asoan d5i76fog8 by coolkdei2

CONTENTS

Contents NEws •

Fujifilm launches the rangefinder-style GFX 50R medium format mirrorless camera along with two new XF lens for its X Series range • Zeiss introduces the ZX1, a full-frame camera with Lightroom built-in • The Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 is now open for entries • SIGMA X3F Plug-in for Photoshop is now available for download

january 2019

spEciAl fEAturE special feature Waiting For Freedom By Neil Aldridge

Environment, first prize singles (World Press Photo)

This year witnessed some really moving events. Photographers around the world captured some heart wrenching images, documenting the happening around the world and forever freezing it in a frame for future. There were a lot of human right issues that were captured and a lot of other issues as well. Through this article we want to acknowledge the efforts and bravery of the photographers who were present there and who brought the issues to the mainstream. We have put up a list of pictures that really shook us in the year 2018 and through these images we also want our readers to know how some parts of the world are going through extreme difficulties and how we as a community should come together and ensure that such things doesn’t happen in future.

A young southern white rhinoceros, drugged and blindfolded, is about to be released into the wild in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers. Neil Aldridge is a conservationist photographer, a lecturer in marine and natural history photography at Falmouth University, a published author and a professional wildlife guide.His biggest projects to date include stories that have documented efforts to save Africa’s wild dogs and rhinos, as well as stories from the British countryside about the controversial badger cull debate, pheasant shooting and our relationship with foxes.

Lagos Waterfronts under Threat Venezuela Crisis

A boat with tourists from Lagos Marina is steered through the canals of the Makoko community—an ancient fishing village that has grown into an enormous informal settlement—on the shores of Lagos Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria. Jesco was born 1972 and grew up in Bremerhaven, Northern Germany. His work has been published in or commissioned by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, GEO, Stern, Spiegel and many more. In 2010 Jesco became official photographer of the German Government and covered the Chancellor’s and President’s activities worldwide. At the same time, he continued to work as freelance and on individual documentary projects that focussed on social and economic issues.

By Jesco Denzel

Contemporary Issues, first prize singles (World Press Photo)

By Ronaldo Schemidt

World Press Photo of the Year Commissioned by Agence France Presse

Ask Your ExpErt fEstivAls of iNdiA • Christmas

pro-profilE • Jatin Kampani

José Víctor Salazar Balza (28) catches fire amid violent clashes with riot police during a protest against President Nicolás Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to covering international stories, Ronaldo Schemidt has covered some of the most important events in Venezuela in recent years including the death of President Hugo Chávez in 2013, President Nicolás Maduro’s election, the development of the political and economic crisis and the violent social conflicts between the government and opponents. He has also covered events of global importance such as Fidel Castro’s death in Cuba in 2016, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and natural disasters in Mexico.

January 2019 - 55

54 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

tips ANd tEchs 60

Travel Photography - Tips to leave a lighter footprint

Essential Photography Gadgets & Accessories

Photographing sets

Autofocus problems and how to fix them

68 special feature

Trends &

Is Medium Format back?

PredicTions

for 2019

Another year has flown by and it is time for us to look at what technology and trends will become big in the coming year? If you have been reading our Anniversary issue then you would’ve known that this article has become an annual feature in the issue. And if you are the type who doesn’t like to read and watch more visuals then we have also uploaded a video on our YouTube channel for the same. So lets take a look at what 2019 has in-store for us and what are the things that will become big in the coming year?

One of the things that really surprised us in 2018 was the announcement of the number of medium-format cameras in the year. Take for instance the 200-megapixel prototype of XFIQ4 by Phase One. By this time the camera is already selling in the market and also the announcement of the development of the 100-megapixel medium format mirrorless camera by Fujifilm. If these announcements are anything to go by then it is clear the medium formats, which weren’t enjoying the best of times in the past years are well on their way to make a comeback.

3D 360-degree cameras

If you remember then the year 2016 was when some of the bigger manufacturers launched 360-degree cameras in the industry. At the time of the launch it was very interesting to the content in terms of videos using a virtual reality headset. But if 2019 is anything to go by then the content and its consumption will now move onto 3D 360-degree cameras. Manufactures like Kodak are already working on this technology which was showcased at Photokina 2018 in their 3D Pivot camera. Some cameras with a 180-degree angle of view are already available in the market. So for 2019, once these products see the light of the day then it will open a completely new future.

- By Bhavya Desai Mirrorless is the future

If 2018 has demonstrated anything then it is clear that Mirrorless is the future of the industry. While traditionally strong DSLR brands like Canon and Nikon had resisted this segment, 2018 saw them including Panasonic also take the plunge into this segment. With the launch of the Canon EOS R, Nikon Z6 and Z7 and Panasonic announcing their S1 and S1R, it is clear that the future of the industry is Mirrorless. So if you have been hoping that the DSLRs would be around for a long time, then we have some bad news for you. We would give the DSLRs a few more years following which they would become obsolete like the pointand-shoot category.

3D-printing

3D-printing made it to our list this year as well since it still hasn’t impacted the industry a lot. And it should not be mistaken with a 3-dimensinal picture of your family. We refer to 3D-printing in terms of manufacturing processes. However in all fairness it won’t for another few years. But it does seem like a fair start and a number of products and prototypes are being designed using 3D-printing technology. The funny part about this is that it is already employed in a substantial manner in terms of manufacturing and fabricating in many industries, but for some reason it hasn’t been implemented in the photography industry yet. Let’s face it, 3D-printing is never going to replace traditional manufacturing techniques, atleast not in the immediate future, but we feel that it might play a bigger role in the years to come. 6

6 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

g py

January 2019 - 69

Brought to you by

letters

to editor Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Comments and Suggestions... Send your letters at apindia.feedback@gmail.com

The Letter of the month will receive 1 Year subscriptieosn) (12 E-Issu

Dear Editor, My son and I have been reading the magazine for a year now and came to know about it from the Facebook page. My son follows the page regularly and now the YouTube channel as well. I wanted to congratulate AP on doing good work in the online sphere. Infact we feel that it is a great initiative you do more things online these days since that is a very active platform. The reason for my email is to ask you about all the fake news in the industry and on social media. How does one counter that? Regs, Shailendra Patel, Mumbai Dear Shailendra, Firstly, it is good to know that you follow us on FB and also on our YouTube channel. We are also happy to learn that you like the sort of work that we do and I will ensure to pass the same onto the team as well. We have been making efforts to become more active with our content online and from the looks of it the readers are appreciating our efforts. When it comes to fake news, well in my eyes it is more about the self-exercised control that one needs to ensure. For instance, fake news is nothing but what we call a rumour. And any news (true or not) only becomes a rumour or fake if the people reading it start sharing it. So in my eyes we need to do two things whenever we see any news that might not seem verified. One, due diligence to find out if it is its true and second, if it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t then ensure that it is not shared with more people. This is also the reason why you see many companies like Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s App, Facebook and so running campaigns these days to ensure that there is no fake news that gets circulated.

Brought to you by

letters

to editor Readers’ Comments and Suggestions... Send your letters at apindia.feedback@gmail.com

The Letter of the month will receive 1 Year Subscriptieosn) (12 E-Issu

Dear Sir, I haven’t read the magazine but I follow it online and also look for the articles on the website and on FB. I have started out on photography a few months back and I wanted to get more inputs on my work. How can I do that? I don’t mean to ask to publish my portfolio or anything. I just want to understand how can I improve. Regs, Sujon Dutta Kolkatta Dear Sujon, Firstly it’s a refreshing change to see a different approach when it comes to pictures in the letters section. Most of the readers usually just like to see their work publish. I like the fact that you aren’t looking to get published, although I feel that is the underlying thought on this one as well. But the good way to start is to speak to people whose work you like and ask them for a feedback on your work. The more people you speak to the more you will get to know about the thoughts on your work. But you need to figure if you want a lot more perspectives or only a few. For instance I don’t like to speak to a lot of people and only trust the inputs of a few people. There are also a lot of photo review sessions that are organised by many people where an expert can come in and give a feedback on your work. That usually tends to work well and that could be a good place to start as well. We will be more than happy to see your work and also provide feedback on the same.

14 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

news

Fujifilm launches the rangefinder-style GFX 50R medium format mirrorless camera along with two new XF lens for its X Series range

ujifilm announced the launch of its rangefinder-style GFX 50R medium format mirrorless camera which features the FUJIFILM G Format (medium format, 43.8x32.9mm) image sensor, which is approx. 1.7 times the size of a full frame 35mm image sensor which is in use commonly. The GFX 50R continues the compact, lightweight and superior image quality characteristics of Fujifilm’s GFX medium format mirrorless digital camera system, while weighing approx. 145g less and 25mm thinner than the FUJIFILM GFX 50S (GFX 50S). The GFX 50S had attracted high praise from professional photographers since its launch in January 2017. Yet, many field photographers who specialise in weddings, portraits and street photography have sought after an even more compact and lightweight camera, along the line of Fujifilm’s traditional medium format film cameras. With this in mind, FUJIFILM added the new “GFX 50R” to the lineup which

is also the world’s smallest and most affordable medium format mirrorless camera. GFX 50R is also the first camera in the GFX system to feature Bluetooth compatibility. In India, the camera is

available at a price of `369,999 (Body Only). Along with this, Fujifilm also added two new XF lenses namely XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR Lens and XF 200mm f/2 OIS WR Lens to the lens line-up for its X Series range of Mirrorless cameras. The XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR is a 12-24mm-equivalent lens featuring a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture for consistent performance throughout the zoom range. The XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR is available at Rs 159,999/-. The XF 200mm f/2 OIS WR Lens, on the other hand, is the first super-fast telephoto lens in the XF lens lineup, offering a fast maximum f-stop of 2.0 and a focal length equivalent to 305mm in 35mm film format. Taking advantage of technologies synonymous with FUJINON lenses, this new telephoto lens boasts exceptional image clarity with the ability to produce beautiful bokeh, making it the perfect choice for shooting sports and wildlife. It is available at a price of `479,999.

