Innehållsförteckning för No. 612 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…

Since its inception in 1988, Adobe Photoshop has seen many changes. From the arrival of layers in 1994 to taking the decision to move to the CC subscription model in 2013, Adobe’s photo-editing software is constantly evolving, and 2023 was no different, as we saw the release of Adobe’s game-changing Generative Fill technology. Generative Fill uses AI to make difficult edits much easier, with text-to-image prompts, and is transforming the landscape yet again for photographers and content creators. While AI can certainly be used to assist in post-production, let’s not forget that editing is only half of the equation, and we should all strive to master the skills required to take the best photos we can in-camera. That said, even if you’ve taken a brilliant shot, Photoshop 2024 has the…

SPOT HEALING BRUSH For fixing small imperfections or distractions such as the traffic light at the top of our street scene, one of the best options is the Spot Healing Brush Tool. Select it in the Toolbar or press the shortcut ‘J’, resize your brush so that it’s a little larger than the object you want to remove, and click on it to remove it. Photoshop will then do its best to remove it from the shot. If it doesn’t look quite right, hit Ctrl/Cmd+Z to undo and have another go, or use one of the following alternatives… CLONE STAMP TOOL The Clone Stamp Tool allows you to set the source point for the pixels you wish to replace your distraction with. To get started, take the Clone Stamp Tool…

1 MARQUEE TOOLS The Rectangular and Elliptical Marquee Tools can be activated by pressing the M key. They’re ideal for selecting parts of your image that are rectangular, square, circular or elliptical in shape. Hold Shift while making your selection to keep the aspect ratio the same for a perfect square or circular selection. If you need to refine your selection further, you can go to Selection > Transform Selection. This will place a bounding box around the selection that you can manipulate to fine-tune the selection border. 2 LASSO TOOLS The group of lasso tools can be activated by pressing the keyboard shortcut ‘L’, and includes the Lasso Tool for selecting quick freehand areas, the Polygonal Lasso Tool, which allows you to click along multiple points of an object…

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CAMERA Nikon Z 6 LENS 14-24mm f/2.8 EXPOSURE 2.5 secs, f/11, ISO100 Reflections in landscapes play a pivotal role in enriching the composition and enticing viewers to delve deeper into the image. They can offer a unique viewpoint of the landscape, revealing concealed intricacies that might otherwise go unnoticed. Using reflections in a body of water is a popular compositional tool. Reflections can create visual impact by introducing a sense of symmetry, unity and harmony. This perfect balance can evoke a serene and peaceful mood, allowing viewers to connect with the landscape on a deeper level. However, careful consideration is required to obtain the best results. This article will explore the important technical factors that will help you capture compelling reflections in landscapes every time. HOW TO USE REFLECTIONS TO…

N-PHOTO N-Photo is a monthly magazine for Nikon photographers, and is packed with technique and Photoshop video lessons every month. http://bit.ly/3atHLfO https://apple.co/2TNE26T PHOTOPLUS PhotoPlus is a monthly magazine for Canon photographers that features expert advice, tips and video tutorials on all things Canon. http://bit.ly/30FoOlQ https://apple.co/2vaIdzw DIGITAL CAMERA WORLD A monthly magazine that aims to improve your photography with an inspirational mix of amazing images and how-to articles. http://bit.ly/2RER7g6 https://apple.co/2RBrZqG DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER The monthly kitbag essential for enthusiast and pro photographers, packed with tutorials, exclusive interviews and the latest reviews. https://bit.ly/3lH4ucX https://apple.co/2SJf6ff…

Panasonic has announced the Lumix GH7, a powerful new video-focused Micro Four Thirds camera that succeeds the Lumix GH6, which was released in 2022. The only major complaint about the GH6 was its outdated contrast-detect autofocus system, and since then Panasonic has equipped the Lumix S5 II and G9 II with its much-improved phase-detect autofocus (PDAF) – and now PDAF is coming to the GH series with the launch of the GH7. Little has changed on the outside, with the Lumix GH7 having essentially the same body as the GH6. The GH7 offers the same chunky grip, in-built cooling fan, array of tactile buttons, and articulating LCD that favours filmmakers. Inside, though, there’s a new MFT sensor that, while having the same 25.2MP resolution as the GH6’s sensor, is now…

