Innehållsförteckning för No. 611 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…

Whereas photographic genres like street photography benefit from the absence of colour, which eliminates distracting elements in the background, minimalistic scenes like landscapes are more challenging to capture. This is because scenes in black and white work well when contrasting boundaries within the scene’s elements are present. In colour photography, this means the colour contrast, but in monochrome, those elements can only be distinguished based on their luminosity levels. If this is not taken into account, monochrome tones can merge, making it difficult to draw clear visual lines. Although it may seem simple to step back from focusing on shaping the scene based on coloured elements, our eyes are not accustomed to focusing solely on contrast. To train your vision, study portfolios of renowned black and white photographers – this…

Whether you’re using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, both offer a variety of Picture Style, Creative Style or Picture Control options. An option in many cameras is the Black and White setting, which allows you to see a monochrome translation of the scene rather than having to visualise it. This helps you to decide whether the scene is suitable for a mono shot and compose the frame accordingly. Here, the biggest concern is losing the option of a colour image due to this style setting. Ending with only a monochrome frame isn’t ideal, and is a big limitation if your vision, or a client’s expectations, change. When shooting B&W it’s important that you also shoot in your camera’s raw format, as the camera will then record the image’s colour information.…

When uploading your black-and-white shots to your preferred image editing software, there are some essential steps to bear in mind. First and foremost, don’t change the colour profile from RGB to Greyscale. Doing so will discard the image’s colour information and leave you with monochromatic tones only, and this is a significant limitation when it comes to editing, as the colour information is crucial to control luminosity and heavily influences the visual outcome of black-and-white photographs. Instead, make use of the Black & White adjustment layer, which allows you to control the colour’s grey shades via luminosity individually. In general, working with adjustment layers only is the way to go. This has the benefit of maximum control over the editing process, as you can always go back to the specific…

CONTROL LUMINOSITY Use the colour information to visually set elements apart in mono. Add a Black & White adjustment layer and a window opens showing colour tones from Red to Magenta. This adjustment works similarly to the in-camera colour filters, but with access to specific sliders you have maximum control over the luminosity levels. S-CURVE To enhance or decrease the contrast of your black-and-white shots, add a Curves adjustment layer. Here, most frames benefit from a classic S-curve. Click on the anchor points and adjust these into an S-shape. However, it’s worth experimenting with settings, as each frame is different. DODGE AND BURN To fine-tune specific image elements in contrast and luminosity, use the Dodge and Burn tools. With these, you can selectively lighten (dodge) or darken (burn) subjects by…

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 Story Snaps challenge – every day. Challenge winners receive prizes from GuruShots’ sponsors, including Lowepro, Kodak and Lensbaby. https://bit.ly/3WWNJ3t https://bit.ly/4bLGkYQ https://bit.ly/44UBUwB STORY SNAPS’ CHALLENGE https://bit.ly/3WWNJ3t https://bit.ly/3WWNJ3t https://bit.ly/3WWNJ3t…

Luminosity masking is a powerful editing technique that can be used for making selective tonal adjustments. Essentially, luminosity masking allows us to create selections around different areas of brightness, and it’s often favoured by landscape photographers because it offers a fine degree of control over the areas of an image that are selected. In our vibrant sunset coastal scene, it means we can target the bright areas of sky around the sun, or the dark groynes in the foreground, then enhance those areas with various adjustments. There are several plug-ins that make luminosity masks, but in order to really understand how they work it helps to know how to create your own, and in this issue’s video tutorial we’ll show you how you can do this by using simple selection…

If you love the iconic Leica brand and have been thinking of taking the plunge, the Leica Q3 might have already have caught your eye – and now there are 24 more reasons why you might want to part with you £5,300 /$5,995, in the form of a range of new vivid leather colours. There is, however, a catch. For now, at least, only Leica Singapore is offering new Q3 buyers the chance to choose an alternative to the classic stealthy black Leica Q3, and flaunt their personality with these alternative tones. In that tried and tested black finish, some less brand-loyal shoppers might even be looking at the Fujifilm X100VI as a more affordable option, but style can trump budget considerations for some. Admittedly some of the colours look…

As there are no colours to add impact, composition strategy can make or break a black-and-white image. As we work with a reduction in tones, simple composition techniques are most effective to draw the viewer in. Analyse the scene, identify a strong focal point, and look out for leading lines that you can integrate into the composition. Don’t forget that the distribution of elements due to their colour isn’t effective in black and white, so seek lines of differentiating luminosity only. If the scene you’re capturing is shaped by similar mono tones, you can separate them by changing your perspective and adding some mid-ground. Here, additional foreground elements can help with the distribution of the frame while also adding interest.…

Black-and-white photography requires more fine-tuning than colour images. Even when photographers predominantly used film, manual editing happened in the dark room. These days, editing programs such as Photoshop or Affinity make this possible. However, enhancing elements like the sky or luminosity distribution can take time. It’s often overlooked that cameras feature settings that let you fine-tune mono tones directly in the camera. Colour filters are integrated into most models, which are key to maximising the effect of monochrome images. When shooting B&W onto film, these come in physical form, and are used in front of the lens of monochrome cameras. In black-and-white photography, five colour filters are commonly used: red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Each colour filter lightens the respective colour but darkens the colours found opposite it on…

1 CREATE GRADIENT MAP Click on the half-white and half-black circle found at the bottom of the Layers panel and select Gradient Map. The gradient options will appear in the Properties panel. 2 OPEN DIALOG BOX Simply click on the gradient shown and the Gradient Editor opens. Under Presets, you will find a Basics folder. Open it and select the third option shown named Black, White. 3 ADD LEVELS ADJUSTMENT LAYER To reduce the contrast, set the black output level to around 25. To enhance the contrast, set the white point to 10, midtones/brightness to 1, and the black point around 200.…

