WIN! A WATERPROOF NIKON PLUS FREE GUIDE To 50 NIKON CLASSICS Issue 46 • June 2015 www.digitalcameraworld.com
BIGGEST EVER ISSUE 10 NEW SE CTIONS 148 PAGES!
ESSENTIAL BUYING ADVICE
ULTIMATE BUYER'S GUIDE
Check out our all-new, six-page round-up of every Nikon system camera and Nikon-compatible lens
NEW COMPETITiON!
PRO TIPS
HAVE NIKON, WILL TRAVEL What kit to take, how to carry it, backing-up and more... APPRENTICE
JUNGLE FEVER Go behind the scenes of a travel photography workshop deep in the Colombian rainforest BIG TEST
BEST TRAVEL CAMERAS We reveal the most suitable option for every budget GET FRUITY
Capture a cuttingedge illusion p49
FACE THE MOON Be creative by playing with perspective p54
Photographer Of the year 2015 Enter your best images in our Nikon-only photo contest
MAJOR NEW SERIES!
MAKE CASH WITH YOUR NIKON PART 1 – Get the inside track on how to submit your photos to magazines and competitions
PHOTO REVIEW
Your images assessed by our expert panel p74
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Welcome to issue 46 of…
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ABOUT THE COVER
Title Toroweap, Grand Canyon Photographer Elliot McGucken Home USA Camera Nikon D810 Lens Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 Exposure 1/20 sec Description This was shot at sunrise, at Toroweap in the Grand Canyon, 60 miles down a rocky dirt road. The first time I tried to get there, I got caught behind a flash flood, and had to turn back halfway. The next day I decided to give it another try. I camped close to the ledge there and was lucky that there was a brief break in the clouds at sunrise! Website www.elliotmcgucken.com
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■ Welcome to the biggest-ever issue of N-Photo! Not only does this issue feature 148 pages of inspiring images, ideas and advice, it also boasts no fewer than 10 new sections, every one of which brings something new to the N-Photo experience. Perhaps the most exciting addition is our new Make Cash with your Nikon regular, which each issue will cover a different way of generating income from your images, complete with industry insights. And speaking of cash, my own favourite new regular is My Big Break, which reveals the image that made the names of some of the world’s best-known pros. First up: wildlife supremo Marsel van Oosten. I’m also excited about On Assignment, which takes an in-depth look at a series of images, and picks out the killer shot – and explains why it works. This issue, we’ve got a heart-rending image from the jungles of Sumatra. Slightly less exotic, but every bit as useful, is our new Buyer’s Guide, which features an at-a-glance comparison of all Nikon system cameras and Nikon-compatible lenses, so you can buy or upgrade with confidence. All that plus a new Head-to-Head section, the N-Photo Portfolio Review, a brand new Photographer of the Year competition and much, much more. Enjoy!
Paul Grogan, Editor paul.grogan@futurenet.com
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Issue 46
For more contents listings go to page 5
June 2015
08 Essentials The Apprentice 08 20 Lightbox 28 On Assignment 42 Subscriptions offers Have Nikon, will travel 63 Over to You 70 Cash from your Nikon 98 102 My Big Break 104 The N-Photo Interview 115 Next issue 138 Back issues Cover feature
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Capturing the trip of a lifetime: a masterclass on location in the Amazon
Cover feature
The ultimate pre-shoot checklist
Whatever you’re planning to photograph, these are the settings to dial in before you start – it’ll make your life so much easier!
Nikon Skills 46 Find a fresh angle Play with your food 49 50 Try tethered shooting 52 Clean your D-SLR Face the moon 54 56 Go beyond the city limits 58 Throw on some colour
Discover new ways to shoot familiar subjects, with six tips for finding new angles
Cover feature
Grab some fruit and a knife, and create a cutting-edge optical illusion…
Speed up your workflow with our guide to tethered shooting in Lightroom Learn how to clean your camera inside and out with our step-by-step guide
Cover feature
Experiment with perspective, and recreate our ‘moon in the man’ portrait
Layer slightly different images of a cityscape to create an Impressionistic look Create amazing images by throwing coloured powder at a willing model!
