Dec 2008 SOLD OUT

Beginner's Guide: Still-lifes
Let your creativity run wild and discover the beauty of the inanimate object as this month’s Beginner’s Guide explores the experimental and diverse world of still-life photography.
It’s the one area of photography that allows you to try a range of creative techniques at your own pace; yet despite offering an infinite variety of subjects to shoot in countless ways, it is one that is often overlooked by many photographers. Still-life photography, as its name suggests, is the art of photographing inanimate objects, whether in the place you find them in or a pre-prepared arrangement. As still-life subjects are static, you’re able to experiment with different aspects of creative picture-taking such as composition, lighting and backdrops, while developing your general shooting skills. This month, we cover all the essential elements that you’ll need to begin shooting your very own high-quality still-life shots. We’ll also advise you as to which lenses and accessories are best for the task, the basics of composition, lighting and subject matter, and share some creative ideas to try while you gain confidence in your abilities


Pro Technique: Budget DSLR Challenge: Telezooms
How easy is it for pros to get great shots when you take away their usual outfit and give them budget kit to use? That’s what we aim to find out in our Budget DSLR Challenge series. This month’s challenge tests the pulling power of three of our regular contributors as they try out a range of popular telephoto zooms on modest DSLR models. As we discover, each has his own task and obstacles to overcome. Can they rise to the challenge and deliver professional results? We’re confident they can. Don’t let us down, boys!


Main DSLR test: Canon EOS 50D
There is no shortage of highly-specified and competitively-priced digital SLRs for the enthusiast to choose from, and the options have been further enhanced by the recent arrival of the Canon EOS 50D. Boasting a resolution of 15.1-megapixels and the latest DIGIC 4 processor, the replacement for the EOS 40D has a lot to offer. But at £1,200 body only, you’d expect it to. Daniel Lezano finds out how good it really is


Digital Convert: Tim Flach
Tim Flach is best known for his incredibly original portraits of the animal kingdom. He shoots each species with the same care and attention he’d give a person. Matt Henry catches up with the London-based legend

5-Minute Photoshop: Pop Art
Present your portraits as wonderful Warhol-esque works of art, certain to brighten any wall. Mat Gallagher guides you through this fun, five-minute process to popping your own masterpiece


Buyer's Guide: Digital SLRs
Whether you’re looking for your first DSLR or an upgrade to your old model, our Buyer’s Guide is an easy reference to help you make the right choice.
With Christmas just around the corner, photo retailers are preparing for the seasonal surge of digital SLR sales. With DSLRs boasting higher resolutions, more features and lower prices than ever before, the expectations are that credit crunch or not, several hundreds of thousands of DSLR outfits will be flying off the shelves in the next month or so. With around 30 models to choose from, it’s understandable that the choice can prove bewildering to many. While price is a good guide to a camera’s range of features and performance, the fact is that the mix of new and older models means that the variety of options available at different price points can be confusing. This month’s Buyer’s Guide covers 17 leading models ranging from entry-level DSLRs to semi-pro models and aims to help you make the best choice.

One-Hour Photo reader challenge: The New Forest
Reader Suzie Yates visited the New Forest with Digital SLR Photography contributor Mark Bauer to sharpen her landscape skills shooting autumn

Photo Adventures: Eastern Europe
The latest photo adventure of travel photographer and contributor Jon Hicks saw him travel by train to 12 destinations in just 28 days. He tells Matt Henry about the evocative charms of Eastern Europe