In issue 9, we review the Panasonic GH4 alongside some great accessories. In our interviews, we find out about East Anglia’s first national print exhibition and talk to renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite. In this issue’s Camera class, we cover white-balance – both in-camera and in post.
Photography news NEWS PREVIEWS TESTS CAMERA CLUBS INTERVIEWS ADVICE COMPETITIONS FREE Issue 9 17 June – 21 July 2014
Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography Tamron pushes zoomboundary World’s first 18.8x zoom for APS-C format unveiled. Could this revolutionary 16-300mm lens replace all the optics currently weighing down your kitbag?
Produced by
Hands-onwith the Pentax 645Z, plus the latest fromSony, Nikon&Manfrotto
All the top photographic stories you need to know
Tamron has shattered its own supersoom record with the introduction of the 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD. Available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts for £529, the range dwarfs the previous record breaker; the 18-270mm. The new lens is for APS-C format cameras and gives the 35mm format equivalent of 24-450mm (depends on crop factor) so in one compact package, almost every subject can be handled. It’s the perfect one lens solution, ideal for travelling light – it weighs in at just 540g. It features Tamron’s Piezo Drive technology so it’s almost silent in use and there’s full-time manual focus override with 39cm minimum focus throughout the range. To help with shooting sharp pictures at low shutter speeds there is Vibration Compensation. Photography News ’s editor Will Cheung got to spend some time with the zoom recently and first impressions are favourable. He comments that the autofocus is speedy, “even in low light it latched onto scenes with little or no hesitation”. Find out what else he had to say on page 6 of this issue.
CharlieWaite shares his view of the landscape TakeaViewfounder says: “We live insuch a fantasticcountry” It’s not just about 4K video – sowhat else does the GH4 offer?
π To find out more, go to www.tamron.co.uk.
Plus mini tests on Nisi, Manfrotto & Gossen kit
Issue 9 | Photography News
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Photography News | Issue 9
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New fromManfrotto
NEWS INBRIEF LENSPEN IMPROVED Lenspen is now using an improved invisible carbon for its cleaning products. It’s a dry cleaning method for lenses, filters, binos, eyepieces and tablets. There’s also a camera sensor cleaning kit too and for £60 you get a magnifying loupe, powerful blower brush and a Lenspen cleaner. The cleverly designed loupe has built-in LEDs to allow you to see what’s going on as you clean the sensor. www.lenspens.co.uk The CamRanger PT Hub & Head kit lets you wirelessly control your camera using a CamRanger and your iPhone or iPad. It costs £250 on its own or £500 for the head and CamRanger unit. It’s a brilliant solution for remote shooting, allowing you to precisely frame your shot without disturbing the subject. www.intro2020.com CAMRANGERHEAD
Lightweight, practical and protective bags
Manfrotto’s new Pro Light collection of camera bags offers lightweight kit- carrying solutions, without compromising on gear protection and practical usability. In the photo bag range there are eight backpacks and holsters, while in the video collection there are two backpacks, three cases and three rollers. The range features Manfrotto’s Camera Protection System (CPS), which employs 3D shock-absorbing foam, and the bags also feature the brand’s own Advanced Harness system, making sure all the Pro Light bags are comfortable to carry. You can check out the latest Pro Light range and many other products on the Manfrotto Takeover tour – turn the page for details. . π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.
Making sure all the Pro Light bags are comfortable to carry
INSET Andy Cubin
Flashworkshops at camera clubs
Photography regularly visit camera clubs throughout the UK demonstrating the great possibilities speedlights offer for creative lighting. Taking the audience from pop-up and on-camera flash, then developing the concepts of manual and off-camera light, Terry Hewlett and Andy Cubin present an interactive programme of progressive illumination techniques, where the camera club members learn by practical shooting. Real-time linking through the large screen TV allows members to chart their progress as Terry and Andy guide them through a variety of light and camera crafts in a light-hearted Workshops
but concentrated learning experience. Programme secretaries should email info@ pworkshops.co.uk for more details. .
π To find out more, go to www. photographyworkshops.co.uk.
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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Latest photography news
PremiumSonycompact
NEWS INBRIEF
PRICE CORRECTION In last month’s
Could the RX100 III boost the compact cameramarket?
Photography News , we quoted the street prices of the new Manfrotto 055CXPRO 4 and 055CXPRO 3 carbon fibre tripods at £259 and £239 respectively. The street prices of these products are currently £374 and £359 respectively. Our apologies to HAVE AHEART The British Heart Foundation (BHF) would love to have any old camera kit that you no longer need. Photographic gear is being sold to raise funds for the BHF’s fight against heart disease. So clear out the cupboards, then pop into your local store with your donations or call to arrange free collection. For your nearest store go to bhf.org.uk/shops Manfrotto and any readers who were inconvenienced.
