Innehållsförteckning för No. 591 från Photography Week

Welcome to the world’s No.1 weekly digital photography magazine. If you’re already a reader, thanks for your continued support and involvement; if you’re new to Photography Week, you’ve come to the right place! In addition to expert advice, brilliant tips and step-by-step tutorials, every issue features interactive galleries of brilliant photos, how-to videos on essential shooting and editing techniques, and in-depth reviews of the latest camera kit. But that’s not the whole story. Photography Week is more than a magazine – it’s a community of like-minded people who are passionate about photography. To get involved, just follow any of the links below and share your shots and comments. JOIN THE PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK COMMUNITY AND START SHARING! FACEBOOK http://bit.ly/39py9lg TWITTER http://bit.ly/2vGadLP FLICKR http://bit.ly/2VIgsJO We’re more than just a magazine – read…

To coax winter wildlife to come out in front of the lens, you must become one with nature, being almost invisible, and blending in with the surroundings by choosing clothing with muted colours and avoiding materials that make noise. Camouflage clothing is your ticket to remaining unnoticed, and reliable waterproof quality gear will protect you from the cold and mud. Accessories such as a camouflage lens cover or crim net will help you stay hidden, and protect your expensive equipment in unpredictable weather conditions. Waiting for wildlife to appear can be a time-consuming process, which is why permanent and temporary hides can be a better solution. These hides allow you to blend in seamlessly with the surroundings, and offer extra protection against the weather; they can even be turned into…

When it comes to capturing the appearance and interactions of wildlife, time is of the essence. It’s vital to have your camera set up and ready to go at all times. Before heading out, take time to understand the camera, know your way round the menus, and learn its special features. An effective way of improving your workflow is to customise the camera’s buttons. Under the Custom Key option, select the most frequently used features to allow quick access. This helps you in situations where pressing the shutter can make the difference between missing or capturing a lifetime sighting. Take test shots to ensure that the exposure is correct; this will save you time, and allow you to focus on composition and framing when the wildlife appears.…

When you’re shooting in the wild, look to change your photographic approach from time to time. Rearranging the frame by zooming in and out, and changing the depth of field, will help to keep the viewer engaged. For example, one creative approach could be to go to the extremes and fill the frame with only the subject. By zooming right in on the wildlife, features like the fur gain new importance. Showing just a few parts of the subject can also make the photograph look more abstract. On the other hand, there are situations where it’s necessary to frame the scene wider for practical reasons. For example, when capturing a flying bird or wildlife in action, you want to be sure that you’ve captured the entire subject, especially if there…

When you’re taking pictures of winter creatures, don’t stick to photographing them from head height. Especially when you have small subjects in front of the camera, standing at your normal height can result in a lack of impact in the images. Getting down low with the lens will significantly enhance the visual appeal of the subject, while also adding foreground interest to the composition. This way, you include details of the animal’s habitat that provide context for the viewer. Here, blurring the background with low f-numbers such as f/2.8 or f/4 is a clever and effective technique to highlight the main subject.…

GuruShots is billed as the world’s leading photo game. It’s an online photography platform conceived to give global exposure to people who love taking photographs. GuruShots members start out as Newbies and compete with other photographers to win challenges, increase their ranking on the site and eventually progress to coveted ‘Guru’ status. Challenges are voted on by Gurus and the wider GuruShots community, and there’s a fresh competition brief – such as this Mostly White challenge – every day. Challenge winners receive prizes from GuruShots’ sponsors, including Lowepro, Kodak and Lensbaby. https://bit.ly/4aJnKkI https://bit.ly/4aJnKkI https://bit.ly/4aJnKkI https://bit.ly/4aJnKkI…

Infrared light is all around us, yet we can’t see it. That’s because the visible spectrum that we are able to view is really only a very narrow band of the entire range of electromagnetic radiation we know as light. If you think of the colours of the rainbow – violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red – each colour has a slightly different wavelength, and therefore a different speed. Red visible light has the longest wavelength and is the fastest. But just beyond visible red light is infrared, which is faster still. While infrared light isn’t visible to the eye, there are cameras and sensors that can capture it, and if you have an old camera you can have it converted to capture infrared (note that this is an…

www.rogueflash.com £136/$130 ExpoImaging is best known for its Rogue FlashBender, but also produces a collection of round magnetic flash modifiers that are quick and easy to use. Paired with the Rogue Flash Adapter, available in Standard or Small sizes, the circular modifiers can also be used on flashguns or strobes with a rectangular head. The Rogue Round Flash Kit is sold on its own, or with the Rogue Flash Adapter, though you can buy the kit components separately. Key features The Rogue Round Flash Kit contains a Rogue Flash Diffuser Dome, Flash Gel Lens, Flash Grid 45 and 3-Gel Starter Set and a Storage Pouch – all you need to control, soften or colour balance light from a flashgun with a round head. It is compatible with Godox (V1, R100,…

