macro lenses in-depth group test for close focusing
Practical advice for enthusiasts and pros
www.digitalcameraworld.com
free VIDEO GUIDES Expert editing advice
Issue 214
Learn to shoot
Perfect Photos composition skills FIND A LOCATIOn editing tips PLAN YOUR Landscapes
NEW SKILLS
focus stacking
Step-by-step
Multi Filter Masterclass
Panasonic S1 Fully tested
Can it beat Nikon’s Z6?
Summer scenes Keep shooting as the days get brighter & longer
pro guide
balance the light Better portrait exposures
© Peter Fenech
welcome
“There’s a lot involved in creating truly great images – much more than we initially imagine” Welcome to the latest issue of Digital Photographer magazine. If there’s one thing that most of us discover pretty early on in our journeys as photographers, it’s that there’s an awful lot involved in creating truly great images – much more than we initially imagine. Even with today’s modern cameras, which certainly help to give us the best possible chance of success, there’s much that needs to be mastered. It’s a process that often begins long before the camera is even out of the bag. Locations need to be scouted, light needs to be assessed and compositions framed with care. In our feature on page 34, we’ve explored each of these stages to help you take perfect photos. Then our pro guide to balancing the light for better portraits, written by Holly Wren, starts on page 48 of the magazine and
takes a look at how to achieve better exposures in all your photos of people. Another top professional, Mark Bauer, has explored how to shoot stunning scenes during the summer months, when the days are longer and brighter. You’ll find it on page 62. Our shooting and editing tutorial this issue looks at how to use focus stacking techniques for your macro images, and we’ve also taken a look at macro lenses in this issue’s group test. As always, we’d love to see some of your own images, so please upload them to our Facebook page at facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK. If you’ve got a question about photography that you’d love us to tackle in the magazine, simply get in touch using the email address directly below. Until next time, enjoy your photography! Matt Bennett, Editor matthew.bennett@futurenet.com
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Senior Designer Neo Phoenix Production Editor James Price Staff Writer Peter Fenech Senior Art Editor Rebecca Shaw Content Director Chris George Photographer Bath Photo Studio Contributors Helen Bartlett, Mark Bauer, John Erwin, Rebecca Greig, Richard Hill, Kerry James, Leigh Keily, Angela Nicholson, Kate Puttick, Matthew Richards, Simon Skellon, David Southard, Holly Wren, Steve Wright Main cover image © Shutterstock Advertising Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove clare.dove@futurenet.com Advertising Manager Michael Pyatt michael.pyatt@futurenet.com +44 (0)1225 687538 Account Manager Matt Bailey matt.bailey@futurenet.com +44 (0)1225 687511 International Licensing Digital Photographer is available for licensing. Contact the Licensing team to discuss partnership opportunities. Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw licensing@futurenet.com Subscriptions Email enquiries digitalphotographer@servicehelpline.co.uk UK orderline & enquiries 0344 848 2852 Overseas order line and enquiries +44 (0) 344 848 2852 Online orders & enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Group Marketing Director Sharon Todd Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers
© Holly Wren
Production Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Vivienne Calvert
Our contributors Peter Fenech
David Southard
MARK BAUER
David is based in the beautiful surrounds of Knowsley Safari Park and is an expert on all aspects of nature photography. In the shooting and editing tutorial on p82 of the magazine, David reveals how to tackle the difficult task of focus stacking, to help you to capture masterful macro images.
Despite being one of the UK’s hardest working and most prolific landscape photographers and workshop leaders, Mark has found time this issue to produce a guide to summer landscapes, revealing the techniques that he himself uses to create stunning shots in difficult conditions. Head to p62 of the magazine to read it.
Website:
Website:
Website:
ANGELA NICHOLSON
wildarena.com
markbauerphotography.com
MAtthew RICHARDS
Holly Wren
In this issue, our regular kit expert Angela turns her attention to the new Panasonic Lumix S1, a full-frame mirrorless model that could prove a serious challenger to the likes of the Nikon Z 6. Turn to p106 of the magazine to discover her finding. She’s also reviewed a batch of accessories, starting on p110.
