Photography for Beginners - Issue 27, 2013.pdf

Take fantastic shots withPhotography for Beginners

WelcomeIssue 27

Meet the team...

Annabelle SingPhotoshop expert Annabelle designs the mag and provides you with editing advice to enhance your shots

Jo StassOur staff writer Jo is on hand to give you the best tips and shooting tricks to improve your images

Alicea FrancisAlicea joins us this issue as our new sub editor, ready to make our tutorials as simple to follow as possible

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For more great photo tips, head to photoforbeginners.comGet in touch with us… Ask questions, leave feedback on the magazine or share your shots via the following social sites…

For more great photo tips, head to photoforbeginners.com

@PFBMag PFBMag PFB Magazine [email protected] photoforbeginners.com

When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than getting out with your camera and capturing some images. This issue we are letting you in on some fantastic secrets! We’ve got the very best tips on focusing, composition, lighting and more on p22 to get you taking amazing photos.

In this issue we’ve also got a Beginner’s Guide to Action on p30, helping you to get sharp shots – whether it’s your kids playing, pets running, or anything else you’d like to capture. We’ve got a great photo project on p40 where we show you how to turn food shots into a fantastic cookbook to store all your favourite recipes in. Check out our editing tutorials starting on p60 for some quick fi xes, and fi nd out some great ways to share shots on p74.

Learn all of our secrets and get out shooting today!

Amy SquibbEditor

Follow us at @PFBMag

Adam SmithWriter Adam from Advanced Photoshop magazine is here to help you manipulate your photos with ease

Take fantastic shots withTake fantastic shots withPhotography for BeginnersPhotography for Beginners

Meet the team...3

When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than

Welcome!

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ContentsIssue 01

HANDS-ON PROJECTS

INSIDE Subscribe to...

Get money off issues!

Shoot22 Top 25 photo secrets

Tricks to get some amazing shots

30 Beginner’s guide to… Action photography Capture movement with ease

38 Shoot and edit vivid landscape photosCreate a colourful vista

40 Shoot, edit & share a cookery eBookCompile your food shots in style

46 Low-key portraitsTips for an atmospheric photo

48 5 tips for using fi lters An easy way to improve images

50 The story behind a wonderful wildlife shotHow this great shot came to life

52 Master your fl ashControl the light for better results

58 Why does your camera need a light meter?Understand how to read the light

Edit60 Enhance your images

using PhotoPlus X6A guide to this useful editing tool

64 Fake a cool lens effectCheat a bokeh background

66 Correct distracting lens distortionsStraighten buildings in fi ve steps

68 Edit a black-and-white masterpieceCreate monochromes on the go

Share72 Back up automatically

Copy to a hard drive and Dropbox

74 Use Adobe Lightroom to organise imagesTag, sort and fi lter photos

76 Make a fl ipbookA fun and creative photo project

78 5 tips for a great photo galleryShowcase your shots

80 Send a photo collage emailUse iPhoto to share multiple images

52MasterFlash52

Learn how to soften harsh light and get more fl attering results

Share yo

ur sh

ots at...

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.com

Or searc

h for P

FBMag

on...

PFBMag

For back issues & more go to…

Make a cookbook p40

Get rid of strong shadows and blown highlights with our tips

✗

Capture vivid vistas p38

The latest kit rated p84

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Your photosTake a look at our readers’ wonderful shots and be inspired to send in your own for a chance to have them featured here

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WIN!A Samsung 16GB memory cardEvery issue, one winner will receive a Samsung 16GB HDSC memory card or a prize of equal value www.samsung.com/uk

WIN!

Full terms and conditions available online

Your photosReaders’ gallery

God's Sunrise Painting“The photograph was taken at Perdido Bay, Florida. When I saw this boat I loved it. Using my Nikon D3000 and with help from a sunrise, I got this beautiful picture.” Shot on: Nikon D3000, f13, 1sec, ISO 100 Sent in via: PFB website

Reader: Donnie Fiegle

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Reader: Ryan CapulongLake Sampaloc“This photo was taken at sunrise at Lake Sampaloc, the largest of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna, the Philippines.” Shot on: Nikon D90, f8, 2sec, ISO 200

Reader: Douglas MacLeanRed Kite Aerobatics

“I noticed two red kites performing aerial acrobatics. The sky at the

time was cloudless, so I used GIMP to paint in the cloud effect."

Shot on: Canon EOS 650D, f/8, 1/1250sec, ISO 400

Share your shots at...

photoforbeginners.comOr search for PFBMag on...

Reader: Anthony MitchellThe Tube“This was taken on Holy Island, Northumberland. Getting up close with my new 50mm lens produced great results.” Shot on: Sony a200, f/5.6, 1/80sec, ISO 100

Reader: Bo Chetwyn The Eye At Night “This photo was taken when we went for a walk over Westminster Bridge. The wheel looked so lovely lit up.”Shot on: Nikon D3100, f4, 1/3sec, ISO 400

Reader: Natalia Ivanova Splash "This picture was taken in the garden of my house in Leiden, the Netherlands. I used a boiled egg in order to make a splash."Shot on: Canon 500D, f1.4, 1/4000sec, ISO 200

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R y

Reader: Kirsty Baigent Title: Crantock Beach

Reader: Alex ReadTitle: Huge Sky

Reader: Jack Masterton Title: Oscar and Poppy

Reader: Lynn Smith Title: Phone Home

Reader: Dave Flynn Title: Busy

Reader: Laurajane McDowall Title: Mother’s Day Rose

Reader: Luca Semorile Old Mills On A Cloudy Day

“This was taken in the Netherlands in the Zaanse

Schans area in summer 2011.” Shot on: Phone 4S, taken with

Hipstamatic app

Winner!

Reader: Salman Arif Title: Above All

Reader: Kyriakos Georgiou Title: Nature’s Beautiful Life

Reader: Jarra� IstedTitle: Hamburg Rathaus

Reader: Kuldeep KumarTitle: Tamarin Beach

Win cameraphone kit!Send us your cameraphone shots and you could win a Manfrotto KLYP kit worth £95/approx $150. For more info head to www.manfrotto.co.uk. Full terms and conditions available online.

Win cameraphone kit!Send us your cameraphone shots and you could win a Manfrotto

ENTER NOW: Send your shots to [email protected]

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Your own back garden is full of fantastic things to photograph, from beautiful fl owers to interesting wildlife, so it is the perfect place to practise your skills. You can also set up your own photography subjects, such as wellies and a watering can, against a natural garden backdrop to produce a stunning still-life shot. Working with the natural light also allows you to take an entirely new shot at different times of the day or year, so it is worth going out several times to see how your shot changes. If you don’t have your own back garden, then you can still take brilliant shots at your local

public gardens, so pay them a visit and see what you can fi nd.

In Issue 26 we showed you some great garden photography projects to try. We then challenged you to send in your best garden photos, and were very impressed with the shots we received. Here is a selection of our favourite ones.

Garden photography

Our Beginner’s Guide to garden photography can be found in PFB Issue 26. Get back issues from…

We challenged, you delivered…

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Splash of Colours “This is in the garden of our vacation home at Coonoor in Tamilnadu, India. I was capturing photos of the garden that my partner had painstakingly created.” Shot on: Nikon D90, f8, 1/80sec, ISO 200Sent in via: PFB website

Winner!Reader: Biswarup Biswas

Send us your shots at... photoforbeginners.com

Search for PFBMag on...

Your next photo challenge:

Action photography

Your next

Try out our action photography tips in this issue’s Beginner’s Guide and send us the results by 9 July

2013 for a chance to win a MAGIX PhotoStory on DVD 2013 Deluxe.

Prize may be substituted for an item of equal value. Full T&Cs available online.

WIN!PhotoStory on DVD software

Send us your shots for a chance to win a copy of MAGIX PhotoStory on DVD, courtesy of www.

magix.com. This software, which allows you to turn your photos into fantastic

slideshows, is worth £70/$70.

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Readers’ challenge

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Your photosReaders’ challenge

Reader: Laura Cu� sTitle: Bu� erfl y Lantern

Reader: Val BrillTitle: Swallowtail Beauty

Reader: Sherry Rosen Title: Tulips

Reader: Ludia KochanTitle: Lotus Pond

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Share on our social sites Join the Facebook, Twi� er and Flickr communities

@PFBMagClick the Compose New Tweet box then select Add An Image. Find your shot and click Open. Write some text, include @PFBMag, then click Tweet and we will see your photo!

PFB MagazineHit Upload to add images. Click on the image you want to share, then hit Share>Grab the link. Email it to [email protected] or post it to us on Facebook or Twitter.

PFBMag Search for ‘PFBMag’ and click the tab. On our page, hit Photo/Video, then Upload Photo/Video. Browse for your image, write a message and click Post for it to appear on our wall!

Also share on our website Head to www.photoforbeginners.com now

Share your shots at... photoforbeginners.com


Share your shotsHere’s how to show us your stunning snaps

Become our favourite!We pick our favourite shots to highlight in our Featured Image section. This could be you soon, so get uploading!

Create a galleryYou can showcase your favourite images by creating your own gallery page on our website. It’s quick and simple to set up.

The best of the rest on our great website

Also online…

Enter the Face-OffYour shots are entered into our Face-Off section and pitted against other people’s – have fun watching your score rise!

Be inspiredBrowse through all the different categories to be inspired by other readers’ photos and get ideas of your own.

Tips and tutorialsOur website is piled high with step-by-step tutorials and useful tips to help you take better photos of any subject.

News and debateWe help you keep up to date with the latest industry news and releases. You can also get stuck into hot topics with our debates!

CompetitionsHead to www.photoforbeginners.com and enter our weekly competitions to win some really fantastic prizes!

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Samsung’s new SMART Camera WB250F puts great photo power at your fi ngertips. You can shoot fantastic images for larger prints with its 14MP sensor, plus instantly share them too with built-in Wi-Fi options. Send shots when you’re out and about or back up images to your phone with MobileLink. You can even control the camera from your smartphone, which is great for avoiding camera shake.

The WB250F boasts a slim and sleek body, which houses a great

touch screen interface, full auto or manual controls and full-HD video. The 18x optical zoom will allow you to get in close, while its 24mm lens is great for framing wide vistas. Plus there’s Low Light Shot mode, which selects the best settings and merges three shots for great performance in dim conditions.

To fi nd out more about this new SMART camera, simply visit www.samsung.com/uk. For a chance to get your hands on this fantastic camera, enter our competition now!


Terms and conditionsThis competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Imagine Publishing has the right to substitute the prize for a similar item of equal or higher value. Camera colours may vary. Employees of Imagine Publishing (including freelancers), Samsung, their relatives or any agents are not eligible to enter. The editor’s decision is fi nal and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes can not be exchanged for cash. Full terms and conditions are available on request. From time to time, Imagine Publishing or its agents may send you related material or special offers. If you do not wish to receive this, please state clearly on your competition entry.

touch screen interface, full auto or manual controls and full-HD video. The 18x optical zoom will allow you to get in close, while its 24mm lens is great for framing wide vistas. Plus there’s Low Light Shot mode, which

performance in dim conditions.

Terms and conditionsThis competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

HOW TO ENTER:Send your name, contact details and your best shot to us by 25 July 2013.Email: [email protected]: www.photoforbeginners.com

A Samsung WB250FPlus three lucky runners-up will each get a Samsung 8GB SDHC memory card

WIN!PLUS!An 8GB Samsung memorycard

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Shoot faster with new Olympus CSCGet sharp shots of fast-paced action with the PEN EP-5As the world’s first compact system camera with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000sec, the Olympus PEN EP-5 will help you to avoid blurry shots and keep them pin-sharp. You can freeze a split second of time for stunning shots of high-speed action that is too quick for your eyes to register. Nine frames per second, continuous shooting and a fast autofocus system will also

help to make sure you get your best-ever shot. The retro design of this small but mighty camera will appeal to the style-conscious shooter, and built-in Wi-Fi and touch screen control is there for those of us who are looking for the latest in camera technology. The EP-5 is available now with an RRP of £900 for the body only, or £1000 with a 14-42mm lens.

Need to knowA snapshot of what’s exciting us this month

Reasons why we can’t wait to get our hands on this camera…

01 The 1/8000sec maximum shutter speed will capture fast movement, but can the autofocus keep up?

02 We’ll test whether the touch screen and customisable controls help to speed up shooting.

03 With its many filters, scene modes and the Photo Story function, we can produce creative images.

The top three…

Get arty With 12 art filters including Cross Process, Soft Focus and Diorama, you can experiment with different creative effects

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Customisable controlAssign your own functions to the two dials on the camera body for fast access to your favourite settings

Create a photo story When one shot just isn’t enough, Photo Story mode lets you take a series of shots to create a cool photo collage

Flip out touch screen Tilt the LCD screen to shoot from new angles, and take or focus your shots with a single tap of your finger

Quality imagesThe EP-5 has the very same 16MP sensor found in the Olympus OM-D, for fantastic, high quality photos

Focal length: 270mm Exposure: F/6.3, 1/640 sec, ISO 250

Focal length: 18mm Exposure: F/4.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 250

www.tamron.co.uk

18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD

One lens for every moment

This Tamron Megazoom-Lens is an unbeatablecombination of flexibility and performance. Thanks to the 15x zoom the right focal length for every situation is available anytime. The VC image stabilization and fast, almost silent PZD autofocus completes the package. The low weight and compactness of this lens leaves even enough room in your travel bag for souvenirs. Available for your digital APS-C SLR from Canon, Nikon or Sony *.

* The Sony mount does not include the VC image stabilizer.

www.facebook.com/TamronUK

Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.com

4 of the best…Tips for getting a more even exposure

Exposure bracketing If your camera has an exposure bracketing function, use it to take three photos at different exposures. Then use software such as Photomatix or Photomerge in Photoshop to layer them and create one evenly exposed shot.

Use fl ashIf the main subject in the foreground of your photo is in shadow, fi re your fl ash to fi ll in the light and brighten them up while keeping the background well-exposed. This should give you a perfect photo.

Spot metering Use Spot Metering mode so that the camera will read the light for a specifi c part of the frame. Point the camera at your main subject, half-press the shutter, and the camera will meter for that area, helping you get the correct exposure.

Reposition yourself Change your shooting position, or move your subject if you can, so that the light source is illuminating both the foreground and background of your photo. This will ensure that none of your shot is in shadow.

