Tabla de contenidos para July 2019 en Practical Photography: Lite

1 Shoot through flowers A colourful, blurred floral foreground adds romantic interest to shots. Use a wide aperture to limit the depth-of-field and set your focus point on the subjects. 2 Have some fun Atmosphere shots add another dimension. Try getting the groomsmen to lift up the groom, making the group laugh, so you can then capture the fun. 3 Use available light Fairy lights, rendered out of focus in the foreground or background, will deliver beautiful bokeh. Use a wide aperture for a shallow depth-of-field.…

Q I have my first wedding shoot coming up. Is it a good idea to check out the location before the day of the big event? Geoff Pitcher, Sheffield Kirk says: Forewarned is forearmed, and the more planning you can put into a shoot – no matter what the subject – the less likely you are to encounter an issue. When you scout a location you will want to consider where the sun might be in the sky when you’re likely to be shooting, what areas provide a nice backdrop for the bride and groom shots and any alternatives there might be for indoor shots if the weather turns bad. Talk to people at the venue about the best places to shoot and bring a camera with you so you…

Composition is arguably the most important aspect of this technique, so you’ll need to pay close attention to this page to gain your gold! By carefully considering where you want to place your subject within the frame, you’ll be able to create a stunning classic still life worthy of our top accolade. Balance the composition In this module, we’re asking you to create a centrally composed still life. This means that your subject should be positioned right in the middle of your frame. While this may seem deceptively simple, there’s plenty to consider to keep you on your toes. Central compositions work best when paired with symmetry, so to make your classic still life photos as powerful as possible, we don’t want to see one half of your image filled…

While a wide aperture will give you a beautifully shallow depth-of-field for your classic still life, it can make focusing a little trickier than if you were working with a narrower aperture. This is because the zone of sharpness, which is the amount of your photo that will be sharp, is greatly reduced when working with a wide aperture, and so creating an accurate focus is even more important. To ensure you’re focusing correctly, set your camera to single-point AF mode. This means that rather than having multiple AF points, you’ll have just one that you’ll be able to move around and place wherever you like. Don’t be tempted to leave your camera in auto-area AF, as you’ll have no control over where the camera will focus. Instead, the camera…

If you’ve followed the Camera School brief this far, you’ll have captured the perfect shot. So now it’s time to look at the editing process to explore how post-processing techniques with Affinity Photo can help you take your shots to the next level. One of the most powerful tools you can work with is Curves, as it’s perfect for pros and beginners alike. Controlling the shadows, highlights and midtones in one tool allows you to boost the contrast of your shot, which will increase the impact of your classic still life. It takes minutes, and is a great way to complement the skills you’ve learned over the past few pages, plus you can apply it across your other photographic ventures as well! Edit your homework shots While the addition of…

MY INTEREST IN PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE started as a result of my obsession with the various wild creatures that inhabit our planet. I began birding with my dad when I was ten, and it wasn’t long before I wanted to be able to record what I was seeing. After a brief stint with digiscoping (where a compact camera is attached to an optical telescope via an adaptor), I took the plunge and bought a Nikon D60 and a Sigma 50-500mm lens. Understandably, my parents had a few misgivings about me blowing the entirety of my savings on a camera at that age, but the obsession that started over 15 years ago still burns brightly today. Since those first attempts through a telescope, I’ve photographed some fantastic subjects, from waxwings and bitterns…

SUCCESSFUL IMAGE EDITING in Photoshop often comes down to picking the right tool – or tools – for the task at hand. And at no point is that truer than when it comes to deciding between using the Eraser Tool and Layer Masks. Both tools have their merits, and can achieve broadly the same results. But one of them, Layer Masks, simply offers vastly more control than the other. Both are primarily used for blending separate layers into a finished composite image, and that could mean something simple like using layers to make changes to contrast or colour in one part of a picture. Or it could be much more complex, such as when adding new elements to an image, or making an intricate montage using many different layers and…