Zeiss introduces the ZX1, a full-frame camera with Lightroom built-in

eiss has announced the ZX1, a new full-frame compact camera with a fixed 35mm f/2 lens. It is the first-ever full-frame camera by Zeiss. Inside the camera is a 37.4-megapixel full-frame sensor with an ISO range of 80-51200 that is developed in-house by Zeiss. On the front of the camera is a new Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2 T* autofocus lens that is developed to perfectly compliment the new sensor. It contains 8 elements in 5 groups. The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 11.8 inches (30cm). Zeiss says that the “The interplay between the lens and sensor ensures first-class picture quality with that typical ZEISS look,” One unusual feature of the ZX1 is that it has the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 16 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

CC is fully integrated into the camera, allowing photographers to process RAW photos directly. Above the touchscreen is a 0.7-inch electronic viewfinder. The ZX1 features Wi-Fi network connectivity (in addition to Bluetooth and USB-C data transfer), allowing photographers to upload photos directly to the web without having to first transfer images to other devices or programmes. The camera will also get over-the-air (OTA) updates to keep its software up

to date without having a computer connection. On the storage front, the ZX1 features a whopping 512 gigabytes of built-in space which is enough for 6,800 RAW (DNG) photos or over 50,000 JPGs shot with the camera. Other specs and features include a 3,190mAh battery capacity, 3fps continuous shooting, 4K video recording at 30fps, and microphone and headphone jacks. On the outside, the ZX1 features a smooth, curving design that is designed to provide economic and easy handling. The camera measures 5.59×3.66×1.81 inches (142x93x46mm) with 0.79in (20mm) extra due to the lens. The Zeiss ZX1 will be available in early 2019. Exact pricing, specifications, and availability will be announced soon.

news

The Nikon Photo Contest 2018-2019 is now open for entries

he Nikon Photo Contest 20182019 is now open uptill January 31st 2019. It is organised by Nikon Corporation which provides opportunities for the photographers around the world. There is no entry fee for this contest. An individual can register and submit the entries at the Nikon Photo Contest official website. There are three categories to this contest based on themes. An Open Award category with the theme ‘Change’, the Next Genration Award with the theme ‘Identity’ and a Short film category with the theme ‘Hope’. For the photo entires, each individual can submit a single image or a photo

story of 5 images. For the video category, any equipment can be used to shoot and edit the video with the video being 6 to 180 seconds long. The Nikon Photo Contest International has been held by Nikon Corporation since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich

Insta360 One X update brings HDR video and Google Street View integration

nsta360 has released a software update for its One X 5.7K 360-degree camera. With version software version 1.1.0 the camera is now capable of capturing HDR video — previously HDR recording was only available for still images. The One X HDR mode makes sure highlight and shadow clipping in your 360-degree videos are kept to a minimum and should make for more natural looking footage, with minimal need for post processing. In addition the company has announced that the One X is now available in a bundle that is exclusive to Apple. The bundle includes a number of accessories, including Insta360’s Bullet Time handle that also serves as a tripod, a selfie stick that is rendered invisible by the camera software, two batteries, and a protective pouch. The Insta360 ONE X Camera Bundle is now available at Apple. com for $449.95.

18 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

image-making culture for professionals and amateurs alike. In the last 10 years, with the wide penetration of digital cameras with video capabilities, the environment surrounding image-making has dramatically changed. Adapting to this change, the 34th contest was reconceived, changing its name and its structure, and it continues to evolve to create new standards and provide new opportunities for discovery. The Nikon Photo Contest nurtures an aspirational community that supports photographers and filmmakers who wish to share important stories and influence the way people think through images.

SIGMA X3F Plug-in for Photoshop is now available for download

IGMA CORPORATION has announced the Plug-in for the digital image editing and post-production software “Adobe® Photoshop® CC” from Adobe Systems Co., Ltd.. Known as the “SIGMA X3F” Plug-in for Photoshop®” is now available for download. RAW data (X3F files) of the DP Merrill series, dp Quattro series, SD1/SD1 Merrill and sd Quattro series cameras can now be developed once this plug-in is installed in Photoshop CC. Developing RAW data (X3F files) using Photoshop CC other than the SIGMA Photo Pro, exclusive software for image creation with intuitive operation, will become possible. It expands the choices of workflow for users of the above-mentioned SIGMA cameras. X3I files taken with SFD mode are not compatible. Furthermore, X3F files taken with the SIGMA SD9, SD10, SD14, SD15 as well as DP1, DP1s, DP1x, DP2, DP2s, DP2x cannot be developed in the SIGMA X3F Plug-in for Photoshop®.

news

Mitakon Unveils Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 Lens for Fujifilm GFX

KIPON unveils the first 3rd-party lenses for Canon R and Nikon Z

Y Optics has unveiled the new Mitakon Speedmaster 65mm f/1.4 lens for the Fujifilm G mount. They claim it to be the fastest standard-length native lens available for Fujifilm’s GFX medium format mirrorless cameras. The manual-focus lens provides the rough equivalent of a 50mm field of view (in 35mm terms) when mounted on a GFX camera, and the fast f/1.4 aperture provides an ultra shallow depth of field and the ability to work in

low-light environments. “The optical quality of the lens is designed to meet the demands of GFX sensors, which has a very high resolution starting at 51.4 megapixels in the GFX 50S and GFX 50R.” says ZY Optics. There’s also a 102MP GFX camera on the horizon. Specs and features of the lens include 11 elements in 9 groups, a 9-blade rounded aperture, a metal lens body, and a built-in retractable lens hood.

hile the Canon EF and Nikon F lens mount ecosystems are teaming with 3rd-party lenses, the new Canon R and Nikon Z full-frame mirrorless lens mounts completely lacked 3rd-party glass until now. The Chinese brand KIPON has announced its first lenses for the Canon R and Nikon Z mount. KIPON’s new ELEGANT series of lenses will be the world’s first 3rd-party full-frame lenses designed specifically for the Canon R mount and Nikon Z mount. KIPON has unveiled 5 initial lenses on the ELEGANT roster: the 24mm f/2.4 for $499, 35mm f/2.4 for $468, 50mm f/2.4 for $325, 75mm f/2.4 for $355, and 90mm f/2.4 for $386. All five lenses are out in the market for buyers. You can buy these lenses from the company’s Amazon store.

Tamron updates lens compatibility firmware with Canon EOS R and Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

amron has announced a new firmware update for the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (Model A022) for compatibility with the Canon EOS R and Mount Adapter EF-EOS R. The new firmware version makes the model compatible with Canon “EOS R” and Canon “Mount Adapter EF-EOS R” for general operations. The lens firmware can be updated with the separately sold Tamron’s TAP-in Console.

20 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Compatible Tamron Lenses as of 12/20/18 are SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A041) for Canon SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A032) for Canon SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 (Model A025) for Canon SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (Model A022) for Canon SP 35mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (Model F012) for Canon SP 45mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (Model F013) for Canon SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD (Model F016) for Canon SP 90mm F/2.8 Di VC USD 1:1 MACRO (Model F017) for Canon 17-35mm F/2.8-4 Di OSD (Model A037) for Canon 70-210mm F/4 Di VC USD (Model A034) for Canon

news

Zeiss annouces 2019 Photography awards

eiss has announced 2019 Photography Awards and its your chance to enter to get a chance to win €12,000 worth of Zeiss lenses, plus €3,000 to cover travel costs for a photography project and more. The 2019 ZEISS Photography Award is now open for entries and this year’s competition is looking for images which cover the theme of “Seeing Beyond – The Unexpected”. The panel of judges for the 2019 photography competition includes artist, director and filmmaker, Simon Frederick, Shoair Mavilian the director of Photoworks and Dagmar Seeland, the picture editor of STERN Magazine. Nick Hannes, 2018 ZEISS Photography Award winner, commented saying that “Winning the Zeiss

Photography Award 2018 for ‘Garden of Delight’ has given great extra visibility for my project, both through repetitive online publications and through portfolios in the regular media and on photography platforms. Several of the artworks have become widely-recognised due to the attention brought by the Award.” Open to all photographers

VSCO to discontinue its desktop film-emulation presets

he film-emulation presets made by VSCO have been wildly popular since its launch in 2011. The analogue-inspired presets made it simple for digital shooters to give their images the same feel as classic film stocks. Although the Lightroom and Photoshop presets earned the company their initial user base, things really took off with the launch of VSCO Cam, which was ranked as the top photo app by iTunes in 2013. Unfortunately, for fans of those desktop presets, VSCO has announced that it will discontinue the popular film presets in 2019. VSCO will stop offering technical support, access to license keys, and the ability to download desktop presets starting on March 1, 2019. For now the eight desktop preset packs are still on sale through VSCO’s site for $59.00 and will be available to download through February 28, 2019. While the company says they can’t guarantee that the presets will

worldwide, the 2019 Zeiss Photography Award is free to enter and closes on 8 February 2019, 13:00 GMT. On 26 March 2019 a shortlist of up to 15 photographers will be announced, with the final winner being announced on 9 April 2019. For more information and to enter the competition, you can visit the officiall website of Zeiss.

DJI Osmo Pocket: Smallest 3-Axis Stabilised Camera

continue to work with new Adobe updates or operating systems, in theory, the film presets should continue to be compatible with Lightroom and Photoshop until the software undergoes major changes. So if you love the look of the VSCO presets now would be the time to login and write down those license keys. If there is a presetpack that you’ve been eyeing, you will definitely want to add it to your shopping cart before March 1. We are also definitely curious how the VSCO mobile app will expand in 2019.

22 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

JI recently announced the new Osmo Pocket which is the world’s smallest 3-axis stabilised camera. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket while still shooting high-quality photos and videos. Despite measuring roughly 4 inches tall, the Osmo Pocket contains a 1/2.3-inch sensor that captures 12-megapixel photos and 4K videos at up to 60fps and 100Mbps. The state-of-the-art threeaxis mechanical gimbal on the camera helps you capture sharp photos and smooth videos. On the back of the Osmo Pocket is a 1-inch touchscreen that provides live view and the interface for adjusting things like shooting modes, settings, and reviewing captured imagery. The DJI Osmo Pocket is available in the market with a price tag of $349.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

4 0 0

26 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

January 2019 - 27

4 0 0

28 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

4 0 0

30 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

January 2019 - 31

4 0 0

32 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

4 0 0

34 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

January 2019 - 35

4 0 0

36 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

festivals of india

Shot with

Canon

EOS 700D Specifications ` 18MP APS-C ‘Hybrid CMOS’ sensor ` Phase detection AF from imaging sensor for Live View and Video ` Continuous autofocus in movie mode with subject tracking ` 14-bit DIGIC 5 processor ` ISO 100-12800 standard, 25600 expanded ` 5 fps continuous shooting ` 9 point AF system, all sensors cross type, central sensor F2.8 (from 60D) ` 63 zone iFCL metering ` 1080p30 video recording with built-in stereo mics ` 1.04m dot 3:2 touch-sensitive vari-angle ClearView II LCD (capacitive type, multitouch support)

hristmas is an annual festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night; in some traditions, Christmastide includes an octave. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world’s nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians,and forms an integral part of the holiday season centered around it. The traditional Christmas narrative, the Nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with messianic prophecies.When Joseph

38 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Christmas

Partnered by

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/16 sec Aperture value: f/3.5 ISO: 400 Focal Length: 18.0 mm

January 2019 - 39

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/4 sec Aperture value: f/4.5 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 37.0 mm and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then further disseminated the information. Although the month and date of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth are unknown, by the early-tomid fourth century the Western Christian Church had ďŹ xed the date of Christmas as December 25, a date that was later adopted in the East. Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, the day after the Western Christian Church celebrates the Epiphany. This is not a disagreement over the date of Christmas as such, but rather a preference of which calendar should be used to determine the day that is December 25. Moreover, 40 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec Aperture value: f/4.5 ISO: 800 Focal Length: 36.0 mm

Partnered by

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec Aperture value: f/4.0 ISO: 800 Focal Length: 27.0 mm

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/64 sec Aperture value: f/5.0 ISO: 800 Focal Length: 18.0 mm

January 2019 - 41

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/64 sec Aperture value: f/5.0 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 18.0 mm

for Christians, the belief that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity, rather than the exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas.

