N-Photo PhotoGrapher of the year winners revealed! Issue 59 • June 2016 www.digitalcameraworld.com
D5
Ultimate in-depth review
37 tips for fantastic photos Easy-to-try portrait ideas Natural lighting essentials Foolproof camera settings
Sharp shooter!
We put Nikon’s 8 sharpest lenses to the test, but which has the edge?
It was an unbelievable experience to be in a helicopter that an F-16 was trying to shoot down Lloyd Horgan, aviation photographer p92
Size matters
Get more creative by playing with scale in your shots p78
Big break
Architecture masterclass
Aerial cityscape ace Jason Hawkes reveals all p91
Take better building photos with our hands-on, step-by-step guide
Light touch
We put six light-painting options to the test p110
From the editor
Get even more out of N-Photo Online Catch up with Nikon news, get inspired and learn new skills www.digitalcameraworld.com
Winners revealed! See page 70
Welcome to issue 59
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About the cover
Title Willow Photographer Charles Hildreth Camera Nikon D700 Lens 85mm f/1.4D Exposure 1/800 sec at f/1.4, ISO200 Description This portrait was taken outdoors using natural light. The subject is Devin Willow, a friend of mine who works as a model in Austin. Web www.charleshildreth.com
The new D5 is a game-changer, and here’s why: when Usain Bolt wins the 100m final at this summer’s Olympics (you heard it here first...), it will be able to capture a 21MP image every 8/100th of a second for the entire duration of the race, and it will still have 80 shots left in its buffer capacity for Bolt’s lightning celebrations. Just think about that for a second: think about the hair-splitting detail in every single one of those images, and then times that by 200 – and all that in the time it’s taken to read this sentence. The mind boggles. And what’s more, it will be able to do it in RAW. In the dark. I’ve got no idea how dark it would need to get before the D5’s maximum ISO of 3,280,000 wouldn’t be able to cope, but I’m willing to bet it would be pretty darned dark. But, you cry, why does this matter? What difference does it make to those of us – myself included – who can only dream of owning a D5? It matters because technology trickles down. Just take the eagerly-anticipated D500: it boasts the same buffer capacity as the D5, albeit at ‘just’ ten frames per second. And the cost of such staggering power? Less than £2k/$2k – and probably closer to £1500 by the time the price settles down. You can find out more on page 105. Elsewhere is this issue, we’ve also got a brand new series on flash photography, courtesy of our very own lighting guru Jason Parnell-Brookes; loads of great tips and techniques for shooting better portraits, landscapes and architecture; and a Pro Zone with a distinctly aeronautical theme. Enjoy!
Paul Grogan, Editor paul.grogan@futurenet.com
The new way to subscribe
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Subscribe today and get a Manfrotto Lumie Play lighting kit worth £44.95, plus our Creative SLR Skills DVD worth £19.99, a copy of Camera Bag Essentials worth £14.99, and ebooks, bonus video tutorials and more! Turn to page 48…
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June 2016
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Contents 52
Cover feature
Architecture pro Jeremy Walker reveals the tricks of his trade
14
Cover feature
37 top tips for portraits
From posing to simple lighting, James Paterson reveals a wealth of ways to improve your people pictures
An N-Photo reader shares his emotive landscapes
Nikon Skills
Nikopedia
Essentials
28 Master depth of field 31 Keep it in the dark 32 Look to the skies 34 Shift a building 36 Flag it up 38 Get your whites right 40 Be a pop artist 42 Have a ball
Freeman on… 78 84 Nikon software 86 Ask Jason 88 Head to head
08 Lightbox Over to you 51 Apprentice 52 My big break 91 Interview 92 100 On assignment 130 The final word
Discover why setting you lens’s widest aperture isn’t always the best option for portraits Turn a landscape into a stunning silhouette
Add drama to your architecture images by shooting straight up and blurring passing clouds
Find out how a tilt-shift lens corrects converging verticals in images of buildings Create your own flashgun flag to get professional lighting effects on the cheap Correct colour casts in Lightroom Make colours pop in Elements 13
Capture stunning light spheres
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June 2016
Cover feature
This month Michael takes a sideways look at playing with scale in your photography
