Photography News Issue 32

Issue 32 is here to help you up your game. Whatever your level, there’s sure to be some interesting info in these How to take Great Photographs, Lighting Academy and Camera class technique features. See the Camera Club of the Year 2015-16 winning images and find out who won! Also, we put the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon 5D to the test.

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Produced by Issue 32 9 May – 2 June News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs

DIGITAL EDITION every month* *at absolutephoto.com FREE GET YOUR

A Samsung 64GB Pro memory card Enter the competition on page 56 WIN!

Nikon D5 Turn to page 40 for high-speed action

Canon EOS-1D X MkII Mark II explodes onto the scene, page 36

Road trip Top 10 tips for terrific travel shots, page 27

Hasselblad hits the 100 barrier Latest medium-format camera offers a

Hasselblad has launched a medium- format camera, the H6D, with two models available: the H6D-50c with a 50-megapixel resolution and the H6D-100c with 100 megapixels, 4K video and touchscreen functionality. Bodyprices are £17,900and£22,600 respectively (both ex VAT). Naturally, both cameras are highly featured. Headline features include a shutter speed range of 60mins to 1/2000sec, an increased ISO range up to ISO 6400 and the 16-bit CMOS sensor has a dynamic range up to 14 stops. USB 3.0 delivers very fast file transfer and both cameras have dual card slots, one for CFast and one for SD cards. For existing Hasselblad users there is an attractive trade-in scheme through participating dealers. 100-megapixel version in the company’s 75th anniversary year

Five of the UK’s leading camera clubs and photographic societies fought it out in the final … continue reading on page 14 the Year 2015-16: the results Camera Club of

Turn to page 5 to read an interviewwith Hasselblad CEO, Perry Oosting

hasselblad.com

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Photography News Issue 32 absolutephoto.com

Fujifilm has confirmed its superiority in the mirrorless market by scooping no fewer than three gongs at the recent TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) awards. Leaving its market rivals trailing in its wake, Fujifilm was the only manufacturer to take home three awards for mirrorless products as the X-Pro2, X-T10 and XF100-400mm lens all won. The X-Pro2 was victorious in the Best Mirrorless CSC Expert award, the X-T10 walked away with the Best Mirrorless CSC Entry Level award and the XF100-400mm won the Best CSC Telephoto Zoom Lens award. It seems a very fitting tribute to the success of the X-series range, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary by launching a raft of newproducts, including the X-Pro2. Keen photographers have flocked to the brand, many trading in their DSLRs in the process, citing the lighter weight, stunning design and image quality as key reasons to switch. The cameras and lenses certainly make a compelling case, with the X-Trans sensor technology delivering image quality that’s more than a match for full-frame rivals. Fujifilm has, of course, also been no stranger to enthusiasts for many years, producing some of the most memorable film emulsions in the pre-digital era. Uniquely, the characteristics of the films have been incorporated into the X-series through the excellent Film Simulation modes. The company also prides itself on a ‘kaizen’ philosophy of constantly improving and updating products, offering regular firmware updates to users ensuring their cameras stay at the forefront of technology. But don’t just takeFujifilm’sword for it, take a lookatwhat TIPA’s judges, comprising 27 editors from photography magazine editors across the globe, had to say: For more information about these products and the others in the Fujifilm X-series line-up, visit www.fujifilm.eu/uk crown When it comes to mirrorless kit, Fujifilm products impressed the TIPA judges more than any other Fujifilm scoops triple TIPA awardwinners

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Photography News Issue 32 absolutephoto.com

1 FUJIFILMXF100-400MM F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR BEST CSC TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS AWARD The furthest reaching lens in the Fujifilm mirrorless XF range, the XF100-400mm opens up a wealth of photo opportunities that had previously been unachievable. Sporting action and timid wildlife are now well within reach, with the weather- resistant design helping to ensure this pro quality optic can be used all-year round whatever the conditions. “Yielding an equivalent 152-609mm focal length range, this lens is constructed with 21 elements in 14 groups and includes five ED lenses and one Super ED lens. It is water and dust resistant; a fluorine coating has been added for further protection in outdoor shooting conditions,” agreed the TIPA jurors. “The FUJINON XF100-400mm is designed for handheld shooting with a five-stop image stabilization system and twin linear motors for fast AF. It features a rounded nine-blade aperture and is compatible with the XF1.4x TC WR teleconverter.”

2 FUJIFILMX-PRO2 BESTMIRRORLESS CSC EXPERT AWARD The jewel in the X-series crown, the launch of the X-Pro2 kicked off the range’s fifth anniversary in spectacular style earlier this year. Aimed at dedicated enthusiasts and professionals its rangefinder style design is perfect for portrait and landscape work. It is also the first Fujifilm camera to use the new 24.3-megapixel X-Trans III sensor. “This rangefinder style camera features an Advanced Hybrid Multi Viewfinder that allows users to instantly switch between optical and electronic finders,” said the TIPA jury. “The camera has a new 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor that teams with a new X-Processor Pro to deliver an ISO range up to 12,800, extendable to ISO 100 and 51,200. The X-Pro2 has a weather resistant body with 61 points of weather sealing. The camera delivers Full HD video at 60fps with a bit rate of 36Mbps plus various other framing rates for special effects and worldwide compatibility. For stills, phase-detection AF and predictive AF deliver continuous shooting up to 8fps.”

