Digital Camera World (May 2005)

184 Pages·2005·21.709 MB·English

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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]
Time to get ready for your close-up…
SECTION EDITORS AND EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Harcourt Davies, 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, Matt Henry, Dan Oliver, Liz Elders, Rob Hirsch
PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTORS Macro photography is one of the most affordable “Even
(Where not credited inside)
Future Network Photo Studio, Photolibrary.com, Getty Images areas of specialist interest shooting you can explore.
compacts
You only need one short lens (of which there are
ADVERTISING
Mandy Atkin Senior Advertising Manager plenty of third-party options) and – possibly – a fl ashgun to can produce
☎ 01225 788205 [email protected] start your DSLR macro kit. In fact, I frequently ditch the fl ash
Giles Crosthwaite-Scott Key Account Manager
☎ 01225 442244 ext 5030 [email protected] option in favour of a sheet of wrinkled kitchen foil. impressive
D☎a 0vi1d2 G25a i7n8e8 S1e6n9io dr aSvaidle.sg [email protected] You don’t require lavish locations or extravangantly results
Zahid Patel Classifi ed Sales Executive expensive models. You don’t need great weather or acres of
☎ 01225 442244 ext 2737 [email protected] space, as you can often move your entire set into your kitchen. – although
Advertisement typesetting J Jays Ltd
Even digital compacts can produce impressive results with their
NEW MEDIA you need to
dedicated macro modes – although you need to be aware of
Ali Jennings New Media Editor – [email protected]
Jennifer Wagner Online Editor – [email protected] parallax error (or ‘what you see is not what you’ll get’), caused be aware
Sarah Williams Software Copyright Co-Ordinator
[email protected] by the viewfi nder not being in line with the lens. But you’ll be
using the LCD to frame your shot, right? of parallax
CIRCULATION AND MARKETING
Fiona Tully Marketing Manager So, you’ve got the kit – you just need ideas and inspiration error”
Clare Tovey Production Manager to help you get it right fi rst time. The hidden world you now
Katty Pigott Production Co-ordinator
Mike Thorne Team Buyer have the power to reveal is what we’re focussing on this issue.
Tell us what you think of
Renowned nature photographer – and close-up specialist
INTERNATIONAL LICENSING this and other photography
Simon Wear International Licensing Director – Paul Harcourt Davies guides you through the process of issues on our chat room at:
capturing the secret world of plants from page 30 onwards. www.dcmag.co.uk/forum
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Nick Merritt Group Senior Editor He covers all the basics, including locations, potential subjects
Steve Gotobed Senior Art Ed and photographic techniques, before showing you how to
Stuart Anderton Publisher
Dom Beaven Publishing Director go the extra mile to reveal plant behaviour and the intricate
relationships between fl owers and insects. It can really make
the difference to your shots.
Once you’ve tried out a few of Paul’s suggestions, why not
SUBSCRIPTIONS & BACK ISSUES have a go at Your Mission (page 126)? We want to see your
If you have a query regarding a subscription or back issue,
or would like to place an order, please contact our customer services team: best close-up shots – there’s a Canon printer in it for you if you
Telephone: [phone] produce the winning image. And don’t forget to keep your
Email: [email protected]
entries coming for our Photographer of the Year contest…
Future Publishing Ltd is part of Future plc.
Future produces carefully targeted special-interest magazines for people who share a
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Printed in England [email protected]
© 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,
unless otherwise agreed in advance in writing. We reserve the right to edit letters.
We cannot accept liability for mistakes or misprints, or any damage to equipment or
possessions arising from use of this publication, its discs or software. Due to unforeseen
circumstances, it may sometimes be necessary to make last-minute changes to advertised
content, for magazine and discs.
Our promise to you… Meet your experts…
We will show you how to create better pictures, give clear, Andrea Thompson Paul Harcourt Davies
independent buying recommendations on the latest kit, and deliver a
Deputy editor Plant pro
CD packed with the top PC software.
Andrea has a degree in Visual Arts and great Paul is a widely-published authority on
We use boxes, tips, quick fi xes, quality photography, walkthroughs
passion for both photography and digital art. macro photography. He lives in Italy.
& 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 an encyclopaedic knowledge of Mark once worked for Which? so what he
Get in touch… digital cameras and accessories. doesn’t know about kit isn’t worth knowing.
Articles/ideas for publication and general enquiries email: Tim Shelbourne Derek Lea
[email protected] Professional digital artist and writer Professional digital artist and writer
Customer services/subscriptions departments email: Tim’s in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of Derek is an award-winning Photoshop
[email protected] image editing and Photoshop is second to none. specialist with an international following.
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Photo ideas
86 5 ways: cars
May 2005 #33 Improve your composition Cover
skills by shooting your car story
in fi ve different ways.
128 Your mission: challenge
This month’s mission is to shoot
the theme of macro – check out
the images here.
80 Getup&go
We go to bluebell woods, Stowe
Gardens and in search of wildfowl.
85 What’s on
Your monthly guide to the best
photo exhibitions, competitions
and events.
Your Mission: the human
form – page 127
Contents
Technique 70 Q&A
Our team of experts answer this
month’s batch of photography and
48 Light metering Cover image-editing queries.
story
Learn how to get the most
out of your camera’s meter. 74 Photo Clinic Julian Germain: For
No-nonsense opinion and advice on Every Minute – page 85
52 Test your camera Cover a selection of reader submissions.
story
Access your camera’s image
settings, white balance and more.
