Indholdsfortegnelse for No. 271 i Digital Photographer

“I'm reminded of the potential photography has for creative expression – there is something for everyone” I recently received an email from a reader who was heavily critical of another photographer's work that we had featured in the magazine. While, of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, initially, I found it curious that someone would feel so strongly about another creative's style that they should need to write a lengthy complaint. However, after some time working in this industry, rather than become discouraged by this sort of reaction, I have learned to embrace these different approaches. It reminds me of how much potential photography has for creative expression – there truly is something for everyone. For example, while some people like to work with complex light, others prefer to…

Sigma is introducing its first-ever telephoto for the Fujifilm X-mount: the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.4 DG DN OS | C. The new telephoto has an effective focal length of 150-600mm, once the Fujifilm 1.5x APS-C crop factor is taken into account. The new zoom has been adapted from the full-frame Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.4 DG DN OS | Cwhich was launched for Sony FE and L-mount mirrorless cameras in 2020. Much of the specification for the Fujifilm X-mount lens remains the same, despite not needing such a wide imaging circle. It is constructed from 22 elements in 16 groups, with a nine-blade circular diaphragm. It weighs 1,135g and has a 67mm front filter thread. The new Fujifilm version of the 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS features a unique AF Function Setting switch…

Polaroid has launched its first instant camera to feature manual controls and it also boasts the firm’s sharpest lens to date. The Polaroid I-2 is billed as ‘the high-end camera for instant photography mastery’ and merges analogue instant film with modern-age improvements. Working in partnership with Japanese optical engineers, the Polaroid I-2 features a three-lens system for sharper shots. One new addition is its continuous autofocus, which uses LiDAR (light detection and ranging) for a longer focus distance and is claimed to be more reliable in bright or low-light situations. The viewfinder features an integrated display where you can see the exposure settings, such as aperture value and shutter speed, and is said to be easy to see in bright light. It’s compatible with i-Type, 600 and SX-70 film and…

Over recent years, the benefits of studying for a photography degree have become increasingly unclear. Rising tuition fees, an unstable economy and course syllabuses that have questionable value have meant that fewer people are choosing to study photography as a subject at university or college. Gaining a degree may once have been a traditional route to professional photography, but the availability of digital cameras, online resources and free tuition have convinced many artists to teach themselves the basic skills and learn on the job. Though this has financial advantages, it has also been encouraged by a perceived lack of real-world training offered by traditional courses, meaning students are leaving university unprepared for the challenges of working or running their own photo business. But are there benefits of a photography…

Difficulty level: Advanced Time taken: 1.5 hours It is a testament to the versatility of photography that some of the most iconic images throughout history aren’t photographs at all, but stills from movies. Classic cinema is true art and it can be satisfying as a photographer to see how much effort was invested into making some of the best known films. You could even argue that cinema is the ultimate manifestation of imagemaking, as few still frames receive a comparable budget and personnel. Film noir is a style that has influenced many great directors and photographers alike. Defined by low-key lighting, that is to say a predominance of shadows relative to highlights, images using this approach are often incredibly atmospheric and emotive. The look is frequently associated with classic American…

When photography is your passion it can be an odd feeling to charge for your work, but it’s vital if you want to run a successful photography business. How much you charge is the question though; start with a price too low and you’ll find it difficult to charge more in the future, while if your rates are too high you might struggle to pick up jobs, especially in the current cost of living crisis. If your prices are overly discounted, people might think your work is below standard. As a professional photographer, your goal should be to build a premium brand where you have fewer clients paying a higher price for a premium service. This is preferable to a long list of clients that are paying peanuts, as the…

Hey Benedict, tell us everything about your brilliant new book... where did you get the inspiration to shoot and write it? It’s a jargon-free book that explores the creative side of photography and it’s aimed at anyone interested in photography, wherever they happen to be on their own photographic journey. While there are a few pages dealing with the technical stuff, most of the book is concerned with talking about creativity, looking and storytelling – the fun and creative side of photography. Thinking about why we make images is more interesting to me than how. And while the ‘how’ is important in the craft of making a photo, it’s the ideas and creativity that interest me more. And it’s from this perspective that the book was conceived and written. Where…