3 FUJIFILMX-T10BEST MIRRORLESS CSC ENTRY LEVEL AWARD Perfectly targeted at the first time compact system camera user, the X-T10 packs a real punch despite its compact dimensions. It features the same APS-C sized X-Trans sensor as in most other X-series models, an advanced AF system and an impressive Real Time EVF. “With many of the features of higher-end X-series cameras, the X-T10 is a viable option for hobbyists and creative photographers who want to become involved in quality imaging and extensive lens offerings at an affordable price,” confirmed the TIPA judges. “The X-T10 has a 16-megapixel X-Trans CMOS II APS-C size sensor and Fujifilm’s EXR Processor II inside its magnesium alloy body. Native ISO is 200 to 6400, expandable to 100/51,200. Viewing options include a 2.36 million dot OLED EVF and a tilting three-inch 920k dot LCD. The camera can record Full HD videos and has a built-in stereo microphone, plus Wi-Fi connectivity and the option for remote control operation from a smartphone or tablet.”

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

News

Hasselblad launches H6D

changed the price and the results were beyond our expectations; in December we did 25% of our annual volume. And the lens to camera ratio was three times higher. Now we’re offering cashback if you buy into the H6D – it’s showing loyalty. We have had some criticism about discounting and offering promotions and I’d like to get away from that, but we need to look at ways to attract younger and new people into the system. PN: What impact have cameras like Canon’s EOS 5DS had? PO: You can get the same number of pixels on that as a Hasselblad, but I always compare it to eating at a three Michelin star restaurant. Give the chefs there the same ingredients as a non-starred restaurant and you’ll get a better meal. PN: In terms of the H6D, you said that customer feedback was crucial. What did they tell you? PO: Not to change it physically. I’m not a pro photographer, but I sometimes think that great photography comes from the way you hold the camera – and we have certainly achieved what we wanted to in terms of the handling. I pushed the team hard on the touchscreen functionality. The logic of the menu was perfect. Being a Swedish brand, I felt we should excel in terms of form and functionality and making things intuitive. PN: Tell me about the video capability. PO: Our aim was to include video because a lot of customers said theywanted the capability to shoot behind the scenes footage in their studio, but don’t want to have to use another camera. PN: You’ve intimated that the H6D is ‘just the start’ of the announcements in your 75th anniversary year, what else can we expect? PO: It’s a Photokina year, we will talk when we are ready. I think it’s important for Hasselblad to under promise and over-deliver. We need to deliver high-quality products and the consumers should judge us on that. But certainly the wider audience is the target.

Interviewby Roger Payne

Hasselblad CEO Perry Oosting is no stranger to luxury brands. He’s been MD of Bulgari, Gucci and Prada and was a Hasselblad supervisory board member before being asked to take the big job in late 2014. This may have initially caused concerns among Hasselblad’s hardcore followers – a man with experience in fashion brands taking over at a time when the company was producing extravagant CSCs as part of a collaboration with Sony – but they needn’t have worried. After a year of consolidation, the company launched the H6D, which underlines all Hasselblad’s core values as a camera manufacturer. At the worldwide camera launch in London, I grabbed 20 minutes with Perry to chat about his time in the hot seat so far: Photography News: Why Hasselblad? Perry Oosting: I’d already worked with some really great brands, but Hasselblad is such an icon. I had a different vision on how to move forward and that’s what we’ve been trying to implement. PN: What did you inherit? PO: Organisationally there was a lot of disruption in the company. I was the third CEO in three years, so that’s never good. Building trust was important. I had the vision, but I needed the team to help me build and execute a strategy. I think the strategy at the time was correct: segmentation, tiering, a wider audience, but probably the execution – the how – was different. The [Hasselblad Lunar] CSC was a very good camera, but our values are authenticity, optical quality, iconic design, and when you define that as part of your strategy you have to stick to it. That’s what we’ve done with the H6D. PN: You’ve also adopted a more aggressive pricing strategy, has this helped win customers? PO: We want to attract new people to the brand and for some price is still a hurdle. I wanted the H5D-50 to be the entry-level price point so we

Hasselblad’s medium- format camera the H6D is available in twomodels, the H6D-100c, which boasts a 100-megapixel CMOS sensor, and the H6D-50c, which has a 50-megapixel CMOS sensor. Each model features dual card slots, allowing you to load up on memory with a CFast card and SD card. In addition to this, a USB 3.0 Type-C interface offers super-fast file transfer, while HDMI allows you to connect an external monitor. Improving on the existing medium- format H cameras, the H6D duo offers a wider range of shutter speeds from 60mins to 1/2000sec and an improved ISO range. The all-new

H6D-50c offers an ISO range of 100-6400 and HD video, while the H6D-100c offers ISO 64-12,800, a dynamic range of 15 stops and 4K video. Both models have a high- definition, three-inch touch LCD, Wi-Fi connectivity and 16-bit capture. Phocus 3.0, Hasselblad’s free image-processing software, available for Mac or Windows, has been updated to work with the H6D. The Hasselblad H6D-50c is priced at £17,900 and the H6D-100c at £22,600. Both prices are body only and exclusive of VAT.

hasselblad.com

Samyang Optics unveils autofocus lenses

LeicaM-D (Typ 262) Leica has released its fifth product in the Leica M range – the M-D (Typ 262). Available in black, the M-D is the first digital M to exclude an LCD monitor; instead the M-D has an ISO dial on the back. It features a CMOS full-frame sensor with 24 megapixels and an ISO range of 200-6400. Additional features include a quiet shutter and three frames-per-second continuous shooting. The M-D (Typ 262) body only is priced at £4650.

