Photography Week

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t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 19-25 ja nua ry i s s ue 226 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews street smart simple techniques for c andid por t r a i t s of s t r anger s Crumbling beauty Ross MoRe ross’s image, taken in the city of antigua in guatemala, is a classic example of street photography. the image evokes a strong sense of place and character, the composition is strong and uncluttered, and the subject is oblivious to the presence of the camera. For essential tips on street photography be sure to check out this issue’s main feature. http://tiny.cc/yqsfiy e W l c o m e t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 19-25 ja nua ry i s s ue 226 t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 12-18 JA NUA RY i s s ue 225 the best action cam of all time? we put the new 4k gopro hero5 through its paces t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 5-11 JA NUA rY i s s Ue 224 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 29 december-4 Ja nua ry 100 cANoN slr inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews tips for better portraits Improve your people sk Ill s and c ap t ure gre at-look Ing Images today! 17 street i s s ue 223 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews Best photo Backpacks we put six top options to the test t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 22-28 december i s s ue 222 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews smart inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews simple techniques for c andid por tr a i t s of s tr anger s winter wonderland secrets battle of the beginner dslrs C ap t ure s t unning se a sonal l andsC apes (and most work with any camera!) c anon eos rebel t6 / 1300d vs nikon d3400 JOIN THE CLUB... Welcome to the world’s No.1 weekly digital photography magazine. If you’re already a reader, thanks for your continued support and involvement; if you’re new to Photography Week, you’ve come to the right place! In addition to expert advice, brilliant tips and step-by-step tutorials, every issue features interactive galleries of the best new photos, how-to videos on essential shooting and editing techniques, and in-depth reviews of the latest camera kit. But that’s not the whole story. Photography Week is more than a magazine – it’s a community of like-minded people who are passionate about photography. To get involved, just follow any of the links below and share your shots and comments – your photo might even appear on our cover! JOIN T HE PHOTOgr aPHy WEEk COmmUNI T y aNd s Tar T sHar INg! faCEBOOk http://tiny.cc/7s2zgy TWITTEr http://tiny.cc/xt2zgy fLICkr http://tiny.cc/nv2zgy We’re more than just a magazine – read on and discover the many ways you can interact with and enjoy Photography Week CONTENTS Find out what’s inside this issue NEwS F E aT U r E SHOW STOPPERS New cameras from Fujifilm and polaroid unveiled at CES 2017 F E aT U r E HIT THE STREETS Tips and tricks for capturing candid people pictures pHOTOS gallERY The very best reader images from around the world I N S p I r aT I O N GallEry I N S p I r aT I O N alPINE aCTION flICk racing drone buzzes mountain to capture breathtaking video CraSH COUrSE SlOW dOWN THE SkY Use a long exposure to blur the movement of clouds pHOTOSHOp maSTER laYER maSkS learn how to get creative with layers and masks in photoshop SKIllS GEar SONY fE 50mm f/2.8 maCRO we put Sony’s versatile new macro prime lens through its paces pHOTOSHOp JUS T 39¢/39p PER ISSUE! WHEN YOU SUBSCR IBE SEE T HE SUBS C R I P T ION PagEtofOR E I NfO Turn ourmOR Subscribe http://tiny.cc/dudisx page to learn more n e w s w h at ’ s h o t The week’s Top headlines in phoTography FujiFilm goes gr aphi te wi th X-t2 and X-pro2 Fujifilm’s mirrorless flagship cameras just got even more desirable w hile Fujifilm isn’t quite scaling with Fujifilm increasing the amount shadow areas. the second layer uses the heights of its GFX 50s of black pigment in the top coating to thin-film multi-layer coating technology announcement at Photokina deliver a more rich metallic texture, for a smooth finish, while the third layer last year, it still managed to announce while bundled with the camera will be is a clear varnish for a glossy finish. two updates at Ces 2017 in Las Vegas a unique XF23mm f/2 R wR prime lens that have certainly got us drooling. and hood that’s been finished in the there’s no bundled lens to go with same color as the body. the X-T2, but it will be supplied with while the new X-t2 Graphite silver Unlike the special edition X-Pro2, a tailor-made premium leather strap, edition and X-Pro2 Graphite edition are the X-t2 Graphite silver edition, identical to both existing models as far meanwhile, has been treated with aluminum