Photography for Beginners - Issue 32, 2013

www.photoforbeginners.com

Find us on…

and share your shots!

Great shots with any cameraNo. 1 for beginners

Essential guides for

Master Lightroom 5 Panning made easy Photo gift ideas

Top photo techniques

Tricks for stunning shots of architecture

Editing advice

Practise skills with 15 creative photo guides

AMAZING PROJECTS

A COMPACT CAMERA

Tested: CSCson a budgetWhich one is worth upgrading to?

ISSUE 0

32

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WELCOMEIssue 32

Photography for Beginners 3

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

Welcome5

essential skills you will learn in this issue

01 CAPTURE ANY SCENERead our 30 tips for portraits, landscapes and more on p18

02 SHOOT ARCHITECTURETurn to p28 for handy tricks for great shots now

03 GET CREATIVETry our 15 great projects on p36 to get standout shots

04 LEARN TO PANP48 teaches you to pan, for dynamic action photos

05 MASTER LIGHTROOM 5Get to grips with editing in this new software on p54

If you’re thinking of upgrading to a better camera,

you’ve chosen a great time, as a huge number

have just been announced. This issue we tell you

all about fi ve exciting new cameras on page 14,

as well as rating Samsung’s Android-powered

CSC on page 86 and Sony’s QX10 cameraphone

lens on page 90. Whatever camera you use, we

are here to give you our top 30 photo tips on

page 18, to help you take your best ever shots.

To help you practise new skills, we also have 15

amazing projects for you to try on page 36, from

capturing action to creative portraits. Use our

editing guides starting on page 54 to perfect

your shots and then send us the results!

Amy SquibbEditor

Follow us at @PFBMag

WELCOMEIssue 32

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ContentsIssue 32

Shutter speed: The time your shutter is open for, in seconds

Compact system camera: Good image quality, lightweight

Cameraphone: Smartphones that are always with you

Compact: Small, low-cost and easy-to-use cameras

92

Aperture: The depth of field of an image, as an f-number

4 Photography for Beginners

ESSENTIALS06 Your photos

This is your section, for all your great

photos. Send us your shots today!

10 Readers’ challenge Win some slideshow software by getting

involved in our monthly shooting challenge

12 How to share your photosWays to send your shots to the PFB team

for advice and to share with our readers

14 Need to knowDiscover fi ve exciting new cameras just

announced that we can’t wait to try out

16 Join the debateWould you subscribe to editing software

or will you be sticking to one-off products?

17 Win a camera!A fantastic Samsung WB250F compact

camera is up for grabs. Enter now to win!

50 Subscribe!Save money on your copy of Photography

for Beginners with our exclusive offer

76 Ask the teamYour questions answered and problems

solved by our panel of photo experts

82 What’s in my kit bag? Find out what equipment you really

need for fantastic macro shots

84 Upgrade Sony’s cameraphone lens, Canon’s

EOS 70D and budget CSCs get tested

94 AccessoriesPhoto gift ideas and a colourful shoulder

bag that will help to protect your kit

98 Settings cheat sheetWe bring you a settings guide for portraits

to cut out and keep in your kit bag

DSLR: Usually more expensive, but good image quality

Budget CSCs get put to the

test

18

Tricks for better portraits, landscapes, macro & more

SAVE £80!GET MONEY OFF DXO OPTICS PRO SOFTWARE

3615 great ideas for creative photosAmazing projects

Your quick-start guide to all the icons you’ll see in Photography for BeginnersWHAT THE ICONS MEAN…


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SUBSCRIBE TO...

50 GET MONEY OFF ISSUES!

SHOOT18 30 tips for great photos

Easy ways to better shots of any subject

28 Beginner’s Guide to shooting architecture Master settings, lighting, composition

and more for striking shots now

36 Creative projects15 photo ideas to get you practising

with your camera right away

46 Tricks for wildlife photosHow one PFB reader took an amazing

image while at the zoo – you can too!

48 Panning made easyFive steps to action shots full of life

52 Tips for capturing fl awless refl ections in landscapesLearn how to recreate this technique

EDIT54 Master Lightroom 5

Simple guides to the great new

features this version has to offer you

58 Sharpen soft shotsThree steps to pin-sharp pics

60 Fake wide aperture blurBlur backgrounds with editing software

62 Achieve a beautiful solarisation effectGive your images some glow!

64 Enhance your coloursEasy ways to make your colours pop

66 Clone out unwanted parts of your shotRemove distracting objects easily

using the TouchRetouch Mac app

SHARE70 Create a multimedia photo

album with Shutterfl yCreate a photo story on your tablet

using a simple album app

72 Tag, share and browse photos by locationShow what’s happening where

you are with Pictastik

74 Share a whole album of shots Back up and share

with SkyDrive

Share yo

ur sh

ots at.

..

photofor

beginners

.com

Or sea

rch fo

r PFB

Mag on

...

CONTENTSIssue 32

28Make your snaps the best they can be

Top techniques for architecture

Learn the settingsand key skillsyou need now

For back issues & more go to…

84Is this the DSLR for you?Canon EOS 70D48Shoot fantastic action shots

Panning tricks


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READERS GALLERY

Your photosYou could see your photo printed here! Just send in your shots. Here’s a selection of our favourites from this month

WIN!A Samsung 16GB memory cardEvery issue, one winner will receive a Samsung 16GB SDHC memory card

or a prize of equal value www.samsung.com/ukFull terms and conditions available online

Howth Lighthouse “This was taken at Howth Harbour, Dublin, Ireland on a bleak March evening. The photo features Howth Lighthouse, built in 1817.”Shot on: Canon EOS 600D, 10-20mm lens at 10mm, ISO 100, f8, bracketed exposures taken at 1/5sec, 1/20sec and 0.8secSent in via: Email

Reader: Mladen Popovic


WIN!A Samsung 16GB memory cardEvery issue, one winner will receive a Samsung 16GB SDHC memory card

or a prize of equal value www.samsung.com/ukFull terms and conditions available online


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Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com

YOUR PHOTOSReaders’ gallery

Photography for Beginners 7Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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YOUR PHOTOSReaders’ gallery

Reader: Kevin Browne Sunfl owers, Stubbington “I heard about this fi eld of sunfl owers, so I headed out to catch a wide view of it at sunset.”Shot on: Canon EOS 1000D, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/2000sec

Reader: Elaine LeggWool Bridge, Dorset"I was at home and glanced out my window to see the sky lit up. I raced to the nearest spot to catch this beautiful sunset just in time."Shot on: Canon EOS 550D, ISO 160, f3.5, 1/32sec

Reader: Emma Lockwood Busy Bee

“I took hundreds of photos of the bees collecting pollen from these

fl owers before I took this shot.”Shot on: Nikon Coolpix S8200

Reader: Kyriacos Maragos Butterfl y In Balance “This was taken in our local park in Athens. I followed the butterfl y from fl ower to fl ower and took more than 14 shots to get the right ‘millisecond of life'."Shot on: Olympus SP-800UZ, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/640sec

Reader: Jose Mari V. Donaire Singapore Skyline “A long exposure of the Singapore Skyline taken at the Marina Bay area during evening twilight.”Shot on: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, ISO 200, f22, 90sec


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Reader: Graham Browne Berries"I was out picking berries and I thought it would make a nice up close photo. I was surprised how good the camera was on the phone."Shot on: Motorola RAZR i

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.

ENTER NOW: Send your shots to [email protected]


Reader: Rachel HunterTitle: Sweet Dreams

Reader: Alison SmithTitle: Lady Bay

Reader: Christina PerezTitle: Vertigo

Reader: Chris AdamsTitle: Broken Tree

Reader: Amy BolvariTitle: Avalon Pier


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Back when photography began, all photographs

were black and white, yet even now we still enjoy

producing monochrome images. Not only can it

help to give your shots a timeless and stylish feel,

but it also provides a fl attering effect for portraits

and removes any distracting colours from your

scene. Many cameras come with a black and white

mode, but it is often best to shoot in colour and

then convert your shot later. That way you can have

more control over the fi nal result, adjusting the

contrast to create an image with more impact.

In Issue 31, we gave you 16 pages full of advice

for producing your very own monochrome

masterpieces, and then asked you to send them in

for us to have a look

at. We were very

impressed with your

black and white

skills and have

printed some of our

favourites from the

bunch here.

Black & white shots

Our 16-page guide to black and white can be found in PFB Issue 31. Get back issues from…

WE CHALLENGED, YOU DELIVERED…

Your next photo challenge

Architecture photography Find out how to take dynamic shots of stunning

structures with this issue’s Beginner’s Guide, then send us your best architecture photos by 26 November 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.

Notre Dame “When walking around the outside of Notre Dame Cathedral, I noticed how the bare trees and clouds gave it an eery, Gothic feel and I took the shot. I then edited it in iPhoto to increase the shadow and get my desired effect.”Shot on: Sony A290, 18-55mm lens at 18mm, ISO 100, f10, 1/160sec

Reader: Chris Lamb

READERS’ CHALLENGEBlack & white


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Reader: Tan MorrisTitle: Worcester From The Severn

Reader: James WalshTitle: London Eye

Reader: Tarun ShomeTitle: Candelabra

Reader: Kieron AdamsTitle: Dusty Window Sill

Reader: Dave CarterTitle: Derelict

Reader: Shamil Beaton Title: Balance

Share your shots at photoforbeginners.comor search PFBMag on


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Share on our social sites Join the Facebook, Twitter and Flickr communities

@PFBMagClick the Compose New Tweet box and 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 click Share>Grab the

link. Email it to pfbteam@imagine-publishing.

co.uk 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

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!


SHARE YOUR SHOTSHere’s how to show us your stunning snaps


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Available from all fine camera storeswww.tamron.co.uk

15x ZOOM

Focal length: 18mm

Exposure: F/16,

1/20 sec, ISO 320

Focal length: 270mm

Exposure: F/6.3,

1/250 sec, ISO 320

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 unbeatable

combination 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.

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Five cameras battling to be in your kit bagThe latest releases that have piqued our interest

Camera manufacturers have been very busy

producing lots of new models to get us excited

lately. As well as unveiling the new X-E2 premium

CSC, Fujifi lm has also stepped up with a new

advanced compact. Despite featuring a 12

megapixel CMOS sensor and auto, semi-manual

and full manual control, the Fujifi lm XQ1 is still

particularly pocketable. Its sleek and slim body has

an f1.8 lens for shooting bright shots in low light

and producing beautiful blurred backgrounds. The

lens also has a 4x optical zoom that can be

digitally extended to a 16x zoom for a versatile

focal range of 25-400mm, great for both

landscape and wildlife photography.

Around the lens is a control ring for quickly

changing your settings, and it can be customised

to suit your shooting style. The XQ1 also has a

Lens Modulation Optimiser, which ensures that

images are sharp from edge-to-edge at narrow

apertures, and 3-stop optical image stabilisation

to help reduce blur, even in low light. Getting

creative with your captures is also made easy. Film

Simulation Mode is available when shooting stills

and full HD video, allowing you to add an analogue

style to your digital creations, plus there are eight

creative fi lters to experiment with. The Fujifi lm XQ1

is available in black with a textured fi nish or silver

with a smooth fi nish for an RRP of £350/$500.

NEED TO KNOWA snapshot of what’s exciting us this month


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

01The 12MP CMOS sensor is similar to the X20’s, but

will it produce high-quality shots?

02An f1.8 lens should be ideal for low light, but how

about the ISO performance?

03We will see if the lens control ring makes it easy

to change settings in hurry

THE TOP 3…

Keep focused The XQ1 has fast autofocus speeds of 0.06sec for keeping moving subjects sharp and a Focus Peak Highlight function

Shoot in RAWThe RAW development function means that a RAW image can be converted to JPEG without additional computer software

01Fujifilm XQ1 Stay connected Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to transfer your shots to your smartphone or tablet using the free Fujifi lm Camera Application

Creative captures There are eight creative fi lters available, plus Multi Exposure and Film Simulation modes to experiment with

Price: £350/$500


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Histograms: How to use them Ever wondered what that little graph on your camera screen is? Our simple guide explains everything you need to know about the histogram and how you can use it to tell if your image is under or overexposed.

This month on… photoforbeginners.comPlus all this…

shooting in Autumn

exciting competitions

NEED TO KNOWNews


Tips for photographing birdsBirds are perhaps the easiest wildlife

gardens and local parks are full of them all year round. Follow our easy steps to taking fantastic shots of your feathered friends.

03 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10Price: £999/$1300

Nikon D5300

with full manual control and 16 scene modes to suit shooters of all

05 Panasonic Lumix GM1Pentax K-3


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“I think Adobe Creative Cloud does have

its benefi ts, as in exchange for the

monthly fee you automatically have

access to any software updates, so you

don’t have to pay extra each time a new

version comes out. It is an expensive subscription

though, ranging from approximately £20 to £70 per

month depending on the package you choose. Then, if

you cancel your subscription, you lose access to the

software as opposed to owning it indefi nitely as you

would on the old one-time fee system. Adobe seems to

be having a great deal of success with it so far, but I

wonder if it will make some of its audience look

elsewhere for its photo-editing needs.”

Would you subscribe to editing software?

Earlier this year, Adobe launched its Creative Cloud

– a subscription-based service for accessing the

company’s Creative Suite software, such as

Photoshop and InDesign. Recently, it also revealed

it would no longer offer the included software for a

one-time fee, so users who would like the latest

updates have no choice but to sign up for a

monthly or annual subscription. Do you think

subscription-based software is a good idea, or

would you rather pay for infi nite access?

The poll results say 57% would pay, 43% wouldn’t. Cast your vote today!

OUR DESIGNER ANNABELLE SAYS:

What Photography For Beginners readers have to say…

01World Of Animals magazine

Web: www.imagineshop.co.ukPrice: £3.99A fantastic new magazine launches 22 November and it’s packed with wildlife photos and animal info! Issue 1 even has great wildlife photo tips.

02XSories Weye FeyeWi-Fi device

Web: www.weye-feye.comPrice: £199/$250The Weye Feye lets you control your Canon or Nikon DSLR from a distance using your smartphone. You can use the Weye Feye apps to change a number of settings.

03JOBY UltraFitHand Strap

Web: www.joby.com Price: £41/$50This camera strap from JOBY comes with an UltraPlate, so you can attach your camera to a tripod while still keeping it secured to your wrist.

04Nikon 1 AW1camera

Web: www.nikon.comPrice: £750/$800Nikon has launched the fi rst ever tough CSC. It’s waterproof to a depth of 15m, shockproof from a height of 2m and freezeproof up to -10°C.

JOIN THE DEBATE #PFBLoves

Search for #PFBLoves on Twitter to see what we love

Mark Bradshaw “You buy some editing program and two years down the line it’s old, dated, lacks features and isn’t compatible with new cameras. With Creative Cloud, you always have the latest version as it always updates.”

Sent in via Facebook

Dennis Woodmass“If the editing software I am currently using converted to a pay monthly subscription on future releases, I wouldn’t hesitate to look for alternative packages, even if the other software wasn’t as good.”

Sent in via Facebook

Tony Woodward“As photography is a hobby, I would never commit to or pay the Adobe CC prices. I bought Photoshop Elements 9 for £20 when Elements 10 was released, and it offers me everything I need and more.”

