Tabla de contenidos para May 2020 en Practical Photography: Lite

IN THESE STRANGE AND uncertain times, hobbies like photography become so much more important. We’re determined to keep you active and inspired, so if you can’t get to a newsstand at any point, don’t forget that you can download our app from the iOS or Android app stores. You’ll find some amazing one-off subscription offers, with discounts of up to 50%, and you can also purchase single issues. If you’ve got an iPhone, iPad or MacBook, you’ll find us on Apple News+, and if you’re a Kindle Fire user, download our magazines from the Amazon Newsstand. If you’re a print subscriber and we’re unable to deliver due to the COVID-19 situation, please visit greatmagazines.co.uk where further information will be provided. Stay safe, stay healthy and see you again in four…

Lee Humphreys has been shooting landscapes since 2012 and has recently been exploring the plethora of photographic opportunities on offer in England’s picturesque South West. Tell us about your chosen location… Soar Mill Cove is located on the South Devon coast near Salcombe. It is a short walk from the local hotel and there are plenty of different compositions to be had, either up on top of the cliffs or down on the sandy beach below. The cove is south-facing so it is possible to capture both sunrise and sunsets here. What is so special about this location? One of my favourite characteristics about Soar Mill Cove is that it’s not as well-known or photographed as some of the other South Devon beaches. This is surprising as it is so…

■ Where: The nearest car park is situated at Brownsham National Trust, EX39 6AN. Blackchurch Rock sits on Mouthmill Beach which is roughly a 40-minute walk from the car park. ■ When: Aim to visit the location at low tide in the summer months – between May and August when the sun sets further north and illuminates the magnificent rock. ■ What to shoot: The key focal point is Blackchurch Rock itself, however there are some wonderful lead-in lines in the surrounding rocks. Possibly the most appealing features to incorporate in your compositions, other than the impressive rock, are the wonderful reflections where the retreating sea water congregates in the rock pools.…

■ Where: The postcode LL70 9DJ will direct you to a small coastal road just off the A5025. This leads you down to the bay. Follow the road where you will find a limited number of parking spots close to the water’s edge. ■ When: If you’d like to get close to the wreck, time your visit to coincide with low tide. Always remain vigilant when it comes to the changing tides, and stay safe. You can check anticipated tidal movements and times by visiting websites such as tideschart.com ■ What to shoot: There’s no question that the main attraction of this beautiful location is the mysterious shipwreck stranded on the sand in the bay. The wreck has baffled locals and visitors alike as very little is known about how…

WATER, IN ITS VARIOUS forms, is ripe for creative photography. It’s a readily available and versatile prop that you can use to shoot eye-catching images with the most basic of home setups. Here we’re going beyond the splashes frozen in time, and long exposures of waves on rocks, to bring you three fresh ideas for water-based projects. From literally freezing the stuff to using it to give a miniature a life-size look, read on to discover how you can use water to create a dynamic scene.…

1 Lock off your focus Set your camera up on a tripod, looking slightly up at your tank. Zoom in on the tank so it fills the viewfinder and you can’t see the edges – a 100mm focal length should be enough. Place something in the water where you’ll be dropping the ink and pre-focus. Then lock off into manual so the focus won’t change before you get your shot. 2 Find your settings Switch to aperture-priority mode and select an aperture of f/8 to ensure a large enough depth-of-field. Set an ISO of 800 and check your shutter speed is over 1/200sec. If not, you can either increase your ISO or add more light, or both. 3 Drop in some ink Start off by dropping in small amounts of…

Fujifilm X-T3 £1200 This is a great option if you’re only looking to shoot the occasional wedding and can’t justify a higher price tag. An excellent 26MP APS-C camera, it offers solid ISO performance and excellent image quality as well as 4K video. fujifilm.eu/uk Nikon D850 £2500 Here you’ll find great ISO capabilities, responsive focusing even in low light, as well as a full-frame 46MP sensor with excellent dynamic range and 4K video. It’s well worth the cost if you’re looking to take on weddings more frequently. nikon.co.uk Canon 5D MkIV £2500 Also excellent in low light with rapid focusing performance, the 5D offers a 30MP sensor, excellent image quality and 4K video. Occupying a similar price point to the D850, it’s a worthwhile purchase if you’re…