hotshoe cover and matching as the spec is concerned, Fujifilm has a multi-layer coating that’s triple- eF-X8 flash. tinkered with the paint finish to give both baked – the bottom layer is a matte the X-Pro2 Graphite edition will be models a more premium look. black undercoat that’s applied to the priced at $2,299 / £2,149, while the X-t2 magnesium top cover, and which Fujifilm Graphite silver edition will be available claims delivers deeper blacks in the for $1,799 / £1,649. the X-Pro2 Graphite edition benefits from a multi-layer coating process, n e w s The week’s Top headlines in phoTography the pol aroid pop is a modern t wis t on a cl a ssic concep t A retro design with some thoroughly up-to-date specs KodaK’s new 4K ac t ion c am maKes 360 v ideo simpl e Two cameras, two lenses, one block K odak has rolled out a new PixPro orbit360 4K action camera designed to make creating 360-degree movies a simpler process. whereas the older Pixpro sP360 4K required you to buy and pair two separate cameras to record t this point we’re all fairly used fun-looking than previous Polaroid 360-degree videos, the orbit360 4K to the mash-up of digital and digital models, looking less like a digital combines two sets of cameras and instant photography that’s camera and more like a flattened lenses into a single block, like the offered by the classic Polaroid brand. version of the brand’s original cameras nikon KeyMission 360. the company is now entering its 80th (or the Instagram logo). a year, and to celebrate it announced what’s more interesting about the the new camera also ups the resolution from 12MP to 20MP, while another instant digital camera called Pop, though, is that its specs are actually retaining the same wide-angle the Pop at Ces 2017. fairly attractive. Polaroid is ramping the lenses that capture a 235-degree megapixels up to 20, and is offering dual field of view. the camera’s two such as the snap and the touch, the LeD flash, as well as the ability to record sensors allow users to shoot 3840 x Pop is a digital camera that enables you 1080p full hD video. 1920 footage at 24p. the orbit360 Like previous offerings from Polaroid, the camera also has a 3.97-inch 4K can also capture slowmotion print them using inkless Zink photo LCD screen to view your photos on, a action at 1440 x 720 and 120fps. paper, like the cameras of days gone by. microsD slot, a self-timer, and three alternatively, users can also choose For a real throwback to Polaroid’s roots, colour modes. Like other models, the to record with only one camera for the Pop will also allow you to print full Pop can also connect to your phone 3840 x 2160 video at 30fps. colour photos in the iconic 3x4 format via wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so you can print with the classic Polaroid border logo. photos from there too. to capture and store photos, or instantly Like its predecessors, the orbit360 4K is ruggedized and comes with nFC and wi-Fi for smartphone when it comes to appearance, the Polaroid Pop isn’t planned for though, the Pop offers something a release until the end of 2017, and the pairing. the Pixpro orbit360 4K is little different; it’s more square and price hasn’t been announced. priced at $499 (about £410). F emmA drAbble AFTER training as a documentary photographer in Marseilles, Emma has now turned to the world of commercial and commissioned photography to earn a living. She’s shot subjects ranging from actors to dressage horses, and is a keen user of the Lumix G range of cameras – so much so that she’s now a Panasonic Ambassador for Europe. E A T u R E sHoot out! street pHotogrApHy For our latest Shoot-out, Claire Gillo recruited two photographers who, although a couple, fancied taking each other on in a street photography showdown… Andrew Higgins ANDREW is a professional editorial photographer but enjoys dabbling in street photography. He opted to use a single prime lens for this Shoot-out, as he feels that a zoom lens can slow you down for this type of quick-fire photography. Although he opted for a DSLR here, he normally favours a Micro Four Thirds camera or even a compact for street shooting. F E A T u R E CHAllenge 1 Capture the quirky side of London emmA dr Abble RATHER than camp out in one spot waiting for situations to develop, we spent much of the day walking the central London streets in search of shots, and Emma soon homed in on this scene. “I find people who take selfies are oblivious to the world outside their iPhone,” she says. “The world of the selfie can be a fruitful • • • place for observant photographers to explore. “I approached this scene with a Martin Parr sensibility and had plenty of time and space to take a few frames, slowly moving around and lining up the other self-portrait-takers behind this lady. I love her selfie face – she spent some time perfecting her ‘moment’.” e xper t opinion Emma has artfully stage-managed the elements here. Three really is the magic number when it comes to photography composition. Emma has a great eye for colour - the cool blues running through the shot tie everything together. F E A T u R E CHAllenge 1 Capture the quirky side of London Andrew Higgins TRAFALGAR Square was bustling, and we knew pictures would come our way if we were patient. “The huge hoardings promoting the Caravaggio art show immediately offered possibilities, as the artist used light in a way that was similar to the directional afternoon sunshine,” explains Andrew. “I just had to watch and wait to see how the passing people would work with the faces on the hoardings, trying to catch a moment when there looked to be some interaction between them. “This lady stopped and shielded her eyes as she looked around. The moment had potential, but I had to walk in closer to bring the elements together, as if the faces were looking at her. I’m often amazed at how one can make street photos without being noticed, but you have to be quick: you can’t ‘overstay’ the moment.” e xper t opinion • Who could resist this classic street photography setup? • Andrew’s picked out a woman in darker colours, which allows the eye to be drawn up to the brighter poster face. • The person on the right helps to ‘ground’ the shot and ensure it doesn’t feel over-engineered. F E A T u R E CHAllenge 2 shoot a night sCene without using fLash emmA dr Abble PARTS of the city centre were experiencing a blackout on the evening of our Shoot-out. “All the startled and alarmed faces in the crowds certainly helped us on our street photography mission,” says Emma. “I noticed this lady at a underground entrance, and I couldn’t resist its theatrical nature. • • “I used my Panasonic GH4 – purely because I’d left the spare batteries for the GX8 at home – with settings of f/2 at ISO3,200 in order to get a shutter speed of 1/60 sec. This wide aperture wouldn’t have been my first choice, but shooting in the dark means you have to compromise.” e xper t opinion The woman’s expression and bright coat ensures that she’s a striking focal point Not only does the railing provide a leading line into the image, it helped Emma There’s plenty of space for viewers to ‘read’ this scene steady her camera • PHOTO OF THE DAY F E A T u R E CHAllenge 2 shoot a night sCene without using fLash Andrew Higgins EARLIER in the evening we headed to Covent Garden with the intention of shooting street performers, but we couldn’t resist the picture potential offered by this fashion ad. “As day turned to night, there was a period of quite bland twilight,” Andrew says. “Then London lit up, and the city became a film set. This illuminated advertising photo was one of two side by side, which I thought had the possibility of a fun street picture; the supermodel and the people she lit up, the pedestrians in silhouette. The fact that passing people were wrapped up in warm clothes for the chilly weather added to the contrast. “I just waited and shot a number of people going by, always trying to catch the matching step of the supermodel’s leg. I also had to adjust the camera’s exposure in order to overexpose slightly and keep the clean bright image of the model, but not to lose the silhouette of the people walking past.” e xper t opinion • Who’d have thought a backlit ad would deliver such a cinematic quality of lighting? • The contrast between the two sets of figures – both visually and conceptually – is effective. • Opting for a black-and-white treatment is fitting for what is essentially a mono scene. F E A T u R E top street pHotogrApHy tips Follow these rules to help you capture successful candid shots 1 2 be reAdy for AnytHing plAy tHe wAiting gAme Things happen fast in street photography, so you need to have your camera switched on, and ready to go. Avoid using a brightly coloured camera strap, and wrap the strap around your wrist rather than over your shoulder. Keep the camera held at chest or head height as you walk around, to reduce the movement required to get the camera up to your eye; not only does this let you react faster, it’s less likely to distract your subjects. We were covering lots of ground as opposed to finding a location, and waiting and watching – but the latter approach can often bring great rewards in street photography. Our visit to Trafalgar Square coincided with incredible light, so we decided to spend a little more time there. Waiting gives you the opportunity to engineer shots and experiment, as Emma did with the street-level shot. 3 4 CAmerA settings ConfrontAtion For sharp shots, you need a fast shutter speed. To guarantee this, consider using Shutter Priority mode, dialling in your preferred shutter speed and switching to Auto ISO; the camera will then adjust the aperture and sensitivity