mm film rangefinder may not cross your mind with digital. One of them is choosing the right ISO for the scene, time of
camera with fixed 45mm f/1.7 lens. day or purpose. You will be stuck with that ISO for the whole film, affecting your shutter speed and
aperture settings. Film is pretty forgiving, however, and pushing and pulling techniques like setting
3 IɖǴǣˡǼȅX-Pro2 the camera at a different ISO to the film used, then countering the difference with adjustments in
26MP APS-C rangefinder mirrorless. developing time can help, although results can depend
Used with a Minolta MD 50mm F1.7 on the film. 400 ISO film is a safe-bet all-rounder that
manual focus lens via an adapter. can be used in the majority of lighting situations,
and it can usually deal quite well in low light
if pushed. www.cinestillfilm.com

video for my YouTube or Instagram reels. A

must-have accessory here is the variable ND interest and providing another chance to
filter I have in order to sit the shutter speed shoot some video clips before we hop back
at double the frame rate and be able to use a into the car, as Vince is keen to make the
shallow depth of field without overexposing.” short trip to Sand Bay. I ask Vince how
We stroll out along a very old, sludge- these environments lend themselves
ridden and slippery jetty to grab a short to his photography, and more importantly
video of the water, before realising that it how he sees them as cinematic.
might not be the best idea. So we make “I’ve always been inspired by the days
our way back up to the top to look when films were actually shot on film! A lot
for a new spot to shoot from. of the photography work I like to imagine
Retracing our steps, we walk a little are stills from a movie that was shot on film.
further towards the dilapidated Birnbeck Shooting these images on actual cinefilm
Pier. Originally opened in 1867, the pier stock makes them as genuine as can be, but
suffered significant damage over the years, also, as I explained earlier, using my Fujifilm
particularly in 1984 when £1 million worth camera with a vintage lens can give me the
of damage was caused to the pier by drifting film look, but with the modern convenience
equipment during engineering work in the of digital. I have been loving cropping my
I have always been nearby Sand Bay. After taking another images to a cinematic 2.35:1 ratio, and
severe battering in storms in 1990, the shooting in open, desolate-looking spaces
inspired by the times pier was closed for good in 1994. such as here at this time of year really
There are still plenty of photographic translates well. I am in love with both the
when films were opportunities in the area, with an old 45mm focal length of the Yashica and the
entrance house, warning signs and an 75mm equivalent focal length of the Minolta
actually shot on film! abandoned ticket booth piquing Vince’s lens on the Fujifilm. Both achieve great

12 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Hybrid film photography with Vince Lowe
Camera Yashica Electro 35 GTN
Lens 45mm F1.7 lens
Film used Cinestill 400D
Vince Lowe

3:11pm

Camera Yashica Electro 35 GTN

Lens 45mm F1.7 lens
Film used Cinestill 400D
Vince Lowe

4:01pm

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 15

one
to Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2

one Lens
Exposure
Minolta MD 50mm F1.7
1/8000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 320
Vince Lowe

‫׎דيא‬ȵȅ

bokeh with the f/1.7 wide apertures, which “I’ll just shoot a few more from here, as this
again lend well to the cinematic look.” is my favourite time for taking photographs
It’s late in the afternoon and the sun at this location. Everything looks warm and
is starting to go down. In the distance a extremely cinematic, especially as the light
little way down the bay, Vince spots some is now dropping. I can really open up this
driftwood washed up along the shore. lens’s aperture to f/1.7.”
“I sometimes like to shoot direct Vince gets down low into the foliage,
comparisons to have a look at later. I’m creating some foreground. He laughs,
always making lens videos for my YouTube ‘Actually, shooting this shallow you can’t
channel, so they’re pretty handy to have.” even see the foreground at all, but I
Shooting with his 35mm and Fujifilm like the look anyway.”
X-Pro2, Vince lines up a couple of images With storytelling at the heart of his vision,
with a high contrast of the logs. With the Vince explains that he often likes to tie
different focal lengths between the images from one scene together to create
cameras, Vince changes his shooting a visual narrative. A ‘triptych’ (three images
distance. As we start to wind down for the of a similar or contrasting theme woven
day, we head back towards the dunes. together; pictured, top right) is one of
Vince’s signature approaches when posting
Pack perfect on social media, and the fading light
presents a good opportunity for shooting
“Although I shoot stills handheld,
another one here to round off the afternoon.
I take my National Geographic
Shooting with film has experienced a
NGTR002T tripod everywhere I go.
I’m often on my own and I use it to
Taking photographs is huge resurgence of late [see Photo Active,
shoot all of my video content. pages 32-33] and Vince’s passion for it is
Its low 1.5kg weight capturing fragments of clear. His creativity has been the catalyst
makes it the perfect for creating his hybrid style of shooting as
travel companion memories. The process close to analogue as possible in a digital
when I’m out all day.” way, keeping the outgoing costs of
• www.national
geographic.com
for me is as important developing, printing and digitising film
to a minimum while still being able
as the end result to enjoy the process.

14 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Hybrid film photography with Vince Lowe
Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2 Camera Fujifilm X-Pro2
Lens Minolta MD 50mm F1.7 Lens Minolta MD 50mm F1.7
Exposure 1/160 sec at f/1.7, ISO 320 Exposure N/A

17:08pm ‫אבيה׏‬ȵȅ

“We should think of taking photos as

capturing fragments of memories. How
you took those photos will forever be
Vince’s top five tips
ingrained in your mind when you look back for shooting film
at them. This is why I think the process is
Five straightforward steps for taking your
as – if not more – important than the end
cinematic film images to the next level
result. My advice is to slow down, take
in the moment and create memories.” “Try to shoot with as wide an
1
While Vince’s digital workflow draws on aperture as you can when the
analogue, he says you can never truly replicate light starts to drop, helping create a
the character that occurs on 35mm film. shallow depth of field with a blurred
foreground or background.”
Digital
“For contrast in the scene, look
‫א‬
for light and shadow. Show how
they can play against each other or
work together for a cinematic look.”

Buying film 3
“Slightly overexpose the shot
when using film, as shadow
cameras detail is lost before highlights. Do
the opposite for digital and increase
Film A sizeable film camera the shadows in post-production.”
population can be found
on eBay, with many
“Keep it simple – sometimes
sellers residing in Japan, 4
minimal is best. Let the shot tell its own story.”
the world leader in
camera manufacturing.
“Find out what time sunset will be and what the
Be sure to check the 5
seller’s reviews and weather will be like and plan your trip around
eBay’s money-back them, allowing enough time beforehand to set up.”
guarantee, though.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 15

 1 | ACTION

TIP CARD
How to Take it on location
For the best chance of grabbing

be pitch a good shot, use continuous

focusing and high-speed
burst mode together.

perfect
You don’t need a press
badge to visit your local
club and capture some
fast-paced action
pring is the perfect time
to try out some fast-
S paced photography with
a sports team near
where you live. If you
have a zoom lens with a decent range
then you have everything you need.
Local matches are usually free to
attend and you can get reasonably
close to the action without being faced
by a fluorescent wall of stewards like
you find at professional matches. Today,
I’m taking my slightly older Fujifilm X-T2
(I don’t mind if it gets a bit beaten up
or splattered with mud) paired with a
Fujifilm XF 50-140mm F/2.8 R LM OIS
WR telephoto lens (a 70-200mm in
full-frame equivalent terms). I find
that it’s a perfect focal length for
this environment, allowing plenty of
versatility when the action is in the
closer half of the playing field.
Modern cameras have come a long
way in recent years and by utilising
the faster shutter speeds, burst modes
and ultra-fast focusing, you’ll be sure
to come away with a couple of points
on the board. Like any genre of
photography, the more you practise the
better you will get. However, with sport,
it’s important to not only know the
technical side of your camera, but to
learn how to read the game in front of
you. This will allow you to predict where
the ball is going and how the players will
interact, giving you a winning edge.

10 things you can shoot,

edit or create this month,
from sport to macro close-
ups and falcons in flight
www.digitalcameraworld.com
 Alistair Campbell

1/4000 f/2.8 ISO

sec 800

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 17

 RǣǕǝƺȸX³ ɀِِِ

Use back-button
2 focusing
Some photographers swear by
back-button focusing, while
others never use it, but it can
come in handy for fast-moving
subjects. When back button focus
is activated, the focusing system
ِِِmean faster shutter speeds is triggered by pressing a button
on the rear of the camera (usually
Increase your ISO for AF-ON). You then use the shutter
1 faster shutter speeds release to take the shot as normal.
It’s always tempting (especially when outdoors)
to keep your ISO close to 100 to reduce noise, Experiment with your aperture
but in order to drive your shutter speeds up and 3 I tend to shoot wide open most of the time, as it means my shutter
be able to capture crisp action, you need to speed is increased and I get a short, sharp shot. Sometimes a shallow
increase it to around ISO 640-1250. Once focus isn’t the best setting for a scene, so you may want a deeper
you’re shooting at 1/2000 sec and upwards, focus to incorporate more of the background. Try using anything
the photos need to get a lot more light. from f/1.8 (if your lens allows it) to f/9 for different aesthetics.

‫׏‬ٜ‫׎׎׎ג‬sec at fٜ‫ًזِא‬X³ ‫׎׎ז‬

Tackling the basics

Stand in the best position – for me this is anywhere at each end rather
than by the sideline. This way, the action will be coming towards you
Use burst mode
and you’ll be more likely to see the ball in shot. If there are barriers
or fences surrounding the pitch, utilise them to your advantage and The more you shoot, the better you will
steady your shot. You might want to consider shooting via the LCD become. Try sticking with one lens for a short
screen, as this will enable you to scan the play by looking over your period of time until its field of view becomes
camera at the game and help you predict where the ball might be second nature. Program buttons to work
going next. Shoot in small, sharp bursts to keep your image counts with your style and tip the technical scales
down to a manageable level once you get back to your computer. so they work to your advantage.

18 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 ‫א‬۴³Á«00Á

Get some
shade
Learn how to shoot
the streets with
Darren Ridgway
live in Bristol, so naturally

I I spend most of my time

shooting photos there. In
the last couple of years
since the world opened up again, I’ve
been lucky enough to make a few trips
to other cities in Europe (Como, Geneva,
Montreux, Beziers and Speyer) to
develop my camera skills. The genre of
street photography is very broad: you
walk around a public area with a camera
and take pictures of whatever you find
interesting. It’s extremely accessible
to anyone with a camera of any kind,
which makes it a great way to hone your
photographic skills. It is also definitely
one of the more challenging forms of
photography in terms of raw skill.
Walking into a busy city centre can be
quite intimidating and overwhelming.
The way I usually overcome this is to
find a bench or somewhere to sit quietly.
Then, starting at your own pace, just
start shooting interesting things.
Before you know it, you’ll be fully
immersed and clicking away.
Instagram: @darren_ridgway

Darren Ridgway
1/250 f/6.3 ISO
sec 100

Super street smarts Ricoh GR III Street Edition

When I’m out shooting I usually leave I bought the Ricoh purely as a small pocket
my camera in Aperture Priority mode, camera that I can take wherever I want,
with a minimum shutter speed of 1/250 sec but is still a camera that packs an awesome
to capture fast-moving subjects and Auto amount of image quality and a large
ISO set to 6400 as a maximum limit. You 24MP APS-C sensor.
can usually find these settings in your
camera’s menu. For my aperture I don’t
normally drop below f/4 unless I’m in
very low light conditions. One of my go-to
cameras for street photography is the
Ricoh GR III Street Edition, as it easily fits in
my pocket, so I tend to carry it everywhere.
Being light on your feet is important.

20 D I G I TA L C A M E R A
 3 | nz(³!¨0³

How to be
a rock star
Stuart Hamon sets
his sights on shooting
stunning seascapes
during the golden hour
here has always been
something magical about
T the sea. I am fortunate
enough to live on the
small island of Guernsey,
so I’m surrounded by the ocean.
It’s best to shoot seascapes during the
golden hour. The light is more dramatic,
and if you love to capture the silky
movement in the water, then having less
light will allow a slower shutter speed.
To get the right amount of movement
in the waves, I usually use shutter speeds
of around 1/8 to 2.0 sec. Take a range
of shots at different speeds and decide
what looks best afterwards.
The benefits of shooting in the
digital age are that you can experiment
with settings without it costing you
a small fortune.
www.stuarthamon.com

2 f/11 ISO
secs 100

Be prepared Stay sturdy

Ideally you want to arrive an hour before sunset or sunrise and plan to shoot First and foremost, you need a good tripod. I’m using the Nova Explora T5 Carbon
for an hour after sunrise/sunset. Don’t assume that because the sun is gone, Fibre, which is a lightweight yet tough tripod that’s relatively compact, but goes
the show is over! There are plenty of great opportunities in the ‘blue hour’, large on load rating. I shoot with a Canon EOS R5 and always take an RF 24-70mm
with the colours of the sky and the light changing by the minute. F2.8L IS USM and RF 70-200 F2.8L IS USM to cover most scenarios.
 ‫ג‬۴nXJRÁ« x

Round the river blend

Alistair Campbell shows how to salvage your incorrect exposures
by blending them together with Adobe Lightroom’s HDR option

Under-exposed -1EV Over-exposed +1EV

Alistair Campbell

am lucky enough
to be surrounded
I by beautiful canals
and countryside,
How to increase the dynamic range of your photos
The HDR Merge Preview window opens and Lightroom similar function to the Auto Tone settings in the Basic
and often take creates a preview of the HDR image. This may take panel of the Develop module. I find that HDR merge
my camera everywhere with some time, especially if you have selected several works best with the Auto Align and Auto Tone boxes
no real expectations of taking images. By default, the Auto Align and Auto Tone boxes ticked (see below). If there is subject movement
anything special while clicking are ticked, and the Deghost Amount is set to None. between frames, you can set Deghost Amount to
away. Photography is a process Lightroom remembers the last settings used, if you Low, Medium or High (trial and error is the only way
to be enjoyed regardless of have changed them. Auto Align is useful if the camera to see what works best, and is different for each
the final outcome. has moved between exposures (for example, if you set of images). It is best to HDR merge with files
hand-held the camera), and Auto Tone performs a that haven’t been edited in the Develop module.
On this day, the sun was just
off to the left, lighting up the canal,
particularly the sky, water and side
of the long boats. I took a quick
snap – a bit dark, I thought. I
reduced my shutter speed a little
to allow for a bit more ambient light
to enter – a bit too bright, I thought,
but I had gathered enough data to
correct everything in editing later.
As long as your two images
haven’t strayed too far from each
other composition-wise, I know
I’ve always got the option to merge
them together, creating a higher
dynamic range between the darkest
and brightest parts of the image. In
a perfect scenario you might want
a third image (correctly exposed) to
get the ultimate amount of dynamic
range, but today I’ll be showing you
how the technique will still work with
just a couple of images. Final HDR
So launch Lightroom on your
computer and let’s make a start.
 1/125 f/2.8 ISO
sec 1250
5 | x!«

The queen’s gambit

Alistair Campbell uses a macro focusing rail to
stack multiple subjects for a deeper depth of field
his month, it’s time to take the stalemate out of your macro photography

T with some focus stacking. One of the more challenging aspects of macro
photography is working with a shallow depth of field afforded to you by
macro lenses and close working distances.
For this project, we’ve borrowed a Nisi Macro Photography Focusing Rail (NM-180)
with a 360º rotatable clamp, which gives you the ability to accurately adjust your
camera when shooting smaller subjects in any direction. The rail itself is only
180mm long but that’s plenty of length to shoot enough images for the final blend.
Focus stacking refers to an image that is made up of multiple shots with different
focal points. Each one has the same exposure and aperture – all you’re doing is moving
the focal point along a little at a time. We’re using a dedicated macro lens: Canon’s EF
100mm F/2.8L IS USM Macro. Focus stacking is a two-part process – here, we’re
looking at the shooting stage; next issue we’ll cover merging your images together.
www.nisioptics.co.uk
Alistair Campbell
 PART
1 OF 2
See issue 267,
on sale 4 April,
for Part 2

Before

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 27

 Set up your focusing rail
1 To begin, set up your tripod and mount the focusing rail Shoot in manual focus
on top. You want to be moving towards your subjects 2 Setting your camera and lens to manual is imperative for
and through the focus plane rather than parallel to the the process to work. Set your focus manually to be pin-
scene. Think of it as a door you need to walk through to sharp on the chess piece in the foreground, and do not
see what’s on the other side. Ideally, you want to be level re-focus again. Moving your camera forwards while also
to the subjects rather than looking down or up at them. focusing each time in a new place simply won’t work.

Dial in your ISO, aperture

3 and shutter speed
As you can’t change it during the shooting process, it’s
important with light and dark subjects that you check
the exposure of your first and final shot before deciding
on an exposure that works well throughout.

Essential kit: focusing rails

We used a Nisi Macro Focusing Rail (NM-180) with a 360º
rotatable clamp that is made of high-quality aluminium,
and is hard-anodised with a corrosion-resistant
finish. It’s light and portable, but strong, with
a 5kg load capacity. The rail features an
integrated Arca-type compatible quick-release
clamp, and also includes an Arca-type plate.
The hedge rail itself has a double
dovetail mounting, and
therefore fits most
Arca-type clamps.

28 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Photo Active

Get your camera moving Shooting your images

4 This Nisi rail comes with a small crank fitted 5 It’s vital that you check the first frame and
to the end, allowing you to make very small more importantly the last one, too. You want
movements along the rail with ease and to have enough space and headroom around
precision. It’s accurate, enabling you to move all the pieces to enable easier merging later.
just 1mm if you like, and avoids having to Starting at 80mm, I took around 20 images
touch your camera or the rail itself. (one every 5mm), finishing at 180mm.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 29

 6 | !x0«¨R z0³

Happy
snapping
The best camera is
always the one you
have with you, says
Alistair Campbell
n a previous life, I worked
at a community media
I centre. Our aim was to
encourage people to be
creative with whatever
tools they might have available. This
would include mobile phones, tablets
and even old camcorders.
I love to have my mirrorless or DSLR
on me most of the time, but now and
then you just need a break from viewing
the world through a lens, right? All hail
the camera phone! Since the late 1990s,
most of us have had some sort of
image-making equipment in our
pockets, many of the resulting shots
never seeing the light of day. Fast-
forward a couple of decades, and the
camera phone is now nearly as smart
as our main cameras, but not quite.
I refrain from using any ‘pro’ modes
with my phone, because for me it needs
to remain in the role of a basic point-and-
click device. But that doesn’t mean you
can’t take decent images. It’s good to go
back to basics, think about composition
and content, and enjoy taking some
snaps with a fresh outlook.

1/750 f/1.9 ISO

sec 575
Alistair Campbell

Alistair’s top tips

for smartphone
Essential kit: photography
Snapseed My main advice when shooting with your
photo app phone is to take back some control. As you
offer up your lens to a scene, your camera
If I’m taking photos on my phone, I’ll will have a pretty decent guess at an overall
always use Snapseed to edit them. exposure, and I’ve found that this can often
With a plethora of photo-editing lead to blown-out highlights. Instead, tap
tools available, from basic exposure the screen on the brightest part of the
adjustments to vintage, grunge or image, and tell your camera to expose
retrolux overlays, it always allows for that. This will produce a far better end
your images to stand out in a crowd. product, and even give you more versatility
www.snapseed.online when you play with light and dark areas.
 PART
1 OF 3
Part 2 in issue
267, on sale
4 April

‫ו‬۴IXnx¨R Á J«¨Rç embraced the ‘lo-fi’ aspect of their artistic

appeal. If you’re drawn to these unpredictable

Creative light flaws bursts of fiery oranges and yellows and want
to try creating your own light leaks, all you
need is a roll of 35mm colour or black-and-
So many analogue ‘flaws’ have become desirable white negative film, a camera and a sense of
effects in the digital world, none more so than adventure. Light leaks occur when minuscule
traces of light creep into a camera’s film
light leaks, says Liza Kanaeva-Hunsicker compartment, typically when a camera’s
sealing foam isn’t as light-tight as it once
nce the scourge of film and negative rebates (visible edges of the was, or the back of the camera is opened

O photographers the world over,

there are now thousands of
film frame in the final image), these optical
imperfections are evocative reminders of
by mistake. These errant traces of light can
lead to uneven exposures and flame-like
free light-leak overlays to analogue technology’s unique idiosyncrasies ‘burn’ patterns across the film and, like lens
download and apply to your images, and offer a quick and easy way to add warmth flare and vignettes (dark corners), were
perfect for digital photographers wanting and individuality to an image, a fact not lost traditionally seen as unwanted defects
to achieve that ‘vintage’ look. Like grain on the likes of Lomography, who have warmly associated with cheap cameras and poor

32 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Essential kit: Psych Blues
#2 film roll, ISO 200,
36 exposure. $20
Psych Blues produce a wide mixture
of creative films that produce effects
to your photos. The one used here is
Psychedelic Blues #2, which is hand
fogged with various sources of light.
psychblues.com

Christian Mack
Light-leak tips
Shooting 120 film and want to experiment with light leaks? No problem. Next time you finish
a roll and remove it from the camera, rather than tape it up ready for the lab, loosen the film
between your fingers and massage it around for a second or two, allowing a few rays of light
to sneak into any gaps you create. As with 35mm film, start ‘leaking’ in a dimly lit room. The
colours and patterns will be different every time, but that’s half the fun. Another ‘defect’ from
BUY THE BOOK the analogue days you can play with is lens flare, for a more cinematic look. Lens flare is caused
Shooting Film by Ben Hawkins by stray light bouncing around inside your lens and is usually to be avoided, although it’s currently
and Liza Kanaeva-Hunsicker in vogue with hotshot movie directors such as J.J. Abrams (virtually every scene in Star Trek Into
(ISBN 978-1-78157-834-6) Darkness features lens flare). To add a touch of flare, shoot towards the light source – though
is published by Ilex Press never directly at the sun – and remove your lens hood if it has one attached. Older film-era
and is on sale now, priced lenses feature less effective coatings than their modern equivalents and so are more prone
£20/$24.99. to flare. As always, if you want to refine your approach, make notes as you shoot.
bds photo

www.ilexinstant.com

technique. The irony is that intentional light exposures. It’s best to start your light-leaking shoot. Just remember that the same rules
leaks have become so popular you can now adventures in a darkened room – you can apply: make sure the lens cap is in situ, turn
buy pre-exposed films from the likes of Psych always add more light, but you can’t take the camera off every time, and only open the
Blues that come with ready-made light it away. With your camera comfortably film door for a split second. Of course, if time
streaks and orbs. We’re going to adopt a more supported between your thighs, click the is of the essence and you still want to ‘leak’ on
DIY approach, however, and there are two shutter and wind the film on several times, location, you could always take your pictures
simple techniques that guarantee dramatic turn the camera off and then open the back and intermittently open the back of the
effects. The easiest way to create light leaks is of the camera for a split second. Repeat this camera as you rewind the film, though this
to shoot your images as you normally would process until you reach the end of the film and is a less predictable approach that may result
and then expose your film to light. Once you’ve then wind it back into its cartridge again. For in a few lost frames. Up to five frames will be
taken your pictures, wind the film back into its stronger light leaks, work in a brighter room exposed to light every time you open the film
cartridge and remove it from the camera as or open the back of the camera for longer, but door, so less is often more with this technique.
normal. Use a film retriever to pull the leader be aware that too much light can ‘burn’ away For truly unique results, adopt a mix-and-
back out and reload the cartridge as though entire frames. If you’re feeling brave and want match approach and combine intentional
it were a fresh, unexposed roll. At this point, more control over which frames are affected light leaks with cross-processing, multiple
make sure the lens or body cap is firmly in by light leaks – or don’t like the idea of using a exposures or zoom bursts.
place, as we don’t want to shoot any multiple film retriever – you could try ‘leaking’ as you @liza_kanaeva_

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 33

 Before After

Getting started
with Filter Forge
and exploring
its interface 1

The ever-growing Filter

1
Library offers 6,655 photo
effects and 7,214 texture filters.
2
Finely tune the overall
2
settings of your applied filter
4
including transparency and tone.

