Welcome to issue 89 of Photography News. Midsummer day is round the corner and a great time for getting out and about with the camera. Or for putting your feet up and enjoying the latest issue of Photography News. Will
ISSUE 89 15 June-12 July 2021 photographynews.co.uk
Big test: Fujifilm X-E4 / It’s compact, powerful and has a flip screen
Paper chase / Ten fine art papers tried and tested
Prize word search / Win a Samsung 256GB microSDmemory card
Nikon finally gets close up
A brace of macro mirrorless optics is set to expand the Z series – with more lenses to follow
THE BIGGEST CAMERA launch of the summer is undoubtedly the Canon EOS R3. A deep-bodied, full-frame product with features that could rival the Sony A1 – maybe! We are still waiting to hear about several key details regarding the EOS R3, with probably the biggest one being the megapixel count of the new sensor. The Sony A1 packs 50 megapixels in its stacked sensor, shoots at 30fps, and has a flash sync speed of 1/200sec with its electronic shutter, so Canon has a lot to live up to. For our latest update on the Canon EOS R3, turn to page 4. canon.co.uk its EOS R3 continues Canon’s tantalising reveal of
Minimum focus is 29cmand there’s a 29cm to 50cm focus limiter. The 105mm f/2.8 does have Nikon’s VR – and this works with the camera’s VR for sharp shooting in low light. Both lenses are available from24 June at £649 for the 50mm f/2.8, and £999 for the 105mm f/2.8. Nikon has also announced it is working on twomore optics for a 2021 release. The Z 28mm f/2.8 and Z 40mm f/2 are compact, lightweight primes for full-frame shooting. Finally, Nikon has released NX Field, a pro remote shooting system for its D5 and D6 DSLRs, allowing synchronised
NIKON Z OWNERS wanting dedicatedmacro lenses have had to wait. Now, their patience has been rewarded with not one, but two lenses giving 1:1magnification. The Nikon ZMC 50mm f/2.8 is a compact lens that focuses down to just 16cm to give life-sized magnification. Other features include a 16cm to 30cm focus limiter, and the control ring can be set to adjust aperture, ISO andmore via the camera. There’s no built-in lens VR (vibration reduction), but you do, of course, get stabilisation with VR-equipped Z bodies. If you prefer a longer working distance and an even better optical performance, there’s the dust- and moisture-resistant ZMC 105mm f/2.8 VR S. Among its feature list is a nine- blade diaphragm for rounded, natural bokeh, 62mm filter thread, autofocus handled by a smooth, silent system, and areno and nano crystal coatings to deliver crisp, flare-free images. For video use, focus breathing is said to be minimal, so focus can be adjusted without changing the angle of view.
shooting for up to ten cameras. Support for its mirrorless cameras will follow. nikon.co.uk
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OVER THE YEARS, I have written advice features for photographers of all levels, but I’ ll be honest and admit that I don’t always practise what I preach. But fitting your lenses with a protection filter is one tip I have staunchly advocated – and it recently proved its value again. I was attending a TimeLine Events group photo shoot at Didcot Railway Centre. It was all going swimmingly, enjoying just being out with the camera. In the rail shed, I decided to swap lenses, taking my recently bought 24-200mm zoom off the Nikon Z 7, replacing it with something wider. I thought I had safely stashed the zoom in the bag and carried on shooting. Wrong. As I changed position, the lens made its bid for freedom and landed with a very loud crack on the concrete. Inevitably, everyone looked at me as I sheepishly picked up the lens and put it in my shoulder bag, properly this time. No need to cry over spilt milk, I thought. Despite my insides churning, I carried on shooting with all the casual nonchalance I could muster. A little later, once I had calmed
What’s inside
EDITOR’SLETTER WILLCHEUNG
22 Make the Switch: Colin Toogood
Colin Toogood switched to the Fujifilm X Series, inspiring his photography to even greater heights. Enjoy his images and read his story 25 Buyers’ guide to fine art inkjet papers You are what you print, so the paper you use to output photo artworks is crucial. Join us for a hands-on test of our favourite inkjet papers 30 Buyers’ guide to filters for video Give your videos an extra polish with the help of filters. Here’s our guide to what you need and why, plus our best buys
3 News What a busy month it has been for new stuff: Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony have all made announcements. Plus, the winners of the TIPAWorld Awards 9 Word search Exercise your little grey cells and you could win a Samsung 256GB microSD card. There’s also a Vanguard tripod up for grabs!
