Photography News 05

We compare seven full-frame cameras to help you decide which to choose, plus test out the Profoto B1. We also catch up with judge Dave Hipperson to hear his views and Lee Iggulden of Welshot Imaging on networking online.

Photography news NEWS PREVIEWS TESTS CAMERA CLUBS INTERVIEWS ADVICE COMPETITIONS FREE Issue 5 18 February – 17March 2014

Your FREE newspaper packed with the latest news, views and stories from the world of photography

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First looks at the X-T1 &D3300, plus launches fromSony, Canon&Olympus

BELOWHead to Birmingham for a photo-tastic day out next month.

If it’s newsworthy, it’s inside this issue

It’s show time at theNEC The UK’s biggest photo exhibition opens its doors on 1 March for four days at the BirminghamNEC. With all the latest kit on show, it’s the place to be

Behind the scenes of the world’s oldest photo comp 157years old&still going strong – The RPS International Tried& tested: • 7 full-frameDSLRs • Profoto B1 flash

to help you make the most of your kit. On the Panasonic stand, there’ll be live demonstrations of the Lumix cameras, plus it’ll be the first outing for the GH4, and each day different guest speakers will be visiting. The full product range will also be on show from Fujifilm, plus there’ll be the opportunity to speak to the team about the X-series cameras and lenses, and Samsung will showcase its flagship CSC, the NX30. Among the many other brands that will be making the pilgrimage to the show with their products are Olympus, Ricoh, Tamron, Sigma, Velbon, Slik, Giotto’s, Manfrotto, Bowens, Metz, Kenko, Hoya and Cokin.

The Photography Show’s exhibitor list reads like the Who’s Who of imaging andwhether youwant to get your hands on the FujifilmX-T1, learn new techniques or just enjoy a great photography day out, get your ticket now. Book in advance and it’s £13 per adult, otherwise it’s £15 on the door – concessions are available. But book your ticket with PN ’s special code PNWS142014 and the price is just £10. There are so many show highlights that we don’t have space to mention them all so check out the website for an up-to-date exhibitor list. But for a taster, read on… Nikon has announced it’ll be showcasing its new flagship, the D4 s , for the first time in the UK, and the Nikon School will have a host of photographers providing exciting talks. Canon will also be displaying its entire product range, with a team of experts on hand

π To find out more, go to www.thephotographyshow.com.

See pages 21 and 26 for the facts & figures

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Latest photography news Fujifilm’s latest X Retro styled it may be, but Fujifilm’s X-T1 is bursting with modern technology and super fast reactions Fujifilm’s X-series has a retro vibe anyway but the X-T1 takes that even further. Taking a leaf out of the Df’s book, the X-T1 has actual dials to alter settings such as ISO, shutter speed and drive modes. The camera may have retro pretensions, but under the surface it’s very much to the fore in what it offers. It features what is claimed to be the world’s fastest AF of 0.08secs with a start-up time of 0.5secs and a shutter time lag of 0.05secs. The sensor is a 16.3-megapixel APS-C size X-Trans CMOS without an optical low- pass filter for optimum detail rendition that’s said to rival 35mm full-frame and its top ISO is 51,200. Other highlights include dust and water resistance and freeze resistance to -10°C, and a 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder with a lag time of 0.005sec and a high magnification of 0.77x. The Fujifilm X-T1 is in the shops now with a body price of £1050 and £1400 with the XF18-55mm standard zoom. The Vertical Battery Grip costs £200 and the Metal Hand Grip is £130. It all sounds great and we have a hands-on preview on page 19 of this issue and issue 42 of Advanced Photographer will have a full, eight-page review. Nikon’s latest DSLR is the D3300, a highly specified entry-level APS-C format DSLR aimed at beginners keen to take a step up with their photography. It boasts an impressive list of great features including a 24.2-megapixel resolution, 11-point AF system, 5fps shooting and ISO up to ISO 12,800 (expandable to 25,600). Its resolution is impressive but image quality is maximised further as it doesn’t have an optical low-pass filter. The D3300 body only costs £500, or £599 with a Nikon 18-55mm VRII lens and it’s on sale now. See page 19 for a more detailed preview of the D3300. Entry-level APS-C DSLR joins the line-up Nikon start here π To find out more, go to www.fujifilm.co.uk.

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NEWS INBRIEF SAMSUNG CORRECTION The correct price of the Samsung NX30 with standard lens is £899. SIGMA SUPERZOOMPRICE Sigma has confirmed that the UK price for its 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM lens, announced at CES in January, will be £349.99. Sigma and Canon fittings will become available this month, with a Nikon fitting following in March, and Pentax and Sony in May. www.sigma-imaging. co.uk

π To find out more, go to www.nikon.co.uk.

