Table of contents for December 2018 in Practical Photography: Lite

YOU DON’T HAVE to be a globe-trotting professional to think like a professional. As Richard Collins quite rightly points out on page 35, Practical Photography is an unashamedly hobbyist magazine, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn valuable lessons from those who live the lives many of us aspire to. From finding a subject you’re truly passionate about and getting your work seen by a larger audience to planning for every eventuality and staying inspired and motivated, there’s so much more to being creative than framing up and squeezing the shutter. And it’s this mindset – quite simply, how we think – that will determine how good a photographer you can be. Open your mind on page 34.…

Camera Buying Guide Unsure about which camera is best for your needs? Our ebook includes reviews, spec and prices for every camera available right now. The latest additions include Nikon’s Z6 and Z7 and Fujifilm’s retro X-T3. Christmas card templates Choose from ten custom templates and add your own images. Turn to page 90 for a complete step-by-step tutorial. Photoshop video lessons Learn how to change eye colour for surreal or realistic results, use our free Christmas card templates and make paths with the Pen Tool.…

• Whenever you access a scene or subject – whether it’s for a landscape shoot, a portrait or some candid street photography – think about the angles. Shooting square-on will only give you one perspective, so move about. Get down low and shoot from the floor for a new approach, or rise above everything as much as you can and shoot down for a ‘birds’ eye’ composition. Challenge yourself to find a new angle every time you take a photograph. • If you fancy a bit of reportage photography, bear in mind that you can lose a vital shot messing around with lenses or gear. Use a preset on your camera that works well in most situations and try to stick to one lens. A kit zoom is ideal when…

1 FIND YOUR LIGHT As a professional photographer, you quickly realise that light is everything. It has a direction, colour, volume, texture and strength that I never noticed before I picked up a camera. When you learn to see these qualities, that’s when your work will really start to improve. 2 DISCOVER THE NEW As the world becomes smaller, finding something new becomes even more important. This means finding access to novel places where no one’s been before. It doesn’t have to be halfway around the world, but finding a new place is half the battle. 3 KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE Finding the right story at the right time is the quest for all of us now. If I have a critical conservation story to share with an audience, I…

I’m always on the lookout for interesting locations. I often use Google to search, then, if I find a place I like the look of, I’ll try to get more info about it. Sometimes you’ll be able to pick up some clues about the location by studying the image, but if not then I’ll try contacting the photographer to ask them. Create a map Pinterest is a great resource for finding locations, as you can create pinboards of images. Using Google Maps in satellite view is also a good idea. You simply need to look out for derelict roofs or other hints of an abandoned location. I like to seek out new and interesting places and store them all on a digital map. Not all are abandoned, but I now…

WITH ITS ROOTS IN THE DAYS OF film, double exposure photography is the process of manually exposing a negative twice. If you nail the composition and have a good dose of luck, you end up with a head-turning abstract image. This month we’re going to show you how to take the double exposure concept and digitise it. You’ll be layering up a portrait and multiple landscapes in Photoshop to create surreal composites. You have full control with this method as you can place the pictures exactly where you want them in the frame as well as fine-tune how they are mixed together by changing the Blending Modes and Layer Opacity. 1 Put your portrait on a new Layer Open your portrait image into Photoshop or Elements and grab the Polygonal…

THEY SAY THE EYES ARE THE window to the soul so it’s no surprise that this is where we usually focus when taking portraits. Using the power of Photoshop, it’s possible to selectively alter the natural colour of the human eye, from blue, green or brown to any colour imaginable. We’ll show you how to make accurate selections and change the colour of a specific part of your picture to create a surreal rainbow contact lens effect, and also recolour eyes for a more natural result. You’ll then be a master of recolouring and can apply the effect to any object you wish to change. Follow the quick step-by-step below and watch the accompanying video to see how. 1 Accurately select the eye Open up your eye into Photoshop or…

