Photography News Issue 57

It won’t have passed you by that drones are hugely popular image-capture tools. At the risk of droning on, a leading expert gets us off the ground with the ins and outs. We also have an exciting mix of first tests, with a carbon-fibre tripod, two innovative filter products and a lens that few can afford – the Nikon 180-400mm f/4 with its integral teleconverter at £11k.

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography news Photography Issue 57 16 July – 12 August News Tests Reviews Interviews Techniques Competitions Exhibitions Clubs Produced by

DIGITAL EDITION every month* *at photographynews.co.uk FREE GET YOUR

A Samsung 128GB memory card Enter thecompetition onpage48 WIN!

Drone master There’s something in the air. Find out how to join in the fun on page 18

Air shows All the advice you need for fabulous shots at these big summer events See page 20

First tests Lots of lovely, lovely kit for your delectation

Starting page 36

Sizzling shutters Over 200 Photography News readers braved heatwave conditions to indulge their passion for creating pictures in one of the world’s most photogenic cities

Exclusive free prints offer PN has joined forces with One Vision Imaging and Fujifilm to offer you three prints for free – all you pay is postage. See page 3 for details

Photo 24 is a free day-long camera festival for Photography News readers and sponsored by Fujifilm. Now in its sixth year, the 2018 event proved a great success with hundreds of readers combing the streets of London for opportunities to use their cameras. Guided photo walks,

studio sessions, a location steampunk shoot and a 24-hour shooting challenge were some of the activities that took place. And for those readers keen to experience mirrorless photography, Fujifilm offered free loans of its X Series cameras and lenses.

“A great day was had by all, despite the heat,” says Will Cheung, PN ’s editor, “and we saw some exceptional images for our 24-hour shooting challenge. Thanks to everyone who supported Photo 24.”

See page 12 for the full story

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

News

Exclusive reader offer

How to order

•

Go to the One Vision Imaging website, onevisionimaging.com Click on Photographic Printing

•

Follow the online instructions

•

Upload your files – TIFF and JPEGs are eligible, any colour space Prints will be professionally printed to One Vision Imaging's usual high standards using Fujicolor Professional Crystal Archive Type DPII paper Enter the code PPOFB18 at the checkout The offer ends 31 August 2018

•

There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a beautifully finished print and that’s why we have joined forces with professional lab One Vision Imaging and Fujifilm to bring you this exclusive free

•

print offer. The Print to prove it! campaign is not just about the final print but also about the benefits of using a professional lab such as One Vision Imaging and the ways it can help your workflow, culminating in exceptional quality prints.

For full terms and conditions, visit the One Vision Imaging website.

12x8in prints with the Print to prove it! campaign. Using Fujicolor Professional Crystal Archive Type DPII

print your images for free; all you need to do is to pay for the postage. To claim your free prints and discover the unprecedented quality for yourself, simply upload your images to the website and follow the online instructions. JPEGs and

TIFFs are fine and use any colour space –One Vision Imagingwill add its own colour profile as well as fine- tune contrast and colour balance. Finally, enter the voucher code PPOFB18 when prompted. Then it's simply a case of waiting for

your prints to drop through your letterbox – ready to marvel at the cost-effective quality.

Every Photography News reader can each claim three free 10x8in or

paper with a choice of lustre or gloss finish, One Vision Imaging will

Reader opportunity

Switch tomirrorless More and more photographers are going mirrorless and if you’re thinking of switching from your DSLR kit to the Olympus Micro Four Thirds system but haven’t quite decided yet, we have the perfect opportunity for you

Photography News has six places available on an exclusive Olympus experience that will take place at Park Cameras main store in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. It offers you the chance to get familiar with Olympus OM-D cameras and lenses in a real shooting situation with full technical support and Olympus ambassador Jay McLaughlin offering inspiration. This is a studio shooting experience with a professional fashion model and you will have plenty of time to direct the model, try different poses and lighting styles, and get to use a variety of cameras and lenses. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at this exclusive event so your only cost on the day will be to make your way to Park Cameras at Burgess Hill.

How to enter

Please send your best portrait to willcheung@bright-publishing. com. JPEGs should be

1500-1800 pixels on the longest dimension and in any colour space.

The shoot will also be featured in a future issue of Photography News , so perhaps you will get to see your work in print too. There will be a competitive element to the event to add to the excitement – more details of this will be given to the six participants on the day. If you want to join us for this unique inspirational event, all you have to do to be considered is send us your best portrait. The closing date for entries is 9 August 2018.

Closing date for entries is 9 August, and you will know if you're selected by 13 August.

