Digital Camera World (April 2005)

164 Pages·2005·22.992 MB·English

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2005 ENTER TODAY!
Helping you create better photographs
April 2005
www.dcmag.co.uk
Go
wild
this spring
HOW TO TAKE AMAZING SHOTS OF
BRITAIN’S BIRDS AND ANIMALS
Where to go, what to see, how to shoot it
Nature pro Niall Benvie’s must-read guide
Photos and techniques to inspire you
READER PHOTOS
LIQUID BEAUTY
Your most dramatic
water shots exposed
PRACTICAL NEW
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TECHNIQUES!
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Printed in the UK
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Digital Camera Magazine
Future Publishing, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, BA1 2BW
Editorial ☎ [phone] www.dcmag.co.uk
Customer services ☎ 0870 444 8475
YOUR TEAM
Marcus HawkinsEditor – [email protected]
Andrea Thompson Deputy Editor – [email protected]
Rob Bowen Art Editor– [email protected]
Christy Walters Designer – [email protected]
Elizabeth Raderecht Operations – [email protected]
Give your camera equipment a spring clean…
SECTION EDITORS AND EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Niall Benvie, David Corfi eld, Mark Harris, George Cairns, Rod Lawton, Derek Lea,
Tim Daly, Pete Martin, Tim Shelbourne, Karl Foster, Mark Sparrow, Shaun Marin,
Tom Ang, Hemant Jariwala, Dan Oliver, Liz Elders, Rob Hirsch
PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTORS Winter’s usually the time I take a stab at wildlife “His
(Where not credited inside)
Future Network Photo Studio, Photolibrary.com, Getty Images photography. Huge migratory fl ocks of wildfowl,
photos are
wheeling fl ocks of starlings, magic light and sharp
ADVERTISING
Mandy Atkin Senior Advertising Manager temperatures combine to make some memorable moments. incredible,
☎ 01225 788205 [email protected] Even from public hides there’s the chance of nailing great
Giles Crosthwaite-Scott Key Account Manager
☎ 01225 442244 ext 5030 [email protected] photographs with a little patience and persistence. combining
D☎a 0vi1d2 G25a i7n8e8 S1e6n9io dr aSvaidle.sg [email protected] But I’d like to be able to maximise my chance of capturing artistic
Zahid Patel Classifi ed Sales Executive stunning shots throughout the rest of the year, when things
☎ 01225 442244 ext 2737 [email protected] aren’t handed to you on a plate quite so readily. That’s why we portrayals
Advertisement typesetting J Jays Ltd
commissioned respected wildlife photographer Niall Benvie to
NEW MEDIA of behaviour
write our guide to shooting wildlife this spring.
Ali Jennings New Media Editor – [email protected]
Jennifer Wagner Online Editor – [email protected] As well as providing some insight into the best places to with
Sarah Williams Software Copyright Co-Ordinator
[email protected] try your luck at bird and animal photography, Niall also covers
practical techniques such as panning, digiscoping and shooting technical
CIRCULATION AND MARKETING
Fiona Tully Marketing Manager at night. His photographs are incredible, combining artistic excellence”
Clare Tovey Production Manager portrayals of animal behaviour with technical excellence.
Katty Pigott Production Co-ordinator
Mike Thorne Team Buyer I hope they stir you to attempt some of your own over the
Tell us what you think of
coming months – at last the days are getting both warmer and
INTERNATIONAL LICENSING this and other issues on our
Simon Wear International Licensing Director longer, so there’s no excuse! You know where to send your chat room at:
best efforts… www.dcmag.co.uk/forum
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Nick Merritt Group Senior Editor Actually, it’ll be great to get outdoors this month. We seem
Steve Gotobed Senior Art Ed to have spent weeks trawling around the camera trade shows
Stuart Anderton Publisher
Dom Beaven Publishing Director – PMA in Orlando and Focus on Imaging back in the UK at
the NEC – to try out the latest kit. There were two stand-out
events, driven by the actions of two of the oldest names in
photography. First up, Canon’s unveiling of the EOS 350D – a
SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES highly-specced SLR which you’ll be able to pick up for less than
If you have a query regarding a subscription or back issue,
or would like to place an order, please contact our customer services team: £800. The company expects the digital SLR market to double
Telephone: [phone] by the end of 2006, and we’re not going to argue.