Always have a reference to

3
your original image ready
to hand for comparison.

Your applied filter, which you 3

4
can see develop in real time
as you adjust your settings.

y using filters in post- Using pre-made filters usually

processing you can take produces results that look better
B your photo editing to the
next level of proficiency
and are easier to obwwtain than what
woud be achieved by manually editing
and quality. Applying your images with the same vision in
‫ז‬۴0(XÁXzJ the effects of the thousands of filters mind. For example, with ‘Old Photo’
available is the best and fastest (which we are creating here), you

Explore
way to get better edits rather than would have to go and photograph the
spending hours on a single image. old texture yourself, overlay the image
Filter Forge allows you to try a or mask out sections you don’t want,

Filter Forge
variety of styles on your photos. It then add scratches and so on. Why
can take photographers years to do that when Filter Forge has already
test and master a variety of editing done all the heavy lifting for you?
Alistair Campbell tries out a styles to create an aesthetic they Filter Forge is now on version 12,
like. Filters can transform a good and next month we’ll be giving away
powerful program for helping photo into an absolute work version 9 for you to put to the test.
to create eye-catching images of art if used properly. www.filterforge.com

34 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Photo Active
GET
FILTER FORGE
FOR FREE
NEXT ISSUE!
Try this powerful software for
yourself – we’re giving away
version 9 in issue 267, on
sale 4 April 2023

How to transform your images using Filter Forge

Choose your look

1 Open the image in Photoshop before doing a basic edit, then at the top screen
menu select ‘Filter’, then ‘Filter Forge’ in the dropdown. Once opened, you are
met with an array of filters to choose from. Here, I selected ‘Old Photo’, which works well
Top Tip: Tweaking with the weathered-looking street. After a few tweaks in the settings, it was ready.
your image settings
Your chosen filter will have a variety
of settings – depending on the style –
where you can further tweak your image.
For example, here with ‘Old Photo’,
I can increase the amount of grain,
stains or scratches for a bespoke finish.

About Filter Forge

Filter Forge works as a standalone
application for Windows and Mac, or as a
plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop
Elements, Paint Shop Pro, Affinity Photo
and others. Filter Forge users get free
access to its online Filter Library with Compare your filter
thousands of photo effects and seamless 2 At the top of your interface, check the tick box next to ‘Show Original’. You’ll then
textures — all fully adjustable. All filters be able to pull the side bar to the left or right to reveal your original image and
in the Library are free to download your new creation as a direct side-by-side comparison. It’s always great to
and use in any Filter Forge edition. have instant access to your original file so you don’t over-egg the pudding.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 35

 Use a super-telephoto lens
1 For images this close up, you’ll need a focal
length of 200mm, ideally upwards. Shot
at 255mm on a Canon EF 100-400mm
f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, this lens allows you to
achieve frame-filling images of your subject
across the entire screen. This shot size will
take your bird photography to the next level.

‫ח‬۴áXn(nXI0

Capture birds
of prey in flight
Take a trip to your local falconry
to test your telephoto skills
 Photo Active

Use continuous focus The right focus mode

2 You’ll want to use continuous autofocus 3 Continuous autofocus mode (AI Servo AF
when photographing things that are moving. on Canon cameras) can be tailored easily
This is a great choice for things like wildlife to suit your subjects or situations. You can
photography, sport and portraits. This focus tweak the tracking sensitivity, adjust for
mode works while you have the shutter accelerating or decelerating subjects and
button held halfway down, because choose to avoid focusing on objects in the
it continues to hunt for focus. foreground that may come into the frame.

Keep it clean
4 Your autofocus system will perform best
when you shoot against a clean background
with little contrast. If this isn’t an option,
remember that the further away the
background is, the better. A distant forest is
much better than trees right behind the bird.

Turn off stabilisation

5 This might sound counter-intuitive, but
when shooting subjects in flight, you will be
using shutter speeds that negate any need
for image stabilisation. Having it on might
make it harder to track subjects and may
slow lens performance.

Essential kit: Canon

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-
5.6L IS II USM
The 100-400mm optic is
great for wildlife, but it’s also
useful as a walk-around
lens which can capture
some unique shots.

1/3200 f/5 ISO

Dan Mold

sec 400
 Getty
‫׎׏‬۴I (

Egg-cellent!
Hop to it and shoot Easter eggs before
the children get their hands on them
ood or product most stellar scene won’t matter if

F photography can be
a simple but fun way
the light isn’t right. Natural light is
your best friend when it comes
to add another skill to to photography. Consider setting
your bow. Typically, you can set up a small table in front of a door
up your shoot on a dining room or window when taking your
table, but to go one step further, pictures – this will allow plenty
you can pick up a small cloth of natural light in.
backdrop or neutral-coloured Avoid using flash if possible,
piece of card for a finer finish. as it is often too harsh, and will Choose your shutter speed
Dark rooms are not photo create an unpleasant glare or 2 The faster the shutter speed, the darker the image
friendly – even the best food and shiny areas over the food. will be. When using an aperture of f/2.8 and a low
ISO of 200, the shutter speed will need to be
around 1/125-1/250 sec for a sharp image.
Settings for capturing fabulous food shots

Use a fast aperture Keep digital noise to a minimum

1 Every lens will have a different aperture – usually the 3 Setting your ISO to a lower range is the best way
more expensive it is, the wider the aperture will be to keep noise out of your images. Opt for a setting
(some open up to f/1.2). This allows for a shallower between 100-400 for the best results, especially
depth of field, or in simple terms, a softer background. if you like to do a lot of work in post-processing.
The art
Boundaries can be good fuel for the
creative process. Set yourself a challenge
like this and see where it takes you.

of seeing
when Bevan was present also caught
my eye. Together, these two images,
presented as a diptych, seemed to
work well together, and spoke to the
spirit of the pace as I encountered it.
I’ve talked about boundaries in this
column before and how they can
Benedict Brain explores the Blackdown Hills in actually be a useful catalyst for the
creative process. It feels kind of counter-
the wake of the Camden Town Group of artists intuitive, but I believe it to be true. Even
though the work I made could not be
more different for Robert Bevan’s
ecently, a bunch of artists, Hills making work. As a creative painting of the hay harvest, using his
myself included, were invited springboard, I was given The Hay painting and the location fuelled me in

R to journey to the Blackdown

Hills, a quiet rural landscape
on the Devon and Somerset
Harvest, Harts Farm by Robert Bevan
to respond to. It proved an interesting
foundation to engage with a location.
a way to make images that I wouldn’t
have made had I just been wandering
aimlessly with my camera. If you can
border, designated an area It was a crisp, freezing cold winter think of a way to incorporate this way
of outstanding natural beauty. Despite day with a beautiful low-raking light of working into your image-making
the relatively close proximity to my that spilled into the lens when I then I’m certain you’ll benefit.
home, I didn’t know the Blackdown happened to visit – a magnificent day.
Hills. However, it was well known I found the right farm, and after a brief
among artists from the Camden Town introduction was given free rein to
Group, a group of post-Impressionist explore. Signs of hay were obviously
artists who came together in Camden not evident, but I think I found the right
Town in London in 1911. The group field and set about making work. Soon,
still exists today under the revised I was seduced by the semi-industrial
name of The London Group. farm machinery parked at the bottom Benedict Brain
Back then, in the early part of the of the field. The monster-like shapes www.benedictbrain.com
20th century, artists such as Spencer took on an imposing and sinister vibe. Camera: Fujifilm GFX 50R
Gore, Charles Ginner and Robert In other parts of the area, old farm Lens: GF45mm F2.8 R WR (equivalent 36mm)
Bevan spent time in the Blackdown buildings that would have been there Settings: 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 100
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www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 41

 Hotshots

OVERALL WINNER
FIRST PLACE:
Category: Animals
‘Nature’s Pitfall’
Samantha Stephens
“Northern Pitcher Plants
(Sarracenia purpurea) are
carnivorous, allowing them
to survive in nutrient-poor bog
environments. Instead of drawing
nutrients up through their roots,
this plant relies on trapping prey in
its specialised bell-shaped leaves,
called pitchers. Typically, these
plants feast on invertebrates,
but recently, researchers at
the Algonquin Wildlife Research
Station discovered a surprising
new item on the plant’s menu:
juvenile spotted salamanders.
“On the day I made this image,
I was following researchers on
their daily surveys of the plants.
Pitchers typically contain just one
salamander at a time, although
occasionally they catch multiple
ones. When I saw a pitcher that had
two salamanders, both at the same
stage of decay floating at the
surface of the pitcher’s fluid, I knew
that it was a special and fleeting
moment. The next day, both
salamanders had sunk to the
bottom of the pitcher.”
Hotshots
Close-up Photographer of the Year
The winners and highlights from

42 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Hotshots

© Samantha Stephens | cupoty.com

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 43

 Hotshots

© Nathan Benstead | cupoty.com

OVERALL WINNER, Category: Young
‘Hemitrichia Calyculata’ Nathan Benstead
“I was walking through my local woodland last
winter, inspecting rotten logs and sticks, when
I came across a log covered in slime mould fruiting
bodies, or sporangia. I set up my camera gear
and focused on a small cluster among the moss.”

FIRST PLACE, Category: Plants,

‘Next To My Tree’ Sébastien Blomme
“Snake’s-head fritillary is one of my
favourite flowers. This one was taken
in the city of Toulouse, France. It usually
© Sébastien Blomme | cupoty.com

grows on wet meadows, but can also be

found in forests. In this image, I wanted
to introduce some context, but keep
the flower as the centre of interest. I
managed to get a tree in the background,
and decided to keep it out of focus so
that its shape is only suggested.”

44 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023
FIRST PLACE, Category: Fungi,
‘Ice Encrusted Comatricha’
Barry Webb
“In January last year, following two days of
freezing fog and sub-zero temperatures, I found
some mature Comatricha growing on an old
fence post lying on a pile of discarded, rotting
timber. I was attracted to the way the ice had
encased the slime mould, creating strange,
windswept, leaf-like shapes. The tallest one
was only 3mm high, including the ice. The
final image is the result of 55 focus-bracketed
images combined in Zerene Stacker.”

© Barry Webb | cupoty.com

 © Anirban Dutta | cupoty.com
FIRST PLACE, Category: Insects ‘Intruder’ Anirban Dutta
“Before the start of the monsoon every year, some species of termite swarm in the late afternoon and early evening – this behaviour
is known as nuptial flight. One day, I witnessed this event near a petrol pump in the town of Cooch Behar, India. There were thousands
of termites drawn to the powerful street light, and one black drongo. This bird spent almost 20 minutes swooping through the termites,
snatching and eating them as it went.
“I shot multiple exposures to capture this event, which I had never seen before. Three frames were recorded and combined in-camera:
the first one with a high shutter speed and a warmer Kelvin white balance, the second with a high shutter speed isolating the drongo,
and the third with a slow shutter speed and a colder white balance.”

FIRST PLACE, Category:

Intimate Landscape,
‘Frequency’
Mike Curry
“This is a reflection of a building
at Canary Wharf in London,
taken in November. The water
was moving in a very fluid way,
and I was there to try out my
new Sony RX100 VI – I was
particularly keen to test the
camera’s fast-burst and
slow-motion video modes. I
© Mike Curry | cupoty.com

was struggling to get it to focus

on the water’s surface, but
after about two hours of failed
attempts, it suddenly worked,
and the results were amazing!”

46 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 © Jamie Hall | cupoty.com

FIRST PLACE, Category: Invertebrate Portrait ‘Mayan Derriere’ Jamie Hall

“This triangular spider species (Arkys curtulus) is an ambush predator, not a web-based hunter like most. To hunt
its prey, it sits compact and curled up on a leaf, mimicking bird poo or other bio-debris. Balanced abdomen-side
down, eyes up, it looks to the sky and watches for an unsuspecting fly or other insect to wander onto the leaf. The
abdomen on this species has some very pronounced and interesting markings, which reminded me of the Mayan
carvings on rocks and stones. This individual was photographed in a conservation park in Brisbane, Australia.”

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 47

 © Viktor Lyagushkin | cupoty.com

FIRST PLACE, Category: Invertebrate Underwater

‘Little Predator’ Viktor Lyagushskin
“This is a Lucernaria quadricornis (Stauromedusae),
a stalked jellyfish, photographed beneath the ice of
the White Sea in Russia – the only freezing sea in Europe.
The green water is a sign of spring as algae grows.
“The ‘leg’ of the jellyfish helps it attach to a stone or
seaweed. Its tentacles project up or down, waiting for
prey. If it’s successful, it catches the prey and collapses
its tentacles into a fist. If it’s unsuccessful, Lucernaria
walks away on its leg, or sometimes its ‘hands’.”

FIRST PLACE, Category: Micro

‘Batrachospermum Red Algae’ Marek Miś
“I took a sample of Batrachospermum (a kind of red algae) from
a river in Wigry National Park, Poland. By combining polarised
light and darkfield techniques, I got a colourful picture.
“It was challenging to show more than one or two ‘twigs’ of
algae, because even a 4x microscope objective shows too small
a part. I made a panorama of nine images stitched together in
© Marek Miś | cupoty.com

post-processing. To expand the depth of field, which is shallow

with a microscope, each image consists of several frames
combined in one output image in Helicon Focus. The final image
is the result of combining more than 100 separate shots.”

48 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 © Matt Vacca | cupoty.com

FIRST PLACE,
Category: Manmade
‘Oil & Water 44’ Matt Vacca
“This picture was captured as
two drops of oil were merging.
I’m intrigued by polarity, and Celebrating close-up, macro
experimenting with oil and water
has become a rich source of
and micro photography
abstract expression. The symbiotic CUPOTY launched in 2018, with the aim of making
relationship that evolves from close-up, macro and micro photography centre
naturally opposing elements has stage, celebrating it and its many forms in its
become metaphoric for me. I am own right. Now in its fourth year, and supported
constantly learning and finding new by Affinity Photo 2, CUPOTY saw over 9,000
inspiration, as I watch and continue pictures entered, from 54 countries,
to be fascinated by the dance that across its 11 categories.
plays out through a macro lens.” www.cupoty.com

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 49

 HOW TO MASTER COMPOSITION

FIX YOUR
FRAMING!
Learn how to create images with added
impact using these tried and trusted
techniques and expert insights from
Jon Adams and Andrew James

f there’s a single thing that separates Over the next 11 pages, we’re going to approach

I
a good photo from a not-so-good one, this core subject in a fresh way by breaking down
it’s composition. Whether it’s a scenic the art of framing into seven bite-sized chunks,
landscape, a portrait, an architectural so you can digest the theory and put it into
study or a wildlife picture, how you practice next time you’re out with your camera.
frame up and arrange your shot is the most defining
element in terms of impacting the viewer of the image.
We all know that a smartphone in the right hands
will capture a better shot than a top-end camera in the
wrong ones, and this is because composition is the
CONTENTS
photographer’s primary weapon. Other factors play 1 Crop out the clutter page 51
their part, like having good light and sharpness in the 2 Designing your shot 52
right areas, but none of that matters if you haven’t
framed the shot effectively to tell the story. 3 Rules & when to break them 54
As the great Ansel Adams once said, “There are 4 Capturing the decisive moment 56
always two people in every picture: the photographer
and the viewer.” With your choice of composition, you 5 Shoot loose and compose later 57
need to cover both perspectives – framing the shot 6 Try different framing formats 58
so it works for you, and communicating the contents
of the frame effectively for the viewer. 7 Using software to recompose 59

50 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 FIX YOUR FRAMING!

1 Crop out the clutter Keep the frame simple

busy, cluttered frame can be confusing for a viewer, so when you come

A
across a scene that you think has potential as a shot, think about why it
has potential – what are the major ingredients that attracted your eye
and made you reach for your camera? Make a mental note and log
these elements, as they are the things that made you consider
picking up your camera in the first place, and are therefore what your shot is about.
Just as important as what your shot is about is what it is not about! When you frame
up – balancing the key elements within the viewfinder (more on that over the page) – look
carefully around the edges. If you have included any components that are not part of the
story you’re telling, then they shouldn’t be there. Crop them out, either by using your
zoom or moving your feet, so your shot does not contain anything that is not contributing.
What you exclude is just as important as what you include, and checking the edges This derelict boat, lit by dappled sunlight shining
of the frame is a vital habit to get into. It’s all too easy to be so absorbed by the main through nearby trees, is the simple core ingredient
elements that you overlook any distractions that may be poking in, disrupting of the frame, but is also balanced by the creek
the simplicity of the composition and ultimately reducing its impact. curving out to sea in the middle ground.

Jon Adams

1/60 ISO
sec f/16 100

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 FIX YOUR FRAMING!

‫ژא‬ (ƺɀǣǕȇǣȇǕɵȒɖȸɀǝȒɎ
ɯǣɎǝɀǝƏȵƺɀƏȇƳɀȵƏƬƺ
Use the position and angle of your camera, plus the focal
length of your lens, to frame up with confidence
ny scene you look at is
PRO TIP HIGH OR LOW ANGLE?
A
nothing more than a series
of shapes essentially Once you have an understanding of the shot on the left is perhaps the
created by tone and the shapes within your scene, you can typical way to shoot this scene from
contrast. This is why, when start to consider details and where they a standing position. There’s nothing
artists start work on a painting, they begin should sit within the frame. Where you wrong with it, except perhaps there is
with a very rough outline of what they can position your camera in terms of angle too much ‘empty’ ground between the
see, and then block in shapes in light and and height is critical – don’t shoot all main tree and those behind it – and that
dark tones to give their image a structure your images from eye-level at your space isn’t adding anything to the
to add the detail to. We photographers can’t standing height. This may be a composition. But if you get down lower
work in exactly the same way, but we can comfortable way to work, but it means with the camera (right), it’s easy to see
visualise the structure of a given scene that your pictures will all have a how the scene becomes simplified and
by squinting slightly to remove the detail predictable regularity to them, and you more ordered. The nearest tree is still
and consider the balance of objects. want to engage your viewer with more the boldest shape dominating the
An artist can easily manipulate the interesting perspectives on the world image, but the more distant trees now
basic shapes if they feel the composition is than ones they’re already familiar with. complement it in a less obvious way and
wrong, but photographers need to do this Consider the landscape image below: the empty space has been removed.
with viewpoint and focal length. Simply by
taking the time to stop and consider the
High angle Low angle
overall balance of the key elements, you’re
starting to design your image in a way
that takes it well beyond a simple snap.
It’s easier to know when a composition is
wrong than when you’ve got it right! When
it’s wrong, all the elements will be jumbled
and your eyes – or your viewer’s – won’t
know where to look. It’s your job as the

Andrew James
photographer to guide them by ensuring
that all the elements, even in a busy
landscape scene, are working in harmony.

ÈɀƺɮǣƺɯˡȇƳƺȸǕȸǣƳɀɎȒǝƺǼȵɵȒɖ
Choose from various overlay options to assist your eye and ensure that you’re on the level

Canon viewfinder grid display Nikon viewfinder grid display Electronic Level indicator
1 To bring up viewfinder guides on
2 To access viewfinder guides on
3 Most cameras have a level indicator
a Canon camera, select Grid display Nikon cameras, enter the Custom that can be seen in the viewfinder
in the menu. Choose from 3x3, 6x4 Setting menu, select Shooting/ or on the Live View screen. These are
or 3x3+diag, which is the 3x3 grid Display then Viewfinder Grid useful for preventing wonky horizons
plus two lines running diagonally Display. Switch it on to get when shooting scenics – showing as
to each opposite corner, crossing horizontal and vertical guidelines green when the camera is held level,
in the centre of the frame. at 25% increments. but yellow (or red) when it isn’t.

52 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Use space PRO TIP
DON’T ALWAYS
ƺǔǔƺƬɎǣɮƺǼɵ USE THE OBVIOUS
FOCAL LENGTH
How to balance the different
elements in your scene The focal length you choose will
have a profound effect on your
You will often have an obvious focal point that composition because it will
is the subject of your image. This is typical of dramatically alter the field of view.
wildlife photographs, but can be applied to With a wide-angle lens, whatever is
almost every genre in some way. Your main in the foreground will be dominant
subject has a direct relationship with what’s and therefore important for
around it. Think of the focal point – in this case constructing your photo. A longer
a flamingo – as positive space (1). The area to focal length narrows the view,
the right is passive space (2) and the zone to meaning foreground is less
the left is active space (3). The background important, but other compositional
reeds and foreground water are negative space guidelines, such as the use of space
(4). Balancing all four elements is important, and positioning, can become more
Shot at 135mm for a different
and the role played by active space – which is relevant. Choosing the right focal
aesthetic, the telephoto lens
the area the subject can look or move into – is length is one of the best ways to has also compressed the
critical. As a general guide, it should be bigger make sense of what you see in front front-to-back elements.
than the passive space behind the subject or of you, and although it might seem
the negative space above and below. that using a wide-angle is obvious
for landscapes and a telephoto for wildlife, inverting that choice can help you shoot
some really interesting images. A long telephoto lens is great for picking out details

4 in a landscape that, when shot with a wide-angle, will look small and less significant

Andrew James
within the frame. Equally, when a wide-angle wildlife image is taken, it gives a
different perspective that can offer greater context about your subject.

3 1 2

4
1/1000 ISO
sec f/5.6 800

The active space in front of the

flamingo is a vital element of
the framing, as it leaves room
for the subject to move into.
 FIX YOUR FRAMING!

IȸƏȅǣȇǕȸɖǼƺɀ٫ƏȇƳ
ɯǝƺȇɎȒƫȸƺƏǸɎǝƺȅٍ
Choose between having harmony or tension
e’ve already looked at how using all the rules have been broken, because other

W
active space can bring harmony compositional devices have been used to ensure
to a scene, but by turning the the image works. While the passive space in the
concept on its head and having ‘tension’ picture is given more weight than the
more space behind the main active space, the natural framing created by the
subject than in front (right), we can create red blur to the left and the punchbag on the right
tension. Breaking the rules like this won’t always locks the frame together. But in the image below,
work, yet when you have a subject that lends itself we have a ‘harmonious’ composition that does
to it, the result can be effective. But even here, not not break the active/passive space rules.

The active space

in front of the boxer
is larger than the
passive space behind
him, keeping the
shot’s composition
within the ‘rules’.

‘Harmonious’ – rules followed ‘Tension’ – rules broken

RȒɯɎȒɖɀƺɎǝƺȸɖǼƺȒǔɎǝǣȸƳɀ
Adopt the classic compositional rule that has been around for over 2,500 years
Jon Adams

f you imagine a ‘noughts and crosses’ 3x3 grid over

I
your frame, you’ll have four ‘power points’ where
the lines intersect, and the idea is to use one of
these as a guide for positioning your key point of
interest. If the shapes in your scene allow, you can
also place a secondary point of interest on a diagonally opposing
powerpoint to add extra interest to the frame. Additionally,
either of the horizontal lines
can be used to place your
horizon effectively, so it sits
at one-third or two-thirds up
the frame, whether you’re
holding your camera
vertically or horizontally.
This rule may be as old
as the hills, but it works!