Mostafa, what most fascinates you about black-and-white photography? When we remove the colour, we are compelled to explore the relationship between different image elements, which makes us discover different ways to show the subject. By doing so, we can deconstruct what the viewer expects, making it possible to define the form of expressing our subject through stronger elements of the scene. Psychologically, different shades of grey and deep contrasts between black and white are captivating, and create a connection that draws our attention to the subject. For this reason, many photographers use black and white to give importance to different connections in the photo, and to evoke and strengthen emotions and atmosphere. What is it that draws you to create conceptual work? Unlike other forms of photography, such as surrealism,…

The Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) has become renowned as the world’s richest photography contest, and this year it’s even richer, with the prize fund having been doubled to $1 million, of which the overall winner will pick up a cool $200,000. This year’s main theme is Sustainability and there will also be a special category for sports photography, and a new section for short-form videos. The HIPA awards were founded in 2011 under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai. The awards are open to any professional or amateur photographer, and are free to enter. If you want to know what it’ll take to win a share of that million dollars, you can see some winning images from previous contests above. The closing date for entries is June…

www.panasonic.com £899/$898 Almost every camera system has its own compact wide-to-telephoto superzoom lens, however, despite a couple of third-party L-Mount options filling this gap, the Lumix S range had missed out. Until now, that is – Panasonic has decided it’s time to offer its own first-party solution with the Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro OIS. Never a company to do things by halves, it’s also made what is the world’s smallest and lightest 7x zoom lens for full-frame cameras. With wide-to-telephoto focal lengths covered in one package, these lenses allow photographers to travel light, so are useful if you don’t have much space in your bag, or don’t like frequently changing lenses. Having recently designed some impressively compact optics, Panasonic has leveraged that know-how to fashion a do-it-all lens for…

Black-and-white photography is, technically, the oldest genre of photography, dating back to its inception in the 1820s; and mono has never fallen out of fashion, despite the wealth of creative styles and effects that modern photographers are able to choose from. With the advantages of digital cameras, monochrome photographers have adapted new techniques and ways of processing images, yet working solely with greyscale tonality remains a complex task. Black-and-white photographs have a timeless quality, and offer a unique perspective on reality. Being limited to shades of grey shifts the focus more to the subject, and certain characteristics in the scene become more prominent. However, what some may not realise is that colour still plays a significant role in B&W photography. In the digital era, there are plenty of post-processing features…

Tripods are a necessary accessory for certain photographic techniques, such as using long exposures to capture water softly. However, in black-and-white photography, tripods are helpful tools because they naturally slow down your composition process. This process gains importance when you’re working with monochrome tones, as the reduction of colours means that minor discrepancies can negatively influence the scene. Using a tripod will support you in readjusting the frame and exposure, while also allowing you to connect with the subject on a deeper level. When choosing a tripod, prioritise your photographic needs. Consider your preferred camera and lens setup; compact cameras and wide-angle lenses do not require top-notch sturdy tripods but, due to their weight, telephoto lenses do. Don’t forget the importance of a tripod head – it might be worth…

Monochromatic tones underline the subject’s form and shape. On a clear day around midday, the sun creates high-contrast scenes, revealing texture and shapes from the subject. Here, simple and graphic shapes gain importance and are transformed into leading lines, which direct the viewer into and through the frame. To go a step further, make use of the defined shadows the harsh midday sun creates on your subject – these can become an interesting and more abstract subject themselves. When capturing the shadows, it’s best to have the sun directly behind your subject so that you can add the shadows in the foreground and add interest to your composition. A bright, sunny day also reveals the textures of objects, adding dimension and depth to your frame. To create a visual interplay…

1 SHOOT IN RAW Select raw as the file format so that the camera is still recording the scene’s colour data. For the raw file type, choose Uncompressed to ensure high quality and avoid data compression. 2 SWITCH TO LIVE VIEW When working with tripods or an optical viewfinder, enabling the live view on your screen can help you compose your image. This way, you’ll be able to oversee the preview in monochrome. 3 SELECT MONO In the camera shooting menu, the monochrome feature’s name differs between camera brands. Watch out for Picture Style, Creative Style or Picture Control to enable a B&W preview. 4 ADJUST PARAMETERS Every scene requires different adjustments in contrast and sharpness to highlight specific features like textures or material. It’s advisable to start fine-tuning these…

HIGH KEY Add a Curves adjustment layer, and raise the curve via the anchors to lighten the grey tones in your image. Take care not to clip any details in the highlights. SEPIA Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, and set the Hue value to around 30, while dragging the Saturation slider to around 25. Tick the Colorize box. CYANOTYPE Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Set the Hue value around 220 and Saturation to 35. Tick the Colorize box. Add a Curves adjustment layer and add contrast with an S-curve. SPLIT-TONE Use the Split Tone panel or a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer. Set shadows to one colour and highlights to another; complementary colour combinations such as red and blue work best.…

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There are plenty of technical skills that you can master to help you improve your landscape photography, but ultimately a good landscape hinges on three things: subject, composition and light. And while we have complete control over the first two, the latter is the element that can quickly send even the most promising shoot into disarray. Planning is a key factor when it comes to finding perfect lighting. Using a weather app is a good place to start, but what can you do to improve your chances of capturing stunning light once you’re out in the field? The answer is you wait and wait… and then wait some more. People who don’t take photographs might assume that a good landscape is down to being in the right place at the…

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