new-look mag!
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Free pop-up videos Issue 101 • June 2015
game changer canon 750D & 760d test
more essential techniques & tests
The entry-level EOS gets high-end handling! Full tests, lab results and verdicts inside shooting tips
perfect storm Take great scenic shots whatever the weather
free! PORTRAIT POSING GUIDE See Page 149
expert advice
dslr skills Simple solutions for taking
fantastic photos every time
WHATEVER THE WEATHER
In our main Canon DSLR techniques guide this month, we reveal 21 top tips for capturing great landscape shots, even when it’s chucking it down! See page 30
Our Guarantee
Welcome...
T Peter Travers Editor
his month I got to test the game-changing Canon 760D, a new entry-level EOS that offers high-end handling. It’s an interesting proposition for a beginner DSLR body, giving you a top-plate LCD and rear wheel dial normally only seen on larger enthusiast cameras like the 70D. I certainly enjoyed shooting with it, and the image quality is very impressive, especially at higher ISO settings. There’s also the new 750D. Apart from the improved controls, the 760D and 750D are hard to separate; both have 24Mp sensors, Digic 6 processors, 5fps, 63 AF points, and the same size bodies. So which is the best buy? Read our full tests, with lab results and final verdicts, on page 106. Proving there’s no such thing as bad weather for photography, just bad technique, award-winning photographer and author Tony Worobiec explains why you should be heading out – not hiding – with your Canon DSLR when there’s a storm brewing. Read his tips for capturing stunning scenic shots whether it’s raining, stormy, cloudy or misty on page 30. Also inside your new-look PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine are great new regular articles, including a new Canon pro interview with sports photography ace Tim Clayton, new Canon School technical advice, and readers’ Photo Stories. We test the mega-wide Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L zoom lens, pit photo printers against photo labs, and test Speedlite modifiers. We have ten new video guides, with more Canon skills, and Photoshop, Lightroom and Canon DPP software editing guides, and free HDR software worth £89. Plus we continue our collectable series of free Portrait Posing Guides! See pages 4 and 5 for full content details.
• We’re the only photo magazine in the newsagent that’s 100% dedicated to Canon EOS DSLR OWNERs so we’re 100% relevant to your needs.
• We’re 100% independent which means we’re free to publish what we feel is best for every Canon DSLR photographer from beginners to enthusiasts to professionals.
• We’re Canon enthusiasts and, with our contributors, we can offer years of expert photography experience. We’re always excited to pass on what we’ve learned.
• We’re more than just a print mag; you can buy PhotoPlus for any digital device worldwide via Apple iTunes, Google Play, Zinio, Magzter, Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, PocketMags or PressReader.
• Our Video Disc has the very best DSLR technique & Photoshop video GUIDEs which can also be viewed via our digital editions.
• We’re proud to use the World’s top Canon photographers and experts. Meet them on page 6.
New deals! Great print & digital edition subscriptions The Canon Magazine
PAGE 28 3
30
CONTENTS 86
canon dslr skills
Great shots in any weather
Whether it’s overcast, misty, stormy or raining, landscape pro Tony Worobiec will help you take great scenic shots
Essentials
Canon pros
A selection of your amazing shots from our ‘doors’ photo competition
Our Canon pro teaches a reader how to style and shoot glamorous fashion portraits
Get a Manfrotto hotshoe-mounted LED lighting kit, worth £45, when you subscribe
Travel photographer David reports back from the land of ice and fire
20 Inspirational Canon imagery 8 The Apprentice 40 David Noton On Location 28 Subscribe today The Canon Conversation 30 Bad weather photography 66 My Kit 82 74 Photo Stories Canon School Focus Point 80 86 Canon DSLR Essentials 145 Next issue Software Solutions 92 146 Canondrum 97 EOS S.O.S Raining cats and dogs? Don’t hide indoors, grab your Canon DSLR and head out instead to capture stunning landscape shots
Sports supremo Tim Clayton tells his story and shares a selection of amazing shots Portrait and wedding photographer Brett Harkness reveals his fave bits of kit
Readers showcase a gallery of their images and reveal how they bagged the shots
Your views on the new-look magazine plus Shot of the Month, fun stats and more A sneak peek at what’s coming up in our July in just four short weeks time… Put your Canon photography knowledge to the test in our monthly quiz
Learn how to hold your camera, and use the built-in electronic level and composition guides for better shots Digital Photo Professional’s Tone Adjustment tool explained, plus control your camera remotely with EOS Utility
Your Canon queries answered and photos appraised in our new Q+A section
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New tests
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104 Gear Update 106 Full Test: 750D & 760D
Our roundup of all the latest shiny new kit to accessorise your Canon camera
Canon’s latest entry-level 750D – plus the 760D variant with improved handling – but which is the better buy?