The first thing you need to do is assess the scene you’re looking to shoot so you can decide how to approach it. If there’s only one or two people standing in front of the monument or building that’s the key component of your scene then you may be better off simply waiting for them to move along so you can get a clean image in-camera. But if there are streams of people constantly walking by and waiting isn’t an option, this technique is the way to go. Essentially, you’re going to be shooting multiple images with identical exposures and a locked-off focus so you can blend them all together easily in Photoshop. The difference is the moving elements as they travel through the scene. The idea is that you…

IF YOU WANT TO CAPTURE A great photo, you’ll find that your first step is to source good lighting. Without this, you’ll struggle to focus, reveal key details and create engaging shots. Poor conditions can hide key features in shadow, or make you unable to capture a bright image free from camera shake. However, you needn’t be a slave to the contrary nature of the elements, as almost every DSLR and CSC comes with its own built-in lighting lifesaver, the pop-up flash. What is the pop-up flash? This handy little addition to your camera is the built-in portable lighting unit. It’s housed on the top of the body, normally within the pentaprism on a DSLR or sometimes on the top left on a CSC. The pop-up flash springs into action…

Fill-in flash to lift shadows Pop-up flash is ideal to help lighten any shadows and reveal darker detail, especially when you’re shooting against a light background. To use the flash in any of the manual shooting modes, just press the flash button to activate it. If you’re using TTL to set the brightness, you can adjust the flash power by using flash compensation. Hold the flash button and then rotate the dial. Select rear sync Selecting rear sync in the flash output controls means the light will be fired at the final moment of the exposure. If you’re using a slower shutter speed and don’t keep the camera steady you’ll capture light streaks from any brighter elements in the background. When the flash fires, it’ll freeze any subjects closer to…

“One subject guaranteed to polarise opinion is that of tripods. In landscape photography a tripod offers benefits and opens creative options. Using a tripod means you don’t need to worry about shutter speed, which allows for a lower ISO for better quality and a smaller aperture for greater depth-of-field. In order to shoot around sunrise and sunset, you’ll definitely need one. A tripod puts you in control of motion, allowing long exposures to blur people, clouds and water, bringing an added dimension to images. More importantly, a tripod slows you down, enabling you to fine-tune the composition. In my opinion the downsides of extra weight and encumbrance of a tripod are far outweighed by the benefits one brings to helping you create stunning landscapes.” • Award-winning landscape photographer Chris Upton…

BSI stands for backside illuminated. It’s a slightly different way of wiring a traditional CMOS sensor. It’s a technology that has been around for a while, even in smartphones. However, the cost of creating larger BSI sensors has only just become viable. Traditional CMOS image sensors feature the image matrix at the front of the sensor, though the associated wiring involved can reflect some of the light before it hits the sensor. A BSI design moves this wiring, and places it behind the photocathode layer. This essentially means that more light will hit the image sensor, and create cleaner images, especially in low light.…

As we explained with the Nikon Z7 last month, Canon is still very much invested in its DSLR range. Current users should be happy to hear that the company considers this new mirrorless to be more of an addition to the existing family, rather than an out-and-out replacement. In reality, this means Canon sees this as a second body to work alongside your 5D MkIV or 1D X, or as a main body for enthusiasts. New DSLRs and EF lenses will be released, with Canon not wanting to alienate its current army of customers.…

Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Sensor: 1/2.3in Lens: 24-48mm f/2.8-3.8 Price: £1099 Effective resolution: 12MP LCD: Smart device using DJI Go 4 app Shutter: 8-1/8000sec electronic ISO: Stills 100-3200 Shooting speed: 7fps Video: 4K UHD 30fps Other features: TapFly, Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance, ActiveTrack 2.0, Dolly Zoom QuickShot, Hyperlapse, Super Resolution mode, Interval shooting, Auto Exposure Bracketing, D-Cinelike Colour Mode Battery life: Max 31 minutes Card type: MicroSD up to 128GB Size folded (LxWxH): 21x9x8cm Size unfolded (LxWxH): 32x24x8cm Weight: 905g Web: dji.com…