For the first time in over 40 years the Samyang Optics photo lens line-up has strayed from manual focus only lenses, introducing two new autofocus lenses. The 14mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.4 lenses, both with a 67mm filter diameter, fit Sony E mount, full- frame mirrorless cameras. The two optics feature aspherical lenses

to minimise aberration and light dispersion in images, and are also compatible with both phase-detect and contrast-detect sensors. The lenses will be available from June and will be exhibited at the Photo & Imaging Show 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. Pricing TBC.

uk.leica-camera.com

intro2020.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

News

Back in PN 30 we buddied up with French Photographic Holidays (FPH) to bring you an exclusive and valuable competition prize – a week’s photography tuition for two in the fabulously beautiful Dordogne region of France, including full board and sumptuous local cuisine. The prize value was whopping £1900, so as you’d expect we were inundated with entries, and after answering a couple of simple questions, readers were asked to submit their best landscape shots for judging. Following some lengthy deliberation, Paul Edmunds of FPH selected Steve Jones’s misty river shot, taken on a Fujifilm X-T1 and 18-135mm lens as the winner. Paul described the winning shot as “very atmospheric, but with a little room for improvement, so hopefully Steve will get a lot from a week with us.” You can catch up with Steve and see how much he enjoyed the week in the next issue of Photography News . Vive le reader!

News in brief

MOOMonogramapp Business card brand Moo has launched an iOS app, Monogram, which allows you to create a portfolio on the go. moo.com

Polaroid releases Polaroid has released two

new stabilisers for digital and action cameras, a Handheld 3-Axis Electronic Gimbal Stabilizer priced at £159.99 and a Power Handgrip/Stabilizer for £39.99. Also announced is the SelfieDisc IR Remote Shutter Release. The shutter button can be attached to most Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony SLR cameras and offers remote shutter control via an app for iOS and Android devices. The SelfieDisc comes with a silicon bumper case, a button cell battery and a camera-hanging strap and is available for £24.99. polaroid.com Kenro has expanded its own- brand of tripods with a new video tripod and monopod kit range, that comprises two tripods and a monopod. Prices range from £149.94-£215.94. Two video heads from Kenro are also available to purchase separately. kenro.co.uk Kenro expands tripod selection KingstonUSB flash drive andmicroSD Adding to its line-up, Kingston Digital has introduced the microSD Action Camera UHS-I U3 (Speed Class 3) card for action cameras including GoPro and those on drones. It features read speeds of available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities from £12. These cards have rugged credentials being waterproof, shockproof, X-ray proof and temperature proof from -25°C to 85°C. Kingston Digital has also announced two new hardware encrypted USB Flash drives; the DT4000G2DM and DTVP30DM, which are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. kingston.com up to 90MB/s and write speeds of 45MB/s, and is

frenchphotographicholidays.com

Cullmannlaunches bags and tripods The Cullmann bag range features nine new bags, which includes the Sydney PRO Action zoomster, the Ultralight Sport and Lima backpacks and the Ultralight PRO Maxima 120 and 300. In addition there’s also two sporty/messenger Madrid bags, which come in two sizes and two different colours, and can also be used as day bags. Also announced is a newrange of tripods and flexipods, which include full- size tripods, mini tripods and the Titan 935 tripod, which supports 21kg. Tripod prices start from £13.99, with the Titan 935 priced at £399, while the bag prices start from £35.99.

intro2020.co.uk

Above Steve Jones won the French Photographic Holidays competition with this image of a misty river.

Miggö Pictar transforms iPhone

Miggö has unveiled the Pictar – a camera grip for the iPhone, which allows for DSLR style shooting on your mobile device. The Pictar has five external controls, which includes a multi-state shutter button, zoom ring, selfie button, exposure compensation wheel, smart wheel for customisation, a tripod mount and also a cold shoe.

Pictar omits sound, inaudible to the human ear, which communicates with the iPhone via an app to perform actions. A Kickstarter campaign is now live and has an introductory price of $90 (£62.28) with retail availability stated for December 2016.

mymiggo.com

The world’s first universal lens adapter and camera rig system for smartphones is available in three kit options with two lenses. The Beastgrip Pro Rig is universal and can work with virtually any camera phone and is also compatible with a variety of conversion lenses and filters. You can buy the Beastgrip Pro Rig on its own for £95.81 or get a kit with wide-angle and fisheye lenses for £199.99. Beastgrip Pro adapter

beastgrip.com

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

News

TIPA Awards Members of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) recently voted for the best photo and imaging products launched within the last 12 months. There were 40 awards in total and the winners will be presented with trophies at Photokina, in Cologne, Germany 20 September. Awards included the Best Photo Printer and Best DSLR Professional/High Res, for the Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R. Canon also won four other awards, while Best APS-C DSLR Expert was awarded to the Nikon D500. Nikon also won two more awards. Other winners included Fujifilm who received Best Mirrorless CSC Entry Level and Best Mirrorless CSC Expert, Olympus who received Best Mirrorless CSC Advanced, Best Rugged Camera and Best CSC Wide-Angle Zoom lens. The Leica SL, which was named as the Best Premium Camera and Sigma scooped Best Professional DSLR lens, Best DSLR Telephoto lens and Best Wide-Angle Zoom lens, while the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VCwon Best Entry Level DSLR lens.