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June 2015
Nikopedia 86 Nikon Know-how
Michael Freeman explains how different lighting affects your photos, and how changing your White Balance can correct unwanted colour casts
90
Nikon software
Use Capture NX-D to assign star ratings to your shots, and give them numerical ratings and colour codes
92 Ask Matt
Our Nikon expert is here to solve all your camera-related problems and help with those important buying decisions
94 Nikon Toolkit 95 Head-to-head 96 Nikon by Numbers
We help a reader find the perfect, affordable lens for shooting family portraits
Two 18-300mm zoom lenses, perfect for travelling – but which one’s the best? The statistics that are setting our photographic world alight this month
The latest inspirational images from Nikon photographers around the world Craig Jones reveals the challenges of shadowing orangutan rescue teams
Save money! Subscribe to N-Photo in print or digital format, or both together
Cover feature
Renowned travel pro Steve Davey helps you get ready for your next adventure
Cover feature
Brilliant photo stories, Portfolio Review, your letters and our competition
Cover feature
This issue: how to earn money from magazines and photographic competitions
How an unusual photo in a famous location made Marsel van Oosten’s career Kevin Cummins tells the story of his career, and shares his iconic music images The good stuff doesn’t end with this issue – here’s something to look forward to Missed an issue? Get it here!
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expert HANDS-ON video guideS Whenever you see this button, simply use this web link… bit.ly/NPhoto46 to view our online video tutorials
63 120
Test Team 116 New Gear 118 Mini Test Big Test 120
All the latest Nikon-fit kit, including a tripod, a flash, and really flexible lighting
120
Good-looking, yet roomy, shoulder bags that protect your camera kit
132 146 Pro Picks
Cover feature
Buyer’s Guide
All the stats you need on cameras and lenses, so you can buy the perfect one
Scottish wildlife pro Laurie Campbell shares his rugged choices
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Take a fresh look at things: six ways to shoot a single subject
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Speed up your work with tethered shooting in Lightroom
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Clean your camera properly and help prolong its working life
05
Use perspective cleverly and make a ‘moon in the man’ portrait
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Cut up pieces of fruit to create a tasty optical illusion
Layer a set of images to create an Impressionistic cityscape
116
Cover feature
Size matters for travelling. We consider eight pocket-friendly Nikons that won’t use all your baggage allowance
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118 Add a dash of Be more organised: movement and colour rate and label your THE AND INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS DISCimages ARE 100% in INDEPENDENT NOT toVIDEOS a portrait Capture AND NX-D ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY NIKON CORPORATION OR ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
June 2015
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We’ve introduced some new sections this issue – so what are the team’s favourite articles?
Print 22,708 Digital 7,184 The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation for Jan-Dec 2014 is
29,892
A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations
Paul Grogan Editor | D800
paul.grogan@futurenet.com
I love our new, expanded photo competition (page 81), and I hope you will too. Our readers are so talented, I can’t wait to see what pictures we get.
Andrew Leung Art Editor | D5100
andrew.leung@futurenet.com
Finding the right way to display all the information in Nikon By Numbers (page 96) was great fun – and there are some really fun facts in there, too.
Ali Jennings Lab Manager | D800 ali.jennings@futurenet.com
Head-to-head (page 95)! We take two bits of hardware and compare them, but only one can come out on top. This month two travel lenses fight it out…
Miriam McDonald Operations Editor | D3100 miriam.mcdonald@futurenet.com
Steve Davey’s guide to what kit to pack when going travelling (page 63) certainly looks useful – especially his advice on how to keep bag weight down!
Matt Tuffin Staff Writer | D700 matt.tuffin@futurenet.com
I loved advising readers in Nikon Portfolio (page 74). So many good photographers just need a nudge to become great ones, and we’re happy to nudge!
Angela Nicholson Head of Testing | D7100 angela.nicholson@futurenet.com
It has to be our Buyer’s Guide (page 132). Helping people get the right kit to suit their needs is all-important to us, and this regular will be really helpful.
