Links to all videos included + studio lighting layout guide Issue 43 • March 2015 www.digitalcameraworld.com
SETTINGS MASTERCLASS
CORE NIKOn SKILLS The 10 essential features you need to master on your D-SLR
NEW SECTION
D5500 HAN
DSPREVIEWON
Discover a cool new way to capture light trails at home
NIKOPEDIA
BIG TEST!
WHY SIZE MATTERS
STUDIO lights We pit four of the best affordable flash
heads against four constant lights
Michael Freeman on why less can be more when it comes to pixels
apprentice
The key is to love and respect what you’re photographing. When you respect your subjects, you can start to take good shots Jorge Camilo Valenzuela, wildlife pro p82
CLOUD BURST
Add drama to any sky with an ND filter p46
LIGHT RELIEF
Shoot stunning portraits with window light p54
STREET
SMARTS
Want to try street photography but not sure where to start? We go behind the scenes of a shoot on London’s South Bank
TOY TOWN
Get the tilt-shift effect in Photoshop p56
5
ways to GET even more OUT OF N-PHOTO
Welcome to issue 43 of…
1 Online… Catch up with Nikon news, get inspired & learn new skills
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ABOUT THE COVER
Title Aurora Road Photographer Stian Klo Home Harstad, Norway Camera Nikon D800 Lens 14-14mm f/2.8 Exposure 6 secs at f/2.8, ISO2000 Description Taken in the Lofoten Islands, Norway, this image is intentionally dark, so it desperately needs to be viewed on black. It’s pretty much straight out of camera– all I did was balance the highlights, reduce the noise and crop it slightly. I know it’s not the craziest aurora, but I like the balance in the picture, with the road leading straight to the mountains, the aurora and even Jupiter! Website 500px.com/stianklo
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■ Modern D-SLRs are complicated beasts. They’re so packed with features and shooting options that it can sometimes be hard to know where to start, even for those with a solid grasp of the essentials. That’s where this issue’s feature comes in: what are the settings we really need to master, and what can we manage without? Sure, some specialities require more advanced features than others, which is why manufacturers include them, but the features that every photographer uses, regardless of style or genre, can be boiled down to just 10. Get the hang of them, and you’ll be well on your way to realising your own photographic goals for 2015. Elsewhere, we’ve plenty more to inspire you, from a pro who spent four months shooting in the Amazon jungle with a broken foot, to a masterclass on street photography that’ll dispel any doubts you might have about photographing strangers in public places. Plus, back by popular demand is The Big Project, which this issue walks – or rather wheels – you through a cool way to capture light trails. And as always, if you’ve been inspired to try any of our projects for yourself, we’d love to see the results!
Paul Grogan, Editor paul.grogan@futurenet.com
Meet the stars at The Show! ■ If you haven’t etched The Photography Show into your
calendar yet, perhaps our line-up of speakers will tempt you to save the date. Reading like a who’s who of photography, it includes legendary war photographer Don McCullin, Magnum maestro Martin Parr, National Geographic stalwart Lynsey Addario, and many, many more. The four-day show takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from 21-24 March 2015. For more information or to book your tickets visit www.photographyshow.com
Issue 43
For more contents listings go to page 5
March 2015
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Cover feature
The 10 things you need to master
Your Nikon camera is capable of amazing things – and to get great shots, there are just 10 things you need to get to grips with
Nikon Skills Take the long view 46 49 Play in puddles 50 Start importing 52 Let there be lights! 54 Keep it natural 56 Shrink to fit Go for a spin 58
Nikopedia 74
Cover feature
Capture cloud movement as a beautiful blur using a long exposure
Take a different perspective on familiar buildings – you just need some rain!
