Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 260 i Digital Photographer

November is a divisive time of year. Some people love it, while others complain about the short days and falling temperatures. I prefer to find the positives in every season and, for me, winter feels like a time of reflection and renewal. To that end, we have not one but two new pieces of content for you this issue – our 260th no less! On p62 of the magazine, we start our series of tutorials in Affinity Photo software, reflecting the diverse options photographers have for photo editing today. Then on p70, we’d like to introduce you to Photo CV, a regular feature profiling an expert photographer, focusing on their journey towards becoming an established professional. Of course, we have to mention our cover feature for the month, a pro…

The logo is gone but the spirit of Olympus lives on, with the new OM System OM-5 and its wealth of computational tricks. Technically, it’s a successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, but it has more in common with the new flagship OM System OM-1. But where the OM-1 is built for advanced photographers, the OM-5 is a camera for adventurers. The OM-5 packs the familiar 20.4MP sensor of the E-M5 III but offers 50MP handheld shooting (or 80MP on a tripod) for when that everyday resolution needs a boost. In-body image stabilisation is now a base 6.5 stops (7.5 when used with the company’s Sync-IS lenses) and Live ND Filters provide up to 4-stops of ND simulation. The camera is now weatherproof to the IP53 standard, like…

A logo is one of the most effective marketing tools for any photography business, offering the opportunity to build a brand around an easily recognisable identity. A strong logo will inevitably be associated with that business by consumers – it’s no coincidence that some of the most recognisable logos, such as Apple or Canon, are fixed in our memory. If you need to create the perfect design for your photography business, thankfully, there are plenty of platforms online to help you. First, you should bear in mind some basic rules that make a successful logo. The most important one is to keep it simple. The logo should be easy to remember and graphically uncomplicated. You will need a timeless logo so that your customers can become familiar with it and…

BOWENS 400 FLASH HEAD I have a rule that my portraits should always be flattering. So flat lit using my main light with fill lights, such as these Bowens, is a winner. ASSORTED APPLE PRODUCTS I am a slave to Apple products, so my Macbook, iPhone and three iMacs are essential. They have amazing graphics and look lovely too. HOLDFAST LEATHER HARNESS This lets me have two cameras to hand with different lenses so no need to switch during the shoot. Event documenting needs to be speedy. MY LOWEPRO WHEELIE CASE It holds the kit tight, cushioned and safely transported. It’s smart and tidy and also saves my back from the strain of carrying everything. RING FLASH I’m considering trying a ring flash, as I used one in my Venture…

96 Photo backpacks Keep your kit safe and dry during your winter photo shoots with a specially designed photo backpack. We test four of the best on the market from Lowepro, Manfrotto, Toxic and Vanguard. 104 Sony Alpha 7R V Sony’s A7R V has been labelled a ‘resolution specialist’ with 61MP, 8K video, 10fps shooting and revolutionary AI auto-focus. Rod Lawton finds out if it leaves other Sony models behind 108 Apple iPhone 14 Pro The latest iPhone features the most advanced camera system seen in an Apple smartphone to date, but does it improve upon the 13 Pro? 110 Lenses Every month, we take two professional optics into the field and test their performance. Here, it’s the Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70-200mm F/2.8 OIS and Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8…

PRICE: £849/ $896 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.15-0.24m WEIGHT: 335g Build and handling This isn’t quite a trinity lens – falling outside of the now standard 24-70mm focal range – and it isn’t billed as a pro model, but it doesn’t feel cheaply made by any means. Not only does it feature weather-sealing, but it also conveys the impression of having a tough construction. It might not quite be at S-line standards, but it instils a level of confidence regardless. All of the controls fall easily within reach. The zoom ring is nicely wide and smooth to operate, although the multi-function ring behind it is a little narrow for our taste. Performance Sharpness falls a little at the corners, more so than its 24-70mm sibling, but it still puts in a respectable…

PEAK DESIGN EVERYDAY CASE FOR iPHONE Website: www.peakdesign.com Price: £36/$40 Peak Design has updated its smartphone case range with cases for the recently launched iPhone 14 series. Available in Charcoal or Sage, there are cases with or without a loop and they are fully integrated with the Peak Design Mobile collection of holders and grips. 3 LEGGED THING QR7 Website: www.3leggedthing.com Price: £27/$27 3 Legged Thing’s QR7 is a 38x62mm quick-release plate and is longer than the plates supplied with the company’s AirHed range of tripod heads. It’s compatible with standard Arca Swiss-style clamps and is available in Copper (orange) or black. It also features a milled stainless steel camera screw, two 2.5mm hex retaining bolts grip and grippy pads. 3 LEGGED THING BILLY 2.0 Website: www.3leggedthing.com Price: £290/$400 (with…