Camera: Nikon Z7 Lens: FTZ adapter Kit price: £3399 Effective resolution: 45.7MP Sensor: 35.9x23.9mm LCD: 3.2in 2100k-dot tilting touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 30-1/8000sec Autofocus: 493-point hybrid phase-detection ISO: 64-25,600 (expanded to 102,400) Shooting speed: 9fps up to 30 RAWs Video: 4K UHD 30fps, 1080p Full HD at 120fps Pop-up flash: No Other features: Dynamic-Area AF, Pinpoint AF, 5-axis image stabilisation, Silent shooting, 4:2:2 10-bit N-log external movie recording via HDMI out Battery: CIPA rating of 330, real-world approx. 900 shots Card type: XQD Size (WxHxD): 134x101x68mm Weight: 585g Web: nikon.co.uk…

IN 1959, TWO AMAZING THINGS happened. The first was the creation of Practical Photography magazine... let’s take a moment for that to sink in. The second creation of note was Nikon’s introduction of the F-mount lens system. For 59 years, this workhorse has been producing excellent optics for a wide range of Nikon cameras, with many praising the quality and reliability. However, with the creation of the Z series, and the large 55mm diameter, it was inevitable that a new lens system would have to be employed – the Z-mount. Aiming for the stars Running alongside Nikon’s premier mirrorless outing are three lenses and an adapter that allows you to use your F-mount lenses natively. The lenses themselves fall into the S-Line, which is the company’s premium mirrorless range, and…

Neil Ever Osborne Often found in the Alaskan wilderness or Amazon rainforest, Neil is one of the world’s best conservation photographers. Find out more on p50 Emily Garthwaite With an instantly recognisable style and an eye for a strong narrative, Emily has taken the world of reportage by storm. Read her story on p110 Ben Davis With Camera School over for another year, Ben fills the gap with his popular Camera know-how section. This month is all about pop-up flash. See p120…

AUTUMN IS A SPECIAL SEASON FOR THE wildlife photographer as the land sheds its summer coat and nature prepares for the onset of winter. Tits and finches return to garden feeders and thrushes quarrel over ripe berries in colourful trees. Tiny rodents scurry about as they scavenge for scraps; still cautious, but shy creatures are bolder and more approachable as the temperature drops and natural food becomes harder to find. Autumn brings low, slanting light as the position of the sun in the sky changes. This light is warmer than harsh summer sun making it more practical for photo making and there is also more light available as leaves fall from the trees. The season carpets the landscape like an artist’s palette of warm pastels and amber hues. I’m always…

• Getting a look inside a pro’s kit bag is something many amateurs aspire to, but it might turn out to be a disappointing experience. Pros buy top-end kit but as it’s a big investment they don’t replace it that often, so you might not see the latest tech in their bags. A pro views a camera as a tool to get a job done and it’s a philosophy that can stand any amateur in good stead – stop chasing the latest bit of kit and make the most of what you’ve got; you make the picture, not the camera.…

• Joining a community of other photographers is a great way to make like-minded friends and to find inspiration. Our very own Practical Photography Talk Facebook group has a large number of active users of all abilities that share work and give constructive critiques. If you prefer a more analogue approach then look for a local camera club – you will benefit from the experience. • If there’s a pro photographer whose work you admire it’s always worth reaching out to them. Most will be happy to answer questions, many run workshops and some might even let you assist – so long as you don’t mind working for free!…

• Street photography is one of the most accessible – and cheap – forms of the art, but it’s also one of the most daunting. If you want to avoid confrontation then a good tip is to sit down somewhere and stay there until you ‘blend’ into the scene. Once people have stopped noticing you, you can get your camera out and wait for the action to come to you. • Your choice of kit will also determine how noticeable you are. Many street shooters prefer small cameras, so it might be worth leaving your big DSLR at home and starting out on a camera phone. If you get the street bug then small, discreet cameras like the Fujifilm X100T, the Canon PowerShot G1 X MkII or Panasonic’s Lumix LX100…

WE’VE COME SO FAR SINCE beginning our Complete Guide to Lightroom Classic CC back in the June 2018 issue. If you’ve been following along from the start you’ll now be a master of importing and developing your pictures, applying mono conversions, processing colours and so much more. So far we haven’t strayed too far from the Library and Develop modules, as these allow you to do most of your day-to-day organisation and editing. This month we’ve decided to examine four of Lightroom’s lesser-known modules – Slideshow, Book, Web and Map – so that you can get the most out of the software that you’re paying good money for. Read on for a brief explanation of the modules and then get stuck into our mini tutorials to start using them. 1…