News in brief

Use Sigma lenseswith Sony Sigma announced the Mount Converter MC-11, which allows you to use Sigma SA and EOS lenses with a Sony E-mount body. Some lenses may require a firmware update to use the converter, which can be updated using the Sigma USB dock, sold separately. The MC-11 costs £219.99. sigma-imaging-uk.com Sigma spring promotions Sigma customers who own a Sigma camera can get £125 cashback when purchasing the dp Quattro camera, until 20 June. If you purchase the 18-300mm f/3,5-6.3 DCMACRO OS HSM before 31 May you can claim a free AML72-01 Close-up lens. Claims for the lens must be received before 1 July. sigma-imaging-uk.com Interfit Softbox&Umbrellas The new range from Interfit includes 13 softboxes, three Parabolic softboxes, 12 umbrellas and 16 traditional umbrellas, as well as speed rings which fit Bowens S-Mount, Elinchrom/EXMount andmore. interfitphotographic.com Boinx FotoMagico 5 Boinx Software has announced a new version of FotoMagico 5. The update has a new Snippets feature, an animation assistant, new dark user interface as well as additional features. FotoMagico 5 is available now for £29.99 while FotoMagico 5 Pro is priced at £79.99. boinx.com SanDisk FlashDrive SanDisk has launched a next- generation iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone and iPads, which features a flexible Lightning connector, USB 3.0 connector and encryption software. It's available now in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB with prices starting from £34.99. sandisk.com

tipa.com

Tonality update A major update to Tonality has been announced by Macphun Software. Updates include access to a free preset library, with presets created from professional photographers around the world, a free, three-month 500px membership and an improved and extended Raw file support, plus batch-processing as an in- app purchase for the Mac app store version, aswell as additional new features and improvements.

macphun.com/tonality

Kenro has introduced two NanGuang lighting kits for photography and video to its range. The NanGuang LED Luxpad43 Kit (large picture above) consists of two slim-design Luxpad43 heads, two CN-20FC heads, four stands and a carry case, and it’s priced at £599.94. The NanGuang CN-T96/3K LED Photo Light Kit, which is ideal for small product photography, includes a three-head lighting kit (CN-T96/3K LED heads), a mini foldable photo table, carry case, five background papers, two mini stand bases, one mini tripod, three adjustable base connectors and clips for the backgrounds. The LED Photo Light Kit is priced at £179.94. NanGuang LED Lighting Kits

Lexar has released the Lexar microSD Reader, which features a Lightning connector to allow for quick transfer of files from microSD cards or Android devices to Apple devices, (or transfer between Apple devices). Available now for £34.99 it includes a one-year limited warranty. In other news, Lexar has also announced that the Lexar Professional 1000x (32GB, 64GB and 128GB), and High- Performance 633x (32GB, 64GB and 128GB) microSDTM memory cards have completed the Works with GoPro verification process. Lexar microSD

lexar.com

kenro.co.uk

Photography News Issue 32 absolutephoto.com

News

Iranian photojournalist Asghar Khamseh was named as the winner of the L’Iris d’Or Photographer of the Year in this year’s Sony World Photography Award and received a prize of $25,000. His winning portrait series titled Fire of Hatred shows victims of the violent act of acid throwing. The images, alongside others, were featured in an exhibition at Somerset House, London 22 April – 8 May. A record- breaking 230,103 submissions from 186 countries were submitted to this year’s competition. SonyWorld Photography Awardswinners announced

News in brief

AlbertoGiacometti exhibition To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alberto Giacometti’s death in 1966, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, has launched a major exhibition. Alberto Giacometti: A Line Through Time comprises over 150 works from around the world. The exhibition is open until 29 August. scva.ac.uk Mobility photography workshops Sue Burton Photography is offering photography workshops for people with disabilities or limitedmobility. Weekly half-day or full-day workshops are run in popular locations, which include Lancashire, Cumbria and the Peak District. Tramper Mobility Scooters, where available, are used for the Tramper PhotographyWorkshops and Sue Burton also offers Limited WalkingWorkshops. sueburtonphotography.com GlasgowSchool of Art students exhibit work in duringPhoto London Students of the Glasgow School of Art’s Fine Art Photography programme will be exhibiting work at the citizenMBankside Hotel. The students were invited to submit work on the idea of place: a particular position, point, or area in space – a location. The students’ work will be showcased at the hotel during Photo London, which runs from 19-22 May at Somerset House. gsa.ac.uk

worldphoto.org

Duxfordair show

To celebrate the opening of the newly transformed exhibition, the American Air Museum, the Imperial War Museum, Duxford will be hosting an American Air Show on May Bank Holiday weekend (28-29 May). The flying programme will include displays depicting bomber operations of the SecondWorldWar, the war in the Pacific and the Vietnam War.

Saturday will see the Patrouille de France, while the Eurofighter Typhoon and the RedArrows will be perforning on Sunday. Adult tickets are priced at £29.50 for one day or £42.50 for two days. All tickets must be booked in advanced and car park passes cost £5.

iwm.org.uk

Zeiss Photography Awardwinner announced

Tamina-Florentine Zuch a student from Hanover, Germany was named as the winner of the first-ever Zeiss Photography Award, Seeing Beyond. The theme of the competition was Meaningful Places and the contest saw 3139 photographers from 116 countries entering 22,000 images. Tamina’s winning photo series documented train journeys in India, which was captured last year when she spent six weeks in the country. Her prize included Zeiss lenses of her choice, to the value of €15,000, and also the offer to cooperate further with Zeiss. See the next issue of PN for an interviewwith Tamina.

worldphoto.org

The Royal Photographic Society offers bursaries

To help budding photographers and film-makers with their projects The Royal Photographic Society has announced four bursaries. The funding granted can be used for any aspect of a project, such as travel costs, purchasing equipment, websites or even mounting for exhibitions. The four bursaries are for Environmental Awareness

in The Photographic Angle, Postgraduate bursary for MA students studying photography, the Joan Wakelin bursary for documentary photography in partnership with The Guardian newspaper and finally a Short Film Award in partnership with Depict! partnership with

rps.org/project-funding

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

News

Photo 24 – Final call for tickets Photo 24 is a free photography event taking place in London starting at noon on 17 June ending 24 hours later. The deadline for registrations has passed, but there is still a chance of joining us for this action-packed day

In association with

Photo 24 contests

This is our fourth Photo 24 and its core principles remain the same. Everyone who comes along can shoot what they want, how they want and where they want. You can stay and shoot for the whole 24 hours or perhaps you might prefer to do a stint on Friday, have dinner then a sleep for a few hours before rejoining the activities for sunrise the following morning. It is entirely up to the individual. We will have photo walks, regular meet-ups during the 24 hours and other optional paid- for events too. Thanks to our association with the Nikon School we will also have access to its central London facilities, a few minutes walk from Oxford Circus underground station, for the whole 24 hours. Forthosewhohaveneverattended this sort of event previously we will have groups dedicated to help you get going and the option of buddying up with fellow photographers.