I had followed my own advice and used a protection filter. It was shattered and jammed on, but the lens itself seemed mechanically sound. With the filter immovable, I decided to gently prise out the broken glass with a key. Once I’d done that, and cleared away the glass dust, I put the lens on the camera and did a few test shots. Phew! To my relief, all was well. Back home, I had to take a mini hacksaw very carefully to the filter frame to get it off, so the total cost of this lesson was a new filter. You can enjoy me recounting my story and its near-disaster on our podcast, episode 25, so check that out. I think that’s enough excitement from me this month, so have a good July and see you next time.
down, I checked out my sickly lens and thanked the photo gods that
CRACKSAPPEAR The lens survived the user’s clumsiness, thanks to a protection filter
12 Club news Clubs are already deep into planning for the new season, and many are continuing to meet virtually throughout the summer 14 Nature for art’s sake The WildArt Photographer of the Year contest is refreshingly different from others. PN got the chance to have a chat with its founder, Robert Read 17 Brand-new focus The past year might have inspired you to make some cash from your photography, but there’s more to the idea than meets the eye. With so much to consider, our expert guide takes you through the pitfalls
34 Big test: Fujifilm X-E4 The X-E4 is the first in its series with an articulating monitor – and that’s just one of the headline features on this lovely camera 39 First tests A potpourri of the latest imaging kit gets the full PN test treatment: l Saramonic Blink 500 B2W kit l Sennheiser XS Lav Mobile microphone l RiBL Aura MVL1 and MVL2 portable LED lights l Leofoto LS-365C+PG-1 carbon-fibre tripod and gimbal l Vanguard VEO Select 59T roller case and backpack l Desview R6 UHB 5.5-inch monitor
BLAST FROM THE PAST Organised group shoots aren’t to everyone’s liking, but I think they are fun and you can get good shots
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Canon’s teasing reveal The development of the Canon EOS R3 was announced in April – and with a fewmore details being released, we take a closer look at what to expect from a camera that is sure to be an impressive beast
filming department. In the EOS R3, you can record oversampled 4K and Raw internally. Canon Log 3 is also an option for video makers, who want greater dynamic range and more colour- grading opportunities. Price and availability of the EOS R3 are to be confirmed, but rest assured, you will know as soon as we do. canon.co.uk
rolling shutter distortion. No actual flash sync speed has been unveiled, but flash sync is possible with the electronic shutter. Dual card slots using SD and CFexpress cards also feature, while power comes from the LP-E19 battery that’s also in the EOS-1D X Mark III. No self-respecting new camera arrives without innovation in the
Canon’s top-end EOS R3 is aimed at professional, action, news and wildlife photographers, with an autofocus system that claims to give pin-sharp Raws, even at 30fps. Using Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF, the EOS R3’s focusing system functions in extreme darkness to -7EV or lower, and its object focus tracking is said to work with racing cars and motorbikes. This is alongside the tracking technology
for people and animals, including birds, that’s found in the EOS R5/R6. The AF system is supported by Canon’s Eye Control technology, allowing users to select the AF point with their eye. Apparently, this works quickly and is good enough for pro use. In-body image stabilisation is featured in the EOS R3, offering up to 8EV of benefit, with the camera’s sensor shift AF working in tandem
with the optical IS built into many Canon RF lenses. There’s no mention of resolution, but whatever the megapixel count, the EOS R3 uses a new, full-frame CMOS back-illuminated sensor, that works with the Digic X image processor. The quoted top 30fps shooting speed is with full AF/AE tracking – and with the camera’s electronic shutter, which gives reduced levels of
Panasonic upgrades its popular GH5 With the launch of the Lumix GH5 II, Panasonic further expands a range that is already the world’s largest line-up of 4K 10-bit internal recording cameras
