February 2009
Issue 27
On sale 14 January
Our February 2009 issue includes:
Beginner's Guide: Photo fixes!
Creative Digital Technique: High Dynamic Range (HDR)
Photo DIY: Capture star trails and add the Polaroid effect.
Main interview: David Lam
Beginner's Guide: Photo Fixes
Your digital SLR makes it easy to take great shots in most shooting conditions, but in some instances, a little extra knowledge can save the day when the camera’s automated systems struggle to give perfect results. No camera is infallible, and even the very best can struggle under tough shooting conditions or in certain lighting conditions. In this month’s Beginner’s Guide, we’ve highlighted some of the most common problems that can lead to your camera delivering pictures that are poorly exposed or badly focused, as well as techniques that will help you with composition in difficult scenarios and using filters properly. We’ve made each task as easy as possible to learn and by mastering them, you will quickly be able to overcome many of the common problems that leave others perplexed and frustrated, resulting in you taking your photographic skills to new heights. So follow the expert advice in this month’s Beginner’s Guide, and you can say goodbye to wishy-washy skies, badly exposed images and out of focus subjects!
Photo DIY
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. This month we show you how to shoot star trails, bath-time portraits, digital Polaroids (Poladroids!), a magical box effect and photo restoration.
Creative Digital Techniques: HDR photography
Ever wondered how to create the hyper-real images that show the same amount of detail as a human eye? This technique, popular with advertisers and landscapers alike contains four times the data of a normal photo and can easily be achieved with a regular camera, tripod, and a simple piece of software. Paul Stefan explains the addiction that is commonly known as HDR.
Digital Convert: David Lam
David Lam has shot for a broad range of fashion magazines and commercial clients, but the graceful and romantic world of his images is often a stark contrast to the real life of a London fashion photographer. As Matt Henry discovers, fashion photography is most definitely not a job for the faint of heart.
Photo Adventures: Israel
Corbis photographer Jon Hicks spent 25 days capturing the incredible diversity of one of the world’s most sacred places. Stewart Bywater talks to him about camera-shy subjects, shooting panoramics and the Messiah syndrome.
Canon EOS 5D MkII versus Sony Alpha 900
The Canon EOS 5D, launched in 2005, dominated a niche in the DSLR market for three years, until Nikon's D700 arrived on the scene earlier this year. Until then, the EOS 5D was the only realistic option for enthusiasts wanting the benefits that a full-frame sensor provides – more and larger pixels for better image quality, increased dynamic range and lower noise. The Nikon D700 took standards to new heights for a sub-£2,000 full-frame DSLR, and now the Sony Alpha 900 and Canon EOS 5D MkII bring further options for the consumer to consider. This month's test concentrates on the Canon and Sony models, but makes reference to the Nikon D700 (tested in our October 2008 issue), to provide a fuller picture on how these three models compare. So, if you plan to buy a full-frame model and want to know how the 21-megapixel Canon EOS 5D MkII, 12.1-megapixel Nikon D700 or 24.6-megapixel Sony Alpha 900 compare in terms of handling, features and performance, read on to find out how we rate them.
Digital Darkroom. Part 2: 500Gb hard disk storage
If your computer fails you could lose years worth of photos and data, so make sure you keep a back-up. External hard disks are as essential for a digital photographer as a camera – so invest in one now! We review nine leading 500Gb models
Archive
In This Issue
- If your computer fails you could lose years worth of photos and data, so make sure you keep a back-up. External hard disks are as essential for a digital photographer as a camera – so invest in one now! We review nine leading 500Gb models.
- The Canon EOS 5D, launched in 2005, dominated a niche in the DSLR market for three years, until Nikon's D700 arrived on the scene earlier this year. Until then, the EOS 5D was the only realistic option for enthusiasts wanting the benefits that a full-frame sensor provides – more and larger pixels for better image quality, increased dynamic range and lower noise. The Nikon D700 took standards to new heights for a sub-£2,000 full-frame DSLR, and now the Sony Alpha 900 and Canon EOS 5D MkII bring further options for the consumer to consider. This month's test concentrates on the Canon and Sony models, but makes reference to the Nikon D700 (tested in our October 2008 issue), to provide a fuller picture on how these three models compare. So, if you plan to buy a full-frame model and want to know how the 21-megapixel Canon EOS 5D MkII, 12.1-megapixel Nikon D700 or 24.6-megapixel Sony Alpha 900 compare in terms of handling, features and performance, read on to find out how we rate them.
- Corbis photographer Jon Hicks spent 25 days capturing the incredible diversity of one of the world’s most sacred places. Stewart Bywater talks to him about camera-shy subjects, shooting panoramics and the Messiah syndrome.
- David Lam has shot for a broad range of fashion magazines and commercial clients, but the graceful and romantic world of his images is often a stark contrast to the real life of a London fashion photographer. As Matt Henry discovers, fashion photography is most definitely not a job for the faint of heart.
- Ever wondered how to create the hyper-real images that show the same amount of detail as a human eye? This technique, popular with advertisers and landscapers alike contains four times the data of a normal photo and can easily be achieved with a regular camera, tripod, and a simple piece of software. Paul Stefan explains the addiction that is commonly known as HDR.
- 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. This month we show you how to shoot star trails, bath-time portraits, digital Polaroids (Poladroids!), a magical box effect and photo restoration.
- Your digital SLR makes it easy to take great shots in most shooting conditions, but in some instances, a little extra knowledge can save the day when the camera’s automated systems struggle to give perfect results. No camera is infallible, and even the very best can struggle under tough shooting conditions or in certain lighting conditions. In this month’s Beginner’s Guide, we’ve highlighted some of the most common problems that can lead to your camera delivering pictures that are poorly exposed or badly focused, as well as techniques that will help you with composition in difficult scenarios and using filters properly. We’ve made each task as easy as possible to learn and by mastering them, you will quickly be able to overcome many of the common problems that leave others perplexed and frustrated, resulting in you taking your photographic skills to new heights. So follow the expert advice in this month’s Beginner’s Guide, and you can say goodbye to wishy-washy skies, badly exposed images and out of focus subjects!