I have just bought my fi rst DSLR, and as I live by the coast I would like to have a go at long-exposure photography so that I can capture the movement of the water in my seascapes. I’d also like to try shooting some waterfalls with this technique too. I know that I will need a tripod in order to avoid blurry shots due to camera shake when using slow shutter speeds, but I am a little overwhelmed by the number of choices available. Have you got any advice on what a beginner on a budget should look out for?Karen Dodd, via email

When buying a tripod there are a number of decisions you will need to make. First off, you need to consider whether you want a full-sized tripod for sturdy support, or a compact option that is cheaper, lighter and easier to carry around. Then you need to think about the tripod head. A ball head will let you freely adjust the position of your camera in one go for speedy positioning, while a two-way head has two adjustment levers, and is ideal for tracking a moving subject with a fl uid sideways motion. Lastly, a three-way head lets you make specifi c adjustments, with three different controls for really accurate positioning.

Which tripod should I buy?

Tripods keep your camera steady to help you avoid blurry and wonky shots

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Sturdy surface When you are out shooting, try to fi nd a makeshift tripod to rest your camera on. Look for a fl at, stable surface such as a table, fence or wall. You could even rest your camera on your kit bag to keep it steady.

3 of the best... Alternatives to shooting with a tripod

GridlinesInstead of using a tripod to keep your photos straight, switch on your camera’s gridlines. You should fi nd this option in the Display menu. When this is done, line up the horizon with one of the horizontal gridlines.

Elbows in Simply holding the camera correctly can help you to keep it steady. Make sure you use both hands, stand with your feet apart and tuck your elbows into your body. If you have a DSLR, use one hand to support the lens from underneath.

I love trying out your tutorials and would really like to have a go at creating the zoom burst effect that I have seen in the magazine. There are lots of fl owers in my garden that I think would look great when shot with this technique. I know that you need to zoom out while taking the shot, but unfortunately I only have a compact camera that won’t let me do this. I know that you can do all sorts with editing software, so is there a way I can cheat and recreate the effect using Photoshop Elements?Chloe Willis, via Facebook

Zoom bursts are a great way of adding a sense of movement to photos of stationary subjects, and produce some creative and dramatic results. The technique is really easy to do in-camera, as you just need to set a slow shutter speed of around 1/8secs and zoom in or out while the shutter is open. Just make sure you place your main subject in the centre of the frame and focus on it so that it stays sharp in the middle of the zoom burst. If you can’t achieve this effect in-camera or have an existing photo you want to apply the effect to, then you can easily recreate it using the simple steps below.

How can I fake a zoom burst?

LikeThis month we

Post your photo to our Facebook page and we’ll share it with the world

Search for ‘PFBMag’

Add zoom blur Recreate a zoom burst eff ect in Photoshop Elements

01 Add zoom blur To begin, go to Layer>Duplicate Layer

and click on the Filters tab. Then go to Blur>Radial Blur. In the dialog box, select Zoom as the blur method.

Zuzana Stepankova Capturing the facial expressions of wildlife helps to show their personality.

Bill GreenFinding a good vantage point to shoot from can help you capture interesting angles.

Richard ReidColourful fl owers create foreground interest and help to add context to a shot.

David HopwoodButterfl ies make great macro subjects due to the intricate patterns on their wings.

03 Refocus the centre Add a layer mask to the blurred layer and

select the Brush tool. Change the brush colour to black and paint the detail back into the centre of the shot.

02 Adjust the blur Once this is done, drag the centre point

of the Blur Centre grid to line it up with your main focal point. Then you’ll need to adjust the Blur Amount slider.

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Zoom bursts can give a plain shot the wow factor

BEFORE


This pet lizard was happy to pose for his portrait photo @NikolaBarnes

Let us recommend

TwitpicsThe best photos

tweeted to us@pfbmag

photoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.com

Twit

Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.com

Let us recommendLet us recommendThe Shard in London looks dramatic from a low angle @louisealdridge

photoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.com

This delicate daisy looks beautiful

fi lling the frame @Lou254

Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.com

TwitpicsTwitpics

photoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.comphotoforbeginners.com

Sunsets produce stunning colours

for your photos @jhonnblaze

Display your photos in a stylish photobook, personalised just the way you want it

Best photobook printing services I have taken so many photos of my children over the years, but they are all just sitting on my computer where no one can see them. I like the idea of creating a photobook so that I can display my memories in a

personalised album and give them to my family as gifts, but there are so many different printing services to choose from. Could you recommend some of the best ones?Tania Lloyd, via email

What’s good about it…

✔ A range of paper types and book sizes are available to tailor designs to your specifi cations

✔ You can use the Book Design service to produce a professional photobook without the hassle

What could be better…

✗ You have to download the Bob Designer software for complete control over your layout

✗ If you use the Online Book Creator then the available product range is limited

Design your own book or let Bob Books do the work for you with lots of layouts to choose from. You can also create fun fl ickbooks from your photos.

Bob Books From £14.99


✔ You can add text, headlines and captions to personalise your photos and tell a story

✔ Use existing layout templates or create your own, and choose between a hard and soft cover


✗ For the full range of layout options, you have to download Blurb’s BookSmart software

✗ You have to pay extra to create a book without the Blurb logo on it

Make a range of photobooks, from wedding albums to cookbooks, or create an eBook or instant photobook using your Facebook or Instagram photos.

Blurb From £8.99


✔ Books are printed using a high-quality process, or get even better quality with the Elite range

✔ There is a choice of cover and paper fi nishes available to personalise your photobook


✗ You have to create an account before you can begin your book and see the fi nal price

✗ Prices are a little higher than their competitors, but they do specialise in high-quality printing

Create professional-looking photobooks to display your photos in style. There are plenty of options available, from acrylic and leather-covered to standard photobooks.

One VisionFrom £12

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ShootingShooting

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COMPOSE FOR A STRONGER PHOTOComposition refers to what you include in your photo and where you position the different elements within the frame. The important thing is to guide the viewer through your shot and lead their gaze towards the main focal point. There are lots of rules to help you create an engaging composition, and most photographers will try to incorporate some, if not all of them, into their shots. It is also okay, however, to break the rules occasionally if you think it will produce a more eye-catching shot. Take a look at our top secrets for composing an image, use them as guidelines, and you’ll be taking stronger photos in no time at all.

01 Position your subject

When you frame your shot, imagine a grid with nine separate sections over your image. Place your main focal point or horizon on an intersection or dividing line. This makes for a more pleasing composition, as people’s eyes naturally go to these points.

02 Keep it simple

Less is more, so avoid cluttering the frame and keep your images simple. Try to include no more than three main colours or focal points in your shots, and make sure the background does not distract attention away from your main subject.

03 Foreground interest

When you are shooting a landscape or architecture, try to include foreground interest. This will help to guide your viewer through the image and towards your main subject. You could also look for lead-in lines like a path or fence to direct the viewer to the central area.

04 Move around

Reposition yourself and experiment with shooting from different angles. Lie on the fl oor and shoot from low down for dramatic shots, or fi nd a high vantage point and shoot a scene from an angle that most people will not have seen before.

COMPOSE FOR A STRONGER PHOTOComposition refers to what you include in your photo and where you position the different elements within the frame. The important thing is to guide the viewer through your shot and lead their gaze towards the main focal point. There are lots of rules to help you create an engaging composition, and most photographers will try to incorporate some, if not all of them, into their shots. It is also okay, however, to break the rules occasionally if you think it will produce a more eye-catching shot. Take a look at our top secrets for composing an image, use them as guidelines, and you’ll be taking stronger photos in no time at all.

01When you frame your shot, imagine a grid with nine separate sections over your image. Place your main focal point or horizon on an intersection or dividing line. This makes for a more pleasing composition, as people’s

main subject.

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04

03

02

01

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05 Limit your shootingBe selective with your photography

and avoid taking too many photos. Stop and think about your composition and settings before you start snapping.

05 and avoid taking too many photos. Stop and think about and avoid taking too many photos. Stop and think about

main subject.

05 05

SHUTTER SPEED

11 Control the light

When you take a photo, the camera’s shutter opens to let light reach the sensor and then closes again at the end of the exposure. Shutter speed determines the length of time the shutter is open for and therefore how much light gets in. A slow shutter speed will let a lot of light in, and so is useful for low-light shots. A fast shutter speed will only let in a small amount of light, so is necessary when shooting in bright conditions. Shutter speed is measured in seconds and fractions of seconds.

12 Capture motion

Controlling your shutter speed is also useful when shooting moving subjects. A fast shutter speed will allow you to freeze movement, and also allows you to handhold the camera without getting a blurry image. A slow shutter speed captures movement and produces motion blur. This is often used when shooting seascapes or waterfalls, as it makes the water look soft and milky. You will need to put your camera on a tripod or stable surface, though, or the shot will contain unwanted blur.

GET PERFECTLY EXPOSED SHOTSExposure is the amount of light that falls onto your camera’s sensor in order to produce an image that resembles what is in front of you. It is determined by three factors: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. If you switch to manual mode, each of these can be controlled to allow more or less light to reach your sensor. Letting too much light in will result in an overexposed or blown-out image, while not letting enough light in will produce an underexposed or dark photo. You can also increase your sensor’s sensitivity to the light to brighten your shot. The idea is to strike a balance between all three to create a well-exposed image in the available lighting conditions. You can also adjust your exposure settings to achieve creative effects with your camera. Read on and learn how to master exposure today.

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12

SHUTTER SPEED

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SHUTTER SPEED


SHUTTER SPEED


GET PERFECTLY EXPOSED SHOTSExposure is the amount of light that falls onto your camera’s

GET PERFECTLY

11When you take a photo, the camera’s

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A fast speed will freeze motion

Slow shutter speeds will cause blur

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and features - plus a splash of colour!Great for point & shoot, mirrorless, micro 4/3 and DSLR cameras with larger lenses. The RoadTrip and GlobeTrotter models also convert into

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So small you will take it everywhere

Cool. Colourful. Compact.

Rugged & Professional

ShootingBeginner’s guide

30

Share your shots at...

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1/1000sec F8

Dynamic anglesDecide in advance where to shoot your subject from so

that you get the best angle, while keeping safe and out of the way of the action

✔

Cameras can capture spectacular shots of moving subjects, as long as you know how to master the settings. By changing your camera’s shutter speed, you can freeze seconds of action that are too fast for the naked eye to register, or capture motion blur to demonstrate speed and direction. The autofocus systems on many cameras have vastly improved in recent times, and will help you keep fast-moving subjects sharp and in focus. Even so, it helps to be familiar with

the different focusing options, and focusing manually often produces great results.

Whether you are shooting sports, wildlife, or your kids playing in the park, let us help you get to grips with shutter speeds and focusing techniques so that you can take your best ever photos. We will also guide you through the tricky task of lighting and composing your action shots, and provide you with some simple ideas for putting our tips into practice at home.

Action photography Learn to keep up with moving subjects and capture sharp shots of the action

Over the next seven pages: Learn the techniques for shooting moving subjects, then practise your skills with our easy projects

Beginner’s guide to

Kit for actionMONOPOD

A padded camera bag will protect your camera and accessories when you are chasing after subjects.

A monopod is simply a one-legged tripod. It’s easier to move around but still provides support.

CAMERA BAG

This lens reaches large focal lengths, allowing close-up shots of the action from a safe distance.

TELEPHOTO LENS

Use a strap so that you can access your camera in a fl ash if an unexpected photo opportunity arises.

CAMERA STRAP

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Discover the settings you need to help you freeze a split second of action over on page 32

P32

Use our shutter speed guide to learn how to achieve different action effects on page 33

P33

Get to grips with panning techniques to capture motion blur on page 34, alongside some key focusing modes

P34

Try out our easy action photography projects and improve your shooting skills on page 36

P36

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Photography allows you to preserve a single moment in time forever, even if it only lasts a fraction of a second. You can capture the moment a runner crosses the fi nishing line, your dog catches its ball or your child does a trick on their bike. Changing the shutter speed will produce different effects, while other handy functions will guarantee you come away with the crucial shot. Here, we will show you the best settings for stunning results.

1. Freeze action Capture a split second of movement in your shot


Speed it upA fast shutter speed (1/100sec or higher)

will produce a sharp image, even when the subject is moving at high speed

✔

32

Continuous shooting mode takes a series of shots so you can pick the best one

1/500sec F5.6

Sports or action scene modes select the right settings, doing the hard work for you

If you can, set up your camera

in advance

Fast shutterA fast shutter speed of 1/100sec or over will freeze your subject (really fast subjects will require higher)

medium shutter slow shutterUsing a shutter speed of between 1/60sec and 1/3sec will capture a bit of motion blur as your subject moves

Selecting a shutter speed of 1sec or slower creates lots of blur that will show the direction of movement


lighting

Choose your iso01 Using a fast shutter does not allow much

time for light to get through your lens. If you are shooting in dark conditions, raise your ISO to make your camera more sensitive to the available light so you can keep using fast shutter speeds.

Fire your flash02 If the light is low or your subject is backlit,

fire your flash to illuminate them. This won’t be as effective if your subject is a great distance away, as your flash may not be powerful enough to reach them. See p52 for more flash tips.

re-position your subject03 Try to shoot from an angle so that your light

source is in front of your subject. This will prevent them from being backlit and therefore underexposed in your shot. It may take a bit of planning to find the best place to stand.

33

Tricks to help you get well-lit shots

shutter speeds Go fast or slow for different effects

34

Action photography doesn’t just have to involve freezing your subject in the frame. Sometimes, including a bit of blur in your shots actually better demonstrates movement, and also helps to show the speed and direction that your subject is travelling in. Panning is a clever way to create blur in your shot while keeping your subject sharp and in

focus. It often takes a bit of practice before you can produce great results, but here we give you a step-by-step guide to help you on your way. We also have some useful tips for mastering focusing techniques and composition, so you can produce clear and dynamic shots even if you or your subject are in a hurry.

2. Panning Create motion blur by tracking movement


34

Pan with your subject

Leave active space in front of your subject to give a sense of direction

✗

Create background blur to show speed

Put your camera in auto

when you turn it off so you

won’t have to dial in settings

if a great moment arrives

unexpectedly.

Don’t miss a

crucial moment

Choose your settings01 Select Shutter Priority mode and choose

your shutter speed. It will need to be fast enough to freeze your subject in the frame but slow enough to give you time to pan. 1/50sec is a good starting point, but experiment from there.

Use burst mode02 Burst mode will take a series of shots every

time you press the shutter. This will ensure that you come away with a great shot, as even if you fi rst press the shutter too early, your camera will keep shooting until you have fi nished panning.

Steady your camera03 A monopod will give you the freedom to

swivel your camera as you track your subject for a smooth panning shot. It will also help you to keep your camera steady in order to avoid any unwanted blur.

