Innehållsförteckning för No. 287 från Digital Photographer

Not content with launching a pair of new tilt-shift lenses last month, Laowa’s newest shift lens eschews the tilt functionality in favour of adding a wide-angle zoom range. The new Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift is an APS-C lens that offers some pretty remarkable features – starting with that 102.5°-63.9° angle of view coverage, coupled with a constant f/5.6 aperture throughout the zoom. The headline feature is the +7mm shift capability. While this, like the aperture, isn’t quite as versatile as the +11mm Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift and Laowa 20mm f/4 Zero-D Shift lenses, those two are prime lenses. While the Laowa 12-24mm f/5.6 Zoom Shift isn’t a Zero-D (distortion) optic, the company promises “exceptional distortion control”. The Zoom Shift is a pretty tiny little lens too, measuring just…

I recently learned of a phenomenon called ‘Paris Syndrome’. This describes a feeling of deflation among the millions of tourists who flock to the ‘City of Lights’ every year – a sense of severe culture shock upon discovering a living, working, modern metropolis that is, in many ways, far removed from the picture-postcard vignettes we often see of the French capital. Of course, this could apply to almost any famous location we have become familiar with through a continuous stream of photographs that romanticise certain characteristics of the place. However, as photographers, it’s our job to find the ingredients that combine to form the atmosphere of a place and to communicate that to our viewers. As any seasoned traveller will confirm, this is as much about what you leave out…

Explore early Thomas recommends visiting your location in advance of your shoot, if you can, to get a better idea of the atmosphere and the defining characteristics. This will allow you to identify when a scene will make a representative image of the architecture, people and feel of the place. Consider colours While we mainly discussed Thomas’s black-and-white city scenes, he also shoots colour images and highlights the crossover knowledge required. Make sure you observe which colours dominate the scene beforehand, even if you intend to convert the image to monochrome later. The colours present will impact the contrast of the black and white image, so shoot a B&W preview, using your camera as a sketchpad to explore how your image might look in monochrome. Wait for the moment While…

“I’m intrigued by the visual dialogue of forms, colours and textures in architectural elements and how they transform the perception of the landscapes they occupy. My goal was to capture this relationship between these pretty ordinary constructions, painted in solid colours and juxtaposed against contrasting elements, such as the blue sky, and create a cohesive image that transforms the perception of ordinary life into something visually striking. When I am setting up the shot, I experiment with various compositional structures, focusing on aesthetic perception. By playing with different combinations to achieve a harmonious visual balance, my photographs serve as a visual exploration of these ideas. However, photographing buildings from across busy streets presents challenges. It requires patience and precise timing amid the constant movement. To frame the shot and maintain…

Wildlife photography lends itself beautifully to the ‘less is more’ philosophy, where the emphasis is placed on the subject without other distracting or competing elements detracting from the story. One effective way to achieve this is through high-key photography, a technique that emphasises the subject against plain, bright backgrounds, enhancing the separation between the subject and background and creating visually striking images. The often ethereal, dreamy quality of high-key images is achieved by breaking from the usual photographic conventions and bending traditional exposure rules. It’s a fantastic contradiction that while rules guide us, breaking them often leads to making the most captivating images. This is the paradoxical dichotomy that makes photography so exciting! However, high-key photography isn’t always suitable for every subject or situation. It tends to excel in conditions…

We all have tried and tested approaches to editing that are effective across a range of subjects. But by adding these three simple yet highly effective techniques to your workflow, you can improve almost any image while also creating a consistent style across all your images. The great thing about them is that they aren’t blindingly obvious so subtlety and using them in combination is key. What you’ll be using Basic adjustments Masking Presence controls Blacks slider Tone Curve 1 Process normally Process your photo as usual, using the Basic adjustments and any of the tabs/tools below as required. The aim here is to finish the image in terms of brightness and colour before moving on to the main effects. For adding contrast, use the Tone Curves Medium Contrast preset.…

Name: Freezing in the Sun Date: January 2021 Kit: Nikon Z 6II Nikon Z 70-200mm f2.8 Tripod “Photography gives me a reason to go out and discover things and places, both nearby and further afield, with a curious mind.” Jonas Lindell Jonas Lindell discovered his passion for photography after an injury made it difficult to continue playing his favourite sports. He soon became captivated by the medium and today, he specialises in photographs of Finland’s landscapes, capturing images during the day and at night, highlighting the natural phenomena of the sky. He also offers portrait sessions, event photography and corporate photography services. @jonas.lindell jlphotography.fi…