Event date 10am start, 23 August 2018

Venue Park Cameras, Burgess Hill, York Road, West Sussex, RH15 9TT

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

News

Laowa’s nice pair

News in brief

Laowa has brought us many fascinating optics and its latest offerings are no exception. The Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D is a compact ultra wide-angle with a coverage of 113° on APS-C mirrorless cameras and is available in Canon EOS M, Fujifilm X-series and Sony E fittings. It features a 15 elements in 10 groups construction which includes two aspherical and three extra-low dispersion lenses to combat chromatic aberrations and distortion. With a minimum focusing distance of 12cmyou can get in close, and despite its wide field-of- view it accepts 49mm filters. Stocks are available now and it costs £499. The second lens is even more interesting, particularly if you enjoy close-up shooting. The Laowa

25mm f2.8 2x-5x Ultra Macro is a compact, high magnification lens designed for shooting between 2.5x and 5x lifesize together with a comfortable shooting distance. For example, at 2.5x you can be 45mm from the subject, which helps with lighting and to avoid the camera’s shadow falling across the subject. Minimum focus varies from 17.3cm to 23.4cm. The lens construction comprises eight elements in six groups with an aperture range from f/2.8 down to f/22. Weighing in at 400g it is also a lightweight and compact lens. This lens sells for £399 and is available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony E mounts.

Manfrotto’s summer giveaways Buy a selected Manfrotto product before 9 September from a qualifying dealer and you’ll receive a free gift. So, buy a selected Pro Light backpack or messenger bag and you get a free £48.95 Gorillapod 3K, for example. For the full product qualifying list and how to claim your free gift, see the website below. A long one fromNikon Nikon announced that it is developing the AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, a prime super-telephoto lens featuring a PF (Phase Fresnel) lens element to keep size and weight down compared with lenses of the same focal length. The benefit of that technology can already be seen in another Nikon lens, the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, that came out in 2015. No price or availability details as yet. manfrotto.co.uk/ summeressentials

laowalens.co.uk

H&Y framed attraction

H&Y’s Quick Release Magnetic FilterFrame systemoffers a fast and effective way of enjoying your creative filters. Initially, adapter strips are available for Lee 100mm and Formatt-Hitech holders, with B+W, Cokin, NiSi and H&Y’s own K-series to follow later this year. The system speeds up filter mounting and adjusting the filter’s position. The framed filters are easier to handle without fingerprints marking the filter edges and several filters can be stacked together for easier transportation. Also, using several filters is easy with no gaps between them. You need an Adapter pack

which replaces the filter slots on the Lee holder and when each filter is framed, to attach all you do is offer the filter to the holder and magnetism does the rest. It is a neat and practical innovation. Prices for the system are: 100x100mm filter frame £23, 100x150mm frame £25, Adapter Strips for Lee 100mmand Formatt- Hitech filter systems £15, Lee Filters triple pack£80– this includes three 100x150mm frame and Lee Filters Adapter frame pack. There is a First Test of the H&Y system in this issue of PN .

nikon.co.uk

Johnsonsphotopia.co.uk

Get ProfessionalPhoto magazine

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Professional Photo ’s latest issue is number 148 and due to hit the news stands from 19 July. This issue is packed with tips for fabulous flash and boosting your income without the hard sell. We also focus on four young British photographers who have made a name for themselves in recent years, and talk to three pros who have switched systems and lived to tell the tale. Plus tests on loads of essential kit, and the Nikon 180-40mm f/4E. All this and much more, guaranteed to enhance your earning potential. Use the coupon opposite to buy one of two issues of Professional Photo from WHSmith and save £1 off the usual £4.75 cover price.

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Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

News

More goodies fromManfrotto

The Lastolite by Manfrotto Ezybox Pro Strip 25x150cmwill appeal to all on-location flash photographers. Its unique, patent pendingdesignallows you to set it up for use in very quick time and with minimal effort. The softbox fabric stays attached to the RapidExoframe and this just slides out and is clipped into position at both ends. No straining and bending of supporting rods needed, and the collapsed form is compact so ideal for travelling around. The stripbox itself offers a 6:1 ratio so ideal for edge lighting and it can be used vertically or horizontally and will fit most flashheads and flashguns via a speedring mount. Two internal diffusers and a fabric grid are supplied as standard too. The Ezybox Pro Strip 25x150cm’s guide price is £329.95 and stock will be available soon.

Manfrotto has added the Noreg bag system to its range. Two bags are available, the Camera Backpack-30 and the Camera Messenger-30, priced at £159.95 and £129.95 respectively and each designed to carry a mirrorless camera and two lenses. Modular is the keywordwith both products. Each bag is made up of two parts and each of these can be used separately. So, for example, with the Backpack-30, when you don’t need your camera kit, the internal insert can be removed and the bag becomes a roomy daypack. Made from premium materials and boasting contemporary good looks theNoreg range isworth a look. Finally, from Manfrotto this montharethreeadditionstoitsBefree tripod range, the Befree Advanced Carbon (£319.95), Befree Live Carbon (£349.95 ) and the Befree GT (£399.95

for the carbon version and £239.95 for the aluminium version). The Advanced Carbon features the Advanced 494 Centre ball head and the combination weighs just 1.25kg so ideal for those long walks. The Live Carbon is designed for video use and includes the Befree Live Fluid head and this support weighs 1.39kg. Both versions of the new Befree GT come with the 496 aluminium ball head and have a maximum payload of 10kg. The legs feature quick to use, secure twist M-locks, have the Easy Link facility to fix various accessories, and have three independent leg angles. TheAdvancedCarbon is reviewed in the First Test section of this issue, so check that out.