Get the subject rightCars make for great

panning subjects, as they move in a fl uid and steady

motion through your frame

✔

1/15sec F11

Focusing

Continuous autofocus This mode will get your camera to continually focus while you are pressing the shutter, which is useful if your subject is moving erratically.


✔

Experiment with different angles, perhaps capturing your subject from behind or head on

Pre-focus the shot04 To keep your subject sharp in the frame,

pre-focus on the area they will travel into. You could manually focus or half-press the shutter to lock the focus point, and then fully press it when your subject moves into the frame.

Pan with your subject 05 When your subject is in position, press the

shutter and swivel your camera along with them. It’s likely to be a case of trial and error, so don’t be put off if you don’t get a perfect shot fi rst time round.

Keep action sharp

Focus tracking In this mode the camera predicts the speed and direction a subject is moving in and tracks them, which is useful when the motion is fl uid.

✔

✗

Master your camera’s focusing settings to get sharp shots every time

Using the wrong focusing method could leave you with blurry shots

35

Get friends or family members to jump, dance or run while you take photos. Use Shutter Priority mode and select a fast shutter speed, then your camera will choose the optimum aperture for a well-exposed image. Switch to Continuous Autofocus mode to ensure you get a sharp shot as they move. If you can, it’s best to shoot outdoors and in daylight, or in a well-lit room to avoid having to raise your ISO and to let you produce clear, noise-free images. Try to position your subjects so that they are not lit from behind and appear underexposed in your photos.

02 Peoplein motion

Shooting moving water is useful for testing your shutter speed skills. You could shoot water from a running tap, pouring from a watering can, or cascading from a water fountain. A fast shutter speed will freeze the water in the frame, while using a slow shutter speed will blur the water to make it appear soft and silky. You can also get creative and shoot water drops using a very fast shutter speed and flash to capture them as they fall. Use continuous autofocus or focus tracking to help to keep your shots sharp, and continuous shooting will increase your chances of coming away with a brilliant photo.

01 Capture water drops

Toy trains or cars make great action photography subjects, and are particularly good for practising your panning technique. Experiment with different shutter speeds, then track your subject with your camera to produce directional background blur. Pre-focus your shot by manually focusing or half-pressing the shutter to lock the focus point and keep your subject sharp in the frame. Position your subject by a window or lamp, and if your shot is still coming out too dark, raise your camera’s ISO to make it more sensitive to the light that is available.

03 Shoot moving toys


Action photography often involves trying to capture a fleeting and sometimes once-in-a-lifetime moment, so it’s a good idea to practise your skills beforehand. Getting to know your camera and how to access its important functions will shorten your set-up time and speed up the shooting process so that you can capture unexpected moments with ease. There are plenty of ways to put your skills to the test at home using everyday objects, or by enlisting friends and family to help. Use these projects to master shutter speeds and focusing, and in the process prepare yourself for the fast-paced world of action photography.

3. Action projectsPractise action photo skills with these simple projects

36

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38

Shooting5 minute project

Use this handy guide to help you capture bright and colourful vistas to be proud of

five minute project

Use this handy guide to help you capture five

Shoot and edit vivid landscape photos What you’ll need…

✔ Colourful scene✔ Camera

We used…✔ Nikon P7700

You could use…✔ A tripod

What you’ll learn…✔ How to take a

vibrant landscape shot with ease

Polarising fi lterPolarising fi lters increase the colour intensity, saturation and contrast in photos to enhance bright blue skies and vibrant green foliage.

39

Shooting5 minute project

Look for colour

01 Firstly, fi nd a scene that has plenty of colour. Perhaps look for vibrant

foreground interest such as a fi eld full of fl owers. It also helps if you have a bright blue or golden sky, so think about the time of day and the weather you are shooting in.

Choose your settings

02 If your camera has a vivid picture mode, use that to boost the colours. Team it

up with Aperture Priority mode and select a narrow aperture (high f-number) to create lots of depth of fi eld and keep everything in the scene, from the front to the back, in focus.

Use a scene mode

03 Many cameras come with a dedicated scene mode which will select the

optimum settings for you. It will also help you to produce a vivid image, as it usually boosts the greens and blues (the most common landscape colours) to make them brighter.

Compose correctly

04 Think about where you want everything in the frame. Use the rule of thirds to

position your main focal point off-centre and look for lead-in lines like fences or pathways to guide the viewer through the shot. You may want to use your camera’s gridlines as well.

Boost vibrancy

05 If your image is still looking a little fl at and dull, increase the brightness using

editing software when you get home. Most programs will allow you to adjust the saturation of your image, so boost the slider to make the colours appear more vibrant.

With landscape photography, it’s possible to convey a whole range of styles and emotions, all with just a few in-camera and editing considerations. Perhaps you want a retro feel with fading colours and soft focus, or a dramatic and moody look with dark, cloudy skies and bare trees. Alternatively, a really eye-catching option is to shoot a vivid landscape with bright and bold colours. Spring and summer are the perfect time to capture this style of landscape, with foliage at its most vibrant and (with a bit of luck) bright blue skies. You could also venture out at dawn or dusk to capture the golden colours of sunrise or sunset in your shot.

Remember to apply the essential rules of landscape photography: keeping the background and foreground in focus;

carefully composing your shot; and using a tripod if you plan to use a slow shutter speed. If you wish to use a long exposure to capture the movement of water or clouds in your scene, then be aware that you may need to use a fi lter to block out some of the light. Using a slow shutter speed on a bright, sunny day could leave you with an overexposed photo if too much light enters your lens, so a Neutral Density fi lter will ensure a well-exposed shot.

Many cameras come with some handy modes to help you take a vivid landscape photo, but don’t worry if you are struggling to get the effect you want on your shoot – we’ll also show you how to boost the effect on your computer at home. Simply follow the easy steps below.

Bright and beautiful Capture a vibrant vista



Landscape shooting accessories

3 of the best…

Tripod A tripod will help you to avoid camera shake when using slow shutter speeds, and it will also help to keep your shots straight.

Wide-angle lens Use a wide-angle lens with a short minimum focal length (around 18-35mm) to allow you to include as much in the frame as possible.

ShootingBig project

Create a photo eBook to store all of your favourite recipes and share with friends

A cookery eBook full of your food shots

40

Shooting Big project

Select shooting mode

04 If possible, use a tripod to keep images sharp. If your camera only has preset

scene modes, choose a food mode. If you can select from manual modes, use Aperture Priority mode and dial in an aperture of f5 to f6.3, raising the ISO to 400 if the light is low.

Compose the shot

05 Select Live View, or alternatively use the viewfi nder to create a bold composition.

Try bringing up the grid lines and placing the main focal point of the food off-centre. You may also want to try both landscape and portrait orientations to see which works best.

Set the scene

01 Set up in an area clear of distractions and ideally near a large window for

optimum light. Place your subject on a white sheet of paper to help refl ect light onto the food, and use wrapping paper or something with an attractive design as the background.

Food photography may sound tricky, but in fact one of the hardest parts is resisting the temptation to eat your creation before you’ve photographed it. However, there are a few things you can bear in mind to help make your food shots look good enough to eat. In this tutorial, we will show you how to shoot your images, edit the chosen frames that represent your recipe, and fi nally explain how to upload them to an eBook creator so that you can share the result with friends, or sell copies to eager consumers.

Food photography isn’t just about still life shots of the fi nal product; it

covers the entire food-making process. Documenting your method will give readers visual pointers to help them follow the recipe accurately, so be sure to stop at regular intervals to photograph the recipe in progress.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that while we are concentrating on making a cookery book in this tutorial, you can apply the same method to create all sorts of tomes; from a love of cars, to coastal footpaths through Cornwall. If you can take photographs of the subject and marry it with some text, you will have an eBook in no time.



Shoot! Steps for taking fantastic food photos for your eBook

Get the light right

02 For extra light, plug in a desk lamp and position it nearby but out of shot – the

amber hue looks great when photographing baked goods. If you are shooting on a bright day and fi nd the light through the window is too harsh, hang up a white sheet to soften it.

Balance the colour

03 Although Auto White Balance is a fairly helpful tool, it’s best to do it yourself. If

you’re not sure how to do a manual reading, the camera’s white balance presets are usually quite effective. If you’ve used a lamp to illuminate the scene, opt for Incandescent.

Shoot and review

06 Focus on the main element of the food and take the shot. Hit Playback and

zoom in to check the clarity, then scroll out or hit the arrow keys to review the histogram. If you see it bunched up at one end, adjust your exposure settings and reshoot.

41

What you’ll need…✔ A digital camera ✔ Computer✔ Tripod ✔ Ingredients

We used…✔ GIMP✔ Blurb eBook creator

(Beta)

You could use…✔ Page Tiger✔ aXmag✔ Lulu

What you’ll learn…✔ How to shoot food

and edit images How to make an eBook using online software

✔Good enough to eatAn attractive background, bold colours and natural light make for mouth-watering food shots

Snapdish FreeBlur your shot’s background with the touch of a fi nger, then share to multiple sites. Users can also click the ‘yummy’ button to like your shot.

ShootingBig project

Edit! Correct imperfections and brighten colours

3 of the best…Food photo applications

Platter FreeAn app dedicated to food photos, Platter lets you share mouth-watering images, tag ingredients and follow others for inspiration.

3 of the best…Tips for food photography

42

Brightness and Contrast

10 It’s a good idea to make your image as bright and colourful as possible to help

the cover photo really stand out. In the Colors menu, fi nd the Brightness-Contrast option. Gently tweak the sliders to the right in order to increase both values.

Clone it out

09 The best way to remove imperfections is to clone them out. You’ll fi nd the

Clone Tool under Tools>Paint Tools. Choose an area of the picture that is the colour you want to cover the imperfection with, hit Ctrl and click, then move to the imperfection and click.

Get in close

08 Find the Magnify tool to zoom into your image and inspect it as closely as

possible. Look carefully for any imperfections, particularly on the main subject and the white sheet underneath. To zoom out using the tool in GIMP, press Ctrl and click the mouse.

Tweak the exposure

07 Open your image in an editing suite. We’ve used GIMP 2.8, which is a free,

downloadable software. Head to Curves or Levels to tweak the exposure. Nudge down the brighter areas to bring back detail and lift your shadows if the picture is a little dark.

Export as a JPEG

12 When you are satisfi ed with your frame, head to the File menu and fi nd Export.

Choose the Quality percentage – we opted for 100%. Make sure you save your image as a JPEG or PNG, as many eBook creators will only accept these fi les. Finish by hitting Export.

Hue and Saturation

11 For a fi nal touch, we’ll tweak the colours so they pop right off the page. In the

Color menu, choose Hue-Saturation, then select each of the colours in turn and ramp up the Saturation and Hue so that they still appear natural, but have a lot more impact.

Dishpal FreeJoin in a ‘potluck’ party where everyone adds their own dish, add fi lters to shots, and create a Dishpal magazine to share your creations.

Tell a storyAdd a narrative to an image by including other props. Here, we’ve included a timer to visually explain how long the buns need in the oven.

Set in contextWhile a solitary cupcake can look inviting, placing a few cupcakes on a cake stand can help to put the food in context.

RepetitionIf you have lots of dull-looking food, make the composition more interesting by arranging them into lines leading across the frame.

ShootingBig project

Choose styles and colours

16 The Global Styles tab changes the colour of your page. Opt for a bright and bold

colour if your foodstuff is also quite gregarious and perhaps aimed at teenagers or children. Choose black or white for a more elegant look, especially if it is aimed at a mature audience.

Select the layout

14 Users have a choice of 12 layouts, from a full photo page to a full text page, but

you can drag and drop images wherever you like regardless of the template. The same goes for adding text boxes. Just tweak the position and size of the images as you see fi t.

Hone the text and imagery

15 Click on the text box and choose a font, size and colour from the drop-down

menus. You can pull down the bottom of the box to make it bigger if necessary. To make an image fi t into the space given, click on it and hit Fill or Fit, depending on which you prefer.

Share! Create a Blurb cookery eBook

Preview and publish

17 When you’ve fi nished adding all your text and images, hit Preview to fl ick through

and check your eBook. Look out for spelling mistakes, empty boxes and blank pages, and make sure all the steps are in the right order. When your checks are complete, hit Publish.

Upload and place images

13 There are dozens of eBook creators out there, but we’ve opted for Blurb.com.

Begin by selecting Upload Images and fi nd your chosen shots – you can select these in groups. Once they are uploaded, you can slide them across onto the pages of the eBook.



LightingBy mixing both natural and artifi cial light, you can create a result that is even and fl atters the food

Colour Repetition of colour helps to bring together the food, the background and the props harmoniously

BackgroundThis should complement the food you are photographing, and help set the tone of your recipe book

43

Choose styles and coloursThe Global Styles tab changes the colour of your page. Opt for a bright and bold

colour if your foodstuff is also quite gregarious and perhaps aimed at teenagers or children. Choose black or white for a more elegant look, especially if it is aimed at a mature audience.

When you’ve fi nished adding all your text and images, hit Preview to fl ick through

and check your eBook. Look out for spelling mistakes, empty boxes and blank pages, and make sure all the steps are in the right order. When your checks are complete, hit Publish.

Share your shots at...photoforbeginners.comShare your shots at...photoforbeginners.comShare your shots at... Search for PFBMag on...

43

Technical tipUsing a tripod will help you to nail your food shots. They let you compose images easily and increase stability so that captures aren’t as wobbly.

White is brightPlacing food on a white sheet of paper helps to refl ect light onto the food, and offers a clean and inviting surface

02

01

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Inspirational images of...

Macro

03

Share yo

ur sh

ots at...

photofor

beginners

.com

Or searc

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FBMag

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PFBMag

05

01 Get creative It’s not just fl owers and

insects that make for great macro. Try photographing textures, or drop oil into water for a creative shot.

02 Intricate detailsUse a macro mode or lens

to capture the intricate details of fl owers. Getting in close can show it in a very different way.

03 Focus accuratelyWhen you’re up close you

have a very small depth of fi eld, so focusing accurately is important. Do it manually for the best results.

04 Add your own detailsWater drops make for a

great focal point. Splatter some onto an everyday object to create a macro subject with a difference.

05 Consider the lightShooting in harsh sunlight

won’t help to capture small details, so do it in the shade or near soft window light for the best shots.