Panasonic has plugged a gap in its Lumix lens lineup with the new Lumix S 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens, which, thanks to a newly developed Dual Phase Linear focusing motor, Panasonic says is the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame macro lens over 90mm with a 1:1 magnification. Not only that, the lens also has the world’s closest focusing distance for a macro lens (the same 100mm and 1:1 caveats apply), with a minimum focus distance of just 20.4cm. This incredible feat of engineering puts the Lumix S 100mm at less than half the weight of rival lenses from Canon, Nikon, and Sony. And at just 82mm in length, it’s between 49-66mm shorter than rivals. The Lumix S 100mm also has an identical body size and filter thread size to other…

When shooting in cold conditions, it’s important to keep an eye on your gear. Even if the weather is dry, melting snow can pose a danger, and your kit can get wet as soon as you’re back in warm temperatures. Therefore, it’s crucial to dry out your kit after every shoot to prevent condensation. Use a towel to remove any moisture from the camera and lenses to help avoid fungi and mould growth – once either of these elements have entered the kit, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of them. When purchasing new gear, always check first whether it’s weather-resistant and sealed. However, even when using weather-resistant gear, it’s always a good idea to use accessories to protect expensive equipment. Using a rain shield for lenses is an easy…

Spending a long time in nature can be a relaxing experience if you prepare well. As it takes patience to wait for wild creatures to appear, the last thing you want to do is leave your position and risk missing the perfect shot. Bring along some sandwiches, snacks and plenty of water to stay hydrated. When packing ready-to-eat food, make sure to remove it from the plastic packaging and store it in containers that won’t make as much noise when you open them up. When shooting in cold temperatures, camera batteries tend to drain faster than usual. To avoid running out of power, bring a spare pack of batteries with you, and have the backup battery in your pocket to keep it warm. Additionally, consider investing in a battery grip.…

1 SHOOT SILENT The shutter release noise of a camera might scare any wildlife nearby. Compared with DSLRs, mirrorless cameras produce a much quieter sound. To further reduce the noise, activate the electronic or silent shutter option. If this feature is not available, some cameras have a lockup option to minimise noise. 2 SHOOT IN M To achieve sharp results, select an aperture of around f/8. The shutter speed should be adjusted depending on the speed of the subject, and typically ranges from 1/400 to 1/2000 sec. Set the ISO for a well-exposed photo, using a high ISO if needed; a sharp, noisy image is better than a blurry one, as noise can always be corrected at the editing stage. 3 SELECT BURST MODE Using burst mode is a great…

During the winter season, natural light is a precious resource. To frame winter wildlife at its best, aim to take photos during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. In the morning, face east, and in the afternoon, position yourself towards the west to catch the warm glow of the winter sun – your smartphone’s compass will help you identify the direction in which you should be facing. The bright snow backdrop can pose some challenges when it comes to the ideal exposure. The snow can deceive the camera’s light meter, resulting in underexposed photographs. To combat this, it’s best to intentionally overexpose or underexpose your images in specific situations. A popular approach is to overexpose scenes on purpose by using maximum open apertures. This technique lets you increase the…

Tamron USA has revealed the winners of its annual Photo/Video Contest, featuring an impressive selection of images taken by photogaphers using the brand’s highly regarded lenses. The contest was open to photographers and videographers / filmmakers in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with prizes awarded in Travel / Landscape, Wildlife, Close-up / Fine Art, Portrait, Sports / Action, Photojournalism, and Video categories. John Calvin took the Grand Prize in the Photo category for his black-and-white image taken in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. The judging panel was made up of Tamron creative partners from the worlds of professional photography and videography, with the winners receiving Tamron lenses. Click the link to see all the winning images and video entries at Tamron’s competition web page. SEE MORE…