manfrotto.co.uk

Pentax’s fast standard

Pentax has added a fast aperture standard lens to its range. The HD 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW is a dust proof, weather resistant lens that boasts state of the art technology including Pentax’s Aero Bright Coating II, a lens coating technology that coupled with HD Coating effectively reduces flare and image ghosting to a minimum. It is available from July onwards and costs £1199.

ricoh-imaging.co.uk

Sony’s long ’un

Samyang goes fast AF

Samyang’s the autofocus lens market continues with its AF 85mm f/1.4 EF. This weather-proofed lens is full-frame compatible. Weighing 485g and measuring 72mm long, it should make a fine companion to full- frame and APS-C format DSLRs. The 85mm focal length is popular among portrait photographers march on

and with a minimum focus of just 90cm you should enjoy some lovely bokeh effects. Its optical build comprises nine elements in seven groups and features Samyang’s Hybrid aspherical glass to maximize fine detail resolution and deliver corner to corner sharpness. Flare is kept under tight control thanks

to the lens’s Ultra Multi Coating. However, top of its features set is its autofocus skills. The lens uses Samyang’s dual LSM motor for fast, accurate and very quiet autofocus. The lens is priced at £599.99 and available from July onwards.

Sony the availability of its FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS Master lens for its E-mount camera system. Key features include its fast precise AF using two high- speed XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors to drive the len’s has announced

focusing group of elements and its optical design. The FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is built to order and is available from this September. Approximate cost is £10,500.

sony.co.uk

Intro2020.co.uk

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

News

Sell yourself

Photo by OnlinePictureProof.com could be one of the best marketing tools for your photography business. Photo Mobile Apps help boost your word-of-mouth marketing and increases referrals for your business. The main purpose of the app is to bring you new clients and get you in touch with your old customers to get repeat business. Mobile Apps

You can create unlimited mobile apps for your clients. Online Picture Proof provides a one-stop solution for freelance photographers. This includes a beautiful HTML5 website, very easy-to-use online proofing and a shopping cart. You can try the app for free for 30 days.

onlinepictureproof.com

Voigtländer get in close

Voigtländer’s Apo- Lanthar 110mm f/2.5 is designed exclusively for full-frame Sony-E mount cameras. It is a high performance manual focus lens that offers lifesize magnification and is optimized to get the most from Sony mirrorless camera sensors. Its apochromatic design means the red, green and blue light is focused at the same point so chromatic aberration is kept to practically zero. With 14 elements in 12 groups and a three-group floating mechanism, this lens delivers high image quality across its focusing range and enables 1:1magnification Macro

without the need for any extra accessories. Its minimum focusing distance is 35cm so you get a good working distance from your subject. The lens does not include image stabilisation but it does have a distance encoder to support five- axis image stabilisation on cameras with that feature. Focus peaking is also supported and aperture data is transmitted to the camera so you get full EXIF data on your files. TheMacroApo-Lanthar 110mm f/2 is available from August and priced at £849.

Canon on the upgrade

flaghead.co.uk

Canon has upgraded two of its popular zooms, with the launch of the EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USMand EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM. Priced at £1299.99, the EF70- 200mm f/4L IS II USM is the ideal telezoom when you need superb image quality in a compact body form. It’s weather-sealed for Shoot anywhere with Rotolight The Rotolight NEO 2 Explorer kit weighs just 6.8kg and costs £1199.99. The kit includes three NEO 2 units, three four-piece filter kits, three power supply units, three stands and one ten- piece colour filter set, all in a bespoke soft case complete with shoulder strap.

reliable performance in challenging conditions and features a new Image Stabiliser unit giving a 5EV benefit – the previousmodel had a 3EVbenefit. The new lens has new firmware and control CPU for even better AF performance. The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM sells at £2149. Key features

include its constant fast aperture, weather-proof construction and fluorine-coated front and rear lens elements. Its IS performance has a 3.5EVbenefit. Both lenses will be available later this year.

canon.co.uk

Rotolight.com

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

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 achievements; 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 Maidstone CC

How to submit

Deadline for the next issue: 2August 2018

We need words and pictures by 2 August 2018 for the next issue of Photography News , which will be available from 13 August 2018. Write your story in a Word document (400 words max). 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

Monmouth PC

Monmouth PC is a small, friendly club that meets on alternate weeks. Being so close to areas such as the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons National Park and the South Wales Heritage coast gives members plenty of variety for photo trips out. Previous guest speakers last season included the renownedMagnum photographer David Hurn (shown here) and landscape photographer Nigel Forster. The club meets on the first and third Fridays of each

month between September and May at Mitchel Troy Village Hall, Monmouth NP25 4BD, starting at 7.30pm. The club’s first meeting of the new season is on 7 September 2018 with a presentation by Sleepy Robot (sleepyrobotphotogr.wixsite. com/sleepy/composites) for which there’s a small entry fee for non members. Other guest speaker highlights for the season include Alyn Wallace and Roy Carr.