45

04

Emphasise form and add drama

46

What you’ll need…✔ A digital camera ✔ A dimly lit room✔ A light source

We used…✔ Olympus EPL-3✔ A window

You could use…✔ A desk lamp

What you’ll learn…✔ Portrait tips ✔ Low-key

photography techniques

Emphasise form and add dramaWhat you’ll need…

A digital camera A dimly lit roomA light source

Find a suitable location Low-key shots are dimly lit, so you need to fi nd a dark location. This can be a dark room with a dark curtain as a backdrop, you could prop up a large piece of black card behind your model, or shoot at night.

Low-key portraits

ShootingLow-key portraits

Some cameras come with a dedicated low-key scene mode, which will select the correct settings for you

We used…Olympus EPL-3A window

You could use…A desk lamp

What you’ll learn…Portrait tips Low-key

We used…Olympus EPL-3A window

You could use…A desk lamp

What you’ll learn…Portrait tips

room with a dark curtain as a backdrop, you could prop up a large piece of black card behind your model, or shoot at night.

Choose a light source These shots need a single light source. You could use natural light though a window, a desk lamp, or a street lamp. Position your subject so the light hits them at an angle for a dramatic effect.

Low-key photography techniques

window, a desk lamp, or a street lamp. Position your subject so the light hits them at an angle for a dramatic effect.

Get the right exposure If your shot is too dark, even when using a wide aperture, try raising your ISO. Just watch out for digital grain if it is too high. Also, try experimenting with exposure compensation to adjust the brightness.

Create this shot!

ShootingLow-key portraits



47

S

P

A

AUTO Aperture: f4.5 ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/30secSS

PP

AA

AUTOAUTO Aperture:

No fl ash Remember to turn off your camera’s fl ash,

as the shot should only have one light source. You could use the fl ash as your

light source, but it works better if the light hits your subject from the side.

source. You could use the fl ash as your light source, but it works better if the light

hits your subject from the side.

Compose for effect Typically, subjects will look at the camera

for a portrait, which can be particularly dramatic in a low-key shot. But don’t be

afraid to experiment, as breaking eye contact can create a lovely candid photo.

Focus on your subject’s eyes using selective

focus, or you could do it manually or use face priority

focusing

Select aperture priority mode and a low f-number to let enough light into your

lens and create a shallow depth of fi eld

5 tips for using filtersGetting professional-looking shots in-camera is easy when you know how. Most photographers get a little bit of help in the form of filters. These attach to the front of your lens and help to balance exposures, increase contrast and more. Read on to make the most of these handy tools.

Improve your shots by attaching a filter to your lens

Increase contrastA polariser is great for increasing the contrast in skies. It’s a subtle but effective difference, which is great for landscapes. It also helps to reduce harsh reflections and improve detail, giving photos more clarity.

Find the thread sizeYou’ll find your lens’s thread size on the lens barrel – it’s the number next to the diameter symbol (ø). Make sure you know this number before making the purchase, as otherwise the filter will not fit.

Balance exposures To balance exposures, for instance a bright sky and a dark foreground, use an ND Grad filter. Hard edge filters are used when there is an abrupt change in brightness, while a soft edge is used for a more gradual change.

Choose your filter Square filters require a filter holder, but can be used with lenses of various sizes (you’ll need several holders, but these are cheap). Circular filters screw onto the end of your lens, but only work with certain lens sizes.

Create movementEver wondered how photographers create milky-smooth water or blurred clouds? An ND filter decreases the amount of light let into the lens, allowing you to use a slower shutter speed without overexposing the shot.

48

ShootingQuick tips

All you’ve got to do is take great pictures and then make them even better using Perfect Photo Suite 7! With brand new Perfect Black and White, new versions of Perfect Portrait, Perfect E�ects, Perfect Resize and the amazing Perfect Layers (oh and the new

Perfect Brush!) you decide what you want to do and where you want to work ...Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture or Photoshop Elements and of course stand-alone

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, and you don’t

Everything You Need to Realize Your Photographic Vision

All this


, and you don’t

, and you don’t

,

Everything You Need to Realize Your Photographic Vision

All this


, and you don’t

How did you keep the snow leopard sharp and in focus?I used a shutter speed of 1/640sec that helped me to freeze the leopard in the frame. He actually stayed still long enough for me to manually focus, so I made sure that I focused on the eyes, as I thought they were the most important part of the shot. I had to switch to continuous autofocus when he started moving again though.

50

ShootingStory behind the shot

Where and why did you take this fantastic wildlife photo? I went for a day out at the zoo because I wanted to put my new telephoto lens to the test. It was a cold and cloudy day, so I was worried that all of the animals would be indoors, but I managed to get some great shots – like this one of a snow leopard. It also meant that the light was nice and soft, with no harsh shadows to ruin my photos.

What kit did you use and how did it help to get a great shot?I was using my Canon 60D with my new 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 lens. This meant that I could get great close-up shots of the animals even when they were far away. I set the aperture to f5.6 to create a shallow depth of field that blurred the background and some of the rock in the foreground, so that the leopard was the main point of focus.

behindtheshot

StoryPhotographer Matt Bennett tells us the story behind his fantastic wildlife image

51

ShootingStory behind the shot



How did the shooting conditions affect your setup?The light was quite low so I had to raise my ISO to 1600 in order to use a fast shutter speed and avoid shots being underexposed. Luckily, my camera deals well with noise, so the final shot came out crisp and clear. I also had to switch my white balance to the cloudy setting, which warmed up the shot a bit and prevented a cool colour cast.

Did you face any problems when taking the photo?This shot is actually taken through glass, so I had a few issues with nasty reflections in my photos. But once I pressed my lens right up to it, I managed to get some clear shots. I had to give the glass a quick wipe with my sleeve to get rid of smudgy hand marks, so I would recommend packing a cloth in your kit bag if you are planning to shoot at the zoo.

Is there anything you would like to change about the photo? I would have loved to have got a shot of the leopard looking at the camera, as I think the eyes are so beautiful and it would have made the shot more engaging. However, he refused to look at me, even though I waited around for ages. I’m planning another trip to the zoo soon though, so maybe I will have more luck next time.

All in the eyesManually focus on your subject's

eyes, as these are usually the most important part of the shot, and help

to create an engaging photograph

1/640sec F5.6

Using fl ash with photos can be an immense help if you are faced with a situation where there is not enough light to create a correctly exposed photo, for example when shooting indoors or at night. Even when there is a lot of light available, a fl ash can be useful for when your subject is backlit or in shadow. Flashes come in all different shapes and sizes, from the built-in fl ash on ‘point and shoot’ cameras to the pop-up fl ash on mid-range DSLRs, and fi nally to powerful fl ashgun units that attach to your hotshoe. Flashguns are the next step up in fl ash use, and the possibilities with these units are endless. The best thing about them is the control you have with power output, plus they are often fi red remotely from the camera to give more pleasing results when placed off camera. You can also often change the position of the head so it doesn’t fi re directly. In this feature, however, we show you how to create pleasing results whatever equipment you are shooting with, as well as all the skills and techniques you need to reduce harsh shadows and soften light.

Master flashWe help you to avoid harsh shadows and highlights when using flash

52

We have bounced

the fl ash to soften the light. Find out how

to do this over the page

✗ With direct, undiffused

fl ash, the light is harsh and unfl attering on the model’s face

✔

CAMERA SCHOOCAMERA SCHOOLearn about your camera and take your best photos ever!


53

Control the light Tricks to soften harsh fl ash

Flash light can be of great benefi t, but it can also be cold, harsh and unfl attering. When the light is concentrated into one area, it can cause harsh highlights and dark shadows to appear. If you diffuse the light, though, it can really help soften it. There are a number of ways to diffuse fl ash with modifi ers like brollies, which can help expand the light over a larger area, but these are expensive. Using tracing paper or a milk carton over the fl ash is a cheaper alternative that can produce a noticeable difference to the harshness of the light.

Diffuse your flash

While modern cameras are usually pretty good in Auto white balance, they can get it wrong sometimes. Flash light creates a cool cast over images, so it’s good practice to set your camera to the fl ash preset to warm colours and keep them accurate and consistent throughout your shooting.

When fl ash is fi red straight at your subject, it can be a bit harsh, causing bright highlights to appear that are often unfl attering. Bouncing is a way of defl ecting the light from a fl ash to a wall or ceiling, which makes the fl ash less harsh and more fl attering over a larger area. You can do this easily with a fl ashgun by either pointing your fl ash head straight up, left or right, depending on where the surface is that you want to bounce off. With fi xed fl ashes or pop-up fl ashes, white card or paper can be placed beneath or to the side to bounce it this way.

Bounce the flash Using a piece of white card or paper under your fi xed fl ash allows you to direct the light

You can buy a variety of diffusers, or create your

own out of a milk bottle!

White balance

Bounce fl ash off a surface for more fl attering results

✗

CAMERA SCHOOCAMERA SCHOO

54

Understand fl ash modes Find the se� ings to use

This mode helps reduce the red-eye effect that occurs when the fl ash bounces off the retina of the sitter, like in our example here. If we had used red-eye reduction mode, a series of pre-fl ashes or a bright light would have been fi red before the shot was taken, causing the sitter’s pupils to shrink and lessening the red-eye effect.

Red-eye reductionThis mode is useful if you want to use the fl ash and record the ambient light around and behind your subject. The fl ash fi res and the photo is taken, but as the exposure and shutter speed is longer, natural light is still recorded. It’s great when you want to capture light trails, although you’ll need a tripod for longer exposures.

Slow-Sync

In Auto mode, the fl ash fi res when the camera detects low light – ideal for when the subject is in a dark room or backlit. However, it can be an unfl attering, hard light if you can’t bounce it, and often the foreground is too bright or the background black. Turning the fl ash off or switching to Slow Sync may create a more fl attering image.

AutoWhen in the Flash On mode, the fl ash will always fi re regardless of light levels. This is great for when your subject is backlit, such as in our example above, as it will fi ll in shadows on their face. In Flash Off mode the fl ash is disabled, which is suited for when there is a lot of natural light and fl ash would overpower the image.

Flash On

✗

✗

✔

✔

A

SL

55


Get creative with fl ash Produce some great results

Flash gels are used on fl ashes to correct colours casts from various light sources, such as household and fl uorescent light bulbs, or from shooting at different times of day. Some fl ash gels are purely for creative effect, though, to create a deliberate colour wash across your photo. You can buy fl ash gels that will clip onto your fl ashgun, or take the DIY route and use coloured sweet wrappers instead. Some colours are more striking than others; for instance, an orange sweet wrapper or fl ash gel simply warms up the shot slightly, but a red wrapper like the one we used in our example will produce a strong cast.

Use flash gels for colour

Sweet wrappers can create interesting colours when placed in front of your fl ash

A snoot is a tube that restricts the light from the fl ash into a narrow beam. Using a snoot, you can direct the beam and also narrow its radius to highlight a certain area. This is useful if you want to put the focus on a subject or create moody portraits. Snoots can be pricey, and are often reserved for studio setups. However, there is a DIY trick that can get you a great result; use a kitchen roll tube and place it over the end of your fl ash head. The longer the tube, the more pronounced the beam of light will be. This light can be harsh, so you may want to also diffuse it with some tracing paper to achieve a more fl attering effect.

Create a beam of light

Put a spotlight on your subject using a snoot or your own DIY creation from a kitchen roll

Flash durations are so fast – a fraction of a second – that it is possible to freeze most movement using fl ash light. This can include children playing or sports happening close to you. The easiest way to do this is to set the camera to shutter priority mode, set the shutter speed to 1/100sec or higher than the fl ash, and you are ready to get started! It is worth bearing in mind that your camera has a set fl ash sync speed, which is the fastest shutter speed your camera can use with fl ash. If you are seeing black corners to your photos, it is because you’ve set the speed too high. Check your manual to fi nd out what yours is.

Freeze movement

Flash can help you to freeze motion because it fi res so quickly

56

Get to know your cameraMode dialChange the settings on the camera using the mode dial

HotshoeThe hotshoe allows you

to attach an external fl ash to the camera

Lens releasePress this button to

remove the lens from your camera

LensThe light enters the camera here. Lenses can be changed on some camera models

Different types of cameraDon’t know a superzoom from a CSC? Read on…

Pros…✔ Great image quality✔ Fast shooting speed✔ Manual and Auto

Cons…✗ Can be expensive✗ Can be complex✗ Can be heavy

Interchangeable lensRefers to DSLR cameras and Compact System Cameras (CSC) as they both offer the ability to switch lenses

Pros…✔ Easy to use✔ Light and versatile ✔ Lots of features

Cons…✗ Fewer manual options✗ Can be slow ✗ Less adaptable

Fixed lens Includes compact cameras and superzooms. As the name suggests, the lens cannot be changed, making them simpler

Pros…✔ Light and compact✔ Cool app add-ons✔ Share instantly

Cons…✗ Small lens and sensor✗ Flattens perspective ✗ Fewer features

Cameraphones/smartphonesThe main contenders are currently Apple’s iPhone and Android smartphones. You can buy accessories and apps for achieving different effects

Shutter releaseThis button is used to

take the picture. On most cameras,

pressing it halfway in Auto will focus

the image

FlashIf your camera has an on-board fl ash,

press this button to use it

CAMERA SCHOOCAMERA SCHOO

When you are new to photography, the huge range of settings and icons that come on your camera can be daunting. It can leave you wanting to keep it in auto and never experiment. However, doing this means that you miss out on some great controls. With a bit of education, you can soon master these settings, and our easy guide is here to give you a head start.

56

LensThe light enters the The light enters the camera here. Lenses camera here. Lenses can be changed on can be changed on some camera modelssome camera models

Different types of cameraDon’t know a superzoom from a CSC? Read on…

Pros…✔✔ Great image quality✔✔ Fast shooting speed✔✔ Manual and Auto

Cons…✗✗ Can be expensive Can be expensive✗ Can be expensive✗✗ Can be expensive✗✗✗ Can be complex Can be complex✗ Can be complex✗✗ Can be complex✗✗✗ Can be heavy

Interchangeable lensRefers to DSLR cameras and Compact System Cameras (CSC) as they both offer the ability to switch lenses

Shutter releaseThis button is used to

take the picture. On most cameras,

pressing it halfway in Auto will focus

the image

you a head start.

Great shot secret!

Control how much of your scene is in focus by changing your aperture. Dial in a low f-number to create a soft, blurry background.

56

57

Get to know your cameraIf you’re using a compact camera, then most of your controls will be on the back. A DSLR or Compact System Camera will usually have a mode dial on top. Either way, the icons for setting the camera to shoot in different conditions and for basic tasks such as deleting images are usually universal. Check out our icon guide to work out what does what.