Email: [email protected]
Leica, on the other hand, released a statement to confi rm
Future Publishing Ltd is part of Future plc. that banks had ‘partially terminated their credit lines’. It’s set to
Future produces carefully targeted special-interest magazines for people who share a
passion. We aim to satisfy that passion by creating titles offering value for money, reliable reveal more at its Extraordinary General Meeting in May – we’ll
information, smart buying advice and which are a pleasure to read. Today we publish more
than 100 magazines in the UK, US, France and Italy. Over 100 international editions of our keep you updated…
magazines are also published in 30 other countries across the world.
Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR).
Non-executive Chairman: Roger Parry
Chief Executive: Greg Ingham
Group Finance Director: John Bowman
Tel[phone]
www.futureplc.com
Distributed by
Marketforce (UK) ltd, 5th Floor, Low Rise Building, Kings Reach Tower,
Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LS. Tel ☎ 020 7633 3300
Printed in England
© Future Publishing Ltd 2005
Disclaimer All contributions to Digital Camera Magazine are accepted
on the basis of a non-exclusive worldwide licence to publish or license others to do so,
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independent buying recommendations on the latest kit, and deliver a
Deputy editor Nature pro
CD packed with the top PC software.
Studied visual arts at university and is Niall is an award-winning wildlife
We use boxes, tips, quick fi xes, quality photography, walkthroughs
passionate about photography. photographer.
& diagrams to show you how to improve your skills.
We have a cast-iron policy of editorial independence. All our kit is Rod Lawton Mark Harris
reviewed as-sold. We discourage our journalists from accepting
Reviewer and writer Reviews editor and writer
gifts from advertisers.
Rod has been testing cameras since the very Mark once worked for Which? so what he
Get in touch… fi rst digital models came out. doesn’t know about kit isn’t worth knowing.
Articles/ideas for publication and general enquiries email: Tim Shelbourne Rob Hirsch
[email protected] Professional digital artist and writer Photography lecturer, curator, writer
Customer services/subscriptions departments email: Tim’s in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of Rob has published numerous books and
[email protected] image editing and Photoshop is second to none. currently lectures on photography in the US.
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Photo ideas
78 Getup&go
April 2005 #32 Take a look at our heavenly shots
of Winchester Cathedral with
its divine, symmetrical pillars
Shot of the month:
and exquisite vaulted ceiling
The Manchester Eye – p6
83 What’s on
Your monthly guide to the best
photo opportunities
84 5 ways: face facts
Cover
Learn how to shoot the story
perfect portrait shot
128 Your mission: challenge
This month, your task is to
capture colour in various shades
and hues – check out the pictures
here for some ideas
Contents
Technique 72 Photo Q&A
Your photographic problems solved
50 Mastering focusing 74 Photo Clinic
Cover
Get to grips with your story Advice on improving your pictures
camera’s autofocusing system Frida Kahlo: portraits
of an icon – page 83
54 Test your camera Your pictures
Don’t just leave your camera
on automatic – put it to the
test and discover all its features 6Hotshots Features
A selection of the best photos
58 Selection tools we’ve received from you this month
Use Photoshop’s Selection sCtoovreyr 30 Go wild this spring
tools to enhance your photos 126 Your Mission: results With winter shuffl ing out of the
February’s challenge was to capture door, now’s the time to get out
64 Simulating Polaroid Cover the abstract. Here are the results and about with your camera.
Reproduce Polaroid’s transfer story Discover how to make the most
technique using Photoshop 12 Six of the best Cover of the photo opportunities that
Our favourite reader photos story nature presents in the spring
featuring watery scenes
44 Professional portrait
Offers & compos Portraiture professional Russell
Skidmore reveals how using digital
photography can establish a
26 Photographer of better rapport with your subject
the Year 2005
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66 Sensational sunsets CD Competition on the disc
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your sunsets with Elements PPrroo 44..11 aanndd ppxxll SSmmaarrttSSccaallee
68 Coverdisc programs
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■ Special subscriber-only cover p29
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115 Dealer ads Advertiser offers
130 Back Page Try the DCM crossword
Kit reviews
New cameras
88 .............................Olympus E300
92 .........................Ricoh Caplio R1v
94 .................Fujifi lm Finepix S3 Pro
96 ...............................Casio QVR61
98 ...................Fujifi lm Finepix F455
New software/accessories
100 ...............LowePro Dryzone 200
100 .....................................Spyder 2
100 .....LowePro Computrekker AW
100 ...........................pxl SmartScale
100 ....................Intellihance Pro 4.1
100 ......................................iPhoto 5
103 Photo printers on test
We put six of the best models
through their paces
114 The A-List
Buyers’ Guide: the 60 best cameras
on sale – at their latest street prices.

