// inspiring images
Digital Photo 9
exciting ideas & expert advice // get the shot
shoot a sunrise silhouette vista puchong pannoi explains how he captured this atmospheric sunrise shot in burma how puchong got the shot “I love to travel and see how diferent people live their lives in each place that I visit. That’s why my favourite images to shoot are landscapes, portraits and street photography. “I took this image in Bagan, Myanmar, Burma, at around 7.30am when the sun was just beginning to rise. Shooting at this time was vital – if I want to shoot the best landscape silhouettes I always make sure I’m set up at the location before dawn. I also think it’s important to research the location beforehand, as well as checking the weather forecast and
finding out what time and where the sun will rise (or set). If the conditions are perfect, then most of the hard work is done for you and all you need to do is enjoy and capture the wonderful scenery. “To get this image I used a Tamron 70-300mm lens on my Nikon D700 and zoomed all the way in to 300mm. I made sure I was shooting in RAW format to give me maximum control over the tonal range, then I used Nikon’s ViewNX software to make white balance and tonal adjustments to the RAW file, before opening the shot into Photoshop to increase the Saturation, add a gradient to the sky and adjust the crop slightly.”
how you can take dramatic sunrise pictures Preparation is the key to a successful shot, so to ensure that you’ll be shooting in the optimum conditions, check the local weather forecast and plan to shoot on a clear, dry morning. A sunrise only lasts approximately three minutes, so it’s vital that you check to see what time the event will happen on the day of the shoot
and to ensure that you’re at the location ahead of time so that you can ready yourself for the shot. Switch your camera over to Aperture priority mode (A or Av) and dial in an aperture of f/11 to f/16 to get sharpness though the frame. Also, set your ISO to 100 and adjust the camera’s White Balance to the Daylight setting, as
this will get the warm tones you’re after. Set your metering to the multi-zone option, then frame up, focus and take the shot. Check the pic on screen and if it’s too bright, dial in -1 or -1.5 stops of Exposure Compensation and reshoot. Alternatively, you can use your Spot meter for silhouette shots – turn to p48 to see how.
digital photo 21
1
top tips
for macro & close-uP Photos
imprOve yOur shOts
discover a whole new world of photography by turning miniature subjects into big, bold pictures words by jon adams
ne of the most exciting changes you can make to your photography is seeing and recording the world in close-up. There are various ways of doing this that involve modifying your existing lenses with extension tubes, close-up filters or reversing rings, but for most enthusiasts, a dedicated macro lens is the ultimate tool for shooting a highly magnified view (see p114 for advice on choosing one). What makes macro photography so special is it allows you to reveal detail in a subject that the unaided eye can’t detect, and as well as bringing miniature critters and plants into your photo repertoire, this also means that many ordinary items we habitually ignore can become truly amazing macro subjects. The benefit of this to photographers is that there’s always something creative you can do with close-ups, so come rain or shine, you can indulge your passion and produce some striking images. What follows are ten great ways to turn small subjects into big shots packed with detail, so read on, and give it a go!
O
> Striking shots can be found in any back garden, as Ondrej Pakan’s image shows. It was captured using a Canon MP-E65mm macro lens on a Canon EOS 7D.
26 Digital Photo
You don’t have to travel far to find a wealth of macro subjects – in fact, your back yard will provide stacks of opportunities. Alongside flowers and plants, no-one can resist shooting a few insects, but once you get them under a macro lens, accurate focusing can be tricky. If you’re shooting handheld, you’ll find the most reliable way to get a sharp shot is to fix your focus point in place using Manual Focus, and then gently sway the entire camera and lens assembly to and fro to get the subject sharp. Shoot of a burst of frames while doing this, and with any luck, you should get a few sharp shots in the mix. Flash is also a good idea with bugs, as it’ll ‘freeze’ them in place and the extra light will allow you to use a smaller aperture such as f/11 to help with the overall sharpness. Don’t get too close though, or your lens may cast a shadow from your pop-up flash.
Digital Photo 27
onDrej pAkAn
1
go on a back yarD safari!
camera academy // take better Pictures
shoot a multi-image Portrait
//
camera academy
o photo album is complete without some self-portraits, and a great way to make yours even more intriguing is to feature yourself in the scene more than once! Of course, you don’t have to restrict the idea to self portraits, as anyone can be used, but if you’re feeling inspired and want to get immersed in a project, learning how to do it on your own will ensure you’re never stuck for a model! Provided you have a sturdy tripod and camera with a full Manual mode, you can use this technique to produce some really creative shots. It relies on taking multiple exposures of the same scene with exactly the same camera settings – get this right and the Photoshop work involved in producing the finished article is quick and simple. The roots of this technique come from shooting double exposures on film, but the new digital way of doing it gives you much more flexibility and allows you to create far more engaging pictures. And once you know how it’s done, the fun really begins as you find ways of telling stories within the frame...