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Latest photography news

Venice comes to the UK A chance to shoot carnival colours

OM-Dnowthree The Olympus OM-D range has expanded with the addition of the E-M10, an entry- level model with a price tag of £530 for the body only or £700 for the body with the ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 standard zoom. This compact, all-metal-case camera has the AF speed and image quality of the E-M5, with the same 16-megapixel sensor, and the processing power of the E-M1, using the same TruePic VII processor. Another shared feature is the 1440k dot electronic viewfinder, which gives a bright, high-resolution image with minimal time lag, and its Adaptive Brightness Technology reproduces bright and dark scenes as they are seen by the human eye. Withsuchan impressive line-upof features it’s sure toattractmorephotographers to the OM-D system. We’ll be testing it as soon as we get a sample. The E-M10 joins the E-M1 & E-M5

NEWS INBRIEF HASSELBLADFIRST Hasselblad’s first 50-megapixel medium- format camera to use a CMOS sensor is due on sale in March. The H5D-50c is based on the existing H5D-50 but will have a faster capture rate, offer longer shutter speeds and improved ISO performance. Price is yet to be announced. www.hasselblad.com accessory from Hufa. The Hufa Lens Cap Clip attaches to the camera or bag strap and then the lens cap just slips into place. A great idea and good value too. It’s available in red, white and black and costs £10. www.intro2020.co.uk SECUREYOURCAP No more mislaid lens caps with this neat SAMSUNGAND GETTYTEAMUP Samsung and Getty Images have announced a global partnership to help photographers share their stories. It’s intended to advance connected photography and will see the creation of bespoke content, starting with the Samsung Collection now available on gettyimages.com, a selection of premium editorial content shot by Getty Images’ top photographers using Samsung Smart NX cameras. www.gettyimages.co.uk Should yoube onsocial networks? Lee Iggulden thinks so; read page 15 to find out why.

π To find out more, go to www.olympus.co.uk.

If you want to shoot the colour of the Venice Carnival without the expense of flying to Italy, book a place on this one-day photo workshop. Two days are available, 5 or 6 July, and the shoot takes place at The Vyne, near Basingstoke – the briefing and afternoon tea are at the Pamber Heath Memorial Hall. Ticket price is £165 – this includes refreshments, an afternoon buffet, entrance to The Vyne, car parking and an evening sunset shoot. Each photographer will have the chance to shoot 12 different Venice Carnival costumes.

π To find out more, go to www.thepixelpainter.co.uk or email Mike Jones ARPS at thepixelpainter@btinternet.com.

Interfit lights it up Great value kit from Interfit The Interfit EX200Ti lighting kit contains all you need for a two-head studio flash outfit. It includes lighting stands, two 60cm softboxes, leads, the Ti trigger, a training DVD and a carrying case – and all for £390. But there’s more. The 200 watt output heads can be triggered and controlled wirelessly with the supplied Ti trigger. Using the trigger, flash output from each head can be adjusted wirelessly, the modelling lamp can be turned on or off from a distance of up to 30 metres and, of course, there’s wireless sync too.

Shoot Paris A chance to photograph the sights of the French capital with Lakeland Photographic Holidays Join John and Gail Gravett, owners of Lakeland Photographic Holidays, for a four-night escorted photography trip to Paris this October, leaving on the 23rd and returning on the 27th. The price of £890 includes travel by Eurostar, four nights B&B, Metro and Bateaux bus tickets.

π To find out more, go to www.interfitphotographic.com.

π To find out more, go to www.lakelandphotohols.com, or to book your place, email info@lakelandphotohols.com, quoting Paris in the subject line.

Photography News | Issue 5

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Latest photography news

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Tamrondouble Duo of compact all-in-one superzooms

NEWS INBRIEF BAGSOF STYLE Tamron’s new range of Apache Photo Messenger bags will appeal to those who want a practical, modern bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag. The Apache 2, 4 and 6 cost £60, £80 and £100 respectively wants to travel light but carry key essentials with them. There’s space for a CSC or DSLR and important accessories like spare batteries, cards and in the case of the 4 and 6, a pocket for a tablet too. www.intro2020.co.uk and are ideal for the photographer who

Tamron has announced the development of two new lenses with huge zoom ranges. The first is for full-frame DSLRs and offers a focal range of 28-300mm, while the other is for APS-C format sensors with a zoom range of 16-300mm. Both have maximum apertures of f/3.5-6.3 and incorporate Tamron’s Piezo Drive ultrasonic motor for quick and quiet autofocus, as well as featuring Vibration Compensation while remaining compact. Both lenses will be available in Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts, but prices are yet to be confirmed.

Canon launches Top G series premium compact and entry- level DSLR announced The two latest additions to Canon’s line-up are a flagship compact in the PowerShot G-series and an entry-level DSLR with its own Companion app for mobile devices. The PowerShot G1 X Mark II has a completely remastered design compared to its predecessor, with a stainless steel chassis, aluminium exterior and a large ergonomic grip. “Although the G1 X has been a really popular camera for us it’s now just over two years old and there were things we felt we could do to improve its specification. In fact the G1 X Mark II is quite a significant upgrade, and all around the camera there are updates,” says David Parry, Canon product specialist. “For a start, the lens now features a 5x optical zoom instead of a 4x, and the maximum aperture has gone from f/2.8 to f/2, which is very fast for a lens of this kind. These days ISO performance is so good that a fast lens is not required so much for low-light situations, rather it will allow photographers to play more with shallow depth-of- field, and f/2 will open up some new possibilities. “One thing that is missing from the new camera is a built-in optical viewfinder. Although many photographers did like this feature in the G1 X, it was very small and you did see a portion of the lens when you looked through. We decided this was a compromise, and we now offer a separate EVF, which costs £199 as an optional extra. This can be easily clicked into place to offer you the direct view the camera is seeing, and we think those who appreciate an EVF will find this a much better solution.” Also updated is the sensor, now a large 1.5-type 18.7x14mm chip with 12.8 megapixels that can offer depth-of-field comparable to an APS-C sensor and has large pixels for excellent low-light performance Launched alongside the new PowerShot was the EOS 1200D entry-level DSLR, which has an 18-megapixel APS-C sensor and DIGIC 4 processor, an ISO range of 100-6400 that can be extended up to ISO 12,800 and a nine-point AF system. Together with the EOS 1200D comes the new EOS Companion app, which provides a range of expert tutorials and step-by-step exercises to help you get to grips with photography basics, as well as an Inspire section that suggests popular subjects with photographic instructions and tips to prevent common problems. The PowerShot G1 X Mark II will be available from May 2014 at a price of £749, and the EOS 1200D body will be available for £349 from March 2014.

