3 FREE GIFTS!
free E-book LANDSCAPES gift 1
your £8.99 field guide
BUYERS’ GUIDE 152 lensES! gift 2
the best CANON-FIT kit
new videos 8 lessons!
gift 3 d-slr & photoshop
February 2015 Issue 96
canon health check
new year! ! s l l i k s w e n h our Make a fresh start witn tips Canon D-SLR and le s
oms Budget telephoto zo£ 0! for beginners from 10
100% CANON no more bad portraits! urns night ta to d y!
how to shoot a moonlit seascape Take your photography to the next level in 2015 by shooting a night scene that looks like day!
Camera and lens skills for great people pictures
don’t fear the flash! Simple home studio setups for Speedlites
beat the shakes!
New workshop guide for 100% sharp shots
FREE!
3 GREAT GIFTS Find out about yo ur 192-page eBook, free videos and Lens Buyers’ Guide
Have a great year with...
See page 5
Canon Edition
THE NO.1 CANON D-SLR PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE!
U n We’re the only magazine in the newsagent that’s 100% dedicated to Canon D-SLRs – making us 100% relevant to your needs. n We’re 100% independent. We don’t answer to Canon and don’t rely on them for advertising – if Canon brings out a new camera or lens and it’s rubbish, we’ll say so! n We’re all Canon D-SLR enthusiasts and between us we’ve got 200 years of photography experience. We’re excited about passing on what we’ve learned – even from our mistakes! n We don’t assume you’re a millionaire. We focus on the Canon D-SLRs most people buy, and feature software and accessories within the average person’s budget. n Our Video Disc has an unrivalled collection of D-SLR technique and Photoshop videos – which can be viewed via our digital editions too! n We are proud to feature some of the best writers and photographers in the business. Turn to page six to meet them all now!
sually I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, mainly as I’m useless at keeping them, and partly because I think you should be able to make big decisions at any time of year. But this year I plan to make an exception – in 2015 I aim to get out and experiment more with different lenses on my Canon D-SLR. After all, isn’t that the best thing about D-SLRs, being able to switch lenses to suit your shots? To help you make a fresh start this year, we begin the first of our Lens Skills Series this issue, starting with the best lenses for shooting portraits. From every type of lens to every type of portrait technique, we’ll teach you it all – see page 30. As it’s freezing outside, we turn our attention to shooting indoors, and this month’s Apprentice learns how to take great shots of a beautiful Ducati motorbike using Canon Speedlite flashguns (page 8). We test eight budget telephoto zooms lenses, prices starting at £100 – they’re the ideal partner for your EF-S kit lens – and we also test five online canvas printing services (page 87). We help you beat the shakes with our PhotoPlus Workshop on sharper shot skills (page 72), and provide more fun photo projects to try including shooting a ‘night for day’ scene, and how to experiment with bokeh. Plus, find out about your three brilliant free gifts, including our Lens Buyers’ Guide with over 150 Canon-fit lenses, a free Landscape Photography Field Guide eBook, and eight video lessons, over the page!
Peter Travers Editor
peter.travers@futurenet.com
New deals! Great print & digital edition subscriptions
Turn to page 20 for money-saving offers!
Issue #96 February 2015
The need for Speedlites!
The Apprentice................. 8
Our Apprentice learns to take stunning shots of a Ducati superbike using only Canon flashguns
Get professional-looking studio shots of sports bikes using only your flashguns
Your Letters.....................18
Page 8
New comments from the PhotoPlus mailbag
Subscribe today..............20 Print? Digital? Why not both! Plus free bag!
Inspirations.....................22 A selection of stunning Canon shots from the Master of Photography Awards
New Lens Skills Guides....30 What are the best lenses for portraiture?
PhotoPlus Skills.................41 Hone your photo-taking – and photo-editing – abilities with our print and video lessons
Lens Buyers’ Guide...........55 Every Canon-fit lens reviewed – and most of them rated – in our exhaustive roundup
new projects! add motion by using ND filters
PhotoPlus Workshop......72 Photos a little on the fuzzy side? We’ll show you how to get pin-sharp shots every time…
Dream Team................... 76 Got a Canon query? Our team of experts are here to tackle your trickiest problems
Your Photos....................80 We offer constructive critiques on your shots
Reader offers .................84 Bag a bargain today with our special offers!