This issue’s special contributors… Chris Rutter
■ With Chris’s guide to setting up your Nikon before a shoot, you’ll always be prepared for anything. Page 30
Michael Freeman
■ Banish unwanted colour casts with a little help from Michael’s explanation of white balance. Page 86
George Cairns
■ George shows you how assigning ratings to your shots in Capture NX-D makes it easy to find images. Page 90
Tom Welsh
■ Tom headed to the Devil’s favourite sunbathing spot to explore new ways to photograph popular sights. Page 46
John Quintero
■ John took two intrepid readers into the Amazon rainforest for a masterclass in spectacular travel shots. Page 08
Keith Wilson
■ Keith chatted to wildlife pro Marsel van Oosten about the stunning shot that launched his career. Page 102
June 2015
Paul Grogan Editor Andrew Leung Art Editor Miriam McDonald Operations Editor Matt Tuffin 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
James Paterson
■ One very tolerant model helped James in his quest to shoot a stunning powder-paint portrait. Page 58
Matthew Richards
■ If you like to travel light, you won’t want to miss Matthew’s comparison of the best travel cameras. Page 120
Our contributors Alessio Andreani, Ben Andrews, Rodrigo Bejarano, Laurie Campbell, James Connolly, Kevin Cummins, Steve Davey, Christian Eiden, Thierry Faula, Carlos Mario Gallego, Marion Grenyer, Marcus Hawkins, Craig Jones, Garry Jones, Simon Lees, Andy McGregor, Mike McNally, Luis Muñoz, Marsel van Oosten, Graham Parker, James Paterson, Jim Rippe, Gina Rohekar, Christian Schwabe, Joby Sessions, Isam Telhami, Debbie Tubridy, Tsiouris Vasilis, Hans van Vrouwerf, Keith Wilson Special thanks to… Sophie Fielden-Stewart, Bath & North-East Somerset Council, Jacqui Mills and the Bristol Airport staff
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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.
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).
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THE
For this issue’s special Apprentice, readers Carlos and Luis met up with travel photographer John Quintero in the Amazon rainforest to learn how to capture travel photographs worth sharing. Here’s how they got on…
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Travel photography masterclass
Name Luis Muñoz Camera D610 ■ Luis has been a full-time doctor for the past eight years, but fills his spare time with photography. He first picked up a D3200 two years ago and loved the results, but has since upgraded to a full-frame D610. He also owns a Nikon F2 film camera, along with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 and Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lenses. For this Apprentice special, he also managed to get hold of a modern classic wide-angle lens, the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8. As well as travel photography, Luis’s favourite genres are street photography and astro photography.
www.digitalcameraworld.com
Name John Quintero Cameras D3s, D700 ■ A former picture researcher for the BBC, John is a freelance photographer specialising in travel photography and portraiture. He works out of London , carrying out regular assignments for editorial and commercial clients, but devotes time to travelling the world to document remote cultures. His work has been published in the likes of The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian, as well as being used by the British Museum and UNESCO, and exhibited in China, India, South Korea and Germany. www.johnquintero.com
Name Carlos Mario Gallego Camera D5100 ■ Carlos studies AgroEnvironment Technology in Antioquia, Colombia. A recent convert to digital photography, his first camera was a Nikon D5100, which he bought two and a half years ago and is still going strong today. His lens line-up comprises a Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, a Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR and a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX II. For this trip, he also borrowed a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II zoom – perfect for the approachable wildlife he’d be encountering, as well as for any low-light portrait work.
June 2015
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APPRENTICE Pro’s Killer kit #01 long cotton scarf
Manual all the way
While in Santa Rosa in the Peruvian Amazon, John and Carlos found some children playing in a flooded area of the village. John suggested to Carlos that he should switch to manual exposure mode and use spot metering, taking an exposure from the childrens’ faces to ensure that they’d be correctly and consistently exposed, regardless of whether they were in front of bright water or a darker background. Taking a quick test shot and adjusting the exposure values accordingly meant there was no excuse to miss a shot! John also recommended using the continuous drive setting on Carlos’s D5100, and shooting bursts of shots in order to capture peak moments such as kids jumping and water splashing.
John says… I always carry a long cotton scarf with me, as it comes in handy for a wide range of situations. For instance, it can be used as protection against the elements and can help to hide a camera if you find yourself in dodgy situations. I have also used it as a blanket, a pillow and a towel, and to protect my head from the sun and dust. In fact, I can’t think of a single more useful item that I travel with.