IMAGES Tamron’s new lenses are compact but offer huge zoom ranges.

π To find out more, go to www.intro2020.co.uk.

Steamphoto days All aboard for exclusive access and tuition at the railway

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has launched photography days. Led by an expert photographer, the days give small groups of photographers the chance to go behind the scenes in the engine shed and to shoot from parts of the line not open to the public. A moderate level of fitness and appropriate clothing and footwear are required for a guided walking tour of the seven-mile line. The Photography Days are for adults aged over 16 and run on Tuesday 20 May and Tuesday 2 September, so places are limited. The day’s experience costs £40 and the itinerary starts at 8.30am in Ravenglass with a safety briefing.

π To find out more, go to www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk.

π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk.

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Latest photography news

Panasonic offers pro quality for photographers and videographers 4Kvideo inGH4

Panasonic becomes the first manufacturer to include 4K video capability in a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with the Lumix GH4. The super high- resolution video capture allows you to produce cinematic movies from a camera that’s lightweight and compact as well as dust proof and splash proof. The GH4 doesn’t neglect stills photographers though. A newly developed 16.05-megapixel Live MOS sensor is matched up with enhanced depth from defocus technology that underpins one of the world’s fastest autofocus systems, and it can shoot at a top speed of 12 frames-per-second. Both the rear monitor and Live View Finder are high precision, high speed OLEDs, and there’s also connectivity in the form of Wi-Fi and Near Field Communication. Pricing and availability of the GH4 are yet to be announced.

In a meeting with Photography News , Samsung revealed it will launch a new range of SD andmicroSD cards, catering for all user levels. Final details of performance are to be confirmed, but they’ll have a new look, designed so you can see easily which card is best for your needs. The existing Standard and Pro lines will continue, with capacities of 4GB to 32GB and 16GB to 64GB respectively in both SD and microSD formats. The current Plus line is to be replaced with the Evo range, offering high-speed quality in capacities of 16GB and 32GB for SD cards, and 16GB to 64GB in microSD cards. The microSD cards will also be available with SD adaptors. Speaking to Photography News , Stefanie Sears- Black, head of business development for memory and SSD storage at Samsung UK, explained the ideas behind the changes. “It’s about developing products that are right for the consumer, and making sure that they are aware of what product they need,” she said. “The Evo and Pro names are also now the same names as our solid state drives, because the two products are the same – they both use flash memory.” Thenewcards followthe recent launchof anew1TB SSD in Samsung’s 840 Evo SSD range. The compact form factor of the 840 Evo SSD range means users can benefit from the speed and reliability in ultra-slim notebooks as well as desktop PCs. All the new cards feature proofing against water, magnets, temperature, shock and X-rays, and Stefanie says the priority is keeping your images safe. “More and more we see people saying that their memory has failed and they’ve lost everything, but at Samsung we make all of our own components, so we can guarantee quality and security. Our marketing backs this as we talk about our products offering Memory for Life from the number 1 manufacturer of flash memory.” The new cards are launched at the end of March. Samsung refreshes its memory ABOVE Samsung’s 1TB 840 Evo SSD. BELOW The new Samsung SD and microSD line-up. Final read/write speeds may change.

π To find out more, go to www.panasonic.co.uk.

New fromSony As Sony continues to replace its NEX branding of mirrorless cameras with Alpha, it has unveiled the A6000, and Photography News was at the launch. We spoke to product manager Takahiro Hirata, who told us about what the new camera has to offer. an amazingly true to life image. The real benefit of this is being felt now. For example, you can see exactly the picture that you’re going to be taking in the viewfinder, allowing you to preview such things as the effects of adjusting focus, exposure and other settings. For me, however, the biggest advantage is that the image is magnified so that everything is much clearer, and you can even zoom in to help you to achieve ultra-accurate focus.” Alpha mirrorless accompanied by superzoombridge cameras

NEWS INBRIEF

PIXMAPRINTERS Canon has five new Pixma printers, ranging from the Pixma iP2850 entry-level compact home printer costing just £39.99, through to the enthusiast A3+ printer, the Pixma iP8750 priced at £349. The iP8750 includes an individual grey ink for mono prints, Wi-Fi for easy connection and can produce A3 prints in PENTAX TELECONVERTER Pentax has launched a new 1.4x rear converter with HD coating for excellent optical performance. It incorporates autofocus operation of the lens, the first Pentax teleconverter to do so, and features a weather- resistant, dust proof construction to match its cameras. It will be available at the end of February for £379.99. www.ricoh-imaging. co.uk just two minutes. www.canon.co.uk