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key skills yOu’ll learn righT here This technique will arm you with tips that can be used in a variety of shooting situations.
creative camera
shoot yourself! create a fantastic scene that features more than one of you it’s easy with our step-by-step! techniQue & pics by jon adams
44 Digital Photo
using manual settings to take control of your camera Once you’ve set your camera in full Manual mode, you can repeat a shot over and over, and get exactly the same result.
lock off your camera for accurate multi-exposures
This technique is all about capturing multiple shots using the exact same camera settings, so fixing your camera in place is vital.
Digital Photo 45
inspiring images // interview
antony spencer // inspiring images
~ t h e d i g i ta l p h oto i n t e r v i e w ~
chasing the light summers in america’s tornado alley, winters in the arctic... that’s a year in the life of antony spencer – landscape photographer, and storm chaser! words by marie marsh
S WE SPEAK, Antony Spencer has a half-packed bag beside him, getting ready to leave for the airport the next morning. “I’m flying to Albuquerque to photograph storms and some amazing landscapes in New Mexico.” This’ll be the first time Antony has led a storm chasing tour (though he has been on many), and he says, “Thankfully I have a great group of like-minded nutters prepared to do whatever it takes to be in the right place to
a
56 Digital Photo
shoot a storm.” It’s hard work. Last trip, Antony drove over 6,000 miles in 10 days. Next up, he’s of to the incredible Palouse Falls of the Columbia River, and the fascinating beaches and rainforests of the Olympic National Park (see page 10). Antony’s adventurous spirit knows no bounds; “these are just before a big tour I’m leading – with two others – to Spitsbergen. I’m really excited to be heading into the polar regions for the first time.”
bamburgh castle sunrise After an extreme drive through the night and heavy storms, Antony was treated to this stunning sunrise at Bamburgh Castle on the Northumberland Coast. He says: “If only every morning looked this good.”
Digital Photo 57
gear focus // reviews & buying advice
macro lenses // gear focus
Dive into a whole new worlD of photography with afforDable thirD-party macro lenses that’ll bring Dramatic close-ups within reach test by Dan molD
£549
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro Di USD VC Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro AT-X Pro
£499
like reversing rings and close-up filters, but if you’re serious about this amazing avenue of photography, a dedicated lens is the way to go – it’s faster, less fiddly and ofers top quality pictures. Although macro lenses are available in shorter focal lengths like 60 or 70mm, these 90 to 105mm examples allow more working distance from your subject meaning you’re less likely to scare of small animals or cast a shadow over your subject. They can also be used on full-frame bodies, so they’re a smart choice if an upgrade from your entry-level APS-C D-SLR is part of your long-term plan. What’s more, on a full-frame camera, they double up as fantastic portrait lenses and when attached to an APS-C body, the camera’s smaller sensor crops them to an even greater telephoto efect, filling more of the frame with your subject. This efect also means you’ll be using just the centre of the lens too, so edge-to-edge sharpness will be improved. All good news, so let’s get to the test!
£369
Here are some of the most important features to look for when buying a macro lens for your D-SLR…
internal focusing
An Internal Focusing mechanism prevents the front element from protruding as you focus, which means you’re less likely to scare of critters.
A macro lens opens up a whole world you never knew existed and with it come plenty of creative opportunities.
> Explore tiny wildlife subjects, like insects and spiders as well as shooting superbly-detailed florals. AlAmy
macro lenses what to look for...
three reasons to own a macro lens AlAmy
macro lenses under £550 Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro HSM OS EX DG
f you’ve been inspired by the stunning macro images in this issue (10 Top Tips for Macro, p26), you’ll want to know which lens to invest in so you can capture your own close-ups. Well, the three models in this group test cost less than £550 and fit a variety of D-SLR mounts, as well as being compatible with both full-frame and APS-C formats. In short, in a few pages you’ll find the one that best suits you. First though, it’s important to understand why a dedicated lens is needed for macro, and how they difer from the ‘macro’ mode on a compact and some other lenses. True macro lenses allow you to focus much closer than standard optics, even those boasting a ‘macro’ mode like some telephoto zooms, and only these lenses make it possible to get a reproduction ratio of 1:1, which means your subject will be captured at life-size – as if it was literally laid across the camera’s sensor. Of course you can also get macro results using accessories
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> lens group test
image stabilisation
A vital feature for handheld shots, where camera shake is an issue, image stabilisation makes sharper shots possible at slower shutter speeds than usual.
> The close-focusing ability brings a new way of seeing and shooting small-scale still-life subjects. AlAmy
manual focusing
When shooting macro, much of your focusing will be manual, so look for a focusing ring that’s comfortable and turns smoothly. 114 digital Photo
focus distance limit switch
Because macro lenses focus much closer than standard lenses, the focusing range is greater. To switch the lens between macro and regular work some lenses have a built-in limiter switch.
maximum aperture
The three lenses in this test feature f/2.8 maximum apertures, speeding up AF performance, producing blurred backgrounds and shooting quickly for sharp shots.
> At between 90 and 105mm and with fast maximum apertures, macro lenses are also great for portraits.
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