BACK IN 2011 MY WIFE AND I TOOK a safari trip to Kenya, so I invested in my first DSLR. Initially I was only interested in photographing nature, spending hours roaming through farmland and woods, but after a trip to Italy in 2015 an interest in architecture formed. Living in Birmingham gave me a vast area to explore, with the added bonus of the extensive canal network. I quickly discovered that what works well for nature shots doesn’t always work when shooting in an urban setting. It was a steep learning curve. For example, the light is very different in cities – sharp angles, harsh shadows and reflective surfaces need a different set of skills, not only in camera but also in composition. Finding the best light is key. Using…

WHAT YOU NEED ■ Photoshop ■ A selection of star-filled nightscape images that you want to improve 1 Brighten stars with a simple Blending Mode trick ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO when shooting nightscapes is to make the stars as clear as possible. We do this by getting the right exposure in terms of brightness and so that their movement isn’t too blurred, and by focusing on them correctly. But, especially when shooting wide-angle, stars can still be very small and lack presence. To fix this, we can brighten them, but it’s important that we don’t brighten other parts of the image at the same time, or they’ll attract more attention than the stars. A great way of doing this is to select only the stars and…

Our ratings Every product is rigorously tested to bring you the most thorough reviews. Our product awards These accolades are reserved for exceptional products with unrivalled performance, build quality & value for money. TIPA member Practical Photography is a founding member of TIPA, the largest international photography awards body. Find out more about their work at tipa.com Your free ebook! Camera Guide There are 98 more camera reviews on your disc/ download – that’s every DSLR and CSC model available now.…

Canon G1X MkIII £949 Packing a 24.2MP Canon APS-C sensor and 15-45mm f/2.8-5.6 zoom lens with 24-72mm equivalent focal length, this compact is great for travelling. It gives 4 stops of image stabilisation, Full HD 1080p video capture and the Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus system. canon.co.uk Leica Q2 £4375 For larger budgets, this Leica comes with a 47.3MP full-frame sensor and fixed 28mm f/1.7 Summilux lens. There’s 4K video, fast contrast detection autofocus and a weather-sealed design. The EVF boasts a resolution of 3680k-dots and you can capture 10fps in continuous shooting. uk.leica-camera.com…

The video frame rate refers to how many times the shutter captures an individual exposure per second. 25p means 25 individual frames a second and is the PAL region – including UK – standard versus the accepted NTSC 30p of America, Japan and others. It’s close to how the human eye sees movement, with faster action creating a blur effect as you’d notice in the real world if you were waving your hand in front of your face. 50p – the PAL alternative to 60fps – captures twice the frames as 25p, thus allows you to slow the motion 2x by extending the length of the clip. Moving forward, 240p – or 200p for us PAL users – means you can stretch that clip out by 8x based on a…

IMAGE QUALITY Each of these lenses has undergone real world use and we’ve looked at the files to ensure they’re up to the job, as well as comparing them to the other lenses in this test. FUNCTION AND GENRE Each lens gives the traditional landscape focal lengths, as well as ultra-wide to wide apertures and impressive sharpness for the price. Although there may be cheaper or sharper lenses out there, we’ve kept budget in mind and have selected accordingly, aiming for the perfect balance with our selection.…

Rich Walker This issue’s cover star is also featured in our 10 best secret landscape locations special. From follies to shipwrecks, find a hidden scenic gem near you on p34 Rick Bowden IT engineer by day, landscape ninja by night (well, sunset), Rick’s obsession sees him travel the UK in search of amazing views. Join him on p52 Mats Andersson He’s won numerous awards, published a dozen books and led countless tour groups. He’ll also be our Chernobyl guide in September. Find out more on p94…