Words by Will Cheung
Busy Sony has announced the RX100 III, a premium compact camera. Sales of compact cameras are falling fast especially at the lower end of the market where camera phones are taking over. But sales continue to grow in the premium compact market – which is where the RX100 III, priced at £699, is squarely aimed. After a great deal of research Sony identified three key needs, according to Koichi Matsunaga, product marketing manager of Sony Europe: “First, people wanted a good lens with a wide setting and a bright aperture so the RX100 III has an equivalent of an 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss zoom. Second, an EVF was needed so we have built one in using a unique design, and finally, an adjustable monitor so this camera has one that can be turned 180° for selfie shooters. We packed all this into a truly pocketable camera that is only millimetres bigger than the Mark II which has much less in the way of features.” The RX100 III features a one-inch sensor with a top ISO of 12,800. Compacts with small sensors like this can suffer from noise so at the recent launch day, I did some tests at ISO 6400 and
12,800. We weren’t allowed to use our own cards in the cameras, but previewing those shots on the monitor, they showed remarkably little digital noise and impressive sharpness.
We packed all this into a truly pocketable camera that is only millimetres bigger than the II
π To find out more, go to www.sony.co.uk.
Throughout June and July, Manfrotto Takeover events will be touring many well- known photographic dealers. There will be free talks from leading professional photographers, special discounts and the chance to handle the latest Manfrotto products including the Pro Light bags, as well as the 190 and 055 series tripods. Experts will be available all day to answer any questions you may have. There will also be live macro demonstrations by Wild Arena. To book a free place at any of the talks or for a one-to-one Ambassador Appointment, call the Manfrotto customer services team on 01530 411515 or email info@ manfrottodistribution.co.uk. Diary dates
π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto. co.uk/manfrottotakeover.
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock This accessory is perfect for MacBook photographers on the move. With two integral Thunderbolt ports, one HDMI, one Ethernet and three USB 3.0 ports plus microphone input and audio output in one unit, it means you can plug in all your devices without lots of extra accessories. This Dock is available exclusively from Apple’s online or retail stores and costs £180.
π To find out more, go to www.elgato.com.
Photography News | Issue 9
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Latest photography news
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Nikon’s long ’un NEWACCESSORIES FROM JUST
NEWS INBRIEF UPDATES Firmware upgrades are available for the Nikon D800/D800E, Olympus OM-D E-P5, E-M1, E-M10 and Stylus 1. www.nikon.co.uk www.olympus.co.uk COREL SOFTWARE Corel AfterShot Pro 2 is claimed to be 4x faster than any Raw converter on the market thanks to its 64-bit processing. It offers other features too including an improved workflow interface, updated Raw profiles and, on Windows, HDR functionality. It costs $79.95, with upgrades from $59.99 . www.corel.com TRAINING If you enjoy action photography and want to hone your skills, get along to a Jessops Academy motor sports course. It costs £199 for a day and there are various venues across the country. www.jessops.com/ academy allows Lightroom users to enjoy the benefits of Dx0’s PRIME denoising technology. It’s the first software that allows full integration with Raws through Lightroom on Mac and Windows . www.dxo.com DX0OPTICS PRO Dx0’s Optics Pro 9.5 MOTORSPORT KZOOM This 20.7 megapixel camera phone is now available in the UK. NEXT ISSUE Issue 10 of Photography News will be available fromMonday 21 July . SAMSUNGGALAXY
Just Ltd has announced a new rain cover from Matin. A black version is already available at £40, but the latest one is a camouflage variant, priced at £50. The cover has two sleeves for easy access and a transparent window to allow viewing of the monitor. The cover can accommodate lenses up to 48cm in length so it will suit wildlife photographers, but the extension can be tucked away when using shorter lenses. There is also a new ‘pap’ strap called the Fast- Access 5. This lets you carry the camera on an across-the-body strap and bring it up to your eye really quickly. It’s suitable for CSCs and normal DSLRs but not professional, deep-bodied DSLRs.
Nature and sports photographers will be interested in Nikon’s latest long telephoto. It’s a 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR lens. Its predecessor was something special so the updated version is going to have to go some to beat it. That said, the new lens’s specification is impressive, as is its price: £10,399.
π To find out more, go to www.nikon.co.uk.
π To find out more about both products, go to www.cameraclean.co.uk.
Dirty sensors are part and parcel of digital capture, but if you are too wary of cleaning it yourself, take your camera to one of Jessops’s 28 stores for a professional clean. Prices start from £30 for a two-day turnaround. If you want to buy your own cleaning kit, Jessops can help there too. Its product range includes Lenspen lens, sensor and tablet cleaning accessories. Sensor cleaning Nat Geo bags If you prefer your camera bag to have a less obvious camera bag look, check out the new options in the Africa collection brought to us by Manfrotto and National Geographic. There are six new bags in the range, from stylish day trip slings to small and medium backpacks. All the bags are made from washed canvas and leather. They are designed to offer a high degree of protection while still enabling quick access to the contents. Prices start from £79.95.
π To find out more, go to www.jessops.com/sensorclean.
π To find out more, go to www.geographicbags.co.uk.
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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Previews
At a recent press event, PN’s editorWill Cheung got to put the 645Z through its paces – albeit briefly. What are his first impressions? Pentax645Z
SPECS
The Pentax menu system is similar to most brands, so anyone familiar with tabs running across the top and specific items running down won’t be fazed. With plenty of tabs, it might take a while to get familiar with them, but it all seemed pretty straightforward. The 645Z has so many commonly used functions controlled by buttons (some are customisable too) and switches on the body itself that there’s not much need to go into the menu structure too often anyway. The monitor itself is lovely, big and clear. It’s tiltable, but not touch sensitive. You can record JPEGs at differing quality levels and Raw, in either PEF format or Adobe DNG. And you can record them together or individually. With a PNY Pro-Elite Plus SD card, continuous shootingmode and Adobe DNG Raw and the biggest JPEG file selected, I got five shots at 3fps before the camera buffered and then it took around 20 seconds to clear. While the 645Z is not designed for high speed shooting, this performance is perfectly good. While my hour with the camera and a few Gigs of files don’t rate as a thorough going over, first impressions are certainly favourable and I’m anticipating a longer, more in-depth partnership next time around.