“The Alpha 6000 is our new offering aimed at the hobbyist photographer,” he says. “Its key advantages include amazing image quality, thanks to a newly developed Exmor 24.3-megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, the inclusion of the newly developed BIONZ X processor, and the world’s fastest AF performance of just 0.06 seconds. The camera also features an extremely wide autofocus coverage area, with no less than 179 AF points, which is teamed with high- precision, contrast-detection AF. “Another key feature of the camera is the inclusion of the same OLED Tru-Finder as that used in the RX- 10. This features over 1.4 million dpi resolution and it’s had its refresh rate improved so the image is much smoother when you move from side to side. EVF technology has come an incredibly long way in recent years, and the latest versions will give you

Other launches from Sony included two bridge cameras with huge zoom ranges. The H400 has an enormous 63x zoom lens, offering an equivalent focal range of 24.5-1550mm, and a 20.1-megapixel sensor. Optical SteadyShot prevents blurring at such high magnification, and the body is styled like a DSLR with electronic viewfinder. The HX400V has a 50x zoom, 20.4-megapixel sensor and premium- quality Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. The A6000 and H400 will be available from April, priced at £599 and £249 respectively, while the HX400V will be available from March at a price of £419.

BELOW LEFT TO RIGHT The new Alpha 6000, the Cyber-shot H400 and the Cyber-shot HX400V. RIGHT Product manager Takahiro Hirata with the A6000 at the launch event.

π To find out more, go to www.samsung.com.

π To find out more, go to www.sony.co.uk.

Photography News | Issue 5

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Camera clubs

They might only have formed three years ago from a small group of photographer friends, but f8 are already winning awards, being published and pushing their photographic boundaries. Image left, from left: David Morton, Alan Grant, George Reekie, Pauline Watling, Jane Kearney, and Nick Cable. As 2013 came to a close, the f8 members totted up their points from the past 12 months’ British Photographic Exhibitions (BPE). Four members enjoyed significant successes: David and Alan went up to BPE3, George achieved his Associateship and Pauline gained her BPE2 crown. f8meets monthly at each other’s homes or on location, to discuss recent work, plan entries and trips. Formed to share the enjoyment and fun of photography, they have a competitive purpose, and push themselves to improve their skills. They set regular challenges, which are critiqued at meetings (sometimes harshly when the wine is flowing!), but in the end, it’s all about improvement and fun. Successful 2013 for Taunton group f8get competitive

NEWS INBRIEF

HAILSHAMPS COLOUR SHOW

Hailsham Photographic Society’s Colour Show is an audiovisual event that showcases members’ images, projected in sequences and mostly set to music. This year’s show takes place on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 March, and supports the charity MS Family Support. There’s also a prize raffle and refreshments. The Colour Show is on at 7.30pm Friday and Saturday evenings, plus a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday, at Hailsham Community Hall, Hailsham BN27 2AX (entrance next to the Freedom Leisure Centre). Tickets are £5 and available from The Camera Centre and The Nodding Cobbler in Hailsham. Alternatively, phone 01323 845569. www.hailshamphoto graphicsociety.co.uk PN needs your news. Please ask your secretary or publicity officer to email us with your latest news, whether that’s a big speaker, an award or an exhibition, because we’d love to hear from you and share your news with our readers. Stories should be 250 words maximum and accompanied by a high-resolution JPEG (at least 2400 pixels on the longest dimension). Thank you. Email PN at clubnews@ photography-news. co.uk. Tellus yourclub’s latestnews

Colchester 75not out π To find out more about f8, go to f8imagegroup.com.

To commemorate its 50th year, Ware & District PS presents NewFrontiers by Peter Cairns, a spectacular audiovisual show combining still imagery, video and music. One of Europe’s leading wildlife and conservation photographers, Peter Cairns reveals some of his most memorable encounters from the last ten years and describes how those encounters have shaped his thoughts about our own changing relationship with the natural world. New Frontiers is on Sunday 13 April at the Drill Hall, Ware SG12 9HP. Tickets are £10 in advance. Ware &District Photographic Society celebrates its 50th year NewFrontiers

π To find out more about New Frontiers and Ware and District PS, go to wareps.foliopic.com.

Colchester Photographic Society celebrates its 75th anniversary next season with special events including a number of exciting speakers. As always other clubs will be invited along – so watch this space! But before that, this season’s highlight is quite possibly David Jordan ARPS’s talk, The Creative Compact, on 18 March. He’ll extol the virtues of the humble compact in situations where a DSLR might not be suitable.

π To find out more about Colchester PS, go to colchesterphotosoc.co.uk.

AnAlpine journey

On 24 February, you can hear professional photographer Rob Lea talk at Club Abington Photographic. He presents FromMont Blanc to the Sea, describing his journey from keen amateur taking images of (and from) fast jets to turning professional and living in the Alps, as well as looking at life on a small island in the Atlantic. The club meeting gets underway at 7.45pm and all comers are welcome to join members at this small, friendly club for what promises to be an interesting and stimulating evening. Entry is £2.50. Based in Northampton, Club Abington Photographic has been around since 1949 and offers a varied programme of events, including guest speakers, internal and external competitions, plus a range of technical and practical evenings to help members of all levels of experience and capability to improve their skills. CAP hosts a talk from pro shooter Rob Lea this month

π To find out more about Club Abington Photographic, go to www.clubabington.org.uk.

