// inspiring images
Digital Photo 7
get the
sh t inspiring ideas & expert advice to help you see & shoot amazing pictures right now!
try shooting a coastal lanDscaPe antony spencer describes how he battled soggy conditions to capture the iconic dorset coast HOW antOny GOt tHE SHOt “The Cobb at Lyme Regis is one of a number of beautiful locations in Dorset and with it being right on my doorstep, it was something I just had to shoot. My aim was to capture the power of the waves coupled with the lovely dawn light – I was really pleased with my result as I walked away that morning. Quite often I shoot from a low perspective, but in this case the curvature of the Cobb became compromised from low down so I was forced to shoot higher up. A 3-stop ND 20 Digital Photo
filter allowed me to use a slow shutter speed to capture movement in the water and on top of that, I used a 2-stop graduated filter to balance the brightness of the sky with the wall in the foreground. The biggest problem I found was the sea spray from the waves. The tide was very high that day and every now and then a wave would wash right over the wall and between my knees. Getting washed of here would not have been much fun at all – especially in the middle of winter. After every couple of frames I had to clean the spray away from the front of my filters.”
exciting iDeas & exPert aDvice // get the shot
HOW yOu can dO it Any avid landscaper will tell you that investing in a wide angle lens is a must. For this image, Antony used a 17-40mm lens set to its widest angle, allowing him to capture the large expanse of sky and sea along with the fine details of the brick wall in the foreground – the 18mm end of a D-SLR kit lens is ideal for this. Lighting is just as important as the scene itself when capturing a fantastic landscape. Sunset or sunrise will cast a pleasing warm light with long shadows, so avoid shooting on a dull, drab day, or when the sun is high. Invest in a pair of wellies or waterproof waders. Not only will they keep you warm and dry from the splashing tide, but you’ll also be able to shoot from within the water for a host of creative shooting angles.
Digital Photo 21
try something new // camera academy
try Something new!
oil & water
HOw yOu cAN TAke THIS SHOT Just follow the simple steps below to set up your subject and your camera, and you’ll be bagging yourself beautiful pics in no time.
PumP uP the colour with a macro shot of oil in water for some vibrant results worDs & Pictures aDam atkins
till-life shots like these are brilliant because with Digital Photo’s method, they are incredibly easy to achieve and fascinating to view, but look like they require a fully-stocked science lab and a professional lighting kit. Provided you have a macro lens or macro mode though, all you need is a glass tumbler, a tripod and a desk lamp! The idea behind
S
the shot is simple; oil isn’t soluble in water so mix the two and you’ll end up with small oil bubbles floating on the water’s surface. These bubbles channel light diferently to the water and produce some striking efects – just shine a light onto some coloured paper beneath the mixture and you’ll get stunning abstracts with beautiful colours and shapes.
set up the oil drops
Setting up your oil bubbles is the most important part of this technique. Half-fill a wide glass tumbler with water and add a drop of washing-up liquid. Leave this to stand for 5mins and make sure the solution is clear. Now add some cooking oil one drop at a time; it’ll float to the top and form little round bubbles.
light the subject & Frame up
Place the tumbler onto some multi-coloured paper and aim your desk lamp at it. Set up the camera looking straight down into the glass and focus on the oil (Manual focus and Live View can help here, if you have it). If the colours aren’t quite right, move the paper under the glass to change them around.
take the shot
Set Aperture priority mode (A or Av) and dial in f/16. Take the shot- and then zoom in tight on the screen to check the focus. If it’s not pin-sharp, re-focus and shoot again. If your shutter speed is slow and you’re getting some movement blur, increase the ISO to speed it up.