Setting sail towards the Outer Hebrides, I had the intention of photographing the enigmatic Callanish Standing Stones. Also known as ‘Stonehenge of the North’ for its dramatic stone setting, it is an area with rich historical activity. As an astrophotographer, I was aware that visiting the Outer Hebrides also meant travelling to some of the darkest places in the United Kingdom. With little to no light pollution, the Isle of Lewis should provide an immense view of the universe, but only if the skies were clear. Upon our arrival, the weather forecast improved. Dark, moody skies evolved to clear skies for the duration of our stay. These far stretches of the UK are renowned for being some of the wettest places in the country and, upon arriving in Callanish, locals…

Fujifilm’s new X-T5 APS-C camera offers the joint highest resolution yet for this format in a portable, classically designed camera body. It features the new back-illuminated 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor also in the X-H2 and Fujifilm’s high-speed X-Processor 5 engine. The X-T5 also has a 20-image Pixel Shift Multi-Shot mode that quadruples the image resolution to 160MP and captures better colour depth. The lowest standard sensitivity setting is now ISO 125, plus a maximum electronic shutter speed of 1/180,000sec. This may prove to have some applications – it’s a couple of stops faster than you need for shooting with an f/1 lens in bright sunshine. The X-T5 has a Smooth Skin effect, 19 Fujifilm Film Simulation modes, including Nostalgic Neg, and an Auto WB system that uses deep…

No other genre is considered as challenging as low-light photography. When the sun goes down and natural light all but disappears, well-known scenes look completely different and are transformed by the reduced light. This offers great potential to capture magical images and transport the viewer into a twilight world, creating new perspectives in an otherwise bright and familiar environment. The limited amount of light presents photographers with technical challenges, but it also offers advantages that can uniquely define your style of photography. The atmosphere changes and through contrasts, shadow areas and the use of minimal light sources, photography is enriched and placed in a greater context. Creative approaches find their place and various technical methods can be used to develop your imagery and make it stand out. The advanced technology…

1 Locate the sun Here, the right timing is crucial. Arrive on site at least one hour before sunrise or sunset. To figure out the exact times, use apps such as Sky live. A compass will help you to orientate either west or east to catch the sun. 2 Compose your photo Before the optimal lighting conditions arrive, experiment with various angles while handholding your camera. Pay attention to all possible light sources and focal points to create balanced compositions. 3 Get prepared Including a tripod, weight and remote shutter release reduces the risk of movement. Depending on the scene you are shooting, consider using additional filters to apply some light pollution reduction for maximum quality. 4 Gain control Set your camera to manual mode. When working with a tripod,…

When photographing in difficult lighting conditions, it is important to preserve as much image information as possible. When editing photos taken in low light, special attention must be paid to clipped elements, grainy luminance and noise. Shooting in RAW format is essential to allow more options in post-processing. Don’t edit your original file directly. Instead, save your image as a copy so you can start again from scratch if your editing goals change. Start with the RAW developer, as it allows you to make basic adjustments intuitively. Especially if the photo is underexposed, this step allows you to restore clipped areas and improve the overall exposure of the photo. When it comes to further editing, add layers to your image, so that you can correct the editing steps again and…

Difficulty level: Intermediate Time taken: 3 hours Birds are incredibly exciting to photograph. On assignments to all kinds of different locations (Peru, Tanzania, Antarctica…) and right across the UK, I’ve spent lots of time photographing condors, lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, herons, penguins and more. I am always impressed by the remarkable diversity of birds in terms of their size, shape, and colour. At rest, sitting on bushes or perched in high vantage points in trees, portraits of birds often require patience and a calm, peaceful approach, so they don’t get nervous and take off. Photographing birds in flight is a different experience altogether. There’s an adrenaline element, tracking birds across the sky, trying to follow or predict their movements, triggering the shutter in quick succession. Birds can move incredibly fast –…

HDR may have inadvertently earned itself a bad reputation in photography but it’s still a powerful tool that every landscape photographer can use to their advantage. Sure, halos along subject edges, artefacts and overpowering tone compression that leave images looking dull and lifeless are visually awful, but it doesn’t have to be this way. HDR can make images look as natural as the scene appeared to the naked eye. What you’ll be using Shadows & Highlights White Balance Masking tools Cloning tools Photo Merge 1 Select and merge Select the bracketed exposure thumbnails so all are highlighted, then right-click them and go to Photo Merge> HDR. When the dialogue opens, make sure Auto Align and Create Stack are checked and Auto Settings is unchecked before setting the Deghost Amount and…