website below. The biggest perks are seen on the GH5S, with the new firmware enabling Raw video data output over HDMI, improved AF and the option to record and play back vertical videos. Panasonic has revealed that the GH6 will be available before the end of 2021. Details are scant, but we do know the GH6 will have a new high- speed sensor and newly developed Venus processor, delivering the high level of video performance expected from a GH camera. A Leica DG 25-50mm f/1.7 is also under development. Panasonic has also introduced a lightweight 50mm f/1.8 for its full-frame Lumix S series, going on sale at the end of June, priced £429. This dust- and splash-resistant lens weighs 300g and features nine elements, including three aspherical lenses for high-quality results and smooth bokeh. Finally, 24mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/1.8 lenses are currently under development for the Lumix S series. panasonic.com/uk Firmware updates: bit.ly/3wnOUsm
The Micro Four Thirds Lumix GH5 II is Panasonic’s update of the very popular GH5. It has a 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, with an anti-reflective coating to ensure fine detail is captured cleanly, while flare and ghosting are well controlled. The optical low-pass filter has gone, so resolution is even better. Improvements to the Venus Engine give 25% more wide dynamic range and improved moiré suppression. For stable handheld shooting, the IS is even more advanced and capable of a 6.5EV benefit. For stills, the autofocus system has been improved, with updated algorithms for face/eye detect, as well as head/body and animal recognition. But it’s video where you find the biggest benefits. The GH5 II can shoot uncropped C4K/4K 50p/60p 4:2:0 10-bit unlimited video internally, and simultaneously output 4K 30p/25p 4:2:2 10-bit over HDMI. It is also capable of wireless live streaming in Full HD/60p with the Lumix Sync app, or direct with a wired connection to a Wi-Fi router. It’s a camera designed to withstand professional use, with a shutter unit durable enough for 200,000 actuations
RiBL is a new UK brand in imaging accessories, aiming to deliver innovative, high-quality and reliable products at affordable prices. The name RiBL comes from the company’s Clitheroe location, in the picturesque Ribble Valley – and the brand’s owner is UK Optics. The range launches with two Solis bags and some LED lights. The Solis 20 shoulder bag is priced at £29.90; the Solis 100 backpack is £59.90. Read our review of the LED lights on page 40. ukdigital.co.uk Read up on RiBL A new name on the accessory front
£1999 for the GH5 II with a Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens. But that’s not all. Firmware updates that enhance usability and functions have also been announced for the Lumix GH5S, G9 and G100 cameras – and are downloadable from the
and a body that is splash-, dust- and freeze-resistant down to -10°C. It can also be charged via a USB port. The GH5 II is available from the end of this month at £1499 body only, or £1699 for the body with a Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, and
Editorial team Editorial director Roger Payne Editor Will Cheung FRPS 01223 499469 willcheung@bright-publishing.com Features writer Lee Renwick leerenwick@bright-publishing.com
Advertising team Group admanager Sam Scott-Smith 01223 499457 samscott-smith@bright-publishing.com Senior sales executive Jemma Farrell-Shaw jemmafarrell-shaw@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Mike Elliott mikeelliott@bright-publishing.com
Design team Design director Andy Jennings Senior designer Laura Bryant Design & ad production Man-Wai Wong and Emma Di’luorio Distribution Distribution and subscriptionmanager Phil Gray philipgray@bright-publishing.com Publishing team Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck As well as your local camera club, you can pick up Photography News in-store from: Cameraworld, Castle Cameras, Jessops, London Camera Exchange, Park Cameras, Wex Photo Video, Wilkinson Cameras
Photography News is published 11 times a year by Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ. No part of this magazine can be used without prior written permission of Bright Publishing Ltd. Photography News is a registered trademark of Bright Publishing Ltd. The advertisements published in Photography News that have been written, designed or produced by employees of Bright Publishing Ltd remain the copyright of Bright Publishing Ltd and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. While Bright Publishing makes every effort to ensure accuracy, it can’t be guaranteed. Street pricing at the time of writing is quoted for products.
Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ www.bright-publishing.com
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Tune into PN e fortnightly PN Podcast is essential listening for every photographer – with reader questions, kit chat, techniques to try and exclusive interviews
Sony has expanded its E-mount lens system, with the introduction of the FE 14mm f/1.8 G Master ultra-wide angle lens. Its advanced optical design – with two XA (extreme aspherical) elements, two ED (extra-low dispersion) and one Super ED – delivers images with excellent contrast and resolution and minimal chromatic aberration. Image clarity is further helped by Sony’s Nano AR Coating II technology. Autofocus is performed by two XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors for precision and speed, and noise levels are very low, too. On sale now at £1400. sony.co.uk Sony’s super-wide
INCASE YOUMISSEDTHEM... All podcasts are available online at our website – photographynews.co.uk – and on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here are some highlights from previous episodes to check out... EPISODE 9 With nature now fully awake, it’s time to get the macro lens and enjoy insect photography. For technical and detailed guidance, this is the episode for you. EPISODE 17 Never underestimate the power of photo projects, but how do you decide what to shoot? The PN dream team has all the advice you need.
The latest episode sees the PN team joined by Tim Berry, Sigma UK's media and marketing manager. Sigma recently won four 2021 TIPA World Awards and launched the 61-megapixel fp L camera, so it was a great time for a catch-up. Will also reveals what he’s been doing to his new Nikon 24-200mm lens. Everyone can get involved with The PN Podcast. So, if you have an opinion, want a question answering, or feel the need to take issue with the PN team, please email them on podcast@photographynews.co.uk photographynews.co.uk/ podcast-library
Kingsley Singleton, Contributing Editor
Will Cheung, Editor
Roger Payne, Editorial Director
Nik hits 4 The popular collection of editing plug-ins gets a major update
Nikon Z cameras and lenses, as well as selected binoculars, are all featured in the brand’s summer instant savings campaign, which finishes on 19 July. It’s very simple, with savings deducted at time of purchase. Our favourite deals include saving £360 on a Z 7II and 24-70mm f/4 lens kit, £180 on a Z 6II Essential Movie kit, (shown above) and £180 off a Z 14-30mm f/4 S. The savings are available through Nikon’s online store and participating retailers. bit.ly/3w0V023 Save up to £360 with Nikon’s summer instant savings deals Save today, capture tomorrow
workflow with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Nik’s U Point Technology, which enables localised adjustments without needing masks, is now even more powerful and has the option of saving control points into your own presets. While a new Colour Tolerance setting means you can accurately select a colour to change, and even adjust the tolerance of similar colour hues. Used within Lightroom, there is a Smart Copy & Paste tool, so you can selectively reapply
The Nik Collection has introduced Collection 4 of its editing plug-ins, with two of them enjoying serious upgrades. Previous collections have included the popular Silver Efex Pro and Color Efex Pro, with Collection 3 celebrating 25 years. The new Nik Viveza plug-in, which can adjust tone and colour locally, has a fresh look, while Silver Efex Pro has been completely revamped. Both offer better user experience, but new features make them more powerful and give improved
With it, local contrast can be enhanced and haze removed without the issue of haloes. Nik Collection 4 (Windows and Mac) is ready now for download. Until 30 June, the collection is available for £88.99, and the upgrade for £54.99. A one-month trial version of the collection is also available. nikcollection.dxo.com
an effect on several images directly, without having to launch the Nik plug-in. And if you create a nice result, but forget to save it as a preset, there is a Last Edit tool, so you can apply your changes easily. Clearview technology that was only available in DxO PhotoLab also makes its appearance in Silver Efex Pro.