monmouthphoto.co.uk

Maidstone CC is holding its annual exhibition in The Mall, Maidstone from 27 August to 2 September. More than 100 prints will be on display from a wide cross-section of members and entry is free. Maidstone CC meets every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 10pm at Madginford Hall,

Bearsted, Kent ME15 8LH from September to May and has a very varied program. In addition to regular club meetings, special interest groups meet once a month covering natural history, portraiture and audio visual sequencing. The club’s Digital group covers everything technical

from camera craft to using post processing software. New members are always welcome and further information is available from Tony White 07792 037908 or Peter Brook 07828 133508 or on the website.

maidstonecameraclub.org.uk

AmershamPS

Heswall PS’s annual exhibition takes place at Ness Gardens, open from 17 September and running for seven days. Entry into the exhibition is free. A selection of members’ printed and digital images will be on show. Last year, the exhibition attracted over 600 visitors and each was invited to Heswall PS

vote for their favourite image. Last year’s visitors’ choice winner is shown here. It is anexcellent opportunity for visitors to chat to club members and find out more about HPS and what the club offers. Meetings are held from September to May at St Peter’s Centre, Lower Heswall Village. Enquiries and potential newmembers are very welcome.

Amersham PS has a long history of extremely able women members whose impressive work has helped bring distinction to the club. However, in recent years the numbers of new women members has grown significantly and from these intakes has come work that has dominated this year’s club awards in both printed images and PDI. Moreover, these achievements haveoccurred inavarietyof genres.

These and many more strong images from all club members may be seen at the club’s 66th annual Exhibitiontobeheld23-25August at

St Michael and All Angels church, 70 Sycamore Road, Amersham.

amershamphotosoc.com

heswall.com

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Photo24 Ironman for photographers Photo 24 2018: the day Over 200 readers joined Photography News for its Photo 24 reader event on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June. It was 24 hours of friendship, great photography, blue skies and scorching temperatures

Our Photo 24 is a free photo festival that takes place in London, this year starting at 3pm on 29 June and ending 24 hours later. This year’s event was – literally! – the hottest yet, but that didn’t deter our readers from immersing themselves in their photography, many of them for the full 24 hours. While Photo 24 lasts a whole day, how long participants

actually stay for is entirely up to themand this year we had close to 150 readers turning up for the event’s official sign-off. An impressive feat given the heatwave conditions. Photo 24 offers guided photo walks, shoots and the chance to loan a Fujifilm camera for free. There are also themed contests; this year, two to enter after the event, Best Street Image

and Best London Scene, and a Challenge that ran throughout the 24 hours. All three contests had the same prize: £1500 of Fujifilm camera equipment of the winner’s choice. The Fujifilm Super 24 Challenge had a new theme on the hour, every hour starting at 4pm on the first day and ending at 2pm on the next, so 23 different subjects to be shot

and uploaded for judging with the winner announced at Photo 24’s closing meeting. For more see the panel on the Fujifilm Super 24 Challenge. The next three pages will give you a flavour of this popular reader event and if you couldn’t make it this year, perhaps we’ll see you in 2019.

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Photo24

Photo 24 activities

Free photowalks

Readers could enjoy free 45-minute model sessions in the company of Fujifilm X-Photographer Wayne Johns using a Fujifilm GFX medium-format camera and Profoto lighting. The FujifilmGFX studio

Wehad freephotowalks onPhoto24guided by ace street photographers, Alex and Brian Lloyd Duckett from streetsnappers. com. Camera set-up, use of light and the art of composition were key techniques.

Above “I was rather excitedwhen told we would be using the FujifilmGFXwith a range of lenses,” Mark Stimpson says. “I was expecting the FujifilmGFX to be big and heavy, but it is not. I was surprised just how light and small it is. In fact, it’s no bigger thanmy full-frame DSLR and it’s very user-friendly. Overall, I found the GFX easy to use and really enjoyed it.”

Becks and Paul were our models in the Leake Street graffiti tunnel with the option of using Profoto lighting equipment, but it was bright enough for ambient light photography. Shoot steampunks

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Photo24

How readers approached Photo 24

Photo 24 is very much a free-form event so how long people stayed, where they went and what they shot was down to each photographer. Many had their own plan of what theywanted to shoot or a timetable for their Photo 24, while others – perhaps with less knowledge of the capital – buddied

up with fellow photographers. Maps were provided in our special Photo 24 guide so self-guided walks was another popular option. Here are a couple of different perspectives from readers Chung Hau and Peter Karry.