PHONES Samsung camera tech gets better Samsung has now released its flagship Galaxy smartphones to the UK market, and aims to wow with a wide range of dedicated photography features. The range gives you a choice of three handsets – the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra – with all three supporting 5G that’s ideal for image uploads and sharing. Both the S20 and S20+ 5G offer a Hybrid Optic Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom that offer 30x magnification. The S20 Ultra 5G takes this a step further. Thanks to its AI-powered multi-image processing, it opens up a whopping 100x zoom possibility. The S20 Ultra boasts a phenomenal 108MP resolution sensor for wide-angle shots, as well as 48MP telephoto sensor and 12MP ultra-wide camera. The other two versions give a still-impressive…

“A SKILL TO HONE IS UNDERSTANDING WHEN IT FEELS RIGHT TO BREAK THE RULES” PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MADE UP OF MANY different elements, and the photographer is in control of several aspects of the final image, from the technical settings to the more creative aspects, including the most important – composition. My own opinion is that great photographs happen in that space where considered composition meets interesting conditions. This doesn’t mean that each image must have an epic sky or anything so cliché, more that I’m constantly trying to shoot in all kinds of conditions and bring out the best in them, and getting the composition right plays a huge part in that process. One of the main reasons people might attend a workshop is to attempt to hone their compositional…

Andrew Stevens spends a lot of his time taking photographs of his local river and canal landscapes, but his love of walking in woodlands and forests meant that he stumbled upon this rather special location. Tell us about your chosen location… Puzzlewood is less than a mile south of Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Head to Coleford and simply follow the brown tourist signs for Puzzlewood. The location is a private woodland residence and entrance charges apply – currently £7 per person. What is so special about this location? Puzzlewood is known for its strange rock formations, secret caves and ancient trees, making for a magical and otherworldly environment. The woodland is said to have served as the inspiration for the Lord of the Rings films and has…

■ Where: PL24 2TN will direct you to Menabilly Farm, where parking is available. During peak season, some of the fields of the farm are opened up to allow for more spaces. If you visit in the off-season, there are limited spaces available in a small lay-by next to the farm. ■ When: The daymark tower is open to the public every Sunday from July to early September, thanks to a group of local volunteers, so if this is of interest, time your visit accordingly. ■ What to shoot: Although the daymarker tower is an obvious focal point for your compositions, shooting out to sea can offer you some breath-taking scenery.…

■ Where: Inputting EH27 8BY into your sat nav will direct you straight to Jupiter Artland. The site is 25 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh and the only entrance is via the B7015. ■ When: The site is open from 10am to 5pm every day between 9 May and 27 September 2020. ■ What to shoot: Jupiter Artland is packed full of water features, sculptures and woodlands, so you can shoot whatever takes your fancy. The beautiful Bonnington House, an A listed manor house, also sits in the heart of the 100-acre site giving you even more compositional options to explore.…

■ Where: Pontypool Park, NP4 8AT, has ample free parking on site. There is a well sign-posted footpath through Pontypool Park that will lead you to Folly Tower. ■ When: You can access Folly Tower all year round via a field which is part of a working farm. It’s best to visit in the height of summer where the weather is likely to be fairer. ■ What to shoot: The Folly Tower makes for a beautiful focal point in your composition, but there are also some spectacular views across the Welsh countryside to take advantage of from this elevated position.…

1 Set the scene Run the bath until the water is around 6in deep. Place a stick or cardboard roll across the bath and tie a length of fishing wire to it. Then tie the other end of the wire to your subject, being sure it sits at the correct depth in the water. Next add the food colouring and mix it in. Add just enough to give the water a faint blue tint. 2 Grab your camera Set your camera to manual mode. Dial in an aperture of f/18, a shutter speed of 1/60sec and an ISO of 200. Pop up your built-in flash or attach your speedlight. Set the flash to manual and the power to minimum. Take a test shot – if it’s too dark, increase the…

Chris Parker PP’s deputy editor is an experienced tutor, landscape photographer and videographer. Adam Atkins PP’s features writer is an accomplished professional sport and travel photographer. Kirk Schwarz As PP’s technique and gear editor, Kirk knows the best kit, and how to get the most out of it. How do I capture an air show in action? Q I’ve only just got into photography, and I’m very excited about shooting my first air show. How can I get the most out of the day? Terry Smith, Carmarthen Adam says: To best answer your question Terry, we’re handing over to air show photo expert Kevin Cronin (kevincroninphotography.com) to tell us how he gets his results... The best advice is just to get out there and enjoy your first air show, even…