according to the situation. When it comes to focusing, choose Continuous autofocus. Alternatively, switch to manual focus and preset the focus distance to two or three metres. When you’re getting up close to people, you have to be prepared for someone to challenge you. We only experienced this a couple of times, but a friendly smile and a smart exit was all that was needed to prevent things from turning unpleasant. In some instances you can defuse any potential problems by explaining to the person what you’re doing, and showing them your images. new learn new slr skills! All the best bits from and in two brilliant 228-page handbooks On sale now at newsagents, Apple Newsstand & Zinio For more brilliant handbooks visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/photo G A L L E R y XPOSURE The week’s mosT inspiring reader phoTos Flamingos in Walvis Bay, namiBia Marco Bertazzoni marco has captured a really striking, almost abstract, wildlife image, with the soft pinks of the flamingos reflected beautifully in the water, and the legs and beaks of the foreground birds providing detail amid the wash of colour. http://tiny.cc/n9meiy G A L L E R y The week’s mosT inspiring reader phoTos durdlE door sunsEt Gareth thoMpson “this is the durdle door rock arch on the ‘Jurassic Coast’ of Dorset in southern England. it was my first visit here, and i was fortunate to have excellent conditions for the golden hour around sunset.” http://tiny.cc/zeleiy EndlEss strEam andrejs Fjodorovs “this is the intersection of London’s Oxford Street and regent street at rush hour. i used a neutral density filter and a tripod to capture a long exposure, which enabled me to blur the motion to portray the constant flow of people.” http://tiny.cc/ijleiy G A L L E R y The week’s mosT inspiring reader phoTos LOOk whO’S baCk… heidi spieGler “this young kingfisher flew through our garden regularly on its way to and from a river, so i set up a camouflage tent, and waited to get a photo of it. on this morning i was lucky because it sat on this fence post, allowing me to get some shots with my Canon 5d mark iii and tamron 150-600mm lens.” http://tiny.cc/egmeiy into thE mist duarte sol duarte shot this spectacular image on the 1500-meter high Paul da serra plateau on the island of madeira, with a glimpse of sunset and the light trails of passing cars breaking up the low cloud. http://tiny.cc/q3leiy G A L L E R y The week’s mosT inspiring reader phoTos WintEr WEBs jessica dunn this is a wonderfully composed abstract nature shot, with the dew-covered fine branches and cobwebs, and background bokeh, combining to create a mosaic-like effect. http://tiny.cc/llmeiy a stiCk on a mushroom rinaldo riva “this is a tiny stick insect nymph on a mushroom. the image is a focus stack created from 50 shots taken handheld using a sigma 105mm macro lens and a diffused meike mk320 mini flash.” http://tiny.cc/esmeiy G A L L E R y The week’s mosT inspiring reader phoTos la déFEnsE jean-François cloüet Jean-François’ imposing architecture shot shows the La Défense business district France just west of Paris, with the mono conversion accentuating the strong shapes and intricate textures of the buildings. http://tiny.cc/wymeiy PhotograPhy WEEk Wants your Photos! FaceBook http://tiny.cc/qi0oey Flickr http://tiny.cc/rn0oey Taken a portrait you’re particularly proud of? Shot a sensational sunset you’d like to show off? Then join the Photography Week Facebook community and share your best photos today! You’ll get feedback from fellow readers and the Photography Week team, plus the chance to appear in Xposure, or even on our cover! s u b s c r i b e SubScr ibe today and enjoy Photogr aPhy week For juS t 39 c /39 P an iSSue * t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 12-18 JA NUA RY t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 29 december-4 Ja nua ry i s s ue 223 i s s ue 225 the best action cam of all time? we put the new 4k gopro hero5 through its paces t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g Best a z i nphoto e Backpacks 15-21 december 5-11 JA NUA rY inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e i s s ue 221 we224 put i s s Ue six top options to the test t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 22-28 december i s s ue 222 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews tips for better winter portraits Improve your people sk Ill s and c ap t ure se t up a fun and fes t i ve par t y photo boot h at home gre at-look Ing Images today! 