ALONG-TIME FAVOURITE of pro image retouchers, Photoshop’s trusty Pen Tool is the industry standard go-to tool for tracing around a subject easily and accurately to create a path. This path can then be turned into a selection, shape or mask, so it has tons of functionality. Reserved for the full versions of Photoshop, the Pen Tool wasn’t always readily available, but it’s now included in the subscription-based Photoshop CC so the general public can access it with ease. Here’s how...…

Pen Tool This is the classic Pen Tool that we’ll be talking about in this tutorial. By adding anchor points to create paths, this tool makes it easy to accurately trace all the way around your subject. Freeform Pen Tool This allows you to draw around your subject freehand – the traced line will then be turned into a path complete with anchor points. You can also use it to create paths in several sections. Curvature Pen Tool If you want to draw a path with a lot of curves then this may be the tool for you. You can drag the lines between your anchor points to create new ones and get the curves absolutely spot on.…

The Pen Tool and Paths panel work together in perfect harmony, as it’s often best to use the Path Mode so that you can draw paths with the pen. This then allows you to use the Pen Tool to draw the intricate lines and curves around your subject and at the end you’ll be left with a path that can be transformed into a selection, colourful shape, outline or even a mask. These are all options within the Paths panel. When you start clicking around your image to create your anchor points with the Pen Tool you’ll find the path you’ve created in the Paths panel. You can find this by going to Window>Paths . Read on, where we run through the Paths panel so you know what each option…

BENRO SLIM CARBON FIBRE TRIPOD KIT & N00 BALL HEAD £99 Want carbon fibre legs on a budget? Look no further than the Benro Slim CF that comes with an N00 ball head for just under £100. It has a maximum load of 4kg and maximum height of 146cm. VANGUARD ALTA PRO 2+ 263AB 100 TRIPOD & BALL HEAD £179 Vanguard’s enthusiast-level lightweight 3-section aluminium tripod has a maximum load of 7kg, maximum height of 173.4cm and can be folded down to a compact 73.9cm in transit. MANFROTTO MK055XPRO3 TRIPOD & XPRO BALL HEAD £229 As sturdy as they come, Manfrotto’s three-section aluminium MK055XPRO3 has an impressive maximum load of 8kg, a towering maximum height of 181.5cm and tips the scales at 3kg.…

1 THERE’S NOBODY IN THE SCENE You’ve successfully used Photoshop Scripts, Layers, cloning or a mixture of all three to seamlessly take out all of the people and vehicles in your picture. 2 NO ODD JOINS IN THE ARCHITECTURE Taking the time to make sure the architectural lines in your shot line up is key to creating a realistic outcome. 3 CONSISTENT SHARPNESS AND EXPOSURE By locking off the exposure and switching to manual focus the end result has a consistent level of brightness and the sharpness hasn’t changed between your images. The result is a flawless, natural-looking composite.…

Technique 1 Curves Reserved for the full version of Photoshop, Curves offers more control when changing the brightness or contrast of your picture. To bring up the Curves panel go to Image>Adjustments> Curves or hit the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+M. You can also apply Curves as an Adjustment Layer by heading over to the Layers panel, clicking on the Create new fill or adjustment layer icon and choosing Curves from the list. In the Curves panel you’ll see a histogram with a diagonal line running from the bottom left (shadows) to the top right (highlights) – the midtones are the middle section. You can brighten or darken specific tones of your image by dragging up or down on the diagonal line. Technique 2 Levels Found in both Photoshop and Elements, Levels…

Photographer: Emily Garthwaite,  based in London Aim of project: To cover humanitarian and  environmental issues, while finding beauty in the everyday Location: I’ve worked across India, Southeast  Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East Duration: I started my photojournalist work at  19 and have been capturing this style ever since Images taken: I’ve taken thousands of shots since  I first began, but in Iraq I shot 3000 images in 13 days, which is around 230 a day See more of Emily’s work at her website:  emilygarthwaite.com…