The canals of Birmingham offer some amazing photo opportunities. Sherborne Wharf is a small residential area with apartments overlooking the canal, pretty by day but at night, the light is amazing. There is deep contrast and rich colours combined with reflections on the still waters. I have shot many images here but this one has always stood out for me. The low viewpoint, the positioning of the boats and the detail in the water all work together with the colour and light to create a sense of peace, but with an obvious urban atmosphere. What makes this shot all the more special for me is the light control I managed to achieve. It would have been so easy to get blown highlights or lose detail, but every now and then…

WHAT YOU NEED ■ A solidly composed landscape image and a fitting sky to add to it ■ Photoshop THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF things you can do to improve landscape pictures in Photoshop. These range from the most minor, photo realistic tweaks that mimic the effect of physical filters, to more outlandish effects that bridge the gap between photography and digital art. It’s the latter we’ll look at here. You’ll find out how to combine multiple images, as well as using Photoshop’s layers, selections and filters to build the image, giving a regular landscape a look that’s part long exposure and part surreal composite. How can layers help? The importance of Photoshop’s layers is that they let you apply different looks to separate parts of the image. For instance,…

Skylum’s Photolemur 3 is a powerful AI-based editing suite that gives you professional results with minimal effort. It uses an advanced algorithm that recognises and enhances certain details in your image to return a fully edited shot with zero user input. You can put your stamp on it by tweaking the effect and add an overall style with the free presets. To claim your free copy, visit the below URL before 6 July 2020. Download at bit.ly/photolemur3promo…

Fujifilm X-A7 £649 Like the α 6100, this Fujifilm packs a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, 425-point AF system with Eye AF and a huge 3.5in 180° tilting vari-angle touchscreen. It has an ISO range of 200-12,800, 4K video that’s also downsampled from 6K and the famed Film Simulation profiles. fujifilm-x.com Nikon Z 50 £849 Nikon’s APS-C mirrorless offers 20.9MP of resolution, 4K and 1080p at 120fps video and a flip-down touchscreen. It has a 209-point AF system with tracking and Eye AF, as well as a wide ISO range of 100-51,200. The ergonomics are first class and it’s got a rugged design. nikon.co.uk…

Camera: Fujifilm X100V Price: £1299 Effective resolution: 26.1MP Sensor: 23.5x15.6mm Processor: X-Processor 4 LCD: 3in 1620k-dot tilting touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 1/4000sec-15min or 1/32,000 electronic Autofocus: 425-point hybrid phase detection ISO: 160-12,800 (expands to 80-51,200) Shooting speed: 11fps for 17 RAWs mechanical, 30fps for 17 RAWs Sports Finder mode Video: DCI 4K 30p, Full HD 1080p120p Pop-up flash: No Other features: Film Simulation modes, Digital crop, Hybrid viewfinder, Multiple exposure Battery life: 350 shots Card type: SD, SDHC, SDXC Size (WxHxD): 128x75x53mm Weight: 478g Web: fujifilm-x.com…

Staying on the telephoto tip, this 70-200mm f/2.8 from Tamron is a behemoth in the ability department. It’s almost as sharp as alternatives at twice the price, gives you 5 stops of optical stabilisation with the Vibration Control and allows you to pick out fine detail or tight crops at range. It has a short 95cm minimum focusing distance, is moisture and dust resistant and respectably manageable at 1500g in weight. What more could you want?…

EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR FINE ART PORTRAITS ■ Kirk presents three brilliant ideas for stylish people pictures, from classic setups to crazy composites and surreal mono. ■ Chris and Adam take the ‘limitations’ challenge and find themselves truly inspired. ■ Combine landscapes and portraits for images that make the most of both worlds. SOFTWARE FREE SKYLUM EDITING SUITE Turn to p110 to claim your Photolemur 3 editing software. PRESETS 30 INSTANT SPRING EFFECTS Find out how to use your new one-click presets on p112. BONUS VIDEOS LEARN NEW EDITING SKILLS Create a composite scene and enhance starry skies. EBOOKS LIGHTROOM & CAMERA GUIDES ■ 42 pages of RAW editing advice and step-by-steps ■ Concise reviews of every current DSLR and CSC Problems with your free gifts? Email us…