54 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 1/500 ISO
f/2.8 800
sec

This portrait breaks the rules

by leaving less space on the
active side, thus creating
compositional discord, which

Andrew James
gives an extra edge to an
already gritty subject.

ÁǝƺɀƺƬȸƺɎɀȒǔɀɵȅȅƺɎȸɵ
Ensure your viewer’s eye has no means of escape as you draw them into the frame!
lacing your subject bang in the middle of the

P
frame is often seen as pretty dull (it’s something
the ‘rule of thirds’ avoids), but if you have lots of
lines converging on this point, it can be really
striking. The power of symmetrical framing
comes from the way it grabs a viewer’s eye and leads them
towards the centre point. With lots of converging lines, they have
nowhere else to go, so are inexorably drawn into the frame. It
can work with a positive, strong
centre point, or even an implied
one, but the key is to make sure
you have those converging lines
leading to it. Without these lines
coming from the bottom or top
Jon Adams

corners, you’ll just have a bland,

centre-based composition.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 55

 1/640 ISO
sec f/5.6 400

Timing is everything
The suited subject was alone
in the frame, but waiting for the
moment when the joggers drew
up alongside him has created
an interesting dynamic.

Consider monochrome
If you are shooting street
photography, try converting an
image with contrasting tones to
black and white. Sometimes the
results can look as graphic in
black and white as in colour.
Andrew James

!ƏȵɎɖȸǣȇǕɎǝƺ
ƳƺƬǣɀǣɮƺȅȒȅƺȇɎ
Time your shot so the subject’s position creates the composition
rench documentary of the relationship between what you can What’s your best background? How does

F
photographer Henri see in the frame and what may enter it your choice of aperture and focal length
Cartier-Bresson is credited means that you can react quickly to capture affect the image? Where should you stand?
with coining ‘the decisive it. In this scenario, you need one eye on the These are the questions you need to ask so
moment’, a term that viewfinder and the other fully aware of that when all elements fall into line, you can
has come to epitomise the art of firing what’s happening outside the frame. capture your decisive moment.
the shutter at just the right time.
Whatever type of photography you enjoy,
there is always the perfect moment to press
the shutter button, when all the elements Compose
come together in a harmonious way. dynamically
Cartier-Bresson’s photography certainly When there are moving
displays this approach, whether the main elements in the frame, the
subject is moving or relatively static. important thing is to try to
With a created still-life image, we can capture your subject looking as
make little design tweaks as slowly as we dynamic as possible. Within any
like, but when shooting a scene you have no action – whether it’s a surfer or
a running horse – there will be
direct control over, there is a large element
points when the subject looks
of anticipating what might happen. This is
ungainly or awkward. Your
certainly the case with Cartier-Bresson’s compositional challenge is to
photography, and his images show it’s press the shutter at the right
the human eye and speed of brain that moment to show it at its best.
are the true masters of composition. A short burst of frames at the Turning your drive mode to ‘Continuous’
Cartier-Bresson’s approach can be optimum time is better than will enable you to shoot multiple shots
applied to all sorts of photography, from just blasting indiscriminately, at high speed. During the editing stage,
wildlife to weddings. Quite simply, it pays to or firing off a single shot in consider using the rule of thirds or the
visualise the perfect image in the hope that the hope that you’ll get it. ‘golden ratio’ (pictured, above) in your crop.
all the factors come together. Being aware

56 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 FIX YOUR FRAMING!

1/800 ISO
sec f/8 800

Crop to compose
The final shot crops out the puffin
in the foreground of much of the
right-hand side of the original,
recomposing to provide a good
balance of active and passive space.

Andrew James
After cropping

³ǝȒȒɎǼȒȒɀƺƏȇƳ
compose later Original shot

When the action is fast and unpredictable, try to nail the basics
hen shooting fast-moving The downside to this method is that the much faster than you’d think, and their

W
action, especially when cropping will discard some of the original movement can be quite erratic, so a broad
the movement is erratic, pixels from the shot and cause some of the group of AF points was selected, rather
it makes sense to worry resolution to be lost, but so long as you’re than a single one. With Continuous AF set,
a little less about the not throwing away too much data, this is you can track the subject’s movement and
nuances of in-camera composition, as the a more than acceptable compromise keep it in the frame. This shot was taken
main challenge facing the photographer is for the ‘win’ of getting a sharp shot from a high-speed burst, and although the
getting the subject in the frame and sharp. in challenging circumstances. framing is untidy and unbalanced with too
We’re not saying that this cannot be For this shot of a puffin (above), the aim little active space, this can be fixed with
achieved on top of the ideal in-camera was simply to get a sharp shot of the bird, a crop, as enough room has been left
composition, but merely that it becomes with the ‘sweet spot’ on its eye. Puffins fly around the subject to make it possible.
much harder to get a precise, aesthetically
pleasing composition while tracking an
erratic subject moving at high speed. Most
of us have enough to do keeping a subject
in the viewfinder and getting our camera’s
autofocus system to lock on to it!
In these situations, there is a practical
solution that works very well, even though
it’s not as ‘pure’ as the in-camera approach.
If you leave enough room around the
subject and just get it close to the centre of
the frame where your AF target points are
grouped, you’ll be able to decide on the best
Explore the autofocus settings your camera offers and which groupings of AF points will work best for your
composition after the event by cropping the
shot. Some cameras have dynamic autofocus and 3D tracking (pictured, above left) for accurate focusing
picture in imaging software – either when
when subjects are moving at speed. Combined with Continuous or Servo shooting (pictured, above right),
you process your raw file, or when you load you’ll be able to capture some stunning shots if your memory card has the necessary speed and free space.
it into Photoshop or another application.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 57

 1/250 ISO
sec f/8 100

In most shooting situations, it

is natural to want to frame up
in landscape orientation. But
many scenes will work equally
well vertically (inset, below).

Andrew James
6‫ژ‬ ÁȸɵɖɀǣȇǕƳǣǔǔƺȸƺȇɎ
ǔȸƏȅǣȇǕǔȒȸȅƏɎɀ
Ensure your composition works well with the shapes in the
scene, and remember that there are two ways to hold a camera!

hen framing up, we tend to select a square format in-camera. Other

W
automatically lift the camera aspect ratios can also be selected in this
and shoot with it held way, so you can see the new crop on the LCD
horizontally. It’s the most screen in a DSLR’s Live View mode or both via
natural and comfortable way, a mirrorless camera’s Live View and through
but is it always the best? Some scenes lend its EVF. Remember that if you are shooting
themselves to shooting this way, but ignore JPEG-only, the camera will save the square
composing with the camera held upright at cropped file exactly as you’ve set it, so you
your peril! Even landscapes, where you think can’t change your mind about it later. If you
the horizontal format would always be best, are shooting raw, then while you still see the
can benefit from shooting vertically. new ratio you’ve set on the camera, when GO VERTICAL
When using a heavy telephoto lens, you take the shot the raw file will remain at You should get into the habit
loosening the lens collar will allow you to spin its native aspect ratio when downloaded, so of framing scenes in both
the camera body easily from horizontal to you can then crop it afterwards. If you want horizontal and vertical formats,
vertical, so there’s no excuse not to compose to have both the square jpeg as a reference especially if one day you want
a scene upright, even with a bulky zoom. and the full raw file, then make sure you to shoot the Digital Camera
It’s also worth remembering that with some save both to your memory card. cover image! When using a
cameras, the standard aspect ratio of your wide-angle lens for landscapes,
image can be changed in-camera, as well Whether you the upright format is often
as cropped afterwards in post-processing. are shooting easier to compose with than a
For example, the square frame has been handheld or horizontal one, because it
using a tripod,
used in medium-format cameras for years allows you to make more use of
don’t forget
and is very powerful, so you might want foreground elements close
to take the same
to experiment with it. If you want a visual shots vertically, as well to the lens and draw your
reference of how your composition looks at as horizontally – they can viewer’s eye into the key
the time of shooting rather than guessing sometimes be more visually content of the photograph.
and cropping it square afterwards, then striking than landscape shots.

66
58 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL
XXXXX2023
2022 www.digitalcameraworld.com
 FIX YOUR FRAMING!
1/125 ISO
sec f/8 100

Although the original was off

kilter and poorly composed,
a few minutes of Transform
cropping improved matters.

Jon Adams
7‫ژ‬ RȒɯɎȒȸƺƬȒȅȵȒɀƺɵȒɖȸ
ȵǣƬɎɖȸƺɀǣȇȵȒɀɎ‫ٮ‬ȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣȒȇ
Increase the impact of framing in your photos by reshaping the space around your subject

o one is immune from Whatever the reason for a less-than-perfect this feature), and because the pixels within

N
making compositional frame, there are some options for making the image will be enlarged and distorted,
errors. Sometimes we can’t big improvements, or even restoring the the shape of the picture or the overall
physically get into the ideal image to get the shot you would have taken, resolution of the image will not be changed.
camera position, and at had the conditions been in your favour. In fact, this technique is so handy that
other times we capture a great moment This method uses Transform mode in you may well find yourself using it all the
with a one-handed grab shot on the run! Photoshop (other image editors also offer time to fine-tune your compositions…

Enter Transform mode Reshape the contents Square up the image

1 With your shot open on screen in
2 Hold down the Ctrl/Cmd key to
3 You’ll likely have wonky horizontals
Photoshop, hit Ctrl/Cmd+A to select go into Distort mode and drag the and verticals – straighten them by
the entire image and surround it with corner handles down and out to hitting Ctrl/Cmd and dragging the
marching ants. Next, hit Ctrl/Cmd+T reshape the frame, filling or creating corners. Finally, hold Shift and drag
to go into Free Transform mode and space as desired. Initially, just look the side and top/bottom handles to
you’ll see eight control handles to get a better distribution of the adjust the upright and side space,
appear around the picture. content to balance the composition. and hit Return to set it down.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 59

 Reader gallery Digital Camera readers show how they’ve been getting
creative, submitting images across a range of genres

‘In the Clouds’

1 by Erika Kilic
“Sunset over the Scottish
Borders taken just after
the first snowfall of the year.
Cloud inversion made it look
even more impressive. How
lucky we are to live in such
a beautiful country!”

Digital Camera says:

A return to the gallery for
Erika, whose previous image
showed another sunset, but
on a summer’s evening.
Perfectly layered, this shot
is a fantastic showcase of
the stunning landscapes
in the UK. We love the
contrast between the darker
foreground and vibrant sky.

60 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 READER SHOT
OF THE MONTH
Erika Kilic wins a year’s
subscription to Digital
Camera for this image.
Well done, Erika!

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 61

 ‘Across the lake at Arosa’ by David Jenkins
2 “This is the sort of photo that I like, with a strong theme across the image. In this case it’s snow, Christmas trees and Swiss
chalets with a sense of it being cold. I especially like the red of the Swiss flag in the centre and the lone walker in the bottom right.”

Digital Camera says: This is the sort of photo that we like too, David! Well handled, with striking and accurate colour rendition.
It would have been so easy to over-egg the pudding here. This would look grand on a large canvas inside one of those cosy chalets.

‘Frosty Findings’
3 by Sarah Swan
“Taken just after sunrise. The
temperature outside was -7C, and
all our windows had these beautiful
snowflake patterns on the exterior.”

Digital Camera says: It’s always

difficult to get the focus right in these
conditions but it looks like you got
it spot on here, Sarah. Is it worth
editing out the slightly distracting
pole in the centre to keep the
viewer’s eye fixed on the snowflakes?

62 D I G I TA L C A M E R A
 ‘Smile, you’re on camera’ by Katie Everton
4 “I took this on the bus on my way home from college. I like how the traffic light illuminates the face and gives it a nose.
I wasn’t going to take my camera with me that day, but I’m glad I did, as you never know what you might see.”

Digital Camera says: We adore the creativity here, Katie. This is a truly unique image that you should be proud of. We wonder
if a slight crop to lose a bit of the negative black space around the bottom might give the main subject the full impact it deserves?

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 63

 Reader gallery

‘Mynte Muse’ by
5 Steen Lund Hansen
“From a series of pictures I took of the
model Mynte Muse. We tried a lot of
different poses – in this picture she
is wearing an old ragged and burnt
T-shirt. Lit with only one flash, with
a honeycomb and barn door used
to give it a bit of hard light.”

Digital Camera says: This

beautifully lit and elegantly posed
portrait contrasts well against
the dark background. Careful
consideration has been taken with
the the model’s pose, providing
a pleasing portrait composition.

‘Drop Neutral’
6 by Joe Zanré
“One of my very first water-drop captures,
and not surprisingly it had me dancing with
excitement. I have gone on to improve the
technique and the equipment I use, but this
image remains my signature capture.”

Digital Camera says: And what a

capture! Shot at a higher ISO (800) to
enable a fast shutter speed (1/4000 sec),
Joe has produced a fantastic macro image.
Being shot in low light with the subject
contrasting vividly against the plain black
background, the water rising up to the
droplet makes the image look sculptural.

64 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Reader gallery

PICS WIN
PRIZES!
The standout image in our
reader gallery wins a one-year
(13 issues) subscription worth
£75.40/$207.87. For details of
our subscription offers, go to:
www.bit.ly/dcsub23

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 65

 Reader gallery

‘Look into my eyes’ by Jay Drury

7 “This shot was taken with the owl sitting on a log in its cage at the Owl Sanctuary at Stonham Barns. We locked eyes
and I was in wonder at this beautiful majestic bird. I managed to focus beyond the cage and was very happy with the result.”

Digital Camera says: What an eye-catching image. This is a perfect example of how cropping into a subject can produce
stunning results. The details of the feathers and the direct eye contact, together with a strong square crop with the subject
placed centrally, has resulted in a really striking image. This was a really strong contender for this month’s winner.

66 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 ‘Reflection’ by Thian Yee Chua
8 “This is Clifford Pier in Singapore, which ceased operation in 2006. It has a simple but unique architecture with a roof
structure comprising concrete arched trusses in a riband form. It has now been refurbished into a restaurant and events venue.”

Digital Camera says: This image is a perfect example of how symmetry and leading lines combine to produce a pleasing
composition (for more on this principle, see page 55). The reflections included in the frame, coupled to the central positioning
of the photographer between the two rows of lights, has resulted in a beautifully composed picture.

‘A Cold Snap’ by
9 Michelle McKracken
“I took this photo at Versoix in the Swiss
canton of Geneva in 2012. There was an
ice storm and everything was covered
– trees, public benches and boats. It
was bitterly cold with strong winds.”

Digital Camera says: A slight tilt to

the right to fully straighten the horizon
and you’re onto a winner here, Michelle.
For some added contrast, you could also
increase the darkness in the shadows.

SEND US
YOUR IMAGES!
Want to feature in our gallery?
Please email a high-res image
(at least 2.5MB) marked ‘Reader
Images’, and including a title
and brief description, to:
[email protected]

APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 67
 Will Davies
Landscape photographer
Title: ‘Brecon in Winter’
Location: Pen y Crug hillfort
Date: 2022
www.willdaviesphotography.co.uk

“It’s not a long hike up to the Pen y Crug

hillfort outside Brecon, but I wanted to
be there by dawn. When I arrived it was
still very gloomy. Fortunately, the cloud
started to lift. The sunlight was fleeting,
as is usually the case with the best light.
In those few moments I was able to
get this photograph.”

ill discovered
his passion for

W photography after
moving to East Africa
in 2007, a region
endowed with
incredible photo opportunities. In
recent years, Will has enjoyed applying
what he’s learnt back in the UK.
“I think travel makes you see your
home country in a new light and with
a new appreciation. I also find that the
UK has stunning, but often quite subtle,
landscapes. For a photographer, I find
that it’s a great challenge, as you need
to use all the elements – the weather,
seasons, natural patterns – to distil and
convey that beauty. For landscapes, I
use a Canon 5DS R with a standard set
of zoom lenses from 17mm through to
200mm. This photo was towards the
high end of that range. It was not a shot
I had pre-planned, but when I saw the
light hitting the fields with the overcast
Will Davies

snowy peaks in the distance, it was

a natural composition.
“I really love the Brecon area in winter.
The mountains somehow feel and look
so much grander and wilder in the snow.
Quite often you can have a whole

Shot of
mountain to yourself, especially if
you get up early! It’s also quite near
to where I grew up, so I am especially
pleased to have won with this photo.
“For anyone planning a trip, I have to

the month
mention the South Wales photography
guidebook by Drew Buckley. I find that
photo guides can be hit or miss, but
this one is excellent, both in terms
of information and the quality of the
photography. It’s also the reason I found
the location for ‘Brecon in Winter’.”

Will Davies, winner of Landscape The Landscape Photographer of the

Year 2023 competition is open for
Photographer of the Year 2022 entries now: www.lpoty.co.uk
 FILE & VIDEO
www.digital
cameraworld
.com/dc266

Fundamentals:
Enhance portraits
with panel sliders
How to combine
SOFTWARE EXTRAS these controls to
Textures, a preset and great effect in
actions for Photoshop Lightroom Classic 72
& Lightroom
Page 80

Get the Look:

How to generate
70 dynamic blur
Replicate lens effects
in Photoshop by
exploring how blur can
74
be applied to images

This month… Radiant Photo:

Think your image is
perfectly processed?
Tool School: Generate AI backdrops in Photoshop Take it even further with
Meet the intriguing new tool in Photoshop that the intelligent colour
creates backgrounds based on a few words grading tools in this
leading software 76

40
MINU
VIDEO TRAINING OF VI TES
DEO
The issue 266 download includes video lessons that
build on our tutorials, plus bonus videos with extra tips!
www.digitalcameraworld.com/dc266

RADIANT PHOTO –
NEW TUTORIAL SERIES
Get your copy of this new
PHOTOSHOP LIGHTROOM PHOTOSHOP image editing software
Generate backdrops using AI Enhance portraits with panel sliders Apply blur to replicate lens effects Page 76

Download
40 minutes
of video FILE & VIDEO
training www.digital
cameraworld
for Lightroom
.com/dc266 PHOTOSHOP PHOTOSHOP PHOTOSHOP
and Photoshop
Using the Clone tool Create brilliant black and white images How to use the Harmonization filter

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 69

 TOOL SCHOOL

WATCH THE
VIDEO!

15 FREE
TEXTURES
Turn to page 80 to
find out more!
Before

After

Generate AI backdrops FILE & VIDEO

www.digital

in Photoshop cameraworld
.com/dc266

Meet the new filter that creates

backgrounds based on a few words
f you’ve been paying attention to
photography news, you can’t have
I failed to notice the furore over AI
image generation. Generators
like Stable Diffusion, Dall-E
and Midjourney make it possible to create
artwork from nothing more than a sentence.
This has caused excitement and apprehension 15 free textures –
among photographers, and the way these tools
gather and reassemble the substance of existing Photoshop pack
photos raises real concerns about intellectual One of the challenges when mixing a cutout
property. Whether you see AI as groundbreaking with a new backdrop is making the two
or a threat to traditional photography, we’re elements look like they belong together.
entering a new era of image-making. There are some potential solutions, such
Users looking to experiment with text-to-image as adjusting the colours and tones, adding
generation will find an intriguing new tool within a vignette or applying other filter effects.
James
Paterson Photoshop Beta. The Backdrop Creator Neural Another trick is to add a texture layer above
filter lets you create a new backdrop from a few everything, then use layer blend modes
With over a decade as a
writer and photographer
words. Of course, as it’s Beta it’s not the finished to combine it with the layers below. We’ve
behind him, James knows article, but it’s worth experimenting with. It’s supplied 15 high-resolution textures – drag
exactly which Photoshop designed to work with your photos, and as such them into your image and experiment with
and Lightroom tools and
techniques matter most. it may offer a glimpse of how photography blend modes, opacity and layer masking.
and AI can work together in the future.

70 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 TOOL SCHOOL

Sequence shown is for clarity – follow the numbered steps rather than reading from left to right

Photoshop Beta Background Text prompts

1 Photoshop Beta is a 2 Creator Filter 3 Type your text prompts
separate application The Background here. We tried ‘neon
to Photoshop. In most Creator can be found street sign, pink, blue’
regards it’s identical, but Adobe under Filter > Neural Filters. You’ll to generate the backdrop for our
uses it to trial new tools and filters need to download the filter if it’s portrait. Some text prompts
like the Backdrop Creator filter, your first time using it. It won’t let aren’t permitted – for instance,
while gathering usage data that you craft highly detailed scenes, anything related to people will be
helps to shape the finished so you won’t get photo-realistic met with ‘Filter does not support
product. Anybody with a Creative results. It’s more geared towards human imagery’. You’ll also
Cloud subscription can download creating abstracts, patterns and occasionally see that words are
it. Open your Creative Cloud app blurred impressions. As such, it omitted. You might find you get
and go to the Beta Apps tab on works well when combined with slightly more detailed images if
the left, install it, then launch it portraits where the background you add in words like HD (high
and open an image to get started. would be out of focus. definition) or ‘photograph’.

Cut out Try Harmonize Generated

5 Begin by cutting out a 6 Once you’ve generated 4 images
person or object. Open the new backdrop, it’s After typing your text
the image, then go to likely that you’ll need to prompt, the filter will
Select > Select and Mask. Click tweak the colours in the subject. generate three images. Click on
the Select Subject button, then The Harmonize filter can be the thumbnail to see how one will
click the Refine Hair button. useful. Go to Filter > Neural Filters look. Any ticked images will be
Use the sliders to fine-tune the and turn on Harmonize. Target created as separate layers once
selection edge, then choose the background in the Source you hit OK. If you like the look of
Output: New Layer with Layer dropdown, then use the sliders it but want to see more variations,
Mask and hit OK. Highlight the to fine-tune the results. Output click the ‘More like this’ icon to
bottom layer, then go to Filter > to a new layer and experiment generate three more options. Set
Neural Filters to start using the with the layer opacity to control Variety to a high value, and use a
Background Creator. the strength of the effect. low value to focus on specifics.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 71

 FUNDAMENTALS

Before

BONUS
MOODY
PORTRAITS
WATCH THE
FILE & VIDEO
PRESETS www.digital

VIDEO!
cameraworld
Turn to page 80 to .com/dc266
find out more!

Enhance portraits
with panel sliders
How to combine these controls to
great effect in Lightroom Classic
Radial Filters
ightroom Classic Basic panel sliders often work
well in pairs, and their interaction can lead to some It’s not essential, but you can

L interesting effects when combined. The often-used

-100 Highlights and +100 Shadows give a faux HDR
add a Radial Filter around the
face to darken
look, while Blacks and Whites can set the contrast outside it. Use
for the photo. Each of those interact with Exposure, and the the shortcut
combination of those can have different looks to what you’d expect. Shift + M, then
These can be used for cityscapes, night scenes and rainy photos, drag the Filter
but here we’re thinking about portraits. Let’s take advantage of out and create a
these edits in making a male portrait look really moody. Here’s a shape to match
single light portrait shot in an underground car park. It’s shot with the angle of the
Sean face. Click
McCormack a flash gun in a 16in softbox, so it’s as basic as it gets with lighting.
Clean-up work has been done in advance to heal spots, so this Invert, then
Sean McCormack is
is only about the look. To create the mood, go to the Basic panel in reduce
a photographer and
writer, based in Galway. Develop and start by combining a high Blacks level with reduced Exposure to
He’s the author of The Exposure. This darkens everything. Adding Highlights and Whites taste. Here,
Indispensable Guide
to Lightroom CC. brings back the face. To finish the look, you can fade the appearance it’s -0.84.
of the shadows and add colour using the Point Curve. Let’s go!