One of the perks of Adobe moving to O its Creative Cloud subscription model is that you pay a set monthly fee, but you’ll always have access to the newest version of Adobe’s software. The Photography Plan gives you Adobe Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic. Head to your Adobe Creative Cloud app to check that you’re using the latest versions and have access to the latest features and tools. We’ll kick things off in Photoshop CC with the simple-to-use but indispensable Crop Tool. Cropping is one of the most basic yet effective edits that you can make to give your images more impact. But first, let’s take a tour of the Photoshop CC interface… PRO KIT PERSPECTIVE CROP TOOL This tool is ideal for shots of buildings with lots…

REMOVE DISTRACTIONS If there’s an element in your image that you find distracting and want to remove, you can use Photoshop’s Generative Fill AI to do it. First, make a rough selection around your distraction – the tree in this case – using a selection tool, such as the Lasso or Polygonal Lasso tool. Next go to the Contextual Taskbar and click Generate, then type in your prompt, such as ‘remove tree branches’ and watch as Photoshop makes light work out of the job. ADD IN NEW ELEMENTS Generative Fill can also be used to add entirely new content. We felt the sky looked a little empty in this scene, so we wanted to add a plane. To do this we selected a rough portion of the sky with the…

1 SELECT THE BRUSH TOOL The Brush Tool (B) is handy for painting new pixels onto your image or on layer masks to blend different images and adjustment layers together. You can reduce the Flow and Opacity in the Tool Options bar at the top of the interface to build up your brush strokes gradually. 2 SET THE EDGE HARDNESS Click on the Brush Preset Picker in the Tool Options to bring up a range of different brushes. Here you can also set the Brush Size and Hardness. A Hardness setting of 100% gives you defined brush strokes with a hard edge, while lowering this gives you softer, feathered strokes. 3 CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR On layer masks, you’ll only have the option to paint in black or white, and you…

1 START DRAWING Take the Pen Tool from the Toolbox or hit the shortcut ‘P’ to make it active and zoom in on your subject with Ctrl+Plus. Click on the edge of your subject to place your first anchor point, then click on your next point, and now hold your mouse down and drag – you’ll see that you can add a curve to your path line. 2 DELETE ANCHOR POINTS The next point you make will be affected by the curvature of the previous one. This can be helpful, giving your path a natural curve and flow. But if you have a harsh break angle this will be undesirable, so hold Alt and click on your most recent Anchor Point to fix this problem. 3 PATH APPLICATIONS Once you’ve…

The Hue/Saturation command allows you to control the Hue, Saturation and Lightness of your colours. The Hue setting allows you to shift the colour range, while Saturation controls how punchy or muted the colours are. Lightness simply makes those colours lighter or darker, depending on where you drag the slider. While Hue/Saturation can be accessed by going to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation or by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd+U, we recommend instead applying it as an adjustment layer for extra control and a reversible, non-destructive workflow. To do this, go to the Adjustments panel (Window > Adjustments) and choose Hue/Saturation, or alternatively, go to the Layers panel (Window > Layers), click on the ‘Create new fill or adjustment layer icon’ (it looks like a half black, half white circle)…

LANNER FALCON AND YELLOW-BILLED KITE CONFRONTATION IAN SILVESTER “This was taken near Cannon Rocks in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. We drove around a corner to a commotion and this is what we found! One shot and it was over.” https://bit.ly/3StOQTI ROCHUS KIRCHE MARK GREENFIELD “St Rochus church in Dusseldorf, Germany.” https://bit.ly/3v1BExW WOOD MOUSE ROBERT O’NEILL “This little wood mouse is living out the winter in my greenhouse. I discovered him when I was moving stuff around to clean.” https://bit.ly/3QiJXNP CURIOUS COCHIN TERRY DONOVAN “Taken during volunteer chicken-tending duties at the historic Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester, Massachusetts. I used my Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S with a Godox flash.” https://bit.ly/3PA93HA FACEBOOK http://bit.ly/39py9lg FLICKR http://bit.ly/2VIgsJO PHOTOGRAPHY WEEK WANTS YOUR PHOTOS! Taken a portrait you’re particularly proud of? Shot…