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 3.2 sec Aperture value: f/22 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 22.0 mm

www.asianphotographyindia.com

The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins.Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent

calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable ďŹ gures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.Because giftgiving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a signiďŹ cant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world. Kolkata, leading the list of the cities in India, where Christmas is celebrated with so much pomp and joy, becomes one of the most merry cities in India during this time. The shimmering

Partnered by

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/32 sec Aperture value: f/3.5 ISO: 400 Focal Length: 18.0 mm

January 2019 - 43

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec Aperture value: f/7.1 ISO: 400 Focal Length: 18.0 mm

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/64 sec Aperture value: f/5.0 ISO: 400 Focal Length: 18.0 mm 44 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Partnered by

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec Aperture value: f/7.1 ISO: 400 Focal Length: 29.0 mm

Exif Info: Camera: Canon EOS 700D Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec Aperture value: f/5.6 ISO: 800 Focal Length: 93.0 mm

lights, Christmas songs, rock music, scrumptious food, the trees, the high spirits of people, gifts, presents, aroma of fruit cake and pastries, make the City of Joy livelier and brighter during the Christmas season. Kolkataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas celebrations makes the festive mood extravagant, as not only Christians, but people from different communities, celebrate the festival with joy, and offer prayers and sing carols during the midnight mass in the churches. There is so much to do during Christmas in Kolkata, that the list is endless! Christmas and Park Street, both are synonym to each other in Kolkata. Live performances at Allen Park, food extravaganza, courtesy food kiosks dishing up an array of items, crowds of people, loud music and songs, different stalls selling Christmas goodies, the beautiful twinkling lights, makes Park Street the most lit up place in Kolkata, is a must watch. TEXT: ANIKET TIWARI IMAGES: CHAITALI KARMAKAR

January 2019 - 45

PRO PROFILE

‘Seeking’ the Unknown

It is always a challenge to speak to someone whom you have already spoken to a number of times. Our readers might be aware of the fact that over the years we have already featured Jatin Kampani several times, which makes the task of looking for something new even more difficult. But as one of the leading photographers in the country, Jatin is always looking to push the envelope, which means that speaking to him is not just easy, but also very interesting. Bhavya Desai finds out more…

46 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

January 2019 - 47

How do you think your photography and style has evolved/changed over the years? As a photographer and an artist, one is constantly looking at pushing creative boundaries. For me it is more of a personal journey that is ever-evolving. It becomes extremely difficult to tag your own style and state it as a change. I would just call my style evolving enough to call it â&#x20AC;&#x153;SEEKINGâ&#x20AC;?. Where do you think photography is heading from a creative perspective for the future? There has always been a great divide between fine art and commercial photography. I see a great deal of interesting content being generated and is going to get only better by photographers who are shooting for passion and telling interesting stories with their medium.

January 2019 - 49

My process involves working on the concept of my images with my team of stylists, make up artists, art directors, set designers in detail at a sketch level first

50 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Commercial photography on the other hand is getting very tactical. One can only hope that brands invest in the print medium which can support better creative output and thereby creative photographers. You are known for your creativity when

it comes to creating pictures? Can you take us through the process of the same? There is a lot of hidden information in my conceptual body of work. It is not easy and one has to really sit through and look at the details to find something new each time you see it. I feel that this

kind of imaging is possible only when the final image is ready in your mind before you shoot it. My process involves working on the concept of my images with my team of stylists, make up artists, art directors, set designers in detail at a sketch level first. From colour coding to the aesthetic January 2019 - 51

of design and costume, the image has to be ready in your head before you go on floor to shoot it. That is my process of going through the images before you shoot them. Do you feel that being a photographer isn’t easy? It seems a lot more glamorous but in reality it is far from it? Easy or Difficult is determined by your idea of choosing this medium of expression in the first place. If you have chosen it only for glamour you are in the wrong place. 52 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Do you think photography, as a whole is moving in the right direction? With more and more millennials turning to photography and wanting to make their mark? With the invention of a camera in a mobile phone, it has definitely made it easy and possible for everybody to express themselves with a s**t load of images. I think the onus is a lot on the millenials to curate this content and guide a direction to the real imagemakers and photographers. I also see a

huge potential in the current time for two generations to come together and design something interesting for the future of photography and Photographers. What is that one dream that Jatin Kampani is still chasing? Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisee, Andy warhol, …..Henri Bresson, Irvinn Penn……..Jatin Kampani.(one day) What is your bucket list in photography? Its endless in terms of the ever-

Life of a Photographer/ artist should be beyond expectations. Be trigger happy and ‘LIVE IT’

expanding number of interesting people I still have to shoot with. What is your suggestion/advice to the newer budding photographers? That a Life of a Photographer/artist should be beyond expectations. Be trigger happy and ‘LIVE IT’.

January 2019 - 53

special feature

Venezuela Crisis By Ronaldo Schemidt

World Press Photo of the Year Commissioned by Agence France Presse José Víctor Salazar Balza (28) catches fire amid violent clashes with riot police during a protest against President Nicolás Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to covering international stories, Ronaldo Schemidt has covered some of the most important events in Venezuela in recent years including the death of President Hugo Chávez in 2013, President Nicolás Maduro’s election, the development of the political and economic crisis and the violent social conflicts between the government and opponents. He has also covered events of global importance such as Fidel Castro’s death in Cuba in 2016, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and natural disasters in Mexico. 54 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Waiting For Freedom By Neil Aldridge

Environment, first prize singles (World Press Photo) A young southern white rhinoceros, drugged and blindfolded, is about to be released into the wild in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers. Neil Aldridge is a conservationist photographer, a lecturer in marine and natural history photography at Falmouth University, a published author and a professional wildlife guide.His biggest projects to date include stories that have documented efforts to save Africa’s wild dogs and rhinos, as well as stories from the British countryside about the controversial badger cull debate, pheasant shooting and our relationship with foxes.

Lagos Waterfronts under Threat By Jesco Denzel

Contemporary Issues, first prize singles (World Press Photo)

Not My Verdict By Richard Tsong-Taatarii Commissioned by Star Tribune

John Thompson is embraced in St Anthony Village, Minnesota, USA, after speaking out at a memorial rally for his close friend Philando Castile, two days after police officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of all charges in the shooting of Castile. Through his documentary photography work, Richard TsongTaatarii has been bringing attention to the joys and tribulations of Minnesotans as a staff photographer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper for the past 18 years. He also enjoys covering communities within our larger society that escape the attention of the mainstream media.

Warriors Who Once Feared Elephants Now Protect Them By Ami Vitale

Nature, first prize stories (World Press Photo)

56 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Keepers feed baby elephants at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya. Orphaned and abandoned elephant calves are rehabilitated and returned to the wild, at the communityowned Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya. Ami Vitale’s journey as a photographer, writer and filmmaker has taken her to over 90 countries where she has witnessed civil unrest and violence, but also surreal beauty and the enduring power of the human spirit. She has lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit— all in keeping with her philosophy of “living the story.”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un By Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met in a historic summit Friday in the Demilitarized Zone separating their countries, declaring their hope to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons and to formally end the war that started nearly 68 years ago. Kim became the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea.

A Palestinian man argues with an Israeli soldier By REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

A Palestinian man argues with an Israeli soldier during clashes over an Israeli order to shut down a Palestinian school near Nablus, in the occupied West Bank. January 2019 - 57

A police officer stands guard outside a damaged building By REUTERS/Tyrone Siu. A police officer stands guard outside a damaged building after an earthquake hit Hualien, Taiwan. Taiwan, a selfruled island that China considers its own, lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1struck. More than 100 people were killed in a quake in southern Taiwan in 2016, and in 1999, a quake of magnitude 7.6 killed more than 2,000 people.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron By - AP Photo/Evan Vucci

58 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

President Donald Trump shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting at the U.S. Embassy, in Brussels. As President Trump meets with other world leaders at his first NATO summit, his handshake with recently elected French President Emmanuel Macron grabbed the attention of many on Twitter. According to one report, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the two men locked hands for so long that knuckles started turning white.â&#x20AC;? Many on Twitter believed Macron had beaten Trump at his notoriously intense handshake game.

German F3 driver Sophia Floersch, who fractured her spine in an aerial crash By - motorsport.com

German F3 driver Sophia Floersch, who fractured her spine in an aerial crash at the Macau Grand Prix on Sunday, has reassured fans she is recovering well and vowed to return to the sport. Floersch sustained the injury at the street circuit when her car flew off the track and into a photographers’ bunker at high speed. She underwent an 11-hour surgery for her injuries and the 17-year-old took to Facebook to issue her first public words since the accident. “I survived the operation which took 11 hours. Hope from now on it only gets better. I have to stay a few more days in Macau until I’m transportable. I want to thank all of my fans for every single get-well wishes, which I now start reading,” Floersch wrote.

Rohingya refugees are reflected in rain water By REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Rohingya refugees are reflected in rain water along an embankment next to paddy fields after fleeing from Myanmar into Palang Khali, near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on November 2, 2017. This series won the pulitzer as well. TexT: anikeT Tiwari

January 2019 - 59

tips and techs

PHOTOGRAPHY Tips to leave a lighter footprint 60 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

As a travel photographer you would always want to do your best to work with humility, respect and a try to leave a light footprint. There are a lot of photographers who either would not try to understand it or simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about. This would create a negative influence among other travel photographers. We have gathered some tips to share with the travel photographers about how they enjoy their travel photography experience and leave a lighter footprint as a travel photographer. January 2019 - 61

62 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Undertanding cultures

traditions

and

Culture isn’t just about a race or cartain ethnicity and it extends far beyond that. When we travel we come across different beliefs and values that may not have been a be part of our journey or childhood. This is what makes traveling culturally rich and comes as a learning experience. Accepting other people’s ways of life can sometimes be challenging, even for seasoned travelers. The key to accepting this is to be accepting and positive, which will allow you to go into deeper understanding of a culture to capture powerful images. It is an experience that can shape your journey towards being a travel photographer. Never try to portray someone else in false light. Photography being is powerful medium, use it effectively to convey your vision.

