January 2009
Issue 26
On sale 14 December
Our January 2009 issue includes:
Beginner's Guide: Aperture Priority Mode
Creative Digital Technique: Mono infrared photography
Photo DIY: Studio still life and lens effects
Digital Convert: Andreas H. Bitesnich
Beginner's Guide: Using aperture-priority
When you take a photo, the aperture setting of the lens controls how much light passes through the lens, while the shutter speed controls for how long that light is exposed to the camera’s sensor to record the image. To set those values, you need to use one of the exposure modes offered by your camera. A typical selection includes Full Auto (or ‘Green Square’ mode), program (P), shutter-priority (S or Tv), aperture-priority (A or Av), manual (M) and a selection of subject-based program modes. All are designed to do the same job – achieve the correct exposure, but each mode gives you a different degree of control over the aperture and shutter speed used. This month, we take an in-depth look at the aperture-priority mode and explain why it’s considered by many to be the most versatile exposure mode for general use.
Photo DIY: Simple steps to improving your skills
Our major new technique section ensures that you’re never stuck for ideas and inspiration for your next personal photographic challenge. Every month, our dedicated team of experts show you how, with a little preparation and creativity, it’s possible to produce stunning images with the minimum of effort.
Creative Digital Techniques: Mono infrared
Upgraded your digital SLR recently and not sure what to do with the old one? Lee Frost has the answer – have it converted to record infrared light and explore a whole new world of creative photography.
Digital Convert: Andreas H. Bitesnich
Widely considered to be one of the greatest nudes photographers of our era, through his sumptuous, evocative and often controversial images, Vienna-born Andreas H. Bitesnich has changed the way in which we look at the human body. But his talents don’t stop there, he is also a master advertising, travel and portrait photographer. Stewart Bywater speaks to the living legend about his career so far.
Photo Adventures: Phil Makanna's Ghosts
Dangling out of the back of World War II plane with his feet in the slipstream is all in a day’s work for Phil Makanna. He’s one of the most talented and fearless aviation photographers in the business. Matt Henry finds out how his career literally took off.
One Hour Photo reader challenge: Studio portraits
Birmingham-based reader Robert Lawrence had just one hour to learn as much as he could about studio lighting set-ups. Luckily, professional portrait photographer Paul Ward was on hand to provide some expert advice.
Pentax K-m: £400 entry-level DSLR
While the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony have several models stretching from entry-level to professional in their DSLR ranges, the choice from Pentax has always been more modest, with only two models in the K-series, one aimed at the amateur and another at the enthusiast photographer. The arrival of the budget K-m offers an extra option for the beginner. Priced at only £400 with the standard 18-55mm zoom lens, it’s set to go head to head with the likes of the Sony Alpha 200 and Canon EOS 1000D. Models at this price point are traditionally small and lightweight, with a decent specification and a simple to use control set-up – key selling points for beginners looking for their first DSLR. We find out if the Pentax K-m is good enough to appeal to first-time users.
Sims' Cities: Destination 1: London
We gave reader Victoria Sims the exciting challenge of complete a series of assignments to capture stunning images of a variety of city locations. Armed with a Samsung GX-20 outfit and a steely determination, she kicks off her trip in her home town of London. Can she create something new from such a familiar location before we send her overseas?
Digital Darkroom. Part One: External hard disks
Digital image processing may seem more complicated than in the days of film, but it’s actually far easier than producing images in a chemical darkroom. As long as you have the right equipment, the process needn’t be taxing – and the result is far more satisfying than leaving it
to your lab to do. In this new series we’ll be looking at each stage of the image workflow process and finding the best product for the job…
Archive
In This Issue
- Digital image processing may seem more complicated than in the days of film, but it’s actually far easier than producing images in a chemical darkroom. As long as you have the right equipment, the process needn’t be taxing – and the result is far more satisfying than leaving it to your lab to do. In this new series we’ll be looking at each stage of the image workflow process and finding the best product for the job…
- We gave reader Victoria Sims the exciting challenge of complete a series of assignments to capture stunning images of a variety of city locations. Armed with a Samsung GX-20 outfit and a steely determination, she kicks off her trip in her home town of London. Can she create something new from such a familiar location before we send her overseas?
- While the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony have several models stretching from entry-level to professional in their DSLR ranges, the choice from Pentax has always been more modest, with only two models in the K-series, one aimed at the amateur and another at the enthusiast photographer. The arrival of the budget K-m offers an extra option for the beginner. Priced at only £400 with the standard 18-55mm zoom lens, it’s set to go head to head with the likes of the Sony Alpha 200 and Canon EOS 1000D. Models at this price point are traditionally small and lightweight, with a decent specification and a simple to use control set-up – key selling points for beginners looking for their first DSLR. We find out if the Pentax K-m is good enough to appeal to first-time users.
- Birmingham-based reader Robert Lawrence had just one hour to learn as much as he could about studio lighting set-ups. Luckily, professional portrait photographer Paul Ward was on hand to provide some expert advice.
- Dangling out of the back of World War II plane with his feet in the slipstream is all in a day’s work for Phil Makanna. He’s one of the most talented and fearless aviation photographers in the business. Matt Henry finds out how his career literally took off.
- Widely considered to be one of the greatest nudes photographers of our era, through his sumptuous, evocative and often controversial images, Vienna-born Andreas H. Bitesnich has changed the way in which we look at the human body. But his talents don’t stop there, he is also a master advertising, travel and portrait photographer. Stewart Bywater speaks to the living legend about his career so far.
- Upgraded your digital SLR recently and not sure what to do with the old one? Lee Frost has the answer – have it converted to record infrared light and explore a whole new world of creative photography.
- Our major new technique section ensures that you’re never stuck for ideas and inspiration for your next personal photographic challenge. Every month, our dedicated team of experts show you how, with a little preparation and creativity, it’s possible to produce stunning images with the minimum of effort.
- When you take a photo, the aperture setting of the lens controls how much light passes through the lens, while the shutter speed controls for how long that light is exposed to the camera’s sensor to record the image. To set those values, you need to use one of the exposure modes offered by your camera. A typical selection includes Full Auto (or ‘Green Square’ mode), program (P), shutter-priority (S or Tv), aperture-priority (A or Av), manual (M) and a selection of subject-based program modes. All are designed to do the same job – achieve the correct exposure, but each mode gives you a different degree of control over the aperture and shutter speed used. This month, we take an in-depth look at the aperture-priority mode and explain why it’s considered by many to be the most versatile exposure mode for general use.