Canon EOS R6 We’ve heard talk of the R6, Canon’s mirrorless alternative to the 6D series. Said to feature a 20MP sensor, in-body image stabilisation and fast continuous shooting speed up to 20fps, it is also believed to come with dual SD card slots, 4K video at a whopping 60fps and fully articulated vari-angle LCD touchscreen. It may also include a new battery for increased shooting time. canon.co.uk Nikon Z 70 Nikon’s Z 50 appears to be going down a storm, so it’s reasonable to expect the company to expand its mirrorless APS-C line-up. We expect the Z 70 to be a 24MP stills camera with impressive video ability. It will likely feature an improved AF system with the latest algorithms built in, fast 15-20fps capture and 4K filming. We…

WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT IN wildlife photography, I made a wish list of the animals I wanted to document and the locations I’d have to visit to find them. My list included all of the iconic species and locations you’d expect any aspiring wildlife photographer to have in their sights, from tigers in India to polar bears in the Arctic. However, the list also included one location that most photographers have a tendency to miss off their list, and that was my own local patch. Given the prospect of travelling to the world’s most iconic destinations and the possibility of photographing ‘blue chip’ animals, any aspiring wildlife photographer could be forgiven for overlooking what’s on their doorstep. “HAVING SOMEWHERE ON OUR DOORSTEP TO SHOOT CAN MAXIMISE THE TIME WE…

■ Where: Dovestone Reservoir car park, OL3 7NE, is situated in the north-west of the Peak District. Raven Stones Brow, located high up in Saddleworth Moor, is roughly a two-hour hike from the car park. ■ When: Autumn is an especially beautiful time of the year to visit. It’s common to be treated to an inversion in the early morning where thick fog clears to reveal clouds in the Greenfield valley below. ■ What to shoot: There are plenty of stunning vistas on display on Saddleworth Moor but the Trinnacle, overlooking Greenfield Reservoir, is one of the most striking compositions on offer.…

■ Where: GL16 8QB, situated in the heart of the Forest of Dean in Coleford. Admission prices are currently £7 for adults (£6 concessions). For return visits, an annual pass costs £20. ■ When: Puzzlewood is open from 10am to 5pm daily from 1 April to the 30 September this year. If you’re planning a visit to Puzzlewood early next year, it’s worth noting that it will be closed to the public from the 25 December 2020 to the 13 February 2021. ■ What to shoot: Puzzlewood offers a magical day out for photographers and their families too, with the bonus of a host of interesting photographic opportunities to be found there, ranging from the maze pathways to the rock formations, as well as the caves and the wooden bridges.…

Welder and life-long resident of Teeside Tim Clay’s primary passion is seeking out new and unique local areas to photograph. He prides himself on showcasing the ruggedness and beauty of his favourite locations. Tell us about your chosen location… The south bank of the River Tees Estuary is a spit of reclaimed land laid down in the late 1800s and known locally as the South Gare. Local photographers are aware of the opportunities associated with the area but to others, it’s pretty much a mystery. The location is only accessible from a 3-mile dead-end road or a long walk along the beach from the nearby coastal town of Redcar. What is so special about this location? Despite first impressions, it’s an absolute gold mine for photography. The landscape is littered…

■ Where: The nearest free public car park to the Straining Tower can be found at the foot of the Giants of Vyrnwy Trail, SY10 0ND. ■ When: It’s best to visit the lake in the early autumn where you will be treated to an array of vibrant colours among the surrounding forests. ■ What to shoot: Lake Vyrnwy is brimming with photographic opportunities – waterfalls, forests, wildlife and even an impressive dam at the southern tip of the lake. The picturesque Straining Tower, however, provides one of the most appealing focal points in the area, and one that is reminiscent of something out of a fairy tale.…