Respecting the locals The more you travel into unfamiliar lands and cultures, the more variety of people you will come across. This is the most exciting part of traveling. At times it can feel a bit awkward, but remember the key to interacting with people as a travel photographer/storyteller is to speak to them and treat them with respect. It’s almost impossible to learn anything or capture the true essence of a place without meeting or knowing the local people. Be polite and ask before you take someone’s picture . No one will appreciate a camera pointed towards his or her face, so try to avoid doing that despite however much you want that picture.You can learn a lot about a place or a person by making an effort to have a conversation. Respect goes a long way, especially in an unfamiliar territory, where you are considered as the stranger. Never demand anything from your subjects, bribe or violate their human rights. Be friendly and leave behind a very little of your influence which will make a whole lot of difference for you.

Respecting individual property Respecting private/personal property is as important as respecting people. As travel photographers it is our job to document/portray these beautiful places. January 2019 - 63

A lot of it comes down to common sense and thinking, which unfortunately is not found in a lot of people who travel to different places. It’s important to behave well and have polite manners. Travel is a fulfilling experience and so, we have to be respectful. It would be very foolish of us not to respect people or property as a travel photographer which might also get you into trouble in a foreign land.

Do not pay to people for images There’s nothing wrong with shooting

64 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

commercial photos and paying to get the shots. But this should not set expectations among the people who may assume that everyone who travels will pay for taking their pictures. Instead of paying people for their images, try giving something back, buy a meal from the locals or help them in any way which could benefit them and would be a very nice way of thanking them for allowing you to photograph them. By offering something that people need, allows you to interact without spoiling the culture or

the general environment. Keep in mind the importance of the purpose of behind you traveling. Once you are sure of this idea, you will enjoy your travel more and also leave a light sign behind you.

Learning to tolerate the neagtives This point takes us back to respecting people and their cultures, and is a very important to try and and accept the cultural differences. It is not a difficult concept. It’s all about your acceptance of differences of other

people without making any judgements. How does this apply to your travel photography. Well, if you judge someone without knowing or acting indifferent and not trying to understand, then it is likely that you will miss many parts of a story, therefore resulting in many missed photo opportunities. By knowing the differences, new opportunities will come up for you, opening up new doors of image opportunities. Learn to be tolerant and listen before you act. Great images are not created by themselves, you will need to go deeper than just pressing the shutter button you want to take your travel photography to the level of a visual treat.

individual, you have spent the majority of your life somewhere else. You try to understand the system and find a level of comfort working. Every time that

your find yourself in a completely new environment or situation, always wait and observe what is going on around you. Assess the mood, the light, the

Know what is happening When we travel into new and unfamiliar lands from outside of our comfort zone, we are exposed to a very different lifestyle from ours. The best way to deal with this is by trying to assess each situation and knowing that the same approach might not be effective for a different situation. As an January 2019 - 65

interaction and behavior of the people to get a sense of understanding of what is happening. By doing this you will be able to find exactly what you want or need to document in course of your travel. It also allows to put other people at ease with your presence, you will no longer be stranger with the big camera. You will be immersed in the culture, which will help you get involved and shoot more rigourously.

Be true to the people As travel photographers, you should believe that you have the power to change the world with your images, but in order to make a positive impact you must work with integrity and truthfulness. This means being very honest and precise to the point, especially when you are working as a documentary photographer or photojournalist. If you are commissioned to document a travel story, it is very crucial to tell the truth. Your images should be relevant to the 66 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

event for it to be truely effective. If your photos are misleading of the message that it sends, it will have a negative impact on your work. It is advisable to do a lot of research in order to work lightly and freely.

Pack your bags light One of the most important tip related to travel photography is to pack your bags light and that is the easiest way to work with a light footprint while travelling. It is also one of the best ways to move around easily without

the heavy burden of your camera gear. As a travel photographer always try to minimise weight as much as possible. There is really nothing worse than lugging around yourself with gear that you would not need. Carry only the necessary items you know you will need. This takes time and a bit of prior experience in traveling, but once you get it figured, you will be able to take full advantage of being nomadic traveller without the burden. Carry only the esstential camera equipments, and walk around lenses which will reduce the time and weight of changing and carrying lenses. Keep a single camera body and carry extra batteries instead to reduce substansial weight. So remember to take only the essentials and forget the dead weight. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be glad you did. TEXT: mRinmoy choUDhURy

January 2019 - 67

special feature

Trends &

PredicTions

for 2019

Another year has flown by and it is time for us to look at what technology and trends will become big in the coming year? If you have been reading our Anniversary issue then you wouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve known that this article has become an annual feature in the issue. And if you are the type who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to read and watch more visuals then we have also uploaded a video on our YouTube channel for the same. So lets take a look at what 2019 has in-store for us and what are the things that will become big in the coming year? - By Bhavya Desai Mirrorless is the future

g py

Is Medium Format back?

3D 360-degree cameras

3D-printing

Innovation in Accessories Hardware

Well this might be a far-fetched prediction but we feel that 2019 will see a lot more innovation when it comes to the hardware in the accessories industry. Especially when it comes to lenses. We feel that for far too long manufacturers have stuck to the usual focal lengths or apertures when it comes to the lenses, and this is about to change in 2019. For example, the new Kipon F/0.85 lens for the mirrorless mounts of Sony and Fujifilm. There are a number of other examples of lenses at F/1.0 as well. Apart from this manufacturers will also break away from the traditional focal lengths like 50mm and so on with the demand for newer and more innovative focal lengths on the rise.

Computational photography

Computational photography is widely tipped to be the new future of the industry. It is linked more to the smartphones of today, which rely on digital technology to compute an image together instead of optical technology. With more and more smartphones featuring more than two cameras, this technology is only going to get bigger in 2019. And we predict that 2019 will be a year when more manufacturers will launch smartphones with more cameras in the body. Take for instance a recent device called L16, which is a standalone computational camera and is capable of giving the quality of a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. It features a total of 16 lenses that help make one image using the onboard software.

Drama

The first non-technological point to feature in our trends and predictions list for 2019 is Drama. If the previous years were all about documentary and minimalism, then 2019 is going to be about Drama and being Loud. The trend is already evident in commercial photography lately and it will only grow. Infact social media platforms like Instagram and so on also witness users being very loud and cocky in their images. We feel that this will translate into commercial and advertising photography in 2019 and this will be a trend to watch out for.

70 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Online Data Management

The advent of digital photography has given the photographer the liberty to press the shutter and click thousands of pictures. Naturally over time storing those pictures in hard disks has become cumbersome, plus the thought of physically carrying those disks is even worst. Then how does a photographer manage their data? Simple: Cloud Storage. Cloud storage isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t new and has been around for a number of years, but with more mainstream companies like Google, Apple and Amazon among others offering online data storage systems, things have become pretty easy for photographers. Infact we have done a complete article on how one can manage their data efficiently using these systems. So do check that out.

Artificial Intelligence

The last thing that makes it to our list is Artificial Intelligence. With technology racing ahead of its time AI plays a very important role in photography. Now I know what you might be thinking. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t AI part of computational photography already? Well Yes and No. Computational photography is more about compiling a picture together, which uses AI, but the impact of AI on photography and the equipment is much more than just this. With each passing year we are witnessing the algorithms from the manufacturers in cameras improving phenomenally, making the life of a photographer much easier. And the reason AI makes it to the list is since every aspect of the OS for the camera or smart devices implements that into processes. Whether it is improved HDR, night photography and so on. We feel this is only the beginning and there is a lot more to come. There are a number of other things that couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made it to the list like Video Content, which has increased phenomenally in 2018 and will grow further in 2019 as well. January 2019 - 71

tips and techs

essential Photography

GadGets & accessories For every photographer, be it professional, amatuer or hobbyist, camera and its accesories are very important to get a shoot done. There are a number of equipment and accesories for cameras which are made purposefully to suffice needs of photographers adding to their kit. These pieces of equipment might be small, but they are surely very necessary when you go out for travel to shoot. This month we discuss some of the necessary and important camera accessories that you can have or buy, to make a complete set of equipment.

White-balance gray card set

Light reflectors

The white balance gray card set is a very useful piece of accessory that is used to set the white balance when the source of lighting has a different colour than the ambience. The gray card set is very important in different situations where the light has a different colour or to be sure of the white balance settings for the particular picture. White balance gray card sets are cheap and you can definitly buy one to keep it in your kit.

Light reflectors do exactly as they are named. Light reflectors are light shaping/modifying tools which can help you bend the light towards the desired place in the picture. Reflectors usually come in sets and consist of a silver, a golden and a translucent reflector panels. While the silver and golden reflectors are used to divert the light, the white translucent one can be used as a diffuser for the incoming light, especially when shooting in harsh sunny conditions.

Mini softbox for speedlight A mini softbox is just like a softbox which is bigger and is used in studios or places which need lighting. A mini softbox is essentially a smaller version of the larger one and fits on the external flash or speedlight. The mini softbox is a very handy light modifying attachemnt and can help you take amazing pictures when a fill lighting is very necessary, especially when taking portraits. 72 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Lens pen/cleaning kit

Pop-up flash diffuser

A lens pen will come along with the lens cleaning kit and sometimes seperately as well. It is an important tool to clean your lenses and other optical devices which have delicate glass and optics. Lens pens are specially designed to clean the surface of the lens which might have a lot of dust, moisture etc and cleans it without harming the optical quality or scratching any coating on the glass. If you shoot regularly mostly outdoors, you should consider buying a cleaning kit including a lens pen which will help you with the regular cleaning of your equipment.

A small but handy tool for beginners and hobbyists alike. The pop-up flash of a DSLR camera is very useful but it tends to create harsh shadows when used, especially when taking close-ups or portraits. The dark and harsh shadows make the image look very flat. To overcome this challenge, a pop-up flash diffuser is the way to go. It diffuses the light from the pop-up flash and makes it much more even avoiding all harsh shadows and unpleasant lighting.

Microfibre cleaning cloth A microfibre cleaning cloth is a special cloth which is used to clean sensitive surfaces of equipment. The microfibre cloth is specially made and it avoids leaving any dust or lint from the cloth itself making it ideal to clean camera bodies, lenses, water splash etc. It might seem small and insignificant but it is a very useful piece that you can have in your camera bag.

Camera bag Shoulder strap All cameras that we buy these days come with a manufacturer supplied strap. This strap is useful for most of the applications. However, when juggling between two cameras or one camera, a regular strap can be a hindrance. This is when specially designed straps will come in handy.