Words by Will Cheung
STREET PRICE £6800 body only £7700 with the 55mm lens CONTACT www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk SENSOR 51.4-megapixel CMOS FILE FORMATS Raw (PEF/DNG), TIFF, JPEG SHUTTER SPEEDRANGE 1/4000sec-30secs, bulb ISORANGE 100-24,800 AUTOFOCUSING 27 AF MOVIE Full HD MONITOR 3.2in, tiltable TFT colour, approx 1037k dots DIMENSIONS (WXHXD) 156x117x123mm WEIGHT 1.55kg inc. battery & card points, 25 cross-type SHOOTING SPEED 3fps
Not every photographer wants to shoot medium- format and it’s true not every photographer can afford or needs the image quality of medium-format – but a great many photographers want the best image quality they can get and are not afraid of digging deep to pay for it. And at £6800 body only and with 51 megapixels, the Pentax 645Z could tempt them. With all that in mind, I got to spend an hour with a pre-production sample. And I’m happy to admit that I was impressed – and now I’m looking forward to trying a finished test sample when they arrive in the UK later this summer. The 645Z features a 14-bit 43.8x32.8mm Sony- made CMOS sensor and its ISO range is more in keeping with the 35mm full-frame rivals than with medium-format contenders. The ergonomic handgrip is excellent and deep so holding the camera single-handedly is no problem at all. Your right hand is kept very busy as many of the key controls are under it. Control layout and design is first-rate. Everything felt positive and assured, so no issues here.
ISOperformance
ISO 25,600
An impromptu ISO performance test reveals that digital noise is minimal until 3200. Colour noise is very noticeable from 25,600 onwards, but you’re unlikely to want to use those settings anyway. Please note these images were taken using a camera with beta version firmware, not the final version.
Tamron 16-300mmf/3.5-6.3 PZDVC
Getting hands-on with the new all-in-one contender fromTamron
The lens also includes Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) feature and it really makes a difference when shutter speeds start dropping down. I was getting sharp pictures at 16mm at 1/6sec and 300mm, and I had success as low as 1/20sec and 1/30sec. Optically the lens impresses too. We’ll have a full test of this lens in the next issue of PN so we will cover this (and everything else) in more detail then. For now, it’s safe to say that if you are after a one-lens solution, this could be it.
Words by Will Cheung
SPECS
STREET PRICE £529 CONTACT
Tamron’s superzoom for the APS-C format impresses from the moment you pick it up. It’s remarkably light given the massive zoom range it encompasses and the 16 lens elements it contains. In the 35mm format this lens covers an equivalent of 24 to 450mm, which is remarkable for an interchangeable lens. I tried it on a Nikon D7100 and the combination was well balanced. The lens features Tamron’s PZD technology so the AF operates with barely a whisper. Perhaps more impressive, though, is its speed – even in low light it latched onto scenes with little or no hesitation. If the system does need help, there’s full-time manual focus override so fine adjustments can be made without having to switch the lens over to manual focus. Focusing is down to 39cm and this is possible at all focal lengths without any need to switch the lens over to any macro setting. It does mean that at the longer focal lengths you can successfully tackle subjects like insects because you get a nice working distance and a macro magnification of 2.9x.
www.tamron.co.uk CONSTRUCTION 16 elements in 12 groups APERTURE RANGE f/3.5-6.3 to f/22-40 MINIMUMFOCUS 39mm (at all focal lengths) giving 1:2.9
16MM
300MM
magnification FILTER SIZE 67mm LENS HOOD Supplied
DIMENSIONS (LXD) 99.5x75mm at 16mm, 181x75mm at 300mm WEIGHT 540g FITTINGS Canon, Nikon, Sony
It is impossible not to be impressed with this Tamron’s 18.7x zoom range. Just look at the two shots here taken without changing camera position.
Photography News | Issue 9
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Bleeding London: Are you in?