Selling your old camera kit is a great way of raising the funds to upgrade to better equipment or plug any holes in your current setup. Buying and selling second-hand equipment is part and parcel of photography, so if you have underused equipment gathering dust under your bed, this could be a great time to cash in and finance your next camera body or lens. There is no need to buy brand-new items either, so consider purchasing second-hand items when you put your own pre-loved items on the market. It’s worth noting that some items hold their value better than others. For example, Canon’s full-frame EF lenses for DSLRs have been out for much longer than the RF lenses for its full-frame mirrorless mount, so retailer discounting has already kicked…

When did you start out and how did you get involved in your current photo genres? I loved photography from school age and got my first Film SLR aged 16. Pictures of local architecture and my school pals were the main themes. I discovered the buzz of doing portraiture of strangers in my final year of a Graphic Design Degree at Camberwell Art College and I furthered this during studio employment at Venture Portraits. I worked at the ND Creative ad agency and moved into the commercial sector with product and marketing photography. With the tools I’d gained, I set up my own studio in 2011, shooting weddings, portraits and commercial. What challenges did you face as a startup and how did you overcome them? Adaptation is an essential skill…

It is a difficult time for everyone at the moment with lots of people feeling the pinch, so you are not alone. Many individuals and businesses are pulling back budgets so, unfortunately, this affects photographers, who are often seen as a ‘luxury’ commodity rather than a necessity but we all know how important we are and what we do! Before you jump ship, have you been through every aspect of your business with a fine-tooth comb and worked out if there are any areas where you can pull back? If you need to bring in some extra cash can you sell any bits of old equipment you don’t use anymore? Are there any grants you can apply for? Look local and nationwide. We’re assuming that you are self-employed, so have…

Food is a topic that every one of us can relate to and it cannot be beaten in terms of the variety and range of tastes, colours and textures. Nevertheless, tons of food is thrown away every day and fast food dishes are consumed on a large scale without a second thought. The issue of food sustainability has never been more important than it is today, which is where Nadja Kuschel’s photography comes in. Nadja sees food not just as a necessity in everyday life, but as an art form and creative expression. Restaurateurs and chefs have a passion, inspired by many centuries of history and cultures and with a whole world of ingredients literally at their fingertips, they can create delightful novelties. Nadja has been photographing food since her…

Some say that a collection of tools keeps on growing until your toolbox is full – and the same can be said for kitchen cabinets and wardrobes. That also applies to photographers, as we can find ourselves with more cameras, lenses, flashguns and accessories than we know what to do with. Armed with a shoulder bag, we may have to leave a lot of our kit at home, with the inevitable frustration that we don’t have the thing we need just when we need it. One solution is to buy a bigger shoulder bag to fit all your additional kit in, but that’s generally less than ideal. Carrying the whole weight of the bag on one shoulder can soon become uncomfortable, and the strap can have a nasty habit of…

SEE REVIEW P 104 The Sony A7R V has been a long time coming and there have been so many rumours and leaked specs that little of Sony’s launch announcement will be a big surprise. But it is now official, many of the details have been filled in and we can properly appraise Sony’s new camera, which is an update to the Sony A7R IV. Sony has stuck to a 61MP sensor, still the highest resolution you can get for a fullframe camera, but added 8K video. Full-width capture is possible at up to 4K 30p, and 4K 60p uses the same 1.2x crop as 8K capture. The A7R V can also shoot in Super35 crop mode at 4K 30p via 6.2K oversampling. The bigger news from Sony’s perspective is…

Canon has launched the new EOS R6 Mark II full-frame mirrorless camera, and it’s packed with some sporty improvements, aiming to become a world beater in the ‘smaller fast camera’ class. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II shoots twice as fast as the original EOS R6 (which is now discontinued in favour of the new model) and offers a new 24.2MP CMOS full-frame sensor over the EOS R6’s 20.1MP. Headline features include a continuous burst rate of up to 40fps with the electronic shutter and over 40 minutes of oversampled 4K 60p video recording without overheating. It has the same Digic X processor technology that’s at the core of the EOS R5, EOS R6 and flagship Canon EOS-1D X Mark III – along with the next-generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF…

Low-light scenes are challenging to shoot and, more than in many other genres, it is important to understand how your equipment works. Knowledge of the interdependence between light and technical settings will help guide you towards improving the quality of your shots. But first, you should be clear about the visual goals of your project, so you can focus on the essential technical requirements. The choice of camera has a big impact on your image results and, once again, this brings up the old question of whether to shoot with DSLR or mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras have made great technical progress in recent years and offer new possibilities in terms of in-body image stabilisation. This opens up new opportunities, particularly when shooting in low-light conditions. Due to the excellent stabilisation,…