Photography News | Issue 5

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Competitions

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WiganwinsWorldCup Wigan 10 stands atop the world having won the FIAP Club’sWorld Cup for the third time. Not only that but British clubs occupied the top three positions INTERVIEW

Wigan 10 must be totally delighted with its success in the 8th FIAP Club’s World Cup. That’s two years running and your thirdwin in total, plus you have never been out of the first six. What do you attribute this amazing success rate to? That’s a hard one! We are hard taskmasters. Attention to detail is crucial. With our pictures we aim for immediate impact. Most competitions and salons, the World Cup included, are judged by a panel of judges. They only have a few seconds to respond to an image so it’s vital for us to choose images that will leap off the screen. Please can you outline how the club chose the images that were put forward? Is there an internal judging beforehand and lots of arguing or is it pretty calm and straightforward? The strength of Wigan 10 is that we all choose the pictures we use for competitions. We start with a bank of perhaps 60 top images from everyone. By a series of votes we whittle this down round by round until we arrive at the right number. The first few images are easy to pick and track records of pictures are taken into consideration. At the end we look at what we have chosen and hopefully the cream has risen to the top. This year, British clubs occupied the first three places, the first time one country has so dominated the World Cup. UK club photography is clearly in a good place right now. Is that an accurate reflection of the UK’s skill level? When you look at many of the international salons that are run throughout the year, UK photographers

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Sparrows by Roy Rimmer; Lost by KT Allen; You don’t say by Kathryn Scorah; Osprey with fish by Austin Thomas; Four-spotted chaser by Chris Hague; The three graces by Joan Blease; Dancing in the street by Christine Widdall. RIGHT FROM TOP Peter Fox by Maurice Jones; Willet dispute by Geoff Walsh.

Interview by Will Cheung

Many people will have heard about Wigan 10 but for those readers who haven’t can you briefly tell us what Wigan 10 is all about? Wigan 10 is not like other clubs. Our numbers, currently around the 14 mark, reflect the limited space we have available. We don’t have lecturers nor do we compete against each other. The principal aim of the club is to encourage members in their photography and to enter national and international salons. We each bring pictures along to be appraised by others. There is no limit to the number of times a picture can be brought back having been improved by the author. Nor is there any pressure from the club to constantly produce ‘top drawer’ images. The strength of the group lies in its diversity. Most photographic genres are covered but having said that there is a good deal of overlap. Our members are always eager to improve their skills in other areas. We all help each other. Anyone who wishes to join us can contact us via our website. Many readers will not be familiar with the competition. Can you give us some idea of how the FIAP Club’s World Cup is organised and how many clubs you beat? The FIAP World Cup is open to all photographic clubs in the world. This year we beat 136 other clubs to become world champions. Twenty images from each club are submitted on CD together with the entry fee. The judging days are closed sessions.

are well represented amongst the award winners. That must be reflected in competitions like theWorld Cup. However, you never know what the judges will be looking for so it’s never a foregone conclusion. Who were the judges in this year’s FIAP World Club Cup? This year’s judges were Emile Wanderscheid, EFIAP, HonEFIAP, Luxembourg; Branislav Brkic, MFIAP, EFIAP/s, ESFIAP, Serbia: and Dave Coates, EFIAP/G, Great Britain. What’s the aim for next year? A hat-trick of victories, I suppose. Do you think that’s possible? Wigan 10 has entered the World Cup every year since its inception. Each year we have to find a fresh set of images. Clubs who maybe haven’t been in it before have many more images from which to choose. So any one of them could win it.

FIAP

FIAP is the Federation Internationale de L’Art Photographique. π To find out more about its work and the World Cup, go to www.fiap.net.

π To find out more, go to wigan10.com.

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Profile

INTERVIEW

BIOGRAPHY

Susie Donaldson

AGE: 37 YEARS IN THE PHOTO INDUSTRY: 7 CURRENT LOCATION: Reigate LAST PICTURE TAKEN: I recently recordedmy daughter’s first steps! WHEN YOUWERE YOUNGER, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DOWHEN YOU GREWUP? Fighter pilot, unfortunately I’m now scared of flying! DOGS OR CATS? Cats TOAST OR CEREAL? Toast EMAIL OR PHONE CALL? Phone or Facebook! challenges but makes for an interesting future. We’ve been delivering products with the best balance of these features for years, but our latest and greatest was the EOS 100D – the smallest and lightest DSLR in its class but still including an APS-C sized sensor. Can you explain why top-end Canon lenses are white rather than the traditional black? Many people think this is just to signify that it’s a long zoom Canon L series lens, however, the technical reason is a white lens reflects light and heat. As a lens is essentially a metal tube this stops them heating up, expanding and the glass moving out of alignment. In the compact camera world this is an important feature and the benefits are starting to filter through to the DSLR user. It introduces additional features like RemoteCapture. We’ve found features like this are especially popular among professional photographers shooting wildlife. I’d expect to see more Wi-Fi enabled features as time moves on. What in your view has been Canon’s most successful technology of the past few years? One of our true strengths is lens design. When we build any product, top of the list is image quality. More recently the introduction of Full HD on our EOS range changed the way people use their DSLRs. Are compact cameras doomed with the camera phone playing such a big role in photography? We have watched with interest over recent months the launch of several new smartphones offering photographic features. As a leading photography brand we are happy to see photography becoming even more popular. We want to help people take their next step and that’s why we offer products with the highest possible image quality and the most advanced features. Our compact and DSLR ranges offer these features in abundance, allowing for the best results. Photos represent memories, and we aim to ensure that people retain the quality of those memories in years to come. Canon has built Wi-Fi into its latest cameras. Is sharing going to be a big attraction? In the pro market, Canon seems to have held on to its market share in this sector. Why? We have a very large EOS system and great support fromour Canon Professional Services networkwhich I feel is key for pro photographers. Looking forward we want to engage with future photographers too and that’s why in 2013 we launched the Canon Student Network. Watch this space!