Chung Hau

“For Photo24, I decided to focus on Brutalist architecture in London. For my day job, I’m lucky to visit the new steel/glass skyscrapers and whilst I admire these new buildings, they do not present themselves to be inclusive of the general population. They consist, mainly, of luxury apartments or they are the domain of multinational corporations. The Brutalist ideals of living/working spaces were intended for all and promoted community within its population. It canbeargued that useof building materials such as concretemay not result in the most (aesthetically) pleasing of appearances but there is no doubt that the buildings show a post-war London at a crucial turning point

its history – just like the glass skyscrapers will define the present era. Personally, I felt that the shapes and symmetry present, in these buildings, also lend themselves well to good imagery – not to mention the accessibility aspect (try gaining access into The Gherkin, for example!). My iPhone was my camera choice: two built-in lenses and light enough to carry around the various locations. “Whether you picked up a camera 20 minutes or 20 years ago, Photo24 offers a wide range of experiences for all. It will always have my support.”

chunghauphotography.com

Peter Karry

the set lunch; dinner was at Locale on Belvedere Street (good but pricey), and second lunch was in the Brick Lane bagel shop – its salt beef sandwich is to die for, but so huge even I could not finish it, and at such a reasonable price. “From a photographic perspective, I am really happy to just have the opportunity to concentrate on taking diverse images over 24 hours and to do this in a location like London with so many different cultures, activities and architecture is the icing on the cake. “In hindsight, I probably could have benefited from spending more time in fewer locations, and also from participating in at least one of the organised P24 walks.”

“My the introductory meet at the National Gallery, to Pineapple Dance studio in Covent Garden but I failed to obtain permission to take shots, so went to King’s Cross for the multi-coloured tunnel which connects to St Pancras. I also decided to try out the new development area, Granary Square before returning to the PN organised steampunk shoot in Leake Street with models in front of Banksy style murals. Next I went on to Mirror Maze in the Olympic East Village, and returned to my hotel near Westminster Bridge for a meal and some kip. itinerary was, after

“Next morning I went on the PN organised Thames Boat trip starting at Westminster Pier and ending at Canary Wharf. I went to one of my favourite places– theCrossrailPlaceRoofGarden. Then on by DLR to Greenwich where I shot in the market and in the park. Back into London via DLR and Overground train to Shoreditch for Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market. I walked to Aldgate (Whitechapel) where I bumped into a Jamaican wedding before returning to Photo 24 HQ for final a get-together and received a souvenir T-shirt. “On my Photo 24 I met some interesting folk and had some super food – lunch before the start was at Yori Korean restaurant near Leicester Square and I can highly recommend

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Photo24

Reader feedback on Photo 24

FujifilmSuper 24 Challenge

Every hour, on the hour, during Photo 24 a new photo challenge was unveiled and the best image, as judged by the Photography News team and Fujifilm, would win £1500 of Fujifilm camera equipment of their choosing. The theme could be photographed at any time during the 24 hours and the themes were open to creative interpretation. The Challenge proved hugely popular with over 1500 images uploaded during Photo 24 and the overall winning picture was judged to be from Catherine Peakman for her brilliant

“Can’t thank the PN team for what was a wonderful two days of photography, not to mention the hotel staff who were great too.” John Nield “It was terrific fun. A big thank you to you and your colleagues for organising.” Ryan Hill “Thanks to you all for all the hard work – it’s the reason we all enjoyed it.” Gary Carter “Great event and good photo hunting topics. Never had such little sleep in a long time but well worth it and great fun, though some shade would have been appreciated.” Andy Warr “It was my second Photo 24 and loved it. The Facebook challenges really helped motivation and the opportunity to rest while I uploaded, edited and posted every few hours. Stayed awake the full 24 hours, aching today in places I never knew existed due to walking round most of the night.” Emma Joanne Burgoyne-Williams “Thanks to the whole team – came home and went to a gin festival – a perfect end to two great days.” Steven Marley

interpretation of the theme, Six inches off the ground. “I loved this lady’s bold outfit choice and the heels fitted perfectly with the Six inches off the ground theme,” Catherine says. “I shot from behind – rather than in profile – as I wanted to show the contrast of the glam mirror heels with the lady’s pigeon-toed pose. “I wasn’t expecting to get in the top 20, let alone win, so I was completely over the moon when my name was called out. I’d fallen in love with the Fujifilm X-T2 when I loaned one on the first day of 24, so the fact that I can now get one is amazing. Thank you for my prize and a brilliant 24 hours.”

“Got home and ended up driving out to Mersea Island for pizza tea on the beachwith the family followed by F1 qualifying. Slept like a log till the cat and daughter woke me a 7am. Had a brilliant time – hope to see you on the next one.” Stewart Chambers “It was my first Photo 24 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Completed the full 24. Bring on Photo 24 2019. Thanks to all involved for a great event.” Paul Hill “One of my friends called Photo 24 the Ironman for photographers! I’ll have that.” Graham Harries “Massive thanks to all involved in making Photo 24 a great event for photographers of any ability. It was my first P24, and definitely won’t be my last. I have about four friends that will also be applying next year, after I haven’t shut up about it since I got home (after a solid ten hours’ sleep!). I met some great people along the way, and am already in touch with my P24 buddies so we

can meet up at next year’s event, if not before. Again, big thanks.” Jon Oakley “Loved it all, met some lovelypeople, hadsomegood fun, tiredandhungry now, but will be back next year with less gear and a toothbrush. I will be taking some good memories and new friends home with me.” David Weller “37,000 steps and 24 hours later a sit-down dinner for one. Thank you PN team for organising a great Photo 24! I have learned some new things this year and been to new places.” Alicia Gill “Just a quick thank you to the Photography News team and all the photographers at Photo 24 for letting me join the excitement (and exhaustion) of a tremendous photo walk! Seeing all the wonderful photos posted in the hourly challenges and Instagram gives me so much to aspire to! It was well worth the trip across the pond to say ‘I did it’!” Tim Childers