All these flash modifier kits work well and are easy to use, with magnets holding the key components in place. The Hahnel Module Creative Lantern Kit is a great choice for anyone on a budget or wanting a compact set up. The Rogue Kit feels more robust than the Hahnel kit, and the different modifiers snap smartly in and out of position. Ultimately, however, the MagMod Professional Flash Kit is our pick of the bunch. It’s versatile and durable, and though it can take some wrestling to get the MagGrip onto some flashguns, once mounted, it’s easy to swap between the various modifiers. It’s the most expensive system of the three, but should give years of service; it doesn’t object to being squashed, and if you drop anything it will…

Achieving the perfect winter wildlife shot can be a challenging task that demands patience, skill and perseverance. Waiting for hours in the freezing cold isn’t exactly a photographer’s dream scenario; however, once you’ve pressed the shutter and got the perfect photo, all those difficulties are quickly forgotten. During the winter months, some creatures are more active than usual. As food is scarce, they’re drawn out of their hiding places, making this the perfect time to see them. In addition, the environmental changes often give us a better view of the animals. Bare branches, trees and bushes allow us to spot wildlife more easily, and also to frame the animals with fewer distractions. Winter wildlife photography is a thrilling experience that not only gives you the opportunity to observe and understand…

To enhance the zoom capabilities of your current lens, consider investing in an teleconverter. These have different strengths, with the 2x extender being a popular choice, as it doubles the focal length. Keep in mind that an extender also reduces the effective lens aperture – a 1.4 extender decreases the maximum aperture by one stop, while a 2x model reduces it by two stops. Additionally, they can affect the optical quality, so it’s recommended that you purchase own-brand extenders. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution, it’s always worth checking out secondhand gear. TELEPHOTO ZOOM A lens such as the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM is an excellent option to capture a broader view of the surroundings in your shot, while also providing the flexibility to zoom in…

Build up your skills by capturing starter subjects that are commonly found, such as squirrels or robins; these are often seen in gardens, and therefore accustomed to human presence. These animals are generally more hungry during the winter and easy to attract with some food. With time, they will return to the feeding station, giving you more chances to practise. Documenting an animal’s winter behaviour, including food gathering, will add an extra layer to the image, which educates and provides context to the viewer. Remember to respect their space and observe their behaviour. If they move away, don’t harass and follow them. With patience, you will gain their trust, and the next time they might get closer to the lens. This is a slow process, but in the end, it…

When it comes to capturing wildlife, framing and aperture settings are crucial factors to consider. By using the right techniques, you can convey your message through two different photographic directions. Sometimes, it can be challenging to find the right composition, as trees and other background features may distract from the subject but can’t be removed. In such cases, it’s recommended that you zoom right into your subject and work with an open aperture such as f/2. The reason for this is that the lower your f-stop number, the shallower the depth of field, meaning the background gets blurred out. This helps in smoothing out distracting elements and keeping the viewer’s attention on the subject. Take care, because the shallower the depth of field, the narrower the focus area, meaning fewer…

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You don’t need to be a keen astrophotographer with specialised gear to capture stunning images of the moon like this one – you will, however, need the longest lens you can lay your hands on, and you’ll need to do a little planning. Kit-wise, a superzoom bridge camera is one option – these offer focal lengths that match and often exceed those of the lenses available for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and we’re using the Nikon P1000, which has a 125x optical zoom that equates to mammoth 3000mm focal length in 35mm. A telephoto lens on a DSLR or mirrorless camera will also do the trick, and if your lenses aren’t long enough, teleconverters are an economical way of boosting your reach. Like all forms of astrophotography, the success of…

www.magnetmod.com £250/$200 MagMod founder Spencer Boerup had the idea for a flash modifier system M using magnets. In 2013, the first system launched on Kickstarter and quickly caught the attention of portrait and wedding photographers, thanks to its robust build and ease of use. The MagGrip’s design means the MagMod system can be used on a huge number of flashguns. The MagGrip 2 makes it compatible with an even wider range of flashes. Key features MagMod sells all its components separately, but if you’re buying for the first time, it makes sense to buy a kit. The Starter Kit 2 includes the MagGrip 2, MagSphere 2 and MagGrid 2, while the Professional Flash Kit 2 adds the MagBounce 2 and Pro Correction Gels, too. The MagGrip 2 is essential for…

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