72 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 FUNDAMENTALS

Darken the image

1 First, reduce the Exposure to
-2.50 stops. This assumes the Highlight the face
starting shot is reasonably 2 Here, you bring back the face.
well exposed – change this Increase Highlights to +70
based on what the photo – any more than this and the
needs. Now, bring the Blacks slider up to 100. The image is face starts to look odd. There’s still more needed, though, so
obviously darker, but still with a surprising amount of detail. setting Whites to +50 will bring that needed life back to the face.

Brighten the photo

3 Now for the shadows. Open Tone Add warmth
Curve and click on the second 4 Click the third option for the
of the five icons above the Red channel. Move the left point
curve window to choose the to the right a little. This can be
Point Curve. Raise the bottom-left point until Output reads 15 subtle or strong. Here, it’s a more subtle Input 9, Output 0. Click
(Input is 0), then click and drag just past the halfway mark up on the final curve, the Blue channel. Bring the top-right point
to brighten the photo (Input 148, Output 171 roughly). down to add warmth to the highlights (Input 255, Output 242).

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 73

 GET THE LOOK

FILE & VIDEO

www.digital
cameraworld
.com/dc266
WATCH THE
VIDEO!

Before

How to generate
dynamic blur GET YOUR
DYNAMIC BLUR
Explore the different ways that ACTIONS PACK
Turn to page 80
blur can be applied to images in to find out more!

Photoshop to replicate lens effects

dding blur to photos at both the

A
shooting and editing stages can
produce incredibly creative
results. However, the problem
with applying them in-camera
is that the image you create is fixed firmly to
whatever effect has been applied. Conversely,
with editing-based blur effects, you can apply
them to any image and still have the original Add an Orton-style blur
left untouched and ready for use in other ways. 1 With the Background layer
Creating effects in-camera is often active, press Ctrl/Cmd+J to
considered the best way of working, and it duplicate, then go to Filter > Blur
certainly is if you have the lenses or tools at > Gaussian blur and set Radius to 30 pixels.
your disposal to create them. But if you don’t, Change the blending mode from Normal to
or the effect has to be created during post- Screen, press Ctrl/Cmd+J to duplicate the
James Abbott
processing, we have four creative blur blur layer and change the blending mode to
James is a professional techniques that you can apply to a wide Multiply. Create a Curves Adjustment Layer
photographer who
specialises in landscape range of images. Plus, we have created some and lighten the image before holding Shift
and portraits. He’s an Photoshop Actions to cover these techniques; and clicking on the first blur layer to make
advanced Photoshop
user and has created
these can be stacked or applied on top of all new layers active. Right mouse-click on
hundreds of tutorials. existing layers, so a huge amount of creative the Layers and Select Group from Layers
flexibility is available when using them. before using Opacity to control the effect.

74 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 GET THE LOOK

Mimic a Lensbaby Moody desaturated blur Apply a zoom-

2 With the Background layer 3 With the Background layer 4 burst effect
active, press Ctrl/Cmd+J to active, press Ctrl/Cmd+J to With the Background layer
duplicate, then select the duplicate, then go to Filter > Blur active, press Ctrl/Cmd+J to
Elliptical Marquee tool. Hold Shift and drag > Gaussian blur and set Radius to 30 pixels. duplicate, then go to Filter > Blur > Radial
a circular selection, just under one quarter Change the blending mode of the layer Blur to set Blur Method to Zoom at Amount
of the size of the frame, close to one of the from Normal to Screen, then press Ctrl/ 30 before pressing OK. Click on the Add
corners. Go to Select > Modify > Feather Cmd+Shift+U to desaturate. Duplicate layer mask icon at the bottom of the Layers
and set the Feather Radius to 500 pixels, the layer and change the blending mode panel and press D to set the default palette
then press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I to invert the to Multiply. Create a Levels Adjustment colours to black and white. Make sure black
selection. Go to Filter > Blur > Radial Blur Layer and drag the black point to 20 and is in the foreground and select the Brush
and set Blur Method to Zoom at Amount the white point to 200. This will create tool. Set the size to 2500 with a soft edge
15 and hit OK. Now, go to Filter > Blur > a moody and high-contrast desaturated and Brush Opacity to 50%. Now, left-mouse
Gaussian Blur and set Radius to 10 pixels. blur effect that works well with texture. click once in the centre of the blur.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 75

 ADVERTISING FEATURE

Before

SPECIAL
SERIES!
Part 3 of 3

After

Colour grade in Radiant Photo

Take images that look perfectly processed even further with the
intelligent colour grading tools available in this leading software
hen an image according to the content of the

W
looks perfectly image. What’s more, if you need
processed, you more than the 56 included
may be ready Looks, you can purchase
to hit the Save additional Looks to expand
How to get button to export it, but there’s your collection and increase
your copy still much more that you can do
in Radiant Photo to help make
the creative possibilities.
Colour grading is undoubtedly
of Radiant Photo your shots look even better. The the most significant aspect of
Digital Camera readers can take Color Grade tab is home to 56 the Color Grade tab, but there’s
advantage of a free three-month Looks built into Radiant Photo more to the controls available
trial (extended from two weeks and for colour grading and other here. The Targeted edit tab
worth £30/$30) by registering at: colour effects. These can be allows you to apply Graduated
www.bit.ly/dcmradiant-trial applied at the default settings Filters and Radial Filters with
Instructions for downloading Radiant Photo and obtaining a or refined using simple sliders. the ability to adjust Exposure,
licence key valid for three months will then be sent via email. Colour grading is an Contrast, White Balance,
increasingly popular technique Shadows and Highlights and
If Digital Camera readers wish to purchase the software when for photographers. But rather more for a fine-tuned result.
their trial period ends, they can get £30/$30 off a Radiant than simply applying a blanket Plus, the Finishing Tools cover
Photo software bundle (the standalone and plugin versions), colour effect to your images, the same adjustments globally
which normally retails for £159/$159, by visiting: Radiant Photo continues to so you can be sure your images
www.bit.ly/dcmradiant-offer analyse your shots to apply look exactly how you want
colour grading intelligently them to before exporting.

76 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 R
SP IA
A
EC N
D

IA T
L P
SE H
R O
Use the Color Grade and Targeted edit controls to complete your editing

IE T
S
Enjoy powerful editing controls that are as easy to use as they are effective

O
Detailed Edit Choose a Look
1 In Detailed Edit, most settings 2 Once in the Color Grade tab, you can
applied were left at the defaults, although choose from 56 categorised looks to
Color was reduced to 0 to maintain the apply colour grading to photos. You
original colour balance, Exposure was increased to can also purchase more looks by clicking on the Get More
20, Sharpening reduced to 30 and Super Contrast Looks button at the bottom right of the interface. For this
reduced to 5. This improved the overall look of the image, the Color Grade tab was expanded and Amber
image before moving on to the Color Grade tab. was selected to accentuate the sunset colour.

Refine the Look Add a filter

3 Once a Look has been applied, you can leave 4 You can add Graduated Filters
it at the default strength or make adjustments and Radial Filters in the Targeted edit tab,
using three sliders. Strength controls the where expanding the arrow next to Inside/
intensity of the effect, Saturation controls how much Outside reveals the same controls as the Finishing Tools
the Look colourises the image and Contrast controls below, and more, so you can make precise adjustments
the amount of contrast the look applies to the image. with both filters. Here, a light vignette was applied to the
Here, Strength and Saturation were adjusted. image to help focus attention on the centre of the frame.

Finishing Tools
5 These provide access to ‘standard’
editing controls such as Exposure,
Contrast, White Balance,
Shadows and Highlights, and more.
For this image, minor adjustments Find out
were made to Exposure,
Highlights, Shadows and Whites
more at:
to complete the processing of radiant
the image, taking advantage imaging
of the fully manual controls. labs.com

Radiant Photo is constantly being updated, so the user interface may change with future updates.
www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 77
 ADVERTISING FEATURE

1
3

The Targeted edit tab explained

Apply powerful adjustments with ease
nce you’ve applied
2 Develop slider adjustments for refining the filter to

O Radiant Photo’s
intelligent adjustments
The Develop slider allows you
to increase or reduce adjustments
your liking alongside sky and foliage
enhancements for making precise
and colour grading, you made in the Detailed Edit tab to blend localised adjustments.
can take a more manual approach more effectively with colour grading
by using the Targeted edit controls. and Targeted edit controls.
5 Finishing Tools
Here, you can make familiar The Finishing Tools provide
adjustments to your images and
3 Graduated Filter tab access to editing controls for making
complete the editing process, This allows you to apply final adjustments – these include
with highly effective results. Graduated Filters and Radial filters Exposure, Contrast, White Balance,
for making localised adjustments Shadows and Highlights and so on.
1 Image window with just the right level of control.
The main image window
6 Save and Reset
continues to display the results of your
4 Graduated Filter The Save Preset button allows
edits with three different views that controls you to save a custom preset, while the
allow you to see the edited image: Once expanded, the Graduated Filter Reset button resets adjustments
a before, after and split view. controls offer a wide range of made in the Color Grade tab.

Five great Color Grade tools

not to miss in Radiant Photo

Looks
2 Looks are
at the heart
of the Color
Grade tab and there
are a total of 56 Looks
Develop slider built into Radiant
1 The Develop slider below the Histogram Photo. These are
allows you to increase or reduce grouped into themes,
adjustments made with the Color, which makes it quick
Tone and Details tools in the Detailed Edit tab and easy to locate the
to balance the effects with the chosen Look. style you’re looking for.

78 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023
 R
SP IA
A
EC N
D

IA T
L P
SE H
R O
IE T
Three images that have been colour graded in Radiant Photo

S
How to apply cinematic colour grades that work with your shots

O
Light – Moonlight
Applying the Moonlight look from
the Light category has warmed up
this image of frozen leaves without
affecting the shadows and highlights.
With the greatest focus on the
midtones, the result looks completely
natural and the Look was applied at
the default settings with no manual
James Abbott

adjustments necessary. Default

settings in the Detailed tab were also
Before After
applied before entering Color Grade.

BW Film Stocks – Filmic

Black and White
Black and white remains as popular
as ever, and with eight Looks available
alongside the manual controls for
refining how Looks are applied, there’s
plenty of control available. With the
Black and White Looks, it’s best to
leave the Strength at 100 or take it
James Abbott

higher. If you’d like a desaturated

Get your free
image, though, you can do it by
Before After 3-month trial
reducing Strength to below 100. of Radiant Photo
via: www.bit.ly/
Retro – 1960 dcmradiant-trial
This image was originally edited to Exclusive offer for
have cool tones; the adjustments Digital Camera
made in Detailed Edit have lifted readers
the image in terms of brightness
and exposure, while maintaining
the cool colour balance. This was
further enhanced using the Retro
category’s 1960 Look, where the
James Abbott

default settings have produced a

pleasing effect that accentuates
Before After
the original processing.

Get more Looks

5 If you would like to purchase
more Looks with specific
results not already included
in the software from the Radiant
Imaging Labs website, click on the
‘Get More Looks’ button at the
Looks controls bottom of the Color Grade tab.
3 Once a Look has been applied, you can
take control of how the effect interacts
with the image via the ability to adjust
Strength, Saturation and Contrast. Simple yet
effective control is guaranteed.

Targeted edit tab (right)

4 The Targeted edit tab allows you to
apply Graduated Filters and Radial
Filters with a great deal of control over
settings for localised adjustments. There are also
Finishing Tools for making global adjustments.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 79

 ACTIONS & PRESETS

THIS MONTH’S BONUS SOFTWARE EXTRAS

Improve your shots with FILES & PDFs
www.digital

our Actions and Presets cameraworld

.com/dc266

As seen in this month’s tutorials, you’ll be able

to transform your photos in just a few clicks
his month, we have of software extras by collecting

T curated a collection
of actions and
the ones we are releasing with
our tutorials. One of the main
How to use your
software extras
presets to help advantages of using these digital Once you have downloaded
transform your images. Actions shortcuts is that they save time the ‘dcm266-files.zip’ file to
and presets can make a big – rather than having to manually your computer, extract it and Instruction PDFs
impact on your photos in a adjust a photo to give it a certain put the Actions and Presets can be found in
matter of seconds. Once they look, actions and presets will folders where you can easily the Gifts folder
have been installed in Lightroom get you there in a few clicks. access them. These folders of the issue’s
or Photoshop, they are on hand Also this month, we’ve contain the files, PDFs and download file
for whenever you need them. produced a pack of handy installation instructions.
You can build up your own library textures for Photoshop. Enjoy…

15 PHOTOSHOP 2 MOODY 4 DYNAMIC BLUR

TEXTURES PORTRAIT PRESETS ACTIONS
Software: Photoshop Software: Lightroom Software: Photoshop
Textures are effects that you can drag Presets are saved settings that can Make your images stand out with this kit of
into your images in Photoshop, to open be applied to RAW or JPG files. This dynamic blur actions, which can be applied
up a new world of creative possibilities. month, to complement the tutorial on to your images in Photoshop in a few
To get you started, we’ve supplied 15 page 72, we’re including two atmospheric seconds. The four Actions included in this
high-resolution textures – have a go at moody portrait presets for you to use set are Orton-Style Blur, Mimic a Lensbaby,
using them by experimenting with blend in Lightroom to help convert your portraits Moody Desaturated and Zoomburst Effect.
modes, opacity and layer masking. If you’d into moody ones. Two presets are With the help of these actions, you will
like to take a deeper dive into textures, available: Male Portrait, and Male get instant access to a selection of
then see the tutorial on page 74. Portrait with Dark Edges. alternative creative edits for your photos.

Download all three packs from: www.digitalcameraworld.com/dc266

80 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com
 PRO TIPS AND TRICKS FOR
SHOOTING IN THE CITY
Whether you’re new to photographing urban life or a keen enthusiast, it’s a
challenge to turn the energy of a city into a stunning shot. Discover expert
advice, camera techniques and more to improve your urban images

ON SALE
NOW

Ordering is easy. Go online at:

Or get it from selected supermarkets & newsagents

 TOP PHOTOGRAPHER
Victoria, United States

We’ve joined up with GuruShots, the world’s greatest online

photography game, to present the winning images
from its Amazing Animals contest
uruShots is billed as the world’s leading
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Enter GuruShots yourself!
G to give global exposure to people who love
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start out as ‘Newbies’ and compete with Sign up to GuruShots for free, upload your
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and the wider GuruShots community, and there’s a fresh feedback from the GuruShots community.
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including Adobe Stock, Lowepro and Kodak.
Find out more at www.gurushots.com

82 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Advertising feature

Honourable mentions

Annette
Taberner-Miller,
United States

TOP PHOTO
Ilan Horn, Israel
Britni Ann,
United States

David Jones,
South Africa

David Samuel dos

Santos Sousa,
Switzerland

GURU’S TOP PICK Dúddi, Iceland

Dave Olsen, United States

Ajit Deokar,
United States Esme,
Finland

James G,
United Kingdom

APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 83
 Advertising feature

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jirka Myšák Niš,

Czech Republic; Jurgen Bauwens, Belgium; Laimute
Kuriene, Netherlands; Luca Sharabidze, United States;
Mandy Norris, United States

More honourable mentions Nicholas B Di Dolce, United States

Mike Johnson, United States Nikolay Tatarchuk, Israel

Vincenzo Quaratiello, Switzerland Tamás Faller, Hungary Tamar Alazraki, Israel Sergey Puponin, Russia

84 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Photo Answers Andrew
James
Ticked off by telephotos? Bewildered by bracketing? Andrew is a highly
experienced writer
³ƺȇƳ‫ژ‬ɵȒɖȸɎƺƬǝȇǣȷɖƺƏȇƳƬƏȅƺȸƏȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇɀ and photographer –
if you have a problem,
he is here to help.
ɎȒ‫ژ‬[email protected]

Landscapes with added light Introducing artificial light

Can you use lighting into scenic shots can
produce a distinctive
Q you’ve introduced aesthetic, as seen here.

yourself in a
landscape photo?
Tony Castle

In most cases with a

landscape photo you don’t
A need to add artificial light, as
natural light does everything
for you, but there’s no reason why not
when the conditions allow.
I’ve used both torches and flashguns
to light a scene, or specific parts of it, but
you need low light levels for the artificial
lighting to make a difference. For example,
you can use a torch to light up a
foreground, or illuminate a building within
your scene with multiple bursts of light
from an off-camera flash. This technique
is known as painting with light, and you
can get very creative with it, even using
coloured gels to change the atmosphere
of your image. You’ll need to wear darker
clothing and keep moving if you have to
step in front of the camera during the
exposure, but as long as you don’t
accidentally light yourself during the long
exposure, you can get some cool results.
The other thing I’ve played around with
is using a burst or two of flashlight to
‘freeze’ movement within a scene. You
can see this in the image of the cornfield.
Although there was quite a lot of ambient
light, I was able to slow the shutter speed
down with an ND filter. Then, as the crops
were swaying back and forth in a strong
wind, I fired an off-camera flash at them
to bring out a bit of definition and
sharpness in what would otherwise have
been just a blur. This only worked because
it was in the evening, and despite the
Andrew James

windmill in the background picking

up the low sunlight, the foreground
crops were mainly in shadow.

86 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Tech Check
Backlighting

Andrew James
Illuminate your understanding
of this photographic concept
What is backlighting? Can I shoot backlit at any time of day? Backlighting illuminates the subject, often
This is when your subject is predominantly If you’re introducing the light then potentially, without the light source being present.
illuminated by a light source that’s behind it. yes. But if you’re using natural light then you
Unless you are using artificial lighting, such need the sun to be low in the sky, so it is dial in some plus (+) exposure compensation
as studio flash equipment, this is obviously both softer and more direct. to get the exposure exactly how you want it.
going to be the sun.
Will the camera’s meter work as normal? Should the light source also be in the shot?
Why use backlighting? Yes, but because the way the meter works is It’s often better to avoid having the actual light
Shooting with the sun behind your shoulder is weighted towards standard front-lit subjects, source in the frame. What you want are its effects
the accepted way of doing things, but shooting the meter can easily be fooled. It’s often best – the characteristic rim lighting you get around
towards it can give a photograph more to spot-meter off your subject to avoid it the subject that helps it stand out, and the
drama and atmosphere. becoming too dark, plus you may need to evocative mood it can help create.

The Objects Mask represents the

fastest way to make colour pop.

Andrew James
Andrew James

Use a small focal point to

replicate a sense of scale.

Quick pop too. For example, I painted over Scale of the century brain knows that a mountain
the red hull of this boat without is big or a sea vast, but having
What’s the too much effort and Lightroom
I’ve just something within a frame as
Q quickest worked out the area I wanted Q returned a visual reference to scale
way to to select. It’s easy to add a bit from can accentuate just how epic
if it has missed some anyway. some scenery is. People are
create a colour Once your selection is how Namibia. The the most obvious reference,
pop in Lightroom? you want it, you can tick Invert scenery was and you’ll see a lot of landscape
to reverse the selection, then images with a diminutive figure
Masie Lucas
take the Saturation slider back
incredible, but within the composition to
Since Masking was to 0 to remove the colour from I’m not sure my hammer home the sense

A introduced in both everything else in the frame. photos captured that while man is small,
Lightroom and If there’s another part of the this landscape is huge.
Camera Raw, the image you want to return to the vastness of the In this dune shot, I really
quickest way I’ve come across is colour, click on the Subtract dunes. Is there a had to strain to see the people
to use the Objects Mask. If you button for the Mask, select walking up the side, but once
paint roughly over the area that Objects Mask and paint over
trick for doing that? I did, I knew I could use their
you want to keep in colour, the that area. The colour will return Chrissie Mountford presence to add that element
Mask will use edge definition once the selection has been You’re talking about of scale. The key is to look for
to work out the shape you are made. It’s easy to do as long as scale, and having the opportunities to show
selecting. As long as that shape the area you are keeping colour A photographed in scale within your portfolio of
isn’t too complicated, it does an in has an obvious shape. Have a Namibia, I know landscape photos, but don’t
impressively accurate selection, play and see how much fun it is. what you mean. The human feel that it’s always necessary.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 87

 Photo Answers

Portrait pointers distracting backgrounds

diffuse. However, it’s easy to
I’ve read get the focus point wrong, and
Q that a wide at f/2.8 or f/1.4 if you get it
aperture is wrong there is no leeway, so
when you first start shooting
best for portraits, wide aperture portraits, I think
but is that always it’s probably worth taking a
few frames at f/4 and f/5.6,
the case? too. This will give you a
Hayley Brewer comparison to see what you
like, but it also hedges your
No, it isn’t. bets in case a slight focusing
Don’t get me error occurs. As you can see
A wrong, I like to from the f/2.8 shot on the left,
shoot portraits the right eye is sharp, but the
wide open, which for most other one isn’t, even though
fast lenses is f/2.8, or even the head is barely turned. It
f/2 or f/1.8 if you’re lucky. just shows you how little
The reason I like to shoot depth-of-field you get at
at a wide aperture is because f/2.8, and obviously it’s
the shallow depth-of-field even less at f/1.8.
gives me two important It’s also worth noting
things. Firstly, it gives me that if you’re doing a shot
a fast shutter speed that of a group – or even just
means I don’t have to worry two people – then the wide
about the possibility of aperture might not cut it. You
subject blur or camera will need that extra depth of
shake ruining a shot. field of f/5.6 or even f/8 to
Secondly, its minimal area ensure that all parties are
of sharp focus just looks good sharp enough. In these cases,
Wide apertures – as long as you get the right you need to consider even
Andrew James

are perfectly fine point in focus. The drop-off more carefully what’s in the
for solo portraits. from focus to out of focus is background so that it doesn’t
pleasing, and potentially become too distracting.

Bulb exposures
At what point
Q do I need to use
the camera’s
Bulb setting when I am
shooting long exposures?
Ricky Booker

Your camera will allow you

to shoot exposures of up
A to 30 seconds, but once
you go beyond this shutter
speed, you’ll need to use Bulb –
sometimes just shown as a B. Some
cameras have a Bulb mode, while for
others it may be accessible after 30
seconds when scrolling through the
shutter speed options. In Bulb mode,
the shutter remains open for as long
as the shutter button is held down. You
don’t want to do this on the camera
Bulb mode will need to be used
Andrew James

itself; it’s far better to use a cable once you go beyond a shutter
release that can be locked off and speed of 30 seconds.
released when you want.

88 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 2

1
Image Rescue
Let’s broaden the horizons of this photo with some
quick editing routines in Adobe Camera Raw 4
3

We have several issues to sort out on mood. The foreground rocks and the
this pleasing photo of a fisherman, but lone fisherman 3 are both too dark,
the simplest element is to straighten so we can use a Select Brush Mask to
up the horizon. 1 We can do this in paint over the rocks and then lighten
the Geometry panel, rotating and with a small amount of extra Exposure
then scaling the image up until before using the Select Objects Mask
the composition looks right. and isolating the fisherman and lifting
All the drama in the photo is taking the Shadows very subtly.
place in the washed-out sky, so let’s Finally, returning to the Basic panel,
take steps to rectify that. 2 First go we can perform any necessary global
to Masking and Select Sky to add changes – in this case we’re just going

Andrew James
more Clarity, then drop a Linear to warm the image a small amount
Gradient over the top half and by pushing the White Balance
push Dehaze to +25 to bring out the slider to the right 4 .