Sent in Via website

Carl Surry “Surely no one in their right mind would rent software? After a year or two you would have paid for it two times over. Only ultra-rich and talented professionals will be able to make use of the more advanced features.”

Sent in Via Facebook

NEED TO KNOWJoin the debate


THINGS WE LOVE


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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 with the 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 with 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 cannot 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.

HOW TO ENTER:Send your name, contact details and your

best shot to us by 17 October 2013.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.photoforbeginners.com

A Samsung WB250F

WIN!


PLUS!An 8GB Samsung memorycard

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


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18 Photography for Beginners18 Photography for Beginners18 Photography for Beginners WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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Easy steps to better imagesPhotography is a fantastically versatile

hobby, as you really can take photos of

anything. From landscapes and portraits, to

action and macro, you can practise your skills

at any time of the day or year and never run

out of things to capture. You might discover

you have a favourite genre and start planning

your own shoots, or decide that you love it all

and simply shoot when inspiration strikes.

You never know when a great photo

opportunity will present itself, so it’s a good

idea to carry a camera around with you at all

times, even if it is just your cameraphone.

Plus, the best thing about digital photography

is that there is nothing stopping you from

shooting all day long. Don’t be afraid to fi ll up

your memory card and drain your battery, to

get as much practice as possible.

When you do decide to shoot, it’s good to

have some handy tricks up your sleeve to

help you take great photos, no matter what

the subject. Whether its a stunning vista or a

striking action shot, we have broken down

the secrets for creating fl awless captures

into simple, bite-sized chunks. You’ll

have better photos in no time.


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IMPROVE YOUR LANDSCAPES

Choose your settings To keep the entire landscape in focus, from foreground to background, use a narrow aperture (large f-number). Anything

above f11 is good. Keep your ISO value low to avoid grainy images, and slow down your shutter speed to let in enough light.

01Fit it all in A lens with a short focal length is

ideal for landscapes. Use a wide-angle lens or

zoom right out with your zoom lens to capture

as much of the scene as possible. You could

also use Panorama mode, or create your own

panoramas by stitching multiple shot together.

02

Compose wellWhen composing your landscape

photo, consider the rule of thirds. Imagine a

nine-section grid over your frame and position

the horizon along one of the horizontal lines,

and your main focal point on one of the other

vertical lines.

04

Filter the light Using a neutral density filter will

allow you to use really slow shutter speeds in

bright daylight, so that you can blur the

movement of any clouds or water in your scene.

Just make sure you use a tripod to avoid

camera shake.

03

Shoot earlyThe best time of day to shoot a landscape

photo is just after sunrise or just before sunset,

known among photographers as the ‘Golden Hours’.

As the sun is low in the sky, it will create dramatic

shadows for more contrast and project a lovely golden

light across the scene.

05

20 Photography for Beginners20 Photography for Beginners

SHOOTING30 tips for great photos


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Photography for Beginners 21Photography for Beginners 21



Use a wide-angle lens or zoom right out to capture as

much of the scene as possible”

“


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TAKE A PERFECT PORTRAIT

Capture true emotion Interact with your subject by asking questions and

make them laugh to evoke natural emotions instead of false

smiles. You could also try snapping a candid portrait when

they’re not looking to show their true personality.

09

Focus on the eyes When focusing your shot, use manual focus or

selective AF and focus on your subject’s eyes. These are the

most important part of the photo, so make sure they are sharp.

Use a higher f number if any part of your subject appears blurry.

08

Blur the background A wide aperture (small f-number) will create a shallow

depth of fi eld and blur the background behind your subject to

remove any distractions. Use a fast shutter speed to keep the

shot sharp and raise your ISO if you need more light.

07

Avoid harsh shadows To combat shadows falling across your subject’s

face, use a refl ector to bounce light back into the shadows or

fi re your fl ash to fi ll them in. Hold a piece of white paper under a

fi xed fl ash to bounce it off the ceiling for a more fl attering effect.

06

Get close to your subject

Shooting so your subject fi lls the frame will createa more intimate image. Using a short focal length will exaggerate your subject’s features, so take a step back and zoom in a little to keep everything in proportion.

10


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SHOOT AMAZING MACRO

Position your subject Fill the frame with your subject or position them

off-centre in your photo for an engaging composition. Experiment

with shooting from different angles, but make sure the backdrop

does not distract attention away from what you’re shooting.

14

Choose natural light Firing your fl ash will create harsh light when you’re

shooting close to your subject. Use natural light if you can, but if

it’s very bright, create some shade over your subject with your

body or some paper to avoid shadows.

13

Keep subjects in focusKeeping subjects sharp when shooting up close can

be tricky, so use manual focus and zoom in on your camera’s LCD

screen to check everything is sharp. Alternatively, use selective

autofocus to keep the most important part of your shot in focus.

12

Use close-up photo kit If you have an interchangeable lens camera and you’re

serious about macro, invest in a macro lens. However, if you just

want to have a go, look into extension tubes or close-up fi lters to

reduce your lens’s minimum focusing distance.

11

Control options If your camera has a Macro mode, use that for the optimum settings. Also use a narrow

aperture to keep details sharp and a low ISO to avoid noise. You may need a tripod as you’ll need to compensate with a slow shutter speed to let in enough light.

15

Fill the frame for an engaging

composition”


“


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CAPTURE THE ACTION

Pan along Show the speed and direction of your

subject by setting a slow shutter speed of around

1/50sec and moving the camera along with them.

Read our full guide to panning on p48.

18

Zoom in closer To keep a safe distance from the action,

use a lens with a large focal range and zoom in on

your subject. A monopod will also allow you to keep

your shot steady on the go and shoot over crowds.

17

Freeze movement A fast shutter speed of 1/100sec or

quicker will freeze your subject for blur-free shots.

If your images are too dark, use a wider aperture

(smaller f-number), raise your ISO or fi re your fl ash.

16

Master action composition

When composing a shot of a moving subject, try to leave some active space in front of them in the frame. This will help to show their direction of travel and give your photo context.

19

Stay sharp Continuous AF will track your subject as they move and

keep them sharp. Alternatively, if you can predict their movements,

use manual focus and pre-focus on an area that they will move into.

20


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MASTER LOW-LIGHT PHOTO TECHNIQUES

Capture enough light

When there’s not much light available, use a slow shutter speed to let as much of it reach your sensor as possible. Using a wide aperture (small f-number) will also help but this does mean that your background will blur.

21 Increase the sensitivity If you want to use fast shutter speeds in low light,

raise your ISO to make your sensor more sensitive. However, this

can create digital noise in your photos, so don’t raise it too high.

25

Get creative Shooting in low light gives you plenty of opportunity to

get creative. Use a slow shutter speed to capture light trails from

moving traffi c or paint in some light using a torch. City buildings

also look fantastic when they are lit up at night.

24

Fire your fl ash When shooting portraits or still life in low light, use

your fl ash to keep them bright. Try bouncing your fl ash off of a

piece of white paper to soften the light for a more fl attering

effect, and to avoid causing red-eye.

23

Steady your camera When using slow shutter speeds, you will need to

keep your camera very steady to avoid camera shake. Secure it

onto a tripod or rest it on a sturdy surface to prevent blurry shots,

and use a remote trigger for even better results.

22



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GET GREAT WILDLIFE PICS

Keep it simple Try to photograph your subject against a plain and

simple backdrop, or you could use a wide aperture (small

f-number) to blur any distractions. This will also help to blur out

any fences in the foreground of your zoo photos. Look for

branches and other natural frames for a great composition.

29

Do not disturb Turn off your camera sounds and fl ash to avoid

startling the animals and scaring them off. Move slowly and keep

your distance, and avoid wearing bright clothing that will make

you stand out from your surroundings. It could also help to bring

a waterproof mat with you so you can lie in wait in comfort.

28

Do your research If you are hoping to photograph a particular species of

animal, research their typical habits and behaviour. Find out the

times when they are most active and the locations you are likely

to fi nd them. If you are shooting at the zoo, fi nd out the animals’

feeding times so that they won’t be hidden away.

27

Shoot a burst of images When shooting wildlife, it’s often impossible to

control your subject’s movements and pose. Increase your

chances of getting a great shot by using Continuous Shooting or

Burst mode. This will take a series of photos when you press the

shutter so that you can pick the best from the bunch.

26

Avoid blur To keep moving animals sharp, use a fast shutter speed to

freeze their movement in the frame. Continuous autofocus will also help you to prevent blurry photos when your subject moves quicklyand unpredictably.

30




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

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Discover how to make structures look as good in your shots as they do in real life with our tips

Man-made structures are often works of art in themselves, so naturally they also look great in your photos. Of

course, it helps if you know the best way to shoot them. Using the right settings and shooting from the right

angle will help you to produce dynamic and engaging photos of buildings, bridges, landmarks and

statues, so follow our handy hints for taking amazing architecture photos.

You don’t need to travel far to find fantastic subjects to shoot, as anything from city

skyscrapers to countryside churches, or even your own house will do. You don’t

need any specialist or expensive equipment to be able to get stunning results

either. A trusty compact camera or even your cameraphone is capable

of taking brilliant photos, as the secret to architecture photography

is often getting the composition and lighting just right.

In this feature, we tell you all the best settings to use

to create perfect captures, along with framing

ideas and the best times to shoot. You can

then learn how to tweak your photos

to correct common problems

and apply creative effects.

Let’s get started.

Shooting Architecture BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO…

SHOOTINGBeginner’s guide

28 Photography for Beginners WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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Try leaning on a wall for extra support when out and about. This means if you are using a slower shutter speed you’ll reduce the amount of camera shake



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SHOOTING


Pick the perfect settings for shooting architecture

Settings Whether you have a cameraphone, compact,

CSC or DSLR, it’s easy to take great photos of

buildings. In most situations even using Auto

mode will suffice, leaving you with plenty of

time to focus on framing your shot for a

perfect composition. However, if your camera

does have manual modes, then this is a great

opportunity to practise using them. As your

subject isn’t going anywhere, you can

experiment with different settings until you

get the shot just right. Here’s a guide of the

best settings to use for spectacular photos.

Narrow your aperture Using a narrow aperture (high f-number) will allow you to keep the entire building in focus. Start at f8 and work your way up until you are happy

Correct the white balance Pick the white balance for the kind of lighting you’re in. Often incandescent is used for interiors

Use exposure bracketing to take three shots at different exposures and then merge them in editing software, for a high-contrastimage

Create a HDR photograph

Keep the ISO low Set a low ISO to avoid noise and slow your shutter speed or widen your aperture to let in more light

Shoot at nightAt night you can capture some great shots of city

lights. You will need to set a slow shutter speed and use a

tripod to keep the image sharp and bright



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How to avoid distortion

Choose the right focal length

Some cameras have a panorama mode, but if yours doesn’t, take several photos that you can stitch togetherin editing softwarelater on

Take a stunning panorama shot

Zoom in closer To avoid lens distortion, take your photo from

further back and zoom in. This should still allow you to fi t everything in, but will also keep your lines straight

Pick a focal length To pick a focal length on your camera, either twist the lens barrel or zoom in and out with the zoom lever. Choose the focal length you use carefully when

shooting architecture, as a focal length less than 35mm could cause distortion.

Wide-angle distortion Shooting at a wide angle (zoomed out) is great for letting you fi t everything in the frame, but it can cause lens distortion. This is when the straight lines of

your building slope inwards or outwards instead of staying parallel.



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Get down low

01One way to produce a dramatic photo

of a building is to shoot it from a low

angle. Get close and then point your camera

upwards, or tilt the LCD screen if you can.

Frame your photo for impact Composition Composition is perhaps the most important thing to get right when

shooting architecture. As this is such a popular genre of photography,

it is likely that the building you are shooting will have been

photographed lots of times before, particularly if it is a famous

landmark. Therefore, to make your shot stand out from the crowd, it

is a good idea to find a new and unusual way to capture it. This could

simply involve changing your angle, or perhaps you could try including

something else in the frame. If the huge choice of different

structures available to shoot is a little overwhelming, then you could

also use our top compositional tips as inspiration for particular

subjects to look for.

Composition top tips

Add some context

02 Including some foreground interest in

your shot will give it some context and

provide a sense of scale. Try capturing people,

trees or a water feature in front of the building.

Find a vantage point

03Do a bit of research beforehand so

that you can find a great vantage point

to shoot your structure from. You could go to

the top of a nearby hill or another tall building.

As your subject isn’t going

anywhere, set your camera up

on a tripod. This allows you to

consider the framing more

slowly and lets you be

more accurate

Use a tripod tohelp you frame



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Photography for Beginners 33Photography for Beginners 33

Capture symmetry Keep your eyes peeled

for symmetrical buildings and shoot them

head on, for a striking, mirror-image look

Zoom in on detail

04 Architecture photos don’t have to be

of an entire building. If you spot some

detail, shoot it up close or use the zoom and a

long focal length if shooting from a distance.

Look for refl ections

05 Including refl ections in windows can

help you capture even more of the

scene around you. Buildings refl ected in lakes

and ponds double the impact of your scene.

Tips for lighting architecture

Shoot at night

03 For sparkling captures, use a slow

shutter speed to let in enough

light and a tripod to prevent blurring.

Go out in any weather

04 A few clouds will add interest to

the background, while stormy

skies can make your shot really dramatic.

Create a silhouette

02Use spot metering, point the

camera at the sky and half-press

the shutter before taking your fi nal shot.

Capture more contrast

01 Shoot early in the morning or late

in the afternoon to capture more

shadows and contrast in your images.



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Editing software lets you enhance or completely

transform your architecture photos. If the weather

wasn’t on your side, or you just didn’t have the time

to get it right in-camera, then it is easy to rescue a

problem shot. Common problems such as camera

distortion, flat-looking images or distracting

elements in the scene can all be fixed. You can even

add creative effects; convert your photo to black and

white for a timeless feel, add some grain to create a

gritty urban image or fake the tilt-shift effect.

Editing

Correct camera distortion

01 Go to Enhance>Correct Camera

Distortion and then adjust the Vertical

or Horizontal Perspective Control slider. Use

the gridlines to check your building is straight.

Increase the contrast

02Go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust

Color Curves. Increase the Midtone

Contrast and reduce the Adjust Shadows

slider, then boost Highlights and Brightness.

Remove distractions

03Remove unwanted elements with the

Clone Stamp. Hold Opt/Alt and click on

an area you want to replace the distraction

with, then brush the area you want to remove.

Improve structure snaps in easy steps

Enhance your shot Use Photoshop Elements 11 to fix a problem photo

Create blur

01 This works best with shots taken from

a high angle. Go to Layer>Duplicate

Layer and name it Blur, then go to Filter>Blur>

Gaussian Blur. Set the Radius slider to 28px.

Move your layers

02 In the Layers panel, double-click on

your Background layer and move it to

the top of the panel, above the Blur layer. Now

make sure you have the top layer selected.

Add a layer mask

03 Select the Rectangular Marquee tool

and adjust the Feather slider to 100px,

then draw a rectangle over the centre of your

shot. Next, click the Add Layer Mask button.