CyberLink’s PhotoDirector 9 DE is a powerful image editing suite which puts the emphasis on simplicity and power. With it, you’re able to create amazing image edits in a matter of minutes, or use the multitude of included templates for instant results. To download your free version, worth £50, enter the URL below into your browser’s address bar and use code PPMAGPHD9DE before 4 August 2019. Download at www.cyberlink.com/PPMAGPHD9DE…

If you’re looking to spend less but still want a high-resolution full-frame CSC, then consider the Sony α 7R III. It has a 42MP full-frame sensor, built-in Image Stabilisation, a brilliant 399-point AF system and is capable of continuous AF/AE tracking up to 10fps. It also offers 4K video, has a tilting LCD and offers Pixel Shift Multi Shooting. sony.co.uk The Z 7 is Nikon’s flagship mirrorless camera. It offers a 45.7 full-frame sensor with 5 stops of 5-axis image stabilisation, a 493-point Hybrid AF system and can shoot at 9fps. It’ll shoot 4K at 30p, Full HD at 120p and comes with a tilting touchscreen. It also boasts a chunky handgrip, and outstanding control scheme and ergonomics. nikon.co.uk…

Sony’s E-mount lenses are purpose built for their mirrorless cameras, and are manufactured by Sony, Samyang, Sigma, Zeiss and Tamron, along with some more specialist, less well-known names. They’re available in a range of primes and zooms, with focal lengths starting at 10mm at the wide end up to 400mm telephoto lenses. There’s a good choice of optics to suit all budgets; prices start at £179 and that’ll get you the Sony FE 50mm f1.8 lens, which is an ideal lens for portraits. E-mount lenses are split into two categories. Sony E lenses are designed for cameras with APS-C sensors, while FE lenses are intended for full-frame cameras. The good thing is you can use both E and FE formats on the α 6400, giving access to over 100 lenses.…

Pawel Zygmunt Fresh from winning the first Outdoor Photo of the Year competition, landscape ace Pawel talks to us about his love for adventure. Get inspired on p54 Oscar Dewhurst Master’s degree student Oscar has built up an amazing portfolio of furry and feathered friends. Find out what started his photo obsession on p100 Ben Davis Former Digital Photo staffer Ben is one of the sharpest photo brains in the business and this month reviews the latest cameras. Get techy on p117…

SUMMER CAN BE A STRANGE TIME FOR landscape photographers. Although I get excited about the displays of vibrant colour around – namely the poppies that arrive in June and July followed by the annual show of heather on the moorlands of the Peak District and Yorkshire – the trees can turn a dull shade of green and the light tends to be harsh, even early in the day. It can be tempting to hibernate and let my camera gather dust, but in the last few years I’ve explored different options during this time of the year instead. “STEPPING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE MAKES ME A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER” I’m by no means a wildlife photographer. I often say that I’m much happier chasing an image rather than waiting for it…

SKYLUM’SLUMINAR suite has long been revered for its ability to easily demystify the complicated world of image editing. Luminar 3 not only aims to build on this tradition, but also drastically advance it. Packing in a powerful mix of essential tools and a series of recently enhanced AI Filters, it’s a great option for users at all skill levels. It also introduces a brand new comprehensive library feature where you can sort, rate and cull shots before editing – ideal for fine-tuning your portfolio. This is perfect for anybody looking for a great all-in-one solution to editing for a budget-friendly one-off price As well as giving you professional results and keeping up with all your demands, Luminar 3 is also welcoming to those taking their first steps into the world…

■ GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY Leicestershire The UK’s only double track, mainline heritage railway, it’s the only place in the world where full-size steam engines can be seen passing each other. Trains run every weekend of the year and on bank holidays too. Keep a special eye out for the upcoming Fish and Chip train on 29 June. gcrailway.co.uk ■ BLUEBELL RAILWAY East Sussex One of the first preserved heritage lines in the country, this heritage site has a fantastic collection of vintage steam locomotives. bluebell-railway.com ■ GOATHLAND STATION North Yorkshire Probably most famous for its appearance in the first Harry Potter film, this charming station is a popular steam train pilgrimage for period location scouts. nymr.co.uk ■ GLENFINNAN VIADUCT Inverness-shire, Scotland One of the most iconic sights in the UK,…

■ BRANDS HATCH Kent One of the world’s most iconic motorsport venues, Brands Hatch hosts a wide variety of prestigious events, including the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and the British GT. With minimal fencing and lush greenery surrounding the track, this is our favourite venue to capture some breakneck action. brandshatch.co.uk ■ SILVERSTONE Northamptonshire Perhaps Britain’s most famous racing circuit, this track plays host to both Formula 1 and MotoGP. To avoid the crowds – and the steep ticket prices – visit the track on a practice or qualifying day, rather than on the day of the race itself. At this venue, the track is surrounded by high fencing, so a wide aperture is a must. silverstone.co.uk ■ GOODWOOD West Sussex One of the most beautiful circuits in the UK,…

Q I have a portfolio of great wedding shots but how do I attract new business and client leads? Martin Powers, Lancashire Richard says: One of the best ways to attract new business is via the internet. Consider the following ideas to connect with potential clients: ■ Start a blog. When people search for services online they use a search engine. If you include a regularly-updated blog on your website, and use search engine optimised (SEO) words such as ‘wedding photography Lancashire’ in that blog, your site will move up the search engine rankings and be easier to find. ■ Use social media. While you don’t need to have a presence on every social media platform, it’s worth researching where potential clients spend their time and then targeting those sites.…

Q I’m shooting my first wedding soon and I’m nervous about the group shots. How do I direct people? Daniel Cuthbert, Ipswich Louise says: The phrase ‘herding cats’ could have easily been coined for weddings. The hapless photographer – that’s you! – will be tasked with rounding up every member of the extended friends and family group and getting them into some sort of order for the traditional group shot. But you’ve got a job to do and you have to take charge of things. Don’t be afraid to raise your voice to be heard – be forceful but polite. As the photographer you will sometimes find yourself cast in the role of judge, jury and wedding organiser. At the start of the day, get to know the key players,…

■ Social media may be great for sharing your favourite shots, but the impact from a high-quality print is impossible to beat. ■ Portrait Rag 285 is a cotton-rag paper with a rich matt finish that will create smooth skin tones and help to define detail and colour in your shots. ■ Portrait White 285 is one of the best fine art papers for weddings due to its crisp white base and superior coating, perfect for colour and vibrancy. ■ FB Gold Silk 315 is a baryta paper with a satin finish and warm base tint that makes it an excellent choice for those velvety blacks and creamy whites. ■ Learn more by visiting permajet.com…

Standard kit lenses cover a range of focal lengths from wide-angle to semi-telephoto. As you zoom into a scene, the angle-of-view decreases – essentially you ‘lose’ the edges as you hone in on the middle. A less obvious effect concerns the way the perspective is altered. As you zoom in you effectively compress the scene, making it appear as if distant objects are closer and the whole vista is ‘squashed’. This effect is useful in portraiture and some landscape applications.…

\\ MODULE 1 CLASSIC STILL LIFE Issue: July 2019 On sale: 6 June 2019 Homework deadline: 3 July 2019 Marks announced: 17 July 2019 \\ MODULE 2 ABSTRACT LANDSCAPES Issue: August 2019 On sale: 4 July 2019 Homework deadline: 31 July 2019 Marks announced: 14 August 2019 \\ MODULE 3 REFLECTIONS Issue: September 2019 On sale: 1 August 2019 Homework deadline: 28 August 2019 Marks announced: 11 Sept 2019 \\ MODULE 4 MONO TEXTURES Issue: October 2019 On sale: 29 August 2019 Homework deadline: 25 Sept 2019 Marks announced: 9 October 2019 \\ MODULE 5 CREATIVE FRAMING Issue: November 2019 On sale: 26 September 2019 Homework deadline: 23 October 2019 Marks announced: 6 November 2019 \\ MODULE 6 SPOOKY SPECTRE Issue: December 2019 On…