17 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews 100 cANoN slr inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews wonderland C ap t ure s t unning se a sonal l andsC apes secrets battle of the beginner dslrs (and most work with any camera!) c anon eos rebel t6 / 1300d vs nikon d3400 To find out how you can get Photography Week delivered straight to your device every week for just a few pennies, simply search for Photography Week on any of the platforms below ava il able on your de v ice now! http://tiny.cc/7bodfy http://tiny.cc/edodfy http://tiny.cc/heodfy *available for a limited time only. Standard subscription offer varies across platforms/devices – please refer to specific store for the most up-to-date offer I N S P I R A T I O N I T ’ S C O O L , T H AT Images © Gabriel Kocher The besT Thing we’ ve seen This week racing drone captures an alpine action movie Videographer buzzes a Swiss mountain to capture stunning high-speed footage f we say ‘drone video’ you’ll probably conjure up an image of another lovely-looking but rather stately aerial sequence shot with a DJI Phantom or similar. If so, strap yourself in before clicking ‘Watch the video’. Rather than using a conventional camera drone such as a Phantom, Canadian drone racer and videographer Gabriel Kocher strapped a GoPro Hero4 Session to a custom-built racing quadcopter, and flew it over the I Hübschhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, steering it via FPV video goggles. The resulting footage is breathtaking, and borderline motion sickness-inducing – it looks for all the world like it was shot from a helicopter using a top-of-the-line cinema camera, and is reminiscent of the opening scenes of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, or a sequence from a video game. You can see more of Gabriel’s drone videos at his YouTube page. w at ch t he v ideo h t t p: // t iny. cc /x x f di y R e v e a l t h e n ex t s t e p i n yo u r p h o t o g r ap h y j o u r n e y BOOK TI CK ET S TO DA Y A de s t i n ation for al l imag e cr eator s @UKPHOTOSHOW photogr a p hys how.c om s K I L L s crash course ESSENTIAL PHOTO SKILLS MADE EASY Take The long v iew To capture cloud movement as beautiful blur you need to take things slowly. Armed with a neutral density filter, James Paterson explains how Long shutter speeds can have a stunning effect on motion, transforming water mins or clouds into beautiful, milky blur. under normal daylight conditions, however, your camera will struggle to achieve very long shutter speeds. even with the lowest possible Iso and narrowest aperture you’d be unlikely to get a speed slower than half a second without overexposing your shot. This is where neutral density lens filters come in. They restrict the amount of light that enters your camera, and they come in different strengths, measured in ‘stops’. For every stop of light blocked by the filter you’re able to double your shutter speed and still take a correctly exposed photograph. 30 How many stops? so what strength of filter is right for you? This will vary from subject to subject, and depends on the speed of the objects you wish to blur and the brightness of the scene. When we shot our windmill, our aim was to capture the movement of the clouds. In strong winds you might only need a shutter speed of second or two to capture good cloud blur, and that can usually be achieved with a three- or four-stop ND filter. But on a calm day, when clouds take longer to drift across the frame, a longer shutter speed, and therefore a darker filter, will be required. at the extreme end of the filter scale, there are 10-stop filters that enable you to multiply your exposure time by a thousand, sending your shutter speeds well into the minutes. read on to find out how you can give your landscapes an atmospheric edge by transforming passing clouds into gorgeous silky blur. s K I L L s STEP bY STEP CLOuD YOur vIEw 1 Ready, sTeady… It’s impossible to shoot handheld at the kind of shutter speeds you need to blur clouds, so a tripod is essential. If, like us, you opt to use a 10-stop filter, get your focusing and composition sorted before you attach it, then switch to Manual focus – once the near-black filter is on your lens you can’t see a great deal through the viewfinder. 2 look, no filTeR Take a test shot without any filters attached to work out an initial exposure. use Manual mode, Iso100 and a narrow aperture like f/22, then adjust the shutter speed while keeping an eye on the exposure scale on the rear screen until your image is correctly exposed. We eventually settled on a shutter speed of 1/40 sec. 3 sTack ’em up Filters can be stacked on top of one another, so before you attach the neutral density filter, consider using a circular polariser too – these cut through reflections and enables you to darken the blues in skies. Polarisers also knock out about oneand-a-half stops of light, which took us from 1/40 to 1/10 sec here. without polariser with polariser waTch The weaTheR scout out a suitable location well in advance. The only thing you’ll have no control over is the weather, so you’ll need to wait for a day when the conditions are right – ideally you want white clouds, blue skies and plenty of wind. s K I L L s STEP bY STEP CLOuD YOur vIEw 4 peRfecT 10 once your composition and focusing are spot-on, attach your ND filter to your lens. as the clouds were moving slowly on the day we were shooting, we opted for a 10-stop filter. If you’re using the filter in combination with a polariser, be careful not to adjust the polariser’s rotation when you screw on the ND filter. 