GuruShots is billed as the world’s leading photography game. It’s an online platform that gives global exposure to people who love taking photos. GuruShots members start as Newbies and compete with other photographers to win challenges, increase their ranking on the site and eventually progress to ‘Guru’ status. Challenges are voted on by Gurus and the wider GuruShots community, and there’s a fresh competition brief, such as the ‘Sunrise to Sunset’ challenge, every day. All the winners receive prizes from GuruShots’ sponsors, including Lowepro, Kodak and Lensbaby. For more information, visit www.gurushots.com…

Our ratings Our team of trusted and expert reviewers score gear thoroughly to help you make better buying choices. Product awards Digital Photographer’s awards are given out when a product really catches our attention. Here are our three most used accolades. Lab testing Some of our product reviews also have in-depth lab data, graphs and scores. This means that the kit has been subjected to more rigorous testing. Lens tests are carried out using Imatest, and cameras are tested in our laboratory using DxO Analyzer hardware and software to check the image noise and dynamic range.…

KIM BUNERMANN This month, our technique editor has been searching for inspiration for the new year ahead, interviewing five category winners of the IPA POTY Awards for a feature on getting a winning approach, starting on p36 of the magazine. Meanwhile, on p56, she has written a tutorial on getting creative with bokeh. Website: digitalcameraworld.com NATALIA PONIATOWSKA Born in Poland, where she now resides, Natalia lived and studied in Scotland for seven years, graduating from the Glasgow School of Art with a degree in fine art photography. In our Pro Column on p114, Natalia outlines her latest project Humanature, which highlights issues in nature conservation. Website: npaphotography.com THOMAS SPECK Paris-based Thomas has built a reputation for his classic black-and-white images of the French capital. For our Shoot Like a Pro…

Hasselblad has launched its first standard lens in half a decade, the Hasselblad XCD 75P – and it’s also the latest in its line of P lenses, which stands for Portable. With an effective focal length of 59mm, in full frame terms, the XCD 75P effectively replaces the XCD 65mm from 2018 – and, living up to its Portable billing, it is a far smaller, lighter, more travel-friendly lens. Weighing just 398g and measuring 71mm in length, the XCD 75P is a mere slip of its predecessor – clocking in at 45 per cent lighter and 24 per cent shorter than the previous standard prime. Its size is misleading, though, as this lens has an advanced optical formula – with 10 lens elements in 10 groups, including one aspherical and…

LOWEPRO’S NEW TACTIC Lowepro has announced an update to the popular ProTactic range with 12 new products coming to its ProTactic III lineup, including BP 350 and BP 450 backpacks, two slings, a padded utility belt, two utility pouches, a smartphone pouch and a quick straps kit. The ProTactic backpacks have long been a firm favourite with professional news reporters for their sturdy construction. They are all available to pre-order now. VILTROX 135MM F/1.8 LENS IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY The long-awaited Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB full-frame lens for Sony E-mount is now available to order. Early reviews suggest the third-party lens is impressively sharp and it also features an eye-catching full-colour LCD panel on the lens barrel to display key exposure information. Costing $899 (approx £705) it will…

City scenes are some of the most commonly AIgenerated scenes, thanks to the plentiful supply of source photos online. “You have to be careful when thinking about AI. What is creation anyway? Images created by AI are now selling for big prices, so they will compete with photography,” says Thomas. “There are two worlds – the engineering side, creating AI to see what it can do, and the photography world. They don’t seem to talk to each other much right now but if they can, then perhaps it could be a big opportunity for all.”…

Next issue The latest kit reviews, tutorials and projects to hone your photo skills PLUS FREE eBook GUIDE Issue 288 is on sale 17th January 2025 Read these essential features: • Digital Photographer Gear of the Year awards • Capture beautiful portrait shots • Become an influencer Available at www.magazinesdirect.com *Content subject to change…