Settings are key for turning a good image into a great one. Here are our suggestions to help you get the most from your camera. 1 APERTURE-PRIORITY This mode allows you to take full control over your aperture. 2 SINGLE-POINT AF Single-Point AF allows you to choose the perfect focal point for your still life. Turn to p92 for more. 3 AF-S AUTOFOCUS This is the default drive mode and will take one photo when you press the shutter. Half-press the shutter to engage autofocus. 4 WHITE BALANCE White balance is an important part of any shot, and especially important when it comes to rendering colours accurately. As you’re working indoors, use the auto setting for best results. 5 EXPOSURE COMPENSATION The exposure compensation option…

Using a large, curved piece of paper as your backdrop will ensure that your background is clean and free from clutter or distractions. Objects such as fruit or flowers often comprise multiple tones and delicate shapes, so they can be easily lost against a messy background. Keep a keen eye out for the corners of your frame to ensure that you don’t accidentally capture the sides of the paper as this will draw unwanted attention to the backdrop. You’ll need to keep the paper pristine, so avoid creating any tears or creases before you begin your shoot, and carry spares just in case.…

1 Set your focus mode Switch your camera to its autofocus mode. Then go into your menu and select single-point AF. Your camera will focus once when you half-press the shutter, but it won’t then continue to re-focus. To find out how to set up S-AF for your camera, check your manual, as methods vary between different cameras. 2 Select the focus point Go into your camera’s AF Area menu and select single-point AF. This will give you a single focus point that you can move around and place accurately. To do this, use the D-pad on the back of the camera while looking through the viewfinder, or use the back screen while using Live View. 3 Focus and shoot Half-pressing your shutter button will bring your…

In Affinity Photo, click the Adjustment tab and then choose Curves from the list. In the panel that appears, you’ll need to move the anchor points to create a traditional ‘S’ curve, as seen on the left, by clicking and dragging two points on the line. Drag downwards on the left of the curve and upwards on the right to produce a gentle curve. Finally, go to the very bottom-left corner and pull the black point up slightly to create a slightly faded look in the shadows, further enhancing the details.…

I took this shot a few summers ago, when I happened to stumble across some badgers on a golf course near me. I soon noticed that they would take the same route each evening through the course, as they wanted to feed on some fallen plums nearby. Badgers are nocturnal animals, but as it was early July, the hours of daylight were so long that when the badgers emerged there was still some light left that I could use. This shot is the first time I’d tried to take any photos of them. I laid down behind a grass bank that was near their route. Then, as this one ran towards me, I waited for it to get close enough before shooting a burst of images.…

The Eraser Tool and Layer Masks both control the visibility of pixels on a layer. But if you don’t know how layers themselves work, that’s not going to mean much! You can think of layers as separate photos piled on top of one another. Each photo you add to the pile obscures that beneath it. But if you remove part of the photo, the one below will be visible. In the real world you’d do this with a scalpel or scissors, but in Photoshop it can be done with the Eraser Tool, Layer Masks or the Selection tools. You can also change the way one layer interacts with another by altering its Opacity, Fill and its Blending Mode – something for another time. In the example here, the image has…

WEDDINGS ARE ALWAYS FILLED with beautiful photo opportunities, and as your memory cards will be bursting with amazing shots, the edit can become a time-consuming process. This is where Photoshop’s actions can help – these pre-programmed edits let you apply effects to your shots in seconds. We’ve put together a collection of 25 bespoke, contemporary, toning presets to boost your editing credentials and save you time. With such a wide range to choose from, including black & white, cinematic and a wealth of various tonal palettes, you’re sure to find a perfect look for every shot and then be able to apply it quickly and easily. Here’s how… 1 Load in your free actions into Photoshop In Photoshop go to File>Open then find the image you want to work…