Above Some of the brilliant images taken by readers at last year’s Photo 24 event.

If you are feeling competitive we’ll have contests running throughout Photo 24 with some fabulous prizes to be won. The best overall image taken wins a Nikon D500, the company’s newest DSLR and the flagship of its DX (APS-C) range. It’s so new we haven’t even seen one yet at Photography News but its specification looks amazing. See the panel for details. Though the deadline for registrations has already passed you still have a chance to get yourself a place. There are always dropouts so we’ve created a waiting list that you can join in order to still be in with a chance of taking part. So if all this sounds absolutely brilliant and you would like to join the waiting list, go to absolutephoto. com, register or log in, go to the Members area and you’ll see Photo 24 there. Click through, fill in the form and keep your fingers crossed.

There will be five themed photo contests running for Photo 24 participants with a long-zoom Nikon Coolpix P900 for the winner of each category. This is a 16-megapixel compact worth £449 with an integral 83x optical zoom to help you capture the most distant action. For the image judged to be the best overall, the winner will get a Nikon D500, the brand’s DX-format flagship and in the shops at £1729 body only. It is a 20.9-megapixel resolution DSLR, has a 3.2in tilting monitor and an extended ISO range to 1,640,000 – the native range is ISO 100 to 51,200. Perhaps even more impressively, the D500 has the same incredibly responsive and accurate AF system as that found in the top professional model, the D5. This means 153 AF points, 99 of which are cross-type and a low- light working sensitivity down to -3EV at ISO 100. (If you want to know more about this AF system, the D5 is reviewed in this issue.) The D500 also has a large buffer and uses the high-performing EXPEED 5 image processor so if you need to shoot 200 consecutive Raws at 10 frames- per-second, then this camera can do it. Add 4K video shooting, typically rugged Nikon build, SnapBridge connectivity and XQD/CompactFlash storage card compatibility and you have a hugely impressive and capable DSLR.

If you are feeling competitive we’ll have contests running throughout Photo 24 with some fabulous prizes to be won

nikon.co.uk

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Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

Tell us your club’s latest news, email: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk

Clubs

Camera club news If your club has any news that you want to share with the rest of the world, this is the page for it. Your story might be about your club’s success in a contest, or a member’s personal achievement; it could be about a group outing you had recently or when the annual exhibition is on show. Any news is eligible for inclusion, so club publicity officers please take note of the submission guidelines and get your stories in

How to submit

Deadline for the next issue: 26May 2016

We need words and pictures by 26 May for the next issue of Photography News , which will be available from 6 June. Write your story in a Word document (400 words maximum). Please include contact details of the club, exhibition or event – website, meeting times, opening times, whatever is relevant. Images should be JPEGs, 2000 pixels on the longest dimension, any colour space, and image credits should be included. If the story is an exhibition or event, please send a picture from the exhibition (not the publicity poster) or

one from the event. If it includes people please identify them. Attach the Word document and JPEGs to an email and send to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk.

Butterworth to Beacon Landscape Photographer of the Year winner to give this year’s annual lecture

News in brief

Heswall exhibition If you’re quick, you can still see Heswall Photographic Society’s annual exhibition. It’s at Ness Botanic Gardens, west of Chester, from 11 to 16 May. Entrance is free. heswallphotosoc.co.uk Tyndale exhibition Featuring around 200 prints and a slide show of PDIs, Tyndale Photography Club’s exhibition is at Dursley’s Methodist Church on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June. Refreshments will be available. tyndalephoto.org Issue 33 The next issue of Photography News will be out from 6 June.

Earlier this decade, Beacon Camera Club decided to launch the Annual Beacon Lecture as part of its efforts to expand the club’s activities. So far the likes of landscape photographers David Ward and Joe Cornish, and wildlife shooter Laurie Campbell have graced the stage at Worcester’s Swan Theatre to give the lecture, and this year the theatre and club are welcoming landscape aficionado Simon Butterworth. With a background in classical music, Simon returned to his native Scotland where he discovered his love of photography. He now divides his time between playing

the clarinet professionally and pursuing his photographic work. Recent photo trips have taken him to India, Australia, China and various European countries. He won the coveted title of UK Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2012, and has since added to his prize haul, with the International Photographic Awards and the Sony World Photographic Awards. Simon will give his talk at the Swan Theatre on Friday 17 June. Tickets cost £15 and are available from the theatre box office.