• TTL TTL stands for through the lens metering and it’s how the camera calculates the exposure for the flash. It measures the level of ambient light, takes into account the camera settings and then sets the output level of the pop-up flash. • GUIDE NUMBER Most flash devices have a guide number (GN) to indicate how powerful the flash can be. The higher the number, the more power it’ll have and the brighter the output. Most pop-up flash units have a GN of around 12, meaning they’re fairly low powered and limited to a range of a few metres. • FLASH SYNC SPEED The flash sync speed is the fastest shutter speed your camera can use with flash. Most cameras are limited to 1/250sec, but check your camera’s manual…

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST WITH THESE three techniques that rely on you taking control of the pop-up flash for creative results. You will need an accessory flashgun for Project 3 – these can be purchased for £50 online and are a great investment! 1 PEP UP PORTRAITS WITH POP-UP FLASH Enhance your outdoor portraits with a brief burst of pop-up flash. It’ll help lift shadows on the face, add a sparkling catchlight to the eyes and separate the subject from the background. Set your camera to programme mode, as this will make it select the shutter speed and aperture for a balanced exposure. Then set the ISO to 100 for maximum image quality. To underexpose the background, hold down the exposure compensation button and dial in -1.0EV. Activate…

The Fujifilm X-T20 features a 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans III sensor, UHD 4K video and 325-point autofocus. Fujifilm’s XC15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ is the smallest and lightest interchangeable zoom lens in the X series and offers a 35mm equivalent focal length of 23-69mm. Our four winners will also become camera reviewers, with a guest slot on our website, where your first impressions will be shared with thousands. • Visit fujifilm-x.com for more info.…

Camera: Fujifilm X-T3 Lens: 18-55mm f/2.8-f/4 XF Kit price: £1699 Effective resolution: 26.1MP Sensor: 23.5x15.6mm LCD: 3in 1040k-dot 3-axis tilting touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 15min-1/8000sec mechanical, 1/32,000sec electronic Autofocus: 425-point phase detection AF system ISO: 160-12,800 (expanded to 80-51,200) Shooting speed: 11fps mechanical for 42 RAWs, 20fps electronic 36 RAWs, 30fps Sports Finder 35 RAWs Video: DCI 4K 60fps, 1080p Full HD at 120fps Other features: Film Simulations, F-Log, Panorama, Eye AF, Color Chrome Effect, Pre-Shot, Sports Finder Battery life: 390 shots Card type: SD, SDXC, SDHC Size (WxHxD): 133x93x59mm Weight: 539g Web: fujifilm-x.com…

With the drive for mirrorless cameras to be smaller than their DSLR counterparts, Nikon has had to redesign the button layout. This has lead to omitting certain physical controls, such as the AF selector switch and WB button. Thankfully, it’s mapped all of your most used features to the ‘i’ button. With a quick press, you can access your drive modes, white balance and focusing options. This includes MF, AF-S and AF-C, as well as the tracking modes, such as Dynamic-Area and Auto-Area, which also allows you to use facial tracking. While quick menus aren’t a new thing, with many cameras including them in some form or another, they’re a brilliant way to conserve space, and the button placement is convenient to use and easy to find.…

PRICE £269 COMPATIBLE WITH 360 AI LENSES or 90 AF & AF-S LENSES Nikon’s lens compatibility is definitely one of the most make-or-break features of the Z series. Since it only features two lenses at launch, with more to be added as the system grows, the company had to come up with a way to entice current Nikon users, and it achieved this with the F-mount adapter. A simple design means you just attach any F-mount lens as you would to your camera body, then affix the adapter as if it was a lens – simple. You can use 360 lenses from the AI type onwards, with full compatibility with 90 AF lenses – essentially the current line-up. In testing, we also managed to use the third-party Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5,…