Regular readers will know that Matthew is our resident group test reviewer of cameras and lenses, and in this issue he has taken a close-up look, if you’ll pardon the pun, at a set of macro lenses, pitting them against each other to see which one is his top recommendation. Head over to p98 to read it.
If you follow Holly on Instagram, you’ll know that she rarely stops taking incredible portraits, so we’re lucky that’s been able to contribute another great feature to the magazine, this time tackling the issue of balancing natural light, Head to p48 to discover the secrets that she uses in her own work.
Website:
Website:
Website:
angelanicholson.com 4
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Peter is Digital Photographer magazine’s staff writer, but he’s also a passionate landscape photographer, and knows all about careful planning and location scouting. Head over to p34 of the magazine to begin reading his major feature. He’s also looked at achieving better prints on p76. digitalcameraworld.com
Management General Manager Matthew Pierce Group Content Director Paul Newman Head of Art & Design Rodney Dive Chief Content Officer Aaron Asadi
matthewrichards.uk
hollywren.com
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The Gallery
your free assets Turn over to get hold of your bonus content
Contents 20 Story Behind the Still Harald Peki reveals the secrets behind his stunning image
In Focus 22 News The latest product announcements and industry developments
26 Interview
34 P lan, shoot & edit perfect photos Master location scouting and assess the light and land to capture perfect photos
48 B alance the light
62 S ummer Landscapes Mark Bauer on how to keep shooting landscapes as the days get longer
Print & Share 76 I mprove your prints
Go Pro
Shooting Skills
90 Work with famous faces
82 Focus stacking
Discover how studying photography can lead to a wide range of careers
Master this complicated technique for improved macro images
114 Pro Column
88 Work with filters
Helen Bartlett talks about never putting the camera down
Discover how to improve your exposures with filter systems
48
Balance the light
62
Holly Wren discusses how to achieve better portrait exposures
Wedding photographer Kerry James discusses her success
6
© Holly Wren
10 The Gallery Some of our favourite images from our online community
Techniques
Essential steps for reliable results
© Mark Bauer
Your Images
Summer landscapes
26 ©David Southard, Wild Arena Ltd
Interview
82
Focus stacking
Reviews 98 Group Test: macro lenses Four close-up options are assessed and compared
106 Panasonic Lumix S1 Does this mirrorless full-frame model have what it takes?
110 Accessories A roundup of products for photographers to consider
98
88
Work with ND filters
© Kerry James
©Shutterstock
Perfect photos
© Mark Bauer
34
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your images
The Gallery 2x © Magdalena Szurek
Some of the best images from our online community Magdalena Szurek Image title: Yellow What camera, lens and settings did you use to capture this stunning shot? Canon 7D, 10-22 mm @ 19 mm, 1/40sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 How did you decide on the composition? I often shoot spiral stairs, and I know that they should be photographed from as far away as possible, to show their spiral structure, which creates their atmosphere. What do you like most about the image? This image attracts mainly [through its use of] strong yellow colours – it contrasts very well with the white. Did you do much post-processing? I applied only basic edits without much interference – these were only contrast adjustments.
Upload your images to our Facebook page now for your chance to have your work printed in the magazine. Go to www.facebook.com/ DigitalPhotographerUK. 10
Win! MicroSDXC Samsung 128GB EVO Plus with SD adapter Every issue one reader gallery entry wins a Samsung 128GB EVO Plus memory card with SD adapter worth £47.99. The card boasts 100 MB/s & 90 MB/s read and write speeds respectively – perfect for shooting and playing 4K UHD video without glitches. Find out more at samsung.com/uk/ memory-cards
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9000
your images
Akhlaq Ahmed
2x © Akhlaq Ahmed
Image title: ale model M fashion shoot “This photo was taken when I purchased some photography lighting equipment and needed to test it out. The photo was taken using a small set up in my bedroom, along with a beauty dish, one flashgun above the subject pointing down and a Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The aim was to make this stand out from the crowd – I decided to aim for a fashion magazine commercial type photo. What I like most is the fact that it has turned out the exact same way that I had pictured in my head beforehand – it brings my imagination to life.”
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