The heels fitted perfectly with the Six inches off the ground theme

Our thanks go to…

… Fujifilm for its generous sponsorship of Photo 24, free camera loans and competition prizes … Alex and Brian Lloyd Duckett of streetsnappers.com for hosting our photo walks. … Wayne Johns for running the Fujifilm Fine Art GFX Studio shoots. See waynejohns.com for more of his work. And to make- up artists Margarida Marinho

and Kristina Pavlovic, stylist Angelica Stenvinkel and the model Markie Pearl. … Profoto for the loan of its lighting equipment for the Fujifilm Fine Art GFX Studio and Leake Street shoot. … Becks and Paul, our steampunk models ; see f acebook .com/Pau l - Smith- Model-207657013292491 and facebook.com/becky.southwell1

NEXTMONTH ISSUE 58, OUT FROM 13 AUGUST WILL SHOWCASE THE BEST PICTURES ENTERED INTO OUR PHOTO 24 CONTESTS.

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Interview 18

Dronemaster Profile Compact, capable and affordable drones brings great aerial image making is within easy reach of keen photographers. We talk to pro drone user Fergus Kennedy about his work and how you can get involved in this exciting form of imaging

PN: Can you tell PN readers a bit about yourself please? What’s your background and what do you do for a living? FK: I’m a 48-year-old photographer, drone pilot and marine biologist. Being self- employed allows me to mix several careers, which gives me great variety. I trained as a marine biologist and continue to work on ecological surveys for Environmental Impact Assessments, particularly for the oil and gas Industry in the Arabian Gulf. In recent years I’ve been doing more and more photography work, both ground based and up in the air. As a photographer my first love was wildlife and underwater work, but these days I get involved in a wide variety of work including commercial shoots for the likes of Canon, and I also do drone piloting work for TV and other clients, notably for The Great British Bake Off , both for the BBC and now that it’s moved to Channel 4. In recent years I’ve also had to privilege to be on the judging panel for the Outdoor Photographer of the Year contest. PN: Most PN readers are keen photography enthusiasts and many are looking at drones as a way of getting a fresh view or to give their image-making some impetus. What got you into drone photography? FK: I’ve always loved trying unusual or challenging types of photography, starting with underwater, but then I shot a fair bit from small aircraft, paragliders and hot air balloons. So when drones started to appear I was immediately interested. These days it’s a dream come true that you can bung a small drone in the camera bag along with the rest of your kit. PN: What drone kit do you use? FK: I probably have more drones than I really should have (at least that’s what my wife says). They range from the tiny, folding DJI Mavic Air [costs from £769], up to the DJI Matrice 600 [from £5199] which can lift a cinema camera or a large DSLR with a big lens. But for most purposes, the DJI Inspire 2 [from £3059] is a good compromise between size and decent image quality. Depending on which camera you use on the Inspire you can have interchangeable

PN: What kit would you recommend readers buy as their first serious photographic drone? FK: For most people either the DJI Mavic Pro [£899], Mavic Air, or as a step up the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 [£1589] would both be good choices, depending on budget and the importance of portability vs image quality. PN: Is there a code of conduct for amateur drone flyers? For example, is there a minimum distance from people when flying? FK: The exact regulations vary from country to country, but in the UK drone operators should make sure their drone is always at least 50m from people, buildings or roads not under their control and they should avoid exceeding 400ft above ground level. Stay well away from airports – at least 5km. PN: ‘No drone’ signs are appearing at more and more places and the practice is probably going to get more common. Is that a concern for you? FK: It can be annoying when a great flying

lenses, either Micro Four Thirds on the Zenmuse X5S, or the DJI APS-C sized DL mount on the X7 camera. PN: Are drones easy to operate for enthusiasts starting out? FK: These days drones are pretty easy to operate. Most decent drones are GPS stabilized, meaning provided you have a clear view of the sky, if you let go of all the controls they will hover without drifting. To become a safe pilot, you should have at least a rough understanding of how they work. This will help you appreciate their limitations and what actions to take should something unexpected happen mid-flight. PN: What are the main issues with drone image-making? FK: I’d say the main differences between conventional photography and drone photography are that you need more 3D spatial awareness for drone photography and you also need to always be aware of issues such as airspace regulations and the weather, particularly the wind!

To become a safe pilot, you should have at least a rough understanding of how drones work

Images Fergus has extended his wildlife and underwater photography skills into drone piloting, undertaking work for commercial clients and personal projects like this one.