114 Mini Test: flash modifiers A selection of Speedlite add-ons from simple snoots to clever softboxes
116
Lens Test: EF 11-24mm
Standalone test of Canon’s super-wide, full-frame lens
Test: 118 Super printers vs labs
116
What’s the best way to output your images: printer or photo lab? We test four of each option
130 Complete Buyers’ Guide
Every current Canon EOS DSLR – plus every available Canon-fit lens from Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and more! www.digitalcameraworld.com
Issue 101 June 2015
106 THIS MONTH’S
FREE videoS
66
10 ways to improve your photography today
Project 3: Natural portraits Project 2: Composition Project 1: Seascapes Get creative with framing to 50 How to shoot portraits using 48 44 Head to the coast and shoot a reflector and natural window light dramatically improve scenic shots long exposures for silky seascapes
Photoshop elements
free! hdr software
Project 4: Camera drag 5: Lighting still life Tutorial 1: Perfect colours 55 Use your DSLR to capture 56 Project How to light four still-life 60 Remove colour casts caused abstract images full of motion blur tabletop setups in your own home by incorrect white balance settings
Photoshop CC
Lightroom
Canon software
worth £89 Tutorial 2: Go infrared Tutorial 3: Develop module Canon School tutorials 62 Give mono images some 64 Make basic adjustments 92 Canon’s Digital Photo punch with a fake infrared effect to images quickly and easily Professional and EOS Utility
READ THE TUTORIALS… THEN WATCH OUR EXPERT VIDEOS
Look out FOR THIS ICON!
50 The Canon Magazine
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To view our ‘pop-out’ videos, tap these badges that appear alongside the tutorials inside the magazine, or type the link that appears alongside into your web browser.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THESE VIDEO TUTORIALS ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND NOT ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY CANON OR ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
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Meet the team... Print 20,240 Digital 4,289 The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation for Jan-Dec 2014 is
24,529 A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations
Who we are and what we’ve been up to creating our issue 101…
PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Future Publishing, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA Editorial +44 (0)1225 442244 photoplus@futurenet.com
Peter Travers
Adam Waring
peter.travers@futurenet.com
adam.waring@futurenet.com
Editor • 5D Mark III
Operations editor • 7D
Peter’s proud to bring you this big, new issue full of more great Canon DSLR tips, tutorials and tests, plus free videos, posing guide & HDR software! Page 4
Adam goes through every single word in the magazine and buffs each one until it shines. He particularly enjoyed polishing this issue’s Photo Stories. Page 74
Hollie Latham
Martin Parfitt
hollie.latham@futurenet.com
martin.parfitt@futurenet.com
Technique editor • 60D
Art editor • 600D
Fashion-victim Hollie donned her Versace and Jimmy Choos as she went behind the scenes for this issue’s glamorous portrait Apprentice shoot. Page 8
Every cloud has a silver lining, and designing this issue’s main DSLR tips guide, on shooting scenes in bad weather, was a warm ray of sunshine for Martin. Page 30
Angela Nicholson
Chris George
angela.nicholson@futurenet.com
chris.george@futurenet.com
Head of testing • 5D Mk III
Group editor-in-chief • 650D
Angela tests the new Canon 750D and its bigger brother the 760D and asks: is it worth splashing out extra for added ease of handling? Find out on Page 106
Pit your wits against our head honcho as he comes up with another batch of brain-teasers in this issue’s challenging Canonondrum quiz. Page 146
This issue’s contributors… Amanda Thomas
Amanda tells why a fashion shoot is as much about the stylist and makeup artist as the photographer. Page 8
Brett Harkness
Social photographer Brett reveals the kit that accompanies him on every single shoot. Page 82
Tony Worobiec
For landscape photographers there is no such thing as ‘bad weather’, as Tony sets out to prove. Page 30
Andrew James
Can’t handle your camera? In Canon School Andrew shows you the right way to hold your Canon. Page 86
Advertising & Marketing Matt Bailey Account director 01225 687511 matt.bailey@futurenet.com Claire Harris Account manager 01225 687221 claire.harris@futurenet.com Sasha McGregor Advertising Business Manager 01225 687675 sasha.mcgregor@futurenet.com Charlotte Lloyd-Williams Campaign Manager Production & distribution Vivienne Calvert Production controller Mark Constance Production manager Michelle Brock Trade Marketing Manager 0207 429 3683 Printed in the UK by: William Gibbons & Sons Ltd Distributed by: Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT, Tel: 0207 429 4000 Overseas distribution by: Seymour International Subscriptions & back issues UK reader order line & enquiries 0844 848 2852 Overseas order line & enquiries +44 1604 251045 Online enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Email photoplus@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Licensing Regina Erak International director regina.erak@futurenet.com Management Nial Ferguson Content & marketing director Matthew Pierce Head of content & marketing, photography Chris George Group editor-in-chief Rodney Dive Group art director
