August 2009
Issue 33
On sale 14 July 2009
Discover Your DSLR's Hidden Secrets!
Our August 2009 issue includes:
Beginner's Guide: Discover Your DSLR's Hidden Secrets!
Creative Digital Technique: Portraits with mood
Photo DIY: Five simple step by step techniques including how to take great close-up shots of butterflies and using stroboscopic flash
Digital Convert: Landscape pro Helen Dixon
Photo Adventures: Jon Hicks in Corsica
Main DSLR Test: Canon EOS 500D
Comparison Test: Portable Photo Viewers
August 2009
Archive
In This Issue
- Five simple step-by-step techniques to taking great pictures including butterfly close-ups, smoke trails, car abstracts, strobe flash and selective colouring in Photoshop
- £870 ADVANCED AMATEUR-LEVEL DIGITAL SLR WITH HD VIDEO It seems like HD video is the buzzword with DSLR manufacturers at the moment, and while we've not met any amateurs who list it as a feature they look for, it crops up as a headline feature on Canon's latest hobbyist DSLR, the EOS 500D. While this may not prove to be the main appeal for many, features such as the 15.1-megapixel resolution, compact size and large 3in LCD monitor are sure to attract those looking for a feature-packed and portable DSLR. Daniel Lezano spends a fortnight and fires over a thousand frames to provide an expert view of what the EOS 500D has to offer
- Always dreamt of taking your photography professional, but need a confidence boost to make it happen? Well here is a success story that might inspire you. Until 2003 Helen Dixon had never even picked up a camera, and in 2006 she was still working in her job at the Royal Mail. She talks to Ian Farrell about how she made the leap to become one of landscape photography's rising stars
- Travel photographer and regular contributor Jon Hicks spent two weeks on the idyllic island of Corsica – a Mediterranean paradise steeped in history and culture
- Memory cards are available with high capacities and at very affordable prices, so it makes good sense to keep a bundle in your gadget bag. What is also good practise is to invest in a portable photo viewer, for making back-ups and editing images while out and about. Here we review most of the most popular big-screen, large capacity options.
- Some images have an atmosphere about them, and Bjorn Thomassen’s portraits have it in spades. Through a mixture of careful lighting and diligent Photoshop retouching, he has achieved a look and feel that has become his trademark. Ian Farrell persuaded him to share his secrets with you!
- There are few who would argue that digital SLRs have allowed more people than ever to enjoy shooting high quality images more easily and affordably than ever before. The wealth of features, in particular the superb metering and focusing systems on offer, have ensured that sharp, well-exposed photographs are easier to capture than they ever have been. How much of a camera’s range of functions users tap into varies from photographer to photographer. Some are more experimental than others and enjoy trying out different features and settings, while others have a more pragmatic approach and stick to tried and tested methods to get the results they’re looking for. Of course, the bottom line, regardless of how you achieve it, is to capture great images that you’re happy with, and the versatility of today’s digital SLRs means it’s possible to do this using a variety of different features, settings and modes. However, ask yourself these questions. Are you really aware of your camera’s capabilities? Are you sure that there isn’t an easier way to get the pictures you’re after? Could your camera be better set up for the way you shoot and most importantly, could you set it up to deliver even better quality results? The truth is that with so many functions, it’s difficult to work out those that could be useful from others that aren’t worth trying. This month’s Beginner’s Guide aims to unlock some of the secrets of your DSLR and help you take better pictures more easily. We’ll also be highlighting some ways to fine-tune your DSLR to help customise how it operates, allowing you to get the most enjoyment from your camera, as well as improve your photography!