Remove unwanted colour casts in seconds using Nikon Capture NX-D If you’ve got a Nikon-related problem, our resident camera expert is here to solve it We compare a tilt-shift lens and a wideangle prime to find out which is best for buildings
92
Be inspired by the best images from Nikon photographers around the world
Cover feature
All your photos, plus we reveal the winner of N-Photo Photographer of the Year 2015
Cover feature
We head to sunny Cardiff for an architecture masterclass with Nikon Ambassador Jeremy Walker
Cover feature
World-renowned aerial specialist Jason Hawkes reveals the photo that made his name
Cover feature
Cover feature Meet the young pro whose career has really taken off
Aviation ace Lloyd Horgan reveals what it feels like to be under fire from an F-16 fighter jet
How far does press photographer Paul Nicholls go for a story? The sky’s the limit! Nikon supremo Joe McNally shares his first impressions of the new D5 and SB-5000
www.digitalcameraworld.com
C o ntents
Master your Nikon with our expert videos
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01
Press pro Paul Nicholls describes the challenges of shooting from a microlight
Gear tests Nikon D5 104 108 New gear Mini test 110 Big test 112 120 Buyer’s guide
Get the correct depth of field for any portrait
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Shoot a graphic silhouette of a landscape at sunset
104
Cover feature
We explain why we think Nikon’s latest flagship could be a game-changer
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Aim straight up a building for a dramatic perspective
04
Correct convergence with a tilt-shift lens
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Get pro portrait lighting on the cheap
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Correct unwanted colour casts in Lightroom
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Get the colour-pop effect in seconds in Elements 13
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Create stunning light spheres with fairy lights
We rate a flash that can be used for video, and preview Sigma’s new 50-100mm f/1.8
Cover feature
We compare six creative lighting tools that can take your light-painting to the next level
Cover feature
What’s Nikon’s sharpest lens? All is revealed in our in-depth round-up If you’re shopping for a new body or lens, you’ll need our list of all the essential stats
The new way to subscribe
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See page
48 109
112
110
Watch all our videos online!
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Get the colour-pop effect in seconds in Elements 13
bit.ly/NPhoto59
Turn to page 6 to meet the team
www.digitalcameraworld.com
June 2016
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contributors Print 21,730 Digital 6,697
The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation for Jan-Dec 2015 is
This issue’s special contributors...
28,427
A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations 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 Paul Grogan Editor Emma Swift Art Editor Miriam McDonald Operations Editor Jason Parnell-Brookes Staff Writer Angela Nicholson Head of Testing Ali Jennings Imaging Lab Manager
Ryan Engstrom
James Paterson
Jeremy Walker
PAGE 08
PAGE 14
PAGE 52
California-based photographer Ryan is becoming something of a regular in our Lightbox section, and when you turn to this issue’s edition, you’ll see why.
If your portraits aren’t quite there, one of James’s 37 tips, covering everything from lighting and posing to editing, could be just what you need.
Nikon Ambassador Jeremy takes this issue’s Apprentice to Cardiff Bay, in Wales, for a masterclass in architectural photography.
Video production Pete Gray Producer Adam Lee Videographer Gareth Jones Videographer Advertising Sasha McGregor Senior Advertising Sales Manager sasha.mcgregor@futurenet.com, 01225 687675 Matt Bailey Account Director matt.bailey@futurenet.com, 01225 687511 Claire Harris Account Manager Marketing & circulation Charlotte Lloyd-Williams Campaign Manager Michelle Brock Trade Marketing Manager 0207 429 3683 Print & production Vivienne Calvert Production Controller Mark Constance Production Manager International & licensing Matt Ellis Senior International & Service Manager matt.ellis@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 442244
Jason Hawkes
Lloyd Horgan
Paul Nicholls
PAGE 91
PAGE 92
PAGE 100
He’s now a world-renowned aerial photographer, but all it took to catapult him to fame was a single image of London. Jason reveals all…
While Jason specialises in shooting cityscapes from the air, Lloyd prefers to train his lenses on low-flying jets and huge helicopters.