Fake the tilt-shift effect Make buildings look miniature in Elements 11



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SHOOTINGCreative projects


When you’re starting out

in photography, the

most important thing

you can do is practise.

It may seem really obvious, but

getting out with your camera and

experimenting is the

quickest way to learn

techniques and master

your new kit. Rather

than let yourself get

bored shooting the

same old things day

after day, though, we have some

great ideas here to inspire you.

We’ve got plenty of fun projects that

you can do in your home on a rainy

day, such as creating art out of

incense and some really interesting

macro shots. If you’d rather get

outside with your camera, we’ve got

plenty to suit you too, from creating

a HDR landscape to playing with

shadows.

With these simple projects, you

will learn just what your camera is

capable of while practising essential

skills you can apply to other genres.

And what’s more, you’ll get some

truly standout images along the way

to show off to friends and family.

Why not display your endeavours

from these projects in your very own

calendar – we even show you how to

craft your own from scratch for a

truly personal way to

share your snaps.

Have fun with these

great, creative projects

and don’t forget to post

your results up on www.

photoforbeginners.com or

share them on our Facebook page

(search for PFBMag). Try out your

own creative ideas too, and let your

imagination run wild. We can’t wait

to see what you come up with!

Practise your skills using these ideas for amazing photos

PROJECTSTO TRY TODAY

Consider framingTry various angles and reposition the subject to get the strongest shot. Also consider whether it looks best in portrait or landscape orientation.

TOP TIPS FOR CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

Light the shotLighting is fundamental for any photo. Try positioning subjects near natural window light, or use your flash or a reflector to fill in any harsh shadows.

Think about colour Using a vibrant subject can help to add impact to your shot, but try not to overuse colour – stick to three colour tones for the best impact.

Select a backdropMake sure the background isn’t distracting. You want the attention to be on your subject, so use coloured card or even a bed sheet hung up.

Add creative filtersMost cameras now come with filters such as fish-eye, miniature, sepia or cross-process. Try using these arty effects to make your shot stand out.

Tweak your shotsMost shots need editing, but you can also apply creative effects too. Get some great ideas from tutorials on www.photoforbeginners.com.

CREATIVE

“We’ve got plenty of fun projects that you

can do on a rainy day”


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Perfect exposureYou may have to set a lower f-number when using a fast shutter speed to let in enough light

Freeze motion by using a fast shutter speed

Keep on trying!High-speed shots are often trial and error, so keep experimenting until you get the right positioning

Use flashFiring your flash can help to freeze movement in shots like this. Try putting a piece of tracing paper in front of it if it’s too harsh

Freeze itUse a fast shutter speed (over 1/200sec) to freeze the action. Slow it down if you want to show some movement blur

Shoot quicklyBurst mode lets you take a series of images quickly, improving your odds of getting the dice at the height you want them

Keep it sharpUsing Continuous AF mode will help to keep the moving subject as sharp as possible

Action images01



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Fun shadows Bright, sunny skies offer plenty

of great photo opportunities.

Get creative with the sunlight

by shooting the shadows it

casts. You can create unique

shadow shots like this using a

brightly coloured prop such as

an umbrella. You’ll need to

position your model to face the

direction of the sun and then

shade them using the

umbrella. Ask your model to

pose so that the shadow has a

clearer defi nition. To ensure

you can fi t the scene within

the frame, shoot in landscape

orientation. You’ll need to

focus on the umbrella and set

a narrow aperture (around f11)

and fast shutter speed (over

1/125sec) to prevent the

image from overexposing.

Capture shadow shots on sunny days 03

The increasing number of

waterproof cameras and cases

available has opened up a host

of new opportunities, allowing

you to take photos from a new

perspective – underwater.

Capture your family as they

splash around the pool on

holiday or try photographing an

object submerged in a bath for

a unique still life shot. You

could try taking a photo of an

object at water level, capturing

it half-submerged so you can

see the distortion from the

water. Hold it in the liquid, so

that water line is halfway up

the lens and take a shot.

04 Great macro

Creative portraits

Use props to take unique people pics

To capture this creative portrait, set your camera on a tripod at

eye-level with your model. Using string or colourful ribbon, attach

an empty frame to a nearby branch and lower it down so that

you can see through it to your subject. Be sure that there is

enough light so you can shoot without fl ash, as fl ash will blow

the detail of the frame. Set your camera to Aperture Priority and

f8, zoom in so that the frame fi lls the edge of your view, then set

your focus on the model and not the background or frame.

Set your camera on a tripod and place a glass

vase on a piece of white paper. Set up a

background with coloured card or even a

colourful scarf. Fill the vase with tonic water

(for bubbles) and place in a cherry. Use a desk

lamp from a safe distance or an external

fl ashgun, slightly raised (try placing it on a

stack of books) but lighting the cherry. Make

sure your focus is on the cherry rather than

the glass and use a wide aperture (low

f-number) to throw the background out of

focus. Macro mode or a macro lens will

help you to get in even closer to

your subject.

Take a rare look at macro subjects



02


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Paint pictures in low light using a torch, tripod and your camera

To paint with light, you either need to shoot outside

at night or in a dark room. Set your tripod up and

attach your camera. Make sure it’s secure and set it

to Timer mode, so you can be in the right place at

the right time. Now set your camera to Shutter

Priority and lower the shutter speed to at least 10sec

and make sure your ISO is low to avoid noise

appearing. Now press the shutter to start the timer,

jump into place and start ‘drawing’ your picture with

the torch, being sure to keep moving so you don’t

appear in the frame. It is often easier to draw around

people or objects as a guide, like we have here.

Light painting 05

The easiest way to convey

movement is to use a long

exposure. This means using a

long shutter speed to blur the

subject, but keeping everything

else in focus by using a tripod.

By keeping the camera steady,

you can ensure that stationary

elements are sharp.

Switch to Shutter Priority on

the mode dial and set it to

around 5sec, steadily

increasing the time until you’re

happy with the results. You may

need to use an ND fi lter to

reduce the amount of light

coming into the lens and help

avoid overexposure.

07PerspectivesIt can be lots of fun to play with

perspective. For effective

results, you’ll need to work in a

wide, open space. If you’re

placing a model in the frame,

get them to stand as far back

as possible to give the illusion

that they’re a smaller size. You

can then introduce objects or

hands around the side of the

image at a closer proximity to

the lens, so that they will

appear larger when compared

to the model. Give your model

clear instructions to pose so

that it appears as though they

are interacting with the object

or hands.

Get fun images by changing perspective06 Motion blur

Use shutter speed for special effects



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The selective colour technique is a clever

way of drawing the eye to a particular

part of a picture. It works by converting

the image to black and white, and then

restoring colour to the subject so that it

leaps off the frame. Some cameras offer

this as a creative fi lter, and although this

is the easiest way of achieving the effect,

the results can be much more accurate

when you do it yourself. For the best

results, choose a photograph

with a colourful focal point,

such as a bunch of

fl owers. We’ve used

some fruit and

free editing

software GIMP

to create

the effect.

Drain the colourOpen your image then save it under another name. Go to Layers>Duplicate Layer, then select Desaturate from the Colors menu.

Add a layer maskGo to Layer>Mask>Add Layer Mask and opt for White (full opacity). Select the mask thumbnail and paint with a black brush to reveal colour.

Flatten the imageFinally, select Image>Flatten Image to merge all the layers into one. Then save the image (File>Save) and export it with File>Export.

How to make your subject stand out from the scene

Selective colouring08


Using layer masks A guide to selectively colouring shots in GIMP


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Themed portraits

Take a creative approach to portraiture

There are plenty of great ways

to get creative with portraits.

Using a theme will not only

give you a brief to work

towards, but it will also enable

you to include more elements

within the frame in the way of

props and styling. Selecting a

character from a book or a

favourite fi lm is a great way to

start. You’ll need to get

hands-on with posing your

model using props for this,

and consider the location of

the shoot carefully as it will be

dependant on the character

you’re photographing. You can

also ask your subject to

change their expressions to

convey different emotions.

11

Create an old-fashioned photo

Place your cup on a small table,

about two metres from the wall

behind it. Light it with a desk lamp or

external fl ash gun positioned about

a metre to the left of the camera

and above it.

Hang black cloth on the wall and

suspend fairy lights from the top. Put

your camera on a tripod and

manually focus on the cup. Using a

wide aperture (low f-number), the

background lights should be blown

out of focus to create this lovely

effect. Then position the cup so it

looks like the lights are steam

coming from it!

Blur light for fun images

Vintage is currently on trend, and not just in

regards to clothing; it’s made a comeback in

photography too, with vintage-inspired

camera designs and fi lter effects that will

transform your shots into old-fashioned

works of art. To create your own vintage

image, check your camera’s

shooting modes. Some may

offer a sepia or specialist

fi lter effect that you can

apply instantly.

Alternatively, use

tools in Photoshop

such as Hue/

Saturation and the

Add Noise fi lter for

effective results.

Reduce saturation fi rst and

then increase the yellow hue

for a sepia effect.

09

10

Retro shots

Bokeh



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If you look at a sunrise or sunset

scene, you’ll see a full range of tones,

including detail in the darkest parts of

the land and the brightest parts of the

sky. However, camera sensors are

unable to record the same range of

tones, so will under or overexpose

certain areas. The solution is to take

three (or more) identically-framed

pictures at different exposures: at,

under and below the camera’s

metered exposure. This is known as

‘bracketing’. To make it easy, many

cameras have an auto-bracketing

facility. You then use software like

Photoshop Elements or Photomatix to

merge the pictures into one image

that contains the full range of tones.

Learn to get perfect results in tricky lighting

HDRvistas12

Without using HDR, detail is lost in the shadow areas. If we were to expose for the shadows instead, the sky would be blown out

Choose your settingsSet Aperture Priority and pick a high f-number. Set Exposure Bracketing in the menu and move the dial until the lines are under the 1.

Use a tripodKeep the camera steady, as change between shots causes ‘ghosting’. Take three shots (the camera will take three different exposures).

Merge the shots Open the shots in your software and fi nd the ‘Merge to HDR’ option, which combines them. Use sliders to adjust contrast and highlights.

HDR from start to fi nish How to set up, shoot and edit HDR



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Experiment with your zoom for vibrant still-life shots

A zoom burst adds focus to a central point,

blurring the outside in a creative way. Select

a brightly coloured subject that is stationary.

Switch your camera to Shutter Priority mode

and set a shutter speed of around 1sec. This

should give you just enough time to zoom

out while the shutter is open to capture the

effect. Frame the subject by zooming in so

that it fills the image. Now focus the camera

on the centre. Position your hand on the lens

around the zoom ring and once you’re ready,

release the shutter. As soon as the shutter

opens, rotate the zoom ring anti-clockwise

to zoom out and capture an effective zoom

burst result.

Zoom burst13

Smoke art

Capture striking abstract images

A great project to try at home is shooting smoke

trails. It’s easy to do, and all you really need is

some incense sticks and some black card. It can

take a bit of trial and error, but you’ll have a lot of

fun experimenting. Here’s how it’s done…

14

Set up the projectPlace an incense stick on a table in front of a piece of black card so that any smoke will be easily visible (with a bit of distance in between). Set up in front of a bright window so the light hits the smoke from behind.

Choose your settingsThe ideal settings are a low ISO, a fast shutter speed such as 1/250sec, and a high f-number, but you may have to experiment. Turn off your flash and use Burst mode for the best chance of a great shot.

Get startedIt is important to keep your camera steady on a tripod or hard surface such as another table. Manually focus on the end of the incense, light it, turn off the lights and start shooting! Use your hands to fan the smoke.

Edit the shotsOpen your best shot in editing software and crop out the incense stick or clone it out. Open the Levels tool and move the sliders in towards the edge of the graph. Play around with the Hue slider to change the colour.


A simple setup in your home can produce some striking

images that look great as a canvas


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Photo presents are a great way of sharing your favourite

moments with people you know and love. What’s more,

since it’s a calendar we’re making, your homemade gift

is both useful and beautiful. Bonus!

Before we begin, you’ll need a selection of

photographs to work with. Print them out using your

home printer, or order a batch from a professional

printing service. The size of the photos will ultimately

depend on how big you’d like the fi nished piece to be.

We wanted an A5 calendar, so we opted for mini prints

to ensure we had a nice selection of shots on offer.

Make unique gifts for your friends and family to enjoy

Customcalendar

15

Decide on a layoutGather your photos and craft supplies. We chose a thicker backing card then applied decorative, patterned paper on top.

Add embellishmentsNow it’s time to decorate! Personalise your calendar with borders, buttons and picture corners, then add in the months and days.

Stitchin’ timeSew the date pages to the card and then pierce holes in the calendar pages and thread yarn or twine through to tie them together.

Craft your calendar Simple steps to a unique photo gift



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Unique Christmasgifts for lovers ofBritish landscapesCapture your favouriteview with a personalisedmap. Simply choose anarea, add your own coverphoto and choose a title.

For more information on how to buy your Custom Made map, visit: www.oscustommade.co.uk

www.oscustommade.co.uk

Peak District © Paul Shaw


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SHOOTINGStory behind the shot


Story

What settings did you use and how did you frame the panda?I was using my Canon EOS Rebel T3i (600D)

and 70-300mm lens at full zoom. I shot in

Manual with an aperture of f5.6 and a

shutter speed of 1/80sec. I always try to find

natural frames like trees and branches, and

the red panda enclosure has plenty of

natural framing material at just the right

height. A lot of the time, it is down to luck, as

not all shots turn out how I’d planned them.

Where and why did you take this lovely photograph?This was taken at my local zoo in Calgary,

Alberta, Canada. I was taking part in an

event for photographers of all levels and so I

got access to the zoo two hours prior to the

paying public. The red pandas are one of my

favourite animals to shoot at the zoo. They

are usually quite an active bunch and love to

climb the trees around them, making for

some very natural looking photographs.

What preparations did you make to capture this shot?On this occasion I did not have my tripod

with me, so I positioned myself along one of

the side walls, which is just the right height

to steady the camera on and get good shots

of the pandas’ treehouse. The other thing I

always try to do, although more difficult, is

to wait for the majority of people to move

on, so I can move around a little without

having to try and shoot past people.

behindtheshotPhotography For Beginners reader Simone Torkington tells us how she took this fantastic wildlife shot


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1/80sec f5.6

SHOOTINGStory behind the shot


Did you face any problems when capturing this shot? As with all wildlife photography, animals

don’t usually stand still to pose for the

camera, so trying to capture that perfect

picture is always a challenge. In this

instance, the panda kept his head quite low

for most of the time I was waiting. I had

almost given up on this shot until he finally

moved his head ever so slightly above the

branch, creating a perfect composition.

What do you like most about this wildlife photograph?I love the rich green and brown colours of

the enclosure, both in the foreground and

the background of this image. They serve as

a really great contrast to the intense colours

of the red panda and set off the photograph

really well. I also like the way that the panda

looks as if he is just about to move off over

the branch, which in actual fact, he did end

up doing.

Do you have any tips to help others get a photo like this?Patience, patience and more patience, plus

knowledge of the animal’s habits all help in

getting great wildlife shots. If you have been

to your local zoo before and know the layout,

try and plan your shot ahead of time. Think

about where the light is coming from and

what would be the best time of day to take

the shot. Remember that most animals are

active early in the morning or later in the day.