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

19 Interview

Contact

Fergus Kennedy is aman of a greatmany talents. He is amarine biologist, photographer and filmmaker, and an experiencedmulti-rotor pilot and camera operator. He provides aerial video, still photography and 3Dmodelling services to the BBC, ITV, Canon Europe, Toyota, Nissan, WWFG, the Royal Navy and Love Productions – Fergus is responsible for the intro sequence for The Great British BakeOff . He is a successful author, writing Drone Photography andVideoMasterclass (£16.99) which came out last year and this autumn he serves as consultant editor on the newbook Masters of Drone Photography . Both books are available fromthewebsite below.

thegmcgroup.com ferguskennedy.com

I can understand that there is a concern that beauty spots could be spoiled by the constant buzzing of drones

area becomes off-limits to drones. But I can understand that there is a concern that beauty spots could be spoiled by the constant buzzing of drones. Depending on the landowner, it may be possible to arrange a special permission for a flight at a time when there aren’t many visitors. PN: You use drones professionally. What training and qualifications are needed to work commercially in the UK? FK: If you want to fly drones for commercial gain, you need to get your Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) from the CAA. This usually involves a course, a written test, a flight test and various other paperwork. The permission is renewed annually. You will also need to maintain fairly comprehensive insurance, and keep detailed flight and maintenance logs. PN: Moving on from drones, your new book Wings Over the Desert is about a paramotoring expedition to Jordan. What exactly is paramotoring? FK: It’s a sport involving flying a foot- launched powered paraglider. Basically it involves a soft foil wing above you and a motor and propeller on the back of your harness. It’s the cheapest and most compact form of powered aviation. The Jordan trip came about because a friend who’s a paramotor pilot got in touch

Images Fergus’s book features drone images of people using paramotors over the amazing scenery of Jordan.

and asked me along. He had visited Jordan and saw its potential as a flying location, with amazing scenery. After careful planning at the invitation of Aqaba Directorate of Tourism, the expedition was arranged and special permissions were granted to use both drones and paramotors with the help of the Royal Aero Club of Jordan. The book is a compilation of drone photos from various talented drone photographers around the world. I don’t fly paramotors, so

my aerial shots were taken using the drone.

weather conditions is crucial.

PN: What training do you need to fly one? FK: Although you don’t need a CAA licence to operate a paramotor, you should get trained by a qualified instructor – look at the British Hangliding and Paragliding Association website, bhpa.co.uk. It’s not dangerous if you do it sensibly, hence the need for proper training. A sound knowledge of both your equipment and the

PN: Can you try paramotoring in the UK? FK: There are schools that offer paramotor tuition in the UK – check the PPG pilots Forum for more advice and information. PN:What is your next drone/paramotoring adventure? FK: I’m hoping to get up to the Scottish Islands with my drone before too long.

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Feature

Shoot air shows Expert photographer Darren Harbar is internationally known for his aircraft photography. He also runs aviation photography workshops, and here presents some hints and tips on how you can get better pictures from some of the summer’s biggest outdoor events, air shows Days out

element of considering zooming in and out but there are several telephoto zooms that stretch that far. Whatever telephoto you choose, you may have the option of using a teleconverter, but stick to the 1.4x magnification as the bigger ones lose more light and could possibly slow your lens’s autofocus. For long telephoto lenses a camera support such as a monopod is an option but you’ll get better flexibility without one. Other than that, a good kit bag, perhaps a backpack for comfort, a decent lens cloth and a comfortable camera strap are recommended. Some food and water in the bag is also recommended. Air shows present a wide range of opportunities from static aircraft through to re-enactors and of course the various flying displays. The sun plays a big part in any air show and seasoned photographers will know the best spots to get the optimum shots

when the sun decides to turn up. There are many locations where the sun can be in front of you or to the side, which is not ideal for shooting subjects in the sky. The Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden in Bedfordshire is a photographer’s dream when the sun is out, because it sits behind the crowd. It’s common to witness people getting there early with trollies filled with chairs and windbreaks making a run for prime positions when the gates open. That’s not totally necessary, as the flying part of the day is generally above head height, so you can happily stand behind other people and still get a good view. Each air show has a different way of doing things. Static aircraft can often be surrounded by a mix of cones, barriers, trade stalls, skips, toilets and much, much more. The fun part is trying to avoid these things in your images,

Words and pictures by Darren Harbar

Capturing the action and atmosphere of an air show is a challenge. The action is fast and takes place some distance from you, and it’s usually busy so you have to contend with people getting in the way of your shots. The first thing to consider is what gear you need. For shootingaircraft ontheground, you’ll only need a short zoom such as a 24-70mm (or similar) standard zoom. For the flying subjects, you’re going to need at least 300mm, as the aircraft can’t fly too close to the crowd, and thus you need a decent telephoto reach to at least fill half the frame. Something like a 70-300mm is a good starting point, but a lens that takes you to 400mm is ideal. Personally I prefer a prime telephoto, as it focuses mymind on composition, rather than having the added

The sun plays a big part in any air show and seasoned photographers will know the best spots to get the optimum shots

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Feature

LEFT Using a telezoomwill help you crop out telltale signs of modernity. ABOVE Shots like this take practice and good timing as well as luck. One technique to try is to set continuous shooting and focusing on the camera, track one plane as it flies past and push the shutter button a fraction before they cross over. Have one eye to the viewfinder as usual but keep the other open to help your timing. You will also need a very fast shutter speed – at least 1/1000sec.

and thus it is important to look around your viewfinder image to see what’s appearing in your shot. A simple move to the left or right, or even crouching (or lying) down can dramatically change how the image looks and avoid some of the clutter. With live view and tilting monitors shooting low down or above head height is achievable. Look out for things that sit behind your subject such as speaker poles and aerials as that can save you cloning time if you spot them before taking the shot.