Above and left Salt fields, Western Australia and Mumbai by landscape photographer, Simon Butterworth who’s giving the Annual Beacon Lecture.

beaconcameraclub.co.uk

The annual East Kent Cup competition was won this year by Gateway Camera Club. Organised by John Renton and his team at Canterbury Photographic Society, the competition comprises both prints and PDIs and invites entries fromGateway and Canterbury, plus Deal and District and Folkestone Camera Clubs and the Isle of Thanet Photographic Society. This year it was judged by Clive Tanner FRPS MPAGB, who also presented the winning club’s chair with the trophy. Gatewaywins East Kent Cup

The National Exhibition is taking place for the second time. After last year’s highly successful launch, Winchester Photographic Society has announced the second outing of the Exhibition, in association with BPE. The National Exhibition invites submissions of up to four images in four classes: People, Landscapes, Open and Nature. Each entry costs £1.50, with a minimum fee of £6. Entry for the exhibition is already open and closes on 30 June 2016, with the results due in July. Full entry details of this PDI exhibition are on the club’s website. As well as the first, second and third places in each class, there will also be three Judges’ Choices, certificates of merit and a prize for a competitor under the age of 18. Nationwide Winchester goes national for second time Winchester

gatewaycameraclub.co.uk

winphotosoc.co.uk

Above Chess mates by Charles Akerstrom. Left Picked Hill by Peter Orr.

Above With the final PDI event of the season at Park Street Camera Club, Rainbow Collection brought Fiona Gurr league victory.

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

14 Camera Club of the Year IN ASSOCIATIONWITH

Results

1st Ayr Photographic Society 707 points

2ndHarpendenPhotographic Society 672 points

3rdDorchester Camera Club 665 points

Camera Club of the Year 2015-16: the results Five of the UK’s leading camera clubs and photographic societies fought it out in the final for the top place (and prizes!) and Ayr Photographic Society emerged as the winner

4th SmethwickPhotographic Society 656 points

5thParkwoodCamera Club 638 points

Key for Ayr PS’s images, right Theme 1 Creative depth-of-field

Theme 2 The decisive moment

Congratulations to all at Ayr Photographic Society for their much deserved victory, and commiserations to the four other finalists who competed so well. In fact, well done to all five finalists. Each of the five clubs performed so brilliantly to make the final in the face of very fierce competition from many of the leading clubs in the UK. You can enjoy all of Ayr PS’s winning pictures here and we have selected a few of our favourite shots

from the other finalists too (turn the page to see them). One thing our contest definitely showed was that the current state of club photography in the UK is very healthy. Our five finalists qualified for the final by each winning a monthly round – netting themselves a Canon PIXMA PRO-100S in the process. For the final, they were asked to provide 20 pictures by the deadline on four new themes. These were

Creative depth-of-field, The decisive moment, My home town and What I love most. Of course it was up to each club how they interpreted these four themes, but our idea was to have quite open themes in terms of subject matter, but the images had to show great capture and/or editing technique. The decisive moment, for instance, could be depicted by a great sporting image, a brilliant street photo where fleeting expressions have

been captured or a stunning instant in a nature shot. Each image was judged ‘blind’ and marked out of 20 by Photography News editor, Will Cheung, and contributing editor, Kingsley Singleton. All the scores were added together and the club with the highest total judged the winner. Our long-term aim is to run a camera club contest every year so details of the next event will be unveiled towards the end of 2016.

Theme 3 My home town

Theme 4 What I love most

Overall winner prize: DAVID NOTON exclusive day

“Wow! What fabulous news,” says the club’s president, Karen Crawford. “I’m feeling hugely proud and honoured to be president of the Photography News Camera Club of the Year. What a fantastic achievement. Massive thanks go to all the members of the club for participating and also to the winning images submitted. Thanks must also go to Eddie Telford for all his hard work, drive and determination in making sure the images were submitted before the deadline. Such commitment. I can’t say how proud I am.” ayrps.com What Ayr PS says

Overall winner prize: CANON imagePROGRAF PRO-1000

Ayr PS wins… glory & prizes! As well as the glory of being crowned Camera Club of the Year, Ayr PS also gets Canon’s very latest photo quality printer, the imagePROGRAF PRO-1000, and an exclusive day with renowned landscape and travel pro photographer David Noton, enjoying a workshop and an illustrated talk. A pro-level printer featuring a 12-ink system, the imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 can produce exhibition quality enlargements up to A2 size. The 12-ink system features Lucia Pro pigment inks that offer a very high level of lightfastness and has the ability to use either Photo Black or Matte Black for fine art media without the need to switch between the two cartridges thus saving both ink and time. The large capacity, ink cartridges also include Canon’s Chroma Optimizer. This is applied over the print to enhance glossiness and smooth bumps between ink droplets to expand colour gamut and ensure maximum blacks. For shots taken on Canon EOS cameras, a new Crystal Fidelity feature ensures faithful reproduction. This printer uses the L-COAPRO Image Processing system to ensure precise placement and mix of the printer’s four-picolitre ink droplets. It also accepts high resolution files of up to 1200ppi for the ultimate reproduction of the finest detail. canon.co.uk

Above The delighted members of Ayr Photographic enjoying news of their success outside Ayr’s Loudoun Hall.

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

Camera Club of the Year IN ASSOCIATIONWITH

©RoySmith

Theme 1

Theme 3

Theme 1

Theme 4

©JimGallagher

Theme 1

Theme 4

Theme 2

Theme 1

Theme 3

Theme 2

Theme 3

Theme 4

Theme 2

Theme 3

©ForrestWeir

©MarkMcColl

Theme 2

Theme 3

Theme 4

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

Camera Club of the Year IN ASSOCIATIONWITH

2nd Harpenden Photographic Society

©TomCouch

©PeterStevens

672 points

harpendenphotographicsociety. co.uk

3rd Dorchester Camera Club

665 points

dorchestercameraclub.co.uk

©TimDownton

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

18 Camera Club of the Year IN ASSOCIATIONWITH

4th Smethwick Photographic Society

656 points

smethwickps.co.uk

5th Parkwood Camera Club

638 points

parkwoodcameraclub.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

21 Interview

Profile Nigel Fielden MAC Group Europe has recently celebrated its first birthday, so we caught up with MAC Group’s managing director, Nigel Fielden, to see how they’re ‘doing things differently’

Biography

Years in the photo industry? More than 35 Current location The office is in Wolverhampton but we live in a small Staffordshire village. Last picture taken There’s a picturesque canal running through the village where we live – even though we’ve been there for 25 years I never get tired of capturing the colours of the boats and the smoke from their chimneys through the arched bridges in the evening light. When youwere younger, what did youwant to bewhen you grewup? An electronics engineer. I was always fascinated by taking things apart, putting them back together again – and seeing them work! Dogs or cats? Cats Toast or cereal? Cereal Email or phone call? Email – I work across several time zones, so this works best most of the time.