Photography for Beginners 47Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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SHOOTING


Swivel your camera for dynamic motion blur

Master panning for creative action shots

SHOOTINGPanning


WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Camera

Monopod

WE USED… Nikon D3200

YOU COULD USE…Any camera

Tripod

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to track your

subject to create

motion blur

five minute project


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SHOOTINGPanning

Photography for Beginners 49Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com

Set your speed

01 Switch your camera to Shutter Priority

mode and choose your shutter speed.

It will need to be fast enough to freeze your

subject in the frame, but not so fast that you

won’t have time to pan. 1/60sec works well.

Select Continuous shooting

02 Use a Continuous shooting mode to

take a series of snaps while you hold

down the shutter. Even if you press the

shutter early, your camera will keep shooting

as you pan so you won’t miss the shot.

Steady your camera

03 Swivelling your camera in a steady,

fl uid motion can be tricky if shooting

handheld. Using a monopod or tripod will help

you to get a smooth shot as you track your

subject, and will also prevent camera shake.

Pre-focus

04 If you know the direction your subject

is travelling in, you can pre-focus on a

spot they will move into. Use manual focus or

half-press the shutter to lock the autofocus

point, then fully press it when they are in view.

Panning is one of those photography

techniques that looks complicated, but is in

fact very quick and easy to achieve. It is a

great way of showing a sense of the speed and

direction of travel of your subject, rather than

creating a static shot that freezes everything in

the frame. Of course, action shots taken with a

fast shutter speed do look impressive too, but

panning can sometimes help you to convey

movement in your still images a little better.

The trick with panning is to create directional

blur in the background, while at the same time

keeping your main subject sharp. Otherwise,

you are just left with a completely blurry and

unusable photo. Getting this right is all down to

how you focus your shot. Once you have

perfected this technique, then all you really

need to do is swivel your camera. It’s as easy

as that.

You don’t even need an advanced camera to

try out this technique, either, as you can use

more basic controls to get the look you want. If

you’re using a compact without manual

controls, try switching to a low light or fi reworks

scene mode, as this will set a slow shutter

speed for you.

Once you have mastered your panning skills,

start thinking about the composition of your

shots. Experiment with panning from different

angles and leave some active space in front of

your subject to show the direction in which

they are travelling.

To get you on your way to producing fantastic

panning shots, this tutorial explains the fi ve

basic steps you need to know. Plus, we’ve also

suggested some fantastic panning photo

subjects to inspire you to go out and practise

your technique.

Perfect panning Create directional background blur

Start panning

05 When your subject is in position, fi re

the shutter and swivel your camera

along with them. It will take some time to get

your shutter speed and panning technique

perfect, so just keep practising.

3 OF THE BEST…Panning photo subjects

Cyclists Whether on the road or at the park, cyclists travel at varying speeds, so you can achieve different panning effects. Try focusing on the cyclist’s face in order to capture their emotions.

Vehicles Motorised vehicles such as cars and motorbikes have a fl uid and steady motion, which makes tracking them with your camera easy. Just make sure you maintain a safe distance.

RunnersThe relatively slow pace of joggers makes it a little easier to pan with them, so they are great subjects for practising your technique on. Think about the backdrop and perspective of your shot.


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SHOOTING


Double the impact of a scene

01 Find the right locationAny body of water can work well, including

lakes or large ponds. Look for bold shapes

on the shoreline that will make interesting

reflections, like trees or buildings. It helps

if it’s sheltered from the wind.

Reflections in landscapes

SHOOTINGReflections

Long shutter speeds will smooth the water, but use a neutral density filter to manage the light levels

02 Choose good conditionsFor good reflections, the water needs to be

very still, so plan your shoot for a calm day.

Dawn is often the stillest time of day, and the

low sun means that there will be less glare

and stronger reflections.

APERTURE: F16 ISO: 100 SHUTTER SPEED: 1SECOUR SETTINGS:

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Still body of water

Camera (preferably with

manual controls)

Tripod

WE USED… Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Neutral density filter

YOU COULD USE…Any DSLR, CSC or

compact camera with

manual settings

Any smooth reflective

surface

Polarising filter

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to make the most

of reflections in the

landscape


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SHOOTING


SHOOTINGRefl ections

05 Use a polariserPolarising filters are normally used to boost

colour saturation in photos, but they also help

to remove glare from surfaces, therefore

enhancing reflections. Rotate the filter until

you see the effect you like best.

04 Use a tripodIf you’re shooting at dawn, light levels will be

low and exposure times long, so put your

camera on a tripod. This will also slow you

down, so you can check the details in the

frame and make changes to the composition.

03 Compose your shotShooting reflections is one time when you can

ignore the rule of thirds, as symmetry often

looks best. Don’t be afraid to put your horizon

in the middle of the frame and leave an even

amount of space around your subject.

Experiment with different

camera heights – often a lower

viewpoint will make the most of the refl ection


06 Watch your exposureBright reflections and glare can fool your

camera’s meter into underexposure. Check

the shot and histogram on the review screen,

and if it’s too dark, add between +1 and +2

stops of exposure compensation and re-shoot.


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EDITING

We take you through the key additions and improvements in the latest version of Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom


Advanced HealingThis tool lets you paint over a blemish or unwanted object in an image and accurately heal or clone it out

Smart PreviewWork on images even when you’re away from your main computer and have no access to the original fi le

Radial FilterThe Radial Filter tool enables you to add focus and impact to your images with customisable vignettes

Lens CorrectionThis new Lens Correction tool helps you to make wonky images straight with just a single click

Master Lightroom 5 with our easy steps

WHAT YOU’LL NEED… Photoshop Lightroom 5

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… Advanced Healing tips

How to add a radial

gradient

Perspective correction

The advantage of Smart

Previews

Hidden productivity

features

Share optionsCreate fun video slideshows and customise photobooks easily through this range of modules

EDITING


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EDITINGLightroom 5

Photography for Beginners 55Share your shots at... photoforbeginners.com

Clone out objects

04 If you want to completely remove

objects from an image, then you may

need to use the Clone option instead. Paint

over a small part of the area you want to be

cloned out, then let go of the mouse.

Lightroom will look for an area to clone from.

Adjust the sample area

05 Again, you can drag the clone area to

somewhere better if you like, until the

result is how you want it. You will need to do

larger areas in lots of small sections to get a

realistic result, as there may be no one big

area to clone from that will cover it.

Switch between modes

06 You can change between Clone and

Heal modes by Ctrl/right-clicking in the

centre of the selection area. You can then see

which mode will give you the best results. Go

over your whole image, removing blemishes,

and hit Done when you’re fi nished.

Heal blemishes

02 The Heal option is good for small

blemishes, as it helps to maintain the

original texture, which is essential for working

on skin. Zoom in and adjust the brush size so

that it fi ts over the blemish perfectly. Click to

let Lightroom do its magic.

Locate the tool

01 Open your image in Lightroom and go

to the Develop module, then pick Spot

Removal. This is not a new tool in itself, but it

has been made a lot more powerful, and it

now offers a paint selection option rather

than a fi xed circle selection.

Apply auto healing

03 Lightroom will automatically choose an

area to sample from that it thinks

matches the one you are trying to heal.

Usually the results are pretty good, but you

can choose the source area manually if you

are not happy with the auto correction.

Advanced Healing Brush Remove blemishes or entire objects with ease


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EDITINGLightroom 5


Using the preview

03 Now, if you are on your laptop, for

example, and you don’t have the

original photo, you can edit it and the

edits will be applied to the original next

time you are back on your main computer.

Smart Previews explained

Select on import

01 Smart Previews are small versions

of your original image. You can use

these when accessing your Catalog away

from your main machine. Tick the Build

Smart Preview box to make one on import.

Lens Correction Straighten wonky images quickly

Make a simple correction

02 The simplest way to apply the

correction is to hit the Auto button,

which will analyse your image, straighten and

crop it. This will often be all that you need to

do, but sometimes other options work best.

Select Lens Correction

01 If you have a wonky image that you’d

like to straighten, open it in the

Develop module. On the right-hand side, open

the Lens Correction menu and you’ll see that

Upright is under the Basic tab.

Other options

04 You can choose to Enable Profi le

Corrections, Remove Chromatic

Aberration and Constrain Crop by ticking the

relevant boxes. Use Reanalyze to see what

effect your changes have on your image.

Choose the right option

03 The Level option deals with tilted

horizons, Vertical is for slanted vertical

objects (such as buildings), and Full corrects

three-dimensional geometric distortion. Pick

the right one for the best results.

Add after import

02 If you already have images in your

Lightroom Library, you can add a

Smart Preview to them too. In the Develop

module, you will see the option ‘Original

Photo’. Click this to add a Smart Preview.


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EDITINGLightroom 5

Photography for Beginners 57Share your shots at... photoforbeginners.com

Radial Filter Add impact with a dramatic vignette

Add the radius

02 To start off, draw a circle where you

want the radial gradient to appear. You

can adjust the size of this when it’s drawn.

You can also alter its angle and centre point,

as well as inverse the mask for creative effect.

Find the tool

01 You can add a radial gradient to your

images using the Radial Filter tool on

the right-hand side of the Develop module.

Clicking the icon brings up a long list of

adjustment options that you can apply.

Other adjustments

04 You may see that some purple fringing

has appeared. You can get rid of this

by using the Tint slider, pulling it towards the

green, and also by altering the Defringe slider.

Experimenting is key.

Change the exposure

03 By dragging the Exposure control to

the left, you can darken the edges of

your image to give a vignette effect. You don’t

want to go too extreme or the image will lose

realism and artefacts will start to creep in.

Helpful hidden features

Smart Collections

03 Use Smart Collections to sort your

photos based on a set of criteria.

These include size, colour profi le, if they

have a Smart Preview and PNG images

(which are now supported in Lightroom).

Quick Full Screen

01There is now a new shortcut for

viewing images in full screen,

which is simply ‘F’. Hit the ‘F’ key once to

enter Full Screen mode to help you make

precise edits, and hit it again to go back.

Grids and Guides

02 Go to View>Loupe Overlay to add

grids and guides over your image.

This comes in useful for cropping and

perspective correction. Hold Cmd/Ctrl to

alter their placement, size and opacity.


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EDITING

58 Photography for Beginners Share your shots at:photoforbeginners.com

Use the Unsharp Mask

01 To sharpen up your entire shot, go to

Enhance>Unsharp Mask. Tick the

Preview box and fi nd an area of your shot with

a bit of detail, then increase the Amount slider

until you are happy with the level of sharpness.

Adjust the sliders

02 Adjusting the Radius slider determines

the size of the area that is sharpened,

and the Threshold slider adjusts how much

sharpness is applied to high-contrast areas.

Experiment until you are satisfi ed.

Use the Sharpen tool

03 If you want to sharpen a specifi c area

of your shot, select the Sharpen tool

and adjust the Strength and Size sliders as

you see fi t. Now brush over the area you want

to sharpen and watch as the details appear.

Fix blurry pictures to get them looking crisp and detailed

Sharpen soft images

Sharpen up Correct problem shots in Photoshop Elements

Even if you’ve got your focusing

technique spot on, your images

can quite often look a little soft

straight out of the camera. It’s

good practice to sharpen them up

in editing software before you

print or share them online, so that

you can really bring out the detail.

However, it’s important to

remember that sharpening will not

allow you to rescue an out-of-focus

shot. It may sometimes seem that

editing programs can work

miracles, but unfortunately there

is no way to bring something back

into focus.

Follow our simple tutorial below

to learn how to sharpen up images

in Photoshop Elements 11, for

pin-sharp shots every time.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Editing software

WE USED…Photoshop Elements 11

YOU COULD USE… Photoshop CS

GIMP

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to sharpen your

blurry shots

EDITINGSharpen


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Striking imagery Step-by-step guides Essential tutorialsON SALE NOW



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EDITINGFake a wide aperture


Blur Shine Free (iOS)An easy-to-use app that enables you to mask out areas of your shot that you want to keep in focus and apply a blurred bokeh-style effect to the rest.

Art Blur Effect HD £1.99/$2.99 (iOS)Simply pick an area of your photo to stay focused and watch as the rest of it dissolves to blur. Can be used in-camera or on an existing image.

Amazing Blur Effect HD £0.69/$0.99 (iOS)This app works on existing images or in-camera shots, and is a simple case of using your fi nger to wipe over the screen and control what areas are blurred.

Wide aperture photography is a

beautiful technique, typifi ed by

soft backgrounds and areas of

focus on the main subject. It can

be used for all genres of

photography, but is perhaps most

successful on portraits.

Although most photographers

give blur the cold shoulder, when

used well it can be a powerful

friend. The eye will skim over

blurred areas and hone straight in

on anything sharp and in focus. By controlling what

areas of your image are blurred, you can affect where

your viewer will look fi rst. In portraits, the face and eyes

are always a good bet, but you can use the technique in

landscapes to make some areas jump out from the rest.

If you miss the chance to use a wide aperture when

taking the shot, it is blessedly simple to emulate in

photo-editing software. Follow our steps to fi nd out how.

01 Open your image up in GIMP

and go to Layer>Duplicate

Layer to protect the original. The

plan is to select the main subject and then

blur all around her. The weapon of choice is

going to be the Free Select tool.

Fake a wide apertureUse a variety of photo-editing software to control focus in portraits 01 Here we’re going to make use

of Elements’ Guided interface.

Open the start image in the software

and then click the Guided tab at the top. Click

on the down arrow next to Photo Effects in the

right-hand panel and then click Depth of Field.

01 Download the Unfocused app

from the App Store and open

it up. You can use the app as you

take the shot, or as in our case, on an existing

photo. Simply tap to select that option and

navigate to where your image is.

Photoshop Elements 12Available on: Mac/PC Price: From £63/$80

Unfocused FreeAvailable on: iOS Price: Free

GIMPAvailable on: Mac/PC Price: Free

Apps for blurring your backgrounds

3 OF THE BEST…

Soft backdropsUse a wide aperture effect

to make professional-looking portraits

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Editing software

WE USED…Photoshop Elements 12

GIMP

Unfocused Free app

YOU COULD USE…Other photo-editing

software and

blur-effect apps

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to select objects

and blur backgrounds


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EDITINGFake a wide aperture


02 Once selected, a palette will appear

with a set of options for using the Free

Select tool. The most important step is to set

a nice big Feather for a smooth transition

between blur and focus. Click and draw

around the subject.

03 Once the selection is complete, go to

Select>Invert. Everything bar the

subject is now selected. Next stop is

Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. This will blur the

background. Don’t go too mad here; a setting

of around 25% will suffi ce.

04 You can increase the amount of

surrounding blur using the Blur slider.

Simply click and drag to the right to bump up

the effect. We increased it slightly in our

example and then hit the Done button to

fi nish things up.

02 After some navigation instructions,

the image will open up in the interface.

Click the side arrow at the bottom to set

feather and brush size. A medium brush and a

big feather works well for a portrait like this.

Click the arrow again to hide the options.

03 Using your fi nger, wiggle over the

background area to make it blurred.

Even though you are using your fi nger, you get

good control and the blur updates instantly,

so you can see exactly how the effect will look

when it is fi nished.