1 Environment lights When choosing a composition, include existing light sources, such as streetlights or lighthouses, to increase the overall brightness of the shot. Also take the opportunity to photograph large buildings, especially ones equipped with many exterior lights. 2 Reflections Whether you are shooting in nature or in the city, both water and glass are the perfect surfaces to reflect the existing light. Including either of these elements in your composition means you can double the amount of light entering the camera sensor in just one click. 3 LED torch Get creative and integrate an LED torch into your shots. This way, you can highlight elements in your long exposures. Point the torch at the subject in question to highlight it. Experiment to find out how long you need to…

When shooting low-light landscape scenes, the sky is an important component in the composition of a balanced photo. By emphasising certain elements, such as stars or the moon, you add an extra touch to your image. It may sound paradoxical since filters are usually associated with reducing the amount of light that reaches the sensor, but when you are shooting with long exposure times, this is no longer quite so important. Light pollution is one factor that must be considered. Especially in astrophotography, light pollution from the artificial light of nearby buildings or even a distant city can affect the visibility and clarity of the sky. To avoid this, filters can be used to reduce the effect. However, this is not the only reason why a filter should be part…

1 Check highlights Open the histogram and pay attention to any clipped elements. If you click on the slider for highlights/ shadows and hold down the alt/option key, you can directly see the areas that contain little detail. Use the slider for highlights to restore the missing image information. 2 Reduce noise Open the filter option and select the Reduce noise filter. Find the right balance between reducing the amount of noise in the image and the visibility of details. If the chosen noisereduction values are too high, then the amount of detail will be negetively reduced. 3 Control the colours Add a curve adjustment layer to adjust the red, green and blue channels. This layer can be edited multiple times if your colour scheme goals change during the editing…

Shutter speed is an essential tool that can be used to capture motion in different ways. As a subject, water is often captured as a blurry entity with long exposures to convey an idea of movement. But why not think outside the box and focus on the detail of its flowing characteristics instead? A fast shutter speed allows you to freeze the movement of the water with impressive and varied results. With the right composition and focus, you can also achieve an abstract result that emphasises the graphic elements. To push the abstraction further, work out lines and shapes by reducing colours and boosting contrast in post-processing. Switching the camera to manual mode gives you full control, but it’s harder to focus clearly on the composition and shoot actively without…

Hey Gill, tell us a bit about how you advertise or market your business I market my business primarily through social media – Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. My main target audience is local to Milton Keynes, on the photography side at least, so I also work with two local business networking groups that have helped me to expand my business connections. These groups charge a small fee but this is reasonable when compared to the benefits they provide. What social media channels do you use and are they effective? Twitter has definitely been the most successful. When I decided to add photography to my existing freelance copywriting business back in 2014, I knew it was important to raise my profile and build credibility. I started on Twitter as people engage…

For our latest competition in association with Photocrowd, we challenged you to submit your best Autumnal Atmosphere shots and, after working through all the entries, the winners have now been selected. Both crowd-voted and expert winners will win a licence to Affinity Photo professional editing software. Congratulations to all of the winners – the standard of submitted images was extremely high and it was a difficult task to select the best ones. 1ST PLACE WINNER Autumn Void Photographer: Andy Gray Our comment: Autumn is not all about a sea of vibrant reds and yellows. As the seasons change, there is a period where just a hint of colour appears, captured brilliantly in this shot. We love the painterly atmosphere and receding detail, while the colour range is natural and restrained.…

The Sony A7R V is Sony’s ‘resolution’ specialist, though its 8K video capability, improved burst capacity and new AI autofocus are bound to drive a wedge into the sports/action market and perhaps even the video market too. This won’t make the Sony range any less confusing. The Sony A1 remains the ultimate powerhouse of the Sony range, though the A7R V beats it for resolution and the Sony A9 II lumbers on as the sports specialist, despite being beaten for speed by the A1 and beaten for autofocus technologies by the A7R V. The Sony A7S III is still the low-light video specialist, though its 12MP sensor effectively rules it out for stills photography, while the Sony A7 IV is cheaper than the A7R V and is perhaps better for…

DOWNLOAD TEST SHOTS https://bit.ly/3hswgNB PRICE: £2599/ $2,598 FOCUS DISTANCE: 0.95m WEIGHT: 15 70g Build and handling Any 70-200mm f/2.8 trinity lens will have a lot to live up to, being compared with some of the best lenses on the market. When we reviewed the f/4 variant of this optic, we were impressed by its value and performance. This f/2.8 version is much bigger and heavier, as expected, but it also feels like metal plays a bigger role in the construction, leading to a premium handling experience. It remains manageable, even on the smaller body of the S5 on which we tested it. All of the buttons and controls are logically placed, although the function buttons, with their low profile, are a little tricky to find by touch alone. It has…