POINTS OF CONTACT TOUPLOADYOUR IMAGES http://rps-upf.org FOREVENTS, MEETUPSAND NEWS: RPS London region blog http://bit. ly/1tSYlKw
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/bleedinglondon
It’s your chance to get involved in the most ambitious photo project London has ever seen. This initiative, launched by RPS London, aims to photograph every avenue, road and street in the London A-Z – that’s a mere 73,000 entries
MEETUP http://bit.ly/1hBe5KU
TWITTER @bleedinglondon
If you live in the London region or are planning to visit the capital before the end of October, you can sign up and get involved in this ambitious and massive photo project. Basically, the aim is to photograph every street in the London A-Z. The idea of the Bleeding London photo project is based on the Whitbread shortlisted novel of the same name written by Geoff Nicholson – see the panel. “I read the book when it came out,” says Del Barrett ARPS, the project’s organiser. “Normally I read a book and forget about it within a week, but Bleeding London really stuck with me. So when I tramp around the streets of London I often think of Stuart [one of the main characters from the book] and what he says and sees and I thought to myself ‘you know, I could do this as a photo project’ but realised I needed help so I talked to the RPS. It is completely behind the project because they can see it getting so many people engaged with photography, especially as we are encouraging the smartphone user, the new generation of photographers and some might join the Society. It’d be great too if someone got their RPS distinction based on their work for this project.” With London constantly growing, deciding what was to be included must have been difficult. “After a lot of discussion with the A-Z we established that if you take the standard London A-Z Street Atlas the perimeter has not changed since Geoff’s book came out in 1997 so that is what we are using,” Del explained. “It has 73,000 entries. “London is changing so much I thought it would be fantastic to have a record of what it’s like right now. You might say, what about Google Street View, but the thing is that all you get is a view of the street. In Bleeding London we want pictures of all types. We want portraits, pictures of the architecture, of rubbish lying in the street – we want an eclectic mix. “We have a different suggestion for people to shoot every day on the RPS and Facebook websites and photographers can earn bonus points with the photographer having the most winning an Olympus OM-D camera. For example, on 29 May we suggested streets related to cheese, while back on 5 May we had feral furniture suggested by Geoff. We now have one photographer completely obsessed with abandoned furniture and she goes out hunting for it. “It’s interesting too that people are learning a lot about London. People are even debating things like apostrophes: why does Earl’s Court have one but Barons Court doesn’t? Stewart’s Grove in SW3 has three different signs, one with an apostrophe, one without and one handwritten. “We have a whole network of people organising walks and details will be on various websites. We’re using Meetup groups and London Independent Photography is involved too. “We aim to have postmasters for all the postcode districts and while they don’t have to walk every
Bleeding London: the book “I originally arrived in London from Sheffield in 1977 and the book came out 20 years after that,” says author Geoff Nicholson (pictured right). “I was one of those people who went
street they are responsible for setting up walks and identifying gaps here and there to shoot. We have 20- 30 postmasters at the moment, but we need 120 so we are appealing for more. “Any pictures taken from 7 March this year are eligible and any imaging device can be used –- the Instagrammers are really into this and producing some amazing pictures. Any subject is good too and you don’t have to include the street sign in the picture – although taking a shot of any sign is good because it might be needed later for verification. “We have an end date of 31 October, but we are leaving ourselves two months to do a sweep-up exercise because we don’t want the project to fail just because someone forgot to walk one street. Next year, we plan to have an exhibition and a book. For images to be considered for the exhibition, they must be uploaded to the ultimate portfolio site for Bleeding London, http://rps-upf.org. “We want more people to sign up to the project and maybe join the RPS. So far, we have 800 people signed up and everyone is welcome.” π To find out more about Bleeding London and to register, go to www.bleedinglondon.co.uk, and if you want to be a postmaster email london@ rps.org. You can also help the cause by buying the book or Kindle version through the Bleeding London website.
out walking or exploring at the weekend. At first it was Piccadilly or Trafalgar Square but that gets old very quickly, and it was always a big thrill going to see friends at Tooting Beck or somewhere different. I was moving every three months too – if you charted my progress you will see that I lived in every unpleasant part of London for a while. “As a writer, there is no point doing anything without thinking ‘is there a book or feature in this’ so I had the idea of having a character who was actively exploring London in my head for a long time. One of the three main characters, Stuart, is trying to walk down every street in London using his standard A-Z and he draws a black line as he goes so by the end of his project every street in London is blacked out. “Mick, one of the other characters – I got the idea for himwhen years later I went back to Sheffield for a year where I met so many people who said ‘oh, you lived in the London, that’s a bleeding awful place’; usually the opinion was based on one visit. “So there’s one character who is in London on a revenge mission, gets lost, needs a map and ultimately gets seduced by the place and the other is the ultimate Londoner exploring the city and keeping a written diary of the walks he does. “When Del approached me with the idea of showing London in pictures rather than words, I thought this was the visual realisation of the idea in the novel. I am the sort of guy who likes to say ‘yes’ so when Del emailed me late last year with the idea of a photo project and exhibition, I said ‘sure’ and expected never to hear from her again but here we are launching the project.”
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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Camera clubs NEWS INBRIEF CALL FOR ENTRIES
Tell us your club’s latest news, email: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk
Entry forms for Yardley Photographic Society’s open 2014 BPE Awards
exhibition are now available from the
society’s website or you can email the exhibition secretary Tom Mace at exhibition@yardleyps. co.uk. The closing date for entries is Sunday 21 September 2014. www.yardleyps.co.uk
Celebrating 150 years of Sheffield Photographic Society ABOVE An original image of one of the first outings to Roche Abbey made by Sheffield Photographic Society members in 1865, and recreated by current members in 2014.
Shoppers’ favourite image The Great British public have their say in Potters Bar & District PS’s annual exhibition in Hatfield
from old glass plates dating from as far back as 1865 will be on display together with a timeline and images through to the present day. Other anniversary events include a Celebratory Dinner in November and an evening on the History of the Society in December. It certainly promises to be an eventful year for the Society’s members.