Help Me Buy...................90 Turn the images on your hard drive into enormous canvas prints – five labs tested
Super Test.......................96 Which budget telephoto zoom lens should you buy? The definitive verdict is here!
Next issue..................... 113
super test! telephoto zoom lenses from £100 Page 96
Page 42
Your Questions answered…
What’s wrong with my camera’s
What’s in store in another great new issue…
My Favourite Shot....... 114 The story behind a majestic winter scene 4 | PhotoPlus February 2015
New subscription offers! See page 20
Canon Lenses for Portraits Our new Lens Skills Series starts with perfect lenses for portraiture… Page 30
3free Gifts!
free lenses buyers’ guide! Get the lowdown on every single Canon-compatible lens that’s currently available in our comprehensive pullout guide See page 55
Gift 1
New Video tutorials
New Canon D-SLR and Photoshop projects!
To view our videos, click on the ‘Watch the Video’ badges that appear alongside the watch tutorials. Click the video on the badge http://bit.ly/PP96 to the right to see what videos are in store this issue… See page 39
light metering? p76
Gift 3
Free book!
The Landscape Photography Field Guide, by Carl Heilman II – it’s 192 pages and worth £8.99! Download your free eBook from www.ilexinstant.com/ photoplus-landscape
What’s the best white balance for city lights? p77
Which sports supports are good? p78 PhotoPlus February 2015 | 5
Meet the team
Meet the
PhotoPlus, Future Publishing Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA Editorial +44 (0)1225 442244 photoplus@futurenet.com The PhotoPlus team
Who we are, what we do and our most-wanted lenses… Peter Travers Editor • EOS 5D Mk III
Adam Waring Operations editor • EOS 7D
“Your free pullout this issue is a Buyers’ Guide to every Canon-fit lens – over 150 of them! I’ve been really impressed by Canon’s new EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM when I shot with it recently.”
“I hit October’s ‘Black Friday’ sales and picked up a long-coverted Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM for 10% off, along with a half-price Extender EF 2x III. A little present to myself.”
Angela Nicholson Head of testing • EOS 5D Mk III
Matt Richards Technical writer • EOS 70D
“It’s bigger than the average 50mm lens, but I’m pretty taken with Sigma’s new 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM A, I love the depth of field control and the image quality is superb.”
“I bought a 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens and have been really impressed by its image quality. The new EF-S 24mm STM gives a wider angle of view, ideal for street photography, so that’s next!”
Hollie Latham Staff writer • EOS 60D
Martin Parfitt Art editor • EOS 600D
peter.travers@futurenet.com
Peter Travers Editor Adam Waring Operations editor Hollie Latham Staff writer Martin Parfitt Art editor Shona Cutt Deputy art editor Angela Nicholson Head of testing Matthew Richards Technical writer Shutterstock Cover photo
adam.waring@futurenet.com
angela.nicholson@futurenet.com
photoplus@futurenet.com
martin.parfitt@futurenet.com
hollie.latham@futurenet.com
“If I had a spare £1,500 I’d buy an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II – a versatile all-rounder and great for portraiture. Our new Lens Skills Guides starts with portrait lenses, see page 30.”
“Did somebody mention pancakes? I love them! Especially with little bits of bacon and drizzled with maple syrup. Ah, you’re talking about a different type of pancake…”
Our contributors George Cairns, David Caudery, Adam Gasson, Jonny Gawler, Claire Gillo, Peter Gray, Grant Gunderson, Brett Harkness, Marcus Hawkins, Mike McNally, Ali Jennings, Adam Lee, Andrew McLaughlin, Victoria Palframan, James Paterson, Gavin Roberts
Advertising & Marketing Matt Bailey Account director 01225 687511 matt.bailey@futurenet.com Claire Harris Account manager 01225 687221 claire.harris@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 on behalf of Future Distributed by: Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT, Tel: 0207 429 4000 Overseas distribution by: Seymour International
Subscriptions 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 +44 1225 442244 Fax +44 1225 732275 regina.erak@futurenet.com
Management
This issue’s contributors…
Nial Ferguson Content & marketing director Matthew Pierce Head of content & marketing, photography Chris George Group editor in chief Simon Middleweek Acting group art director Future is an award-winning international media group and leading digital business. We reach more than 49 million international consumers a month and create world-class content and advertising solutions for passionate consumers online, on tablet & smartphone and in print.