Landscape, astro and portrait photographer Hanna Baguley spends most of her time photographing the  natural beauty on the Isle of Anglesey, and has stumbled upon the ultimate coastal location in the process. Tell us about your chosen location… Bae Dulas is a small bay on the northeast coast of Anglesey in North Wales. Although it’s a truly beautiful location, it does have its share of dangers. The beach is a mixture of sand and mud, and due to the flatness of the area, the tide comes and goes rather quickly, so make sure you research the tidal movements prior to visiting the area to avoid complications. What is so special about this location? The location’s primary appeal is the beautiful shipwreck located at the northern tip of the bay. Having…

1 DON’T BE SCARED TO FAIL Not every shoot will succeed – if they did it would be boring. Every failed shoot is just an opportunity to practise and learn a bit more about your gear. If you’re at a new location, use the time to scout the area for compositions you might use the next time you go there. 2 BE FLEXIBLE It’s important to have an idea of what you’re going to shoot when you arrive at your location, but sometimes things don’t work out. Lots of times I’ve found my subject either covered in scaffolding or buried by drifting sand. Don’t pack up and go home – you’ve already made the effort to get out, so try looking for detail shots or try an abstract or some…

1 Freeze your fruit Arrange your fruit in a freeze-proof container. Slowly add enough water to surround the fruit and freeze it until solid. Repeat the process, adding more fruit on top. Add only water but no fruit one last time so the surface is flat. Freeze. 2 Set the scene Place the ice block on a waterproof background, near a window. You’re looking for a nice even light over the whole scene. Wipe off any raised ice left by the tub with a warm cloth. Your ice will melt slightly as you are shooting so keep a towel to hand to mop up your background during the shoot. 3 Take the shot Grab your camera and lens – ideally a longer focal length such as 100mm, but anything with…

THE WAY THAT DIFFERENT substances behave underwater is endlessly fascinating. It can also make for some striking photographic projects. One of the easiest and most engaging is shooting ink in water. Every time you try it you’ll get a different result, each one an individual and spectacular underwater sculpture. It couldn’t be easier to do. All you need is a small and clear water container, some food colouring, a little patience and a camera. Fill the tank Find yourself a small water container made of clear plastic or glass. You’ll be emptying it and refilling between each shot, so the smaller the better. A 10-litre fish tank would be ideal, but if not, you can accomplish the same thing with a glass of water. Position it in front of a…

■ Take a camera body with as fast a motor drive as you can – 10fps is ideal but 5fps or faster will be sufficient. Fast and precise focus is going to be invaluable too. ■ Bring a long lens. The longer you can go the better, to fill the frame with the planes. Anything longer than 150mm should work. This will allow you to get closer to the action. ■ Choose a wide to mid-range focal length lens for incidental and wider shots. A 24-120mm optic is an ideal range here. A kit lens would work too. ■ Carry a monopod. Lugging around long lenses all day can really take it out of your arms, and this can lead to camera shake. Using a monopod gives you more freedom…

Chris Parker PP’s deputy editor is an experienced tutor, landscape photographer and videographer. Adam Atkins PP’s features writer is an accomplished professional sport, travel and commercial photographer. Kirk Schwarz With over ten years spent as a wedding, fashion and product photographer, Kirk has an eye for finer details. Lone tree by Chris Meads “The vibrant colours have been perfectly captured through the expert use of filters” I ventured out on a trip to Snowdonia in May last year – my first ever trip to North Wales. While there, I decided to visit this infamous lone tree in the hope of some nice lighting conditions. It’s a rather unique scene, but one that is tricky to vary the composition. Instead, I focused intently on achieving effective angles and alignment, with…

IF YOU’VE CAUGHT THE PORTRAIT bug and love taking creative control of lighting, then investing in a studio flash kit ought to be high up on your gear wishlist. It’s the next logical step for any photographer who enjoys the art of flash portraiture, and the enhanced features of studio strobes will help you create better results. Lots of aspiring photographers dream of having a studio but fear it’s solely the preserve of the professional. Luckily that’s no longer the case – basic studio flash kits are available from around £200. Why use studio flash? Creating portraits with a studio flash setup offers a handful of big benefits over using flashguns. Studio lights are at least 5x more powerful than a speedlight. This means you can shoot with lower ISO…