To get a really tight depth of field and make the main subject in a scene stand out against a blurred background, there’s no substitute for a prime lens with an aperture of around f/1.4 to f/1.8. This kind of lens also enables you to freeze movement, even under dull or indoor lighting, without the need to bump up your camera’s ISO setting, which can impact the image quality. Some primes are even faster, such as the Nikon Z 50mm and Canon RF 85mm F1.2L USM lenses. They’re both fabulous lenses, but pricey at around £2,300/$2,100 and £3,000/$2,800 respectively. That’s a deal-breaker for many photographers, as the budget simply won’t stretch that far. Look further afield, however, and some independent lens manufacturers are serving up fast glass with relatively inexpensive…

Opening the box containing the new Sony A7C II is a real déjà vu moment. Only a few weeks have passed since I was unwrapping the brand new Sony a6700 camera and, as I pulled the A7C II out of its case, it was an oddly familiar feeling. The Sony A7C II might well be a similar design to that camera, except this time with a full-frame sensor inside, but trying not to get this camera confused with the rest of Sony’s lineup might be tricky. Sony seems to be on a mission to provide every conceivable version of a camera and the A7C II is now the most advanced compact ‘photography’ full-frame model in its lineup, although there is also the Sony ZV-E1 to confuse videographers. Powered by…

Sony is back with the bigger sibling of the a6700, in not one, but two sensors types – with the Sony A7C II and Sony A7C R. The A7C II combines all of the latest Sony tech into the only camera in its range that ticks all the boxes of a compact body, a viewfinder and a full-frame chip. Sony has gone with a 33MP BSI Exmor R sensor for the A7C II, combining this with a Bionz XR and AI processor, which is a leap up from the 24MP sensor in the previous version. It claims to be up to eight times faster at processing and also boasts a 10fps burst with continuous autofocus and autoexposure. The rangefinder-style EVF is a 2.36 million dot OLED type with 0.7x magnification,…

DON’T MISS PART 7 Explore the next part of our Pro Masterclass series in issue 272, available 27th October Autumn is a favourite season for many photographers, most notably landscape and nature enthusiasts. The transformative power of the seasonal colour is not to be underestimated and even locations that have been shot many times can look completely different when shrouded in golden light, fiery vegetation and atmospheric weather conditions. One of the biggest challenges of the season for a photographer is actually remaining focused on the images we want to create. There are so many opportunities for incredible photography that it encourages a ‘shoot and run’ mentality – capturing as many shots as possible and quickly moving on to the next position. This isn’t a particularly considered approach and rarely…

Light and dark are both crucial elements in photography. However, creating artistic images in low light requires the use of slow shutter speeds. With these long exposures, even the smallest light sources can be enhanced. This is especially true in astrophotography, where longexposure photographs taken in complete darkness allow the tiniest stars to be visible. Extending the scene’s exposure time is one way to amplify the brightness of an object, but this technique can also yield a soft, artistic portrayal of any moving objects in the frame, such as clouds or water. This is a common approach in many photography genres, including landscape and seascape. Combine both techniques in one frame – by shooting moving objects and their lights with a long shutter speed – and we can create some…

Andy Summers A renowned guitarist since the 1970s, Andy Summers was born near Blackpool in 1942. He shot to worldwide fame with The Police in the early 1980s and has since become a successful solo artist. While on tour during his music career, Summers developed an interest in photography and has gained international acclaim for his art photography, with several successful book publications and exhibitions. His latest book called A Series of Glances is out now. andysummers.com @andysummers_official Andy Summers is most recognisable as the guitarist with the legendary 1980s rock band The Police, but these days, he’s also gained a significant degree of fame as a renowned photographer. Summers developed his passion for photography as he toured the world for his music career. Travelling to exotic destinations, he created…