NO MATTER WHETHER you’re shooting on a £30,000 Hasselblad, or a home-made pinhole camera, exposure is vitally important to your shot. This is no different when you’re working on your phone’s camera. With countless Silicon Valley minds having crafted as user-friendly an app as possible, it’s easy to fall into the default of simply pointing and shooting. However, if you dive beneath the surface, there are some fantastic manual controls that you can use to improve your phoneography. If you leave your phone’s camera in its auto setting, it will try and capture the midtones as best as it can. If you’re working in an even lighting situation, then this can be perfectly fine. However, if you’ve got a scene filled with contrast then things become more difficult. The varied…

If dogs are a man’s best friend, PhotoPills is the photographer’s equivalent. While it isn’t necessarily a tool to help your phone photography, we can’t overstate how helpful the app is to those who want to capture a location with their DSLR or CSC. • The Augmented Reality (AR) module included in the app means that you simply have to point your phone at your subject and you’ll be able to see where the sun, moon or Milky Way will be located at different times. A revolutionary tool for photographers. • When you’re using filters, calculating your exposure can become tricky, especially for those of us who are mathematically-challenged! However, PhotoPills has an exposure calculator that allows you to input your settings and the strength of your filter. • By…

The Practical Photography team brings you over an hour of exclusive how-to videos designed to inspire, motivate and educate. Just call us Mr Motivator. • Kirk puts the new Nikon Z7 full-frame mirrorless marvel through its paces on a studio portrait shoot. Does its performance justify the hype and hefty price tag? • Louise joins professional landscaper Jeremy Walker and reader Matt Watkins on the Isle of Portland for a rather windy photo challenge. Waterproofs at the ready! • Richard and Dan head to Cambridge to compare new and old camera techniques for shooting busy street scenes and architecture. Turn to p84 to see the accompanying tutorial.…

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY FATHER and I would go bird watching at our local nature reserve. This pursuit was never confined to the summer months, as often the most exciting ornithological moments would occur in the winter. Although the birdlife was our reason for wandering into the chill of those early winter mornings, it’s the landscape itself that has stuck in my mind during the intervening years. I’m a winter baby, born during the deep darkness of January, and so my connection with this time of year is tangible. During my formative years, in the late 1980s, I remember the winter months as crisp and cold, punctuated by flurries of snow which would lead to sledging through scenery, and inevitably slugging through slush. Those early experiences stuck with…

• It’s never been easier to get your work seen. Setting up your own website, or a dedicated social media page, couldn’t be more simple. If you want to reach a more dedicated audience you could approach a photography magazine to see if they will print your work. We happily accept contributions here at PP, but remember that a professional philosophy extends to how you represent yourself – keep it brief and businesslike and allow at least a week before sending a polite follow-up email. • Working alongside a pro can really take your work to the next level. There are many workshops on offer in most fields of photography and if James’ motorsport shots have inspired you then the good news is you can sign up at doublered.co.uk/training for…

• Most pros will specialise in one or two areas of photography. As an amateur you don’t have to be so restrictive and it can be liberating to shoot a range of styles. But finding a niche and really honing your skills – as well as your kit – in that direction will generally result in better shots and a more cohesive portfolio of work. Iza Lyson found her outlet through animal portraiture – what’s going to be your thing? • Undertaking a specific photographic project, and totally dedicating yourself to it, can really boost your skills. Challenge yourself to take at least one original photograph every day for a year. After 12 months you will have 365 shots from which to edit down a set of really outstanding images,…

ICONIC landmarks usually go hand-in-hand with heavy footfall and traffic, so it can seem impossible to get a clean picture of the building or monument, free from distractions. But if you’re savvy, you can take your pictures with Photoshop in mind, shooting a series of photos and merging the best bits of each together to remove all of the bystanders, buses and other distractions. The technique is split into two halves. First we’ll show you how to take the pictures with your camera. You’ll need to set up your DSLR or CSC on a tripod and use manual mode to take a series of images with identical exposure and composition – more on this over the page. The key here is the moving people and vehicles will be in different…