Jonny Gawler
Brett Harkness
Marcus Hawkins
Grant Gunderson
Jonny shows this issue’s Apprentice how to capture professional-looking studio shots by just using his flashguns – and a stunning Ducati superbike! Page 8.
Portrait professional Brett contributed to this issue’s new Lens Skills Series on using the best lenses to get perfect portraits every single shot. Page 30.
Are your photos coming out fuzzy? Marcus tells you how to get sharper shots in this issue’s Workshop, from proper focusing to avoiding camera shake. Page 72.
Professional winter sports photographer Grant turns his hand to landscapes, with an incredible mountainous mono masterpiece. Page 114.
Join our interactive online communities…
Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR). www.futureplc.com
Chief executive Zillah Byng-Maddick Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Richard Haley Tel +44 (0)207 042 4000 (London) Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 (Bath)
Print: 22,913 Digital: 3,963 Combined print and digital circulation for Jan-Dec 2013 is 26,876 All information contained in this magazine is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of going to press. Future Publishing Limited cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies that occur. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers direct with regard to pricing.
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. All submissions to PhotoPlus magazine are made on the basis of a licence to publish the submission in PhotoPlus magazine, its licensed editions worldwide and photographyrelated websites. Any material submitted is sent at the owner’s risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future Publishing Limited nor its agents shall be liable for loss or damage.
Website
Flickr
Visit our interactive website for all your Canon EOS D-SLR photography needs, photos and videos.
Our Facebook community is over 200,000 strong! Join in the fun, show off your shots, and ‘Like’ us!
Follow us on Twitter and enjoy updates on new Canon gear, new camera techniques, photos, news and more.
Visit our Flickr group, view top shots, upload your images and enter our photo competitions!
www.digitalcameraworld.com
www.facebook.com/ photoplusmag
@photoplusmag
www.flickr.com/groups/ photoplusmagazine
© Future Publishing Limited 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from well managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. Future Publishing and its paper suppliers have been independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
The PhotoPlus Apprentice
THE PRO... Name: Jonny Gawler Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II Jonny Gawler, based in Bristol, has been a professional photographer for the past 18 years. He caught the photography bug after borrowing his dad’s old 110 film camera when he was ten years old; after his first photos were flawed, he was determined to improve. Now 40, Jonny works for many big UK clients and publishers, shooting anything that moves on the track, and anything that doesn’t in the studio.
The need for
Speedlites! 8 | PhotoPlus February 2015
Your chance to shoot with a pro
THE APPRENTICE… Name: Charlie Oakman Camera: Canon EOS 50D Charlie, from Bradford-upon-Avon in Wiltshire, is a 40-year-old commercial manager for Fast Bikes magazine. His job gives him great access to the world’s best motorbikes, race tracks and paddocks, but Charlie feels he’s not taking advantage of his privileged position to get great photos as he’s struggling to use his Canon 50D, and the lenses, flashguns and triggers he bought second-hand five years ago.
This month’s Apprentice learns how to capture professional studio shots by simply using off-camera flashguns, under the guidance of experienced pro photographer Jonny Gawler Words Peter Travers Location shots Joby Sessions
PhotoPlus February 2015 | 9
The PhotoPlus Apprentice
JONNY’S TIP
Spick and span
“Whether I’m shooting cars, motorbikes or bicycles, they need to be washed and polished before being photographed. I also brush any dirt off the tyres once it’s in position in the studio, then go round with a dustpan and brush to clean up any mess on the floor. A pristine vehicle and floor equals professional photos, plus less image cleaning work in Photoshop afterwards!” smiles Jonny.
