Innehållsförteckning för Autumn 2025 från Digital Camera User

Should you use Jpeg or Raw for your photography? This is a question that has been going back and forth for some time between photographers. Many champion the use of Jpeg, whilst others will extoll the virtues of the Raw format; so, should you shoot in Raw or Jpeg? Is the processing of Raw photos an overly complicated process? Can Jpegs give you all you need for a great final photograph? Here’s an overview of the two formats. Take a look and see what is right for you. Jpeg Let’s start with the Jpeg format as it is probably the most commonly encountered image type. Jpeg is certainly the most popular image format in which photos can be saved, whilst being able to display millions of colours and be compressed…

It is a fair bet that your camera has a pop up flash. This is a small flash unit that sits on the top of your camera and, if you are using it in automatic mode, you may have encountered situations where it has suddenly popped up as you were about to take a photo. This tiny flash draws its power from your camera’s battery and as such it has limited power and range so as not to totally drain your battery. A pop up flash usually has a range of about .5m up to 5m. Anything further out and you will not be able to light your subject properly as you won’t have the range or power. Full disclosure Let’s be honest at the outset and say that the…

Most of the cameras mentioned in this section can be used for fine art portrait work. To be honest, if you are always going to be shooting in natural light conditions and don’t require large apertures and high ISO capability, then even the cheapest Compact System Camera will produce acceptable results. As you grow in confidence and experience as a portrait photographer, however, you may find that your once do-it-all compact camera may be lacking in certain abilities, and that non-interchangeable lens is limiting your creative choices. You’ll feel like you’ve outgrown your camera and need to step it up. This is where the Digital SLR can help. There are a number of major manufacturers such as Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Nikon and Canon. They produce a range of crop-sensor and…

Although we now rely on autofocus for the vast majority of photographs, anyone who has tried taking a photo in low light, with fast-moving subjects or using very long telephoto lenses will have noticed that sometimes even the best AF system can run into problems. We’ve all stood there with the lens whirring in and out of focus, trying to get a lock on our subject, and eventually missed the shot. It’s very frustrating when this happens, but with a few simple tips you can help your camera to focus quickly and accurately even in difficult situations. There are two main types of autofocus system in common use today. All compact cameras and most CSCs use something called contrast-detection AF, which samples the image from the main picture taking sensor…

Don’t worry, this isn’t going to turn into a Understand how light and distance work maths class, or a lecture on physics. It’s an old adage that photographers work with light and understanding a little about how light affects your scene is a useful thing to know. In reality, you don’t have to be able to carry a head ful of fractions and do mental arithmetic, just know that light has some interesting properties as it travels from its source, to your subject. This brings us to the inverse-square law. This law applies not only to light but any physical quantity, but for our purposes it states that the intensity of a light source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from that light source. The actual formula…

“Nude photography is an amazing and artistic topic for any photographer to try. Treat it with respect and you will have some memorable images to add to your portfolio.” When you think of nude photography, chances are you’re going to fall into one of two categories. There are those that consider nudes controversial and vulgar, then there are others who just see it as a creative representation of the human form. There is no doubt that if handled with respect and care to the subject matter, nude photography can yield amazing images. Of course, it is sensitive in its nature, and attention must be paid in order that it not stray into the pornographic. Since the dawn of the art form, many famous photographers have shot nude studies, and if…

Low-key lighting is widely used in all the various visual media such as film, television and photography. It is used to add drama to a scene or image. Its mood is generally the complete opposite of high-key. It is dark, brooding, mysterious, and dramatic. Low-key is also a simpler setup than its counterpart. You are often using three or more lights for high-key work; but with low-key you often need only one light to get a great dramatic portrait. An absence of light is what is needed here, with just your subject illuminated, creating high contrast images. Shooting with one light in a dark setting also means you can shoot in locations that would normally be no good for any other kind of lighting. Because your subject is essentially the…

Nudes with clothes, you say? Well, I’m sure you have heard the phrase “less is more” on many occasions and it can often be the case with fine art nude photography. Sometimes an air of mystery can make a more interesting photograph if your model isn’t fully nude. Partial clothing, a shear fabric or translucent material draped around your subject make a very compelling and tasteful representation of the subject. Partially clothed or nude? Take a look at our examples and decide which method suits your style. “With nude photography, what is hidden is often as important as what is seen. Nudes do not always have to be fully naked.”…

Once you get beyond the basics of photography and you find yourself wanting to add a little creativity and take more control of how the light affects your shots, then that is when you need to take a look at additional lighting in the form of flashes. Your first experience of flash might be the tiny pop up flash you find on the top of a lot of compact cameras and a number of DSLR models. They are useful to light a subject when all else fails but to be honest, if you want your shots to look more than just selfies, then you need to look further afield. We are referring to the dedicated flashguns that can be mounted in your camera’s hot shoe, or for even greater flexibility,…

All but the most basic budget compact cameras have a selection of shooting modes, usually chosen by a dial on the top or back of the camera. Easy-to-use, mainly automatic cameras in the range will only have a few shooting modes, while the more sophisticated cameras such as the EOS DSLRs may have as many as a dozen, including manual exposure options and user-programmable special settings. As newer models appear in the range or older models are updated, the shooting modes available will be revised and possibly expanded. Shown on this spread are some of the most often used modes selected from the mode dial on the top of the camera. Auto DOF Mode: As you focus on your subject, the camera will use the other focus points to measure…

The power of the black and white portrait cannot be denied. A wise soul once said: ‘If you want fashion, shoot in colour. If you want emotion, shoot in black and white.’ As we’ve mentioned before, there is a power and depth to a black and white shot that is often swamped by colour. The story behind a shot is easier to comprehend when it is in black and white and the distraction of colour has gone. Even if there is no real story being presented in the shot, you can suddenly find yourself paying more attention to a black and white portrait. Texture, form and tone become important to the shot. It draws you in more than a colour shot ever could. A basic rule in a close-up portrait…

When you decide it’s time to get involved in portrait photography, it can seem quite a daunting prospect. You might imagine it requires armfuls of expensive equipment and lots of lighting gear. Don’t worry; there are a few simple things that you can try to see if portrait work is for you. Indoor natural light is certainly a great and easy way to dip your toe into the portrait world. There are a few basics to be aware of, but it’s nothing that a photographer of any skill level can’t handle. “Focusing is key to a good portrait. Always make sure you have the eyes in sharp focus” Settings and technique Longer focal lengths are more flattering for portraits. Using a wide-angle lens and getting closer to your subject will…