04 To ensure you have picked up

everything, tap the cross and

magnifying glass icons to make them yellow.

Pinch out to zoom into the image and then

use your fi nger to drag around and check all is

good. When happy, tap the tick icon and save.

02 You now have two methods to choose

from to blur your background: Simple

and Custom. The Simple option actually gives

better results, so click on it to select it. Then

click on the Add Blur button for a default blur

to be added over the entire image.

03 The next task is to eliminate the blur

over the important areas – in this case

the subject’s face. Click the Add Focus Area

button, click on the face and then drag out to

set the focused area. If it goes wrong, press

Cmd/Ctrl+Z to undo your actions.

04 Click OK to apply the blur and then go

to Select>None to deselect. If GIMP is

your main editing software, save the image as

normal. However, if you want to use a different

program, go to File>Export, click the arrow to

see all fi le types and pick the one you want.


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EDITINGSolarisation


Achieve a beautiful solarisation effect five

minute project

Emulate the glowing drama of a solarised shotWHAT YOU’LL NEED… Photo-editing

software

Suitable images

WE USED…Photoshop CS5

YOU COULD USE…Earlier and later

versions of CS

Corel PaintShop Pro

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… Use the Curves

command

Create a manual curve

EDITINGSolarisation


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EDITINGSolarisation


Remove the colour

01 Open your image and make a duplicate

to work on. Now relieve it of its colour

using the Black & White adjustment set to

Default. Your image may look fl at, but the real

magic takes place with the Curves command.

Apply a Curves adjustment

02 The Curves command lets you edit an

image’s tone. Click New Adjustment

Layer in the Layers panel and then pick Curves.

If you haven’t got a Curves adjustment layer,

just select the Curves command.

Draw your own curve

03 For this effect, click the Pencil icon.

This lets you draw your own curve.

Click in the lower-left corner, hold Shift, click in

the top-middle, and still holding Shift, click in

the lower-right. You want an inverted V shape.

More Curves

04If you would like to emphasise areas,

create another Curves adjustment

layer. This time you need the usual curve

function (it looks like a line graph), so if it isn’t

selected, do so. Then drag the curve to tweak.

The solarisation technique has been used by

photographers for years. It refers to an image

that has had its tonal values reversed, so light

is dark and dark is light, with the light areas

having an almost ethereal glow. Despite being

the product of accidental exposure to light,

solarisation has become an artistic technique

that photographers actively seek out, the most

famous example being Man Ray.

As with many other traditional photographic

effects, the style can be emulated using

photo-editing software such as Photoshop,

which we use here. It calls upon the Curves

command – found in most editing software – to

pinpoint and invert the highlights and shadows.

The effect is typically used on black and white

images, but can also be very effective when

applied to colour shots. We cover both

methods in this tutorial.

Before you begin making an edit on your

images, spend a few moments looking at

examples of solarisation. This will give you an

idea of the subjects and scenes that benefi t

from the treatment, as well as which ones to

avoid. As a general rule, plump for an image

with defi ned detail. If you use something that is

very busy, the objects might end up being

unrecognisable. Another reason for doing a bit

of research is to get a feel for how intense the

effect should be. Push it too far and you risk

what should be a beautiful silver glow looking

like the aftermath of a nuclear explosion!

With the research out of the way, applying

the actual effect to an image is incredibly quick

and easy. Just follow along with our simple

tutorials to learn how to add it to your own

shots. Before long, you will have created

images that Man Ray would be proud of!

Solarise shots Get dramatic monochromes fast

Enhance the glow

05 Finally, duplicate the original image and

drag it to the top of the Layers panel.

Convert it to black and white and go to Filter>

Stylize>Glowing Edges. Adjust the settings to

get a glow around the edges and click OK.

Transform your colour photographs

One more curveChances are the effect won’t work straight away, so add another Curves adjustment layer to control the tone, or use the Opacity slider in the Layers panel to subdue the result.

Color blendingThe aim is to use blending modes to merge the coloured photo with the existing solarisation effect. Click the blend mode menu in the Layers panel and select Color.

Layer shimmyThe start point for this effect is the fi nal result of the main solarisation tutorial. Open up the layered fi le, click on the duplicated photo layer and then drag it to the top of the layer stack.


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EDITINGBoost saturation


Boost the colour saturation quickly

Bring out bold hues and protect the details with DxO Optics Pro software

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Colourful start image

DxO Optics Pro software

Computer

WE USED… DxO Optics Pro 8

Mac computer

YOU COULD USE…PC

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to increase colour

vibrancy and protect

details in your images

SAVE £80!WITH OFFER CODE PHOTOGRAPHY FB2013



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Select your start image

01 Install DxO Optics Pro, open it and

select the image you want to improve

via the Folders panel on the left. The image

should now load within the software. To begin

editing, select the Customize tab.

Select Advanced User

02 To take more control, work within the

DxO Advanced User workspace, which

can be selected via the Workspace tab. The

Protect Saturated Colors process is applied

automatically, but you can tweak the result.

Increase saturation

03 Now select the Color Accentuation tab

and begin enhancing the colour

Vibrancy and Saturation sliders. You can

preview the results as you make changes by

selecting the Dual Image tab.

Protect the details

04 To ensure that details are still present

in highly saturated areas, select the

Color Rendering option from the Light and

Color – Advanced panel. Scroll down to Protect

Saturated Colors and increase the Intensity.

Vibrant subjects are bold and eye-catching in

any image, but it’s not uncommon to fi nd that

the colour saturation needs a bit of a boost

when you’re editing your shots. Some textured

and colourful subjects, however, struggle to

retain details in the midtone and shadow areas

when saturation has been increased. This can

make your images appear fl at and at worse,

posterised. To overcome this, you can use

specialist colour tools that are available in DxO

Optics Pro software, which we’re offering to all

our readers this month with up to £80 off!

Join us in this easy-to-follow tutorial as we

introduce you to the software and take you

step-by-step through the colour enhancement

techniques and tools within the program. You’ll

not only learn how to enhance colour vibrancy

and saturation, but you’ll also get to grips with

the Protect Saturated Colors tool that ensures

you retain all of the details. In no time at all,

you’ll discover just how easy it is to enhance

the hues in your shots, even when working in

the Advanced User interface like we are. We’ll

also take you through the beginner levels and

show you how to remove unwanted colour

casts and correct white balance in your

captures with a quick three-step mini tutorial.

We used DxO Optics Pro 8 for this tutorial,

but you can download a copy of the latest DxO

Optics Pro 9 Elite software with new and

improved features at a discounted price. Just

enter the offer code PHOTOGRAPHY FB2013

when you visit www.dxo.com. This special offer

is available to all our readers until 31 January

2014 and you can get £40 off DxO Optics Pro 9

Standard Edition, making it £79 instead of

£119, or £80 off DxO Optics Pro 9 Elite Edition,

making it just £159 instead of £239.

Enhance the hues Get bright shots in Optics Pro

Enhance the tones

05 Before you save your shot, you can

make fi nal tweaks to the highlights,

midtones, shadows and black areas. Choose

the Selective Tone option from the Light and

Color – Advanced panel and adjust the sliders.

Learn how to correct the white balance

White balanceSelect the White Balance tool from the Light and Color panel and click on the Pick Color tab. Keep the Radius slider low (around 5px) and select a grey or white area in the left image.

Select your shotOpen your image in the software and select the DxO First Steps Workspace. Now select the Dual Image tab along the top of the screen to preview the adjustments.

Tweak resultsThe white balance should now automatically remove casts. However, you can tweak results by selecting + and adjusting the temperature between cooler and warmer.


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EDITINGApp of the month

Whether you’ve been setting up your

perfect shot for a good few minutes or

you’ve captured something in the

moment, there’s always a chance that

your camera will have picked up

something or someone that could ruin that amazing

image. A stray shadow in a perfectly lit landscape,

wandering tourists outside a famous landmark or even

just a lens-infringing fi ngertip in that spontaneous

self-portrait can all mar an otherwise perfect shot.

What’s more, on your camera’s small display, you might

not notice any of these issues until you load your photos

onto your computer.

If you’re not feeling confi dent enough to use some of

the more advanced applications such as Adobe

Photoshop or Apple’s Aperture to fi x your photos, there’s

TouchRetouch. This inexpensive Mac app has all the

tools you need and an interface that’s as easy to use as

iPhoto. The app itself focuses on a couple of key tools

– the Retouch brush and the Clone stamp. Between

these two, you should fi nd yourself with everything you

need to erase parts of a photograph that are

unnecessary or unexpected.

Beyond that there’s basic image levels adjustment

tools, a cropping feature if you feel the need to reframe

your shot and even a horizon straightening option for

those times when you didn’t quite set up that tripod

right. Using all of these tools in combination will ensure

that photos you might have otherwise written off can

now take pride of place in your next album or collection.

Remove troublesome parts of your image using the easy but powerful Mac app TouchRetouch

Zoom and retouch

01 Open up the image you want to fi x and zoom in on the problem

area to see it in detail using the slider at the bottom. In our shot,

we want to clone out the people in the scene to make for a stronger

landscape shot. Once you’re there, hit the Retouch button at the top to

bring up the tools.

Fix image imperfections Remove artefacts in minutes

WHAT YOU’LL NEED… A Mac running OS X 10.7

or later

TouchRetouch app

WE USED…TouchRetouch for Mac

YOU COULD USE…Adobe Photoshop

Apple Aperture

TouchRetouch on iOS

or Android

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to remove pesky

artefacts from photos

APP OF THE MONTH

Clone out unwanted areas of your shot

Available on: Mac Price: £6.99/$9.99

Paint it red

02 Use the slider on the right-hand side to set a brush size that’s

smaller than the size of the area to be removed, then carefully

paint over it by clicking and dragging with your mouse or trackpad. Try to

stay accurate with this as the software will do a better job if just the

area to clone out is selected.


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EDITINGApp of the month


Vital statisticsTowards the bottom-left of the app, important details about your image’s size and dimensions are shown for your reference

Let it go

03 Once you’re happy with the area you’ve painted over to be

removed, simply let go of your mouse or trackpad and

TouchRetouch will get to work removing it. It’s an automatic process, so

the software does the hard work for you. This could take a minute or

two to work though, so be patient!

See the context

04 Once TouchRetouch has fi nished working on your image, zoom

out using the slider at the bottom again to see the result in the

context of the rest of the image. If anything looks odd, try going over it

once more, or click Undo at the top to start again. You can also use the

Lasso to capture larger areas quickly.

APPS FOR MOBILE

TouchRetouch foriOS and Android£0.69/$0.99 (iOS)£0.62/$0.99 (Android)

As well as being

available for Mac,

TouchRetouch is

also available for the iPhone

and Android smartphones,

meaning you can quickly fi x

a photo without having to

transfer it to a computer. It’s

a little fi ddlier to operate,

but the process is the same

and just as effective. Plus,

it’s an incredibly cheap

addition to your mobile

photography toolkit.

Simple slidersFor a more straightforward

approach to editing, TouchRetouch offers some basic sliders to adjust your

image with ease

Slide to zoomBe sure to make use of the

zoom slider as you go about editing your image, especially

when removing areas, for better accuracy

Creative croppingWhether you want to reframe your image or crop out a rather large problem area, this tool has you covered

Check progressClicking and holding the Original button will show you your photo prior to any edits, to check that you are happy with them

Levels adjustmentOnce you’ve fi xed your photo, you can use the histogram and levels controls to make some fi nal tweaks to it


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SHARING

Use the Shutterfl y Photo Story app to create fantastic digital photobooks on your tablet

Create and share a multimedia album

Photo albums are a great way to reminisce about times

gone by, and putting them together is also part of the

process. Apps like Shutterfl y Photo Story give you the

power to do this on your iPad, and as well as keeping it

digital, you can also order a physical version of the fi nished

product from within the app.

Shutterfl y gives you complete control, from choosing the

design and style of your book to the arrangement of any

photos and text you would like to include. You can also add

audio notes to pages, giving little extra details to each of

your photos to help tell their story. Before purchasing a

physical copy, there are options to share your book with

friends and loved ones – be it via email or to a wider

audience by posting it to your Facebook account.

As a creation process, things are pretty straightforward.

Shutterfl y is impressively attentive, fl agging up any images

it thinks might be too low a resolution to look good in your

photobook, as well as piecing together the pages and

layout for you. Of course, you can change this as you wish,

but if you’re looking for a quick fi x it’s an ideal function to

have to hand. This tutorial will explain how to choose,

create and share your photobook and the memories they

contain, as well as show you how to buy a physical version

for your collection.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED… iPad

An App Store account

WE USED… Shutterfl y Photo Story

YOU COULD USE… iPhoto

Photo Album

Photoful

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to create and share

a photobook

Available on: iOS (iPad only) Price: Free

SHARING


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SHARINGShutterfl y Photo Story


Create the photobook Make, share and order from your iPad

Add text and audio

04 In your album there will be a range of

text boxes. Tap one and you can insert

text to complement your images. You can also

record and drop in audio for others to listen to

by tapping the Microphone icon.

Apply effects

05 Photo editing has become a big part of

photography, and Shutterfl y embraces

this idea, providing a selection of fi lters that

you can apply to any image. Simply tap one

and a new window will appear.

Pick a style and size

01First, you need to settle on a style.

Shutterfl y has a range of designs, and

you can even preview different pages of each

design, as well as choose a fi nal size for the

physical version if you want to purchase one.

Choose your photos

02 The next step is to choose where you

would like to source your images from,

such as your photo library or Facebook. Once

you’ve chosen and selected your images, tap

the Done button to see your fi lled album.

Auto arrange

03 Shutterfl y will lay out your photos for

you. You can swipe through the pages

and amend the position of images by tapping

and dragging them. You can also add more

photos or pages at any time with the Plus icon.

Apps to prep your shotsInstagram Free (Android/iOS)

The perfect on-the-fl y editing application, Instagram is ideal for capturing those spontaneous moments and then making them

sparkle with fi lter effects.

7 OF THE BEST…

Share with friends

06Once you are happy with your book,

you can share it with others. Tap the

List icon at the top and then select the Share

Book option. You can then send your book out

via email or post it to your Facebook wall.

Order a copy

07 If you want a physical copy of your book,

tap the Order button and enter your

details. There’s also a Quantity option where

you can up the number you would like to order

should you want to send some as presents.

VSCO Cam Free (iOS)VSCO Cam offers users tools like Temperature, Contrast and Vignette to subtly tweak the look and feel of your photos from within its

simple-to-use interface.

Snapseed Free (Android/iOS)A much more grown-up photo editing suite that also offers users some clever effects, including tilt-shift focus and vintage. The Snapseed app is

driven by a cool gesture-based interface.

Pixlr Express Free (Android/iOS)A great app to work with, Pixlr has a sense of fun running through it yet has all the tools a serious image editor could ask for, with overlays as

well as sharpening tools.

GroupShot £0.69/$0.99 (iOS)Everyone has those group photos where one or two faces are holding it back, but GroupShot changes that, allowing users to fuse together the

best images of the same subjects.

Mextures £1.49/$1.99 (iOS)Giving you control over gradients and light, the Mextures application gives users scroll bars to fi ne-tune images as they wish, with some stunning

results in the right hands.