PhotoPlus Technique assessment
Is Charlie revved up to shoot motorbikes? Professional studio photographer Jonny Gawler helped PhotoPlus Apprentice Charlie improve his Canon camera setup
Full Auto to Manual
“Charlie usually shot in the ‘Green Box’ Full Auto mode, but when using flash, you need to shoot in Manual mode to control aperture, shutter speed and ISO independently to suit your setup,” says Jonny, “Set your aperture for the subject, shutter speed for the ambient light, and use ISO to brighten the background/project the flash further. Then set flash power to light your subject as you wish.”
10 | PhotoPlus February 2015
Viewfinder to Live View
“When we were kneeling down, Charlie was struggling to compose and focus his shots through the viewfinder,” says Jonny, “So we put his camera on a tripod and fired up Live View on his rear LCD. This way he could comfortably compose his shots, as well as using Manual focus on his lens, and zooming in at x5 and x10 on the screen on key areas of the bike for pin-point precision.”
Your chance to shoot with a pro Charlie’s comment
Exposure: 1/200 sec at f/6.3; ISO200 Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
“Jonny showed me how using two offcamera Speedlites, fired wirelessly and bounced off the walls, create softer light with softer shadows. It’s a vast improvement on the pop-up and hotshoe flash shots (below), and creates a lot of colour and contrast for a punchy studio shot of the striking Ducati 1199 Panigale. By kneeling down and getting lower to the ground, it makes the bike appear bigger and more muscular.”
KILLER KIT OF THE PROS #1 Phottix transmitter and receivers
An off-camera flash from the side can add more depth and shadow, but the direct flash light also shows up every blemish on the bike, as well as creating distracting reflections in the fairing.
“There are more expensive triggers, such as Pocket Wizards, but I find these Phottix Strato II triggers (www.phottix.com) to be very reliable and much more affordable, and all I need to fire flashguns,” says Jonny. “I have one transmitter and three receivers; you simply screw the receivers onto your flash stands or tripods, then slot your Speedlites into their hotshoes.”
EXPERT INSIGHT
The downsides of on-camera flash No flash
3.2 sec at f/8; ISO100 We started off shooting without flash, with only the studio’s fluorescent strip lights to illuminate the bike. We needed to use a long 3.2 sec exposure and a tripod. Result: Bright, but shadowless and dull.
“Before we started getting creative with off-camera flash, I got Charlie to shoot a sequence of shots without flash, with his 50D’s pop-up flash, and with a flashgun in the hotshoe, so he could see how the light affects the bike, and how restrictive on-camera flash can be,” explains Jonny.
Pop-up flash
1/250 sec at f/8; ISO800 Shooting with Charlie’s 50D’s pop-up flash reveals how restrictive and underpowered it can be for lighting up large subjects. Result: Even at ISO800 (any higher would create noise) it’s well underexposed.
Hotshoe flash
1/250 sec at f/8; ISO400 We used a Speedlite 580EX in the hotshoe, upped the ISO to 400 to project the flash, and dialled in +1 stop of flash exposure compensation to brighten up the shot. Result: Well exposed but lacks depth.
PhotoPlus February 2015 | 11
WWW
The PhotoPlus Apprentice
EXPERT INSIGHT
Creative close-ups
JONNY’S TIP
“Whether I’m shooting for a magazine, manufacturer or taking pictures of a car enthusiast’s pride and joy, they’ll often want tighter close-ups of cool details and badges. Here I was concentrating on illustrating the beautiful Italian engineering,” explains Jonny, “For close-ups I’ll use a lens with a long focal length of 100mm and an aperture of f/2.8 to f/5.6, depending on how much I want to capture sharp, and what should be blurred out of focus in front or behind the focal point.”
Speedlite setup “With our Speedlites affixed to flash stands, I next set their power output manually. On a Canon 580EX, press the Mode button until M appear on the flashgun’s LCD screen. You can set the power from 1/1 (full) power to 1/64 power in 1/3-stop increments. Press the middle Select button, then turn the dial to set the power – I find that 1/4-power is a good starting point. When bouncing the light, you’ll find you need to increase the flash power – perhaps to 1/2-power or full power,” says Jonny.
12 | PhotoPlus December 2014