For our latest competition in association with Photocrowd, we challenged you to submit your best Summer Light images. After working through all the entries, the winners have been selected. As a prize, the expert winners will get a licence for Affinity Photo professional editing software. Congratulations to all of the winners – as usual, the standard of submitted images was extremely high, and it was a difficult task to select the best ones. 1ST PLACE WINNER Wind Turbines Photographer: DonC Our comment: What a fantastic image of a perfect summer day! The clear blue sky provides an ideal tone to this beautiful beach backdrop and the sunlight emphasises the texture of the water’s surface. Integrating the two people was a good move, showing how small we are in comparison to…

It’s almost impossible to pick one outright winner in this test group. Of course, a lot comes down to whether you shoot with an APS-C or full-frame body and what it is that you are actually going to be shooting. Naturally, wide-angle, standard and short telephoto lenses are better suited to different genres. But ultimately, if you shoot with a crop-frame camera, fast primes are thin on the ground. There’s nothing in Nikon’s own line-up, for example, so you have no choice but to look elsewhere. Here, the Viltrox 56mm comes up trumps because it’s a practically perfect portrait lens for DX bodies, whereas you can get away with zoom lenses for landscape, architecture and general shooting. We’re equally impressed with the other Viltrox APS-C format lenses, although the Sigma…

PRICE: £1,999/$1,999 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.45m (W) 2.6m (T) WEIGHT: 2,495g Build and handling Unlike some Sigma lenses, this one hasn’t been tweaked to add Sony E and Leica L mount options for mirrorless cameras. Instead, Sigma has redesigned the ‘DN’ mirrorless version from the ground up, but it’s still hefty at 2,495g, feels very robust and well-built, complete with multiple weather-seals. The construction is based on a mix of magnesium alloy, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer and Sigma’s often-used TSC (Thermally Stable Composite). The zoom ring and electronicallycoupled focus ring work with smooth precision but, as you’d expect, the physical length of the lens extends greatly. Performance The autofocus system lives up to its billing with super-speedy and consistently accurate performance. It delivers excellent sharpness and contrast, even when shooting at the…

Tamron has announced that it is developing a 17-50mm f/4 lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. The 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD (Model A068) will be the 16th lens in Tamron’s impressive range of options for the Sony E-mount. With a constant f/4 maximum aperture, the wide-angle zoom will be a great option for both travel and everyday shooting – offering a useful alternative to a kit lens. The full specs have yet to be revealed, but we know that the closest focusing distance will be 0.19m (7.5in) at the widest end and 0.3m (11.8in) at 50mm. The lens will have a 67mm filter thread. The lens will use Tamron’s VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) linear motor focus mechanism for “superior quietness and agile performance” achieving “both high-speed and highprecision autofocus”.…

Photographer: Peter East-Hall @festivespark77 Website: theseaview.co.uk/photography Image location: Dungeness, Kent, UK Type of commission: Personal Shot details: Camera: Nikon D3400 55mm, 1/250, f/6.3, ISO: 200 About the shot: Photography holds the power to awaken the mind, ignite curiosity and deliver strong messages through artistic imagery. That is precisely the purpose of this still created by photographer Peter East-Hall, who used a surreal approach to reflect upon the issue of consumerism prevailing in the world today. “Before taking this image, I was talking to the conceptual artist Lorrain Mailer about her installations, which focus on environmental responsibility. We spoke about how plastic is so widely used and is going to be in our environment for much longer than its use. This photograph relates to this topic, addressing how the extensive use…

The versatility of natural light is undeniable; captured in the right way, it can enhance a variety of photographic styles – and not just outdoors. The accessibility and affordability of this natural source make it a favourite among photographers of all levels. Moreover, it offers the ability to imbue photographs with ambience and emotion, allowing you to add a story to your images. As an extra benefit, being out in this light offers a healthy dose of vitamin D, which boosts the immune system and clears the mind. Nevertheless, working with natural light is one of the most challenging aspects of photography, as it is constantly influenced by the seasons, the time of day and the weather. So, a fundamental understanding of light quality is essential to showcase its characteristics…