Sheffield Photographic Society is one of the oldest photographic societies in the world and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2014 with several special events. One of which is a fascinating Now and Then exhibition, which will be at Sheffield Cathedral 7-13 July before moving to the Sheffield Winter Gardens, 24-30 November. Unique images scanned
© Peter Cox
© Barry Freeman
IT’S ALL BLACK& WHITE IN SUFFOLK Founded in 2009, the Suffolk Monochrome Group now boasts 12 members, who are all dedicated to furthering the art of black & white photography, both chemically and digitally. The Group has an exhibition featuring a wide variety of subjects on display until Sunday 29 June at the Wingfield Barns, Church Road, Wingfield IP21 5RA.
“Unbelievably, this is the 64th exhibition our Society has held. The Galleria is a very popular shopping mall and we are delighted and grateful that they allow us to hold our current exhibitions there.” Winner Trevor revealed that the public’s favourite shot “was taken from a boat on a lake in Mandalay, Myanmar”. The Society’s next exhibition opens on Sunday 13 July at the Dutch Nursery, Brookmans Park, near Hatfield.
Potters Bar & District Photographic Society’s 2014 Annual Exhibition has finished and the public vote selected Bridge at Sunset (pictured above) by Trevor Leach as the favourite photograph. The Society’s president, Helen Frost said, “We were thrilled at the public response to our latest exhibition at The Galleria in Hatfield. We had well over 200 votes cast by the visiting public for the best photograph, and Trevor’s picture was a worthy winner.
π To find out more about Sheffield Photographic Society, go to www.sheffield-photographer.org.uk.
Facebook friends?
“I will continue to photograph what I want, when I want and don’t need advice from people about what to take pictures of. “If you don’t like what you see on my page, which will be mainly birds, please unfriend me and leave me to get on with what I like doing best. “Thank you.” While we are saddened to hear of Keith’s experiences and his ultimate decision, we are also curious how other clubs manage their Facebook pages and members’ submissions and indeed whether any other clubs and members have had similar experiences. As always, we’d love to hear from you, so please drop us a line at clubnews@photography- news.co.uk – we only ever publish stories with your permission.
Photography News recently spotted this on Facebook from passionate club photographer, Keith Bannister (with his full permission to publish it, of course). To save embarrassment, we’ve anonymised the club: “Due to comments on the camera club’s Facebook site last night, I feel I have to make a statement to all my friends here on Facebook. I am a keen amateur wildlife photographer, and mainly do bird photography, which gives me the most pleasure. “Last night’s comments saying ‘I was littering the site with bird shots, and can you not try something else to photograph?’ was out of order in my opinion. After deep thought, I have decided to leave the camera club and their Facebook site after five years of membership.
www.suffolkmono chromegroup.co.uk
π To find out more about Potters Bar & District Photographic Society, go to www.pottersbarphotosoc.org.uk.
Date for your diary Chichester Camera Club’s Summer Exhibition takes place 16-23 August (closed on Sunday 17th) at the Assembly Rooms, North Street, Chichester PO19 1LQ. Chichester CC is one of the most active clubs in southern England and its current membership is about 130. The Summer Exhibition features over 250 prints and a rolling projection show of more than 150 images. The exhibition is open each day from 10am until 5pm. A high-quality, full colour, exhibition catalogue will be on sale for £1. Profit from the sale of this will go into club funds, which helps towards the cost of staging the exhibition. Also for anyone wishing to further boost club funds by showing their appreciation of the quality of work they have seen in the exhibition, there will be a donations box on the door.
Getyourclubnewsheard
We welcome any aspect of club news. It could be a member’s individual success or it might be a recent club shoot, maybe the club won a regional contest, has a special anniversary or exhibition coming up, or a big speaker due and you simply want to sell more tickets.
Whatever it is, if you want any items considered for Club News email them to clubnews@photography-news.co.uk before the deadline, 2 June.
Deadline for the next issue is 2 June, out Monday 16 June.
NEWSLETTERS WANTED
If your club or society publishes a newsletter, please add us to the mailing list using this email address: clubnews@photography-news.co.uk
π To find out more about Chichester CC’s exhibition, go to www.chichestercameraclub.org.uk.
Photography News | Issue 9
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Advertisement feature Print like a pro EPSON PRINTERS Director of aspect2i, Paul Gallagher, runs workshops that cover all aspects of photography. Not only can he
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help you to take stunning photographs, but hewill also showyou how to turn them into striking prints
ABOVE The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 used by Paul Gallagher in his workshops. BELOWPaul took this stunning photo on a trip to Lofoten, Norway.