Analog Camera £1.49/$1.99 (iOS)A wonderfully simple editing tool, Analog Camera places all the edits you can make on a single screen, making it effortless to enhance and

share your photos with friends or the world.


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SHARINGPictastik

Show the world what’s happening where you are with the Pictastik app

Tag, share & browse photos by location

WHAT YOU’LL NEED…Pictastik app

iPhone running iOS 5.0

or later

WE USED… iPhone 5S

YOU COULD USE…Previous iPhones

iPad

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to share photos

with anyone

Available on: iOS Price: Free

SHARINGPictastik


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SHARINGPictastik

Capture the scene

01 This app lets you search

for photos by location,

letting you discover all the

things you can do and see in

that place. It only lets you post

photos you’ve taken from the

app to keep it in real-time; just

tap the red capture button.

Share with Pictastik Edit and tag your photos

Location sharing apps

3 OF THE BEST…

iExplorer Free (iOS)iExplorer lets you share photos with full location information intact. They can be shown to other users on an interactive map.

Mapic share where Free (iOS)Share any photo instantly on Twitter and Facebook and include a location map link – a very quick way to share photo locations.

Camera MX Free (Android/iOS)You can share your photos and display them on a map using GPS data with Camera MX. It’s sociable and location-aware.

Add personality

02 You can make changes

to shots using the strip

of icons at the bottom of the

screen. Simply tap each one to

see which options are available

to you. Click on Enhance to

make one-click changes that

can improve the shot.

Apply an effect

03 As well as making

enhancements using

these thumbnails, the Effects

option lets you add a variety of

fi lters to your shots. Slide your

fi nger across the thumbnails to

view more, then simply select

one and tap Apply.

Choose a location

04 The app knows where

you are, but it will still

give you a list of locations to

choose from after you fi nish

editing a photo. This means

that you can be exact in your

current location and also add

weight to your description.

Add a description

05 Take some time to add

a description to each

photo so that your followers

know where it was taken and

why it is a place worth visiting.

A picture may be worth a

thousand words, but at times

they will still need describing.

Build a presence

06 As you share more

shots, people will start

to follow you, and each city you

have posted photos from will

be listed on your profi le page.

You will be able to follow others

and see their images to learn

about other locations.

Share shots by location on Android

Upload a shotAdd your own shots by pressing the camera icon at the bottom. You can upload from your gallery or take a fresh shot. There are some great fi lters you can add, and you can also crop and add frames.

Download the appPictastik is iOS-only, but there are similar apps on Android. For instance, download EyeEm for free and sign up to be able to share shots by location and browse pics by people in your area.

Tag the locationThe app automatically fi nds your location, but you can search for specifi c places or choose from nearby spots it has listed. Other people can then view your images and know where you took them.


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Upload multiple shots to online storage service SkyDriveand share them with friends Available on: Windows, Mac, Android and iOS Price: Free

Back up and share a whole photo album

When you’re fi rst starting out in photography, you will no

doubt be taking lots of photos. Many of us store these on

our computers, but what if your computer was stolen or if

its hard drive developed a fault? There’s a chance that you

could lose them all.

Backing up to an external hard drive or emailing photos

to yourself are two possible solutions, but a better one is

to use a cloud storage service. Cloud storage effectively

means saving your photos and other fi les to storage that is

held somewhere else and is accessed via the internet. By

keeping copies of your images on a remote hard drive, you

can not only safeguard your photographs but also access

them on many different devices. That is because cloud

storage services can be used wherever there is internet.

With Microsoft SkyDrive, you can grab an app for

Windows, Apple and Android phones and tablets while also

accessing it via any browser at skydrive.live.com. By doing

this, you can back up and ensure you have access to your

fi les wherever in the world you may be. Cloud storage like

SkyDrive also allows you to share multiple shots with other

people quickly, so no more emailing one photo at a time!

Read on to fi nd out how.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED… A computer or iOS/

Android device

WE USED… Microsoft SkyDrive

YOU COULD USE…Dropbox

Google Drive

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN… How to store and

retrieve fi les online


SHARINGSkyDrive


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SHARINGSkyDrive


Using Microsoft SkyDrive Download and use Microsoft’s cloud service

Create a new folder

04 Ctrl/right-click on the SkyDrive icon in

the toolbar of your PC or Mac. Open

your SkyDrive folder and Ctrl/right-click to

create a New Folder. Double-click it and the

window will work like any other.

Copy fi les across

05 With the window open, fi nd the images

that you wish to upload to SkyDrive

and copy them across. By looking at the

SkyDrive icon, you will be able to see the

copying process in progress.

Download SkyDrive

01 Go to windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/

skydrive/download and download the

SkyDrive app for your PC or Mac. Open it and

an icon will appear in your toolbar. Click it to

begin setup and then click Get Started.

Choose folder location

02 Input your Hotmail or Outlook name

and password (or set up an account),

then choose where you want your SkyDrive

folder to be located on your computer, to sync

any fi les that you upload with your PC or Mac.

Select syncing options

03 Decide if you want every fi le stored in

SkyDrive to be synced with your

computer or just certain fi les. If you choose all

of them, then copies will be made in the

location you chose in the previous step.

Photography sharing appsDropbox Free (Android & iOS)

Dropbox has just 2GB of free storage, but you can increase your limit by completing set tasks, including introducing friends. It is a robust

service and one of the most well-known.

7 OF THE BEST…

Share your photos

06Go to skydrive.live.com and all of the

photos you have uploaded will appear.

By Ctrl/right-clicking on the folder, you can

select Sharing. The folder or individual photos

can be shared via email or social networks.

Preferences and options

07 You can retrieve photos by Ctrl/

right-clicking the icon and selecting to

open the folder, then copy images out of the

folder or open them. Selecting Preferences

will allow you to hide the Dock icon if you wish.

Copy Free (Android & iOS)

This cloud service is the new kid on the block, and gives users 15GB of free storage. It is stable and easy to use, but you may prefer to try more

established services until it has proven itself.

Google Drive Free (Android & iOS)

Anyone with a Google account already has this storage service available to them. Go to https://drive.google.com, then upload and access even the

largest of photo fi les with ease.

SugarSync Free (Android & iOS)

As with other apps here, photos can be shared with others either publicly or privately, and you can control the number of users. You can save photos

from other apps to SugarSync too.

Microsoft SkyDrive Free (Android & iOS)

Take lots of photos on your phone or tablet? Quickly choose to upload them to SkyDrive as well as move,

delete or rename fi les.

Box Free (Android & iOS)

With a whopping 10GB of free storage, you will have plenty of space to play with. Content can be fi le-encrypted for privacy or shared easily by

emailing a link in just a few clicks.

MEGA Free (Android)Back up your photos and other fi les to MEGA, which comes with 50GB of storage for free. You can share your folders with contacts and see their

updates too in real time.


WorldMags.net



Questions & answers, tips & photo-fi xes

Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.comPost questions to the PFBMag group at www.facebook.com

Tweet any quick questions or tips you may have to @PFBMag

Upload your problem pics to our Flickr pool at www.fl ickr.com/pfbmag

04 Remove imperfectionsHold the Opt/Alt key and click

on an area next to the imperfection. Now click on the imperfection to paste your original selection over it. Repeat until it is completely gone.

[email protected]

Photo needs rescuing?Email it to our experts

Flowers are one of the most

popular photography subjects,

and it’s easy to see why. They

are naturally beautiful and

colourful and have lots of

interesting detail, but this shot

is a little underexposed and the

colours could do with a boost.

The imperfections on the fl ower

spoil an otherwise lovely photo.

It’s very quick and easy to

remove them with the help of

editing software, though.

I have been spending lots of time in my garden taking photos of the fl owers. I like this shot but the fl ower looks a lot duller than it did in real life. I’d also like to get rid of its ugly imperfections. Can you show me how? Angela Chalk, via Facebook

03 Use the Clone tool Select the Clone Stamp tool.

Set the Opacity slider to 100% and then choose a small brush size so that you can clone out any fi ddly imperfections effectively.

02 Rescue colours If the colours look washed

out, give them more impact by going to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Hue/Saturation. Boost the Saturation slider to enrich the colours.

01 Brighten it up Start off by correcting the

exposure. The quickest way to do this is to go to Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Brightness/Contrast and give the Brightness slider a boost.

Create fl awless shots Remove imperfections in Elements 11

How can I fix my flower photo?

Amy SquibbPFB’s editor Amy is here to help out with our readers’ shooting concerns

James SheppardPhotographer and Photoshop whizz James is on hand to solve any editing issues

Jo StassPFB’s staff writer Jo is at the ready to answer your camera tech questions


C

UnderexposedThe whole shot is quite dark, which is a common problem when photographing subjects in the shade

AFaded colour

The pink of the fl ower could do with having more punch, to make this photo really grab your attention

B Imperfections

The marks on the fl ower’s petals are a little distracting and spoil the natural beauty of the plant

C

A

B


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Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.com


Warming fi lters Warming fi lters have an orange tint that will warm up your photos. They are useful for shooting sunsets, and you can even get graduated versions to just warm the sky.

Tips for taking perfect fl ower photos

Go macro Flowers are great subjects for macro photography, as they often have lots of intricate details. Switch your camera to Macro mode or attach a macro lens to be able to focus up close.

Use Aperture Priority Macro mode will usually set a wide aperture for you, but when using a macro lens you will need to switch to Aperture Priority mode and select a small f-number to blur the background.

Use natural light Firing your fl ash will create harsh light that can blow out the detail of your fl ower. Try turning it off and use natural light, but shoot in the shade if bright light is causing harsh shadows.

Add water droplets A great way to add another texture and interesting element to your fl ower shots is to add your own water droplets. Spray the fl ower with water, or add glycerin to the water for more pronounced droplets.

I recently bought myself a red coloured fi lter for my DSLR camera as I thought that it would enhance the colour of the sky in my sunset shots. However, I have just read online that red fi lters are actually for black and white photography. Can you please advise me as to whether a red fi lter will do anything to enhance a sunset sky or if they’re best just left to producing monochrome captures?Andy Dodds, via Email

There are so many different types of lens fi lters

available on the market, so we know how

confusing it can be to choose the right one for

the job. A solid red coloured fi lter is indeed used

for black and white photography, as it increases

the contrast in the scene. If you use it for

photographing sunsets then it will turn the entire

scene red, which is not the desired effect. For

sunset shots, you really want to use a dedicated

sunset or warming fi lter that typically has an

orange tint to it.

Will a red fi lter improve sunset shots?

Different coloured fi lters are used

for different purposes and can

really help to improve your photos

Colour fi ltersFilters that are a solid block of strong colour are usually used for black and white photography. They increase contrast between colour tones to improve the conversion.

Creative fi lters When and why you need to use these special fi lters


Infrared fi lters These fi lters block out all visible light to only record invisible infrared light and completely change the colours in your shots, for striking and creative photographic results.

4 F HE B S


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http://photoforbeginners.com





I’ve been looking through some of my grandparents’ old photographs and I really love their old-fashioned, faded look. Is there any way I can recreate this style with my digital images? I have a few shots that I think will look great with this effect. Melissa George, via Facebook

Photography has come a long way since the days

of fi lm, but there is still something quite comforting

about the look of an old print. The vintage look has

become very appealing in recent years and

applying it to your photographs can help add

character to a timeless scene. Many digital

cameras now come with retro or sepia creative

fi lters that you can apply to your images, and of

course there are hundreds of editing apps that

come with this option too. Making your digital

snaps look like old-fashioned prints is easy, so let

us show you how.

How can I make my photo look aged?

LikeThis month we

Post your photo to

our Facebook page

and we’ll share it

with the world

Search for ‘PFBMag’

Age your shots Make digital images look like vintage prints in Photoshop Elements

01 Remove the colour Start off by converting your

photo to black and white. To do this, go to Enhance>Convert to Black and White and adjust the sliders until you are happy.

Stuart BrothertonRecreate this striking water shot with a clear tank of water and your camera on a tripod.

Shazz HooperThis lighthouse is a great night-time subject that really stands out against the dark sky.

Chris Vencenti.Chris’s shutter speed was the right speed to freeze the plane but also blur the propellers.

Angie MacLeodGetting your wildlife photography subjects to smile isn’t easy, but Angie has succeeded.

03 Add a vignette Add a Gradient adjustment

layer, set the Style to Radial and tick the Reverse box. Then double-click the Gradient box to adjust the colour and opacity.

02 Convert to sepia Go to Filter>Adjustments>

Photo Filter and select Sepia from the drop-down menu. Then you can adjust the density of the effect and click OK when it looks right.

Recapture the old days of

fi lm by applying a vintage

look to your digital photos


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Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com Photography for Beginners 79

LET US RECOMMEND

The best photos tweeted to us

@pfbmagMatt’s daughter was happy to pose

for this lovely photo @themattpye

The cloudy sky adds drama to this

stunning sunset @simonpm1972

Back up your photos with these compact storage devices Portable hard drives

I currently keep all my photos on my computer, but I’m worried about losing them if something goes wrong, particularly all the photos I have of my children growing up. I think it’s time to invest in some sort of back-up device, but I’d like one that I can carry around with me as I travel quite a lot and would like access to my shots wherever I go. Can you suggest some compact and reliable storage devices?Darren James, via Email

Keeping all of your precious photos in one place is never a good idea.

If you have all your photos on your computer’s hard drive and it

breaks or is stolen, then you could lose them forever, and those

once-in-a-lifetime moments can’t be recreated. External hard drives

are great for backing up your photos, as you can be safe in the

knowledge that you have an extra copy if the worst happens. These

days you can get very compact ones that are both rugged and easy

to carry around. Here are a few that we recommend…

The lamps beautifully illuminate this low-light street scene @laura0815

What’s good about it…

It has automatic back-up software that lets you schedule backups and save to Dropbox

WD Security allows you to set password protection and hardware encryption

What could be better…

Although it’s still incredibly compact, it is a little bigger than Toshiba’s hard drive

Even though it is built with durability and reliability in mind, it doesn’t feel very rugged

This ultra-compact external hard drive from

Western Digital is available in 500GB, 1TB

and 2TB versions, plus a choice of four

colours including black, silver, blue and red,

so you can mix and match as you please!

WD My Passport Ultra From £70/$80


This is the smallest and thinnest of the three hard drives, so is a great portable option

It comes with pre-loaded back-up software and password encryption for keeping your fi les safe


There is only a 500GB version, so you will need to look elsewhere if you want more space

It’s available in stylish black or silver, but there are no more colour options available

The super-slim hard drive from Toshiba is

speedy and the pre-loaded back-up

software provides for fi le, folder and

full-system backup and recovery. It’s also

the smallest hard drive on test here.

Toshiba STOR.E SLIM£50/approx $81


It is shock, rain and pressure resistant. It will even still work if you run over it with your car

It has auto back-up software and password protection, plus 10GB of free cloud storage


This is the largest of the three hard drives, but it will still fi t in your bag or back pocket

It doesn’t quite stretch to the 2TB capacity of the WD, but a 1TB version is available

This rugged hard drive from LaCie comes

with a rubber sleeve for added protection

against knocks and bumps, so you can carry

500GB or 1TB of fi les with you wherever you

go without fear of it getting damaged.