Answering PN’s incisive questions, including why top-end Canon lenses are white, this month is Canon’s consumer imaging marketing director

Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m the consumer imaging marketing director at Canon UK and Ireland. I look after all aspects of marketing for Canon’s consumer portfolio ensuring all products are brought to market effectively and that our campaigns are implemented with impact and efficiency. I look at a mix of things from understanding what’s happening now and keeping one eye on the future. What are your proudest career achievements? In my seven years at Canon the last 12 months have been the most challenging but the most rewarding. Many of the categories that we cover were under pressure yet we achieved some record market positions for our products and at the same time we launched a campaign ‘first’ with the inclusion of all our products under the Power To Your Next Step umbrella. On top of that we made huge steps forward with our digital activity including the launch of Live Chat for our cashback campaign, a 10x increase in our Facebook fans, the launch of our ‘digital demonstrator’ activity and we’ve been helping create, what I hope are really interesting photography videos for our retailers’ websites. Canon is a global market leader, but how is the company doing in these cash-strapped times? When our customers’ wallets are under pressure, we see them turning to the trusted brands that can deliver a quality product and a good customer experience. As the market leader in DSLR and compact camera markets, customers are confident that Canon will give them value for money and a great photographic experience. People are still willing to spend their money on camera equipment but are puttingmore into research tomake sure they are making the right choice. We want to help them make the right choice for their needs which is why we are continuing to improve our digital content. 2013 seemed a quiet year for Canon with three DSLRs announced, will 2014 see more launches? 2013 was an exciting year. We launched the world’s smallest APS-C DSLR with the EOS 100D and the EOS 70D with built-in Wi-Fi and fast autofocus during movies. We have other areas of our business too and we have made big advances in the pro video world with our new Cine products for example. We’re looking forward to what 2014 will bring. Canon must take great pride in being the only imaging company to offer input (cameras and scanners) and output solutions (printers). Is the aim to continue to offer a wide product range? Yes, we are very proud tohave such a diverse product range and not forgetting the software in between.

The power of image runs through everything we do, from entry-level cameras to professional print. We’re unique in that we also have a huge range on our business imaging side, giving imaging power to business users and through our professional print division. We are not only maintaining our broad range but expanding all the time with mobile apps and our own photo sharing site, Project 1709, which we are looking forward to talking more about soon. With Canon’s breadth of products, the Power to Your Next Step campaign made perfect sense. Howhas it been received by customers? Our campaign has been successful in showcasing our range and encourages people to take their next step. The success could be seen over Christmas, particularly with our digital campaign. We saw our highest ever interaction rate on Facebook with our Capture Christmas activity. But it was more than a campaign; it acted as a talking point when speaking with retailers and is a genuine expression of how we want to support our customers on every step of their imaging journey. Is Canon serious about the CSCmarket or was the Ma toe in the water to test the temperature? We are very proud to have the EOS M in our range. It has opened up the image quality of EOS to new users who maybe wouldn’t consider a DSLR. The EOS M was the number 2 selling CSC in the UK in 2013 – a testament to the strength of its features. In your view, what is the most exciting technology in current Canon cameras? The current DIGIC processors. Their power enables features like high-speed shooting, creative filters, low-light capability, zoom plus – the list goes on. All this gives the best experience to the photographer. Canon’s highest resolution DSLR is the EOS 5D Mark III at 22 megapixels. Does Canon think that super-high resolution is not a headline feature? We find super-high resolution can result in things like pixel blur and excessive file sizes. We have to look at what is important and how people will be using our cameras. For example a 22-megapixel image can be printed in large dimensions which is important for many professionals. Many factors influence final specifications such as how it’s used and the different conditions that it will be used in. What in your view is the biggest technical challenge facing Canon right now? The boundary at the moment is the relationship between the size of the camera and the size of the sensor. People are asking for the biggest sensor in the smallest body, which creates huge technical

The biggest sensor in the smallest body creates huge technical challenges butmakes for an interesting future

π To find out more, go to www.canon.co.uk.

Photography News | Issue 5

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Advertisement feature

11

MANFROTTO BAGS

Ready for everything None of this protection compromises the design of the Professional bags, because they’ve also been fashioned for ease of use. All the pockets and compartments are positioned for convenience and ease of access, while the durable metal fastenings and oversized zips mean there’s no fumbling to get into them when you want to get at things in a hurry. What’s more, the minimal and stylish design means they’re suitable for any situation while remaining discreet. Above all else, a camera bag should keep your kit safe. Manfrotto’s newProfessional bags do just that