Framing a scene with balanced exposure, vibrant colours, details and depth can take lots of time and effort – however, this is only half the battle. To truly appreciate the outcome of your hard work, you should consider printing your image. A print can be a beautiful reminder of what you have achieved and it’s also a great selling point to offer customers. But it’s important to remember that printing is an art in itself. Depending on the printer, paper choice and file settings, it can either make or break your shot. It’s easy to forget that the preparation of a file is just as important as choosing the right shutter speed while shooting images. If you overlook certain key points during the printing process, the final result can end…

Self-publishing options I’d love to write a photography book, however, I’m not very well-known in the industry and I’m unsure if a publisher would be interested in my idea. What are my options for self-publishing? Lucas Honold Self-publishing is a great way to start writing your own photography book. There are many advantages, including having complete editorial control over the content of the book, where and how you market your book and also where you publish it. On the flip side, you won’t receive any cash advancement as you might with a publisher, you’ll get no help with proofreading and editing (we’d recommend getting someone to proofread your book before you send it to press) and you won’t have easy access to any of the big book retailers. That said,…

World Sports Photography Awards 2023 As the biggest sports-centric photography contest on the planet, the World Sports Photography Awards celebrates the very best of sports photography with 24 separate categories. The Awards are free to enter for both amateur and professional photographers and the winning images are judged by senior international figures from sport, media, brands and photography. With a vast range of categories to choose from, there is something for photographers working in all areas of sports imaging. For more information, visit worldsportsphotographyawards.com…

96 Fast glass on a budget For quick shutter speeds and a tight depth of field, you can’t beat a fast prime lens. We compare four budget-friendly options forAPS-C cameras, from Viltrox, Yongnuo, Sigma and 7Artisans 104 Canon EOS R7 James Artaius tries Canon’s latest R-Series model and tests the company’s claims of unrivalled speed and resolution. Is this the APS-C camera that we’ve all been waiting for? 108 Sony A7C II Sony brings its most compact full-frame camera up to date, but is it a worthy upgrade over the A7C? Jamie Carter tries it to find out 110 Lenses Every month, we take two pro optics out into the field. Matthew Richards tests the Sigma 60600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS | Swhile Gareth Bevan tries the Sony FE 16-35mm…

The Canon EOS R7 is a camera we’ve been waiting for since the launch of the R system back in 2018. The anticipated first APS-C member of the EOS R family, it asks questions of the (distinctly much smaller and more compact) EOS M system but gives Canon the most powerful APS-C camera on the market. Offering speed that matches (and mechanically, beats) the Canon EOS R3 and a resolution that is second only to the Canon EOS R5, the Canon EOS R7 is a technical marvel. Following in the footsteps of the EOS 90D and EOS 7D Mark II DSLR cameras, shooters will be able to leverage its 1.6x crop factor to amplify the effective focal length of full-frame lenses. The R7 is built around a 32.5MP APS-C sensor…

PRICE: £2,399/$2,298 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.22m WEIGHT: 547g Build and handling Building on the momentum that was created by the release of the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II, Sony has now reworked its trio of pro zoom lenses to make the most of its latest sensors with ever-increasing megapixels. The FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II is Sony’s most compact G-Master zoom lens yet, measuring 111.5mm in length and weighing 547g. It’s notably smaller and lighter than its predecessor, cutting down on length by 10.1mm and weight by 133g. Despite its size, the lens maintains its sturdy build with dust and moisture resistance thrown in. The zoom ring is smooth to turn though, if I was being critical, I’d say it was a little too…

My approach to photography is quite minimal as I am a firm believer in the saying ‘less is more’. I don’t like clutter in my everyday life and this translates into my photography, whether it’s the composition, lighting or tonality. I work mostly in black and white and am a total ‘monochromantic’. Colour is beautiful and I would not be able to envision a colourless life but the surreal nature of black and white, the stripping away of colourful distractions leaves you with the essentials and that, for me, is magical. Although I do enjoy photographing landscapes and street, my principal pull has always been towards buildings, their interiors and structures. Depending on the story I want to convey, I sometimes include a silhouetted person in the scene – to…