Many air shows offer a flight line walk, where you can photograph the aircraft that are due to participate in the flying display. These are generally on the airfield, and thus have a lot less clutter around them, making for nicer images. A grass airstrip offers some timeless images with vintage aircraft when you ensure nothing but grass and trees is in the background. You’ll also find that many events employ period dressed re-enactors who provide great portrait subjects against a backdrop of an aircraft. I tend to shoot ground based static images in aperture- priority exposure mode as it’s the best way to concentrate on depth-of-field whether you want to throw the background out of focus or keep a long line of aircraft sharp. Shooting the aerial displays is a bit more complicated and you need to find a place from where you get a good view. If air show shooting is new to you head towards where the people with seriously long lenses stand. These photographers might have accreditation and be standing in a cordoned- off press area, but you can still stand close by. The ends of the display line prove popular with photographers as the aircraft tend to ‘come around the bend’ which looks good with the subject presenting a good view of its upper surfaces. If the sun favours one end of the airfield for this bend, then you’ll likely discover a greater concentration of seasoned photographers in that area. But watch out for speaker poles which sit along the crowd line, as these have a habit of appearing in your shots. It’s often not avoidable, but at least

Shooting the aerial displays is a bit more complicated and you need to find a place from where you can get a good view

Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Feature

make a mental note where they are so you can try to avoid them. Choosing the right shutter speed is essential for aircraft photography. If a plane has a propeller or a helicopter has rotor blades, it’s essential not to ‘freeze’ them with too fast a shutter speed. It’s not as simple as using a specific shutter speed; it depends on how fast the propellor rotates. Old aircraft tend to have slower prop speeds than newer aircraft, so need slower shutter speeds. If you use a speed over 1/500sec for propeller-driven aircraft, it’s too fast so the prop blades are stationary which looks wrong. I’d recommend a maximum of 1/320sec, or slightly slower if you feel able and using shutter-priority AE mode for the flying displays means you know the shutter speed is constant as you shoot.

For jets, you can ramp up the shutter speed, as fast as the light allows, so you are in the 1/1000sec or 1/2000sec region. Jets have no visible moving parts to freeze, and with something like the Red Arrows crossing over, you definitely want sharp shots. The biggest influence on sharp images is your ability to pan your camera at the same speed as the subject. A smooth pan will enable you to maintain sharp images, even at slower shutter speeds. I quite often try and shoot take- offs at really slow speeds like 1/80sec in order to show lots of blurring in the background as I pan with the subject, and this emphasises the motion of the aircraft. For flying subjects set continuous or servo autofocus as well as continuous drive mode. However, don’t ‘machine gun’ long frame bursts but shoot in

short bursts of three or four shots. Consider adding a touch of exposure compensation when photographing aircraft in the sky, to balance the exposure of a dark aircraft against a bright sky. I tend to set +0.3EVor +0.6EVand stick to partial metering mode. I also always shoot in Raw format so I have flexibility when it comes to editing. When the flying displays are over, don’t just pack up your gear and run for your car, as you’ll more than likely sit in a queue when you could be making the most of more photographic opportunities. The static aircraft will often still be on show at this point, and some of the clutter may even start to disappear. You’ll also benefit from the lovely evening light if the sun is out, so hang around and take more shots.

The biggest influence on sharp images is your ability to pan your camera at the same speed as the subject

ABOVE Vary camera viewpoint and don’t shoot everything from standing height.

About DarrenHarbar

Darren Harbar’s pro work involves air-to-air shooting of vintage aircraft such as Spitfires for the press and calendar companies worldwide. He also runs a range of photography days with aviation subjects, including an air-to-air workshop where you can fly in a de Havilland Devon aircraft alongside a Spitfire and a Hurricane. Dates for Darren’s 2018 courses: 23 August The Shuttleworth Collection – Hurricane photo day £150 per person

13 October The Shuttleworth Collection – aviation Night Shoot £60 per person Full details can be found at darrenharbar.co.uk under the Training Days page. All events are booked through the event organisers but links are available via Darren’s website.

31 August IWMDuxford – American aviation workshop £155 per person 7 September IWMDuxford – RAF aviation workshop £155 per person

15 and 16 September – Aero Legends dual fighter (Spitfire and Hurricane) air-to-air workshop £849 per person

All dates subject to weather and aircraft serviceability.

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