Filters (ND/polarisers)

All of your equipment needs to go somewhere. A camera bag that is designed for purpose fits the need of the camera equipment storage and carrying. There are several manufacturers who design camera bags depending upon use, type of environment, number of equipment etc. A camera bag is a very safe and dedicated option to carry your equipments

Filters are an important part of photography. There are several kinds of filters and these filters work in line with the lens to deliver its results. An ND (Neutral Density) filter is used to cut incoming light to the camera. Often it gets very difficult to shoot in harsh sunny day and we have to stop down the aperture to get a correct exposure as there is no option of shooting wide open if you are looking to create a blurred background. An ND filter will cut the light by 2 or more stops depending on the ND filter being used. A polariser filter is also similar but has a different fucntion. A polariser is used to eliminate unncessary reflections from an image, especially for landscape photography where there are alot of sources of natural reflection. January 2019 - 73

Tripod (travel/carbon fibre) A tripod is an essential equipment for all photographers. Depending on the type of use, light or heavy, a tripod can be of various configurations. But if you are looking to travel and also carry a tripod with you always, it is better to go for a travel or a carbon fibre tripod. Travel tripods are designed to be light and fold to the minimum dimensions making it easier to carry and transport. A carbon fibre tripod is also the same like a tripod construction. The only major difference is the carbon fibre construction. Carboon fibre is a light but very strong material which can withstand a huge force or high payloads. All of this without an added weight or in fact lighter.

Spare batery and charger

Ball head A ball head is an essential add-on for a tripod. Many tipods come without a ball head and it is an addition to your tripod. A fluid ball head makes it easier for the photographer to turn and pan the camera or adjust and fix it to the desired position. A ball-head comes with a quick release attachment to fix or remove the camera as per convinience. Ball heads also have built-in spirit levels which is very useful to set up the tripod and the camera as straight as possible.

A set of spare batteries and a seperate charger will go a long way in your kit. Often we go to places without power and also unable to charge our devices including the camera batteries. In such cases, spare batteries will be a boon to the photographers. Spare batteries can either be from the same manufacturer or a OEM supplier who manufactures batteries with the same specification as camera manufacturers do. Often these batteries will come with a warranty in case of any non-functioning item. One important thing is to buy batteries only from a trusted supplier or manufacturer. Third party batteries, especially the cheaper ones have issues and can casue the camera body to fail due to leakage in the battery as a probable cause. So its better to stick to manufacturer or OEM suppliers for batteries and chargers.

Prime lens

Camera snug skin

A prime/block lens is a lens with a fixed focal length and wide open aperture in most cases. A prime lens is one of the very basic lenses that one must get for his first lens. Prime lenses come in various focal lengths viz 24mm, 35mm and 50 mm being the most used standard primes. For a new buyer, a 35mm or a 50mm is an ideal choice of focal length which will cover near to slightly far objects and an essential for portraits. A prime lens is a useful learning tool as it restricts the user to zoom in and he/she has to step forward or backward to get things in the frame which eventually induces the importance of compositions in images.

Protecting your camera is very important but at times it is difficult to keep an eye and shoot at the same time. A camera snug cover is essentially a camera cover which is shaped according to your camera body. It is made of silicon and rubber which has a certain thickness and fits snug to your camera body while protecting the camera from minor bumps and other things like liquid splash. A camera snug cover however would not be able to cover the lens or the entire body but it still offers a decent amount of protection while being cheap to own one.

74 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Remote shutter release A remote shutter release or simply a shutter release is used to trigger a cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shutter remotely without having to physically interact with the camera. A remote shutter release can be a wired one or just a wireless device with connectivity extended by the camera. A shutter release cable will give you the freedom to move around without having to touch the camera which causes minor shake everytime you press the shutter. Some remote shutter releases also have functions like intervalometer and timlapse which is an advantage to have from a tiny device.

Microphone

A video mircophone or an external microphone for your camera is what you will need if you are into doing proper video work. A dedicated microphone is used to record high quality audio when shooting video. The microphone built into the camera, is capable of recording sound but does not give you enough dedicated options to control the sound being recorded. A dedicated microphone is specially built for the cause and can be set according to the requirements of the situation. Dedicated mircophones have switches to change from recording high intensity sounds to low intensity sounds which makes it a very good accessory to have in your camera bag.

LED light panel Light is important when it comes to photography. The more the light, the better the images are if taken correctly exposed. With more light, the ISO values have to be brought down and the shutter speeds increase. If you wish to have a source of light with you always, you can go for a LED light panel. It is a panel which has LED lights in rows and emits high intensity light. The LED light panels also come with colour temperature adjustment and light intensity adjustment. Most of them run of thirdparty batteries and have a decent performance.

Gorilla pods/Flexible tripods A gorillapod is like a mini tripod but the design of the legs is what makes it different from every other small tripod. A gorillapod has flexible legs which can be twisted or bent in any direection accroding to the need. A gorillapod also can be used in unusual places where a tripod/mini tripod cannot be setup. A gorillapod can be setup anywhere provided there are objects etc to wrap its legs around tight.

External drive/SSD Power bank/portable charger Out of all the accesories, a powerbank is undoubtedly the most useful equipment in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s date. Not only our smartphones and small cameras, use power banks can also be used to charge camera bodies. Most manufacturers, especially mirrorless cameras now come with a provision of charging via a usb cable. So a powerbank can be used to charge the camera in case of no power availibility.

Last but not the least is a drive or storage unit for your images on the go. Regular shooting needs regular backing up and an external storage is all about the space. You should carry an external drive always when you are traveling and shooting. Regular backing up keeps your images safe in case of a failure of the card etc. For faster applications you can also buy an SSD (SOLID State Device) which is faster than regular drives but is quite expensive to buy. However, the newer range of external drives come with faster read times, better operation and reliability so that you are assured of your images being safe. TEXT: MRiNMoy ChouDhuRy

January 2019 - 75

tips and techs

PhotograPhing

sets

Shooting behind the scenes of an ongoing shoot /commercial or a movie is surely an exciting thing, especially for those who look for discreet moments and use their instincts from street photography to take behind the scenes images of a set. However, not all might be into street photography and might not know the nuances of applying the techniques to get the images they want. Shooting on the sets might be tricky at times as there are many things happening together in the set. You have to concentrate and be attentive. To sum up it is a very interesting process and those looking forward to shoot in the movie sets can find the tips below helpful. 76 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

No chances of a re-doing There are a lot of things happening on the set of a movie. From people running around the studio to shots getting ready and set-up, there are immense opportunities to take an image. However, you must realise that there is very narrow chance of correction. If you have seen a moment and missed it before shooting, chances are you will not have the moment again. So it is very important to be attentive and present at the shoot.

Figure out composition

Locate the light Light is the most important aspect of photography. Without much light images turn out to be dark. On the sets of a move or stills, there is going to be a huge amount of lighting. The idea is to use the lights in your favour. Set lighting can help uyou create beautiful images behind the scenes. To create a mood for the images taken under strong lighting, reduce the exposure by a stop or more and you can excatly decide how much of the image you would like to light up.

While the lightting is just one part, composition of your images will decide it majorly. Poorly composed pictures might not make the cut to the final edit and so be very careful about composition. Use elements in the set, people etc and create layers in your images. Using the foregraound and background to create depth in an image is a very good way to compose. In this way an image will have several stories to tell and several points of interest.

Have patience Patience is the key too having good images. Sometimes we tend to get bored or lose our intrest in shooting after a certain period of time. Movie schedules actually consist of long hours of prep and shooting which can be both physically and mentally a daunting experience. The key is to have as much of patience as possible. If you are patient enough, you can expect a good amount of images at the end of the day.

January 2019 - 77

Look for expressions While we were looking for light, composition and patience, we have to mention that expressions form a major part of the image. A movie set will have people running around, screaming from one end to other and various facial expressions. These expressions can become a great image if you can capture. It is important to catch someone in the middle of an action rather than at the end. This holds very true for photography.

Ask for permission Although many people who like to shoot on the streets will tell you to shoot even before the subject/person realises that he is being shot. Sometimes trying to take a permission to shoot will never give you the image or moment you wanted. But on the sets, it is a fully different game. If you are on a set where the shoot is actively taking place, you will have to be

78 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

very careful when moving around so that you do not disturb the shooting. You should be asking permisson before shooting or crossing paths. This will save you a lot of unnecessary trouble while shooting on the set.

Keep experimenting The idea is to never stop imagining and experimenting, mostly because after a few rounds, your images will be the similar and basic ones. For each set, there are many things which are different. The lighting, the people and the situation. These factors are enough for you to keep trying and making new images with a lot of experimentation.

Break your limitations Be it the camera limitations or your own, you need to think and go beyond that. Like how we say that to find more, we need

to explore, breaking your own limitations can actually improve your skills as you will be more confident doing what you do best. If you are happening to take picture in very low light, try reducing the shutter speed to the least possible setting where you can still hand hold it. Try a different challenge everytime.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to smile A smile is the easiest way to handle a lot of work and people too. On a movie set, people are fuming due to work and their responsibilities in that fast paced environment. A movie set with its hustle and bustle is sure to impact the individual moods. It would very polite to ask before you shoot and carry a smile on your face. A smiling approach can ease out the other person and they would be more relaxed when you are shooting while they are working.

Do not waste time over an image If you think you have lost a moment, its better you let it go. It is quite evident that it is not going to happen again and you have lost your opportunity. The idea is to not waste time over something which otherwise would be a great image. Move on and look out for more things happening. Look at people talking and doing what they are supposed to. In a movie set there are a lot of things happening and all you need to do is observe well.

TEXT: mriNmoy cHouDHury

January 2019 - 79

feature

Best smartphones of the year 2018 The world is in the tips of our fingertips. No matter how many technological advancements come in the camera industry, the average Indian today will hardly go for anything other than a smartphone. It was a huge year for the smartphone industry as a lot of new innovations were made in the existing smartphones and all of it was done with keeping the Indian price point in mind. A lot of new smartphones were launched too, with futuristic features like on-screen lock, multiple cameras on the back and on the front, better camera sensors etc. So to help you out and gain some clarity about which smartphone maker did what, we have put down a list of smartphones that we think ruled the year 2018.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus launched in the month of March 2018 which comes with a display of 6.2 inch display with QHD resolution with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The AMOLED panel looks bright and vibrant and the performance is very smooth and fast due to 2.7Ghz Octa-core Exynos 9810 processor which makes it to the best smartphones of the year with 6GB Ram. It also has Mali-G71 MP81 graphics processor which ensures smooth performance all throughout. It has 64 GB internal storage and extendable upto 512GB. It is packed with 3500 mah battery. It has primary dual primary camera 12mp+12mp and 8mp camera in the front. It is protected by durable scratch resistant glass. It measures 158.1x73.8x8.5 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 189 grams.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Huawei Mate 20 Pro was launched in the month of Novemeber 2018 which comes with a display of 6.39 inch screen with a display of 1440X3140 pixels resolution. It is powered by Octa-core processor (2X2.6Ghz+2X1.92Ghz and 4X1.8Ghz) processor with 6GB of RAM. This phone has 128gb internal storage and expandable upto 256gb. The camera of Huawei Mate 20 Pro is 40 megapixel (f/1.8) primary camera and front camera 20 megapixel (f/2.2) secondary camera on the rear and it has 24 megapixel camera for selfie. It is powered by 4200 mah non removable battery which measures 157.80X72.30X8.60 (heightXwidthXthickness) and weighs 189.00 grams.