Bokeh is a popular photographic technique that transforms light sources behind or around your subject into an artistic, out-of-focus blur. To achieve pleasing bokeh in your images, an open aperture is key – this will reduce the depth of field and render any lights in the background as soft, coloured discs. To maximise the bokeh effect, you should aim to place the subject closer to the camera, while the light sources remain some distance away in the background. This effect not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of an image but also adds depth and atmosphere. You may have noticed that out-of-focus lights often exhibit a rounded shape, regardless of the original form of the light source. The roundness of the bokeh is largely influenced by several factors, most notably the…

As photographers, we embrace the winter, waiting to experience snowy landscapes. But if the snow doesn’t arrive, transforming our landscape shots into stunning winter scenes is easily achievable with some straightforward yet powerful editing techniques in Affinity Photo 2. This tutorial is perfect for those looking to step beyond traditional photography and engage in a creative process that reimagines landscapes. What you’ll be using HSL Adjustment Layer Black and White Adjustment Layer Channels panel Load To Pixel Selection Fill Layer Curve Adjustment Layer 1 Prepare desaturation First, add an HSL Adjustment Layer on top of the Background Layer. The goal is to effectively desaturate the greenery in your photograph, so select the green colour option found under the colour wheel. Now, move the four dots in the colour wheel into…

Creative career What are the key skills needed to be a photographer? I am tired of working at my current sales job and I want to change path into a more creative career. Anonymous While it can feel daunting to change careers – and it may not be the best idea to leave a steady income and head straight into the unknown – there is also something fulfilling about having a creative career. There are many different ways you can be a photographer and many different routes you can go down. Some work as a photographer alongside another creative career, such as our pro Rachael Ryder (see the interview on the next page), who is also a graphic designer. Others, like myself, are photographers, with the occasional article writing on…

Food is central to many different cultures around the world, each having its own unique ingredients and flavours, but also traditional recipes handed down through generations that bring about a sense of belonging within a community. There is, of course, a whole genre of food photography that has grown up around those who promote or sell food, with everyone from fast food outlets, supermarkets and high-end restaurants requiring images of their products. Today, I’m meeting Zuzana Rainet, a photographer who uses food as an artistic medium, to discover how she evokes emotions and appeals to the senses, ultimately merging cuisine with creativity to create a visual feast. Zuzana takes an innovative approach to the subject, incorporating her creativity, technical skills and marketing expertise and constantly unveiling new insights and skills.…

Welcome to the Digital Photographer Photo Kit Leaderboard! The digital world moves fast, and photo kit comes and goes in no time at all. The continuous march of development and progress means there can be a confusing array of potential cameras, lenses, software and accessories to choose from. Some products see yearly updates and replacements, while others stick around for longer – a testament to their quality, usefulness, value and popularity. We review a huge variety of items, but these summaries are often time-specific to the tech generation in which the products were launched. A five-star review might be awarded for ingenuity, marking something that is ahead of its time, but several months later, the competition has caught up. Conversely, as a product’s price drops over time, its value proposition…

Free ebook to download Learn to shoot stunning scenes One of the greatest strengths a photographer can have is knowing a location well. When you’re off on your travels, however, this isn’t always possible and you need to adapt to your surroundings. In this ebook guide, we explore how to find engaging details, interact with portrait subjects and even edit your photos on the move. Plus, discover the best kit for working away from home to capture incredible scenes packed with drama, wherever you are. To claim your free ebook, visit https://bit.ly/DPH287 Enter our Photocrowd contests online to win Affinity prizes Every month, we team up with Photocrowd – the world’s leading photography competition platform – to offer you the chance to win an Affinity Photo editing software license (worth…

Nikon has announced the long-awaited update to the Z50, with the Nikon Z50 II. Much of the headline specs remain unchanged from the 2019 model, with the same 20.9MP image sensor, 100-51,200 ISO range and 11fps max shooting rate – and still no in-body image stabilisation. At its heart is the latest Expeed 7 processor, the same top-of-the-line chip found in the Nikon Z9, Z8, Z6 III and Zf full-frame cameras. This turbocharges the updated camera’s performance, vastly improving autofocus, subject tracking and video, and inheriting a bunch of trick modes from these cameras higher up the range. Other headline improvements are a brighter viewfinder, a larger rear screen that flips out (rather than flips down), an improved control layout and a more comfortable grip. But the most noticeable visible…