Pro landscape photographer Paul Gallagher mastered the art of printing back when he first started out in his career. He’s now become one of the biggest advocates for perfecting the whole photographic process, from taking great photos in-camera, to post-production processing, to exhibition quality printing. Propelled by his passion, enthusiasmand expertise for all things photography, Paul founded aspect2i, a company dedicated to providing tailored and targeted photography workshops, and has also been running the Epson Print Academy for the past four years. “One thing people are doing in the digital world is they are going out and taking lots of pictures and never printing them, they’re never finishing off the process,” explains Paul. The Epson Print Academy has helped to meet the ever-growing demand for learning how to turn a hard-earned photo into a print that does the image justice. “We design courses that cover as many eventualities as we possibly can for people out there who go out with their cameras, come back and find they can’t get a good image out of their printer.” From those who’ve just purchased their first printer and want to learn the ropes through to professional studio photographers who are looking to improve their printing skills, the Epson Print Academy’s workshops attract a broad range of photographers. Each workshop lasts a day, with lunch included, and covers everything from black & white prints to landscape photography and printing to exhibition standard. Paul uses the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 to demonstrate the techniques, the main reason being because it takes a variety of different media from lightweight to heavyweight and also features a black and white driver which enables superior printing in both black & white and colour. “It is a great machine and a perfect fit for the workshops,” adds Paul. The printer’s interface is also the same as many other Epson printer models’, enabling techniques learned in the workshop to be easily transferred when using a different model at home. One of the most popular misconceptions that Paul encounters in his workshops is that the printer is to blame for poor prints. “Often though, the colour
space is not set up right or the post-processing approach is not right, or sometimes some of the printer’s settings aren’t right and that’s what we aim to iron out,” he says. “It’s creating the image from the Raw file to actually getting it ready to click print, that’s the bit people seem to struggle with.” There are two things that anyone can easily do to instantly improve print quality. “The one thing everyone should do is use the designated printer profile for the particular types of paper they’re using,” says Paul. Second to that is to make sure that all of your kit is calibrated. “Your photos might look great on your monitor, but if your monitor isn’t set up to speak to your printer, it’ll never come out of your printer looking right.”
Epson Print Academy workshops run throughout the year and are held at Epson Hemel Hempstead and Epson Telford. There’ll be plenty of one-to-one tuition and a professional on hand throughout the day, leaving people able to make the most of their Epson printer. For more information on workshops and how to book, visit www.aspect2i.co.uk.
The one thing everyone shoulddo is use the designated printer profile for the particular types of paper
π To find out more about the Epson range of inkjet printers, go to www.epson.co.uk.
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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If you’ve invested a lot of money into camera kit, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of having the right bag – not only will it protect your valuable gear, but it’ll help make sure you get better pictures. A bag that lets you carry your kit comfortably encourages you to take your camera with you in the first place, and if it fits everything you need Bags of choice MANFROTTO BAGS Photography is easier with the right camera bag, andManfrotto’s expanding range covers all the bases – comfort, protection and ease of use. There’s sure to be one that suits you so you can get to it all quickly and easily, you’ll always get the shots you want. No matter what camera kit you use, where you want to take it and what style of photography you prefer, Manfrotto’s range of bags has something for you. The complete range includes 92 bags of different styles and sizes, from pouches
and holsters to messenger bags, shoulder bags, slings and backpacks. Whether your priority is budget, comfort, ease of access, size or protection, Manfrotto has your needs covered, and all with its trademark Italian style. Read on to find out which of the four ranges suits you best: Stile, Advanced, Professional or the brand new Pro Light.
Stile [pronounced: steel-a] Italian for style, the Stile range offers more than just great looks Camera bags don’t have to look like camera bags, and Manfrotto’s Stile range proves it. Their urban style means they blend into the environment, making them ideal if you want to keep a low profile and keep your expensive kit under wraps. Nomatter what combination of looks and functionality you want, the Stile range has it covered: from pouches that offer basic protection for small cameras through to backpacks that hold plenty of kit, as well as personal items and essentials. There’s everything in between too: holsters for protection and immediate access to a DSLR with lens attached, shoulder and messenger bags for comfort in the streets or discreet everyday use, and slings for the perfect combination of comfort and access to your kit. Style comes with performance too. Stile sling bags, backpacks and Allegra and Diva shoulder bags come with a separate insert that protects your camera but can be removed to leave a bag for everyday use. Other Stile bags have padded interchangeable dividers that can be arranged Advanced For the passionate amateur who needs protection, practicality and style First and foremost, Manfrotto’s Advanced bags are durable – they’re made with rugged materials, including high density nylon fabric, and feature metal zip pulls and buckles, while inside there are sturdy protective inner pads that can be adjusted to fit your kit and keep it secure. Protection is combined with practicality too – innovative designs offer easy access to your gear, while tripod holders, pockets and rain covers are all carefully tailored to your needs, to make them easy to use on the move. And none of this is at the expense of style – Advanced bags have clean lines and stylish designs, with carbon detailing for a touch of Manfrotto’s Italian heritage. No matter what kit you want to carry and how you want to carry it, the Advanced range includes a bag that will suit. The holsters are perfect for carrying the bare
essentials, designed to hold a DSLR with lens attached and small accessories. Advanced shoulder bags and Active slings are ideal for carrying more kit but still with quick access, perfect for using in the city. Eight different sizes of shoulder bags can accommodate everything from CSCs to pro DSLRs, and all have an easy throw zipper to open the front flap. Active slings can be worn on your back for comfortable carrying, but swing round easily with your camera in quick-draw position. Completing the range are three distinct styles of backpacks, all designed for carrying larger amounts of kit and perfect for travelling or longer days out when you’ll appreciate maximum comfort. Gear backpacks are dedicated entirely to camera kit, while Active backpacks hold camera kit in the bottom half, with a top compartment dedicated to essentials and personal items. Alternatively, Tri backpacks offer three different ways to wear them – on both shoulders like a normal backpack, with the straps in an ‘X’ formation across the chest, or with one strap across the body like a sling bag. Comprising 21 bags in total, the Manfrotto Advanced range offers great value too – prices start at £20 for the smallest holster, going up to £125 for the largest Tri backpack. to suit your kit. There’s always a dedicated pocket for a Manfrotto pocket tripod, and the bigger backpacks and sling bags can carry a bigger tripod too, either on the outside or on the inside. All the Stile bags also have a specially applied coating on the outer fabric making them resistant to water. The Stile range is ideal if you’re budget conscious too, since prices start as low as £10.95, and the top price is only £84.95.