Recharging one’s batteries While taking photos in

My battery doesn’t public is perfectly legal,
local sensitivities need
Q seem to last as long to be borne in mind.
as it used to. How
long should they last, and
do I need to change it?
Keith Thomas

An average Lithium-Ion battery

lifespan is around five years,
A but some will last for longer
and some less. It’s inevitable
that after time they begin to lose their
capacity to hold a charge. As long as you
are aware of the more limited time, then you
can continue to use them, but once a run
time drops below about 70% of the original,
then you should consider replacing it. I’d
always advise having at least one spare
with you at all times – preferably three,
since modern cameras are so power
hungry, particularly mirrorless ones.
To keep them at their best, charge or
discharge to about 50% when storing
them for a long period of non-use, and
don’t keep them in the camera. Andrew James

Street talk
It is always good practice to carry a spare
battery to avoid being disappointed on a I was out taking pictures on the street, and had
shoot; check the battery is fully charged. Q issues with security guards telling me to move
along. I complied, but what does the law say?
Grant Simmonds

I think anyone who shoots street photography has experienced this; I certainly
have. Essentially, if you remain on public property, you can legally take photos
A in the street to your heart’s content. Naturally, security concerns have been
heightened in recent years, so it makes sense to accept the ‘concern’ of security
people and check with them where the divide is between public and private land so you
can be sure that you are shooting on the right side. Always remain calm and polite in
conversations, but point out that you have a right to take photographs in a public space.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 89

 Focal point
Rounding up
what’s new
and exciting

The latest photography news from around the globe

1 SENSOR 2 REAR
SIZE SCREEN
The EOS R50 The assembly is
features the fully articulating
same 24.2MP – handy for video Nintendo Switch gets
APS-C sensor monitoring. another instax tie-in
as the EOS R10. The brand’s latest
Nintendo crossover is a
Splatoon 3 video game
2
tie-in with its Mini Link
printers and Nintendo-
oriented smartphone
3
app. The Mini Link for
Nintendo Switch app
offers integration with a
console so that in-game
captures can be printed.
instax.com; free (app)
1

© Crstina de Middel/Magnum Photos

3 MINIMAL REAR CONTROLS
There’s no joystick for setting AF
points, but there is a quick control
button and cross keys controller.
Cristina de Middel helms
4 EASY VIDEO RECORDING
new Magnum course
Start video recording with the touch
Brazilian photographer
of a button – social media-friendly de Middel allows access
aspect ratios come as standard. to her photographic
universe in this new
4 5 MULTIFUNCTION SHOE online offering. Over
It’s more than just a flash shoe – 4.5 hours of teaching,
5 the R50 is the latest EOS camera to de Middel will share a
benefit from Canon’s new interface wealth of tips, advice and
for attaching accessories. exercises drawing on her
life as a visual storyteller.
www.magnum
photos.com; $99

Canon launches EOS R50…

Brand’s new entry-level body takes everything that was great about the popular
EOS M50 compact mirrorless and makes it even better with an RF lens mount

ntroducing the smallest and lightest some omissions to the feature set, in particular Societies London
I camera in the Canon lineup: the EOS R50
offers the compact dimensions of the
in-body image stabilisation or clever autofocus
subject detection. Yet the R50 does boast a
Photo Trade Show
The Societies of
Canon EOS M50 body, but brings access to the formidable 15fps continuous shooting top speed Photographers
Convention Trade Show
brand’s best RF-mount optics. The R50 retains (electronically, or 12fps mechanically) as well as
runs from 16-18 March
its forebear’s simple button layout, but adds the the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II. With the R50, Canon
at the Novotel London
latest tech – such as the 24.2MP sensor from is targeting content creators and vloggers, as West in Hammersmith.
the R10, the new generation Digic X processor, well as casual photographers, travel shooters Leading brands will be
and Canon’s versatile Multifunction Shoe. and smartphone upgraders, so supported video exhibiting, and a range
While all this makes the R50 a better M50 – includes uncropped 4K 30p and 1080p 120p; of seminars and talks
with more lenses to choose from, better low-light social media-friendly aspect ratios also feature. has been programmed.
performance and better autofocus – there are www.canon.co.uk; £789.99/$TBC (body only) thesocieties.net

90 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023
 Go to www.digitalcameraworld.com for the latest news, reviews & techniques In Focus

… and a pair of new zooms

The RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and the RF-S 55-210mm
F5-7.1 IS STM join the ever-expanding RF-mount family

aunched as a kit lens down to f/6.3 at 50mm, and an

L accompaniment to the Canon
EOS R8 (see page 98), the Canon
STM (stepping motor) for fast and
quiet autofocusing. Optical Image
RF 24-50mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM can be Stabilisation also features, which Canon
purchased standalone or bundled with claims will deliver a 4.5-stop advantage,
the R8. Canon’s decision to opt for a or seven stops when paired with an EOS R
focal length range of 24mm to 50mm is body with in-body image stabilisation. while its
interesting, as this provides just over two The new lens is very portable, weighing powerful
times optical zoom. Kit lenses tend to have just 210g, and has a close focusing 4.5-stop
a focal length of around 18-55mm for distance of just 300mm. image stabiliser
APS-C or 24-105mm for full-frame, which Also released was the RF-S 55-210mm means that users can
have optical zooms of 3x and 4.4x. This F/5-7.1 IS STM, a compact 3.8x telephoto leave their tripods at home. As with
new lens follows the likes of the Sony zoom offering 0.28x magnification. the RF 24-50mm, the RF-S 55-210mm
20-70mm f/4 G (see p93) and confirms Compatible with EOS R cameras with features an STM motor for fast and
that big brands are starting to experiment APS-C sensors (the EOS R7, R10 and R50), accurate autofocusing.
with the ‘standard’ zoom lens formula. this new lens offers a versatile focal range www.canon.co.uk; £379.99/$TBC
The RF 24-50mm has a maximum which will be suited for shooting portraits (RF 24-50mm); £429/$TBC
aperture of f/4.5 at the 24mm end, closing and travel photography, says Canon, (RF-S 55-210mm)

Correction: ON1
PhotoRAW 2023
Please note the correct outright purchase price
for this leading image editing software

production error in the print edition of issue 265

A (March 2023) led to an incorrect price being given
in the image-editing software group test. On page
117, ON1 PhotoRAW 2023 was quoted as costing £101.34
per month when of course it should have read £101.34/

DJI Mini 2 SE
subs from £8.10 per month. Apologies
to ON1 and to any readers who are
users of the software.
www.on1.com Big update for popular budget sub-249g drone

JI has announced a new version of its entry-level Mini

D SE. The Mini 2 SE remains a lightweight drone (coming
in at under 249g) at an appealingly low price point but
offers an improved radio range, rising from 4km to 10km. The
flight time is also boosted by one minute to 31 minutes. The Mini
2 SE sports a camera with a 1/2.3-inch (10.9mm) CMOS image
sensor and, crucially, a 3-axis gimbal which makes it able to
capture smooth video as well as photos. Video is 2.7K HD at
30fps and stills are 12 MP. The Mini 2 SE is compatible with
the RC-N1 controller, rather than the fold-out antenna-style
controller which comes with the Mini SE.
www.dji.com; from £339/$369

www.digitalcameraworld.com D I G I TA L C A M E R A 91
 Go to www.digitalcameraworld.com for the latest news, reviews & techniques

Focal point
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
Rounding up
what’s new Exciting new prime for Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount
ƏȇƳ‫ژ‬ƺɴƬǣɎǣȇǕ
he latest lens to join the manufacturer’s
T growing range of fast-aperture DG DN
Art primes, which have been designed
specifically for mirrorless cameras, completes the
full set of the Art series. This new optic also offers
even better optical performance than the existing
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM, as well as faster and
Canon launches a new
more precise autofocus, a smaller and lighter body,
large-format printer
an AFL button and smoother bokeh.
The imagePROGRAF
TC-20 aims to bridge the Sigma says the new 50mm f/1.4 DG DN is a
gap between the needs true all-round lens which will be ideal for portraits,
of professional and street, landscapes, weddings and family
novice users. The TC-20 photography. It is also an excellent option for video,
can print paper sizes with new features such as a de-clickable aperture
ranging from A4 up to ring for smooth operation while recording video,
24in/A1+ roll, but has and a custom AFL button. Optical construction
a compact footprint; comprises 14 elements in 11 groups, including
it uses only four 70ml
one SLD (special low dispersion) element and three
pigment ink bottles.
aspherical elements, and the 50mm f/1.4 DG DN
www.canon.co.uk;
£839/$795 features an all-new, ultra-fast autofocus motor
for fast, accurate, and near-silent focusing.
www.sigma-imaging-uk.com; £849.99/$849

18mm f/6.3 pancake New compact

lens from 7Artisans
Available for Sony glass from Leica
E-mount, Fujifilm
X-mount and Nikon Z Summicron SL 35 f/2 ASPH and
mount APS-C cameras, SL 50 f/2 ASPH are on sale now
this new lens offers users
an affordable wide-angle xpanding its SL lens portfolio with
solution. Specs include
a minimum focusing E these two new optics has “unlocked
even greater creative freedom”, says
distance of 30cm and
a 76° field of view. the iconic German brand. While retaining a
www.7artisans.co.uk; high speed and very shallow depth of field,
£49/$59 both lenses are compact and low in weight,
making them especially useful for travel and
everyday photography and videography. To
Win Sony or Fuji gear in
Jump the shark
ensure “high optical performance”, aspherical
Tamron UK promotion
lens elements have been used. Both of these
Buy one of nine selected
Tamron E-mount zooms new SL primes are also being sold in kit
to be entered in a prize Do your bit for conservation with the combinations with Leica SL2 or SL2-S bodies.
draw to win a Sony A7R V, PADI x Andy Casagrande Collection leica-camera.com; £1,950/$2,195
or claim a free Peak (Summicron SL 35
Design Slide Lite Limited enowned adventure filmmaker and shark f/2 ASPH);
Tamron Edition belt when
buying any Fujifilm X
R conservationist Andy Casagrande has
teamed up with global diving organisation
£1,700/$1,895
(SL 50 f/2 ASPH)
zoom. Both promotions PADI to design a signature collection of clothing to
are open until 31 March.
create a positive impact for sharks in our oceans.
www.transcontinenta.
The PADI x Andy Casagrande signature collection
co.uk/en/promotions
features a recycled plastic towel, sustainable T-shirt
and a recycled plastic trucker hat – all made with
eco-friendly material and featuring Andy’s iconic
imagery. 15% of the proceeds will go to the PADI
AWARE foundation’s shark campaigns.
www.padigear.com; from £26

APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 In Focus

Panasonic unveils Lumix S5 IIX

Announced at the same time as the S5 II, this new full-frame mirrorless has a slightly different
case design and beefed-up video specifications and is due to start shipping in May 2023

porting a matte black finish with grey buttons and two models converges in the video department, however.
S labelling, the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX was released
at the same time as the S5 II. But aside from the
In terms of bitrate and compression, the S5 IIX betters the
S5 II, and has enhanced external recording capabilities,
case finish and a slightly higher price tag, what’s the including 5.8K Apple ProRes capture to an SSD drive with
difference between the two bodies? If you only shoot stills, All-I compression – the latter will be desirable for serious
the answer is not much – both cameras feature the same filmmakers. The S5 IIX has also been future-proofed, as it
24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor and processing engine, offers wired and wireless IP streaming and USB tethering.
and Hybrid Phase Detection AF. The specification of the www.panasonic.co.uk; £2,299/$2,198 (body only)

Sony releases FE
20-70mm F4 G
Offering 20mm at the wide end, the brand
says this lens “redefines” the standard zoom
DxO updates
PhotoLab to v6.3
oasting variety of content
B outstanding
image quality,
creators, including
vloggers and movie
Incremental but powerful improvements says Sony, plus supreme makers, as well as stills
for this subscription-free raw image editor autofocus performance photographers capturing
and impressive portraits and landscapes.
pgrades to both flavours of the software operability, this new Comprising 16 optical
U (Essential and Elite) allow users to edit JPG and
TIFF files within the DxO Wide Gamut colour
standard zoom is on sale
now. The FE 20-70mm
elements in 13 groups,
the new zoom has a
space, plus the ability to view the entire image area (which F4 G is a compact and nine-blade aperture for
goes beyond what is typically displayed by image editing lightweight full-frame pleasing bokeh, the latest
software) when cropping. Other improvements include optic, with a constant f/4 linear motors to drive
smoother installation of DxO Optics Modules. Users of aperture throughout the fast, low-vibration focus,
the Elite version of PhotoLab 6.3 can simulate papers zoom range. Its image plus optimised coatings
and inks when soft proofing (simulating how an image quality, high-speed for high flaring and
will appear on another device). accuracy and AF tracking ghosting resistance.
www.dxo.com; £129/$139 (PhotoLab 6.3 Essential); will make the lens ideal for www.sony.co.uk;
£199/$219 (PhotoLab 6.3 Elite) meeting the needs of a £1,399/$1,098

www.digitalcameraworld.com D I G I TA L C A M E R A 93
 Behind
the lens
BENJAMIN RASMUSSEN
Documentary photographer
and author of a new photo
book, The Good Citizen

© Benjamin Rasmussen
benjaminrasmussenphoto.com
he Good Citizen is the debut
book by Faroese-American

T photographer, Benjamin
Rasmussen. As a self-
confessed ‘outsider’, Kalea Pitel, Miss Philippines USA 2016, in San Diego, California.
Rasmussen wanted to
explore how American society
came to be what it is today and For the last eight years, he has travelled How did you come to collaborate
the complexities that make through 43 different states and met with Frank H Wu, who wrote the
up the American identity. with over 500 people to create the essays included in the book?
images used in The Good Citizen. Frank saw a section of the project
During his documentation of this in a photography magazine. It dealt
diverse nation, Rasmussen has with beauty queens from immigrant
photographed everything from beauty communities who had been impacted
queens and activists to abandoned by US naturalisation laws, which
everyday items and even a president. limited citizenship to ‘free white
In a project first, Rasmussen shot using people’. He wrote to me and shared
large-format film and a Polaroid instant some of his research and writing,
film camera so that his subjects could and we corresponded for the
instantly have input about how they better part of three years.
were being represented.
Accompanying Rasmussen’s photos Did you intend to set out and
are a series of essays by legal scholar shoot The Good Citizen, or
Frank H Wu, who reached out to is it something that came
Rasmussen after reading about the together over time?
project. Together with the photos, I set out to examine the complexities
the pair hopes to provoke conversation of American citizenship and how the
surrounding the complicated nature courts had created a structure that
© Benjamin Rasmussen

of American identity. benefited certain people – namely

With the book now available to white men such as myself – and
buy, we caught up with Rasmussen disadvantaged others. But the
to find out why American identity complex structure of the project
is such a point of interest, how the came together over time as I did
collaboration with Wu came about, historical research, and then tried
and how the rising costs of film to find the ripples of that history
A bald eagle before necropsy. have impacted this project. in contemporary society.

94 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 © Benjamin Rasmussen
Chiloh Whiteshirt, one of the over 330 Dontey Carter protesting the killing of President Donald Trump enters his private
descendants of Tom White Shirt. Michael Brown in 2014. living room in the White House.

Over the last eight years, you must have described this as a process that simplifies those projects were measured in months,
met some interesting characters. Were “centuries of experience into a constellation but this one has taken nearly a decade.
any of them particularly memorable? of compelling metaphors.”
In 1946, two black couples were lynched When I first started, I thought that I could Are you working on any new projects
on Moore’s Ford Bridge outside of Atlanta, just challenge some of those stories, but or will you continue this one?
Georgia. No one was ever prosecuted. In quickly found that this was threatening The Good Citizen is finished, which is
the late 1990s, people in the community to viewers. So instead, I co-opted those exciting because it gives me space to
created the Moore’s Ford Memorial metaphors. I used stories of veterans, work on other things. I have one project
Committee. The director, Cassandra Green, beauty queens, family lineage and in the works which looks at the impact
leads a team of locals, both white and black, more to talk about challenging topics of American Cold War policy on one
in a re-enactment of the killings every year in a way that felt familiar. community in North Africa, and another
to bring pressure on law enforcement about the legacy of one American
to re-open the case. Coming from a Faroese-American administrator during the period when
It is a call for justice, but also a raw background and growing up in the the Philippines was an American colony,
revisiting of the worst trauma enacted on Philippines, has this project helped which is still in the research phase.
the community. To see someone shepherd you to understand your place
a group through that type of experience in American society? Which photographers do you admire,
was deeply inspiring, and she is a model for Existing between such different cultures, and if you could work with anyone,
how a community can grow and change. I have always felt like an outsider. I needed who would it be?
to be able to work through what it meant I am currently really drawn to
Have you always shot on Polaroid to be American, and why it was an identity photographers who are looking at complex
and large-format cameras? that was given freely to me and withheld topics in new and interesting ways. Max
I have shot on large format since the start from others. There are no neat and clean Pinckers, Laia Abril, Rafal Milach, Sabiha
of my career, but using Polaroid started answers, but this project was part of an Çimen and Trevor Paglen all stand
with this project. I wanted a way of showing intentional effort to understand what out in this regard.
people how they were being represented my voice is within American society,
and to try to give them as much agency with all of its complications.
in that as possible.
Have you created a photo book before?
What have you learned about American I have created a few zines over the years,
identity, and has anything surprised you? usually newsprint and unbound. I love
I learned how much American identity is how photographs operate in a printed
deeply intertwined with white identity. And, form, but I had never done a complete
like other identities, it is built up through enough project to feel like it should be put
a series of stories. Historian Richard Slotkin between two covers permanently. Each of

“I I started using Polaroid cameras on The Good Citizen, a 240-page,

hardback featuring over 130 images
this project – I wanted to show people by Rasmussen, is on sale now (ISBN
978-1-910401-80-4) priced £45/$60.
how they were being represented” https://gostbooks.com

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 95

 Jon Devo
instagram.com/gadgetsjon
Jon is a professional photographer,
videographer and technology journalist.

Creating content with older cameras

encourages Jon to capture the world
in a different way.

I also think that the popularity of

app filters has played a role in boosting
the desire for vintage-looking content.
For the past decade, people have got
creative with photo styles and filters
that make pictures and videos look

Scanning
older. Now, people are cutting out the
middle app and picking up cameras
that shoot this way by default. There’s
also the fact that in a world where
the majority of the images we see

ahead…
are captured using smartphones,
deploying AI to get the perfect shot,
a growing number of people are
looking for a more challenging
way to capture moments.
Finally, I think the homogenisation
of creativity caused by algorithms
Pocket and unique digital cameras are has inspired some people to look for
alternative ways to explore their love
experiencing their vinyl revival moment. of photography and video creation.
Imperfection and the chance of
Jon Devo ponders what this says about capturing something unexpected
keeps things exciting. It’s similar to
the current generation of image creators… the appeal some find when they shoot
on film and develop it themselves.
So will we see camera
n the past year, made in their millions. A similar thing manufacturers begin to produce
the use of hashtags seems to be happening with vintage point-and-shoot digital cameras again?

I relating to
#digitalcamera
has skyrocketed,
digital cameras. Products that were
once cast away as many of us
upgraded to better, more capable
I hope not. There are still tens of
thousands of those older models
available to buy, new and used in stores
amassing well over cameras are now back in vogue. and online marketplaces. In the name
250 million views on TikTok alone. The Washed-out flash, slow burst modes of sustainability, it’s great to see new
term ‘vintage digital camera’, referring and noisy sensors were left behind audiences falling in love with older
to pocket digital cameras released in in favour of faster autofocus and technology and finding ways to use
the noughties, is also now a thing. But improved low-light performance. But them creatively in the social media age.
what has sparked this resurgence in now the blown highlights and blurred Will you be dusting off your vintage
popularity for products that camera movement produced by those early digital cameras? I think I still have my
companies long gave up on as sales digital cameras is synonymous with Sony DSC-R1 somewhere. I’d love to
dwindled year-on-year in the face of pre-social media, early internet fire it up if I can find the battery
fierce competition from smartphones? celebrity and fashion. charger and a Memory Stick Duo.
The reasons may be complex. It’s
natural for younger generations to
seek nostalgia in things that were “Washed-out flash, slow burst
around when they were children. It’s
the reason I loved 7-inch vinyl records modes and noisy sensors were left
when I was a teen in the noughties.
They felt more real, more rare and behind in favour of faster AF and
therefore more worthy of treasuring
compared to throwaway CDs that were improved low-light performance”
96 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com
 New gear, buying tips and the world’s toughest tests
98 102
Canon EOS R8 _ Hands-on with the Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S _
brand’s latest full-frame mirrorless New super-telephoto from Nikon

103 106
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8DC DN C _ Camera backpacks _ The best bags
A new standard in many ways? for carrying your photography kit

s you have seen on page 90, With outdoor photo opportunities increasing

A
Canon continues to populate as we approach the end of winter, now could
its EOS R ecosystem, having be the time to refresh your camera carrying
launched two new bodies and solution. Turn to page 106 to see eight
a pair of new zooms. We’ve backpacks battle it out for top spot – with a
been fortunate to get up close and personal variety of different bags under scrutiny, you
with one of the new cameras, the full-frame will definitely find one that’s right for you.
EOS R8, which makes some of the cutting- Also this month, we put a pair of new
edge tech found in the more expensive EOS optics through their paces – the Nikkor Z
R6 Mark II available at a lower price point. 400mm f/4.5 VR S super-telephoto, and a
The EOS R8 will definitely interest content standard zoom for crop-sensor mirrorless
creators seeking out a lot of bang for less cameras by Sigma. Plus, we revisit two Plus TESTING
UPDATES
buck – read our initial hands-on verdict recent camera reviews and provide testing Fujifilm X-T5
on this new mirrorless from page 98. data fresh from our lab. Niall Hampton Sony Alpha 7R V

The awards bestowed by the Digital Camera lab… Ratings explained

All products reviewed
Given to the top For products Given to products Best in class
in KitZone are tested
product in a that receive five that offer superb Excellent independently by
group test stars overall value for money Good photographers with years
So-so of experience, using lab
Poor and real-world testing

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 97

KitZone
Mirrorless Canon EOS R8
2

The EOS R8’s body is

similar to the EOS RP,
Canon’s entry level
full-frame mirrorless.

1 2

Canon’s Multifunction
Shoe sits atop the R8:
it also offers power for
charging accessories.
3

The EOS R8 uses

the same 24.2MP
HANDS-ON full-frame sensor as

PREVIEW
the pricier R6 Mark II.

Canon EOS R8
£1,699/$1,499 (body only)
A remarkably light and powerful full-frame camera
w w w.c anon .co.uk

Specifications he EOS R8 reminds us Frankenstein’s monster of the two,

T
of just what a long way whether you see it is an upgraded
Sensor: 24.2MP full-frame CMOS Canon has come since RP or a down-specced R6 Mark II.
Image processor: Digic X launching the original
Lens mount: Canon RF EOS R nearly four years Key features
ISO range: 100-102,400 (exp 50-204,800) ago – and just how many cameras, The Canon EOS R8 uses the same
Max image size: 6,000 x 4,000 for many kinds of consumers, the 24.2MP sensor as the R6 Mark II and
AF points: 4,897 AF positions (4,067 for video) R system now encompasses. also offers the same ISO range (which is
Metering modes: 1,728-zone multi-pattern At the end of 2022, the R series was expandable up to a whopping 102,400).
sensing system, centre-weighted, spot up to 11 camera bodies and 31 lenses, The R8 can autofocus down to -6.5EV.
Video: 4K up to 60p (6K oversampled), 1080p and after producing some of the best It also replicates the incredible
up to 180fps, C-Log3, HDR PQ, 4:2:2 10-bit Canon cameras to date, from the electronic shutter speed from the
Viewfinder: 0.39 OLED EVF, 2.36 million dots, 120fps flagship Canon EOS R3 to the entry R6, with a blazing-fast 40 frames per
Memory card: 1x UHS-II SD level Canon EOS R10, the company second, making it one of Canon’s
LCD: 3-inch fully articulating has showed no signs of slowing down. fastest cameras – and a real contender
touchscreen, 1.62 million dots The Canon EOS R8, despite being for sports and wildlife photography,
Max burst: 40fps electronic shutter, one numerical value below the APS-C- although you might still be best served
6fps first curtain electronic shutter equipped Canon EOS R7, actually by the Canon EOS R7, thanks to its
Connectivity: USB-C, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth (4.2), sports a full-frame sensor. Canon says 1.6x crop factor and in-body image
micro HDMI, microphone, headphone, that the R8 sits between the Canon EOS stablisation. The R8 also has a 6fps
RS-60E3 terminal, Multifunction Shoe RP, its entry level full-frame camera, first curtain electronic shutter.
Size (W x H x D): 132.5 x 86.1 x 70mm and the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, for The electronic viewfinder on the R8
Weight: 414g body only serious enthusiasts and professionals. has a 120fps refresh rate and comes
(461g with card and battery) And the EOS R8 is certainly a bit of a with Canon’s OVF assist, which is meant

98 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless

4 7

The rear screen housing The photo/video

is fully articulating, so selector switch from
you can shoot from the EOS R6 Mark II has
many different angles. been ported to the R8.
6
5 8

The screen itself is To assist novice users,

a 3-inch touchscren the selectable shooting
panel that contains modes are paired with
4 1.62 million dots. Canon’s guided UI.