The S1R’s 47.3MP sensor is powered by Panasonic’s latest Venus Engine, which does an excellent job of rendering true-to-life colours and an exceptional level of detail. There’s no low-pass filter on board, which means it can capture increased sharpness, and you really notice just how crisp the images are from the S1R. An omission of the low-pass filter can lead to problems with moiré, but it isn’t something we detected in testing. The sensor’s high level of detail allows you to easily make significant crops – images straight out of camera measure a whopping 8368x5584px. With this resolution, you’ll also have no problems creating very large prints, but you’ll also fill your hard drives quicker as the files are big too.…

We found the S1R produced pleasing colours throughout the sensitivity range. Skin tones appeared accurate and not over-saturated, and the greens in nature weren’t overbearing. The JPEGs are pleasingly punchy, while the RAWs stand up to heavy editing and allow for plenty of detail to be coaxed from the highlights and shadows. The camera has a native ISO range of 100-25,600 (it can be extended to 50-51,200), and for such a high-resolution sensor the noise performance was excellent. Even at ISO 12,800 we found the effects of grain weren’t ruinous to the image and it is still a viable sensitivity setting. The in-built Noise Reduction worked well on JPEGs without making detail too waxy.…

For similar money to the α 6400, the X-T2 from Fujifilm is also worth considering. It features a 24.3MP APS-C sensor and is well suited for video with 4K capture. It comes with dual card slots, phase-detection AF across 40% of the frame, a 3.0in tilting LCD and Fujifilm’s brilliant colour rendition, thanks largely to the Film Simulation modes. fujifilm.com If you’re looking to spend less, then the Canon EOS M5 is a good option. It features a 24.1MP sensor, shoots at 7fps with Servo AF, offers up to 143 AF points and comes with a tilting 3.0in touchscreen. The sensor can be cranked up to ISO 26,500 for low-light shooting and it can also record Full HD video at 60fps, or 4K video at 25fps with a 1.7x crop.…

Camera: Sony α 6400 Price: £949 body only Effective resolution: 24.2MP Sensor: 23.5x15.6mm Processor: BIONZ X LCD: 3in 921k-dot tiltable LCD with touch focus Shutter: Bulb, 30-1/4000sec Autofocus: 425-point phase detection, Real-Time AF Tracking ISO: 100-32,000 (expanded to 102,400) Shooting speed: 11fps for 46 RAWs Video: 4K 3840x2160 (24p), Full HD 1920x1080 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p) Pop-up flash: Yes Other features: Interval shooting, Smile Shutter, NFC, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, S-Log profile for video, Zebra stripes, Mic-in jack, Sweep Panorama, Scene Selection Battery life: 410 shots via LCD Card type: 1x SD, SDHC, SDXC Size (WxHxD): 120x67x60mm Weight: 403g Web: sony.co.uk…

Micro Four Thirds is a very capable system for producing great shots. The colours and contrast work well in this action shot to make the car spring to life. We were also impressed by the ISO performance, producing usable files up to ISO 6400. One drawback from the smaller sensor is the depth-of-field. It will still be able to produce blurred backgrounds, though the system doesn’t quite achieve the silky fall off of larger format sensors. The RAW files also lack the flexibility of some of the competition due to their smaller dynamic range. That said, when shooting in JPEG, or with the correct exposure, the resulting images are impressive and shouldn’t hold you back.…

With so many mounts on offer, this isn’t a direct comparison. Each will give great bang for your buck. They may be budget, but you can achieve stellar results from these optics. Obviously, the Sigma 150-600mm is a bit more expensive than the others, but for dedicated wildlife shooters it’s a steal. The Micro Four Thirds lenses have ideal proportions for travel, with impressive reach, and Fujifilm and Sony’s offerings pack in a lot of power if you’re using either system. It really is a case of picking the lens that works best for your needs, and each optic is a great choice for anyone looking to add extra length to their line-up. And the winner is... Of course, we have to pick a favourite, and despite very tough competition,…