Digital Photo 41
andrew brooks // inspiring images
~ t h e d i g i ta l p h o t o i n t e r v i e w ~
e x P lo r i n g t h e fa n ta s t i c the portfolio of andrew brooks is a fresh and fascinating voyage into the hidden, the bizarre & the imaginary – it’s high time you got onboard words by kingsley singleton
tart exploring the amazing work of photographer and digital artist Andrew Brooks and you’ll discover a fascinating world of incredible panoramas and forensically detailed cityscapes. Then ask him how he creates his stunning, inventive images and the answer reads like a manifesto of everything that’s
s
progressive and free-thinking in digital photography, an outlook that’s as fresh and exciting as his images themselves: “When I first started out I shot film, with a fixed lens, printing full-frame, but since working with digital cameras my approach has become much more expansive and complex – some of my images [like ‘Sealand’ on this
page] are made from over 400 captures taken from 10–20 diferent shoots. As soon as I started using digital cameras and Photoshop I saw that you can work with no fixed rules, and that the images are there to pull apart and put back together however you want. In my own way I’m resampling reality as I go.” Digital Photo 55
D-Slt CaMERa // gear focus
quickspec Street price: £2300 (body only) Sensor size: Full-frame CMOS Resolution: 24.3Mp (6000x4000px) Lens mount: Sony A-mount Autofocus system: Dual TTL phase detection AF points: 19 points (11 cross-type) & 102 point on-sensor array Burst rate: 6fps or 2fps (at 24.3Mp), 10fps (at 4.6Mp) Pop-up flash: No ISO range: 50-25,600 Shutter range: 30-1/8000sec & bulb Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36M dot (100% coverage) Monitor: 3in, 1.23M dot LCD Video: Full HD (1920x1080p @ 60/50/25/24p or 60/50i) Visit: www.sony.co.uk
heaDphone & mic inputs The Alpha 99 features both headphone and mic jack inputs for recording and monitoring audio during HD video capture.
Dual commanD Dials sony alpha mount
Despite its larger sensor, the A99 shares the same Sony A Mount as its APS-C sized D-SLT siblings.
Shooting parameters are altered using the A99’s twin command wheels – one on the front of the hand grip and the other located on the rear, just above the thumb rest.
2.36m Dot evf
Rather than a traditional Optical Viewfinder, the A99 features a high-resolution Electronic Viewfinder.
3in vari-angle lcD monitor
A large 1.23M dot LCD screen dominates the rear of the camera, and is able to tilt and pull away from the body.
silent Directional joystick Operating almost silently, this joystick can be used during video capture without being picked up by the built-in mic.
stanDarDiseD hotshoe port
This is the first Alpha to adopt a traditional-style hotshoe for greater compatibility with third-party accessories.
Digital Photo 113
YOUR DETAILS
Title Address
Initial
Surname
Postcode Email* Telephone
Mobile*
*Please enter this information so that Bauer Media Group (publishers of this magazine) can keep you up-to-date by email and free mobile messaging with fantastic offers and promotions. We promise that you can unsubscribe at any time if you don’t find them interesting and you’ll only get messages about things we’ve chosen especially for you from ourselves and our network of great partners whose products and services we think you’ll enjoy.
DELIVERY DETAILS (if different, i.e. purchased as a gift).
Title Address
Initial
Surname
Postcode Email Telephone
Originator’s Identification Number
7 2 4 0 9 6
Please pay Bauer Consumer Media Direct Debits from the account detailed in the instructions (subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee).
Account Name Account Number Sort Code Name and Address of Bank Postcode Signature
Date
Direct Debit Guarantee. • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Bauer Consumer Media Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Bauer Consumer Media Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Bauer Consumer Media Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Bauer Consumer Media Ltd asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.
PAYMENT DETAILS
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ made payable to Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. Please debit £
from my debit/credit card:
Visa
Maestro
Card Number Expiry Date
/
Delta
Valid From
Mastercard
/
Issue Number Signature
Date
We have really special offers and promotions that we think you’ll enjoy but if you’d rather not hear from us please tick for post or phone and if you would prefer not to hear from our partners tick here for post or phone . For our Privacy Policy visit www.bauerdatapromise.co.uk. Bauer Media Group consists of Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Bauer Radio Ltd and H. Bauer Publishing Ltd.
SEND TO: Please include completed coupon and cheque (if appropriate) with the magazine name on the back. Magazine Subscriptions, FREE POST, EDO3995, Leicester, LE16 9BR