80 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Google Pixel 3 XL The smartphones launched in October 2018 which comes with a display of 6.30 inch touchscreeen with a display of 1440x2960 pixels resolution. It is priced in India at `75,900 (Starting range). It is powered by 2.5Ghz octa core processor which comes with 4GB of Ram and 64 GB of Internal storage. Extendable storage is absent in this phone. The camera of this phone is packed with 12.2 megapixel (f/1.8/1.4 micron) primary rear camera. It is powered by 3430 mah battery mah non removable battery which measures 158.00x76.70x7.90 (heightxwidthxthickness) and weighs 184 grams. It is built with single sim where Nano Sim is compatible. It has connectivity options like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, USB OTG, USB Type-C, 3G and 4G. Sensors on the phone include 3D face recognition, Fingerprint sensor, Compass/ Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Gyroscope and Barometer. It measures 158x76.7x7.9mm (height x width x thickness).

Sample Image

January 2019 - 81

Apple iphone XR The smartphone launched in September 2018 which comes with a display of 6.10 inch touchscreeen with a display of 828x1972 pixels resolution with 326ppi. Apple iphone XR priced at `69,790 in the Indian market. It is powered by hexa core processor. The phone is packed by 64GB of storage and it is not expandable. As far as the camera is concerned the Apple iphone XR is powered by 12 megapixel f/1.8 primary camera and 7 megapixel for front camera. For the first time Apple iphone brought dual sim slot features that accepts Nano Sim and eSim features. Connectivity options are Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, Lightning, Active 4G on both SIM cards, 3G and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Face unlock, 3D face recognition, Compass/ Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Gyroscope and Barometer and it measures 150.90 x 75.70 x 8.30 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 194.00 grams.

LG V40 thinQ LG V40 thinQ launched was launched in October 2018. The screen comes with 6.40 inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440x3120 pixels. It is powered by Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. LG V40 thinQ priced at `66,400 in the Indian market.The camera of LG V40 thinQ packs a 12 megapixel (f/1.5, 1.4 micron) primary camera and a 5-megapixel (f/2.2, 1.4-micron) secondary camera. Sensor on the phone includes Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope It measures 158.70 x 75.80 x 7.79 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 169.00 grams. LG also promised to give 2nd year warranty support for this model.

82 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Sample Image

One Plus 6T The smartphones launched in November 2018 which comes with a display of 6.41 inch touchscreen with a display of 1080x2340 pixels resolution with bright and vibrant AMOLED display of 16.6:9 ratio. It is priced at `37,999 which is 6 GB RAM with 128GB storage, `41,999 which is 8GB RAM with 128GB storage and `45,999, which is 8GB RAM with 256 storage. It comes with new features like fast on screen fingerprint sensor. It has Gorilla Glass 6 protection and the back is made with glass. It is available in 2 colours. One is midnight black and other one is mirror black. It is powered by Octa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor running at upto 2.8 Ghz with Adreno 630 graphics. The phone has 16 megapixel primary rear camera with Sony IMX519 sensor and f/1.7 aperture with optical and electronic stabilization. The secondary camera has 20 megapixel Sony IMX376K sensor which is used for depth sensing. It is powered by 3700 mah battery. TexT: indranil adiTya

January 2019 - 83

tips and techs

Autofocus

problems and how to fix them Autofocus is a very important feature included on all cameras, and it has been in existance for a considerable length of time. We anticipate our cameras will have the capacity to focus quickly on the subject in a very rapid and precise manner. In any case, now and again autofocus can fall flat. It may be that the camera simply wouldn’t appear to like to center by any stretch of the imagination. Or on the other hand it may endeavour to center, however surrender. Or on the other hand it may disclose to you that it has focus, yet the center is quite else than where you needed it. In this article we’ll see ten reasons why autofocus may not work accurately, and what you can do to evade/settle these issues.

Lens /Camera set to manual focus On the off chance that your camera is failing to autofocus by any means, it may be the case that either the camera or lens have been set to manual-focus. Most lenses have a focus ring to allow you to focus manually on the subject when 84 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

needed. In spite of the fact that this switch is generally moderately hardened, it’s certainly feasible for it to get moved coincidentally. Likewise, some cameras have a focus selection switch, which you might accidentally switch to manual focus. Or it might just be that you were last using your

camera or lens in manual focus mode, and forgot to change it to auto. Both the lens and camera have to be set to autofocus for autofocus to work. If one is set to autofocus, but the other to manual focus, then you’ll only get manual focus and vice-versa.

Going beyond the focusing distance

minimum

In the case when you are focusing on a nearby subject, you may find that the lens can’t autofocus properly. All lenses have a minimum focussing distance, and the distance between the camera and the subject must be more than the minimum focussing distance for you to have the capacity to acquire focus on it. The closer the sensor and the back of the lens is, the closer it can go towards a subject. Wide angle lenses can go very close as well as macro lenses which are meant for life size photography of small objects.

Not all lenses are autofocus lenses While this may appear to be a not so difficult situation to understand, there are many who would ask why an old lens they purchased wouldn’t autofocus. Or on the other hand why a lens intended for one camera wouldn’t autofocus when used with a mount on another camera body. Not all lenses are autofocus. The vast share of lenses delivered today are autofocus, yet not every one of them has autofocus. What’s more, there are an incredible number of lenses accessible on sale that were presented before autofocus was prominent. Furthermore, when using a lens intended for one camera mount on an alternate mount via an adapter, you will lose the autofocus ability of the lens in some cameras. There are a few electronic adapters that permit autofocus, however those are more expensive.

Wrong focus point selected When using a programmed AF mode, your camera picks where to center, not you. What’s more, your camera may pick an alternate object to focus on rather than what you need to focus on. In case of manual AF point selection, regardless you have to ensure that your autofocus point is over your subject when you press the shutter. In the event when the AF point is focussing on another object instead of the subject, the object is the thing that the camera will focus on. So in case you’re experiencing difficulty with the camera focussing on something unique other than the subject, ensure you’re utilising a manual center point choice January 2019 - 85

mode. Also, ensure you’re putting the subject under the dynamic center point.

Lack of contrast Camera autofocus works by distinguishing contrast. When it distinguishes an abnormal state of complexity along an edge, that implies the picture is in core interest. Be that as it may, in case you’re capturing a low complexity subject, (for example, a plain white divider), at that point there may not be sufficient differentiation for the camera to tell when the subject is in core interest. The answer for this is just to guarantee that you center around part of the subject that is sensibly high conversely. For instance, in case you’re shooting a man wearing a plain white vest, center around their face, not the vest. Indeed, even with subjects that have a solid complexity against the foundation, cameras can in any case experience difficulty centering if there is a solid light source in or only outside of the edge. Light from a solid light source can cause differentiate lessening veiling flare when it hits your lens, and this can diminish differentiate enough that the camera can’t autofocus legitimately. This is especially valid if your lens is messy or you’re utilising a modest channel on your lens. On the off chance that the light source is outside the edge, the arrangement is to utilise a lens hood. The hood squares stray light from outside of the casing from hitting the lens, thus expels the issue of the differentiation diminishing veiling flare. On the off chance that the light source is inside the casing, have a go at situating your turn before the lens with the goal that it hinders the light source while you autofocus. Keep the autofocus bolted, expel your hand from before the lens, at that point take the shot.

DSLRs) the inside autofocus point is the most delicate (particularly when utilising a lens with a gap bigger than f/2.8). So by changing your camera to utilise just the essential issue for autofocus, you might have the capacity to enhance the autofocus capacity. Nonetheless, the best arrangement is basically to add all the more light to the scene. You can do this by including physical consistent lights, (for example, video lights). Another alternative however is to turn on your camera’s AF-help light (on the off chance that it has one). This is an ordinarily a little light on the front of the camera (however a few cameras utilise the spring up blaze as their AF-help light). The AF assist light lights up your subject for long enough for the camera to focus, then switches off so you can take the photo. Some speedlight flashes also offer an AF-assist light, which is typically more powerful

than the one built into the camera. And another alternative is to aim a small penlight towards the camera from the point where you want the camera to focus. So, if photographing a person, you might get them to hold the light next to their head and point it at the camera. This provides a good bright point for the camera to focus on. After locking focus, you can remove the light and take the photo.

Wrong AF button assignment This may appear another impossible issue, however I’ve really done this without anyone’s help previously. You set a camera to use back catch autofocus, at that point don’t utilise it for some time, and rather utilise an alternate camera where autofocus is fixing to a half press of the screen catch. When you return to the next camera you overlook it’s set to back catch AF and can’t comprehend why the camera isn’t autofocusing on a half press of the screen button.The answer for this is simply to check the autofocus trigger option(s) you have set in the camera menus.

Not enough ambient light

Camera consistently focussing in front or behind of where it should

Autofocus frameworks depend on light to work, and in the event that you are working in a low light circumstance you may find that autofocus winds up lazy or won’t bolt center by any means. With most cameras (especially

An issue specific to DSLR and DSLT cameras is that they utilise a different autofocus sensor to the sensor utilised for catching pictures. While the utilisation of a committed autofocus sensor takes into consideration quick

86 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

autofocus, there can now and again be issues where a picture is in center at the purpose of the autofocus sensor, yet not exactly in center at the purpose of the picture sensor. This issue is definitely not a major thing you should stress over, yet usually enough that most DSLRs incorporate a autofocus microadjust alternative. This enables you to dial in a little autofocus rectification to address for any front or back core interest. A couple of customer level DSLRs don’t highlight AF miniaturized scale change. For this situation, on the off chance that you run over this issue, your best alternative is to send the lens and camera off to the producer to have them adjusted together. The maker will at that point play out the AF smaller scale change on the lens or camera for you. Note that in the event that your camera/lens is out of guarantee, there will probably be an expense for this administration.

General poor camera or Lens autofocus performance A few cameras and lenses are at first discharged with autofocus execution that could be depicted as great however not extraordinary (especially in specific circumstances). The camera/lens producer may then later discharge a firmware refresh for their camera/

lens that fixes the issue and enhances autofocus execution. Some camera producers have additionally been known to discharge new models that experience issues autofocussing with more established outsider lenses. Once more, regularly the lens producer will create a firmware refresh for the influenced lenses that settles the issue. On account of a camera, you can refresh the firmware yourself by downloading the firmware to a memory card and adhering to the guidelines to introduce it. On account of lenses, you might have the capacity to refresh the firmware yourself, either by means of a PC dock for the lens, or utilising a camera body to exchange the refreshed firmware to the lens. Be that as it may, in a few circumstances you may need to send the lens back to the producer to have the firmware refreshed.