GO WILD THIS SPRING
30Take your inspiration from nature this month,
Cover
feature with wildlife photographer Niall Benvie’s guide.
Where to go, what to see and how to shoot it…
ON YOUR COVERDISC
Get started with the only disc that
containseverything you need –
Photoshop videos, tutorial fi les, free full
software, test shots and much more!
To use, load disc and follow instructions
Use the software – tutorials from p68
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Hotshots
First-rate reader photos
006
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Hotshots
SHOT OF THE MONTH
Mick Cookson
The Manchester Eye
“This shot was taken last November in
Manchester with my fi rst run with the S2. I
used a Nikon 18mm-35mm F3.5-4 ID, at the
35mm end of the lens”
Camera used Fuji S2 Pro
Settings 1.5 sec at f/22
■ Turn to page 10 for details on how you can
become a prize winner next month…
RDA•WWINWNE RPIAWNRANRIDZE•WERINNERAWWA•RD
A NI
RENNIW•DRAWA R EN
Mick Cookson
“I work as a director/
producer for TV commercials
and corporate video by day,
but I’m a keen photographer,
and a recent convert to
digital, having added a new
Fuji S2 Pro to my stable.”
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Hotshots
Michael McCarthy
Friendly Pup
“While in Maine and fried and I decided to
kayak out to where some seals were known to
sun themselves. I put my camera and lens in a
dry bag and off we went. When we got there,
the tide was high and the seals were in the
water. Fortunately, this pup was curious.”
About Michael “Photography really
captured me about ten years ago with its
creative and expressive outlet. The spirit and
adventure of trying to fi nd that special thing,
angle, lighting that makes you say wow and
put a smile on your face.”
Camera used Canon EOS 300D
Settings 1/250 sec at f/4
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Hotshots
John Short
Puffi n
“During the course of the day I took many
hundreds of images. I picked this one simply
because I caught the bird in isolation and
retained the feather detail.”
About John“My great love is photographing
nature, and last year I had an ambition to
capture images of puffi ns.”
Camera used Canon EOS 10D
Settings 1/180 sec at f5.6
Fraser Young
Wipeout at Woolgoolga
“I scrambled up a large rock to get nearer to the
surfi ng action in January, on the NSW north
coast. I caught this British tourist wiping out on
a break on Woolgoolga beach.”
About Fraser“Having been a photo
enthusiast for a number of years (and keen
reader of DCM), I bought my fi rst digicam – a
Kodak DC210 – in 1999. I’ve gone onto own
several other models, including a Sony F707 and
the Nikon D70, which I used for this shot.”
Camera used Nikon D70
Settings 1/2000 sec at f/6
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Hotshots
Jens Aaris
Rain Spider
“This South African rain spider was guarding
her nest in a willow tree in my back garden in
Johannesburg. I took the photo on Auto with
Super Macro mode.”
About Jens“After a long break I started
taking photos again when my son Daniel was
born seven months ago. I really enjoy the
unexpected beauty and detail revealed by
macro photography.”
Camera used Olympus C360
Settings 1/50 sec at f/5.2
Ramon A. Gonzalez
Anger III
“I took this portrait shot with available light
from a window with my Kodak EasyShare
LS443. I edited it in Photoshop, converted it to
black and white and then burned the dark
areas to get the shadows and remove detail.”
About Ramon“Photography allows you to
communicate without language skills – after all,
it’s subject to interpretation.”
Camera used Kodak EastShare LS443
Settings 1/60 sec at f/11
WIN £1,000 WORTH OF
CANVAS PRINTS!
Send a 500K JPEG of your Hotshot to gallery.
[email protected]. Include your name,
the photo's title, the camera settings, the camera
used, 50 words about you, and how and why
you got the shot.
■ The best shot printed next month wins £1,000
worth of Fotoserve giant canvas prints – a great
way for you to show off your favourite photos.
Fotoserve produce prints and gifts from your
digital photos. Please see www.fotoserve.co.uk
for more details, or email [email protected]
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