How did you get into this industry? Well, that’s quite a long story! While at university in London I started working at Leeds Camera Centre (now part of Calumet). The job was working in the basement, packing up orders, shipping them and delivering them to photographers around London. When the owner, Malcolm Whittle, set up the Flash Centre to distribute Elinchrom lighting, I joined him there, repairing flashes and eventually building a team which designed and launched new products – some of which were still in the market until very recently! After that I joined Paterson, initially in another technical role but then I was soon dragged into managing sales and eventually general management. In 2000, when the owner of Lowepro was looking to set up distribution in Europe, he got in touch and we set up the business which is now called DayMen, which grew to distributing Lowepro in six countries and managed distributors in another 50 or so. MAC Group is a new name to the UK – how did the business come about? Historically, MAC Group was very strong in the USA and China. The owners were looking for ways to improve their distribution in other parts of the world, especially in Europe. The owner of MAC Group, Jan Lederman, called me out of the blue to ask for advice and I developed a plan. Part of the plan was to set up a business to directly manage the key markets of UK, France and Germany, building on what we inherited from the previous distributors and growing the business in a structured way. When I presented the plan, Jan asked me if I would join the team to bring the plan to life – and here we are! You’ve gone from 0-60 in a very short space of time – how have you pulled together such a strong team so quickly? It’s simple really – it’s all about the people and their experience. I was lucky to be able to recruit experts in each specific field who were excited to come on board. For example, Gary Sutton, who has solid experience in camera sales and has now moved to the ‘dark side’ of accessories as our sales director, and Mark Hoskins, who must be the industry’s most-experienced tripod brand manager. Most of our teamwas hand-picked from a group of people we know and trust. It’s no coincidence that several members of the team are enthusiastic and very experienced photographers – they can understand the needs of end users and the trade alike. We try to understand what both trade and end users need – and how these needs change – it’s about balance within the business and passion for the industry. Our team has significant experience on the logistics side too, having set up this type of distribution business before. We know what works and importantly, how to keep the business efficient, streamlined and responsive in a changing economic climate. We also have experience of working across the UK and Europe – so again this enables us to move quickly, with confidence and build strong foundations on which to grow further.

What’s the MAC mission? Ourmission is to be different: to offer real support to retailers, working to ensure good margins and working closely with our partners to enable jointly successful relationships. We enjoy bringing to market very desirable products that consumers want to buy – all of our products are designed and built to a desired quality level rather than a price point. So if we want to use the best materials and the latest engineering techniques, we do. We’re not controlled by hitting a price point, it’s all about quality, usability and innovation. Ultimately, our main aim is to support the industry, driving business both into stores, where staff are interested and committed to selling our products, and online for those buyers who choose to shop there. It’s not about flooding the market via every possible outlet, it’s all about focusing on the best products and key relationships with trade partners who add value. Because we’re not part of a big corporate, we can choose to do the right thing. All tripods are the same, right? Wrong! It’s a common myth though. Our factory makes all of our own tripods – and only ours. This includes Induro, Benro and MeFOTO (and Tenba bags too) – but the factory doesn’t make products for anyone else. The factory itself is mind-blowing – amazing engineering capability, massive investment and commitment to quality. We hope to take our media contacts out to China soon – just to see the technology and care taken in the manufacture of our products. Why three tripod brands? We’re targeting all levels of photographer – from people who want

a no-nonsense, durable product, those who want a decent high-spec tripod with a twist of colour thrown in, through to the most demanding pro who’s out shooting in the harshest conditions and wants to carry as little weight as possible. You mentioned Tenba – where does that fit in? The changing trends in hardware and the increasing move to lighter mirrorless systems means we’re spending more time on research and development than ever to ensure our products meet the needs of the consumers and exceed expectations. That said, we’ll continue to support the core DSLR market which still makes up a large segment of the market. As I mentioned earlier, our products are not designed to match a price point – so we’re always looking at the best materials, zips, fastenings etc. – and if silent Velcro is the best, but costs a bit more, then so be it! Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make the best products. What’s next for MAC? Well, we’re seeing exponential success with Phottix, our lighting brand, which has just been awarded a TIPA award – and the marketing for that exciting brand continues. I started out in lighting, so this one is very close to my heart! We’re also continuing to invest resources in finding the best trade partners to work with – although having said that, we’re not planning to over-distribute within every possible channel as others have. Our aim is to work with key partners, to add real value to those relationships and ensure profitable business for all going forward.

Because we’re not part of a big corporate, we can choose to do the right thing

eu.macgroupus.com

Images, clockwise fromtop left Phottix Indra 500TTL and Odin II, MeFoto Daytrip mini tripod and 4vdesign ALA strap.