Get your images into Lightroom, so you can start processing them
Discover what you can achieve with a basic studio lighting set-up at home
No flash to hand? Try six ways to use a window as a giant softbox for portraits
Use Photoshop to mimic the ‘toytown’ effect usually created by a tilt-shift lens
Cover feature
Create fantastic light dome images with a bike wheel and some fairy lights
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March 2015
Essentials The Apprentice 08 20 Lightbox 40 Subscriptions offer 62 Over to You The N-Photo Interview 82 121 Next issue 122 My Best Shot Cover feature
One lucky N-Photo reader gets a masterclass in stylish street photography
The latest inspirational images from Nikon photographers around the world
74
Cover feature
Nikon Know-how
If you’ve ever wondered what difference the size and resolution of your camera’s sensor makes to your photographs, Michael Freeman will set your mind at rest
78
Nikon Software
80
Ask Rod
Discover Capture NX-D’s Unsharp Mask tool, and learn how to use it to give your images extra definition Got a burning Nikon-related question? Whether you’re making a buying decision or having trouble with part of your kit, Rod is here to help
Get N-Photo in print or digital form, or subscribe to our brilliant bundle deal
Three photo stories packed with brilliant shots, plus all your rants and raves
Cover feature
Step into the wild world of jungle photographer Jorge Camilo Valenzuela
The good stuff doesn’t end with this issue – here’s something to look forward to Don McPhee’s image of the calm before the storm in the 1984 miners’ strike
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expert HANDS-ON video guideS Whenever you see this button, simply use this web link… bit.ly/NPhoto43 to view our online video tutorials
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Cover feature Stunning images from Nikon-using photographers around the world
98
Test Team 95 Pro Picks D5500 preview 96 98 Big Test 108 New Gear
Discover the kit underwater pro Chris Gug uses when he takes the plunge
Cover feature
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Nikon’s latest D-SLR is sure to garner lots of attention. Does it deserve to? It’s four flash heads versus four constant lights in our studio lighting face-off Smaller lenses from Nikon, thanks to innovative design, and a chunky top-ofthe range A3+ printer from Epson
112
Mini Test
Make your flash even more useful with one of these six flash modifiers
www.digitalcameraworld.com
01
Use an ND filter to add beautiful cloud blur to your landscapes
02
03
Import your images into Lightroom, ready for editing
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Discover how to set up and use a basic home studio kit
05
Six ways to use the light from a window to illuminate portraits
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Take a new look at familiar landmarks – just add water!
Learn how to mimic the tilt-shift effect in Adobe Camera Raw
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108
The secrets of creating Say goodbye to soft stunning light domes, shots with Capture THE VIDEOS INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS DISCNX-D’s ARE 100%Unsharp INDEPENDENT AND tool NOT just likeAND this, revealed! Mask ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY NIKON CORPORATION OR ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
March 2015
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The first new Nikon of 2015 has already been announced. What else are the team expecting?
Print 23,929 Digital 6,767 The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation for Jan-Dec 2013 is
30,696
A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations
Paul Grogan Editor | D800
paul.grogan@futurenet.com
Flip-out screens are controversial – we’ve had more feedback on those than anything else lately! – but I think they’re here to stay, and we’ll see more of them.
Andrew Leung Art Editor | D5100
andrew.leung@futurenet.com
I reckon we’ll see more rugged cameras in the Nikon 1 lineup. People want to record the exciting things they do, and that needs a tough camera.
Ali Jennings Lab Manager | D800 ali.jennings@futurenet.com
Wi-Fi is going to become a must-have feature in coming years, and I reckon it’ll be most in demand in cheaper cameras for social media use.
Miriam McDonald Operations Editor | D3100 miriam.mcdonald@futurenet.com
I’m holding out for an updated Nikon Df… or just a cheaper one! I’d rather have dials than a touchscreen, and there’s a growing market for retro cameras.
Matt Tuffin Staff Writer | D700 matt.tuffin@futurenet.com
Whether it flips out or not, the D5500’s touchscreen is a really nice feature, and will have wide appeal. People will want them on other models.
Angela Nicholson Head of Testing | D7100 angela.nicholson@futurenet.com
I predict we’ll see more lenses incorporating Fresnel elements. Smaller and lighter, they’ll make it so much easier to take lots of lenses into the field.