5 Take iT slow With a 10-stop filter you might find you’ll need a shutter speed longer than your camera’s maximum setting of 30 seconds; if so select Bulb mode, which enables you to begin and end the exposure manually. attach a cable release to your camera as well – this way, you can lock the shutter open for as long as you like, and time the exposure manually. 6 eveRy second counTs With Bulb mode set you can keep the shutter open as long as you like, but how long do you need? every stop blocked by the filter enables you to double the shutter speed, so increasing our 1/10 sec exposure by 10 stops gave an exposure of 100 seconds. We experimented with exposures at around this length, settling on 127 seconds. s K I L L s KeY sKill choosing a filTeR sysTem Filters come in different shapes and sizes, but which system is right for you and your lens collection? 1 squaRe filTeR sysTem This system is more versatile, as you can use each filter on any lens, as long as you’ve got an adaptor ring the right size. It also makes possible the use of graduated filters (where half the glass is darker), as you can shift the filter up or down so that the darker area only covers the sky. top tip The RighT clouds 2 scRew-on filTeRs screw-on filters are compact, and protect the front element of the lens from dust and water drops. however, each filter is restricted to one lens thread size. cloud movement shows up best if you have dappled clouds against a blue sky – when there’s too much white cloud, all you get is a milky smooth sky like in this shot, so check the forecast and wait for blue skies. When composing your shot, observe the direction of movement too. With careful placement, you can make the blurred clouds complement your composition by leading the eye towards the subject. E d I t I N g ph otos h o p cc LEARN ESSENTIAL EDITING SKILLS FAST! W at CH t He V IDeO h t t p : // t i n y. c c / f o kc i y HOW tO... master l ayer masks Photoshop’s layers and masks are essential for any type of creative image editing, so it’s well worth spending the time to understand how to use them hotoshop’s layers and layer masks set it apart from many of the alternative image-editing software packages available. Layers can be explained in simple terms as a stack of images, with the top layer the one that’s visible. If the opacity of that top image is reduced, or sections of it are erased, the layer beneath will be revealed. this concept enables us to do a variety of things, such as create composite pictures from several images, or merge shots taken at p different exposures to create images with greater dynamic range. Furthermore, each layer can be moved and adjusted independently from the others. they can also be modified by multiple adjustment layers, which are positioned above the target layers in the layer stack. Masks add an extra element of sophistication to layers because they can be applied to any layer individually, and rather than simply erasing image data to reveal the layer beneath, they hide it. Masks are also editable, so if you mask off too much of an image areas can be painted back in quickly and easily. Essentially, they enable the opacity of a layer to be selectively and reversibly edited. one click is all that’s required to create a mask, and once that’s done, it’s simply a question of hiding or revealing parts of the image, using a brush or the gradient tool. In this video tutorial we’ll show you everything you need to start working with layers and masks. a b c k i s s u E s missed some thing? It’s never too late to pick up a back issue! Canon eos-1d X mark ii speCs revealed: what’s inside Canon’s new flagship dslr canon eos 80d hands-on t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 5 - 11 M ay i s s ue 18 9 11-17 Februa ry olympuS om-d e-m10 ii world’s First video review get our early verdict of this new dslr! t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 2 - 9 M A RCH t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e i s s ue 18 0 i s s ue 177 3 - 9 S ep t ember i S S ue 154 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews 88your baby ways to photograph take stunning portr a i ts of newborns MAke CAsH witH youR m a s t e r CAMeRA simple ways to start earning money from your photos y o u r NikoN iN a day! extreme expoSure discover how to plan simple tricks to unlock your camera’s full potential t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 