Jargon busterApertureAffects the amount of your image that is in focus – the ‘depth of fi eld’

CSCCompact system camera

DSLRDigital single lens refl ex camera

Drive modeContinuous or burst mode, single shot and self timer

Dynamic rangeThe term used to refer to the amount of detail in the highlights and shadows

ExposureA balanced exposure has detail in light and shadow areas alike

Exposure compensationAdjusts the tonal range of your photo, lighter or darker

Focal lengthsWide-angle – wider view angle than normal, eg 28mm Telephoto – a magnifi ed view of distant subjects, eg 200mm

FocusAutofocus means your camera focuses for you; manual puts you in control

ISORefers to how sensitive the sensor is to light and affects the visible grain or ‘noise’ in a photo

LCDThe display screen on the rear of the camera used to compose images

Live viewAn electronic view of the scene in front of the lens

MeteringRefers to the way the camera reads the light in the scene

MegapixelsThe number of pixels on the sensor in millions

NoiseRefers to the visible digital grain in a photo

Shutter speedFast speeds freeze action while longer ones blur any motion

Viewfi nderOptical – shows you the view through the camera lens and is good for accurate framingElectronic – shows the view on an LCD in the viewfi nder

White balanceAffected by the ambient light around you, your camera can alter this to ensure a natural colour result

ZoomOptical – the magnifi cation provided by the camera lensDigital – a camera crop factor


Viewfi nderAn optical viewfi nder

shows the image through the lens

ControlsUse the control panel to change settings,

scroll through menu options or move around a photo when in Playback mode

LCD screenDisplays an electronic view of the scene in front of the lens

Camera icons explainedMake sure your camera is always on the correct se� ing by following this guide

S

P

A

AUTO

LandscapeBoosts saturation in blues and greens for vivid outdoor shotsAuto

If all else fails, let your camera do the hard work for you

MacroFor shooting close-ups such as fl owers and insects

SportsUses a fast shutter speed to capture action without blur

PortraitFor super-fl attering

shots of your friends and family

Aperture prioritySelect the aperture while

the camera chooses the shutter speed

ProgramCustomise your most

used settings in Program

Shutter prioritySelect the

shutter speed and the camera will

change the aperture

ZoomZoom in on your image to check

it’s in focus

MenuFor options such as formatting your memory card

▼

+

Delete – found on all cameras

Playback – use to review photos

Flash – switch it on or off

Night-time/low-light scenes

Zoom in on your photos

Zoom out of your photos

–

+ –

Drive modes including burst

Metering modes

Exposure compensation

Video mode on stills cameras

Macro or close-up modes

Sports or action mode

Self timer for self portraits etc

Image stabilisation

Landscapes – for wide angles

Portrait – perfect for people

Manual mode – for control

Function button – for shortcutsFn

57

Brought to you by…How It Works magazine, on sale now from all good newsagents

A light meter sits in the belly of your camera and measures how much light there is, then works out how much should be let in through the lens to get a good exposure. Too much and your picture will be washed out (overexposed), and not enough will result in near-total darkness (underexposed). The light meter determines the correct exposure by balancing three elements: aperture (how wide the lens opening is, controlling how much light is let in), ISO (how sensitive to light the sensor is), and shutter speed (how long the shutter is open for, also controlling how much light is let in). When using Auto mode, the camera will meter the scene when you half-press the shutter button, and then alter the ISO, aperture and shutter speed for the correct exposure.

However, light meters are not foolproof. High contrast scenes such as a sunset will trick the light meter into measuring incorrectly and producing a picture that is

over or underexposed. For more accurate results, you can take control by manually setting the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Then use your exposure meter, which ranges from -2 to +2, and change the settings until the marker is sitting in the centre.

To take more control of metering, you can also adjust the metering mode from Evaluative Metering, which reads the light from the entire scene (this is best for landscapes), to Partial/Spot Metering, which reads the light from a specifi c area (this is best for photographing backlit subjects), or Centre-Weighted Metering for prioritising the middle part of the picture. A handheld light meter can provide a more accurate reading, as it will measure the actual incident light, unlike your camera, which only measures the refl ected light from the subject. The amount of light a subject refl ects can vary greatly, so bear in mind it’s not always 100% accurate.

Why do cameras need a light meter?We explain exactly what a light meter is and the huge part it plays in making sure your images are well-exposed


58

Handheldlight meter

Subject

Refl ected light

Incident light

Light source

“A light meter measures how much light there is and works out how much should be let in through the lens”

Camera

How your camera meters lightUnderexposed

If not enough light is let in, the image will be dark. Use a wider aperture, slower shutter speed or raise the ISO until the meter dial is in the middle.

Get the perfect exposure

Overexposed If too much light is let in, the highlights will begin to blow out. Try using a smaller aperture, increase the shutter speed or lower the ISO.

Correctly exposed When the exposure meter is in the middle, you should have it right. Check your histogram to be sure – the graph shouldn’t be bunched at either end.

Not just fordummies

A clear, comprehensive series for people who want to start learningabout iPhone, iPad, Mac, Photoshop, photography and more

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Enhance your images with PhotoPlus X6

60

Discover the new features in this powerful image editorWhat you’ll need…✔ Images to edit and

a PC

We used…✔ PhotoPlus X6

You could use…✔ Photoshop Elements 11

What you’ll learn…✔ How to use the

new tools in PhotoPlus X6 to improve images

Jargon busterNon-destructive editing

Non-destructive edits mean that changes can be made to an image, but

you are able to revert back to an original state at a later date. You may need to save in a certain format, though (for the Non-destructive Crop it is SPP).

Serif’s PhotoPlus X6 software falls over itself to provide you with as much help as possible, which is incredibly reassuring if this is your fi rst venture into editing software. There is a useful How To panel that sits in the interface, which can be clicked on to access walkthroughs and tool explanations. The Help menu also transports you to more tutorials (including video guides), meaning you always have the backup you need.

Feature-wise, PhotoPlus is packed to the hilt. There are tools for fi xing the common photo problems we all have (weak colour, soft images, blemishes, etc) and a raft of creative fi lters to give images an artistic edge. The dedicated PhotoFix Studio is a work space to perform

simple adjustments that make a big improvement to the fi nal image.

X6 has even more functionality to help people create better images. The non-destructive Crop tool enables you to crop an image, make edits and then return at any point to undo the crop. Smart Selection and Edge Refi nement tools make light work of selecting objects, while the re-engineered Raw Studio makes it simple to edit RAW fi les. You also have seamless noise reduction, the ability to zoom in on fi ne detail, a tilt-shift effect, precise guide placement, simple fi ll layer edits and the ability to mask layers with editable curves. Here, we take a look at how its new features can improve your images.

Vector masksThe Layers menu holds the vector mask option. Using paths, you can go back and edit the shapes at any time

Non-destructive cropIt is now possible to undo crops with the new PhotoPlus. Anytime you undo one, all of your edits are remembered

– you just lose the crop

Tilt Shift effectThe new Tilt Shift blur option creates a fun miniature effect on your images. Just place it where you want it to apply and PhotoPlus does the rest

Smart Selection toolMaking accurate selections can be a thankless task, but the new Smart Selection tool makes the process quick and easy

EditingPhotoPlus X6



Tidy up

04 There should be minimal tidy-up required, but zoom in and have a look

around the image. The easiest way to fi x any glitches is to click on Subtract from Selection in the top toolbar, and then push the selection back with a small brush.

Find a new sky

05 Once the selection is sorted out, it’s time to get things ready for the

replacement sky. Go to File>Open and pick an image with a good sky. You need something that fi ts with the lighting of the original image, otherwise it will look fake.

Place the sky

06 Use the Rectangle Selection tool to draw around an area of sky, making

sure it is big enough to replace the grey one. Go to Edit>Copy and then move back to the original document. Go to Edit>Paste into Selection to drop it straight into the sky area.

61

Set up the selection

02 Make edits to the tool for the best selection. It should be large enough to

make it a quick process, but not so large that you sweep over everything. A low Grow Tolerance level will create a precise selection.

Zoom in

01 Open your image and use the Ctrl and + keys to zoom in. You need to be able to

see the edges of your selection clearly, so zoom in as much as is comfortable. From the toolbar, select the Smart Selection brush.

Make the selection

03 Set the Grow Tolerance to 30 and brush over the sky. For parts of the sky seen

through the building, decrease the Grow Tolerance to 5. With Add to Selection checked, select the slithers of sky.

Improve dull skies Use the Smart Selection tool to replace a boring skyline

62

EditingPhotoPlus X6

Path adjustments

05 You will notice that we have been a bit relaxed with the selection. This doesn’t

matter, because the paths can be edited. Ensure the mask square in the Layers palette has a border around it, click the Node Change tool from the toolbar and then tidy the paths.

Make paths

03 Vector masks need paths to work, but that is easy to set up. With the

selection all sorted, it’s just a case of going to Select>Create Path from Selection. This is a useful trick for making easy paths without using the Pen tool.

Make selection

02 Click on the colour, duplicate layer and pick the Smart Selection tool. This is to

pick out the parts of the image that will remain in colour. For portraits, the eyes and lips always work well, so zoom in and use it to select those areas.

Apply vector mask

04 With the path sorted, the vector mask can be created. This is simplicity in

itself – head to the Layers menu and then pick Vector Mask>Create from Path. This will make the black-and-white effect come to the fore, but the eyes and lips will remain coloured.

Duplicate original

01 This technique needs two versions of an image, so once you have your image

open, go to Layer>Duplicate to create a copy. Click back on the original Background layer and go to Image>Adjust>Black and White Film. Click OK.

Get creative with vector masks Make selective colour edits with ease

Use PhotoPlus Organizer

Open the Organizer01 The Organizer is a place to store,

manage and prepare your images. You access it by going to File>Organizer, or by clicking the Organizer tab in the top bar.

Access and sort02 The side panel lets you access

different folders and organise how they appear. You can also add tags and descriptions to make it easy to find images.

Going further03 When you click an image, you have

the option to go back to PhotoPlus to edit, share or use them in a creative project. All options are in the top bar.



63

EditingPhotoPlus X6

Strong colour

03 Another trait that works well with a tilt-shift effect is strong colour. To boost

the hues, go to Image>Adjust>Vibrance and set the value to 61. Now go to Hue/Saturation/Lightness and set the Saturation value to 35.

Add the tilt-shift

04 Go to Effects>Blur>Depth of Field. Pick Tilt Shift from the Focus Type. The

middle area sets what part remains in focus so move it to suit your image. Use the Radius slider to set the blur amount – in this case, a setting of 40 works well. Click OK.

Make the crop

01 Head to the toolbar and pick the Crop tool. It is non-destructive by default, so

you can get straight on with the crop. We want to hone in on the Empire State Building, so click and drag over the area to keep and then click the tick to apply.

Sharpen up

02 Our tilt-shift effect benefi ts from super-sharp images. This is easy to

do; it just involves a trip to Effects>Sharpen> Unsharp Mask. For this image, an Amount of 105 and Radius of 0.6 works well. Click OK to set.

Undo the crop

05 With the tilt-shift done, it turns out the crop isn’t working so well. This is no

problem, as the edit was non-destructive. We only have to undo it by going to Image>Reveal All. The entire image appears, and all of our edits have been kept.

Crop and tilt-shift Make non-destructive edits

PhotoPlus X6 features

Improved RAW handling01 A dedicated work space for editing

RAW fi les lets you make changes without altering the original. Sliders and a side panel make for quick improvements.

Noise Reduction02 The new Noise Reduction fi lter is

easily applied using a series of sliders, and works well with low-resolution images and to generally remove artefacts.

Increased zoom 03 If you are working on something

fi ddly like an intricate cutout, this feature is invaluable. It is now possible to zoom in twice as far as before.

3 of the best…

EditingLens eff ects

02 Choose Select>Shrink and set ‘Shrink selection by’ at 5px. Add a new layer,

setting Layer Fill Type to Transparency. Fill again with solid white, then lower this layer’s Opacity to 50%. Activate the layer beneath and select Edit>Cut.

03 Now you have your bokeh shape. Choose Select>None to deactivate your

selection, then activate the layer at the top of our stack. Select Layer>Merge Down, then once more. Choose Select>All then Edit>Copy. Now open the photo image (File>Open).

04 When you have selected your options, create a new layer set to Overlay blend

mode and apply your bokeh brush. Now apply Gaussian Blur set at a Radius of 10. Repeat this process, altering blur amounts and brush colour to determine the effect.

02 Pixlr Express Plus has several key options, so we will show you where to

go to get your bokeh presets. Start by selecting the Overlay option. Here, you’ll fi nd sub-categories including bokeh options. Click the bokeh thumbnail to load presets.

03 There are 18 presets to choose from, all added through simple one-click

functionality. You can position effects using the Vertical, Horizontal and Rotate options. Alter the opacity of your effect by activating Fade and using the option’s slider.

04 You can save the effects you love by clicking the Favorite icon. If you want to

export your images, just click Share and choose from a selection of size presets, before saving to the library or sharing digitally over social networks.

65

02 Make a selection of your new shape using the Rectangular Marquee tool,

found at the top of the Tool Bar. Then select Edit>Defi ne Brush Preset. Name your new brush Bokeh1 so that you can easily fi nd it at the bottom of your Brush Presets menu.

03 Once you have saved your brush, press F5 to access the Brush options. Set

Brush Tip Shape>Spacing to 200%. Click on Scattering and set Scatter to 235%, then set Count to 3 and Jitter to 40%. Also, click and activate Wet Edges and Smoothing.

04 Select Edit>Paste As>New Layer. Add an Overlay Mode to this layer. Select

Layer>Scale Layer and set Layer Size>Width and Height to half their original values. Now select Layer>Duplicate Layer to duplicate and place the layers to create your bokeh shapes.



Restore perspective in warped images of buildings and monuments with these simple steps

five minute project

Restore perspective in warped images of buildings

minute projectCorrect distracting

lens distortion

66

What you’ll need…✔ Photo editing

software✔ Distorted image

We used…✔ Photoshop

Elements

You could use…✔ Adobe Photoshop ✔ Adobe Photoshop

Lightroom ✔ Aperture

What you’ll learn…✔ How to use the

camera correction and pinch fi lters

Editing5 minute project

✔Warped perspective

Shooting at an extreme angle causes

lens distortion, warping the perspective of the subject in the image

Editing5 minute project

Go to the Filter menu

01Open the image in Elements and click the Expert tab. Start by right clicking

the image in the Layers menu and select Duplicate to protect your image. In the Filter menu, select Correct Camera Distortion.

Turn on the grid

02The Camera Correction fi lter opens up a new screen. Turn on the Show Grid

option at the bottom of the menu – this is a useful guide to help you as you manually straighten up your image.