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Professional Maximumprotection with the minimum of fuss For ultimate protection, Manfrotto has combined multiple innovative defences in its Professional range of bags, without compromising on ease of use or style. The first line of defence is the Exo-Tough outer construction – a multi-layered shock-absorbing foam covered with high- performance rip-resistant fabric that spreads the initial shock of an impact across the surface, channelling it around your kit rather than through it. And for any force that this doesn’t deflect, there’s protection at the heart of the bags too. Manfrotto has recognised that the weakest point of a bag is the centre, and that if you drop it the items at the edges get forced into the middle and compress what’s there, risking serious damage. To avoid this, Manfrotto Professional bags feature a unique Camera Protection System, which uses dividers made with a thick layer of 3D shock-absorbing foam that encase the central area and dampen impacts. There’s a built-in rain cover too, and feet keep the bottom off wet or muddy ground. Alongside this protection, Manfrotto Professional bags have also been designed for ease of use. All pockets and compartments are positioned for convenience, while durable metal fastenings and oversized zips mean it’s quick and easy to get into them. A minimal and stylish design also means they’re suitable for any situation while remaining discreet. The Professional range includes 16 bags, so there’s sure to be one that suits your needs. Backpacks let you carry the Pro Light New toManfrotto’s line-up, the lightest camera bags on the market with professional protection Manfrotto’s brand new Pro Light range has it all – not only do these bags protect your kit and offer ergonomic solutions in a variety of sizes, but they’re also extremely lightweight. They’re built using the latest innovative materials to keep the weight to a minimumwithout sacrificing durability, so they’re still reliable and highly resistant even in the most demanding of situations. And inside is the same Camera Protection System as in the Professional range, using 3D shock- absorbing foam to shield the most vulnerable equipment in the centre of the bag from the force of an impact. Stability and comfort also come as standard with the Pro Light range. These bags feature Advanced Harness System and gecko EVA foam harness straps, and there are removable ergonomic waist straps to improve stability and comfort when walking. All pocket positions, zip pulls, tripod holders and straps have been carefully considered to offer the most innovative carrying solutions. Take the Revolver Backpack as an example. It includes a revolving internal magazine that can store a large range of lenses and rotate to provide single-point side access to them all. There’s also top access so you can store your DSLR where you can reach it easily. It means you can comfortably carry your DSLR with lens attached, even a 70-200mm zoom, and reach any of it without having to unpack everything. The 3N1 Backpack shows the thought put into the ergonomics of the Pro Light range as well. The design means
most, designed to hold pro DSLR bodies, lenses, flashes, a laptop, tripod and accessories. Professional shoulder bags offer an easy way to carry your camera kit as well as a laptop, tablet, notebook, documents and personal items with easy access to all of it. The range also includes holsters for when you want to carry the minimum, sling bags for easy access and comfort, and airline-friendly roller cases for transporting and travelling with large amounts of kit. Prices start at just £65 for the Professional Holster Plus 20, and the top price is £320 for the Professional Roller Bag 70.
you can choose from three carrying positions – right sling or left sling keeps the bag across one shoulder so you can quickly swing it round to the front, while the cross position combines the comfort of a backpack with the quick access of a sling bag. The entire Pro Light range is made up of 21 bags, including bags and cases for video and lighting equipment as well as backpacks and holsters for photography. There’s also a range of complementary accessories: a camera strap with a 3D mesh construction for comfort, and a variety of camera and video rain covers for waterproof protection – with transparent panels so you can see the camera controls. The Pro Light bags start at £74.95, while the accessories start at £16.95.
π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.