This issue’s special contributors… Damien Demolder
■ Journalist and pro photographer Damien gave this issue’s Apprentice a masterclass in street photography. Page 8
Michael Freeman
■ Michael explores the world of sensors: what difference size makes, and the effect of pixel density. Page 74
George Cairns
■ George shows you how to get the ‘toytown’ look (usually created by a tilt-shift lens) using Photoshop. Page 56
James Paterson
■ Getting just the right amount of blur in clouds is a real art – and James is happy to share his technique. Page 46
Brandon Yoshizawa
■ By the end of 2015 photos like Brandon’s will be all that remains of the Sixth Street Bridge. History captured! Page 24
Keith Wilson
■ From the jungle to the picket line, Keith’s interviewees have been to some dramatic locations. Pages 82 & 122
March 2015
Paul Grogan Editor Andrew Leung Art Editor Shona Cutt Deputy Art Editor Miriam McDonald Operations Editor MattTuffin Staff Writer Angela Nicholson Head of Testing Ali Jennings Imaging Lab Manager Video production Pete Gray Producer Adam Lee Videographer Advertising Matt Bailey Senior Sales Executive matt.bailey@futurenet.com, 01225 687511 Claire Harris Account Manager Marketing & circulation Charlotte Lloyd-Williams Direct Marketing Executive Michelle Brock Trade Marketing Manager 0207 429 3683 Print & production Vivienne Calvert Production Controller Mark Constance Production Manager International & licensing Regina Erak International Director regina.erak@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 442244 Management Nial Ferguson Content and Marketing Director Matthew Pierce Head of Content & Marketing: Photography, Creative & Design 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
Rod Lawton
■ What’s behind the Unsharp Mask? Rod’s guide to sharpening shots in Capture NX-D, that’s what. Page 78
Chris Rutter
■ Confused by your camera? Chris teaches you the ten things you really need to master to take great photographs. Page 28
Our contributors Ben Andrews, Stephen Ball, James Birtwistle, Jorge Camilo Valenzuela, Laurie Campbell, Paulo Carvalho, Julian Claxton, Mark Cote, Stan Ford, Hollie Latham, Rod Lawton, Simon Lees, Grzegorz Lewandowski, Mike McNally, Don McPhee, Ralph Morse, Martjin van der Nat, Anna Omiotek-Tott, Vasilis Ramiotis, Joby Sessions Special thanks to… Bath & North-East Somerset Council
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N-Photo Magazine, Future Publishing Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, UK, BA1 1UA Editorial mail@nphotomag.com +44 (0)1225 442244 Subscriptions and back issues (UK) 0844 848 2852 (overseas) +44 (0)1604 251045 Subscriptions nphoto@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Or go to www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/nphoto
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.
N-Photo is an independent publication and is not in any way authorised, affiliated, nor sponsored by Nikon. All the opinions expressed herein are those of the magazine and not that of Nikon. Nikon, NIKKOR and all associated trademarks are the property of Nikon Corporation. © 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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THE
Name Paulo Carvalho Camera Nikon D600 ■ Originally from Portugal, engineer Paulo works at the world-renowned McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, and ventures into London whenever he gets the chance to indulge his new-found passion for street photography. He first got into photography back in Portugal, winning a number of competitions, but only started taking it more seriously when he moved to the UK in 2013. His first Nikon, which he bought back in 2004, was a D70, but in 2013 he invested in a D600 and has never looked back. You can see more of his photography on his website at: www.paulocarvalhophoto.com
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March 2015
Name Damien Demolder Camera Nikon D610 ■ A journalist and photographer with decades of experience, Damien has been a Nikon user all of his professional life, and what he doesn’t know about the Nikon system isn’t worth knowing! He can turn his hand to most genres, but his passion is street photography. “Not necessarily street photography in the traditional sense,” he explains, “but photography that includes the street, and makes the most of its shapes to frame shots and direct the viewer’s attention towards the subject. People are always the focal point, but I’m also interested in capturing a sense of place.” For details of Damien’s photo courses visit: www.damiendemolder.com
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Street photography masterclass
For this month’s Apprentice, reader Paulo spent a day exploring London’s South Bank with street photography ace and all-round Nikon expert Damien Demolder. Here’s how they got on…
www.digitalcameraworld.com
March 2015
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Hot Shot #01
EXPOSURE 1/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO400 10 LENS Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G March 2015
www.digitalcameraworld.com
Street photography masterclass
OUR APPRENTICE says… I know from my own street photography that luck plays its part, but I also know that to get lucky you have to have your camera with you, and be on the look out for possible subjects. In the case of our first Hot Shot we’d only been shooting for 10 minutes when this rather dapper gent wandered past, and then stopped to pose when he realised we were taking photos! I love the graphic simplicity of this shot, and the dramatic side-lighting, but it’s the bright blue of the background, and the fact that this colour is echoed in the rather incongruous plastic bag, that makes it. Oh, and I love the splash of red in his shoes!