Environmental portraits
“As well as shooting head-and-shoulder portraits, take a step back and include as much of the environment as possible,” suggests John. “This can be important to the storyline of your pictures. Take notes as well. A picture may be worth 1000 words, but if you have extra information about locations and the names of the people that you encounter, then you’ll add value to your images, especially if you’re looking to sell them. Shoot both portrait- and landscape-orientated photos too, as clients usually require one or the other.”
expert insight be prepared John says… Because it was a tricky location to work in, we needed to make sure that our cameras were set up and ready to go, enabling us to focus on composition and staying dry. Even when you’re shooting RAW and have the exposure pre-set, it’s worth setting your D-SLR to automatically bracket exposures, taking three consecutive shots with a full stop of exposure difference between them. This guarantees you at least one usable shot, although it does eat up batteries and memory.
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Travel photography masterclass
OUR APPRENTICE says… As I framed this shot of a young girl fishing in the floodwaters, John reminded me to keep an eye on the background as some parts of the location were very ‘busy’ – and to stay alert and work quickly because moments like these don’t last very long. The portrait was taken at midday, a time that’s usually disregarded for photography, as the light is at its harshest, particularly in tropical areas. Luckily for us, it was hazy on this day and there were no harsh shadows. In fact, the hardest part was focusing on getting a sharp shot while we were balancing on a narrow plank!
EXPOSURE 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO400 LENS Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR
Hot Shot #01
travel photo tips: before you go… ■ Travel photography begins long before you arrive at your destination. Our pro, John Quintero, offers this advice…
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Plan trips around seasonal highlights. I normally set my travels around the calendar of events/celebrations or religious ceremonies of the places I’m visiting.
2
Find a local fixer who speaks your language and knows the area well. A good fixer can be the difference between great, unique shots or normal tourist snaps. They could also save your life in difficult situations.
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Make sure your vaccines are up to date and always carry those certificates with you. You can be denied entry to certain countries or areas if you fail to prove you are vaccinated.
4
Obvious though it may be, it’s easy to forget to inform family or friends precisely where you’re going. It’s very important to let people know where you’ll be and for how long.
5
Apart from local money, I always carry US dollars hidden in my belongings. You never know when you could find yourself in trouble and US dollars are almost universally accepted.
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Always carry your camera and lenses as cabin baggage when travelling by air (see page 63). Tripods can go in the hold, but bodies and glass should stay with you at all times.
the pro’s kit bag
Nikon D3s ■ Nikon D700 ■ Nikon 50mm f/1.4 ■ Nikon 20mm f/2.8 ■ Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro ■ Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 ■ Nikon 70-200mm VRII f/2.8 ■ Nikon SB-800 , SB-900 Speedlights ■ Manfrotto MT 055CXPRO4 ■ Lee polariser and ND filters ■ 42-inch reflector ■ MacBook Pro 15-inch
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June 2015
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APPRENTICE
Pro’s Killer kit #02 lcd screen loupe John says… With space at a premium when you’re travelling to take pictures, a digital camera LCD loupe may seem rather a luxury item to be taking along. However, I wouldn’t be without mine. It’s handy for reviewing photos in bright sun, when you would ordinarily struggle to see the image and information. A loupe is also useful to check the composition and sharpness of your shots when working in Live View – the magnified image makes it similar to shooting with the camera tethered to a laptop!
OUR APPRENTICE says… As with our previous location, Monkey Island in the Colombian Amazon was affected by flooding, caused by heavy rainfall in the three weeks prior to our arrival. That didn’t dampen the spirits of these very active squirrel monkeys, though! John suggested switching to shutter-priority mode and dialling in a minimum shutter speed of 1/500 sec to get sharp shots of the monkeys. Although they were very approachable, working with a medium telephoto lens made it easier to isolate them, with a wide aperture of f/2.8 giving a narrow depth of field that softened out the background details.
Stay on track
“When you’re caught up in the moment photographing animals and landscapes, it can be easy to stray from the path,” explains John, “but you need to be aware of your surroundings as it’s incredibly easy to get lost. You also need to watch out for the likes of spiders, ants or even snakes when you’re shooting close to trees, as their roots can harbour many creatures.”
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