Canon 850D We’re expecting Canon to make moves to consolidate its vast entry-level line-up, with the next release to be a merger of the 77D and 800D lines. Featuring the current 24.1MP APS-C sensor, we believe it will opt for the 77D’s more enthusiast-feeling body, including the top-plate LCD, and pack in 4K video, as per the 250D. It will also include Canon’s guided user interface. canon.co.uk Nikon D8000 Nikon’s D7500 is a great camera, but having just celebrated its second birthday, it’s about time for a replacement. The D8000 will likely feature a 24MP sensor, as well as pack in 4K and potentially be the first DSLR in the lineup to boast in-body image stabilisation. We also expect it to rock an upgraded phase detection AF system, and expanded…

Camera bag Travel light All of that kit has to be safely carried around, but it’s going to be a long day so opt for the lightest bag you can find. Main camera body The reliable workhorse Ideally, your main camera will be pro spec or at least serious hobbyist-level kit. This camera is going to see serious use so we’d recommend a DSLR for its superior battery life. Ensure that it comes with two memory card slots in case one card corrupts. Batteries Carry spares Digital cameras are useless without batteries Get a set of spare ones for both your camera bodies and make sure they’re charged. Pack extra batteries for your flashgun too. Flashgun For creative shots It’s unlikely that you will be able…

Q How can I safeguard against something going wrong on my commercial wedding shoots? James Porter, Kent Kirk says: Shooting a wedding is stressful enough without the fear of disaster hanging over you. There are certainly some precautions you can take to ease the burden. Memory card corruption can be managed by using multiple smaller cards and investing in recovery software, while unforeseen circumstances that might prevent you from turning up can be mitigated by building a network of other pros who can step in at short notice. If you’re running a commercial business shooting weddings then it makes sense to have insurance. The fees are usually very reasonable and the services on offer include full coverage for your gear, as well as third-party liability in the event of you…

Ben Hawkins With over 17 years as a photographic journalist, Ben is an experienced competition judge, picture editor and writer. Richard Collins PP’s deputy editor is a hugely talented journalist, photographer and tutor with an eye for the minimalist and abstract. Louise Carey Practical Photography’s features editor is an award-winning fine art and documentary photographer. Too close for comfort by John Cox “Getting the shot where the lead rider’s knee is just kissing the tarmac only comes with experience” This is one of many shots taken at my favourite circuit, Donington Park, during practice day for the Superbike World Championship. I wanted to capture the competitive nature of the racing and had my camera set on a monopod at the Melbourne Hairpin, the challenge here being that you have…

Here, on the Camera School team, we believe that finding the time to be creative is one of the best things you can do for both your photography, and yourself. Not only do we want you to fully understand each nook and cranny of your camera, but we also want to help you explore new and exciting photographic genres. For the first module of Camera School, we’re asking you to capture a classic window-lit still life with just a few key ingredients... Arrange your still life Inspired by Renaissance paintings, this module is all about shooting a simple, clean and balanced composition. First you’ll need to decide what you want your setup to be. Do you want to photograph a beautiful vase of flowers? Or would you rather capture a…

Best for versatility Perfect for shooting a wide variety of subjects, the 18-55mm f/2.8 kit lens is the equivalent of a 27-84mm focal range on a full-frame sensor. To capture a classic still life, set your focal length to around 40mm (approximately 60mm equivalent). This semi-telephoto focal length will allow you to capture a still life free from the distortion that can arise from wider focal lengths. Best for quality If you love shooting still life, or even if you just want a good quality, versatile prime, consider a 35mm f/1.4 lens. With an equivalent focal length of around 50mm on a full-frame sensor, and an angle-of-view similar to the human eye, this lens’ super-wide minimum aperture of f/1.4 allows you to capture a beautifully shallow depth-of-field in your images.…