When you’re carrying thousands of pounds’ worth of camera kit, the risk of knocking or dropping it can be a worry – but not with Manfrotto’s new range of Professional bags. They offer advanced protection so you can be sure your camera gear is safe, and they do it without compromising on ease of use or style. Protection for your kit is at the heart of Manfrotto’s Professional bags, with its unique Camera Protection System. The centre of most bags is the weakest point, even though it’s also where most of us keep our main camera body and favourite lens. If you drop a bag full of kit, the items around the edges get forced into the middle and compress what’s there, risking serious damage. Manfrotto has recognised this risk, and designed the Camera Protection System to reduce it. It uses a thick layer of shock-absorbing dividers that encase the central area. They’re made with 3D shock-absorbing foam that dampens the force of impact, as well as structured reinforcement board and a brushed fabric outer layer. If the worst happens, it’s the Camera Protection System that takes the hit, not your kit. The first line of defence against any impact though is the Exo-Tough construction, designed to prevent much of the force reaching the inside of the bag at all. It’s made up of a multi-layered shock- absorbing foam covered with a high-performance rip-resistant fabric on the outside, and a brushed fabric on the inside so there’s no risk of scratching your kit. This spreads the initial shock of an impact across the surface of the bag rather than through it, channelling the impact away from your kit inside so you can rest assured that it’s safe. With the Manfrotto Professional bags, you don’t need to worry about taking your kit out in the wet either: there’s a built-in rain cover that makes sure no water can reach your kit, and almost all models have feet to keep the bottom above wet or muddy ground so it can’t soak up any moisture.

With a total of 16 bags in the Manfrotto Professional range, there’s sure to be one that suits your needs, no matter what you’re shooting or where you’re going. Professional backpacks are built to carry pro DSLR bodies, lenses, flashes, a laptop, tripod and accessories, while Professional shoulder bags let you easily carry and access all your camera kit as well as a laptop, tablet, notebook, documents and personal items. The range also includes holsters for carrying minimal kit, sling bags for easy access and comfort, and roller bags for carrying large amounts of kit – these even comply with airline regulations, so you can be sure of maximum protection on your travels. The Manfrotto Professional range is great value too, with prices starting at just £65 for the Professional Holster Plus 20 and going up to £320 for the Professional Roller bag 70.

Protection for your kit is at the heart of Manfrotto’s Professional bags, with its unique Camera Protection System. It uses a thick layer of shock-absorbing

dividers to encase the central area

π To find out more, go to www.manfrotto.co.uk.

IMAGE Pick up your Professional bag and head out for a shoot confident that your kit is safe and secure.

SLING

ROLLER BAG

BACKPACK

SHOULDER BAG

HOLSTER

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Issue 5 | Photography News

Photography News | Issue 5

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Opinion

13

BEFORE THE JUDGE Dave Hipperson

Each issue, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences with us. This month, we put our questions to Dave Hipperson, photo competition judge

MEET THE JUDGE DaveHipperson : Dave’s interest in photography was sparked by his early career in motorsport publishing and his real passion, competitive model aviation. However Home club: Park Street (North London). I owe a huge debt to Harrow for putting me on the right path first. Years in photography? 44. Favourite camera: It’s the one I have with me when the ‘thing’ happens or appears before me. Bugger how many megapixels it can handle. Favourite lens: This tends to be very wide angle, 10mm end. However I also enjoy the possibilities of extreme telephoto especially in landscape photography and candid stuff. Favourite photo accessory: A tripod, only because it is so often with me when I don’t need it and not with me when I do. Favourite subject: My wife. The second choice is landscape; it seems to be relegated to the back burner, probably because it’s hard to create contest winning, five-second impact shots. Awardswon: Apart from some lovely trophies from the Harrow Club I haven’t won anything spectacular. The moment I most cherish was when I was asked to address the latest intake of potential judges for the Chilterns area. I had been only judging myself for a year. he didn’t start photography competitively until 2010.

Words by Dave Hipperson

This competition photographic stuff is new to me but in the three years that I’ve been involved I have been paying attention. When attending my first club competitions, I felt I was taking it in easily – particularly the judging aspects – and it is still a source of some surprise to me that a lot of people around me weren’t, and still aren’t. Within a few contests I was having to metaphorically sit on my hands to stop myself joining in the judging. So I wanted to try this judging stuff, and not because I saw or heard judges that I found unpleasant or irritating. I just wanted to work a few slants and angles of my own where I saw potential. I was encouraged in this aim by my club chairman at the time, Mark Buckley-Sharp, who advised me to attend one of the judging workshops run by the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs. What fascinated me about judging was the form, the art, the challenge of the craft if you like. The performance aspects, as much as finishing up with the correct order and the correct spread of scores. The adrenaline rush as images flash in front of you and you realise that in a few seconds you have to talk intelligently about each one. The judge’s preferences are always a hot topic. Club members think they can second-guess us if they know what we like. Believe me, a proper judge sees way past all that. My own output veers towards landscape, architecture and street (preferably wet cobbles) but when I judge I want to be surprised. I think it is a great privilege to be able to tour the clubs viewing other people’s work. It gives me great ideas – remember most of the time we judges are competitors just like everyone else and we don’t win all the time either. The techno revolution Since the advent of computer-assisted imaging the software available has come on in leaps and bounds. Computer techniques which only a few years ago looked so much easier than what could be achieved in the laboratory are themselves being made to look somewhat laborious. I fear that it won’t be long before there are systems that not only allow us to do almost anything to an image but also advise us what to do. Whatever has been used shouldn’t be too evident unless the intention is to make it weird; then the sky is the limit. And talking of skies: there is no such thing as an unrealistic sky! The next time I hear a judge nit-picking the colour of the sky I shall scream. Go to the Arctic and look at the Northern Lights. The duff shot is a glorious challenge for the judge; and remember, he has to recognise the worst one of the evening pretty darn quick and to be sure to score it low, not to be nasty, but so there is room enough above to place the rest of the evening’s work in a sensible order without bunching everything in the 16/17s, which is done far too often.