Wrong AF mode If you’re shooting a moving subject

(or are moving yourself), then you want to be sure that you have your camera set to continuous autofocus mode. If you are using single shot autofocus, then any movement of yourself or the subject between the time you lock focus and the time the image is captured can put the subject out of focus. Whereas with continuous autofocus, the focus is continuously adjusted as long as you hold the focus button down. So there is no delay between focussing and when the image is taken, giving you a much higher chance of getting the subject in focus. Of course, you can’t expect camera’s autofocus systems to be perfect. If you fire off a round of shots at a moving subject, you should expect at least a couple of them to be out of focus. Modern camera autofocus systems are very good, but they won’t get it right all the time. Most cameras offer quite a range of different autofocus options, to allow you to tweak the autofocus so that it works best for whatever it is you’re shooting at that moment. If you’re having trouble with your camera’s autofocus, it’s worth spending some time reading the manual, playing with the settings, and learning what the different options do, so you can get it working as well as possible for you. TEXT: mriNmoy Choudhury

January 2019 - 87

tips and techs

“ Mirror, Mirror,

all over the world? ”

Mirrorless cameras aren’t new - they have been around for nearly a decade now. But recently we have seen a glut of mirrorless cameras launch from camera companies that used to be all about the DSLR - this has re-ignited the whole DSLR vs mirrorless camera debate. For instance, there’s the Nikon Z7, the Canon EOS R and the Panasonic S1R and the S1 cameras. All of these vied for attention at Photokina 2018 and grabbed the limelight away from the humble DSLR but does that mean mirrors are a thing of the past?

he big difference between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR comes from how their image sensors and viewfinders work. Image sensors are the chips inside cameras that capture the photograph by detecting and recording the light coming into the camera. Viewfinders, meanwhile, are the part of the camera that you look through to compose a shot; they typically include a small optical lens which are placed at the top of the camera. DSLRs use a mirror system, which bounces the light coming through the main camera lens up to the viewfinder. When you press the shutter button, the camera flips the mirror out of the way and the image sensor is exposed to light. The 88 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

advantage of the mirrors is that they allow you to see frame a shot precisely the way the image sensor will record it. As their name suggests, mirrorless cameras don’t have a mirror. Instead, their image sensors are continuously exposed to light. Because they lack mirrors, mirrorless systems tend to be significantly smaller than DSLRs. Most digital cameras, such as point-and-shoot ones, are technically mirrorless, so they generally don’t look like DSLRs. But many of the mirrorless cameras that have the latest advances perform, operate, and resemble DSLRs. The thing is, a mirrorless camera is compelling. The extent

to which these models are more capable for a broader range of tasks means that many people have happily ditched their DSLRs, sold their glass (or not, as we shall see) and jumped across to one of the more recent but rapidly expanding mirrorless systems. Many others, however, are more hesitant, and they continue to ask the same question: are mirrorless cameras better than DSLRs? If you’re expecting a short answer, it’s this: mirrorless cameras are certainly more capable than DSLRs in many aspects, and they hold a number of different advantages, but there are many reasons why novice users and seasoned pros alike would still be better served by a DSLR. Things are constantly changing for both formats, however, what was valid a few years ago may no longer be the case today. The first mirrorless (or ‘compact system’) camera was Panasonic’s Lumix G1 released back in 2008. The first model in the Micro Four Thirds offshoot of the now-retired Four Thirds format, it certainly looked like a camera, perhaps closer to a bridge camera than a DSLR, but it was still too far to place it in any particularly category with a snappy name like mirrorless. Even Panasonic didn’t have much to offer here, dubbing it the “world’s first full-time live view digital interchangeable lens camera”. Although Olympus was producing some fairly diminutive DSLRs at the time, the G1 arrived with the promise of packing in the same size of sensor into a compact body that accepted smaller lenses, and with the further integration of an electronic viewfinder, a better digital focus. While the existing Four Thirds sensor meant it wasn’t entirely designed from scratch, it very much felt like the first interchangeable-lens camera that had unshackled itself from the constraints of analogue systems. With the benefit of an electronic viewfinder you got a better idea of what your image would look like as you were composing it, and with no mirror or optical viewfinder prism, you also got a relatively small and light body. The fact that you could use it with existing Four Thirds lenses via an adapter made it more appealing to anyone interested that had already invested in that system, but the big draw was that fact that lenses could be made smaller. And the appeal of a relatively large sensor combined with small, light lenses should be obvious. Panasonic was soon joined by the likes of Olympus,

Sony and Fujifilm, each company delivering something a little different but adhering to the same concept of a small body, a new lens line and a fresh way of thinking. The variety of models was encouraging, but there were still a number of hurdles to overcome and a number of reasons why DSLRs would continue to be preferable in the eyes of anyone taking photography much more seriously than the casual user. To some extent, all of these issues are still relevant today, but the fact that so many manufacturers are now involved in the

January 2019 - 89

mirrorless camera development has meant that the gap has significantly narrowed. When we look at the sales data from the past few years, things look pretty confusing – if mirrorless is the future, why do DSLRs still dominate the sales charts globally? In my opinion, there are several reasons for this. First, it takes a while to influence the potential buyer with the message “bigger is not always better”. The word “mirrorless” is relatively new and educating people about its advantages is taking time. Second, people generally resist switching systems due to existing investments. If one already owns a bunch of lenses and accessories, they avoid going through the hassle of selling everything and re-acquiring gear. It is an expensive process both in terms of gear expenditures (selling used gear, especially cameras and accessories, generally does not yield much money to reinvest in an equivalent system from another manufacturer) and time to learn and adapt to new tools. And lastly, before making the move, photographers often assess the camera system as a whole and put deep thoughts into what pros and cons they will have to go through when buying into a new system. That right there is a huge disadvantage of the mirrorless system today: it does not offer the same number of tools, accessories and lenses when compared to DSLRs, which puts off many enthusiasts and professionals from making the jump. A DSLR shooter has a lot of options. One could start out with portrait photography, then move to macro photography, then perhaps landscapes / architecture and if they ever wanted to, they could also get into wildlife photography; lens choices are there for pretty much every type of photography. The same goes for accessories – chances of finding compatible flash 90 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

guns, TTL speedlights, triggers and many other accessories are higher for DSLRs than they are for mirrorless cameras, just because they have been out much longer and have been widely accepted as the gold standard among professionals. Because of these system advantages, many photographers have been quite cautious about moving to mirrorless. But things are changing fast. If a couple of years back mirrorless had a very small selection of lenses, today that list has grown tremendously, covering many photography needs. The biggest holes to fill are still in specialised lenses like tilt/shift and super telephotos, but that will be coming fairly soon, especially once mirrorless catches up in the autofocus department. TexT: anikeT Tiwari

Artificial Intelligence to take over

I is rapidly changing the way we think about photography. Just a couple of years from now, most advances in the photo space will be AI-Centric, and not optics or sensorcentric as before. The advancement in photography technology will, for the first time ever, be untethered from physics, and will create a whole new way of thinking about photography. This is

how it’s going to happen. Just six months ago we saw the first glimpse of AI entering our consumer world when Apple introduced A11 Bionic neural engine chip, which powers current generation of iPhones. The A11 is important because the chip is specifically designed for tasks such as image–and face–recognition, AR applications, January 2019 - 91

etc. In applications like this, it’s way more effective. Google Pixel line would introduce its own hardware chips, designed for specific tasks, and that indeed happened sooner than anyone expected, as the Pixel 2 featured dedicated image enhancement chip to help with image processing on the fly.

What made it intriguing is that when Pixels were announced and shipped, there was no mention of the feature, and only sometime later did Google admit that the Pixels had a dedicated chip which would be “enabled” sometime in the future (if you

92 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

own Pixel 2 today, this hardware feature is already enabled). Then came Chinese smartphone maker Huawei with the P20 Pro, featuring 4 cameras — 1 in front and 3 in the back. In addition to achieving the highest DxO Mark score to date, the Huawei P20 Pro is packed with AI features, such as real-time image scene recognition, meaning it can discern 500 scenarios in 19 categories, such as animals, landscapes, as well as an advanced night mode, where the AI assists in processing noisy photos, making them almost perfect. The Verge has great coverage with image samples to provide a good overview of this photo powerhouse. As the next generation of smartphone products are developed, many manufacturers are focused on image capturing and real-time processing, partially because it’s a great marketing differentiator, but also because advances in this area are clearly visible to the consumer. The next generation of imaging technologies that will power tomorrow’s cameras won’t be driven by a hardware, they will be driven almost entirely by software. Yes, software. Over the next 10 years you will see a shift away from camera hardware being the focus to incredible software innovation using machine learning that creates never-before-seen capabilities. We are already seeing this now with rapid innovation in the world of smartphones that is changing the entire photographic world right under our noses with fancy terms such as; Smart HDR (Apple iPhone), HDR+ (Google Pixel), and many others. For those who crave the past, there are tons of apps that allow you to re-create the look of old lenses and film styles, all done completely in software. As Apple just announced, you can even adjust high quality depth-of-field after the photo has been taken. But this is just the beginning, we are only now starting to see hints at a photographic future, powered by machine learning, that will give us all the ability to create imagery beyond our wildest imaginations. Imagine a world where every lens you attach to your camera was optically perfect. No distortions, no vignetting, no flare (unless you wanted it). Sound impossible? Believe it or not, we are already on the path to using technologies that go far beyond than in-camera lens corrections most photographers are familiar with today.

The transformation of the photography industry to digital was amazing for what it gave professional photographers. But the transformation coming with computational photography is going to directly empower amateur and aspiring photographers far more. The ability to concentrate on the artistic aspects of photography rather than the technical details will open doors for many while the inclusion of these technologies in cheaper camera systems will foster wide-spread adoption in the form of smartphones and other small camera systems. Professionals can look forward to insanely awesome post-processing tools in the near future while the allure of a major camera system with the features that we have described is something that will likely come to fruition over the span of several years. Either way, we all can look forward to an amazing photographic future!