Adjust vertical perspective

03Move the Vertical Perspective slider left to start moving the building up,

using the grid as a visual reference. Pull the building as straight as you can without sacrifi cing any detail. Click OK.

Use the Pinch fi lter

04 As lens correction is distortion in itself, other distortion fi lters can be useful

too. Fixing the vertical perspective creates a slight bulge in the centre. To fi x this we’ll add a slight pinch. Go to Filter>Distort>Pinch.

Lens distortion is when subjects in an image appear to lean backwards, or the straight lines look like they are curving out. While it can happen with any subject, it’s very noticeable on a structure, where your eyes naturally expect walls and pillars to be perfectly straight. Perspective distortion, or the leaning effect, is caused when you shoot at an extreme angle. For example, if you’re photographing a tall building and pointing your camera directly up, the resulting image will show the building leaning back. Shooting straight on is the best way to avoid this. Barrel distortion, on the other hand, is often a result of shooting with a wide-angle lens. Zooming in on a subject rather than shooting with a lens at its widest is a good way to eliminate curved-out edges in your image.

Distortion is not always a bad thing, as it can produce some creative results, but if it’s not what you intended it can be very distracting. While there are simple steps you can take to avoid creating a distorted image, there are also editing fi xes you can apply to an image that’s suffering from noticeable distortion. A lot of the larger photo editing programs, such as Photoshop Elements and Lightroom, include an option to correct distortion. In Elements, the Camera Distortion fi lter lets you adjust the vertical and horizontal perspectives, which essentially pull your image straight. One downside is that reframing will cut off some of the top and side of the image. However, this step-by-step guide will ensure that you do the best job possible.

Remove distortion Straighten up your structure

Apply the pinch

05 In the Pinch menu, move the Pinch slider to about 10. You’ll see on the

grid icon that this will affect the centre of the image without touching the outside, where the lines are already straight. Click OK.

67



Banish vignetting in your image

Identifying vigne� es 01 Like distortion, vignetting is another

unwanted lens effect that can creep into an image. Vignetting is characterised by a darkening at the edge of the image.

Balance colour 03 Use the Midpoint slider to balance out the

colour, making sure that the edges blend with the rest of the image. Click OK, and your photo should be good enough to share!

Correct camera distortion 02 As before, open Filter>Correct Camera

Distortion. Move the Vignette slider to the left to lighten up the edges of the image and remove unwanted vignetting.

EditingApp of the month

Create a black and white masterpiece Transform mundane shots with onOne’s Perfect B&W app

The app market is saturated with photography apps, so when an easy-to-use yet hugely effective product catches our attention, we

can’t wait to share it with our readers. This issue we’ve downloaded Perfect B&W,

brought to us by onOne. Perfect B&W has been a stalwart standalone software product for quite some time, and now the studio has launched a version compatible with mobile Apple products.

With the Perfect B&W app, photographers can either shoot scenes using the device’s camera in conjunction with the app, and then tweak them using a whole host of edit features, or users can import pre-existing images from their Camera Roll and tinker with them to create stunning black-and-white photos. The app is incredibly accessible for users of any level, and can help to add mood or drama to an otherwise mundane image. What’s more, the app works well with all kinds of shots, including landscapes, portraits, still life and urban

street photography.As well as offering a

selection of pre-created preset fi lters, photographers can choose from a variety of edit options to spruce up shots, including brightness, contrast, detail and grain. Photographers can also select coloured toners, borders, vignettes and focus effects. But what is particularly impressive about this app is that once the image has been completed, the creator can then save the series of edit options used as a new and unique preset fi lter.

68

Available on: iPhone, iPad Price: £1.49/$1.99

01 To shoot using the app, select the icon from

the main interface. Compose your shot, and when you’re ready hit the camera button at the bottom to fi re.

02 Select Settings and choose an edit feature.

Pull the sliders left or right to decrease or increase the effect, or choose one of the options provided.

After

✔Create drama

Switching to black-and-white can

help to add mood and drama to an otherwise uninteresting shot

03 Once you’ve completed your edits, tap the icon

in the top right-hand corner to save them as a preset fi lter. Choose a name, and it will be added to the list of presets.

04 If you want to share or save your image,

simply hit the share icon and choose from Instagram, Facebook, Save to Camera Roll, Mail or Twitter.

What you’ll need…✔ Compatible device✔ Scene or subject

We used…✔ onOne Perfect

B&W

You could use…✔ MonoPhix✔ Black and White

Camera & Video✔ Black and White

Photos

What you’ll learn…✔ How to shoot and

tweak black-and-white images

★ App of the month ★

EditingApp of the month



Black-and-white apps

3 of the best…

69

Apps for Android Black and White Camera by Appija

£1.44/approx $2.22Classical black-and-white photos are

the prize with this Android photo app, which also allows keen photographers to use real-time effects in live camera mode. As with most apps of this nature, Android users can access a range of edit options, with four effects new to this version.

Shoot modeTo switch out of the edit suite back to shoot mode, tap the camera icon. This will allow you to take new black-and-white captures

MonoPhix £0.69/$0.99 Vintage is the name of the game here, as users employ the app to take monochromatic images oozing a turn of

the century vibe.

Black and White Photos Free Using the images in your Camera Roll, this free app transforms pictures into monochrome pieces of art by allowing

users to select from a range of edit options.

Black and White Camera & Video FreeIn addition to creating black-and-white images in live camera mode, the app

can be used to capture monochromatic videos.

Filter presetsA stream of preset fi lters lies at the bottom of the screen. Here, users can tap options to instantly transform their captures

ShareUse the share icon to send your image to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or email. You can also save the frame to your Camera Roll

Edit By hitting the edit icon, you can tweak brightness, contrast and detail, plus add a toner, frame, vignette or grain effect

Preview image Once the image has been taken, the capture is presented on the screen and updated instantly as the edits are made

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We’ve all been there – our computer has died, or through some other misfortune, we’ve lost all our fi les and most precious photos. It could have been avoided by saving images to an external hard drive or USB stick, but having to do this constantly can get tedious, and it’s not 100 per cent guaranteed that you won’t lose or damage your external storage location as well. This is where Western Digital’s SmartWare Pro back-up solution comes in.

WD SmartWare Pro starts from £19.99/$30, and is a back-up tool that allows you to automatically save your

fi les not only to an external storage device, but also to Dropbox. This is a cloud storage service (like a hard drive on the internet) that you can save fi les to, and unlike your PC or USB stick, your Dropbox will last indefi nitely. What’s more, you can access it from anywhere in the world on any PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection, allowing you to share your albums with family and friends both near and far.

Here, we show you how to use SmartWare Pro to back up your photos and make sure that you never lose your treasured shots ever again!

Back up automatically with WD SmartWare Pro

Tech focus

What you’ll need…✔ An external hard

drive✔ A Dropbox account

We used…✔ WD SmartWare Pro✔ WD My Passport Ultra✔ Epson iPrint app

What you’ll learn…✔ How to back up

your photos

Easily back up photos to your PC or Dropbox account

On-the-go backupEasily access photos wherever

you go with a portable hard drive

✔

72

SharingTech focus

Get SmartWare Pro

01 Go to www.wdstore.co.uk and under External Storage click on WD

SmartWare Pro. Click on the 30-day trial, enter your details, and the installer will then be emailed to your address. Follow the link in the email and download it to your computer.

Install SmartWare Pro

02 Right-click the folder you just downloaded, and then click on Extract

All. Go into the folder this creates, and double-click on the fi le in there to start the installer. Follow the instructions by clicking Next to install the software.

Find your photos

03 You can now select what you want to back up, be it an entire hard drive or a

camera memory card, from the menu on the left-hand side. Then select a location to back up to: Dropbox or a WD external hard drive if you have one.

Authorise Dropbox

04 If you choose to back up to Dropbox, you’ll be asked to buy the software.

Some WD products, like My Passport Ultra, come with free activation keys that will be automatically recognised as long as the hard drive is plugged in. Next, click Allow.

Schedule your backups

05 Once this is done, you can tell the software when you’d like it to perform

backups. This means that you won’t have to do it manually every week. Choose the times and days you think would be the most sensible to save your photos.

Set up your backup Get saving your images now



Back up your photos

06 It won’t back up your photos straight away, but by clicking the clock icon on

the bottom of the screen you can do the fi rst one manually. This means that when it hits the scheduled times, it just needs to update what you’ve already done, saving time.

Cloud-based storage for your mobile

3 of the best…

73

Dropbox Free Dropbox isn’t only accessible from a computer, as you can download the app for your phone. Saving fi les to it doesn’t

require the use of WD SmartWare Pro either.

Google Drive Free Linked up to your Google account, Google Drive offers more free storage and the ability to create and edit Word

documents and Excel-style spreadsheets

iCloud Free Not only is this app able to back up your photos and fi les, it also backs up your Apple devices, to be restored at a

moment’s notice.

Get a Dropbox account

Set up an account01 Go to www.dropbox.com and enter

your details. Make sure you set a password so that only the people you want to access your account can.

Install the fi les02 You’ll then be able to download the

installation fi les. Run them and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Log in to Dropbox 03 After installation is complete, the

Dropbox application will launch. Enter the login details you just created and it will handle everything else.

74

We are all guilty of snapping away at every opportunity, which can lead to hundreds or even thousands of images on our computers waiting to be sorted. It’s a laborious task at the best of times, but luckily there are software programs that can help you out.

Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom software was originally conceived to be a pure photo-management application, helping you to organise large collections of images. It has progressed massively since then, and now includes editing functions as well as multiple sharing and output options. But here we’re going back to basics and taking a look at how you can use it to manage your pictures.

We are using the public beta of Lightroom 5, which you can download for free from http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom5. This will stop working once the full version of the software is available (which will be shortly after the publication of this issue). They are usually very similar, though, so you’ll still be able to use this guide if you get the full version instead. You can also follow the principles of this tutorial with older versions.

Here, we’ll show you how to sort your pictures into albums, add ratings, flags and colours, and create useful tags. It may take some time to sort out, but we promise it’s worth it.

Use Adobe Lightroom to organise imagesWe explore the options for tagging, sorting and filtering your photos in this popular Adobe app

SharingLightroom

What you’ll need…4 A photo collection 4 Image-organising

software

We used…4 Adobe Photoshop

Lightroom 5 beta

You could use…4 Apple Aperture4 Adobe Photoshop

Elements Organiser4 Apple iPhoto

What you’ll learn…4 Create collections4 Add keywords,

ratings and more4 Filter your photos

75

Keyword the shots

03 Once you have named your Collection, a window will appear with your chosen

photos in it. You can now add keywords to help you identify what is in each photo. Use the Keyword Tags box in the Keywording panel to add text, using commas to separate words.

Import your photos

01 Open Lightroom and navigate to the Import button in the bottom left. This

will bring up the Import window. Use the fi le browser to fi nd the folder containing the photos you want to organise, before selecting Import in the bottom right.

Create Collections

02 The best way to organise your shots is to create Collections. These are like

albums but are only viewable in Lightroom, so do not affect your hard drive. Select the photos you want to include, then go to the ‘+’ button and select Create Collection.

Add ratings

05 You can add a rating out of fi ve to your images by clicking on the stars beneath

the picture’s thumbnail. You can then choose to only view images with a rating or four or more, for example, to help you single out just the very best shots.

Sort them all

06 You can now continue doing this for your entire collection. To speed things

up, keywords that you have entered before are viewable in the Keyword Suggestions and Keyword Set panels, so you can click on them to reuse them for future pictures.

Organise your photos Sort, rate, tag and fi lter your snaps

SharingLightroom



On-the-go photo-sorting applications

7 of the best…

Use fl ags and colours

04 There are lots of other ways to sort your photos. You can Flag photos or reject

them, helping you to fi lter the good from the bad. You can also allocate colours to photos, which is good for visually sorting images; for example, by key colour in the picture.

Filter pictures

07 In the main window of Lightroom, you can see the Library Filter along the top.

If you choose Text, you can enter a search term to see photos with keywords that match that word. You can also fi lter by Attribute, which includes fl ags, colours and ratings.

Photo Gallery (Fish Bowl) FreeThis organiser has loads of features for sorting your snaps, as well as a locker to protect private pics and basic editing

controls. You can also use it to play sideshows, set wallpapers and compare multiple images.

Stash £2.49/$3.99Its main function is to secure your pictures, and can create hidden accounts that are only revealed with a

secret gesture! But it also comes with a wealth of organisational tools.

Photo Manager Pro £1.99/$2.99Sort your photos into folders and sub-folders, and add keywords, ratings and more. You can also use it to move

fi les between your computer and device. Widely considered the best iOS photo-mangement app.

Smart Album – Photo Calendar FreeThis app looks great and simply sorts your photos by date within albums, so

you can create photo stories with ease. You can also view thumbnails on a calendar layout.

Pics £1.99/$2.99This offers powerful organisational functions, allowing you to sort your albums into different desktops. It also

gives you the ability to set passwords to prevent people from prying on your pics.

Photo-Sort £1.49/$1.99A simple but effective sorting solution. You can create multiple folders and sub-folders, which can then be copied

over to your computer. It will also maintain the original quality of your photos.

Picasa Mobile £0.99 (approx $1.50)Picasa is a great online photo organiser, and this app lets you manage your web albums from your phone, creating new

ones or adding to existing ones. It will also use your GPS coordinates to add locations.

76

Flipbooks were one of the earliest forms of animation. They use a series of pictures that vary slightly from one page to the next so that when they’re turned quickly, they appear to be moving. Flipbooks are still great fun to play with today, and they also make a thoughtful, personalised gift.

You can make your own one quickly and cheaply just by taking a series of pictures, printing them off and binding the stack with string or staples. It can feature

anything from family and friends to a stationary object like an action fi gure. As you fl ick through the book, the images should tell a short story. You can be as creative as you like, adding captions and a cover for your fl ipbook using editing software.

Here, we show you how to make your own fl ipbook, from story ideas to shooting and editing tips. Follow our simple instructions and conjure up some old-school magic in a fl ash.

Make a quick and quirky photo flipbookBring images to life with a creative sharing project

SharingFlipbook

What you’ll need…✔ Camera✔ Tripod✔ Printer✔ Stapler

We used…✔ Panasonic Lumix

DMC-FT5 ✔ Epson Expression

Photo XP-750

You could use…✔ Any steady platform✔ Hole punch and

string

What you’ll learn…✔ How to capture a

series of images

✔✔Set the scene

Use friends or stationary objects

like action fi gures or toys to tell your story

77

Capture a sequence

03 When photographing an inanimate object, take one photo and then move

the subject slightly and take another. Each movement should be minimal. Repeat the process until the whole story is told in at least ten photos, but it can be as long as you like.