ABOVE Vanishing point, by Dave Hipperson.

playing Space Invaders. The younger end of the population control a computer as naturally as some of us can fly an aeroplane or drive a car. Those with any sort of artistic temperament will, in an instant, totally dominate competitive photography and they won’t be photographers in the sense that you and I understand. It is vitally important that we decide quickly what we want to do about this. Otherwise the ‘c’ before ‘club’ will no longer be for ‘camera’ – it will be ‘computer’. There is room to celebrate all types of image production from straightforward natural history through to almost entirely computer constructed work. However inside the competitive framework it is vital that we differentiate between these types. At both extremes they are intriguing and creative and useful but we must guard against these new procedures swamping the traditional beauty of straightforward picture-taking if we don’t want purist photographers driven away and our hobby changed out of all recognition. My advice to help you to be successful in photographic contests is this: don’t try to be successful. Learn from the pictures you take and criticisms of them but don’t think ‘contest’ all the time when you’re taking photographs. Remember all you have learned in contests by all means but take the picture because it appealed to you first. You will have those clichés running around in your mind so it’s going to be difficult but be original, don’t follow fashion. Show us something new; you never know, you may finish up inventing a genre.

So I am looking for my 13 of the evening. When I have it in front of me I shall first do my utmost to see what the author wanted to show me and then make some gentle suggestions as to how they might have done that more clearly whilst all the time wondering why they had actually bothered to take it. It’s the most satisfying feeling when you can tease out the best aspects of a bad shot and then manage to elucidate them informatively to the author and the audience. I do not hesitate to heap praise on the really wonderful shot of course, but the good images are easy to judge. I have only been lost for words when it is absolutely impossible to work out what I am looking at. I wish authors wouldn’t do that. I like to be able to see the photographic content – sometimes I worry that there might not be any. Rewriting the rule book I must remind the reader that although only in competitive photography for three years or so, I live and breathe competition rules – always have done. I have spent a good proportion of my life writing them – some quite complicated ones. I come to competitive photography afresh and find it in a very precariously balanced position right now. You were protected when it was all film but now people that a few years ago would not have been called photographers have access. That’s good. I would love to see every person with any camera device attendingaphotographic clubonce aweek. However this access to and dependence on the computer is changing competitive photography like it’s changing the world. Digital cannot be uninvented and for a lot of us it’s a great boon – makes all that smelly, messy and sometimes quite dangerous chemical stuff we had to do quite unnecessary. However there is a downside. The population generally is becoming more and more computer literate. There are quite mature people out there whose first memories are

I’ve only been lost forwords when it is absolutely impossible towork out what I am looking at

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Issue 5 | Photography News

14

Advertisement feature

EPSON PRINTERS

Join the inkjet set Need persuading to print out your handiwork? Epson has three good reasons to get you started

Every photographer has shots they’re really proud of; ones that sum up a great day, remind you of a special person or evoke a happy memory. You’re probably thinking about one or two of those images right now. So why, then, are they sat on your computer’s hard drive? Great photographs should be printed and shared so they can be enjoyed by family, friends and fellow photographers, not gathering virtual dust on your PC. Epson produces a range of inkjet printers that will help you get the very best results from your digital files. With a range of great features and cutting- edge technology, you can get lab-quality results in minutes whether you want A4, A3, A2 or even larger prints. In the next few issues of Photography News , we’ll introduce you to some of the photographers who use Epson printers to bring their images to life, but for starters here are three key reasons why you should make Epson inkjets your first choice.

With a range of great features and cutting-edge technology, you can get lab-quality

When you’ve unpacked a new printer, the last thing you want is to waste paper and time trying to get your first print. Many of Epson’s latest inkjet printers feature wireless connectivity options, so they don’t even need to be in the same room as your computer, and easy-to-follow CD-based drivers to have you ready in no time. Once connected, you’ll have a print in minutes thanks to simple interfaces that make feature selection easy. The Expression XP-950, for example, which Simple to connect

can produce up to A3 size prints, also features an 8.8cm touch screen that enables users to swipe through functions or scroll through images on a memory card inserted into one of the printer’s card slots. In fact, you don’t even need a computer or memory card to start printing. Selected models also use Epson Connect to offer mobile and cloud printing options, enabling you to print from tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices with the relevant app.

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Every part of the Epson workflow systemmeans you’ll get great results every time you hit the print button. The combination of print head technology, high-quality dye or pigment-based inks and a wide range of media delivers prints that offer great colours, a wide tonal range and excellent detail in highlights, shadows and mid-tones. Even greater versatility is offered by models offering larger print sizes, such as the Stylus Photo R3000. This A3+ model features three densities of black ink, two of which are automatically swapped according to the type of print media in use. Unrivalled versatility like this means Epson printers deliver superb results whether you’re printing out in full colour or black & white.

Inks andmedia Epson provides the complete printing solution including large capacity ink cartridges and a wide range of compatible media that will ensure you get long-lasting results that stand the test of time. From a range of photographic papers to a selection of fine art options, you’ll be able to get the perfect look and feel to your shots. Many Epson printers also offer both front and rear loading to maximise the variety of printing materials that can be used. The A2 Stylus Pro 3880, for example, accepts media up to 1.5mm thick and offers large 80ml ink tanks, which means it offers a cost-effective way of producing poster-sized prints.

To find out more about the entire Epson range of inkjet printers, go to www.epson.co.uk where you’ll also find details on the cashback offers available on the Expression Premium and Photo ranges between now and 31 March 2014.

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