CENTRAL COMPOSITION Make sure that you place your main subject in the centre of your photo. With that done, we don’t want to see the rest of the space totally clear. Place small objects (such as petals, grapes, orange segments, flower heads, or anything along your theme) either side of the frame to create a balanced composition with plenty of impact. THE RULE OF ODDS Odd numbers of subjects look more pleasing to the human eye than even. With this in mind, make sure you don’t have an even number of the key objects in your photo. We’re not expecting you to count every flower in a bunch, but do pay attention to the larger objects in your frame and control the numbers where you can. CLEAN BACKGROUND A messy…

YOUR BRIEF For your homework, we’re asking you to shoot one classic still life using window side-lighting. Your image should be shot with a wide aperture and composed with a balanced, central composition. The closest object to the camera in your main arrangement should be sharp and in focus. The image should be in colour and shot in JPEG. While we do allow light editing, your photo should appear natural . Once you’ve taken your image, resize it to within the 10MB limit and then upload it to camera-school.com/module-1. JUDGING CRITERIA ■ Your image should be shot with a wide aperture and free from motion blur (through using either a tripod or a minimum shutter speed of 1/60sec.) ■ Make sure your image is well-exposed, with no blown-out highlights or…

■ Why is still life such an important photographic subject to try? There are several elements that you can learn with still life photography that can become key to creating beautiful images in any field. For me, the first and most important is how much you learn about lighting. Still life gives you freedom to analyse the space for the perfect spot before setting up your shot, and to try different lights and techniques before deciding which one works best. The flexibility with moving the objects in and out of the frame, experimenting with composition, and style and colour matching will also train your eye to identify what looks good. ■ What’s your favourite still life subject and why? I go nuts over a good table setup. I’m a natural…

1 Add energy to action shots with panning effects GETTING GOOD SHOTS OF AN aircraft in flight can be challenging. You’ll likely need to shoot at a long focal length, focusing accurately and panning with it as it moves, as well as filling the frame as much as possible. Relying on the weather is a lot to ask, but bland and featureless skies like the one in our start image can ground even the best of aviation shots. Fortunately, you can add a more interesting backdrop in Photoshop and, by giving it some motion blur, you’ll also add speed and presence to the shot. It works best with jets as there are no tricky propellers to worry about, but otherwise it’s very easy to achieve. 1 Add the new sky…

WE’VE TEAMED UP WITH award-winning editing software guru CyberLink to bring you a free download of PhotoDirector 9 DE. This software is jam-packed with innovative features ideal for those who are just branching out into the world of editing, as well as those who are looking to advance their skills. Thanks to its range of essential photo tools, and brilliant image library, PhotoDirector 9 is the perfect organisational and editing suite. While some of the more advanced features are unavailable in this special promo version, you will still be able to develop your RAW files with pin-point precision, adjusting exposure and colour temperature, as well as applying powerful lens corrections. You can also take advantage of a wealth of filters and templates – very handy to get you well on…

Should you require greater clarity than the 47.3MP resolution sensor offers, the S1R can create incredible 187MP images via the camera’s High Resolution Mode. This feature combines information recorded in eight exposures that are taken as the built-in Image Stabilisation system makes adjustments to the sensor position. The result is a 16,736x11,168-pixel RAW file bursting with information. This works by the camera taking a succession of shots, so it’s only suitable for generally static subjects like landscapes or architecture and you’ll also have to use a sturdy tripod to keep steady. Shooting such large resolutions means the file sizes are enormous – a single RAW is 330MB – so you won’t fit too many on a memory card.…