5
6 9

The rear controls match Content creators will

those of the EOS RP, appreciate one-touch
with no rotatable dial video recording from
or AF points joystick. a dedicated button.

9
7 8

to mimic the look of optical viewfinders Multifunction Shoe, along with physical
to make the transition from DSLR ports like micro HDMI, 3.5mm
cameras that little bit easier. microphone and headphone jacks, The EOS R8’s physical connections comprise Micro
Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus and USB-C for transfer and charging. HDMI, mic and headphone ports and a shutter
II continues to be one of the best The camera uses an LP-E17 battery, release, as well as USB-C for output and charging.
systems around, and the R8 gets all which is smaller and has less capacity
the latest subject recognition and than the usual LP-E6NH that full-frame
tracking – and is able to track human cameras usually use, but this helps
and animal heads, faces and eyes, to make the overall body smaller and
including dogs, cats, birds and horses, lighter, weighing just 461g with the
and also vehicles including cars, battery and an SD card.
bikes, planes, trains and helicopters.
The EOS R8 can record video up Build and handling
to 4K 60p (6K oversampled) or up to The body is a very close replica of the
180fps in FullHD, all using Canon’s EOS RP, with a similar size and weight,
C-Log3 or HDR PQ, and 4:2:2 10-bit trimming 20g off the older model. After
recording. The camera employs the some toing and froing on the top layout,
whole width of the sensor to record, so Canon cameras seem to finally be
there is no video crop to deal with – and finding a steady rhythm; the layout of
Canon also claims that any recording the top plate is near exact to the EOS
time limit in 4K is a thing of the past. R6 Mark II, with the on/off functions
There is a plethora of connectivity added to the lock switch, and the The EOS R8 will also be sold in a kit with a new
methods, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, old power switch becoming the new zoom lens, the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Apple MFI, image.canon, UVC and the photo/video hybrid switch. – turn the page to view some sample images.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 99

KitZone
Mirrorless Canon EOS R8

© Canon
Shot on an RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, a cityscape at night shows off the EOS R8’s low-light capabilities. Exposure: 1/8 sec at f/7.1, ISO 10000.
© Canon

The rest of the top is standard fare, being able to be micro-managed (albeit
with two top control wheels, the mode more slowly) using the directional pad
select dial, M-Fn button and a record – but with the touchscreen controls,
button. However, the buttons and dials and the latest autofocus system in the
are shallower than the R6, as the R8 is EOS R cameras being near flawless,
overall sleeker and more akin to the RP. this is easily worked around.
The rear controls of the camera are The one area where this camera
where things diverge from the R6 and really falls down is with its single SD
move back into RP territory, eschewing card slot. While we can see the logic in
the rotatable dial and joystick from the only including a single slot in order to
more expensive cameras. I would say differentiate the R8 from the R6, it is still
this is unsurprising at this price range, unfortunate to see, with some smaller
An interior shot with bright light shining through the as traditionally joysticks were a key and similarly priced cameras from
windows tests the dynamic range of the EOS R8. point of separation between Canon’s other brands including a second slot.
higher- and lower-end cameras. However, placing the SD in the
However, with the recent entry level battery compartment on the base of
© Canon

EOS R10 having a joystick, this feels the camera will always be incredibly
more like obvious handicapping. frustrating. With this camera aimed as
While the omission of a joystick is a hybrid production device, it will spend
unfortunate, Canon’s reduced layout is a lot of time in rigs, on gimbals and on
still very functional, with the focus still tripods, many of which prevent access

“The R8 should produce the same stills

and video quality that we loved from
its pricier big brother, the R6 Mark II”
The EOS R8 features face and eye detection for human
subjects. Shot on an RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens.

100 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless
© Canon

Rich colours and detail are captured by the EOS R8 using an RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens at a focal length of 24mm. Exposure: 1/200 sec at f/9, ISO 100.

to the bottom of the camera, leaving Canon is still a firm believer in pushing
users having to remove the accessories its always very good lens-based optical
to get access to change a card. stabilisation. In video recording, lens IS
While better wired and wireless can be combined with Canon’s digital
connectivity goes some way to solve stabilisation (with the penalty of a slight
this, sometimes the old-fashioned way crop). Or you can just do without, as
of whipping out the SD is the best. Adobe Premiere Pro or even Apple
iMovie’s post-production stabilisation
Performance is now just frighteningly good (again,
Digital Camera early verdict
In terms of sensor performance, the it means that a crop will be imposed).
R8 is essentially an R6 Mark II, with the One area of performance where the The Canon EOS R8 just does it all. There is no specific
same 24.2MP resolution and Digic X R8 is heavily compromised, though, is in target audience that it would be primarily suited for;
the choice of battery. Canon has chosen the R8 thrives in any situation where ultimate image
processor, so the R8 should produce
quality is not the end result, but where the benefits
the same stills and video quality that to go with its smaller and less powerful
of a full-frame sensor, such as a shallower depth of
we loved from its pricier big brother. LP-E17 battery to save on space, field and expanded dynamic range, can create better
With the addition of 40fps shooting with making the overall camera smaller and content. If you are enamoured with the features of
the electronic shutter, this is actually lighter, while also separating it from the the R6 Mark II, but your budget cannot stretch to that
faster than the more expensive Canon more expensive models, which use the higher model, then this is the camera to consider.
EOS R5 camera. The R8 is really not much more enduring LP-E6NH. Sure, there are a few compromises. You will
in short supply of bang for your buck. The LP-E17 is not a bad battery; have to make do with only one SD card, and with
The R8 also shares the latest on the contrary, it is used throughout its awkward placement under the battery door.
upgrades to Canon’s autofocus and Canon’s range of APS-C cameras, If you are currently used to joystick or thumb wheel
tracking system – which in previous and on the EOS RP. However, for the controls, it might take a while to get used to their
absence. But for the technology that this camera
models has been nothing short of use cases of the R8 as a hybrid camera,
can bring to your work, these all seem like pretty
spectacular, with only a few stumbles we expect that consistent 4K video fair trade-offs. For online content creators who
on trickier-to-recognise animals. recording and increased autofocus want hybrid cameras for photography and video,
The camera is missing in-body image processing will eat through these enthusiast photographers looking to try full-frame
stabilisation, but that seems an obvious batteries like Tic-Tacs. sensors, or students on a budget, the Canon EOS
choice to be left out at this price point. Gareth Bevan R8 pretty much ticks all the boxes.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 101

 Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S Super-telephoto prime

Specifications
3
Mount: Nikon Z
Full-frame: Yes
Lens construction: 19 elements in 13 groups
2
Angle of view: 6.2º
Autofocus: Yes
1 Image stabilisation: Yes
Max aperture: f/4.5
Min aperture: f/32
Diaphragm blades: 9
Min focusing distance: 2.5m
Max magnification ratio: 0.16x
Filter size: 95mm
Dimensions (L x D): 235 x 104mm
Weight: 1,245g
GOLD
AWARD

Nikkor Z 400mm
f/4.5 VR S
£3,190/$3,247
Yet another great Generation Z Nikkor
w w w. nikon .co.uk

4
ure, it doesn’t have a super-fast aperture

S
rating, but the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S
ticks every other box on a photographer’s
wish list for a super-tele prime. While many Sharpness
of us switching from DSLRs to mirrorless Sharpness is excellent right out to the edges of the
cameras were dreaming of downsized kit, that hasn’t been frame. It’s an important consideration when you
the case with many mirrorless lenses. By contrast, this lens need fast shutter speeds for freezing motion.
is refreshingly compact and lightweight for a super-tele 1 Fringing 1.18
prime. Indeed, the easily manageable size and weight There’s more colour fringing across the whole frame
Build quality is high, with
are the first thing that hits you when you pick it up. than from the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, but it’s
comprehensive weather-seals.
It’s actually the smallest and lightest 400mm still of a very low order and will generally go unnoticed.
lens in Nikon’s long and illustrious history.
There are 19 optical elements shoehorned into this 2 Distortion 0.71
relatively diminutive lens, including one ED (Extra-low Four lens function buttons sit There’s a slight touch of pincushion distortion, but
Dispersion), two Super ED and an SR (Short-wavelength towards the front of the barrel. as with colour fringing, it’s easily corrected either
Refractive) element. The aim is to enhance clarity and colour automatically in-camera or when editing images.
rendition while minimising chromatic aberrations. Nano 3
Crystal Coat is featured to fend off ghosting and flare, and Verdict
a keep-clean fluorine coating is applied to the front element. Press Memory Set to return
to a preset focus distance.
Autofocus is based on a virtually silent linear stepping
motor system, which is fast for stills while enabling smooth
focus transitions when shooting video. Vibration Reduction 4
5.0 A best-in-class product

comes courtesy of highly effective voice coil motors and At 1,245g, this lens will be ideal
gives a 5.5-stop advantage, rising to a 6-stop benefit for long periods of shooting. 5.0 5.0 4.5 5.0
in Synchro VR mode, which also utilises the sensor-shift
stabilisation of compatible cameras. Features Build & Performance Value
handling

Performance This lens isn’t as sharp as the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8

TC VR S, but it still has sharpness in abundance.
Living up to its claims, autofocus is super-fast and accurate,
More importantly, it’s less than half the weight and
while optical image stabilisation is highly effective. It’s a
a quarter of the price. Although it lacks the bigger
powerful combination that delivers an excellent hit rate lens’s built-in tele-converter, it’s compatible with
even for tricky subjects in difficult shooting conditions. Nikon’s Z 1.4x and 2.0x tele-converters if you feel
The high-performance AF and VR systems are backed up by The high-performance AF and the need for extra reach. Build quality, handling and
superb handling and fabulous image quality in all respects. VR systems are backed up by performance are epic, so if you’re in the market for
Matthew Richards fantastic image quality. a super-tele prime, the smart money’s on this lens.

102 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C Zoom lens

Specifications
1
3 Mount: Sony E, Leica L
Full-frame: No
Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups
Angle of view: 76.5-31.7º
2 Autofocus: Yes
Image stabilisation: No
Max aperture: f/2.8
Min aperture: f/22
Diaphragm blades: 7
Min focusing distance: 0.12m (W) 0.3m (T)
Max magnification ratio: 0.36x (W) 0.2x (T)
Filter size: 55mm
Dimensions (L x D): 75 x 65mm
Weight: 290g

Sigma 18-50mm
F2.8 DC DN | C
£429/$549
APS-C lens squeezes a quart into a pint pot
w w w. sigma - imaging - uk .com

he Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C bucks a trend.

1

T
Think constant-aperture f/2.8 ‘trinity’ zooms and
you’re probably thinking chunky, heavyweight lenses. Even at full stretch, this
This Sigma is a more compact proposition, designed lens is only 75mm long
– just under 4 inches.
Sharpness
for Sony E-mount and Leica L-mount APS-C format At 18mm, sharpness is excellent across the whole
cameras. It’s amazingly small and light for an f/2.8 zoom, even by frame, only dropping off at f/2.8. Centre-sharpness
APS-C standards. Even the price tag is refreshingly lightweight. 2 remains excellent at 35-50mm.
Top of the list of desirable features is the fast and constant f/2.8 Zoom and focus rings
aperture. Compared with most variable-aperture standard zooms, operate with a smooth
Fringing Short 0.17 Long 0.15
Even with automatic in-camera correction switched
this enables quick shutter speeds in low lighting conditions, and and precise action.
off, colour fringing is remarkably negligible throughout
a relatively tight depth of field for isolating the main subject.
the entire zoom range and at all aperture settings.
The optical design incorporates three high-precision glass- 3
moulded aspherical elements, which help with the downsizing Distortion Short -5.37 Long 3.14
of this ‘Contemporary’ lens, as well as boosting sharpness and The lightweight and
There’s heavy barrel distortion at 18mm and pincushion
compact design is the
reducing aberrations. There’s also an SLD (Special Low Dispersion) at 35-50mm. With more lenses designed for mirrorless
top handling attraction.
element to reduce colour fringing. Sigma’s conventional Super bodies, there’s a reliance on in-camera corrections.
Multi-layer Coating is applied to minimise ghosting and flare.
Autofocus is based on a linear stepping motor, which snaps Verdict
quickly into position as well as being able to track rapidly moving
subjects. The only real downside is that the lens doesn’t feature
an optical image stabiliser, and most of the cameras that
it’s designed for don’t feature in-body stabilisation.
4.5 Outstanding

Performance 4.5 4.5 4.5 5.0

As well as being rapid and virtually silent, the autofocus proved
consistently accurate throughout our testing. Sharpness is Features Build & Performance Value
excellent across the entire image frame, although edge-sharpness handling

drops off a little at longer zoom settings. At the widest aperture, A big, chunky f/2.8 standard zoom lens would
feel out of place on a Sony or Leica APS-C format
bokeh is pleasantly smooth in defocused areas, and longitudinal/
system body. Sigma solves this by shoehorning
axial chromatic aberration or ‘bokeh fringing’ is very minimal.
a 27-75mm effective zoom range with a fast and
There’s virtually no lateral chromatic aberration, but performance constant f/2.8 aperture into a compact yet
is less impressive when it comes to distortions. As with many recent well-built lens. It has super-fast autofocus, and
mirrorless camera lenses, the Sigma relies heavily on in-camera This sequence shows delivers impressive image quality. At a quarter
corrections, which can also be applied when processing raw files. focal lengths of 18mm, of the weight and price of many f/2.8 zooms,
Overall, however, performance is impressive. Matthew Richards 28mm and 50mm. this lens really does punch above its weight.

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KitZone
Mirrorless IɖǴǣˡǼȅæ‫ٮ‬Á‫ד‬

Lab tests

Á0³ÁXzJ
Ȩ(Á0

The X-T5 is the APS-C camera to beat, generating

the cleanest images. However, even the X-Trans 5
sensor can’t compete with the full-frame Z 6II.

IɖǴǣˡǼȅæ‫ٮ‬Á‫ד‬
£1,699/$1,699 (body only)
The X-T5 matches the Z 6II and EOS R7 at lower
sensitivities, and pulls out a 1.5-stop dynamic
An APS-C mirrorless in a class of its own range lead over the Canon at ISO 1600 and above.

w w w. fuji f ilm -x .com

Specifications he Fujifilm X-T5’s compact body is

T
smaller and lighter than its predecessor,
Sensor: 40.2MP 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C) and the resolution has bumped up
X-Trans CMOS 5 HR with primary colour filter considerably from 26.1MP to 40.2MP,
Image processor: X-Processor 5 making it one of the highest-resolution
Lens mount: Fujifilm X APS-C cameras on the market. Then there’s ISO 125
ISO range: 125-12,800 (exp 64-51,200) as a standard sensitivity (compared to the X-T4’s 160),
Shutter speeds: 1/180000 sec- the staggeringly fast shutter speed of 1/180000 sec,
30 secs (electronic) and ergonomically, a three-way tilting LCD (the X-T4
With its sensor resolution of 40.2MP, the X-T5 is
Image stabilisation: Up to 7 stops has a vari-angle design). The continuous shooting
a clear leader when it comes to resolving fine
Max image size: 7728 x 5152 pixels speed using the electronic shutter is 20fps, and while detail, easily beating the 32.5MP Canon EOS R7.
AF points: 100% phase detection this doesn’t match the X-H2S, it’s still impressive.
autofocus pixels. -7EV. Digital Camera verdict
Video: 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 6.2K/30p, Performance
4K/60p webcam mode Features for stills photography include the HEIF image
Viewfinder: 0.5-inch, 3.69M-dot
OLED EVF, 100fps refresh
format for 10-bit image quality but 30% smaller files
than JPEGs. There’s also Smooth Skin Effect, which 4.5 Outstanding
Memory cards: 2 x SD/SDHX/SDHC slots automatically smooths skin tones, and Auto White
LCD: 3-inch tilting touchscreen Balance, based on Deep Learning technology.
4.5 5.0 4.5 5.0
Max burst: 15fps mechanical, It’s also no slouch when it comes to movie
20fps electronic (1.29x crop) capabilities. You get 6.2K movies at 30p in 4:2:2
Features Build & Performance Value
Connectivity: USB-C, Micro HDMI, 10-bit colour, but also the 4K HQ mode, which uses handling
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 6.2K over-sampling to produce high-quality video.
It feels like the Fujifilm X-T5 is a welcome evolution
Size (W x H x D): 129.5 x 91 x 63.8mm RAW video output can be recorded as 12-bit Apple
of the X-T series, rather than a revolution. It’s a
Weight: 476g (body only) ProRes RAW at frame sizes up to 6.2K and frame rates classically controlled SLR-style camera that puts
of 29.97fps when combined with an Atomos HDMI photography first for serious enthusiasts. The X-T5
device. With Blackmagic Design Video Assist 12Gs, takes the X-T4 further in terms of resolution, but
RAW video output can be recorded as Blackmagic is still ideal for shooters who want a beautiful,
RAW up to 6.2K and 29.97fps. Lauren Scott lightweight camera with traditional controls.

104 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Sony A7R V Mirrorless

Lab tests
TESTING
UPDATE

The A7R V actually performs marginally worse in this

test than the A7R IV, but it’s close at higher sensitives,
where noise suppression matters most.

Sony Alpha 7R V
£3,999/$3,898 (body only)
The A7R V edges out its older sibling at higher ISOs.
The EOS R5 does well at lower sensitivities, but can’t
An amazing technological achievement match the other cameras at ISO 800 and beyond.

w w w. s o ny. c o . u k

Specifications he Sony A7R V is Sony’s ‘resolution’

T
specialist, though its 8K video capability,
Sensor: 61MP full-frame improved burst capacity and new AI
back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS autofocus will likely drive a wedge into
Image processor: BIONZ XR + AI unit the sports/action and video markets.
Mount: Sony FE This camera has the highest resolution sensor
ISO range: 100-32,000 available for full-frame cameras. Some will have
Shutter speeds: 1/8000-30 sec hoped for more from Sony’s resolution specialist,
Image stabilisation: 5-axis IBIS, but 61MP is arguably enough, especially with Sony’s
Despite having fewer megapixels, the GFX matches
Active mode, up to 8 stops improved 240MP Pixel Shift Multi Shooting mode.
– and even exceeds – the resolving power of the A7R
Max image size: 9,504 × 6336 pixels The bigger news is Sony’s new AI-powered AF V: that’s the medium-format difference in action.
Max video resolution: 8K 24p system, driven by its bespoke AI processing unit.
Continuous shooting: 10fps This increases the range of subjects the camera Digital Camera verdict
Viewfinder: 9,444k dot EVF, can recognise to include insects, cars, trains and
0.9x magnification aeroplanes. It has animal head and body recognition,
LCD: Tilting/vari-angle touchscreen,
3.1-inch, 2,095k dot
not just eye detection, and it can now recognise
human subjects by their shapes, limbs and poses. 4.5 Outstanding
Memory cards: 2x SD UHS-II/
CFexpress Type A Performance 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.5
Size: 131.3 x 96.9 x 82.4 mm We tried the improved AI autofocus on a number of
Weight: 723 g (incl battery subjects. The human AI is good at picking up human
Features Build & Performance Value
and memory card) shapes, even people in the middle distance with their handling
backs to you. The animal detection was similarly
Technically, the A7R V is stunning. The new AI
impressive, though we got better tracking with a black
subject recognition AF is remarkable, both for its
and white dog than a golden retriever. Sony’s video rapid identification and acquisition and its very
continues to impress, with the processed video sticky ‘tracking’. The image quality is every bit as
straight out of the camera being sharp with good good as that of the A7R IV before it (Sony says it’s
colour balance and fantastic dynamic range. better), and the bigger buffer makes the A7R V
Rod Lawton and Gareth Bevan much more effective for prolonged burst shooting.

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KitZone

Camera
backpacks
It’s only natural to want to protect your
precious gear from life’s knocks and scrapes.
These backpacks will do the job in style

D
SLR and mirrorless Backpacks provide more room for
camera setups have a expansion while helping to spread
habit of growing. Once the load. Both shoulders share the
you get beyond, say, burden, and weight is distributed to
a camera and a kit your upper and lower back, making
lens, an additional them more comfortable and secure.
telephoto zoom and a Many backpacks add versatility
flashgun, regular shoulder bags often by including additional pockets
run out of room. You can find yourself for personal items, a separate
leaving bits of kit at home, inevitably compartment for a laptop or tablet (or
missing something when a great both) and attaching a tripod. Some
photo opportunity presents itself. split the main compartment into two
One solution is to buy a bigger sections. You’ve then got space for
shoulder bag, but it’s less than travel essentials, albeit with less room
ideal. Carrying its full weight on one for your kit. Let’s take a closer look at
shoulder can be uncomfortable, and some of the best-buy options on the
the strap may slide down your arm. market right now. Matthew Richards

The contenders
1 Gomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L £290/$300
2 Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW II £179/$189
3 Lowepro Whistler Backpack 350 AW II £299/$314
4 Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack M £184/$196
5 Tenba DNA 16 DSLR Backpack £159/$229
6 Toxic Valkyrie (Medium) £199/$239
7 Vanguard Alta Sky 51D £210/$211
8 Vanguard VEO Active 53 £249/$299

106 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023

 You’ll never miss a shot if
you have the right camera
backpack – you can carry
your essential photo gear in
comfort and access it with
ease when on location.