TexT: anikeT Tiwari

January 2019 - 93

tips and techs

Jumping on the photo

filter bandwagon B

land, dull photographs suddenly acquiring sharper focus, vivid contrasts and better lighting with a mere swipe of filter options is a common story. Filters, Instagram and photography are three words that have come about to be used almost in the same breath. Filters have become synonymous and inextricably linked with photography in the digital age, so much so that there is a trend of uploading photos on social media platforms with a #nofilter. Almost as if it is gobsmacking that photos can look great in its pristine state. Or that filters are the only go-to options for post-processing and enhancing photographs. Both these

possibilities can make photographers squirm. It would be quite introspective to take a moment to think about how the actual filters in photography, the ones used to protect lenses from potential damage and reduce reflections, have been overshadowed and nearly effaced by this unprecedented brouhaha over digital filters. Photography has traversed a capricious journey over the years, especially perceptible because of the changes unravelling with the proliferation of social media use and digital innovations. With just about everyone uploading a photo on Instagram, subject to a gruelling session

of filter application, is it that anyone can capture an exquisite photograph and that just about anyone can pass for a connoisseur of photography? There will be no black-and-white reply to this question. However, to talk about the transformation and change of meanings acquired by filters in photography would be discerning. The traditional filters or lens filters are still used by photographers and cinematographers, and are often used to modify the light before it enters the lens. Filters are also used to enhance colours, though it stands the risk of affecting the photo negatively if one doesn’t know how to use them and the situations to

A landscape photo without any filters

After applying the ‘Aden’ filter

After applying the ‘Clarendon’ filter

94 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

After applying the ‘Hefe’ filter

After applying the ‘Lo-Fi’ filter

After applying the ‘Rise’ filter

January 2019 - 95

use them in. There are plenty of filters used by photographers, and some are even used in combinations. Some of the filters available are UV filter, polarizing filter, neutral density filter, colour filter, reverse graduated neutral density filter, hard-edge graduated neutral density filter, soft-edge graduated neutral density filter, special effects filter etc. Some of the effects produced by filters like polarisers and strong neutral density filters can take up a lot of time, apart from creating effects that can become difficult to replicate digitally. Compared to the digital filters that just require whisking out your phone and swiping past various filters before deciding on one, also enabling you to see the final outcome even before zeroing down on the actual filter, these “traditional” filters can seem a thing of the past and primitive even. Cut to the Instagram era. How to use photo filters like an Instagram influencer, the best instagram filters for photos, and how Instagram filters 96 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Compared to the digital filters that just require whisking out your phone and swiping past various filters before deciding on one, also enabling you to see the final outcome even before zeroing down on the actual filter, these “traditional” filters can seem a thing of the past and primitive even

work are only some of the popular web results to searches for Instagram filters, reaffirming the significance that is accorded to them. 15 best photo filter apps for your smartphone, 12 best online photo editors for filters and effects and 10 most famous photo filters are the top results for searches for photo filters on the internet. Professional photographers whose photos represent not just one impetuous click of the shutter and another few seconds deliberating on which filter can enhance it, or, in other words, photographers who have spent a lifetime honing their work, will be miffed and find their work even undermined by this cacophony over photo filters. They arduously work towards getting the exposure right, mastering the composition, mulling over post-processing and the entire process of practice, testing and experimentation to get where they are. But, at the end of the day, they are faced with and even obscured by the burgeoning of “Instagram photographers”, all thanks to photo filters taking care of their wrong exposures and other technical mishaps. A sky that is otherwise plain white, with just tinges of blue here and there, and hints of clouds, is suddenly rechristened with white, puffy clouds contrasting vividly against the stark azure sky. A landscape photograph that otherwise looks pretty nondescript and underexposed, is suddenly

metamorphosed into a stunning and resplendent calendar like landscape image. Sometimes, a sultry day with the sun shining bright overhead can even be denuded of its bright, yellow hues and can suddenly reincarnate as a gloomy, downcast day, all thanks to filters. Don’t such measures denude these photos of its integrity? Or even more pertinently, can such filter aided photography be considered photography? Of course, despite all this, these filters are doing its job of making the photos look beautiful and visually appealing. But, the photographer in

you might just wince, being witness to this rather alarming trend. For a photographer who spends hours brooding over perfecting the colours of a photograph and perfecting even the teeniest details, being privy to such a trend can be disconcerting. Or worse, professional photographers’ carefully concocted work being subject to photo filters by their clients can aggravate matters even more. Throwing filters on the work of professional photographers can even count as a blatant case of misrepresentation of their work, though this idea would remain incomprehensible to others. A disregard to these seemingly innocuous changes brought about by the trend of using photo filters can lead to an inability to demarcate the actual photographers from the lot clinging on to social media and filters. It can even lead people to inadvertently disparage photographers who have learnt it the “traditional” way. As for the question that was raised initially, if anyone can capture an exquisite photograph and just about anyone can pass for a connoisseur of photography as a consequence of such new social media trends, the answer, sadly, might forever hover in the greys.

TEXT: nandana jamEs

January 2019 - 97

tips and techs

Best online storage platform to keep your data safe!

In todays world online backup is the most important aspect to preserve important works whether its video or photographs. Relying on only hardware like harddisk drive or DVD is not safe since an electronic device may stop working anywhere anytime and is problematic to carry when you travel with other luggages. Cloudstorage in the recent days became very popular since with a good internet connection you can access data from anywhere, anytime with multiple digital devices like computer, mobile, tablet. You will get extra space if you subscribe to monthly subsciption and make sure you get a good deal. There are few tips below about where you can keep your data online without fear of loosing it. Google Photos Google photos is the first online storage which gives unlimited backup storage for photos upto 16 megapixel and videos upto 1080p. Google photos can be accessible from all the devices at ease. It was launched in the year 2015. It can also arrange photographs in a folder 98 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

based on geographical locations, human face, date and time.

Google Drive In Google drive 15gb cloud storage space is free for an user and after that it is payable which is nominal charges like `130 per month for 100 gb, `210

per month for 200 gb, `650 per month for 2 tb, `6,500 for 10 TB, `13,000 for 20 TB and `19,500 for 30TB. Being into the android platform google users use this drive for a quick backups whether its for official documents, photographs, important files etc.

One Drive One Drive is operated by Microsoft which was launched in 2007. One Drive 5GB is free for the user and you can further extend its space by paying `530.05 per month for 1TB. Like other cloud storage it also has the file sharing and sync options. One Drive is helpful for the windows user to sync with the windows computer.

Flickr: Flickr is a very popular online storage specially for the professional and amateur photographers and the videographers, which gives enough amount of storage space to the free user. 1TB for the basic account with ads. Though it will change

from January 2019 and the free option will be limited to 1000 photos and videos limited to 3 mins timeline. After free account you have to pay `350 per month for unlimited storage of photos and videos without ads and it probably gives the best viewing experiece you will get in the gallery.

Dropbox: Dropbox is a very popular online storage platform which was launched in the year 2008. Dropbox can be easily accessible on the go through ios and android devices. Dropbox provides 2GB basic storage and you can get extra 500mb by refering a friend upto 16 gb. The user interface is quiet easy. You can

create folder easily and add files. It can recover files upto 30 days for the free users and 120 days for the premium users.

Amazon Drive In the recent years Amazon became very popular and competitative in India. Amazon Drive is launched in 2011. For basic users 5GB storage is free. For the Amazon prime customers full resolution photos are unlimited at Amazon drive. You need to pay `999 per year to be a prime member of Amazon. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide work productivity like Office online and Google Docs just like Dropbox, Google Drive or One Drive.

Mega: It is a cloud storage device which was launched in 2013 based in Auckland which gives users 50 gb of storage, it has dedicated mobile apps for its mobile portability. For expansion 200GB is available for Rs 400 per month, `800 for 2 TB, `1600 for 4 TB storage, `2400 for 8 TB. TexT: inDrAnil ADiTyA

January 2019 - 99

tips and techs

Photoshop Tutorial

- Using plugins to create black and white images

s a photographer, you have to decide whether an image will have more impact in colour or in black and white. To fine-tune your images in black and white, here are a few steps to create a black & white image with more depth and within a short period of time. Nik Silver Efex pro is a software plugin where you will get all types of darkroom controls to create impactful black and

white image. It is a 30 Days Trial Version from Google or you can buy it from there official website. You can edit your images into black and white images by using pre-sets and some basic adjustments which saves a lot of time during edit. It has 20 popular film pre-sets which helps you to get your desired effects. You can use this plugin with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Light-room

Step 1 Open an image in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom.

Step 2 Go to Filter> Nik Collection> Nik Silver Efex Pro

Step 3 & 4 3. After opening a window, on the left hand side there are total 38 pre-set libraries from where you can choose your preferred pre-sets. 4. On the right hand side of a window you can adjust images according to your requirements and it also contains 20 popular film pre-sets which was available in the analogue days.

100 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Step 5 Choose Preset 004 High Contrast (Smooth) from left.

Step 6 Increase a little brightness on the right with decreasing the amount of Highlights.

Step 7 On the right hand side, go down in the Finishing Adjustment section, click on a downward arrow of Vignette option and select Lensfallof 1. Then click on a downward arrow of Burn Edges and select All Edges (Soft)1. Then click OK at righthand side corner.

Step 8 Finally your fine-tuned black and white image is ready to save.

The results of the images when processed imdividually will differ. You cannot expect to have the similar looking result everytime but with more and more images you process, you will develop a style of your own to help you better with your understanding of images.

TexT and image: indranil adiTya

January 2019 - 101

PHOTOSCAPE

Photo Send in your entries to photoscape at asianphotographyindia@gmail.com

Name: Anmol Guru EXIF - NA

102 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

Brought to you by

Ã&#x203A; Name: Indrajit Debnath EXIF - NA

Name: Jasvir Singh Camera: Nikon D7200 Lens Model: Tamron 150-600 G2 Aperture: f/8 ISO: 640 Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec. Focal Length: 600 mm

Name: Afiq Bin Sharkawi Camera: Sony a6000 EF55-210mm Focal Length: 192mm F-Number: f/6.3 ISO: 320 Shutter speed: 1/320

The Pic of the Month in the PHOTOSCAPE e section will receiv 1 Year Subscription

(12 E-Issues)

 Name: Kushal Sureka EXIF - NA

Name: Arindam Chowdhury Camera : NIKON D7000 F: Number: F/8 Shutter Speed: 1/800sec ISO: 200 Focal Length:18mm

104 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

 Name: Subhadip Biswas Camera:GoPro Hero6 Black Shutter speed: 1/240 sec Focal length: 3 mm f no. : f/2.8 ISO:139

Brought to you by

The Pic of the Month in the PHOTOSCAPE e section will receiv 1 Year Subscription

(12 E-Issues)

Û Name: Yash Dave Exif- NA

 Name: V Singh Exif - NA

Û Name: Akash Ghosh Camera: Nikon D7100 Focal Length: 18mm F/Number: f/3.5 Shutter Speed: 1/50 Sec ISO: 200

January 2019 - 105

PHOTO-MONTAGE

Photo Looking to get your portfolio featured?? Send your entry to asianphotographyindia@gmail.com and tell us why we should feature it

Kulasai Dasara Kulasai Dasara is the grand festival of 300 year old Kulasai Mutharammam Temple which is located at Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu. In essence, Dasara is celebrated on the 10th day after 9-day of Navaratri festival across India. However, at Kulasai, it is celebrated as a 12-days function. It is estimated that around 2.5 million [25 lakhs] devotees visited the temple in the 2018 celebrations. Teams are formed from each village and are sponsored by the richest family of the village or the village head. One member from this team is chosen to don the avatar of Goddess Kali, the central god of this festival. A strict condition is that only a man can dress as Kali and has to fast for 41 days. Other members dress up like other Gods or Goddesses according to their choice. During Dasara, these devotees need to dress like the god/goddess every day and have to abstain from impure thoughts and bad habits. They need to commit to being pure in body, mind and soul.

106 - AsianPhotography - www.asianphotographyindia.com

The Featured portfolio in the E PHOTOMONTAGive section will rece 1 Year b u S scription )

(12 E-Issues

Brought to you by