Choose your subject

01 First, pick a subject and plot for your fl ipbook. It’s best to opt for a simple,

short scene such as a couple embracing, a dog running or a car driving along. You can also shoot Aardman animation-style using stationary objects like toy fi gures.

Program the settings

02 Rest your camera on a steady platform to keep your sequence smooth, or use

a fast shutter speed if shooting handheld. It’s important to keep all the settings the same for each picture. Take a test shot fi rst and if you’re satisfi ed, keep going.

Save your fi les

05 Once you’ve fi xed any colour casts and are happy that the series of images

look consistent across the board, you’re ready to save. Click File>Save As and select where you want to store your shots. Now select File>Print and think about what size you’d like.

Print the photos

06 There is no perfect size for a fl ipbook, but we’d recommend you keep it

pocket-sized so that you can share them easily on the go. It’s also a good idea to leave a margin on the left for binding. Put photo paper in your printer and then hit print.

Making a photo fl ipbook A fun, easy way to create pocket-sized animations

SharingFlipbook



Batch Editing

04 Resize, edit and organise stacks of photos in one go using Batch Edit in

Photoshop Elements. Just click File>Process Multiple Files to begin, then choose fi le names and image sizes. The option of Quick Fix will give your photos an automatic edit.

Bind the book

07 Put your photographs in order, either from front to back or back to front,

depending on how you want the book to open. Stack the prints and staple the left-hand side together, or use a hole punch to make two holes and thread string through them.

Photo book printers

Vistaprint01 Choose from over 80 designs and

customise your photos with captions. Include up to 40 pages in your book.

Snapfi sh02 Upload up to 45 prints which will be

printed on glossy photo paper. You can also add a background design.

PhotoBox 03 PhotoBox offer a large range of

photo books, T-shirts and mugs and usually have discounts for new members.

3 of the best…

5 tips for a great photo galleryMany of us are guilty of leaving our photos hidden away on computers or memory cards where no one can see them. Instead, why not create a digital photo gallery to display your best images in? This is a great way to organise your shots and get feedback to help you improve your skills.

Showcase your shots with digital galleries

Store in the cloudYou can store your photos remotely using a cloud service such as Photobucket and create galleries that you can view from any PC, smartphone or tablet device, so that you always have access to your shots.

Select your privacyCreating a gallery on social networking sites like Facebook and Flickr lets you control who can view your photos. Keep them private to share with who you choose, or make them public for everyone to see.

Use our websiteHead to www.photoforbeginners.com, create a gallery and showcase your images to the world. You can get feedback on your shots and enter them into our fantastic competitions for a chance to win prizes.

Don’t duplicateIf you’re looking to create a strong gallery of your shots, be picky with the ones you upload and only include ones you’re really proud of. Don’t include very similar images either – pick the best out of a set.

Tag your shotsWhen creating a gallery, tag your images with relevant keywords to make it easy to search for them later. You can also tag your shots with people and locations that will help you remember the story behind the shot.

78

SharingQuick tips

LANDSCAPE TIPS SHOOTING ADVICE CAMERA REVIEWSPORTRAIT GUIDES

Available from all good

newsagents and supermarkets

WILDLIFE PHOTOS

Learn to inspirewww.dphotographer.com

BUY YOUR ISSUE TODAYPrint edition available at www.imagineshop.co.uk


facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK twitter.com/DPhotographer

ON SALE NOW> Focus stacking > Celebrity photographers > Shooting vistas


80

Sending a selection of photos to your friends and family via email can be a laborious task for both you and the recipient. Images have to be attached to the message, perhaps in more then one email if the files are too large, and then your loved one has to open each individual photo when the emails arrive in their inbox.

Thankfully, iPhoto provides a simple solution to sharing multiple images. Apple’s photo management software iPhoto lets you create an elegant collage of your shots that can be customised to suit a particular, style, theme or occasion. Choose from a selection of templates to get started, and then change the size and order of your

photos as well as the font and colours you want to use in the design. The collage can then be emailed straight from iPhoto, so you don’t even need to open up your email application. Better still, you can access all of your email contacts, so sending out your collage is a breeze. The application even lets you attach high-res versions of your photos that the recipient can download and keep, with iPhoto optimising your email to ensure that it is never too big to send.

iPhoto comes pre-installed on new Macs or it’s on the Mac App Store for £10.49/$14.99. Once it has installed, use our guide to make your very own stylish collage.

Send a photo collage email using iPhotoMake and send elegant collages on your Mac

SharingCreate a collage

What you’ll need…4 Mac running iOS

10.7.5 or later 4 A selection of

images

We used…4 iPhoto

You could use…4 Picasa4 theweddinglens.com4 weddingsnap.com

What you’ll learn…4 How to create a

photo collage and share it with others

81

Select a template

03 There are ten template options to choose from on the right-hand side that

will already display your photos in a random order. We have chosen the Postcard option to go with our ‘Day at the beach’ theme, but you may wish to go for ‘Celebration’ or ‘Collage’.

Select your shots

01 Open up iPhoto and click on the photos you want to include in your collage.

Remember that the more images you select, the bigger your email attachment will be. Then click Share in the bottom right-hand corner and select Email from the menu that appears.

Choose your recipient

02 An email interface will now open up, and you can enter your usual email

information at the top. Type in the name of one or more people to send the email to, give it a subject name and then select which email account you wish to send it from.

Adjust your photos

05 You can now drag your shots around to position them where you want them in

the collage. A slider will also appear above your shots, which will allow you make them bigger or smaller until they are the size you would like them.

Attach original fi les

06 By clicking the ‘Attach photo to message’ box, your original photos will

also be attached to your message. This means that the recipient can download the images to keep them, as well as view them in your collage as a PDF.

Create a collage Share a compilation of photos with iPhoto

SharingCreate a collage



Apps for creating coolphoto collages

7 of the best…

Change the text

04 Now you can personalise your collage even further by adding in your own

titles and messages. Click on the text boxes in your photo collage and a series of menus will also appear that let you change the font, size and alignment of your text.

Change the size

07 If you do decide to attach your shots, you can then select the size of your

photo fi les. You can attach them as their full size, or send smaller shots that will take up less space on your recipient’s computer. When you are done, click Send.

Tiled £0.69/$0.99Combine photo tiles to create a single image and decorate tiles with colours, patterns and gradations, or choose

from 72 different templates. It is also possible to add text to your tiles.

Photo Wall Pro £1.99/$2.99Create a collage in just a few taps and crop and retouch your shots to perfect your stylish creations. Once your

masterpiece is ready, you can convert it to a postcard and get it sent anywhere in the world.

Photo Collage + £0.69/$0.99Customise your collages by freely moving your photos, adding stickers and text and changing the background

colours. Log into Facebook or Flickr to import your photo albums directly.

Photo Collage FreeMerge your photos into a single stunning collage and then simply shake your iPhone/iPod Touch to change the

template. Choose from 16 different layouts and four size ratios.

Photo Grid – Collage Maker FreeCombine a maximum of nine photos to create a collage, and use a special

function for sharing on Instagram. You can also choose the image size when sharing.

Pic Collage FreeCreate a collage and then double-click on an image to edit or crop by highlighting a specifi c area with your

fi nger. The app comes with a wide range of fun backgrounds and stickers.

KD Collage Free FreeSelect from 70 collage patterns and 80 background options to create your own photo collage and personalise it with

text. Completed collages can be saved to a memory card or in Favorites for further editing.

TakeBackTheCraft.co.uk

A beginner DSLR with some great tech, but does the 700D have the metal where it ma� ers? Canon’s latest DSLR certainly seems to offer a lot to beginners seeking their next step in photography. It has maintained the Canon EOS 650D’s vari-angle LCD screen for shooting awkward angles, complete with touch screen technology to make accessing menus a breeze. You can pinch to zoom in when reviewing your shots, but you still have plenty of menu buttons to use if touch screens aren’t your thing. The scene modes and manual options are found on the mode dial for quick access, and there’s a convenient button for switching to Live View. The camera will also automatically switch off the LCD when you place your eye to the viewfi nder. The rubber grip lends a high-quality feel, but the camera’s a little plasticky in places still

If the plethora of options on a DSLR is daunting for you, this camera is a great purchase due to the in-camera guides; handy tips will pop up when you press on certain settings like the aperture or white balance, to explain what they do and help you to decide which one to pick. The Canon EOS 700D will shoot fi ve frames per second to freeze action, while its Hybrid AF system focuses quickly. You can also use Movie Servo AF to focus on moving subjects when shooting full HD videos.

Features .............................................. ★★★★★Design and handling....★★★★★Build quality................................★★★★★Image quality............................★★★★★Value for money...................★★★★★

A fantastic option for beginners that will help you to progress in nearly all genres. If image quality is important to you, then this is a great choice

Our final verdict


★★★★★

✔ The image quality is really high, with vibrant colours and accurate metering

✔ Great for beginners, and an in-camera guide makes things even easier

✗ Connectivity options like Wi-Fi would help you to share your shots faster


My friend’s wedding is coming up, will this camera help me take great shots?

We answer your questions…

The Canon 700D works really well in low light for party shots, with a high ISO range expandable to 25600. You can also use Creative Auto to create nice blurry backgrounds for portraits, and the LCD screen can be fl ipped out to help you compose candid photos discreetly!

How good is it for…Portraits Creative Auto lets you blur backgrounds, and Portrait mode works well too

Landscapes Colours are vivid and images contain plenty of sharp detail

Sports The focus copes well with movement, but has fewer AF points than others

Low light Little noise appears until after ISO 800, and the ISO range is extensive

Macro There’s a close-up mode, but you’ll need a macro lens to get in really close

Have you used this camera? Share your shots at photoforbeginners.com


✗ Feels plasticky, but the build quality is pretty high otherwise

If you like to experiment with your images, there are lots of creative fi lters to choose from, including Fisheye and Miniature. But the camera lacks slightly in that there’s no Wi-Fi built in like you’d fi nd on some of Canon’s other products.

Image quality is high and the camera accurately metered scenes during testing, with true-to-life colours and sharp details. It’s practically noise-free up to ISO 800, with shots only beginning to lose detail and saturation at ISO 1600. But images were still usable at higher ranges, which is great for when the light is low.

The Canon EOS 700D is known as the Rebel T5i in the US and is available for $900 including 18-55mm kit lens. For beginners looking to invest in a camera to help them progress, this is a competitively priced all-rounder, which is sure to give you some great shots.

Above Images are rich in detail, colours are beautifully saturated, and the camera accurately metered most of the scenes that we captured

Hands-on… The Canon EOS 700D is fairly light even with the kit lens on, with rubber sections making for a fi rm hold and a sizeable grip allowing secure one-handed operation.

ReviewsCanon EOS 700D

85

Megapixels | 10.1MPAn average megapixel count for compacts, suited to smaller prints

Zoom | By lensIt’s an interchangeable lens camera, with a variety of focal lengths available to users

Shutter speeds | 30-1/16,000secA fl exible shutter speed allows both long-exposure photography and quick-fi re shots

ISO sensitivity | 100-6400A wide range of sensitivity settings for different lighting scenarios

Exp. modes | Six scenes, plus auto, program, manual, AP and SPThis is ideal for both beginners and advanced users

Aperture ...............By lens Flash modes ....A, RE, SS, FOn, FOffWeight ....................197g without batteryDimensions .......102 x 60.5 x 29.7mm Batteries ..............Li-ionScreen .................... 3 inchesStorage .................. SD, SDHC, SDXC

The info…

BUYTHIS IF…

it’s time to upgrade from a point-and-shoot

compact

Nikon 1 S1 £480/$500 (incl 11-27.5mm kit) | 10.1MP | 15fps shooting | Smart Photo Selector

ReviewsNikon 1 S1

86

The new CSC on the block promises to be a winner with beginners and advanced users alikeThe most striking thing about this interchangeable lens camera is how much it resembles a compact point-and-shoot. Its small, lightweight body and lack of fi ddly controls mean that it’s not at all intimidating, and yet there are plenty of advanced controls hiding on board.

However, rather than having a dedicated dial for these, you have to press Menu and select Shooting Mode, and then choose between P/A/S/M, Advanced Movie, Best Moment Capture and Motion Snapshot. Other options such as White Balance and ISO are in a different menu, so it can be tricky to remember where to fi nd the settings. This can be off-putting for advanced users that change the mode to match the scene, but it won’t bother beginners who are content with using auto for the majority of the time.

As this is an entry-level compact system camera (CSC), the Nikon 1 S1 packs in plenty of shooting modes, including Night Landscape and Backlighting – scenarios that are notoriously diffi cult to expose for. One stand-out function is the Smart Photo Selector, which starts shooting as soon as you half-press the shutter button and continues for a few moments after. It records up to


The Nikon 1 S1 is a capable camera that’s ideal for those looking to take their photography further, with interchangeable lenses and manual modes

Our final verdict


★★★★★

✔ It produces images of a high standard with plenty of detail and colour

✔ The body is surprisingly compact and lightweight for a CSC camera

✗ A touch screen would have brought it in line with competitive modern shooters


Is this a suitable holiday companion?


On top of producing great stills, it also has unique video features such as Motion Snapshot to enhance your holiday album. Simply select the fi les of your choice, a mix of images and movies, and they will play one after another without editing. Then you can watch the movie just minutes after you have dumped your suitcases on the doorstep.

How good is it for…Portraits Skin tones were fl attering and features were pleasingly sharp

Landscapes Skies were detailed and well-exposed, and greenery popped with colour

Sports Best Moment Capture enabled sharp shots of fast-moving subjects

Low light Noise was evident in less-available light, but overall quality was good

Macro The 11-27.5mm lens performed best, but it still felt slightly restrictive



✗ Operations are long-winded as there is no mode dial and limited controls

15 frames and then selects either your fi ve best images or the best of the bunch, depending on your preference.

We also enjoyed Best Moment Capture, which helped us record fast-motion scenes by shooting continuously as soon as the button was half-pressed. The action then plays out on the LCD screen in slow motion, so you can select the photo you like by fully depressing the shutter release button. These innovative and fun features are designed with beginners in mind, making light work of more challenging shooting scenarios.

The Nikon 1 S1 is very similar to the mid-range J3 model, but £100 less expensive. However, it sacrifi ces the build quality and the all-plastic, non-stabilised 11-27.5mm kit lens. These limitations are worth overlooking if you’re upgrading from a point-and-shoot to a CSC, though.