TURN IT INTO A SERIES Images like this are fun to make, but look even better in a series. Just apply the same effect to other similar pictures, preferably from the same shoot. To get the look consistent, use identical settings, for instance with the colours that are added using Curves, or the grain effect. You can copy these from one picture to another by dragging them out of the Layers palette and onto the new picture. Or, in the Curves palette, click on the menu icon and choose Save Curves Preset. Give your preset a name, then click OK to save it, and it’ll be there in the presets next time you add a Curves Adjustment layer.…

WHAT YOU NEED ■ Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC or Affinity ■ Any photo that you want to give a seasonal feel THERE’S SO MUCH beauty and photo inspiration to be found in spring, with soft pastels, vibrant florals and a glowing sun. Bright colours flood our landscapes and the days get longer, as well as warmer, so it’s always an inviting time to grab a camera and head outside. And while the beauty of spring is going to be evident in every shot you take, there’s always room for a little bit of enhancement to bring out its very best. This range of Actions for Photoshop, Presets for Lightroom and Macros for Affinity Photo are designed to help the colours leap from your shots. They can be downloaded, installed and…

We mention the rolling shutter when using 4K video, but what exactly is rolling shutter, or the ‘jelly effect’ as it’s also known? Simply put, it’s a by-product of using the electronic shutter for either video or stills. This method takes a reading straight from the sensor, line by line, starting at the top corner and ending at the opposite bottom corner. If the readout isn’t fast enough, objects moving at speed will have moved in between the start and end points and that movement will have been captured – often to hilarious effect. The example on the left is of a 2p coin spinning – a fun and easy experiment to try at home – and captured using the electronic shutter or ‘Silent Shooting’ mode. Different cameras will have…

Camera: Sony α 6100 Price: £699 Effective resolution: 24.2MP Sensor: 23.5x15.6mm Processor: Bionz X LCD: 3in 921k-dot 180° flip-up LCD touchscreen Shutter: Bulb, 1/4000sec-30sec Autofocus: 425-point hybrid phase/contrast detect ISO: 100-32,000 (expands to 51,200) Shooting speed: 11fps for 33 RAWs or 76 JPEGs Video: 4K at 30fps, Full HD at 120fps Pop-up flash: Yes Other features: Real-time tracking AF, Eye AF, Animal Eye AF, Interval timer, Zebra lines, Focus peaking, 1:1 square aspect ratio Battery life: 420 shots Card type: SD, SDHC, SDXC Size (WxHxD): 120x67x59mm Weight: 396g Web: sony.co.uk…

If you’ve used a camera in the last ten years you’ll have enjoyed either an optical or electronic viewfinder. The optical simply shows you the scene passed through the lens, bounced off a mirror and into your eye. However, an electronic viewfinder, or EVF, shows you what the sensor sees. This version can also apply settings, such as exposure, white balance and even colour profiles to allow you to preview your final shot before you even take it. The X100V features both an optical rangefinder style and electronic viewfinder, letting you switch between the two. While the EVF uses a straight up OLED display, the OVF can still reflect areas of the OLED, allowing it to retain important information, such as settings and focus areas.…

Telephoto landscapes are all the rage and give you a different take on familiar subjects. With that in mind, why not go all-in with this superzoom that gives you an equivalent 200-600mm focal range? It comes with a variable f/4-5.6 aperture, 67mm filter thread and reasonable 520g weight. It’s sharper at the 100mm focal length, though does more than enough for great shots at longer ranges too.…

LENSES Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art £939 PRICE £939 APERTURE F/2.8-22 FILTER SIZE 82mm MANY OF SIGMA’S FINE ART optics have graced the pages of PP, and many have enjoyed a five-star review. This time it’s down to the newly-released 24-70mm f/2.8 for Sony’s E-mount to face our scrutiny. Handling & build As you’d expect from such a venerable lens manufacturer, the build quality is nothing short of excellent. Being the second Art zoom designed specifically for mirrorless cameras, behind the 14-24mm f/2.8, it takes full advantage of recent tech developments to support high resolution sensors. The barrel is a mixture of metallic and TSC composite plastic to balance between robust and light-ish weight. It also features a dust and splash-proof structure to ensure it can keep up…