Photography News | Issue 32 | absolutephoto.com

Profile

Before the Judge

Biography

Each month, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences. This month we hear fromMalcolmRapier who has 25 years of judging experience MalcolmRapier

Words by MalcolmRapier

All my judging experience has been at local club/society level, where I have judged internal competitions, club exhibitions and inter-club battles. I have been judging for in excess of 25 years. I consider local clubs and societies to be the backbone of photography. This is where, with encouragement and advice, photographers can hone skills and go on to greater things. In some ways I fell into judging almost by accident. As a competition secretary interacting with judges, I had my own views as to what constituted a ‘good’ judge. I thought that I should perhaps know a bit more about this judging lark. I attended a judges’ workshop, organised by my club's federation, to see if my thinking accorded with what was considered good practice. A short while later a local club asked me to judge a competition for them and I was on my way. In our area there is a local contact group for programme secretaries. Apparently before too long my name had been passed around as a ‘new judge’ and things went on from there. Things have continued in much the same way. There is a nucleus of clubs that I have returned to many times over the years and new ones are always being added. Judging can be very rewarding – for me it is all about ‘giving something back’. Over the years I have learnt a great deal from some very good and supportive judges. I hope that some of what I have learnt I am now able to pass on to others. It is rewarding when somebody comes up to you at the end of an evening and says 'thank you – I would not have thought of that and it will help me no end'. To return to the same club and be told 'thanks to your encouragement I applied and gained an award' is very heartening. I consider judging to be more acting as a ‘critical friend’ rather

MalcolmRapier Malcolm Rapier has been a member of Edmonton Camera Club for 35 years and has been judging for 25 years. Years in photography I have been involved with photography one way or another for more years than I care to remember. My first experiences came through learning the rudiments at an after-school club when just a pupil. Home club My wife and I have been members of Edmonton Camera Club since 1981. I am a Past President of the Club and we have served as Competition Secretaries for many years. During that time we have organised many Club competitions and exhibitions. We are therefore well versed in what judges expect and what is needed to make an evening go well. Favourite camera My earliest camera was a Zenith E. My current favourite camera is the Canon EOS 7D Mark II which does everything that I want. Favourite lens My Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 -II zoom – it’s great for sport. I have recently acquired a Canon 24- 105mm f/4 IS lens, which I am also enjoying getting used to. Favourite photo accessories I frequently have the need to use my Manfrotto monopod when out at sports events. I also find that a bin liner comes in very handy when you want to sit on damp grass without getting a wet bum! Favourite photographers So many to choose from. Eamonn McCabe a brilliant sports photographer but so much more. Irene Froy for her amazing ‘seeing eye’ and delicate images. Favourite subject I’m willing to give most things a go but I derive the greatest pleasure from sports photography. Awards I regularly enter images in national exhibitions (BPE), international exhibitions and salons (FIAP) and I have been fortunate to have been awarded distinctions and awards. In addition to my ARPS, I currently have the AFIAP award (hopefully the EFAIP in June when ratified), a CPAGB and a 3* BPE rating.

than acting as a dictator as to what’s right and wrong. You really have to respect that somebody has taken the time, trouble and expense to present their work to you. They deserve a fair appraisal. I feel that the overall standard of pictures can be very variable and differs from club to club. Clearly in some clubs there is fierce competition for the top slot. I feel that in many cases photographers would benefit from exposure to competition in a wider arena than only their own club. Entering work for external and international exhibitions has been an individual challenge for me. However, it has made me take stock, to really take notice of what is out there and strive to improve. By and large I feel the standard of amateur photography in theUK to be very good and continuing to improve. One only has to look at the number of acceptances and awards that authors from the UK gain in international exhibitions. There is a strong body

of photographers flying the flags of the home nations. I believe that UK photographers are less stereotypical than those of some other countries. They seem more willing to embrace a wider range of imagery. As a result we have acknowledged leaders in all fields of our hobby. I have never been lost for words when confronted by an entry. My background and career was spent as a lecturer and senior collegemanager – such people tend not to be lost for words! However, one sometimes does have to be guarded in what one says. It is not always best to say the first thing that comes into your head, whatever that may be! Sometimes one does see an entry that is quite exceptional. On such occasions I have invited the audience just to pause a moment and really appreciate what is in front of them. Needless to say my comment on such occasions is ‘I really wish that I had taken that’. Three things spring to mind when I think of the biggest or most common failings. The first is simply that the author has not been self- critical enough. If you think that you have done all you can to an image leave it a couple of days and then have another look. In my experience if you think that something needs cropping or cloning out then deal with it. If you don’t that will be the first thing that the judge will say

when they see it. When you return to an image it is surprising how often you might say to yourself ‘how did I miss that?’ Another bugbear for me is authors doing things because they can and not doing things because it enhances the image. There are a host of plug-ins and other devices out there. Remember, the sliders don’t always have to be pushed as hard over as they will go. I have seen too many harsh, gritty, over contrasty, oversharpened, monochrome images. Mind you I have also seen more than my fair share of mono work that is as flat as a pancake. Some seem to think converting any colour image to mono is a panacea – it is not. The final thing is presentation. Judges shouldnotmarkpresentation but without doubt it is part of the overall package that influences. Heavy, contrasting and brightly coloured borders with projected images can be a great distraction. My advice to be successful – enter! If you don’t enter you can’t win. If there is a set theme or subject apply yourself to the task at hand. Above all else – don’t be discouraged, if the judge doesn’t think that your image is brilliant, listen to the comments, take them on board, think about them and come back again. It is only by striving to improve that one actually does improve.

What do you think?

Have you seen a photographic judge at work who you’d like to see profiled in Photography News ? If so please drop us a line to opinion@photography- news.co.uk with the judge’s name and, if possible, their contact details.

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