Getty
KitZone
Group test Camera backpacks

Gomatic 3

McKinnon Camera
Backpack 25L 2
4

£290/$300
The modular design of this 5
backpack makes it very versatile,
but ultimately rather pricey
esigned in collaboration approach makes it the most expensive

D with Canadian photographer

Peter McKinnon, this is the
smaller of two backpacks
backpack in the group once you start
adding extras that are typically supplied
with other contenders on test.
1

branded as Gomatic in the UK and

Nomatic in the USA. A bag for all reasons Performance
and seasons, it’s endlessly customisable A bonus of the modular system is that
and made from a blend of durable, you can buy multiple large and small
water-resistant materials. The key cubes and tailor them to different
to customisation is a ‘ladder’ system collections of cameras, lenses and other
that enables you to extend the top accessories that you often use. It’s then
compartment of the split photo/ easy to slip the appropriate cube into
daypack, giving more or less space the backpack for any given scenario, or
to photo kit or daily essentials. to leave them out when you simply want The adjustable ladder system
1
For camera kit, there’s the option of to use the bag as a regular backpack. allows the internal space to
adding a set of dividers, either one or two be reconfigured quickly.
small ‘cubes’, or one large cube. These
Molle loops are featured down
fit into the main compartment, which is 2
accessed from the rear via a zippered
Digital Camera verdict both sides of the front, used
for attaching extra items.
flap that also contains two mesh It’s relatively lightweight, really well made and
pockets. However, the dividers or cubes looks very stylish. The modular approach adds There’s a separate dedicated
3
add to the price of the basic backpack, expense as well as versatility, making this compartment for 16-inch laptops.
costing around £45/$45 or £70/$70 backpack pricier than most competitors.
for small or large cubes respectively. These fold-out pockets on each side
4
Additional accessories sold separately of the bag double as tripod holders.
include organiser cases for batteries,
filters and memory cards. Unusually, the
backpack is supplied without a waist belt
4.5 Outstanding 5
The backpack doesn’t come with
a waist strap, which will please
those who don’t like them.
or slip-over rain cover, these items again
being sold as optional extras.
4.5 5.0 5.0 4.0
Ultimately, while the build quality
is excellent and the McKinnon is Performance
Features Build & Value
immensely versatile, the modular handling

HOW WE TEST
We run a wide range of tests on photo backpacks. Here’s our checklist…

e test the quality of construction for each bumps and knocks. Speed and ease of access to kit
W backpack, checking robustness as well as the
ease of use and security of all zips and other
is gauged, some backpacks offering a range of front,
rear and side access to the main compartment.
fasteners. We also check that the range of adjustments We test all additional features where included in
enables a comfortable fit, with small, medium and large the design. These can include tripod fasteners,
builds. This extends not only to the main shoulder laptop and tablet compartments, extra pockets
straps, but also to chest and waist straps. and organisers for both photo kit and daily
We check that the main camera compartment essentials, and pass-through straps for
is well padded and offers good protection from attaching the backpacks to luggage trolleys.

108 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

Lowepro
ProTactic
BP 350 AW II
£179/$189 2

The ProTactic is the outright

4

slimmest backpack in the group, 5

but with four entry points
here are no less than four as a standalone utility belt with an internal

T ways into the camera

compartment of this full
photo backpack, with a
zippered pocket, external zippered pouch
and two loops for attaching SlipLock
accessories. The backpack also comes
full-access main zipper at the rear, plus with a tripod cup, two Quick Straps
zippered flaps at the top and at both and a pull-out rain cover. 3
sides. You can therefore configure it for
1
instant access to one or two cameras Performance
complete with attached lenses, plus As usual with full access to the main
a favourite accessory. Measuring compartment at the rear, it’s easiest to
30 x 18 x 47cm, it’s the shallowest bend the shoulder straps forwards and
backpack in the group, and it tapers out of the way before opening the zip.
away towards the bottom. Being deeper at the top, the backpack
The main compartment measures gives easy access to a chunky DSLR The bulbous top section has a separate
1
26 x 12.5 x 40cm and the laptop through the top flap, but the relatively opening, ideal for accessing a camera
compartment is disappointingly small, shallow base makes it prone to falling over. with attached lens.
only able to take a 13-inch device. A
As well as at the top, access points are
larger 450 AW II version of the backpack 2
is also available, with a 31.8 x 19.8 x Digital Camera verdict featured on both sides and there’s full
access at the rear.
44cm main compartment and space Slim and easily manageable, this is one of the
for a 15-inch laptop. more conventional ‘full photo’ backpacks in A tripod holder and additional SlipLock
Two additional internal zippered the group, although the multitude of access 3
pouch are supplied with the backpack.
pockets are useful for filters, spare points (four) to the main camera compartment
batteries, remotes and the like. There is certainly a break from tradition. The removable waist band has
4
are two further outer compartments with additional zippered pockets and
zippered access, but they’re very small attachment loops.
and thin. An extra utility pouch and bottle
holder are supplied, which can attach
to the many webbed loops around the
4.5 Outstanding 5
An all-weather cover tucks away into the
bottom of the backpack for easy access.

backpack, or to the waist strap via

4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
Lowepro’s secure Velcro flap-based
SlipLock system. The heavy-duty waist Performance
Features Build & Value
strap is removable and can also function handling

BUDGET BACKPACKS
These downsized delights go large on money-saving

ith the best will in the world, the particular. First up, there’s the slimline Cwatcun
W backpacks we’re reviewing here are
a bit of an overkill if you only have
Camera Backpack 2.0 S, currently available for
just £26/$30 from Amazon. It measures 28 x 14 x
a fairly small camera body and two or three 36cm and can hold a DSLR with three to five lenses
additional lenses. Buying a smaller backpack and a flashgun, as well as featuring a tablet
will save space, be lighter on your back compartment and tripod tether. For a more
and save you a chunk of money. luxurious and better-built but pricier option, there’s Available in black, blue, red and camo, the
There are many budget options to choose from, the Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 at around £54/$70, Lowepro Tahoe BP 150 has an additional
but we’ve recently been impressed by a couple in with deeper dimensions of 27.5 x 21.7 x 40.3cm. daily essentials/organiser compartment.

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KitZone
Group test Camera backpacks

Lowepro 1

Whistler Backpack
4

350 AW II
£299/$314 2

A photo/daypack that’s built to

5

withstand the harshest weather

and toughest conditions

his Lowepro split photo/ Performance

T daypack is deeper and taller Access to the main camera 3
than its ProTactic 350 sibling, compartment is possible via a full-length
and the main camera zip that runs around the back. This
compartment is a centimetre comes with the advantages of greater
shorter, but 2.5cm deeper at 15cm. If security and being able to lay the bag
that’s still not deep enough, you can down on its front on wet ground when
expand it a little by undoing a riser you want to grab your camera kit,
zip, similar to that featured in many rather than on the rear surface that
suitcases. As is often the case, you sits against your back. Without the
can also remove the partition between photo/daypack divider in place,
photo and daypack if you want to stow you can also access your camera
a camera with a really long lens attached. through the top zipper.
Sturdy straps at the front and on both
Built for the great outdoors in all 1
sides enable you to securely tether
weathers, the Whistler has sturdy weighty extras.
exterior attachment points for skis or
a snowboard, which can also be used
Digital Camera verdict The large, full-length front compartment
2
to tether the bag to a luggage trolley. Designed for the adventurous, this is an ideal has a useful waterproof barrier to the
A large additional compartment at the backpack for everything from summer trekking photo section.
front gives plenty of space for more to winter sports photography. It’s particularly
winter extras – like a snow shovel – or for tough and gives lots of options for attaching A zip-up top gives access to the small
3
compartment that is nominally set
other essentials for different season of extra kit to the exterior.
aside for daily essentials.
the year. Thanks to a waterproof divider,
you can stash wet kit in the front section
without worrying about leakage through
to the camera compartment. The usual
4.5 Outstanding 4
The rear flap gives access to the main
camera compartment.

set of Velcro dividers enables you to The waist strap is large, padded and
5
tailor the main camera compartment has some additional loops and pockets,
5.0 4.5 4.5 4.5
to take wide-ranging photo and video but it’s not removable.
gear, or a drone outfit instead. Performance
Features Build & Value
handling

SIZING UP THE OPTIONS

xƏǸƺɀɖȸƺɵȒɖȸǸǣɎˡɎɀǣȇɎǝƺǣȇɎƺȸȇƏǼƳǣȅƺȇɀǣȒȇɀȒǔɵȒɖȸȵȸȒɀȵƺƬɎǣɮƺƫɖɵ

t’s common to concentrate on the space for internal dividers, then measure the
I external dimensions of a backpack
when considering your purchase,
size of the overall width, depth and height.
This gives a much clearer idea of whether
but the internal size of the main camera your complete photo kit will fit into a
compartment can be more important. prospective backpack and how much space
Lay out your camera bodies, lenses and you’ll actually need. Naturally, if you’ve got
other accessories on a table in the rough a large collection of gear, you might not want Small and large ‘cubes’ are available for the
configuration that they’ll go into your to take everything with you at the same time, Gomatic McKinnon backpack on test to suit
prospective backpack. Leave a little which can weigh you down anyway. different sizes of kit. This is the large version.

110 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Camera backpacks Group test

Manfrotto 1
4

Pro Light Multi-

loader Backpack M 3

£184/$196 2

The multi-loading Manfrotto split

backpack works particularly well
for dual camera outfits

ith more space in its upper mesh pockets, and the front flap also

W compartment than the

Lowepro Whistler, the
Manfrotto comes with
comes with an external zippered pocket.

Performance
Velcro dividers in both the main and The backpack performs well in its
top sections. This enables you to stow standard configuration, and you can also
5
a camera with a modestly sized lens, remove the divider between the main
plus another couple of lenses in the top and top compartments, making one
compartment and a second camera with extra-large space. That can be a bonus
attached lens and more photo goodies if you’re shooting with a large super-
in the main lower section. What’s more, telephoto lens. Build quality is very good
you can access both cameras directly and versatility is excellent, so it certainly
via top and side flaps, as well as getting lives up to its ‘Multiloader’ moniker. The top compartment is large enough
full access to the main lower section 1
to stow a small camera outfit, complete
from the front. with adjustable dividers.
The usual grab handle up top is
present, plus a longer one on one side
Digital Camera verdict As well as top access, there are access
2
that you can also choose to use as a Like the Lowepro ProTactic, this Manfrotto points on both sides of the backpack
baggage stroller strap, should you backpack offers four different access points and through the front flap.
require it. Both of the main shoulder to cameras and favoured accessories. It works
Tripod straps fold away on both sides
straps are detachable, enabling you particularly well if you have two separate 3
of the front flap.
to configure the bag as a backpack, cameras to which you want quick access.
slingback or duffle bag. Tripod fastener Both shoulder straps are removable,
straps and the waist strap tuck away
when not needed, making the bag
more streamlined. A separate rear
4.5 Outstanding
4
enabling optional configuration as
a slingback or duffle.

compartment is large enough to A pull-out combination padlock is

5
accommodate a 16-inch laptop and featured, which can be used to lock
4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5
there’s an additional zippered pocket all the main zippers closed.
on the right-hand side. The front flap Performance
Features Build & Value
and top flap feature small internal handling

GO CONFIGURE...
Velcro can help when it comes to customising your backpack
ike regular backpacks, photo backpacks The wonder of Velcro enables you to tailor the bag’s
L generally feature two shoulder straps and
a padded rear surface. Traditional designs
interior to give a snug fit to all your individual items.
Small spaces left over can be used to carry spare
dedicate the main compartment to carrying photo batteries for both cameras and flashguns, remote
gear. To accommodate different sizes of cameras, controllers and other accessories. Many backpacks
lenses and other accessories, internal dividers are feature additional compartments for laptops and
adjustable. Standard and wide-angle lenses can tablets, photo accessories and other gadgets, The Toxic Valkyrie features a good
usually be fitted upright in the compartment, as well as an organiser when it comes to organiser compartment at the
while longer lenses will need to be lengthways. packing personal items. front for daily bits and bobs.

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KitZone
Group test Camera backpacks

Tenba 2

DNA 16 DSLR 3

£159/$229
Modest in size and price, the 5

Tenba is nevertheless well suited

to a wide range of applications

vailable in blue and black, the rear for securing the backpack

A this Tenba looks every inch

a split photo/daypack, but it
can go either way. The lower
to a luggage trolley.

Performance 4

zippered compartment has a pull-out Despite not having additional access

action to reveal enough space and points at the side, the design of the DNA
dividers for a camera with an attached 16 DSLR makes it quick and easy to get
lens, plus three to six additional lenses, at anything and everything you need
depending on size. What’s more, the to access in a hurry. The quality of
photo insert is easily removable, as is construction is very good, and it’s the
the main divider between the lower and most lightweight backpack in the group,
upper sections. You can therefore use shaving 40 grammes off the weight
it as a regular backpack, or stow a of the McKinnon, even without adding
The rolltop design enables you to change
camera with a really long lens attached. the latter’s extra inserts. 1
the size of the bag on the fly.
What’s more, the top section has a
rolltop, so you can extend its height There are plenty of organiser pockets in the
quickly and easily if and when you need
Digital Camera verdict 2
top and front sections for arranging your kit.
more space. There’s also a separate Although small and lightweight in its standard
front compartment with a neat organiser trim, the rolltop design adds space when The 16-inch laptop compartment at the
3
section, plus a 16-inch laptop needed and the backpack is very versatile, rear has a side opening, keeping clear
compartment around the back. A easily adapting to varying needs, from of the shoulder straps.
stretchy drinks bottle holder sits on a photo backpack to a regular bag.
The camera/photo insert in the lower
one side of the bag, and there’s a 4
compartment is easily removable.
Velcro-sealing pocket on the other,
both of which have fastening loops
above them for alternatively securing
4.5 Outstanding
5
The waist strap is completely removable,
so you only need to use it if necessary.
tripods or other accessories.
Carrying comfort is assured by a
4.5 5.0 4.5 4.5
padded mesh harness and shoulder
straps, a sternum strap and removable Performance
Features Build & Value
waist strap. There’s also a strap on handling

A GRAND DAY OUT

A split daypack/backpack can be more convenient for a walkabout

twist in the photo backpack plot comes In some split backpacks, dividers can be added
A in the shape of split photo/daypacks,
which divide the main internal
to or removed from sections so that you can
reconfigure the space for additional photo items
compartment into two sections. The lower one is or a more general space. The Vanguard Veo Active
generally dedicated to photo kit, while the upper goes a step further, featuring an easily removable The Vanguard Veo Active has
section can be used for personal paraphernalia. camera compartment that sits within the main an easily removable camera
The separating partition can often be removed. section of the backpack. You can therefore make compartment, enabling speedy
This can be handy if, for example, you want to stow the transition from photo backpack to regular transitions between photo and
a camera body with a particularly long lens fitted. backpack in a few seconds. regular backpack duty.

112 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 2

Toxic
Valkyrie (Medium) 4
£199/$239
5
1

This full photo backpack has

clever design flourishes pretty
much everywhere you look

oxic bags and backpacks around the edge, giving an additional

T come from the same

company as 3 Legged Thing
tripods. The Valkyrie
access point. You can also use this
as a waterproof ‘frog pocket’.
3

backpacks are available in two sizes Performance

(medium and large) and three colours: With its strong and sturdy yet lightweight
onyx, emerald and sapphire. They have construction, the Valkyrie performs
a full-height main compartment with admirably. The three-point airflow
movable dividers so you can tailor the harness is particularly comfortable. The
fit to your camera gear. The dividers shoulder straps feature webbed hoops
themselves feature pockets on one side and strong plastic loops for attaching
– ideal for stashing filters, cables and cameras and other accessories, and
batteries. There are also two zipper the similarly well-padded waist strap Fold-away tripod straps are fitted
pockets sewn into the main flap, plus a is quickly and easily removable. 1
to the front of the backpack.
removable memory card wallet that is
held in place by Velcro. The medium and There’s a concealed pocket at the rear,
large editions have 13-inch and 15-inch
Digital Camera verdict 2
ideal for stowing a passport or wallet.
laptop compartments respectively. Slim, stylish and beautifully made, the
Next up are two smaller side pockets, Valkyrie is a full-photo backpack that goes Internal and external multi-layered
3
pockets work really well for keeping
each with their own separate zips, the extra mile, with an extravagant array of
everything organised.
internal dividers and additional zippered compartments and pockets for stashing all
inner pockets, while on the other side your bits of photo kit, large and small. The waterproof camera/‘frog pocket’
of the backpack there’s a stretchy 4
is accessed via a flap that’s also the
drinks bottle holder. On the front of the
backpack there’s a further zippered
compartment, which features a
5.0 A best-in-class product
lumbar pad.

A rain/dust cover stashes away in

5
particularly excellent organiser section, a Velcro-sealed slot in the base.
plus an additional inner zippered pocket.
5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
For those that like to access a camera
or accessory from the rear, the Valkyrie Performance
Features Build & Value
has a lumbar pad at the base with a zip handling

áRÁ!««ç‫ ٳ‬z
Get a photo backpack that meets cabin regulations

one of us like the thought of our treasured ranged from just 5kg to whatever you can
N camera kit being consigned to the rigours
of airport baggage handling systems or
lift unaided into an overhead compartment.
Increasingly though, airlines have started to
being buried beneath a pile of heavy suitcases in stipulate that a carry-on bag must be small
a sub-freezing aircraft hold. Photo backpacks enough to stow under the seat in front of where
have become the carry-on item of choice for you’re sitting. It’s safe to assume a maximum
photographers jetting away on business or holiday. permissible size of at least 36 x 20 x 45cm, The Tenba DNA has an extending top
Historically, maximum size limits have varied but as always, it’s best to check current section, enabling it to shrink down to
from airline to airline, and maximum weights have restrictions with your chosen airline. fit in with stringent carry-on size limits.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 113

KitZone
Group test Camera backpacks
1

Vanguard 2

Alta Sky 51D 4

£210/$211
5

A voluminous backpack that’s

very versatile, suited to multiple
cameras and more besides

ne of five different sizes of Performance

O Alta Sky backpack, the 51D Full access to the backpack is possible 3
edition measures up to the via the rear. The shoulder straps are
adage ‘a place for everything thickly padded, widely adjustable
and everything in its place’. The V-shaped and very comfortable, as is the rest
front flap can securely hold a large drone, of the harness. The multitude of
or you can easily customise the main compartments, pockets and sleeves
inner compartment for one. This will prove to be ideal for those who
compartment also has quick camera like to have a dedicated place for all
access through a large zippered flap of their individual gadgets. The wide
on the left-hand side, which itself has and thickly padded waist strap adds
a smaller colour-coded pocket for fresh to the secure fit when wearing the
and used memory cards within the flap. backpack, but it’s not removable The top compartment is large enough
1
Up top, another zippered flap gives to save space. to accommodate most drones.
access to a separate compartment for
daily essentials or more photo kit, plus The main central camera compartment
2
another internal zippered sleeve. There
Digital Camera verdict can be accessed from the side or the rear.
are yet more zippered pockets and The Alta Sky 51D gives the option of stowing An additional lower compartment can
sleeves on the front and right-hand side. two camera kits, both with their own access 3
also hold a camera and lenses, with
At the bottom, there’s an extra fold-out points and the Y-shaped front section, as adjustable dividers.
zippered compartment with dividers well as the top compartment. This makes
for a camera and additional lenses or it ideal for both large and small drones. The fold-down front ‘Y’ section for
4
accessories. The dividers between attaching tripods and other accessories
each of the top, middle and lower
compartments are removable, so you
can split the sections to best suit your
4.5 Outstanding
5
includes a full rain cover.

The waist strap is wide and thickly

padded, but not removable.
photo kit and other gear, or use the
whole backpack with one extra-large
5.0 4.5 4.5 5.0
compartment. A separate zippered
area at the rear can accommodate Performance
Features Build & Value
a 15-inch laptop plus a tablet. handling

WAIST NOT WANT NOT

Additional waist and sternum straps help keep your backpack secure

he provision of just a pair of shoulder The addition of a waist strap adds much more
T straps is fine for ambling around, but if
you’re feeling more adventurous then you
security, keeping the backpack firmly in place
no matter how much you need to bend and twist
can run into problems. When covering tricky terrain, around in order to get where you’re going. Typically,
the straps can slip off your shoulders or the bag the waist straps of photo backpacks are chunky
can sway sideways. To prevent this, most photo and well-padded, so the downside is that they Typical of most photo backpacks,
backpacks include an additional sternum strap, can make the bag relatively big and unwieldy. both of the Lowepro bags in the
which can better anchor main shoulder straps Removable waist straps are most ideal, as group have chunky waistbands
and avoid them slipping off your shoulders. featured in many photo backpacks. that are completely removable.

114 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 1 2

Vanguard 3

Veo Active 53
£249/$299
An innovative backpack that has
just about everything covered
for you and your camera 5

nstead of the usual black, a tripod holder with fold-away securing

I the Veo Active 53 is available

in grey or green and, with
a 45-litre capacity, is the
strap, and there’s a secret pocket at the
top rear for a passport or wallet.
4
largest in the range. It’s a split photo/ Performance
daypack, the camera compartment It’s easy to get at everything you need
being accessed through the rear in whatever configuration you choose
zippered side of the backpack, which to use the backpack. Not missing a trick,
also plays host to the padded harness, the shoulder straps have additional
baggage trolley strap and removable Velcro-sealed pull-out pockets and
padded waist strap. That’s not the sturdy metal attachment rings. Extra
whole story, though, as the camera straps are also supplied for securing
compartment itself is a self-contained items to the front of the backpack A quick-release clip and strap allow you
semi-rigid box with its own zippered via the elasticated loops. 1
to adjust the height of the top section.
cover. This lifts out to form a perfectly
serviceable container for your camera Top left is a pocket for a power bank,
kit, complete with a handle on the top.
Digital Camera verdict 2
complete with USB port and cable.
Further attractions include a separate It’s a big backpack with a wealth of features,
upper compartment with an expanding not to mention zips. It can take a while to find The right side of the bag has a purpose-built
3
compartment for a 2-litre hydration system.
top in case you need extra capacity. As your way around, but once you’re up to speed,
well as the top zip, a full-length side zip there’s quick and easy access to everything.
The main camera compartment is
enables you to use the entire bag as a 4
removable and useable in its own right.
large backpack without the camera
insert. There are also inner sleeves for a
16-inch laptop and 10-inch tablet. Other
pockets include a sealed section for a
5.0 A best-in-class product 5
The waist strap with its additional pocket
is very chunky but completely removable.

2-litre hydration pouch and outgoing

tube slot, plus a power bank pocket
5.0 4.5 5.0 5.0
complete with a USB charging port and
cable for recharging gadgets on the go. Performance
Features Build & Value
A large-capacity side pocket doubles as handling

ACCESS ALL AREAS

Some have multiple access points so you can grab your gear in a hurry

ne frustration with traditional camera An increasing number of recent designs offer

O backpacks is that you have to take the
backpack off and lay it down to access
access to the main camera compartment via
a flap that is built into the rear, so you can keep
your camera and other gear. It’s not a big deal the back surface clean and dry when grabbing
most of the time, but if you’re in the middle of your camera. Another option is side-opening Like the Lowepro ProTactic, the
a muddy field, you can pretty much guarantee flaps, which often enable you to swivel the bag Manfrotto features quick-access
that the surface that rests against your back around on one shoulder strap without taking points in the top, front and both
will be filthy by the time you need to put it off completely, then grab your camera with sides of the backpack for quickly
the backpack on again. fitted lens through the side of the bag. getting at specific bits of kit.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 115

KitZone
Group test Camera backpacks

Toxic Valkyrie
٢xƺƳǣɖȅ٣ˡɎɀƫƺɀɎ
Every one’s a winner, but overall,
the Valkyrie is our best fit
t’s hard to pick one winner from Even taking this in mind, the Toxic Valkyrie photo/daypack. The same goes for the

I this collection. We chose the best

options we could find for price
and performance, so it’s no
won us over most conclusively. It’s packed
with useful features, and it’s slim, lightweight
and easily manageable while being able to
Vanguard Alta Sky and Veo Active, the latter
edging ahead for all-round performance. The
Manfrotto Pro Light Multiloader is another
surprise that the ratings are so similar. A lot hold a sizeable photo kit. It’s also impeccably top choice, especially if you favour multiple
comes down to the size of your kit, both in manufactured and immaculately turned out. access points, while the Tenba DNA is perfect
terms of individual items and the overall Both Lowepro backpacks are excellent for maximising versatility. That’s also true of
collection. When it comes to backpacks, options. The ProTactic is a great full photo the Gomatic McKinnon, although its modular
style and personal taste are also factors. backpack, while the Whistler is a rugged split approach can prove rather more expensive.