Canon has launched the RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM multi-purpose prime lens. The new lens is a follow-up to the popular EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM, and it comes with a few upgrades over its predecessor. Most notably, the RF 35mm becomes Canon’s second hybrid lens after the RF 24-105mm f/2.8 IS USM Z, which means it features an aperture ring (or iris ring as Canon seems to prefer). The catch here is that the iris ring only works during video capture; with much of the feedback surrounding the 24-105mm lens being from disappointed stills photographers, it seems Canon is sticking to its guns with its hybrid lenses. As well as the iris ring, the lens design adds a custom function button to the side of the lens barrel, along…

The Photoshop interface has hardly changed over the years with small tweaks and extra tools added to the Toolbar (1) year on year. Be sure to check your Options bar (2) as this offers more control when working with a specific tool, such as the ability to refine your selection when working with selection tools or change the opacity and flow when working with the Brush Tool. Layers are one of Photoshop’s most powerful features, allowing you to merge multiple images and elements together separately for non-destructive editing via the Layers panel (5). The Contextual Taskbar (7) has been added to versions 25 and later with Generative Fill using Adobe’s Firefly AI – now out of Beta.…

While Photoshop’s Generative Fill is impressive and will undoubtedly improve over the coming years, let’s not get complacent. Areas of an image created with Generative Fill AI can often look a little messy and weird, so while it is a useful feature, there’s still merit in mastering the ‘old-school’ tools for cleaning up your shots. We’ve also found that while Generative Fill can be a useful starting point, it often needs a little cleaning up with tools such as the ones we’ll cover below. The Spot Healing Brush is brilliant for quickly getting rid of blemishes and distractions, while the Remove Tool is like a souped-up version of the Spot Healing Brush, powered by AI. The Clone Stamp Tool offers pinpoint control and accuracy, letting you source pixels from around…

Making selections is a core skill you’ll need to master if you want to combine elements from multiple images or make targeted adjustments to specific areas. Photoshop CC has a plethora of tools for making selections, from the Quick Selection Tool, which makes it easy to select large swathes of your picture in just a few clicks, to the Polygonal Lasso tool, which allows you to precisely select straight-edged subjects. There’s also the Pen Tool, which takes some time to master but which offers even more control (see next page). The selection tools covered below are easy to use and grouped together in the Toolbar – cycle between them by pressing their respective keyboard shortcuts (M, L and W) or by clicking and holding down on the tool icon to…

Dodging and burning are two techniques that hark back to the days of darkroom processing, when photographers would use pieces of paper or card to shield the photosensitive paper to ‘dodge’ it and make that area brighter, or use a hole in a large sheet of card to ‘burn’ in specific parts of an image to make them darker. This often took lots of trial and error in the darkroom, but it’s much easier to achieve with Photoshop’s Dodge and Burn tools. Working on a digital image, we can make precise local contrast adjustments and work non-destructively, reverting back to the original image if needed. Here’s how to use these powerful tools… 1 DODGE OR BURN The Dodge and Burn Tools (O) are selected by clicking on their icons in…

Neural Filters are different from Photoshop’s usual batch of filters in the Filter Gallery because they’re powered by Adobe’s machine-learning Sensei AI. This makes them a fantastic resource for applying difficult edits, such as turning an image from day to night, or even changing the season from autumn to winter (or vice versa). They’re easy to use, with plenty of options and sliders to help you get the exact look you’re after in just a few clicks. To begin, go to Filter > Neural Filters. On the right you’ll see a list of Neural Filters you can choose from, as well as upcoming ones that are on the waiting list. If you haven’t used a Neural Filter before, you may need to download it before you can begin. PRO ADVICE…

www.sony.co.uk £2,100/$2,299 (body only) Opening the box containing the Sony A7C II is a real déjà vu moment – only a few weeks have passed since I unboxed the new Sony A6700. The A7C II has a similar design to that camera, but it has a full-frame sensor. The A7C was released two years ago as a compact form of the Sony A7 III, and was meant to be Sony’s new champion for content creators who wanted the most compact camera possible that was both easy to travel with and would fit into cages and rigs while offering full-frame professional quality. Since then, Sony has gone hard into its ZV range of cameras, which are aimed at more video-centric content creators, and for some time those who cared more about…