13-19 augu s t i s s ue 151 king of the full frames? t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 10 - 16 NOV EMBER get our early verdict on the pentax k-1 a photo expedition t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e 17 - 23 s ep t ember i s s uE 216 i s s ue 156 17-23 M A RCH 37 things you’re 14-20 july inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews create a custom print template i s s ue 158 discover how to capture the passage of time return of the we put 8 top lenses to the test inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews Brilliant Buildings masterclass stop doing them! nikon 1 J5 review: learn how to shoot from unusual perspeCtives 8 lo-fi lenses go photoshop elements head-to-head 14: what’s new t he worl d’s bes t-sel l ing digi tal photo mag a z ine i s s ue 19 9 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep th re v iews tiMelApse doing wrong is this nikon’s best CsC? on a wing and a prayer and holsters tested how to shoot birds in flight 1 - 7 Oc t Ober i s s ue 182 inspir at ion ide a s in-dep t h re v iews probably and how to open carry: the top clips t h e w o r l d ’ s b e s t-s e l l i n g d i g i t a l p h o t o m a g a z i n e t he worl d’s bes t-sel l ing digi tal photo mag a z ine master the secrets of awesome architecture photography get the sharpest w at ch t he v ideo h t t p : // t i n y. c c / x 2q x 9 x capture majestic landscapes at your loc al zoo become a hyperfoc al ma s ter wildlife Of yOur life Every single issue of Photography Week is available for you to download, from Issue 1 to 225! Simply follow the relevant links below to browse our entire back catalogue, or buy them all for just £39.99!* http://tiny.cc/7bodfy http://tiny.cc/edodfy http://tiny.cc/heodfy Get the free Photography Week app on your iPad or iPhone to browse back issues, or buy them all for just £39.99 On an Android device, download the Photography Week app from Google Play to look through back issues Follow the Zinio link if you use a PC/Mac to read Photography Week *The ‘buy all’ option is currently only available through the Photography Week iOS app on iPad & iPhone hands-on ExpErt opinion on thE l atEst kit Sony FE 50mm F/2.8 macro A standard prime that fully lives up to its macro billing £500/$500 www.sony.com rEviEw sony FE 50mm F/2.8 macro 01 03 02 01 02 03 The inner barrel extends at shorter focus distances, to as little as 4.5cm from the subject in full 1.0x macro shooting. on-board controls include aF/mF and autofocus limiter switches, as well as a focus hold button. Eight optical elements are arranged in seven groups, which include an aspherical front element and an Ed (Extra-low dispersion) element. magnification. No lens hood is supplied, but the front element is deeply recessed within the inner barrel, helping to guard against ghosting and flare. Unusually for a relatively short-focallength macro lens there’s a focus limiter switch that can lock out the short or long ends of autofocus travel. There’s also a handy focus-hold button. Manual focusing is usually preferable in macro photography, so the smoothaction, fly-by-wire manual focusing system is a bonus. It offers excellent precision with the availability of fine adjustments, aided by the magnified focusing view available on Sony compact system cameras. switch earns its keep here. Wide-open at f/2.8 there’s a little vignetting and a slight drop in sharpness, but the quality of the bokeh is pleasing. Sharpness is excellent from f/4 to f/11, although macro photographers might be disappointed that it drops off at f/16 – and that f/16 is the narrowest available aperture. matthew richards here have been 50mm ‘macro’ lenses from the likes of Canon and Zeiss that, while giving a natural perspective with a full-frame DSLR, don’t deliver the full macro benefit. Instead they only offer a maximum magnification ratio of 0.5x at their closest focus distances. Like Sony’s older A-mount 50mm macro, however, this new E-mount optic boasts 1.0x magnification, reproducing small objects at full life-size on the image sensor. T Build & handling Although the lens is compact and light, it feels well-built and fairly robust. It lacks a weather-sealed mount but is dust- and moisture-resistant. The inner barrel doesn’t rotate during focusing but does extend at shorter focusing distances, revealing calibrated markings for focus distance and Performance The autofocus system is highly accurate but rather slow. For close-up shots, AF speed can be further hampered by hunting, so the limiter VErdic T The sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro works very well as both a ‘standard’ lens and a macro prime lens, with excellent handling and very good overall image quality. Full-Frame compatible yES eFFective Focal length 50mm (75mm aPS-c) image StabiliSer no minimum FocuS diStance 0.16m WireleSS yES max magniFication Factor 1.0x manual FocuS override yES FocuS limit SWitch yES internal FocuS no Filter Size 55mm iriS bladeS 7 Weather SealS ParTial Supplied acceSSorieS caPS dimenSionS (dia x length) 71 x 71mm Weight 236g new e-learning PhotoClub is the new way to learn about photography. Get access to the training videos as a member Plus subscriber to Digital Camera, PhotoPlus or N-Photo magazines – or just pay for video access. Learn photography fast Subscribe to PhotoClub to instantly access hundreds of photography video classes. 