Camera: Panasonic S1R Price: £3399 body only Effective resolution: 47.3MP Sensor: 36x24mm Processor: Venus Engine LCD: 3.2in 2100k-dot tri-axial tiltable LCD with touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 60-1/8000sec Mechanical, 1/16,000 electronic Autofocus: Depth From Defocus Contrast Detect with 225 areas and Eye Tracking ISO: 100-25,600 (expanded to 50-51,200) Shooting speed: 6fps for more than 40 RAWs with AF-C Video: 4K 3840x2160 (60p), Full HD 1920x1080 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p) Pop-up flash: No Other features: 5-axis image stabilisation, 6K photo mode, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity Battery life: 360 shots Card type: Dual slots – 1x SDXC II and 1x XQD Size (WxHxD): 149x110x97mm Weight: 1020g with battery Web: panasonic.com…

The α 6400’s 24.2MP APS-C sensor is powered by the latest version of Sony’s BIONZ X processor. This powerful pairing delivers excellent image quality with some pleasing colours and satisfying fine detail. Straight out of the camera, the JPEGs are bright, bold and sharp – a boon if you’re not comfortable with editing. The RAW files contain a heap of detail in both the highlights and shadows thanks to the camera’s excellent dynamic range. The ISO performance also impressed, with noise barely noticeable below ISO 3200 (this shot of a bee was ISO 1250), and we found shots didn’t suffer too much up to ISO 12,800. The image quality of the α 6400 competes with the best of the current APS-C cameras.…

One of the biggest challenges in any genre of photography is setting the focus point accurately and quickly. This is where the α 6400 excels, as Sony leads the field when it comes to autofocusing. The newly-developed Real-Time AF Tracking is brilliant and makes obtaining a perfect sharpness so much easier. If you’re shooting a portrait, the active AF point will automatically leap to lock focus on the subject’s eyes. There’s no need to start hopping the AF point around the frame to get it close to where it ought to be – it does it all for you. The tracking was also excellent, following subjects throughout the frame. The results weren’t 100% perfect, but the hit-rate was very impressive.…

1 SPEED IT UP To compete against top action cameras, the E-M1X offers 18fps continuous shooting using AF-C, or a blistering 60fps when fixing focus on the first shot. 2 LITTLE & LARGE Despite the large body, the E-M1X retains the company’s trademark Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor, offering up a respectable 20.4MP resolution. 3 RAISE A GLASS Olympus is known for its very impressive lens tech, which offers brilliant image quality at a comparatively low price. It’ll prove to be one of the biggest draws to the system. 4 STICKY SITUATION Standing firmly in the 21st century, the E-M1X brings a Multi Selector joystick, which allows you to move your AF point quickly and easily. 5 TOUCH & TWIST The 1037k-dot tilting Vari Angle screen is touch sensitive…

Camera: Olympus O-MD E-M1X Price: £2799 body only Effective resolution: 20.4MP Sensor: 17.4x13mm LCD: 3in 1037k-dot 180° tilting touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 60 – 1/8000sec mechanical, 1/32,000sec electronic shutter Autofocus: 121-point phase detection AF ISO: 200-25,600 (expanded down to 64) Shooting speed: 18fps for 74 RAWs or 10fps for 287 RAWs Video: 4K 30fps Other features: Live ND Filter, Live Composite, Live Bulb, Keystone, Handheld and Tripod High Res Shot, GPS Battery life: 870 shots using two BLH-1 batteries Card type: Dual SD, SDXC, SDHC UHS-I/UHS-II Size (WxHxD): 144x147x75mm Weight: 997g Web: olympus.co.uk…

IMAGE SHARPNESS We shot each lens in real-world conditions and then reviewed the images to determine the central and corner sharpness, as well as chromatic aberration and distortion – a common feature of zoom lenses. VALUE AND FEATURES While optical quality is undeniably important, budget lenses require sensible pricing, so cost played a part in the final decision. We also looked at their features, such as image stabilisation and weather sealing, focal lengths and aperture to make sure you’re spending money where it matters.…