LaCie Rugged MiniFrom £75/$90

Capturing birds in profi le helps show their interesting beaks @CaroleHarry


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Get to know your camera in 5 minutes

If 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 operation such as deleting images are usually universal.

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 – a wider angle of view than normal, eg 28mmTelephoto – 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

MegapixelsNumber 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

CAMERA ICONS EXPLAINEDChoose the correct setting with this guide

S

P

A

AUTO

LandscapeBoosts the saturation in blues and greens for really vivid outdoor photographs

AutoIf all else fails, let your camera do the hard work for you by using automatic mode

SportsUses a fast shutter speed to capture movement without blur

PortraitFor super-fl attering shots of

your friends and familywith blurry backgrounds

Manual Take control in this mode

and pick your own shutter speed and aperture

ProgramEasily customise your most used settings in

Program mode

Shutter priority

Select the shutter speed and

the camera will change the aperture

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

Mode dialChange the settings on the camera using

the mode dial

HotshoeThe hotshoe allows you

to attach external accessories such as a more powerful fl ash to

the camera

FlashIf your camera has an on-board fl ash, press this button to use it

Lens releasePress this button to

remove the lens from your camera

+

Delete – found on all cameras

Playback – use to review photos

Flash – choose to switch on/off

Flash off – the fl ash won’t fi re

Zoom in on your photos

Zoom out of your photos

–

+ –

Drive modes including Burst

Metering modes

Zooms lens out for wide angles

Zooms lens infor close-ups

Exposure compensation

Video mode on stills cameras

Self-timer for self-portraits etc

Image stabilisation

Function button – for shortcuts

Diameter of lens – found on barrel

Macro or close-up modes

Night-time/low-light scenes

Fn


QUICK START GUIDEGet to know your camera

80 Photography for Beginners Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com

Shutter releaseThis button is used to take the picture. On most cameras, pressing it halfway in Auto will focus the image

Aperture priority

Select the aperture while the camera picks the shutter speed for you

Your quick start guide to help you master your kit now

WT Ø


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LANDSCAPE TIPS SHOOTING ADVICE CAMERA REVIEWSPORTRAIT GUIDES



WILDLIFE PHOTOS

Learn to inspirewww.dphotographer.com



facebook.com/DigitalPhotographerUK twitter.com/DPhotographer

ON SALE NOW> Master long exposure > Shoot outdoors > Creative portraiture



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Gear for close-ups The best kit options for flawless macro photographs

WHAT’S IN MY KIT BAG?

01 Extension tube

A cheaper alternative to macro lenses are extension tubes. Fit one between your camera’s body and lens to focus closer.

If you don’t have a camera with an interchangeable lens,

select Macro mode to help you get in closer

to your subject

Compact camera options

02 Tripod When focusing up

close, even the smallest of movements will cause unwanted blur, so use a tripod to reduce camera shake.

03Ring flashNormal flash is too

harsh for macro and can scare off living subjects, but a ring flash lets you create softer, more even light.

04 Macro lensA ‘true’ macro lens

will have a reproduction ratio of 1:1, so look for this in the product details when you are buying your lens.

KIT BAGMacro gear

02

01

03

04


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The Photographer’s Laboratory

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UPGRADE


Is this just another DSLR, or is it a must-have purchase?

IS IT GOOD FOR VIDEO?Videographers are well catered for with the 70D. The Dual Pixel AF speeds up focusing in Video mode and you can record 1080p full HD movies at 30fps. You have full manual control while recording and videos are saved as MOV fi les. There’s a built-in mic and a 3.5mm mic socket if you want to get really serious. There’s basic in-camera movie editing too, so you don’t have to buy separate software if you don’t want to.

BUYTHIS IF…

You’re looking for

a long-term,

high-qualityinvestment

Canon EOS 70D£1090/$1200 body only | Dual Pixel AF | 20.2MP sensor | Vari-angle touch screen


UPGRADE


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UPGRADECanon EOS 70D


The Canon EOS 70D is not a beginner camera for those

wanting to point and shoot; it’s an investment for

those wanting to take their photography to another

level with a tool that will help them get there. That’s

not to say that beginners will struggle to use it, though,

as its menu system is logical and the quick menu

allows you to access all of the most-often used

settings clearly and quickly.

It comes with a bright and clear three-inch vari-angle

touch screen, too, making setting your focus point,

accessing menus and more a breeze. The intelligent

optical viewfi nder is a joy to use, as you can overlay

gridlines, see the focus area illuminated and use an

electronic level to keep shots straight. There’s also a

button at the front that lets you toggle through the

focus settings and see them change in the viewfi nder,

so you won’t have to take your eye away.

This camera’s biggest plus point, however, has to be

its focusing system. Its 19-point cross-type AF system

is the same as its bigger brother the Canon EOS 7D,

and it’s quick to focus in varying light conditions. It also

switches to a brand-new Dual Pixel AF system that

speeds up focusing in live view and movie modes. It

This is a dependable, feature-packed camera that

could open up beginners to a whole new level of

control, with high image quality and fast responses.

VERDICT

comes with auto modes for those still learning, as well

as your usual set of manual controls, plus creative

modes such as multiple exposures and fi lters, but

these can’t be applied to RAW fi les. The 7fps shooting

at full resolution allows you to shoot 16 RAW fi les or 64

JPEG fi les in a burst, which is great for action shots, and

it comes with Wi-Fi for image sharing and remote

shooting. The Wi-Fi was a bit long-winded to set up, but

is a useful addition.

Packing a 20.2MP APS-C sensor, the image quality

was very high, with saturated colours and crisp detail.

The ISO of 100-12800 made low-light shooting a breeze

and it handled noise very well until ISO 1600. Even at

3200 photos were perfectly usable. It’s not a cheap

camera for those just starting out, but if you’re serious

about improving your skills, this is an exceptional

camera that will last you through your journey.

Above Exposures were accurate and colours bright. Using the viewfi nder really helps on sunny days when it can be hard to see the LCD screen

The build quality

is sturdy and the

deep grip at the

front allows a

good purchase.

It’s also weather-

sealed for

protection from

the elements

Images are high-quality, sharp and detailed, with accurate colours

Focusing is quick and the camera is fast, capturing a split-second of action

Wi-Fi could be quicker and less complicated to set up

There’s only one SD card slot and you can’t use creative modes with RAW

Portraits Soft, creamy backgrounds are achieved and colours are accurately portrayed

Landscapes Detail is crisp and HDR mode is usefulfor ensuring perfect exposures

Sports 7fps shooting is fast and focus is accurate for great action shots

Low light Images are practically noise-free until ISO 1600, and still usable at 3200

Macro You’ll need to buy a macro lens, but results are rich and detailed

Megapixels 20.2MPA large value that lets you crop in without too much loss to quality

Zoom By lensA wide selection of lenses is available from Canon’s heritage

Shutter speed 30-1/8000secGreat for both long exposures and very fast captures

ISO sensitivity 100-12800 The high value makes it very capable in low-light conditions

Exp. modes 7 scenes, plus Scene

Intelligent Auto, Creative Auto,

Program, AP, SP, ManualA great selection, and Creative Auto gives control over depth of fi eld

Aperture By lens

Flash modes Auto, Manual Flash,

Integrated Speedlite Transmitter

Weight 755g body only with battery

Dimensions 139.0 x 104.3 x 78.5mm

Batteries Lithium-ion

Screen 3 inches

HOW GOOD IS IT FOR…

TECHNICAL INFO

THE PROS & CONS


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Samsung Galaxy NX We test the world’s first Android-powered CSC

to find out if image quality matches connectivity

WHAT DOES AN ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM DO?The featured Android 4.2 operating system enables you to download apps onto the camera. This means you can edit your images on screen using the likes of Photoshop Express or Instagram, and then share them via social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter or Flickr without having to use your computer.

BUYTHIS IF…you want to be

able to edit and

share photos

instantly

£1300/$1700 (with 18-55mm lens) | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS | Voice control | 4.8-inch Super Clear touch screen

UPGRADESamsung Galaxy NX


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UPGRADESamsung Galaxy NX

Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.com Photography for Beginners 87

The new Samsung Galaxy NX is the fi rst compact

system camera of its kind. It offers all the conventional

shooting features you’d expect to see in a CSC, but

also connectivity options, including an Android 4.2 Jelly

Bean operating system, built-in 3G/4G LTE and Wi-Fi.

This means you can now shoot, edit and share

high-quality images on the go in the same way you

would using your smartphone. It also means it’s

possible to download apps to use alongside the

camera’s standard shooting features.

With all of this smart technology built in, you might

expect a compromise on image quality. However,

reviewing our test shots we found that all images were

of a high standard, with vibrant colour hues and plenty

of detail thanks to the featured 20.3MP sensor. Some

shots did require a little sharpening out of camera,

however, but not all were overly soft. When tested in

low-light conditions, the Galaxy NX also did well to

manage noise, with destructive noise only becoming

apparent in ISO settings well above ISO 1600.

Being one of the largest and heaviest CSCs on the

market, the Galaxy NX has a reliable build, although its

design is a little lacking. The large 4.8-inch Super Clear VERDICT

touch screen dominates the back of the camera, which

has left little space for any on-the-body buttons. This

won’t disappoint all users, but is not ideal if you need to

make quick adjustments. Due to the screen’s size, it’s

also easy to accidentally switch the shooting mode with

the side of your hand, which means composing with

the camera can take some getting used to. You’ll fi nd

touch screen focusing, however, incredibly easy. The

Galaxy NX also comes with voice control, enabling you

to take a shot and zoom in or out without having to

touch the camera.

On test, we also found the Auto and 30 Smart Scene

modes very reliable, and the camera also offers full HD

video. Overall, the Galaxy NX is a great point-and-shoot

option with fantastic connectivity features, although its

large size and heavy price point may not appeal to the

mass market.

Below The 20.3MP APS-C sized sensor produces great quality captures that are vibrant in colour and suitably detailed, with little noise until well over ISO 1600

The Galaxy NX is well

built but is large and

heavy. The 4.8-inch

touch screen also

dominates the back,

leaving little space

for your hand

The connectivity options are fantastic for sharing snaps on the go

The large touch screen is great for focusing, composing & editing images

With less on-the-body buttons, it can be tricky to change settings quickly

The camera houses a lot of great features, but this does mean it’s bulky

Portraits The Portrait mode will help you to capture a clear, even exposure

Landscapes A Landscape mode and in-app editing let you create stunning scenic shots

Sports Fast shutter speeds and an Action mode let you freeze fast subjects

Low light The ISO range will ensure you shoot detailed exposures in diffi cult light

Macro Focusing using the touch screen LCD helps you get in-focus macro shots

Megapixels 20.3MP Plenty of megapixels means you can print out high-quality shots for frames

Zoom By lens Check out the extensive range of Samsung NX lenses that are available

Shutter speed 30-1/6000sec More creative fl exibility to shoot with fast or slow shutter speeds

ISO sensitivity 100-25600Get better image results in low-light conditions and shoot handheld

Exp. modes Auto, Program, AP, SP,

Manual, 30 smart modes Advanced users can explore manual modes, but there are plenty of great features for beginners too

Aperture Lens dependent

Flash modes A, RE, Fon, Foff, SS

Weight 410g without battery



Storage 16GB int, micro SD

Screen 4.8 inches


TECHNICAL INFO

THE PROS & CONS

Packed full of fantastic features, the Galaxy NX is

designed for a gadget enthusiast who wants to edit

and share their photos straight from the camera.


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A CSC that combines new technology with a retro design

HOW CAN THE BUILT-IN WI-FI HELP ME OUT?While most Wi-Fi enabled cameras allow users to directly share images via social network sites, this camera goes one step further as it actually connects to your smartphone. This lets you transfer photos quickly, see the camera’s LiveView from a distance, use it as a remote shutter release or to assign GPS data.

BUYTHIS IF…you’re an action

fanatic seeking a

CSC that can

keep up

Olympus PEN E-P5£1000/$1350 (with 14-42mm lens) | 9fps shooting | Wi-Fi functionality | Shutter speed of up to 1/8000sec

UPGRADEOlympus PEN E-P5


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UPGRADEOlympus PEN E-P5


Scooping this year’s EISA award for best advanced

CSC, the Olympus PEN E-P5 has caused quite a stir,

with its increased Wi-Fi functionality and array of ultra

high-end technology packed into a stylish retro design.

Action enthusiasts benefi t from an impressively fast

shutter speed of 1/8000sec and high-speed release

time lag mode, while low-light fanatics can enjoy an ISO

range that extends to 25600 and a fi ve-axis image

stabilisation with IS Auto to reduce image blur. Other

features of note include a wide assortment of fl ash

options, interval shooting with time lapse, a built-in

level gauge and three-inch tilting display.

The E-P5 is available in a choice of black, white or

silver, and although it is undoubtedly a little on the big

and bulky side, it fi ts comfortably in the hand. Sadly it

isn’t as protected against the elements as many of its

rivals. However, the E-P5 provides a sensible as well as

stylish layout, creating an enjoyable, consistent and

intuitive handling experience. Buttons are logically

placed, menus are straightforward and the two control

dials make programming exposure manually incredibly

simple. The ultra-fast and accurate AF makes handling

a doddle, especially thanks to the Super Spot AF which

An ultra-attractive camera with tons of top-class

features and improved user functionality, designed to

ease the transition to manual shooting.

VERDICT

is controlled using your fi ngertip. The Live Bulb with

added histogram is also a great touch for those

shooting at night.

Noise fi rst becomes noticeable at ISO 1600, but is

well maintained and has little effect on colour, tone and

detailing until ISO 3200, where evidence of a rather

zealous use of noise-reduction software disturbs the

integrity of frames. JPEGs leave the camera a little soft,

but users do have the option to alter in-camera

sharpening levels in Picture modes. We found that

using the Natural picture mode provided realistically

rich colours, backed by an on-point white balance

meter. Overall, the image quality achieved by the E-P5 is

marginally stronger than the average advanced CSC.

The premium shooter does come with a higher price

tag than most, but its fashion-focused design and

plethora of high-end features readily justify its cost.

Below Colours pack a punch, while detailing is relatively strong. Noise is controlled until ISO 3200, which is comparatively impressive for this breed of shooter

The camera can connect with

smartphones for faster

image transfer, and

the phone can also

act as a second

screen and

remote shutter

release

Fantastic Wi-Fi capabilities providing a number of useful functions & services

Capable of very strong image quality, including images taken in low light

It is undeniably stylish, but slightly larger and heavier than most CSCs

Lacks the weather-proofed seals on many CSCs and entry-level DSLRs

Portraits The intuitive manual and semi-manual controls allow for great people shots

Landscapes Capture shake-free long exposures by using your phone as a shutter release

Sports With a shutter speed of 1/8000sec, sports fans won’t miss a single shot

Low light Long shutter speeds and high sensitivity make this camera great for night shots

Macro The touch screen technology helps to keep your macro subjects in focus

Megapixels 16.1MPA megapixel count meaning large prints at high resolution are achievable

Zoom Lens dependentOlympus has a wide range of lenses

Shutter speed 60sec–1/8000 A fantastically wide speed range benefi ting action and low-light shots

ISO sensitivity 200 -25600A helpfully broad sensitivity range intended to boast stability in low light

Exp. modes 25 scenes, plus Auto,

Program, AP, SP, ManualPlenty of support here for beginners, plus options for advanced users

Aperture Lens dependent

Flash modes A, M, RE, SS with RE,

SS, SS 2nd curtain, Fon, Foff

Weight 420g with battery



Storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I

Screen 3 inches


TECHNICAL INFO

THE PROS & CONS


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Will this lens revolutionise cameraphone photography?