Features
Your pictures
56 Realistic shadows Cover
story
Create convincing shadows,
with a little help from Elements. 6Hotshots 30 The secret life of plants
A fi ve-page showcase of our Uncover the fascinating world of
58 Light fl ares favourite reader images. plants and insects, with the help
Follow our Elements tutorial and of top macro photographer, Paul
add some sparkle to your images. 126 Your Mission: results Harcourt Davies
March’s challenge was to capture the
human form. Here are the results. 42Simon Kirwan
Award-winning reportage,
12 Six of the best landscape and aerial
This month we take a look at the photographer Simon Kirwan
best reader shots of skyscapes. has been working digitally for
years – we discover why he’s
embraced the medium…
Offers & compos
60 Colour Range Cover 28Photographer of
story
In-depth guide to selectively the Year 2005
changing colours in Photoshop. YYoouurr cchhaannccee ttoo wwiinn DDiiggiittaall CCaammeerraa
MMaaggaazziinnee’’ss mmoosstt pprreessttiiggiioouuss ccoonntteesstt!!
66 Coverdisc programs
Step-by-step tutorials on
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23 Back issues Phone and get one
113 Dealer ads Advertiser offers
Kit reviews
Cover
story
New cameras
90 .........................Canon EOS 350D
94 .........................Pentax Optio WP
96 ....................Nikon CoolPix 5900
98 ................Kodak EasyShare Z740
100 .........................Sony DSC-P200
Great kit
102 ....................Benbo Classic No.1
102 .Lasolite Silver/White Refl ector
102 .......................Digital SHO PRO
102 ....nik Sharpener Pro! Complete
102 ................................White Point
105 Storage
devices on test
Back up you images!
We test six of the
best storage solutions.
111 The A-List
Buyers’ Guide: the 60 best cameras
on sale – at their latest street prices.
THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS
30Explore the hidden world of fl owers and insects
Cover
feature with Paul Harcourt Davies. Composition tips,
lighting advice, time-lapse tricks and much more…
ON YOUR COVERDISC
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Hotshots
First-rate reader photos
006 TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine !
Hotshots
SHOT OF THE MONTH
Gavin Davies
Macaque
“I took this photo at the Batu Caves in Kuala
Lumpur while I was on my honeymoon. The
macaques roam wild up and down the steps
leading up to the temple in the caves.”
Camera usedCanon EOS 300D
Settings1/160 sec at f/5
■ 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
Gavin Davies
“My interest in
photography started
when I bought my fi rst
digital camera. This turned
into more of an obsession
when I upgraded to a
Canon EOS 300D just
over a year ago.”
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Hotshots
Becky Hitchman
Fragile
“I took this photo using natural light from the
window to illuminate the water drops on the
petals. I wanted to capture the vibrant colour
of this fl ower and its beautiful shape.”
About Becky “I’m 16 and I’ve been into
photography for a few years now but have
only started using digital in the last year. I love
experimenting with different types and styles
of photography, and showing beauty in things
that mean something to me.”
Camera used Olympus C-5060WZ
Settings 1/50 sec at f/3.2
008 TEAM LinG - Live, Informative, Non-cost and Genuine !
Hotshots
Peter Emery
On Top of the World
“This photograph is of my son taken late one
afternoon in December 2004 on the North
Staffordshire moors. It took several attempts
to produce the image I was looking for,
resembling an astronaut. With his coat collar
up and my oversize gloves, it kinda works.”
About Peter“I have recently changed from
fi lm to digital. The ability to quickly make
adjustments is one of the big bonuses of using
digital cameras.”
Camera used Canon EOS 10D
Settings 1/400 sec at f/14
Sharkawi Che Din
Dragon Helmet
“I wanted to capture the textile quality of the
dragonfl y’s head, therefore the use of macro
lens is a must.”
About Sharkawi“I am a 3D animator by
profession but always enjoyed photography.”
Camera used Canon EOS 300D
Settings 1/160 sec at f/11
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Hotshots
Graham Morgan
Sunset at the Inlet
“This is the river entrance to my home
town of Sussex Inlet in NSW Australia, just
after sunset. I took the shot at around 8pm
after a stinker of a day when the
temperature touched 40 degrees. ”
About Graham“I have only recently
become interested in photography. I lashed
out on a digital SLR prior to a recent trip to
Africa. It was here I became a convert. I
have always seen beauty in the world;
photography gives me another way of
seeing it. I can do it pretty much any time
and don’t need anyone else to be there.”
Camera used Canon EOS 300D
Settings 1/6 sec at f/22
Anthony Morgan
Kagayama
“This shot was taken at a round of the British
Superbike Championships last year. I love tight
crops – hope you enjoy.”
About Anthony“I’m a factory worker
from Wales and enjoy motorcycles and
photography, even more so when combining
both. Discovering digitial’s allowed me to get
back into photography for the fi rst time since
I left school.”
Camera usedCanon 10D
Settings 1/500 sec at f/5.6
WIN CAPTURE ONE
DSLR RAW WORKFLOW
SOFTWARE !
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 C1 Pro
RAW workfl ow software for PC or Mac from
Phase One. Cameras supported by this powerful
tool include Canon’s 1DmkII and 300D, Nikon’s
D70 and D2H, the Pentax *istD and Fuji S2 Pro.
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