Chief executive Zillah Byng-Maddick Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Richard Haley
David Noton
Globetrotting photographer David continues his travel diary, from the rugged shores of Iceland. Page 40
Brian Worley
Got a Canon problem that you can’t get to the bottom of? Agony Uncle Brian is here to help. Page 97
Tim Clayton
Leeds-born but US-based sports photographer Tim shares his story – and his incredible images. Page 66
Matthew Richards
Matthew pits photo printers against international printing services in our Super Test. Page 118
Our contributors Ben Andrews, George Cairns, David Clark, Tim Clayton, Brett Harkness, Andrew James, Adam Gasson, Pete Gray, Adam Lee, Andrew McLaughlin, David Noton, James Paterson, Matthew Richards, Amanda Thomas, Tom Welsh, Jesse Wild, Brian Worley, Tony Worobiec
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The PhotoPlus team Peter Travers Editor Adam Waring Operations editor Hollie Latham Technique editor Martin Parfitt Art editor Shona Cutt Deputy art editor Angela Nicholson Head of testing Ali Jennings Lab Manager Jesse Wild Cover photo
Tel +44 (0)207 042 4000 (London) Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 (Bath) Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd, on behalf of Future. Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT. Tel 020 7429 4000. Overseas distribution by Seymour International.
PhotoPlus is an independent publication and is not in any way authorised, affiliated, nor sponsored by Canon. All the opinions expressed herein are those of the magazine and not that of Canon. ‘EOS’ and all associated trademarks are the property of Canon. © Future Publishing Limited 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price and other details of products or services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any changes or updates to them. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage.
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www.digitalcameraworld.com
PHOTOPLUSApprentice Canon PRO Name:
Amanda Thomas Camera:
Canon EOS 5D Mk III Fashion and portrait photographer Amanda is based in Bristol and spends a lot of her time working throughout the southwest of England, as well as London. With over 15 years’ experience, Amanda delivers the whole package to her clients, from initial concept right the way through to the processed images. For more of Amanda’s work, see her website: www.amandathomas photographer.co.uk
APPRENTICE Name:
Ryan Bedingfield Cameras:
Canon EOS 70D & 6D Ryan, 47, runs his own business from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire but dreams of having his own photography business one day. After purchasing his first camera at the age of 11 (a Beirette BL from Boots) he was hooked. Having recently upgraded from a 60D to a 6D and 70D, and with his own home studio setup, Ryan wants to get as much portraiture experience as possible. With a passion for portraits and a few weddings under his belt, he wanted to try his hand at fashion photography.
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www.digitalcameraworld.com
SHOOT WITH A PRO
Strike a pose!
Our Apprentice this month undergoes a photography makeover with fashion portrait pro Amanda Thomas The Canon Magazine
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PHOTOPLUSApprentice TECHNIQUE ASSESSMENT
Amanda looked over Ryan’s settings to ensure they were shipshape and Bristol fashion…
Shoot in Manual Ryan has a home studio and is used to working with studio lights, so already shoots in Manual mode, which Amanda was pleased to see: “It’s great to see that Ryan shoots in Manual mode, and is essential when using lights as you need to be able to independently control both the aperture and shutter speed to ensure your exposures remain consistent,” she says. “You can then alter the power of your lights to achieve the look you want.”
Lens
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Exposure
1/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO160
Top gear #1 Light modifiers
AF point selection Ryan was relying on the centre AF point for focusing; after focusing on the model’s eyes he would then recompose to frame the shot for a more interesting composition. However, this sometimes resulted in soft images due to the focus shifting slightly as he swivelled the camera. Amanda suggested that he instead manually select the AF point closest to the model’s eyes once he’d composed a shot: “That way, even if you do need to adjust the framing, the movement will be much smaller and so the focusing will be more accurate.”