• Shooting on a tripod should eliminate camera shake, the blur you get from shooting handheld. But some image stabilisation systems can actually add blur to your pictures when shooting on a tripod, as they may try to correct for movement that isn’t there. It’s best to switch this off and enable your self-timer to avoid blurry images. • If a vehicle is parked, you’ll have to wait long enough for it to move, or do some clever cloning in post-processing to remove it. It’s best to frame up on a scene where there aren’t any parked vehicles to save you the hassle.…

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR FRIENDS and family a personalised greeting this festive season then look no further than our free Christmas card templates. You can add your own images to them, print them out and write your special message inside. When you’ve finished the tutorial below be sure to print out your cards on some good quality card stock. Printing on A4, you can then fold them in half to create an A5 card. There are two faint markers on each card which you can join with a ruler and score with scissors to make sure your cards fold neatly in half for a professional finish. Read the steps below and watch the accompanying video to see how you can make the most of the ten free templates…

Samyang 16mm f/2 ED AS UMC CS £305 For anyone seeking a semi-wide ‘walkabout’ lens for a cropped-sensor camera, this Samyang offering is worth a look. It’s manual focus only, but that’s all part of the fun. samyanglensglobal.com Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD £469 Tamron has really upped its game with its ‘super performance’ range of lenses, and this 35mm example is the widest of the bunch. It’s also weather-sealed to go anywhere. tamron.eu/uk Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art £669 Sigma’s Art range of prime lenses has earned multiple accolades and this fast, f/1.4 35mm beauty may be a little expensive, but it might also be the only lens you need. sigma-imaging-uk.com…

1 GO PRIME I use prime lenses for my shoots, as I’ve always felt that it means that you actively move for the photo, rather than just zoom in from a distance. I also think that it’s much less intimidating for subjects, unlike some of the larger zoom lenses that you can come across. 2 PACK LIGHT I believe that you should try and have a fairly small kitbag. Yes, it’s great to have a broad range of lenses or camera bodies, but I feel it’s more important to have a go-to kit. It needs to be light and easily accessible, as this will help you when you’re on the go. I take my Leica M240, 35mm and 50mm lenses, as well as lens wipes, spare batteries and memory cards.…

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN PICTURES from a young age. I was mesmerised by the family albums that sat on our shelves gathering dust. Inside were sun-drenched scenes of holidays in Europe, my brother and me playing in the sand, or trekking around a villa in search of figs. I can’t say how much influence these images had, but I know that I loved looking through those albums then, and I still do now. I studied photography at college, but have only really begun to understand it in the last two years of my university degree. I feel like I’ve grown as a person, and my work has flourished alongside me. The works I’ve created for my degree are primarily about identity so far, but there are a few other…

Panasonic Lumix G9 £1499 Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds flagship stills offering packs a 20.3MP sensor, 225-point DFD contrast detection AF system and is capable of a colossal 20fps blackout free with continuous autofocus. There’s an 80MP High Resolution mode, which utilises sensor shift technology, and a 5-axis image stabilisation that boasts a massive 6.5 stops of compensation. You also have access to 4K video at 60fps, or Full HD 1080p slow motion up to 180fps. panasonic.com Canon EOS 7D MkII £1349 This Canon APS-C DSLR is aimed firmly at action enthusiasts and pairs a 20.2MP sensor with dual Digic 6 processors to belt out 10fps continuous shooting speeds. It also boasts a 65-point phase detection AF system, fixed 3in 1040k-dot screen and top-plate LCD. Couple its impressive features set with…

Sony has fast become the benchmark for full-frame CSCs. The α 7R III packs a 42.4MP BSI sensor, 100-32,000 native ISO range and 10fps continuous shooting speed. You get a 399-point phase-detection AF system, with the brilliant Eye AF mode, ideal for portraits, as well as 4K 30fps and 1080p Full HD 120fps video with S-log capability. Like the Z7, you will find a 5-axis in-body image stabilisation system, capable of 5 stops. sony.co.uk Canon’s first stab at full-frame CSCs boasts a 30.3MP sensor, similar to that found in the 5D MkIV. You also have a native 100-40,000 ISO range, huge 5655-point AF system and 4K 30fps or 1080p Full HD 60fps video. While it lacks the resolution and image stabilisation of the Nikon, it boasts -6EV focusing, a single…