0 0 5ideos! v find out more www.digitalcameraworld.com A P s P MORE GREAT MAGA ZINES FROM THE MAKERS OF PHOTOGRAPHy wEEK n-Photo N-Photo is a monthly magazine for Nikon photographers, and is packed with technique and Photoshop video lessons every month. PhotoPlus FREE GIFT! Dx0 soFTwaRE woRTh $199 GEaR oF ThE YEaR Issue 67 • January 2017 • £5.49 www.digitalcameraworld.com pop-up ViDeos! o View the ViDe No.1 for CANoN Dslr users issue 122 • Feb 2017 your Complete eos Dslr GuiDe shoot the night sky! canon crash course Controls Aperture shutter speed exposure focus lenses pro tips Capture star trails, moonrises and auroras with our step-by-step guide LIGhTBoX spEcIaL The year’s best US landscapes ThE BIG TEsT winter sports Great techniques for action shots profile The best budget telephoto zooms for Nikon revealed Go wild in http://tiny.cc/x2ehfy Iceland My favourite lens is probably the 35mm wide-angle. There haven’t been many wildlife photographers in the past who have said that David Yarrow, fine-art wildlife photographer p94 http://tiny.cc/32ehfy Lightsabers Feel the Force with our fun project p42 Digital Camera WorlD A monthly magazine that aims to improve your photography with an inspirational mix of amazing images and how-to articles. http://tiny.cc/b7ehfy planet earth learn new dslr skills in 2017! landscape pro David Clapp on his secret to success cute cats Shoot pet portraits like the pros p44 New series! 1 My favourite images ask as many questions as they answer Martin Grace – PhotoPlus reader gear of the year the hottest Canon Dslrs, lenses and kit http://tiny.cc/y5ehfy www.digitalcameraworld.com The 13 paths to creative photography p78 47 MINUTeS Of VIDeO Learn PhotoshoP cc & Lightroom the easy way! Issue 70 January 2017 The definitive guide to SLR photography MASTER YOUR CAMERA NOW! Your complete guide to the basics free! With this issue http://tiny.cc/i4ehfy best oN test Master your Nikon with our winter wildlife Apprentice Make 2017 your best year ever ... http://tiny.cc/s6ehfy Gear PhotoPlus is a monthly magazine for Canon photographers that features expert advice, tips and video tutorials on all things Canon. 2017 planner & COMpeTITIOnS lISTInGS phOTOShOp ebOOk & Gear GuIde PRO PHOTO FX Create the cover and learn amazing new skills PraCtiCal PhotoshoP Improve your Photoshop skills with the monthly guide to creating stunning images. Each issue comes with expert video lessons. http://tiny.cc/l8ehfy PLUS OVER AN HOUR Of EXPERT VIdEO TUITION http://tiny.cc/99ehfy VINTAGE MAKEOVERS COMPLEX CUTOUTS | PHOTO COLLAGES Check out these other fantastic photography apps for iPad & iPhone teaCh yourself PhotoshoP http://tiny.cc/vd4hox Transform your images with the expert tips and advice in 50 Photoshop video tutorials. 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Every important tool in Camera Raw explained in detail by our experts. http://tiny.cc/6rxogy http://tiny.cc/1e4hox Creative slr skills Learn a range of new photography skills with this 30-part video training course designed to stimulate your creativity and boost your photographic confidence. http://tiny.cc/huxogy http://tiny.cc/k3jcqx C R E D I T S [email protected] 9000 9012 fACEBOOK http://tiny.cc/qi0oey ADVERTISING Account Director Matt Bailey [email protected] MARKETING Campaign Manager Charlotte Jolliffe LICENSING Senior Licensing & Syndication Manager Matt Ellis [email protected] SENIOR MANAGEMENT Editorial Director Matthew Pierce Creative Director, Magazines Aaron Asadi TwITTER http://tiny.cc/ml0oey fLICKR http://tiny.cc/rn0oey THE TEAM Editor Jeff Meyer [email protected] MULTIMEDIA Producer Peter Gray Art Editor Rosie Webber Videographer Adam Lee Production Editor Mike McNally SENIOR CREATIVE TEAM Global Editor-in-Chief Chris George TESTING TEAM Head of Testing Rod Lawton Lab Manager Ben Andrews REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Ben Andrews, George Cairns, Claire Gillo, Rod Lawton, James Paterson, Matthew Richards Group Art Director Rodney Dive APP DEVELOPMENT App Developers Chris Rivers, Gabor Szabo, Elizabeth Wilson, Product Lead Jeremy Ford www.techradar.com/digitalcameraworld Future is an award-winning international media group and leading digital business. 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