A photojournalist needs a nose for a story as well as an eye for a good picture. Completing our trio of high-flying pros, Paul also proves he has a head for heights.
Management Nial Ferguson Content and Marketing Director Matthew Pierce Editorial Director, Games, 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 Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)207 042 4000 (London) Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 (Bath)
The N-Photo team on... the Nikon D5
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 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
Paul Grogan
Jason Parnell-Brookes
Ali Jennings
Angela Nicholson
The frame rate and buffer are the things that excite me most about the D5 – so much potential for capturing sporting action.
I’ve been doing a lot of night shoots lately, and I’m keen to explore the D5’s low-light performance. Look at that ISO limit!
I expected it to be great for taking stills, but the video capabilities are fantastic too. Nikon is embracing the 4K future.
Look at the D5’s new AF system: with 153 AF points – 55 selectable – nailing pin-sharp shots has never been easier.
Editor
paul.grogan@futurenet.com
Staff Writer
jason.parnell-brookes@futurenet.com
Lab Manager
ali.jennings@futurenet.com
Head of Testing
June 2016
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.
angela.nicholson@futurenet.com
Our contributors Alessio Andreani, Ben Andrews, George Cairns, Michael Freeman, Geoff Harris, Ruslan Islnev, Valerie Leroy, Mika Linho, Polly Lovegrove, Andy McGregor, Joe McNally, Mike McNally, Lorenzo Nadalini, Matthew Richards, Petter Sandell, Tom Welsh, Dave Wilson, Keith Wilson Special thanks to… Shanice Lucas, Graham Parnell-Brookes
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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.
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rld wo t he nd sa r ou her rap t og ph o mN iko n fro age s t im be s t he by ins pir ed Be 01 Bixby Bridge
Ryan Engstrom, USA This is Bixby bridge in Big Sur, California. This bridge sits along the Pacific Coast highway, and offers some fantastic opportunities for capturing picturesque sunsets. I combined two exposures, one to capture the light trails and a second to keep the clouds static. www.ryanengstromphoto.com Nikon D800, Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, 1/20 sec and 3.5 mins, f/16, ISO200
lightbox
02 Vertigo
Dave Wilson, USA This was shot on a Saturday in the mostly deserted business district of Houston. I wanted to capture the sense of scale as I walked between the enormous buildings; a fisheye lens pointed straight up gave me the composition I wanted, and a seven-exposure blend captured the dynamic range of the scene. www.davewilsonphotography.com Nikon D700, Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye, 1/10 sec to 1/750 sec, f/8, ISO200
03 The Cleaner
Petter Sandell, Norway This was shot at Valencia’s City of Art and Science. I like to shoot monumental subjects such as this, but I always try to include a human element to add perspective. www.500px.com/petterphoto Nikon D300s, Nikon AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II, 1/500 sec, f/8, ISO200
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June 2016
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04 Durdle Door at Night Alessio Andreani, Italy
I had planned this photo for a long time, waiting until August for the Milky Way to be visible right above Durdle Door arch in Dorset. I then had to wait for a cloudless night with no moon. www.alessioandreani.com Nikon D800, Nikon AF-S 20mm f/1.8G ED, 30 secs, f/1.8, ISO3200
lightbox
05 Kung Fu Grouse Mika Linho, Finland
I’ve photographed male black grouse ‘lekking’ in the spring for many years, and to get this shot I had to spend a night in a hide. The ground was very wet, so I placed my hide so I could backlight the grouse through water droplets if there were any fights at daybreak – and these two males fought on just the right spot. www.linho.fi Nikon D4, Nikon AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO800
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June 2016