Photographer: Todd Wain @todd.wain toddwainphotography.picfair.com Image location: Belgrade, Serbia Type of commission: Personal Shot details: Fujifilm XT30, Fujifilm XF23mm F2, 1/35 sec, f/9, ISO 160 Since Todd first started photography, he has been drawn to capturing historical buildings. “Moving to Europe gave me the perfect opportunity to explore this passion,” he says. “After relocating to Belgrade three years ago, I have been able to photograph many of the city’s landmarks.” Whereas historical architecture stands the test of time, the scenery around them changes significantly. The seasons can often influence this too, emphasising features and making buildings look quite different depending on the time of year. “I had taken a similar photo in the spring and knew it would make a stunning shot during the winter months, especially with the snow,”…

1 Fujifilm GFX100s Thomas shoots with this Medium Format camera for its ultimate image quality, which is useful for picking out fine details. He finds that he must stop down his lenses a little further than on his full-frame system to ensure appropriate depth-offield throughout his shots. The camera body is robust so is also useful when shooting in poor weather conditions. 2 Sony A7R III This fullframe mirrorless camera is smaller and lighter than Thomas’s Fujifilm system so is ideal for handheld street scenes. However, it still has enough resolution for his cityscape and landscape work while offering access to a wide range of lenses. 3 Fujinon GF32-64mm f/4 R LM WR This is a versatile zoom for the Fujifilm GFX system, useful for both wide and standard compositions when…

LET YOUR MIND WANDER “Don’t feel pressured to seek out only extraordinary subjects. Inspiration can arise from everyday surroundings – simple objects or candid moments. Practice seeing art around you in everyday life. This skill can be cultivated by observing your environment closely and appreciating the unique qualities of mundane scenes.” Gleici Rufatto COMBINE AND BLEND “Thanks to social media, people are getting used to more dynamic experiences. I see a trend toward blending media for immersive art. Incorporating music and movement into still images creates cinematic moments, enriching narratives and immersing viewers in the essence of a place.” Gleici Rufatto EXPLORE THE MEDIUM “I believe it is time for photography to refer to its personal history more than before. Alternative printing methods and their combination with other visual arts…

How often have you captured the most amazing sunrise or sunset, only to get home and find the captured colours don’t quite represent what you saw? It’s a common phenomenon in landscape photography but it can easily be fixed with a simple yet clever technique that takes the existing colour and breathes it into the scene for a natural look. What you’ll be using Create New Layer Eyedropper Tool Brush Tool Apply Image Layer Opacity 1 Create a New Layer Press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+N to create a New Layer, which will appear above the Background Layer. This Layer will be used to apply the natural colour from the sky and use an advanced masking technique to target the colour to specific tonal areas of the scene for a seamless result. 2 Sample…

CANON EOS R6 Zuzana uses the Canon EOS R6, with its 20MP full-frame CMOS sensor striking a great balance between resolution and efficiency. This means it is particularly suited for workflows that target web and small print outputs. CANON RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM A hybrid lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture, its shallow depth of field effectively highlights the subject. Zuzana uses it for top-down images, as its zoom range facilitates effortless frame adjustments. CANON RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM This prime lens boasts an even lower f-stop capability than the 24-70mm lens in Zuzana’s kitbag. It is unmatched for sharpness, while this focal length is ideal for expansive scenes and advertorial shots. CANON RF 100mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM This macro lens delivers an impressive 1.4x magnification, which…

Peak Design Travel Duffels Price From £130/$140 (35L bag) to £180/$185 (80L bag)  Website peakdesign.com With the introduction of the 50L and 80L versions, Peak Design’s Travel Duffels now come in four sizes (35L, 50L, 65L and 80L) to cater for a wide range of travel needs. The 35L and 50L are compact enough for aeroplane carry-on luggage, while the 65L and 80L are best for check-in or car travel. Constructed from durable, weather-resistant 600D recycled nylon canvas and a robust, waterproof bottom liner, the duffels feel solid and well-made. All versions are available in Black and Sage while the 35L and 50L have an additional option, Coyote (sand). The bags feature versatile zip pockets and detachable padded shoulder straps. Side pockets provide extra space for smaller items but I’ve…