Above There are a limited number of creative fi lters available,but auto modes performed well, producing rich images with plenty of colour and detail

Hands-on… This model is designed to be fuss-free with minimal buttons, allowing you to concentrate on taking great photos.

ReviewsNikon 1 S1

87

Megapixels | 14.2MPGreat for web uploads and large prints of your shots

Zoom | 18x optical, 90x digitalAn impressive focal range of 24-432mm for wide-angle and close-ups

Shutter speeds | 16-1/2000secFreeze the action or capture low-light images

ISO sensitivity | 100-3200Shoot handheld in low light by raising the ISO

Exp. modes | 13 scenes, plus auto, program, manual, AP and SPA great range for beginners looking to advance their skills

Aperture ...............f3.2-5.8 Flash modes ....A, A + RE, FOn, FOff, SS Weight ....................184g without batteryDimensions .......106.05 x 61.65 x 21.65mm Batteries ..............Li-ionScreen .................... 3 inchesStorage .................. SDSC, SDHC, SDXC

The info…

BUYTHIS IF…you want all the latest technology in an affordable compact

Samsung WB250F WB250F £200/approx $310 | Wi-Fi connectivity | 3” touch screen | 18x optical zoom

88

ReviewsSamsung WB250F

It’s packed with the latest technology, but does this ‘SMART’ camera live up to its name? With the impressive list of features available on the Samsung WB250F, you’d be forgiven for expecting it to come with a hefty price tag. However, this compact that’s part of Samsung’s ‘SMART’ range is actually quite cheap for something packed with the latest technology.

Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to share images on the move by transferring them to your smartphone or tablet, or connecting to a wireless network to email or upload straight to social networks from the camera. You can even control the camera remotely using your smartphone. Setting up Wi-Fi is easy, with an option on the mode dial and a Wi-Fi button on the top of the camera, although you do have to input a password. The intuitive touch screen makes operating the camera quick and easy, letting you select a focus point by touching the screen and take a picture with a tap of your fi nger.

Those looking to advance their skills can try the manual controls, although these are annoyingly fi led under one option on the mode dial. There are also advanced functions like exposure bracketing and manual focus that you might not expect on a budget compact.

The WB250F’s 18x optical zoom is also very impressive for a small camera, and the coverage of the


With intuitive handling, easy image sharing and enough features to keep you entertained for some time, this compact is a steal for the budget price

Our final verdict


★★★★★

✔ Built-in Wi-Fi and a touch screen make taking and sharing shots easy

✔ You can have endless fun with the extensive range of creative options

✗ Manual modes aren’t separated on the mode dial, which could be frustrating


Is this a good camera to use for taking family portraits?


As well as a dedicated Beauty Face mode and Face Detection facility, you can also apply the Best Face function. This takes a series of photos and lets you swap and change faces to get the perfect shot. You can also apply a Soft Focus fi lter for fl attering results.

How good is it for…Portraits Plenty of modes to help you take perfect portraits every time

Landscapes Landscape and Panorama modes let you capture stunning vistas

Sports Shoot fi ve photos per second or use Action Freeze mode

Low light The Low Light Shot mode merges three shots into one clear image

Macro A 50mm minimum focusing distance could be better for close-ups



✗ The body feels a little plasticky, with a fi ddly fl ash button and chunky grip

24mm wide-angle reach can be increased with the Panorama mode.

There are plenty of fun fi lters for creative types, including Miniature, Fisheye and Retro, which can be applied before or after you take the photo. You can also have endless fun with My Magic Frame, which lets you take a picture within a picture; Split Shot, for capturing several photos alongside each other; and Motion Photo, for animating part of a still image. Editing can also be done to photos in-camera so that you can enhance your shots before you share them.

Colours appear very accurate in images, although small details do appear a little soft. Noise is handled well, only creeping in at ISO 800 and not really becoming a problem until ISO 1600. The camera’s build is stylish and sturdy, although it feels a little plasticky in places.

Left Colours are true to life and noise is handled well. Some details look a little soft, but you can sharpen them in-camera

Hands-on… There is a grip on the front, but it’s not textured for a secure hold and makes the camera a bit chunky. The fl ash button on the top is also a little bit fi ddly.

ReviewsSamsung WB250F

89

Megapixels | 14MPAt 14MP, the sensor is certainly able to produce large and high-resolution photographic prints

Zoom | 4x optical, 5x digitalThe LM100 presents an equivalent focal range of 25-100mm, which is on point with many in this segment

Shutter speeds | 15 - 1/2000 secThis rather long shutter speed means it is an ideal choice for night photography lovers

ISO sensitivity | 100 - 6400Images captured beyond ISO 800 do show noise, but will grant you longer exposure times

Exp. modes | 28 scenes, plus auto, programWith a wealth of scenes to choose from, users can experiment with photography at their own pace without the hassle

Aperture ...............f3.1-5.9 Flash modes ....A, RE, FOn, FOff, SS Weight ....................140g without batteryDimensions .......99.1 x 61.4 x 22mm Batteries ..............Li-ionScreen .................... 2.7 inchesStorage .................. SD, SDHC, SDXC

The info…

BUYTHIS IF…you want a rough,

tough compact

that doesn’t cost

the earth

BUYTHIS IF…you want a rough,

BenQ LM100 £130/$202 | Waterproof up to 5m, for up to 2 hours | 28 scene modes | 14MP

ReviewsBenQ LM100

90

It’s stylish and sturdy, but does the relatively cheap BenQ LM100 have anything else to off er?When purchasing a new compact, especially a ‘tough’ camera that is waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof and dustproof, your mind is unlikely to jump to a model from the relatively unheard of BenQ. However, the manufacturer has recently begun producing some interesting contenders, including the new ultra-portable LM100 – a stylishly decorated compact aiming to give the main brands a run for their money, offering adventure and underwater enthusiasts a 14MP sensor, 28 scene modes, plus colour and fi lter effects.

In terms of design, the slim and small shooter is made of black matte plastic but fronts a shiny metal panel in shades of blue, pink or orange. A 25-100mm equivalent lens adorns the top right-hand corner, with a slim-style fl ash positioned on the left. As the compact’s LCD screen is slightly smaller than average at 2.7 inches, it does feel lighter and looser in the hand, which can be attractive to some. The button layout is logical, and everything users need to shortcut commands is catered for on the reverse and top of the camera. Like many others in the ‘tough’ market segment, the LM100 hosts a lockable battery compartment, increasing its durability.


A rough and tough compact, stacked with features and capable of great image quality. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and holidaying parents alike

Our final verdict


★★★★★

✔ Great ‘tough’ specs at a relatively low price compared to its main rivals

✔ Strong image quality throughout the range of scene and fi lter modes

✗ The start-up time is rather lengthy and could hinder sports and action fans


Can it match other tough compacts?


The BenQ LM100 meets the standards of brand leaders by being freezeproof to -10°C, shockproof to 1.5 metres, and can be submerged underwater to a depth of fi ve metres for up to two hours. It is also dustproof, which singles the camera out from others on the market. The BenQ LM100 is packed with tons of great features, all at a very competitive price.

How good is it for…Portraits A handy portrait mode is on offer to aid users in capturing perfect portraits

Landscapes The panorama mode is a boon for landscape lovers

Sports Its fastest exposure time stands at 1/2000, which is a step down from most units

Low light With sensitivity topping at ISO 6400, users can shoot in low light and at night

Macro Boasting a minimum focus distance of 10mm, this is a good choice for close-ups



✗ The battery performance was poor, with only 215 shots fi red in one outing

The device is incredibly easy to use, and users can alternate freely between shooting modes using the Menu option, or stick with Auto for reliable captures. Unfortunately, the 230KP monitor is lower resolution than most of its competitors, but the zoom function allows users to view their images in more detail. The 4x optical zoom isn’t the most powerful to boast of, but it is smooth and quick. Focusing is relatively accurate and there is no problem with shutter lag, but the start-up time could be quicker. In addition, battery life was rather poor, as the unit only captured 215 images during our review spell – noticeably below average.

Despite this, colours are strong (although perhaps a little over-saturated) and details are sharp throughout the majority of the focal range. It meters effectively and handles noise very well up to ISO 800.

Above Colours are strong but perhaps a shade more intense than in reality. The camera meters and performs well at higher sensitivities

Hands-on… With a sensible array of shortcut commands presented on the camera body, users will feel quickly at home with the BenQ LM100.

ReviewsBenQ LM100

91

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Photo backpacks

01

Photo backpacksKeep gear and accessories close-by with these practical kit bags

94

02

1 The Montgomery Street Backpack Price £85/$100Fashion-conscious shooters who want a discreet camera backpack may be drawn to this stylish bag from Acme Made. It is the smallest one on test here, but can still hold a CSC or DSLR with an additional lens. Your camera is stored in the side pocket for quick access, while the rest of your kit is kept

in another compartment. The back pocket can hold a 13-inch laptop, and the front has slots for storing other accessories but is only sealed with two poppers, so isn’t overly secure. Overall, this is a high-quality, reasonably priced product.

★★★★★

2 Vanguard UP-Rise II 46 Price £149.99/$169This backpack from Vanguard has a sturdy yet sleek design. There are lots of pockets and a changeable compartment for storing your camera and lenses. Your camera can be accessed via a side pocket, but you need to undo a buckle, zip and Velcro to get to it, which could slow you down during a

shoot. The bag feels compact, but can be extended for extra storage. There is also a back pocket for carrying a laptop, a tripod holder on the side and a rain cover to keep the bag dry. Although the price is high, this has everything you’ll need.

★★★★★

ReviewsPhoto backpacks

95

ReviewsPhoto backpacks

0403

3 Coordinate Gear Pioneer Price £139/approx $210This is the largest of the four backpacks, with an enormous main compartment. However, there are no padded partitions for safely separating your kit, as it is designed to carry another smaller bag inside it. There is webbing for attaching extra gear and a rain cover, and the zips can be locked shut for

added security. The padded waistband can be removed to suit your carrying style, and contains pockets for storing memory cards and batteries. It’s a good size, but having to buy another bag for the inside makes it an expensive option.

★★★★★

4 Tamrac Aero Speed Pack 85 Price £95/approx $143Tamrac’s bag has the look of a regular backpack, but with plenty of customisable padded compartments for storing your kit safely inside. Access your camera quickly via the front pocket, or from the side of the bag when wearing it over one shoulder. The zips are a little stiff, but are sealed with a

waterproof coating. There is a back pocket for a 17-inch laptop and a top pocket that is ideal for carrying your personal belongings. The bag has a quality yet lightweight feel that suits the price, but the straps may become uncomfortable.

★★★★★

97

Imagine Publishing LtdRichmond House 33 Richmond HillBournemouth Dorset BH2 6EZ☎ +44 (0)1202 586200Web: www.photoforbeginners.com www.greatdigitalmags.com

Magazine team Editor Amy [email protected]☎ 01202 586210

Senior Designer Annabelle SingStaff Writer Joanna StassSub Editor Alicea FrancisEditor in Chief Dan HutchinsonPhotographer James SheppardSenior Art Editor Duncan CrookHead of Publishing Aaron AsadiHead of Design Ross Andrews

ContributorsJulie Bassett, Mark Bauer, Ella Carter, Jo Cole, Natalie Denton, Sheradon Dublin, Angelica Jopson, Adam Smith, Jodie Tyley, Robert Zwetsloot

AdvertisingDigital or printed media packs are available on request.

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DisclaimerThe publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used speci� cally for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and not af� liated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post, email, social network or any other means, you automatically grant Imagine Publishing an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to use the images across its entire portfolio, in print, online and digital, and to deliver the images to existing and future clients, including but not limited to international licensees for reproduction in international, licensed editions of Imagine products. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Imagine Publishing nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for the loss or damage.

© Imagine Publishing Ltd 2013 ISSN 2046-9845

2 Fotodiox Macro Bellows Price £32/$50Macro bellows work in the same way as extension tubes. They fi t between your camera and lens, and the concertinaed section is extended in order to get closer to your subject. The bellows are attached to a rail that you can slide your lens along until you reach the desired amount of magnifi cation. This makes them a very fl exible and accurate way of

shooting macro, but means that they are not very portable and you may struggle to fi t them in your kit bag. You will also have no control over your aperture, and with a larger distance for light to travel through, you will need to select the appropriate settings to respond to this.

★★★★★

3 Polaroid 4 Piece Close Up Filter Kit Price From £13/$20Close-up fi lters simply screw onto the end of your lens and allow you to focus closer on your subject at a very affordable price. Polaroid’s set includes four fi lters with different levels of magnifi cation: +1, +2, +4 and +10, which can be layered on top of each other to strengthen the effect. You can even combine them with a polarising or UV fi lter if you wish. As

you are placing another piece of glass in front of your lens, the quality of your images will be reduced slightly, but you can still achieve impressive results and have access to all of your camera’s controls. This set comes with a wallet for storing your fi lters that will easily fi t into your kit bag.

★★★★★

4 JJC Lens Reversing Ring Price £10/approx $15A reversing ring allows you to fi x your lens onto your camera backwards so that it magnifi es your subject and lets you shoot from a shorter distance. The ring is screwed onto your camera and the end of your lens is attached to it. Unfortunately, this means that your lens has no electrical connection to your camera, so you will be unable to control the aperture unless your lens has an aperture control ring. Because of this, your camera will automatically use a narrow aperture, so if your shots are underexposed you will need to adjust your settings accordingly and focus your shot by moving in and out until your subject is sharp.

★★★★★

04

Animals make for fantastic photography subjects, especially when you can capture something unique about that species and their personalities on camera. The problem is that they very rarely stay in one spot for long, so photographing them can be a bit of a challenge! Try out our quick tips here and practice this fun but challenging type of shot on your pets, garden wildlife or zoo animals!

Use continuous autofocus on moving animals to keep

them sharp in the frame

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Send us your best shots today for your chance to win the prize!

Photo hunt: Animal shotsSend us your shots at... photoforbeginners.com

Search for PFBMag on... Animal shotsSend us your shots at...photoforbeginners.comSend us your shots at...photoforbeginners.comSend us your shots at...

WIN!

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For a chance to win, send your best animal image to [email protected] by 25 July 2013. The winner will receive an 18x12-inch aluminium print of one of their photos from Pixum. Check out www.pixum.co.uk for more info.

An aluminium printof one of your shots!

Please note, Imagine Publishing has the right to substitute the prize for a similar item of equal or higher value. Full terms and conditions available online.

Zoom in or use a longer lens to keep distance from your subject

so you don’t scare them off

98

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Documents

Photography for Beginners - Issue 27, 2013.pdf