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Issue 9 | Photography News
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Profile
INTERVIEW
BIOGRAPHY AGE: 38 YEARS IN THE PHOTO INDUSTRY: 21 BIOGRAPHY
Chris Carr This issue PN quizzes Manfrotto UK’s managing director Chris Carr to find out what makes Manfrotto such a trusted and recognised brand
CURRENT LOCATION: Ashby-de-la-Zouch LAST PICTURE TAKEN: At a friend’s wedding HOBBIES: Photography, football, spending time with my family WHEN YOUWERE YOUNGER, WHAT DID YOUWANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREWUP? An architect DOGS OR CATS? Definitely dogs TOAST OR CEREAL? Toast EMAIL OR PHONE CALL? Phone call all times. The new surface-mounted LED technology used on the Spectra 500F LED light is amazing with zero flicker when dimmed and the Advanced Tri Backpack Medium is so clever and flexible it is my first choice bag. Manfrotto’s tripods are known for their quality and durability, but often not the physical flexibility that competingmodels offer. Is that something you are working on developing? For Manfrotto, quality and durability are absolutely crucial and critical to photographers’ needs – that being said we do have some of the most versatile products in the market with the likes of Befree, hybrid photo/ video heads, Sympla video rigs, Fluid monopods and the complete KLYP system. We of course have products being designed and just about to launch, with one product which will revolutionise photography for people who love the great British outdoors! TheKLYP+rangeisthefirstall-in-onephotographic set for iPhones. Is the smartphone photographer the customer you are seeing the biggest rise in demand from? Yes, but only because we are only now offering accessories for their photography. Many photographers now have iPhones with them at all times – it may not be their best camera but often it is the best camera they have with them. We just want to ensure they have everything they need to get the best shot possible. Is there a product that hasn’t yet been developed that youwould like to see on themarket? Yes, but we are not in a position to release it just yet, you will just have to keep an eye out to find out more over the coming months. In the beginning, Manfrotto products were developed by photographers. Is that how R&D works today? Yes, withsignificant input fromdesigners andengineers to ensure the initial concept is delivered to the quality you would expect fromManfrotto. What are your future ambitions forManfrotto? We aim to continue to build our relationship with photographers, providing the solutions they need so they can realise their full potential. Come and see us at our Manfrotto Takeover Roadshows throughout June and July where there’ll be free seminars fromexpert photographers like David Noton, Drew Gardner, Michael Freeman, Phil Coates, Adam Duckworth and many more.
Can you tell us about your role atManfrotto? I manage the Manfrotto UK team. Between them they have over 300 years’ experience in the photographic trade. Together we ensure that in conjunction with our retail partners we get the products that photographers need to market and also help explain to people how the right accessories can improve their photography. At the end of the sixties, Lino Manfrotto was working as a photographer in Bassano del Grappa (close to Venice) and due to the lack of suitable equipment for his photographic needs he made his first product which was a light and sturdy lamp stand. Then in 1974 with support from his new partners the first Manfrotto tripod was created which joined the already existing wide range of light stands produced by Manfrotto, including the Autopole, Superboom and Superclamp. By the eighties, demand became so large that the production sites near Venice expanded to another five sites where we still make tripods today. Manfrotto is one of themost established brands in the industry. Please tell us about its history. Why do you think Manfrotto has the strong reputation that it does? We understand photography, many of our team both here in the UK and globally are photographers either professionally or in their spare time. In addition, we listen very carefully to other photographers, taking their feedback on board and slowly but surely we will find the best product for photographers’ needs. HowmuchhaveManfrotto’s tripods changedsince first being produced in the seventies? The basic principles have remained the same, and I am sure that many readers, like me, will still have a Manfrotto tripod they bought 15-20 years ago, but at the same time our improved designs have helped support the photographer and videographer in capturing their imagination. Someof thenewtechnology like theManfrottovideo heads, which provide fantastic fluidity to videography, have been revolutionary, whilst other developments like the new Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way Head is one of those things where everybody that sees it says simply, ‘Why has that not been done before?’ The 190 series recently won Best Tripod at the TIPA Awards, why do you think they make such successful products? The 190 rangehas always beenoneof thebenchmarks for tripods in the industry and this range builds upon that, focusing on the fantastic feedback we have had over the years. We havemade it stronger so it can hold more, taller at full extension yet shorter when folded down for transport, easier to open with the new Quick
Power Locks, as well as handy features like a rotating bubble level and easy link to connect accessories to.
The new Manfrotto
Manfrotto has grown from a manufacturer of innovative but basic photography accessories to selling a broad range of products, from bags to tripods to LEDs. Is this breadth of product the directionManfrottowill continue to head in? If a product idea supports the photographer to capture their imagination and we can then make what that photographer needs to the standard and quality you’d expect fromManfrotto, then the answer is yes. Camera bags are a relatively new venture for Manfrotto, what are your ambitions in this very competitivemarket? Our aim is to provide a wide range of bags, that enables us to answer the needs of all photographers (of varying levels and interests) combining the level of innovation and the quality you have come to expect fromall Manfrotto products. The scale of this challenge is significant because a photographer’s needs change so we have tried to answer it with a number of ranges. The Manfrotto Stile range is designed for the social photographer who does not want to carry a technical camera bag and therefore design and colour are crucial. Whilst the Manfrotto Advanced range is your more traditional technical bag with lots of pocket space, rain cover etc. Finally, the Manfrotto Professional bags are designed for ultimate protection; they have an Exo-tough exterior and a reinforced divider system inside called the Camera Protection System, which does just that. Tocomplement these ranges, wehave just launched the Manfrotto Pro Light collection. This provides a lightweight solution for the outdoor photographer whilst still utilising the strength of the Camera Protection System as found in our Professional range of bags. witnessedwhilst atManfrotto? The most significant change is the amount of videography being completed by what used to be traditional photographers. Some of the cameramodels changed this clearly but it is also fantastic to see some traditionalists take to a new medium. What significant developments have you What is the most innovative product Manfrotto has on themarket? That’s hard for me to answer as many of our products are innovative, for example we have recently won seven Red Dot Awards for innovation in our latest products. From a personal and photographer’s perspective, the Befree Travel tripod is great because it folds down to 40cm so you can have it with you at
XPRO3-Way Head is one of those thingswhere everybody that sees it says simply, ‘Whyhas this not beendone before?’
π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.
Photography News | Issue 9
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