Dial it down
Because Paulo’s first Hot Shot was dominated by the dark blue underpass wall, leaving the camera to its own devices resulted in a washed-out image, as his D600’s light meter tried to render the deep blue as an average mid-tone. Damien suggested dialling in a stop of negative exposure compensation, which darkened the blue wall but left the subject perfectly exposed.
TECHNIQUE ASSESSMENT
Was Paulo ready to hit the streets? Paulo’s portfolio was almost entirely in black and white, but Damien had other ideas…
Colour code
Damien says… While Paulo does shoot in colour, he converts most of his street images to black and white, to give them a more graphic quality, and a reportage feel. However, like most cities, London is such a vibrant place that I prefer to shoot in colour, for colour – for me colour, and colour contrast, is critical.
Deep thought
Damien says… As long as your shutter speed is fast enough to counter camera shake and freeze movement, it’s not that important – more important is depth of field, and whether you want the background in focus. In aperturepriority mode you can set the aperture you want and let the camera work out the shutter speed.
Freeze frame Frame your photos
If you’re shooting in cities, you don’t necessarily have to approach total strangers to get good shots, says Damien. In a busy place, you can simply frame your shot and wait for people to walk into frame. They may stop and ask what you’re photographing, but most won’t even notice. If you’re approached by an over-zealous security guard, though, it’s usually best to simply make your apologies and move on.
Pro’s Killer Kit #01 50mm prime lens Damien says… One way to ensure you don’t stick out like a sore thumb, and so increase your chances of getting genuinely candid shots, is to make sure you look less like a bazooka-wielding paparazzo and more like a tourist taking snaps. Attaching a long lens might seem tempting, as it will enable you to keep your distance, but it will also make it very obvious what you’re pointing at! With a small 50mm prime, you can simply shoot in the general direction of a potential subject, without them being any the wiser.
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Damien says… Many street photographers use Auto ISO, but the problem with this is that it may set a shutter speed that’s fast enough to prevent camera shake, but not fast enough to freeze the pedestrians hurrying by. I prefer to increase the ISO manually to 400 or even 800, so that I can be sure that the shutter speed will be fast enough even if light levels fall.
pro’s kit bag
Damien’s Domke F2 bag, while a classic design, doesn’t look like a stereotypical camera bag, which helps him remain unobtrusive during street photography sessions. Here’s what he carries in it: Nikon D610 ■ Nikon D7100 ■ Nikon 50mm f/1.4G ■ Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED ■ Samyang 85mm f/1.4 ■ Sony Xperia Z tablet ■ USB card reader ■ USB On-The-Go cable
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Hot Shot #02 Pro’s Killer kit #02 Tablet or smartphone Damien says… A tablet or phone with a USB link or Wi-Fi is ideal for reviewing your images when you take a break. It’s tricky to review your shots when things are happening all around you and you’re shooting on the fly, so taking the time to look back at what you’ve shot will pay dividends in terms of helping you see what works and what doesn’t, and also whether it’s worth returning to a location to improve on what you’ve got, or try something new.
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March 2015
Be negative!
Underpasses provide great opportunities for silhouetting passing pedestrians against the sky. The key with a shot like this is to dial in a stop or two of negative exposure compensation (otherwise the darker underpass will be ‘correctly’ exposed and the sky will blow out), and to make the most of the shape of the sky itself – in this case the strong inverted triangle created by the underpass.
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