How the
backpacks
compare
Name Gomatic Lowepro Lowepro Manfrotto Tenba Toxic Vanguard Vanguard
McKinnon ProTactic Whistler Pro Light DNA 16 DSLR Valkyrie Alta Sky 51D Veo Active 53
Camera BP 350 AW II Backpack 350 Multiloader Backpack (Medium)
Backpack 25L AW II Backpack M
Contact https://gomatic. www.lowepro. www.lowepro. www.manfrotto. uk.tenba.com www.3legged www.vanguard www.vanguard
co.uk com com com thing.com world.co.uk world.co.uk
Street price £290/$300 £179/$189 £299/$314 £184/$196 £159/$229 £199/$239 £210/$211 £249/$299
External dimensions 33 x 19 x 48 cm 30 x 18 x 47 cm 29 x 24 x 53 cm 35.5 x 26 x 54 28 x 20 x 46-51 33 x 19 x 44 cm 37 x 26 x 56.5 cm 33 x 25 x 55-68
(W x D x H) cm cm cm
Main camera 28 x 14 x 28 cm 26 x 12.5 x 40 cm 26 x 15 x 39 cm 26 x 15.5 x 42 cm 25 x 13 x 23 cm 28 x 12 x 42 cm 32 x 20 x 51 cm 28 x 16 x 38 cm
compartment (W x D x H)
Sizes options in range 25L, 35L 350, 450 350, 450 Medium 16 Medium, Large 45D, 51D, 53, 42, 46, 49, 53
66, 68
Backpack type Split photo/ Full photo Split photo/ Split photo/ Split photo/ Full photo Split photo/ Split photo/
daypack backpack daypack daypack daypack backpack daypack daypack
Camera access Top, front Top, front, left, Front Top, front, left, Front Front, rear Front, left, rear Rear
right right
Grab handle (top) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Laptop compartment 16-inch 13-inch 13-inch 16-inch 16-inch 13-inch 15-inch 16-inch
Additional tablet No No No No No Yes No Yes
compartment

Additional pockets Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tripod fastener Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Chest strap Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Waist strap No Removable Removable Tuck-away Removable Removable Fixed Removable
Baggage trolley strap Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes
Rain-proof cover Optional extra Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Colour options Grey Black Grey Black Black, blue Onyx, emerald, Grey Grey, green
sapphire
Weight 1.4kg 2.12kg 2.65kg 2.16kg 1.36kg 1.6kg 2.9kg 2.9kg
Features
Build & handling
Performance
Value
Overall
OVERALL

116 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 INTERVIEW

The Poland-born photographer

Luc Kordas
Photographer has captured stunning candids of
Luc Kordas was born in
Poland in 1984 and now lives
New York for an upcoming book.
in Brooklyn, New York City.
He graduated with a master’s
Steve Fairclough discovers more…
degree in Spanish Philology,
and then taught English as
a second language in Spain lthough he hails from Poland,
and England. He is a portrait, Luc Kordas has made his home in

A
street, travel and documentary New York City since 2014. It was
photographer and that same year that he began a
videographer who has been long-term project, ‘The New York
shooting the project ‘The Chronicles’, photographing
New York Chronicles’ in all
across all the boroughs of New
boroughs of New York City.
York City. The latest fruits of this visual storytelling
His street work is primarily endeavours are in his new book, New York Unseen.
candids, and tends to single Although Kordas is not exclusively a street
out subjects in a crowd rather photographer – he’s also a highly accomplished
than putting many subjects portrait, travel and documentary photographer – Luc Kordas
in the frame. Kordas works his vivid (almost exclusively) black and white street
almost exclusively in black images convey a range of emotions and a clear
and white and favours the depiction of where he is. The themes that come
use of wide apertures. across include loneliness and, essentially, how
a big city can engulf those living in it and isolate
His work has been published
people within a metropolis of millions of humans. European school of photography. Street photographs
by the Guardian, Lens Culture,
Huffington Post and Al To find out more about his career and motivations, always seemed very interesting because they had
Jazeera, among others. Digital Camera spoke to Luc Kordas via Zoom from real, raw emotions in them. I always envisioned street
He was also published every his New York City home… photography in black and white because I was looking
week in the legendary New at a lot of the photographers that worked in the first
York paper The Villlage Voice What drove your initial interest in photography? half of the 20th century: the French photographers.
until it went paperless in 2017. It came about organically. I was living in London in All the classic-looking photographs – not your
2004 and worked with a guy who had an SLR camera. contemporary street photography where it’s
www.luckordas.com I borrowed it and, curiously, he disappeared into wide-angle, you have 10 subjects in the frame
thin air, so I was left with his camera. I started and everyone is doing something. I was more
experimenting with taking my first pictures on a film drawn to singling out subjects with a 50mm [lens]
camera. Before, I’d taken pictures on holidays, but or even an 85mm, rather than wide-angle scenes.
never taken it too seriously. I started reading about it,
and read my first book about all of the technical stuff. What was your big break in photography?
There were a few, but none of them was a huge
So you’re self-taught? breakthrough. The first was an online publication
Yeah. with portraits when I lived in Madrid. It was the
first time that I saw my name and my
Was anybody in particular an inspiration to you? photographs published.
I already knew about the giants [of photography], like The next one was my trip to New York in 2008. It
[Henri] Cartier-Bresson. I was mostly inspired by the was my first time in the US; I lived in San Francisco

118 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

and went to New York for a week’s vacation. That was In terms of travelling around New York Above: Coney Island.
a breakthrough because I took a lot of good, different taking photographs, do you plan it?
pictures. If I had to pinpoint where my street work The only thing I plan or think about is where I’m going
started, that would be it. I came back with that to go. For example, today I’m also going out shooting
material and put up my first solo exhibition in Poland. because I’m doing a campaign for a phone company,
Moving to New York for good in 2014 was a big and they want me to recreate my street style using
one, too, because I moved to there specifically to their phone. So I know where I’m going, but from
do photography and continue street photography. there, there’s no plan. I usually follow people,
It wasn’t easy, because you need a visa for working, and follow the light…
but when I achieved that, I also realised that I had
at least three years – the length of the artist’s visa A lot of the pictures in the book are of isolated
– to do the work. That was a big breakthrough. people. How do you discover them? Is it random?
Yeah, it’s absolutely random. You have to put time in
You’ve been photographing New York since 2008, on the streets and these things happen. They happen
so I guess New York Unseen came out of that? more in New York than in any other place. That’s why,
Yeah. 2008 was just a week of planting the seeds, as much as I hate New York as a city in terms of
and I came back in 2012 for three months – that’s quality of life, as a photographer I love this city
when I just went for it and photographed New York because there’s so much happening all the time.
constantly for three months. I realised that if They’re all completely random, un-posed pictures.
I wanted to continue to do good work, I’d have It wouldn’t make sense to ask for permission
to go back and live in New York for good. before I take a picture, because then people

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 Luc Kordas

Luc Kordas
Above: Coney Island. obviously start posing and smiling; giving you their reels and stuff like that. I have an Instagram
better profile – that’s a ‘no’. It also doesn’t make account for my portrait work and a different
Above right: Subway. sense to ask for permission after I take a photo, account for the street work.
because 99% of people would say ‘no’.
Is there such a thing as a ‘typical day’ of shooting?
Are you shooting street photography Discipline is definitely not my thing. I just go with the
in New York every day? flow. The sun is a big motivator. Today, it’s minus 12º
No. I photograph less these days. When I was here in but it’s sunny with blue skies – this means I want to
2012, I would go out [shooting] every other day and go out and photograph, rather than on a grey day,
spend five or six hours in the street. But during my because it also matters for photography to have
normal month, it’s maybe once a week. It depends shadows and stuff. I usually photograph for two
on the weather. I photograph less in the winter. or three hours before maybe I feel I’m getting
I’ve had periods in the past decade when I tired. I’m not one of those hardcore photographers
wouldn’t photograph at all for three months. who do 25 kilometres four times a week.

What other kind of work do you normally shoot? What were the biggest challenges when
I do a lot of portraits. I work with actors and I work in shooting street images in New York?
an acting studio. I also do video. As far as commercial The main challenge is the fear of approaching people.
work is concerned, it mostly revolves around acting, It gets harder when your camera is bigger. Right now,
portraits, headshots and videography, shooting I’m photographing with a phone, and the advantage
of this is everyone has phones and you go unnoticed,
even on a subway. The subway is the hardest place
“My main challenge is the fear of to photograph because when you’re in a subway car,
there’s nowhere to go. Imagine sitting across from
approaching people. It gets harder someone, picking up a big camera and taking their
picture – then what? You’re not going anywhere;
when your camera is bigger” you’re just there. With a phone it’s much easier.

120 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Luc Kordas
Luc Kordas

The biggest challenge is to overcome that fear of Above and above

‘what if?’ You have to do it because otherwise you’re right: Subway.
not getting any shots or you’re photographing the
backs of people, which is what a lot of beginners do. I Right: Coney Island.
always say that you have to be honest. Don’t try to be
sneaky. Don’t try to play some sort of ‘spy game’ and
shoot from the hip, because that gives off weird vibes
and then people start to think, ‘What is he doing?’

Has working in New York changed any of

your preconceptions about the city?
It’s a big city, so you would think it’s easy to have your
social circle and mingle, but the nature of New York
is that at least half of the people are not from here.
They come from elsewhere and leave their family and
friends behind. They come here to ‘make it’, whatever
that means, or to make money and send it home.
That leaves you in a place where you’re focusing on
work and don’t have time to build your social circle.
A lot of people seem to be really lonely, and that
applies to all ages. The contrast between the poor
and rich seems to be starker here than in Europe.
Homelessness is a big problem now. New York is not
as glamorous as most people think. It’s ‘Hollywood
propaganda’ that projects the image of tall buildings,
and everyone is cool and well off. When you live
here, you realise that this is a raw city.

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 121

 Luc Kordas
Luc Kordas
Luc Kordas

Above (top): Central Park. How did the New York Unseen book come about? What do you want to convey in your pictures?
In 2021, I was pretty sure that I was going to leave I’m not really trying to convey anything; I’m just
Above: The Bronx.
New York for good, so I thought it would be a nice photographing what is and showing it to people. I
closing chapter to make a book. I hired the ex-editor- guess if there’s one message, it’s that New York is raw
in-chief of LIFE magazine, Bill Shapiro, to help me and that I think it’s darker than most people think.
put the book together. I had met Bill at a photo
exhibit a few years earlier. We made a PDF of what Why did you shoot the majority of the
was practically a ready book, and I started sending it pictures in black and white?
out to publishing houses. teNeues said yes, but they That stemmed from me watching classic European
had a slightly different idea about how they wanted to and American black and white street photographers
make the book, because they wanted to make it part like Garry Winogrand. When I came to New York,
of their ‘Unseen’ series. They changed the title and I saw it in black and white and it stayed that way. I
format. I had to compromise on a number of things, really like that vintage, old-school vibe. If you take
but in general, it’s similar to the original, although away colour, what you’re left with is human life.
the original didn’t have any colour pictures. As far as emotions are concerned, black and

122 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Luc Kordas

Luc Kordas

white just strips away the unnecessary noise, and What have you learnt over the years Above: Black Lives
you have a raw image that focuses on the person. of shooting in New York City? Matter protests.
I’ve learnt the technical stuff and the topography of
What equipment did you use for these shoots? the city – where to go, which corners are going to be
I use a 50mm [lens] a lot. I used the Canon EOS 5D busy at what time. In the broader sense, I learned a
DSLR for a lot of those images [in the book]. I’ve lot about people, because photography is observing
used the 5D Mark II and Mark III and so on because and watching people. Even if I come back with one
it’s been shot over a decade. Recently I’ve been
shooting with a Leica Type M240 [rangefinder]
with 35mm and 50mm lenses.
“When I came to New York, I saw it
In terms of being discreet, is it better
to shoot with the Leica? in black and white and it stayed that
It is, yes, in terms of being discreet, but it is harder
technically because it’s manual focus. way – I really like that old-school vibe”

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 123

 Luc Kordas

Left: Jacob Riis Park,

The Rockaway.
Luc Kordas

good image per day, I would probably have seen like.” So don’t worry about composition, don’t worry
a lot of other interesting situations. Being a street about ‘Is this interesting or not?’; just shoot what it
photographer is just watching people, and that feels like. With the good pictures, when they happen
in itself is interesting. The themes that come and when the scene appears in front of me, I feel
through are loneliness, how everyone is in physically that this is going to be a good picture.
their bubble… so you learn in the streets. I may be shooting for four or five hours, but then
there will be this one scene that I instinctively
Is there a best way to sum up New York Unseen? move towards. I think that’s ‘Shoot what it
The book title is pretty accurate. It’s New York feels like’, if it takes hold of you.
Unseen because if you don’t live here, you probably
haven’t seen New York like that. It’s the fruit of What best advice would you give to anyone
pretty much a decade of living in the city. thinking about doing street photography?
The biggest problem people have is the fear of
Are you still photographing New York? photographing people up front and up close. Work
Yeah, for now. It may be my last year in New York, but on that and shoot often. If you go out there and
I am going to photograph New York this year, for sure. shoot every day you’ll get used to that feeling of just
coming close to people. If you want to be a good
Tell us about your post-production workflow. street photographer, you need to come close.
It’s very simple – just contrast and brightness Also, don’t act suspiciously. Don’t be conspicuous.
[adjustments], nothing else. I use Lightroom mostly. Just be up front and honest. If someone asks, ‘What
New York Unseen by Luc
are you doing? Why did you take my photo?’, just Kordas is published by
What’s the best photographic advice tell them that they’re interesting, that the light is teNeues Books (ISBN:
you’ve ever been given? beautiful, or explain whatever drew you to that scene. 978-3961714537),
Larry Fink has this motto – I met him at a portfolio Just be honest about it. Don’t try to hide behind priced at £19.95/$45.
review in Miami – and he said, “Shoot what it feels the camera, because that really raises red flags. www.teneues.com

124 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 Next month

O N TE S T

Panasonic
Lumix S5 II
Mini Test:
Filter Holders

!
NEW SEASON, NEW SKILLS

SPRING 10 all-new
PLUS!

SPECIAL
Shoot it like a pro with our expert guide
photo projects
One to One pro
masterclass
Landscapes Wildlife Woodlands Expert editing
Birds Macro Time-lapse & more! tutorials
Getty

ON SALE Tuesday 4 April

Contents subject to change

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 125

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July 2022
BUY Issue 256
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June 2022
12 ways to shoot autumn: Make cash with your camera: Macro on a budget: Create Shoot your sharpest-ever Wildlife special: Shoot your
Creative ways to capture How to earn money from amazing photos with basic shots: Capture amazing best creature captures / The
golden season glory / your images / The world’s camera kit and household detail in every frame / SWPP year’s best food photos /
Winning images from HIPA best portrait photos / Canon items / World’s best Photographer of the Year / Ricoh Theta X hands-on /
2021-2022 / Nikon Z 30 EOS R10 hands-on / Product underwater photos / Canon DJI Mini 3 Pro hands-on / Flowers photography
hands-on / Mono photography guide / The EOS R7 hands-on / Scenics Summer photography guide guide / Super-telephoto
photography guide / Anne month’s best kit / Cristina photography guide / Yelena / Sturdy carbon tripods on zooms on test / Vincent
Morin on Vivian Maier Mittermeier interview Yemchuk interview test / Chris Fraikin interview Munier interview

Digital only Digital only Digital only Digital only Digital only

Issue 255
May 2022
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Issue 252
Mar 2022
BUY Issue 251
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Feb 2022
Get it right in camera: How to How to shoot spring: Capture How to shoot creative 40 landscape tips & tricks: Fresh photo ideas: Creative
shoot faster and save editing the wonders of photos: Level up your Outdoor photo masterclass tutorials for mastering
time / Savour the world’s the new season / Shooting camera skills / World’s best / Long-exposure secrets / still-life, landscapes, and
best landscape photos / black-and-white street panoramas / Get to grips Google Pixel 6 Pro review / more / Fujifilm X-T30 II
Leica Q2 Reporter hands-on candids / Olympus OM-1 with Flash / Leica M11 and Nikkor Z DX 18-140mm review / Close-up photo
/ Urban photography guide / and Panasonic Lumix Canon RF hands-on / Lenses hands-on / Budget lenses for masterclass / Image-editing
CFexpress Type B cards on GH6 hands-on / Gerd for DSLRs on test / Daryl mirrorless cameras on test / software on test / Julia
test / Craig Easton interview Ludwig interview Balfour interview Matt Black interview Fullerton-Batten interview

www.digitalcameraworld.com APRIL 2023 D I G I TA L C A M E R A 129

 Trivia quiz

What the f-stop?

How much do you really know about
photography? Test yourself to the max
with Chris George
every issue with our tricky trivia quiz!

As recently introduced by Samsung,

7 Motorola and others, what is the
highest-resolution camera currently
found on a mobile phone?
A 100MP

B 150MP

C 200MP

D 250MP

Which of these is not a book

8 by David Bailey?
A If We Shadows

B East End
NBC/Getty

C NW1

D Chasing Shadows

Who is the actor playing the What is the zoom ratio of What colour light do you
1 photographer in this TV still?
5 a 28-135mm lens?
9 usually use when working
A Steve Martin A 107 in a traditional darkroom?
B Steve Carell B 4.8x A Red

C Steve Coogan C 3.8x B Orange

D Steve Byrne D 20% C Green

D Violet

What is the crop factor on a Sigma sells three ranges of

2 Canon APS-C sensor DSLR or
6 lenses: A, S and C. What Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte…
mirrorless camera? does the C stand for?
10 what comes next?
A 1.3x A Classic A Exabyte
B 1.4x B Cine B Petabyte
C 1.5x C Compact C Exobyte
D 1.6x D Contemporary D Petobyte

In what year did Joseph Niépce

3 take the first ever photograph? How did you do?
A 1816 10 points You’re a photo mastermind!
B 1826 8-9 points Fantastic, you’re a brainiac
C 1836 6-7 points Really good score
D 1846 4-5 points Respectable, but no cigar
2-3 points We’ll keep your score secret
0-1 points Epic fail
What is Long GOP?
4 A A form of video compression

B A flash head modifier, similar

to a snoot
C Photographers’ slang for a

super-telephoto lens
D An American news ANSWERS 1 B, 2 D, 3 B, 4 A, 5 B, 6 D, 7 C, 8 D, 9 A, 10 B
photography agency

132 D I G I TA L C A M E R A APRIL 2023 www.digitalcameraworld.com

 COLLECT YOUR EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL CAMERA TIP CARDS EVERY MONTH
HOW TO SHOOT… HOW TO SHOOT… HOW TO SHOOT…
MACRO ACTION LANDSCAPES

FOCUS STACKING TACKLING SPORT STUNNING SCENICS

KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST… KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST… KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST…
Macro lens, focusing rail Telephoto zoom Wide-angle lens, tripod, shutter release

FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY... FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY... FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY...

1/80 ISO 1/4000 ISO 3 ISO

f/2.8 sec f/2.8 f/11
sec 1250 800 secs 64

TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT… TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT… TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT…
Shooting on a focusing rail, and before For the best chance of grabbing a To capture epic-looking angles of view,
you start, make sure you check the good shot, use continuous focusing make sure you use a wide-angle lens.
Alistair Campbell

Alistair Campbell
first and last frame for composition. and high-speed burst mode together.
Deploy the rule of thirds when framing
For better results in post-production, In order to use a faster shutter speed up and setting your focus point.
ensure your incremental movements and avoid motion blur in your images,
To keep most of the image sharp, use a

Getty
along the rail are accurate and consistent. increase the ISO to 800 or higher.
small aperture and lowest-possible ISO.

Focus manually on your first frame If you want to bag more frames- For vivid scenics, consider the time
and don’t change it throughout per-second of the action, then of day when taking your shots, such
the rest of the shooting process. try switching to JPEG-only. as dawn, dusk and the golden hour.

HOW TO SHOOT… HOW TO SHOOT… CAMERA KNOW-HOW

WILDLIFE BLACK AND WHITE COMPOSITION

MARCH HARES PET PORTRAITS USE SYMMETRY

9001

KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST… KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST… Why you should consider symmetry?
Telephoto zoom, beanbag Single light source, dark backdrop Placing your subject bang in the middle
of the frame is often seen as pretty dull
FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY... FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY... (it’s something the ‘rule of thirds’ avoids),
but if you have lots of lines converging on
1/1600 ISO 1/200 ISO this point then it can be really striking.
sec f/5.6 f/2.8
400 sec 400
Symmetry will draw the viewer in
The power of symmetrical framing comes
TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT… TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT…
from the way it grabs a viewer’s eye and
Shooting at 400mm, this technique To draw attention to the face and give leads them towards the centre point,

Jon Adams
will require a fast shutter speed to a softer fall-off to the background, use hence the term ‘leading lines’.
compensate for subject movement. a shallow aperture of around f/2.8.
Don’t be bland, be creative!
To give you some added stability to Images can work with a strong, positive
shoot from, place a small beanbag on Focus on the eyes – a common mistake
ccccc

when photographing dogs is to get the centre point, or even an implied one, but
Future

the ground and rest the camera on it. the key is to make sure you have those
end of the nose in focus instead.
converging lines leading to it. Without
Use continuous focus, with A small squeaky toy just above these lines coming from the bottom or top
expanded focus points, so moving your camera’s hotshoe will draw the corners, you’ll just have a bland, centre-
subjects will remain sharp. dog’s attention towards the lens. based composition… so look for the lines!

CAMERA KNOW-HOW HOW TO SHOOT… HOW TO SHOOT…

COMPOSITION ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAITS

RULE OF THIRDS AMAZING ASTRO OUT ON LOCATION

What is the rule of thirds? KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST… KIT & SETTINGS CHECKLIST…
If you imagine a ‘noughts and crosses’ Using a tripod, set your camera to manual 70-200mm zoom
3x3 grid over your frame, you’ll have four exposure mode and focus on the scene. For
‘power points’ where the lines intersect. your first shot, try a shutter speed of around FOR YOUR SHOTS, TRY...
The idea is to use one of these as a guide 30 secs or slower at f/11, and a high ISO.
for positioning your key point of interest. 1/125 ISO
TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT… sec
f/5.6
100
Add a second point To create a well-composed photo, make
To add extra interest to the frame, and if sure you consider the foreground. TIPS FOR GETTING A GREAT SHOT…
the shapes in your scene allow, you can
Before you set off, use a phone app For better separation, bring your subject
also place a secondary point of interest
such as PhotoPills to see where the star away from the background and shoot
on a diagonally opposing power point.
constellations in the night sky will be. from a distance while zoomed in.
Use the rule of thirds for your horizon
Simon Buck

Experiment with timings – keep your Make sure you select a shutter speed
Additionally, either of the horizontal
shutter open for different durations that’s greater than your focal length,
Getty

lines can be used to place your horizon

until you capture the shot you want. for example 200mm = 1/250 second.
effectively. This means that it will sit
at one third or two thirds up the frame,
Jon Adam

whether you’re holding your camera To avoid camera shake, weigh down Avoid distracting backgrounds such
vertically or horizontally. your tripod with your backpack, or as buildings or bridges, or blur them
sandbags, for extra stability. out by using an aperture of f/2.8.

APERTURE ISO SHUTTER SPEED