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Octagonal softboxes are typically used for portrait and fashion shoots as their shape creates natural-looking catchlights in the subject’s eye. “What I love about Profoto’s Octa Softbox is that it’s simple to put together as it has a clever colour coding system,” says Amanda. She also uses the Profoto Softlight Reflector Kit, which includes a soft light reflector, grid and a diffuser. “Due to the soft and flattering light it produces, it has been nicknamed ‘The Beauty Dish’. I also have a grid kit, which consists of three honeycomb grids to reduce the spread of light to 10, 20 or 30 degrees.”
www.digitalcameraworld.com
SHOOT WITH A PRO
RYAN’s comment Getting Amber ready for the first shot took the longest as her hair and makeup had to be started from scratch. Amanda explained that good hair and makeup will save time cloning out blemishes, smudged lipstick and stray hairs later. Due to the clothing Amber was wearing and her pose, the stylist had to step in and rearrange her skirt every so often. Amanda said that while this stop-start way of working breaks your flow to a degree, it’s more important to get it just right. I started off shooting at f/1.8 but stopped down to f/2.8 for more depth of field to make sure Amber’s whole body appeared sharp in the portrait.
HOT SHOT #1
EXPERT INSIGHT
In the mood
The key to a successful shoot is preparation and ensuring the whole team are on the same page. “I always create a mood board to collate ideas and send them to the stylist and hair and makeup artist,” says Amanda. “Pinterest is great as we can all create and share mood boards, so we all know the look we’re going for. We can also show the model, so they know how to pose.”
Beauty shots “When reviewing Ryan’s photos I was pleased to see he had captured a variety of full-body, half-length and ‘beauty shots’ – a close-up of the head and shoulders. Beauty shots are great for showing off the more intricate details of the hair and makeup, and I really love this shot. You can see the thought that the hair and makeup artist has put into this look, matching the deep burgundy red lipstick with the hat, and how much attention has been paid to the eye makeup.”
The Canon Magazine
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PHOTOPLUSApprentice f/1.2
f/8
10 fashion portrait tips
1
Go and explore When on location explore the area/venue to work out shooting spots. Look for furniture, decor and props that could lend themselves to a shot.
2
Match outfits with decor Think about complementary colours and patterns when combining outfits with the surrounding decor.
3
Make a plan Schedule a sensible order of ‘looks’ with the stylist and makeup artist, so they have everything ready to prep the model for the next shot.
4
Get everything correct in camera It’s quicker to fix makeup or hair than spending hours post-processing later to remove something.
5
Give your model direction and feedback Show your model their photos on the back of your DSLR to give them confidence and help them relax.
6
Utilize your stylist during shoot Have the stylist and makeup artist share your line of sight so they can spot if anything out of place.
7
Show off surroundings Shoot with space around your model to show off their surroundings to add context to your portraits.
8
The importance of makeup Not only will it help your model look their best, a face without makeup looks shiny and reflects light.
9
Be spontaneous Move around, get up high and experiment with angles; this helps you shoot a unique portrait.
10
Pick key words Give the model key words for the shoot to give them an insight into what look you’re trying to achieve.
EXPERT INSIGHT
It’s all in the eyes “The focus should always be on the model’s eyes,” says Amanda. “It’s good practice to zoom in to check your shots on the back of your camera’s LCD screen to make sure the eyes are in sharp focus, especially when shooting open wide. When shooting from a distance on my 85mm lens I tend to find my images look quite soft, so I usually stop down to f/8 to increase sharpness.”
Top gear #2
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM This fast prime is perfect for portraits. “I rarely use anything else!” enthuses Amanda. “The wide f/1.2 aperture blurs distracting backgrounds and produces beautiful bokeh. It’s super-sharp and the 85mm focal length gives your subject room to breathe.” It comes with a hefty price tag of £1500/$2000, but Ryan’s EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a fraction of the price, £265/$349.
Get the most from a Model No matter how much (or little) experience your model has, their performance in front of the camera will differ, depending on their personality. “Some start fresh and then fade,” says Amanda, “while others may take 20 or 30 frames to warm up, so it’s worth bearing all this in mind. Look for life in their eyes and wait for them to relax. Developing a connection with your model will give them presence in your shots, which will help the viewer to engage with the finished portrait.”
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