DO I HAVE TO USE IT WITH A SONY SMARTPHONE? As the connection is wireless, the lens can be used independently from your smart device, and so it will work with any make or model. A smartphone attachment is also supplied in the box if you wish to fi x it to your phone, and will work with any device with a maximum width of 54-75mm and thickness of 13mm.

BUYTHIS IF…

you want to take

higher quality

smartphone

snaps

Sony DSC-QX10 £179/$250 | 18.2MP | 10x optical zoom | Wi-Fi & NFC

UPGRADESony DSC-QX10


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UPGRADESony DSC-QX10


This little lens from Sony may look like it belongs in our

Accessories section, but the QX10 is more like a

camera than you might think. It contains an 18.2MP

CMOS sensor and battery, as well as a 10x optical

zoom to trump your standard fi xed smartphone lens. In

fact, the only thing missing is an LCD screen, but that is

where your smartphone comes in. When you switch the

QX10 on, you can then connect it to your phone via

Wi-Fi or Near Field Communication if your device is

compatible. Once you have downloaded the free Sony

PlayMemories Mobile app, your smartphone becomes

the viewfi nder, allowing you to frame your photos as

well as change shooting modes and settings. Firing the

shutter and zooming can be done via either the app or

controls on the lens.

Being able to use the QX10 independently from your

phone is very useful for self-portraits or shooting over

crowds, and the fl at bottom and tripod mount mean

that you can leave the lens while you shoot from a

distance. You can also physically connect it to your

phone with the supplied smartphone attachment if you

wish. Connecting it via Wi-Fi takes several seconds and

there is a bit of a lag when framing shots, so you might VERDICT

end up missing an unexpected photo opportunity. You

can leave them constantly connected, but this will

quickly drain the battery of both devices.

The compatible Sony PlayMemories Mobile app

allows you to choose from Auto and Program modes,

but the only manual control you have is being able to

change the white balance. It performs well in Auto,

though, and certainly produces higher resolution

photos than your smartphone would be able to. The

low-light performance is still a little disappointing

however, with lots of noise visible.

The QX10 is a handy smartphone accessory and will

easily fi t into any large pocket or bag, but really it just

does the same job as a camera that can transfer

images to your phone. Therefore, those looking for

more manual control might prefer to invest in a Wi-Fi

enabled compact instead.

Below Images are better quality and higher resolution than most smartphone snaps, but low-light shots still tend to be quite grainy

The lens features a

shutter button, zoom

lever and tiny screen for

checking the battery life.

The rest is controlled

via an app on your

smartphone

Using it independently from your phone opens up shooting opportunities

It’s easy to use and takes better quality photos than your smartphone

The time lag when framing photos might cause you to miss a shot

There is a lack of manual modes and the low-light performance is poor

Portraits Snap great portraits of yourself or your friends to share instantly

Landscapes The wide-angle 25mm minimum focal length fi ts a lot into the frame

Sports Focusing is fast but the slight time lag could cause you to miss a shot

Low light Higher ISO is prioritised over slowing the shutter speed, so night shots are noisy

Macro Simply tap your smartphone screen to keep close-up subjects sharp

Megapixels 18.2MPA high megapixel count when compared to many smartphones

Zoom 10x opticalA focal range of 25-250mm is versatile for shooting in various situations

Shutter speed 4-1/1600Great for sports but could be better for capturing long exposures

ISO sensitivity 100-12800 A good range, but you cannot control the ISO manually

Exp. modes Auto, Superior Auto,

Program A very limited number of modes for beginners looking to advance their photography skills

Aperture f3.3-5.9

Flash modes N/A

Weight 90g without battery



Storage micro SD, micro SDHC, micro

SDXC, Memory Stick Micro


TECHNICAL INFO

THE PROS & CONS

This accessory will improve your phone snaps, but

the time lag and lack of manual controls may make a

Wi-Fi compact a better investment.


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0201

1 Sony NEX-3N Price £349/$450Sony’s 16.1MP CSC is small

and lightweight yet also feels

well built and durable. It

comes packed with not one,

but two auto modes as well

as full manual controls. As

there is no mode dial, settings

must be changed via the few

buttons on the back of the

camera. However, navigating

your way around is easy, and

there is even a handy Help

mode that explains camera

techniques. You can also get

creative with your captures

with several fun picture

effects. The NEX-3N is the

only camera on test here to

have a tilting LCD screen,

which can be fl ipped up 180

degrees for self-portraits.

Image quality is also superb,

with vibrant images and noise

only creeping in at ISO 3200.

For more information, visit

www.sony.co.uk.

Budget CSCsFor advanced features that won’t break the bank

2 Pentax Q10 Price £380/$500The Pentax Q10 is one of the

smallest CSCs on the market.

Its mostly plastic body makes

it incredibly lightweight and

easy to carry in a large pocket.

However, if you decide to add

on large lenses and additional

accessories via the hotshoe,

the camera starts to feel a

little unstable, with increased

camera shake. The Q10 is the

only one of the four to have a

mode dial on top for quick

operation, but the rest of the

buttons are very small and

fi ddly to control. Despite its

small 12.4MP sensor, image

quality is surprisingly good,

with noise only appearing at

ISO 1600 and vivid and vibrant

colours. There are also lots of

scene modes and creative

fi lters to help you produce

striking captures. Head to

www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk for

more details.

UPGRADEBudget CSCs


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03 04

“The NEX-3N comes packed with not one, but two auto modes as well as full manual controls”

3 Nikon 1 S1 Price £430/$350If you want a sleek and stylish

CSC, then the 10.1MP Nikon 1

S1 certainly delivers, with its

shiny fi nish making this an

attractive option. The S1 is a

speedy camera too, and can

shoot 15fps with super-fast

autofocus. It will even start

shooting before you fully

press the shutter, and Best

Moment Capture will help you

pick the best from the bunch,

while Smart Photo Selector

will do it for you. Operating the

camera is slow, however, as

you need to manually extend

the lens before you can start

shooting, and most of the

modes and settings are quite

well hidden in the camera’s

menus. There are also limited

scene modes and creative

effects, although image

quality is superb, with noise

kept at bay until ISO 3200.

Read more at nikon.com.

4 Canon EOS M Price £349/$649 The Canon EOS M has a

simple yet sturdy design, even

if it is a little on the heavy

side. It has an intuitive touch

screen for quick and easy

control, and the Info button

on the back lets you check

and change the most useful

settings. The camera’s initial

slow autofocus issues that

plagued it at its launch have

now been fi xed, enabling it to

keep up with fast-moving

subjects. Creative Auto mode

makes it easy to blur

backgrounds, and plenty of

edits and fi lters can be added

in-camera. But what the EOS

M really excels in is image

quality. Its 18MP DSLR-sized

sensor handles noise very

well until ISO 3200. The only

thing missing is a built-in fl ash,

although an external fl ashgun

is supplied. Visit www.canon.

co.uk to fi nd out more.

UPGRADEBudget CSCs


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This bag grabs attention, but is it for the right reasons?

Keeping your camera safe and secure while you are on

the move is important, so a good camera bag is a

worthwhile investment. The Nest Explorer 100L

Shoulder Bag is compact and streamlined, yet will hold

an entry-level DSLR or CSC with a lens attached, plus

there’s room for 2-3 extras lenses and other

accessories. The padded velvet interior has adjustable

dividers for customising the space to protect your gear,

or you can remove them entirely to use it as a simple

messenger bag. The exterior waterproof ‘Rip-stop’

nylon material will keep the rain out, and an extra

protective cover is supplied for use in heavy downpours

that could seep into the internal compartment.

The bag is sealed with Velcro, giving you quick access

to your camera should an unexpected photo

opportunity arise. It also has an extra Velcro buckle to

keep your kit even more secure. There are plenty of

additional pockets, including three zipped

compartments for storing spare memory cards and VERDICT

other equipment, and you can even store a ten-inch

tablet as well.

Three carrying options are available, as you could use

the handle on the top, one of the grip points on either

side or the supplied adjustable shoulder strap with

padding for added comfort. If you want a more

conventional and discreet camera bag, then the

Explorer 100L also comes in black or blue, but those

who want their bag to stand out and be easy to spot

can opt for the bright orange or green versions.

The bag has a very high-quality and durable feel, and

has plenty of room for all the kit you will likely need for a

typical shoot.

BUYTHIS IF…You’ve got lots

of kit you want tocarry round

safely

Nest Explorer 100L Shoulder Bag

A fun choice of colours, plenty of room to store your

gear and excellent protection from the elements.

This is a great all-rounder.

You can store and protect everything you need in a compact bag

It enables easy access to your camera & accessories for fast shooting

The Velcro fastening could be more secure and may weaken over time

The price is a little high but you get a quality product for your money

Price £70

Internal dimensions 270 x 135 x 200mm

External dimensions330 x 170 x 240mm

Weight 580g

Capacity 100L

Colours Black, Blue, Green, Orange

THE INFO

THE PROS & CONS

ACCESSORIESNest Explorer 100L Shoulder Bag

94 Photography for Beginners Share your shots at: photoforbeginners.comWorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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KEY EVENTS GREAT BATTLES YOUR HISTORYILLUSTRATIONS

DISCOVER THE PAST!

ON SALE NOW Vikings Prohibition Voyage of the Beagle Aviation

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Photo gifts Impress your loved ones by giving them one of these personalised presents made with your favourite shots

ACCESSORIESPhoto gifts


1 Photobox mug Price From £8/approx $13A personalised photo mug will be

a great addition to any kitchen,

and Photobox has plenty of

varieties available, from the

Simple Photo Mug that you can

customise with one photo, to the

fun Personalised Photo Mug that

you can add photos, text and

themes to. You may also like the

Magic Mug that reveals your

photo as you pour in a hot drink,

or the Love Mug that has a heart

shaped handle. All mugs are

dishwasher and microwave safe

and feel high quality, with the

photo blending seamlessly onto

the ceramic mug. More info can

be found at photobox.co.uk.

0201

03

2 Albelli pocket photobook Price From £7/approx $11Your friend and family members

will be able to keep your photos

on them wherever they go with a

pocket-sized photobook. This

one from Albelli is 8 x 10.5cm

and can hold up to 22 photos.

The prints fold out in a single

strip and you can even tear out

individual photos if you want to

display them in another way. The

book has an attractive silver

linen cover but the photos are

printed on glossy paper that

feels quite thin. To make your

book you have to use the Albelli

software that is only compatible

with Windows. Take a look at

www.albelli.co.uk to learn more.


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3 Bob Books calendar Price From £8/approx $13Giving a loved one a photo calendar means

that they can have a different one of your

photos on their wall each month. Creating

a calendar with Bob Books is very easy,

and can be done using their free software

or online. Pick a shape and size for your

calendar and then choose from an

extensive range of templates, layouts and

colour schemes, or take complete control

over your design by downloading the Bob

Designer software. You can even select

the month you want your calendar to start

at. It is printed on high-quality, glossy

paper and comes with a very affordable

price tag. You can also get a discount if

you order several copies for each of your

friends. Head to www.bobbooks.co.uk for

more details.

Imagine Publishing LtdRichmond House, 33 Richmond Hill,Bournemouth, 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

ContributorsMark Bauer, Julie Bassett, Jo Cole, David Crookes, Natalie Denton, Sarah Gane, Mark Gregory, Freddie Harrison, Martyn Landi, Shaun McGill, Hayley Paterek, Jodie Tyley

Locations With thanks to BoConcept for the use of their premises.

AdvertisingDigital or printed media packs are available on request.

Advertising Director Matthew Balch 01202 586437

Head of Sales Hang Deretz 01202 586442

Advertising Manager Jennifer Farrell 01202 586430

[email protected]

InternationalPhotography for Beginners is available for licensing. Contact the International department to discuss partnership opportunities.

Head of International Licensing Cathy Blackman +44 (0)1202 586401

[email protected]

SubscriptionsHead of Subscriptions Gill [email protected] all subscription enquiriesEmail: [email protected]

(UK) 0844 245 6957 (Overseas) +44 (0)1795 592 815

13-issue subscription (UK) – £5213-issue subscription (Europe) – £7013-issue subscription (ROW) – £80

CirculationHead of Circulation Darren Pearce

01202 586200

ProductionProduction Director Jane Hawkins

01202 586200

FoundersGroup Managing Director Damian ButtGroup Finance & Commercial Director Steven BoydGroup Creative Director Mark Kendrick

Printing & DistributionPrinted by Wyndeham Heron, The Bentall Complex,Colchester Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex CM9 4NW

Distributed in the UK & Eire by Seymour Distribution, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT 0207 429 4000

Distributed in Australia by Gordon & Gotch Corporate Centre, 26 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086

+ 61 2 9972 8800

Distributed in the Rest of the World by Marketforce, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SU

0203 148 8105

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 specifi 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 affi 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 2046-9845z

4 CEWE photobook Price From £6/$10A photobook is a great way to display a

collection of your photos in one lovely

keepsake. CEWE allows you to create

photobooks in a range of shapes and

sizes, plus you can choose between a soft

cover, hard cover or linen-covered book.

Simply download the free software or

smartphone app and start creating your

book using preset layouts and styles. You

can even get the CEWE Photobook

Assistant to create your book for you.

CEWE also gives you the option to add

videos to your photobook so that you can

really bring your memories to life. It works

by printing a QR code in the book that you

can scan with your phone and play the clip.

You can fi nd out more about CEWE gifts at

www.cewe-photobook.co.uk.

04


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CHEAT SHEETPortraits


Your cut-out-and-keep guide to great shotsGetting perfect portraits is easy when you know how.

Most importantly, make sure your model is at ease by

complimenting them and keep popping your head out

from behind the camera to engage with them. Think

about their pose and whether you want your subject to

fill the frame or include some of the background – if

you do this, you really need to consider the location

and how it adds to the shot without drawing

attention away from the model. Once you’ve got

the location and composition right, use our

cut-out guide below to find the perfect settings

and kit you need to get great shots every time.

PortraitsPHOTO CHEAT SHEET

Eye contact Get your model to look right into the lens to allow the audience to connect to them more. Try to catch some light in their eyes to make them sparkle!

Aperture f2.8-5.6

Shutter speed 1/60sec or faster

ISO 100

Focus mode Single AF, with the focus

point on their eyes

Drive mode Single

Lens 80-100mm

Helpful kit Flash with tilting head, refl ector

ESSENTIAL PORTRAIT KNOW-HOW

To light the shot… Make use of natural light

and fi ll in harsh shadows with a refl ector, or fi re your

fl ash if your subject is backlit

Top Tip… Shoot from a slightly raised angle for a

fl attering effect and make sure the background isn’t

distracting, keeping all the attention on the model

CHEAT SHEETPortraits


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Documents

Photography for Beginners - Issue 32, 2013