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The Royal Photographic Society unveils new, dynamic plans for the future Photography for everyone
“At the RPS, we love photography and the worlds of possibility it opens to us,” says RPS CEO, Evan Dawson. “The team, volunteers and I are all really excited to put these ambitious ideas into action. We hope you will all join us on the photographic journey ahead.” For more information, and to download a copy of the strategy, visit the RPS website. rps.org/strategy
photography on positive mental health and wellbeing. The RPS is also working in partnership with the British Institute of Professional Photographers and the Association of Photographers to provide additional support for professional photographers. It will take a lead on environmental and social issues, sharing and spreading awareness of the science behind new imaging technologies.
Aiming to illustrate the ways in which photography can be used as a force for positive change, as well as inspire its members and the public, the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) has launched Photography for Everyone, featuring 21 new programmes. They include a community for young photographers, the appointment of the UK’s first Photographer Laureate, and a plan to research the impact of
Olympus’ mighty PEN Packed in a tiny body is the PEN E-P7 – a nicely priced, creative picture-taking machine just waiting to be unleashed
Cokin’s new NX-Series 100mm filter holder system has been designed to suit wide-angle lenses and long exposures. It’s constructed from premium aluminium, ensuring it’s a nice, lightweight addition to your kit. The NX-Series is compatible with much of Cokin’s existing products, including Nuances Extreme, Clearsky and Infrared IR720 filters, along with Cokin’s L size (Z-Pro) adapter rings. The filter holder system is also compatible with 100mm filters from other manufacturers, as long as they have a thickness of 2mm. Metallic protective frames, available in three sizes, offer additional protection for your filters and allow for easy handling. Utilising ball-bearings to exert gentle pressure, the NX-Series filter holder guides the metallic frames into their slots, for smooth and precise operation. It also enables an increased angle of view and reduced risk of vignetting, even with ultra-wide lenses. The NX-Series filter holder The brand unveils its new 100mm filter holder system Cokin launches NX-Series
and these can be fine-tuned with an up/down slider on the monitor. If you want to push the creative boundaries, multi exposures and long exposures with Live Composite mode are also on hand. Add a tilting screen, 4K video, USB charging, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and you have a very talented camera The PEN E-P7 is available from mid-June in two colours: white and silver or black and silver. The body is priced at £749, or at £849 with the M Zuiko ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ. In other news, Olympus has added the M.Zuiko 8-25mm f/4 Pro to its lens system. Equivalent to a 16-50mm in the 35mm format, this new lens covers a useful focal length range, especially for wide-angle shooters. Minimum focus is 23cm and the lens supports focus stacking. Optical construction features 16 elements in 10 groups and includes
The stylish and compact Olympus PEN E-P7 is a Micro Four Thirds camera with a long list of user- friendly features, weighing in at just 430g when partnered with the M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ lens. There’s an in-body, five-axis image stabilisation, giving 4.5EV of benefit – and its sensor is a 20-megapixel Live MOS unit that works with the TruePic VIII image processor. The autofocus system benefits from a face/eye priority AF algorithm that’s from pro OM-D cameras, so you get sharp shots, even with subjects moving around the frame. A dedicated profile control dial on the front of the body lets you instantly switch between standard photo modes to monochrome, and other filter effects when you want to get creative. Olympus art filters are also available at the touch of a button
Reliable performance is ensured by its dust-, splash- and freeze-proof construction, weighing just 411g. This lens is available from July, at a guide price of £899. olympus.co.uk
several special glass elements, to suppress aberrations and maximise fine detail resolution across the image frame. Olympus' Zero coating gives high definition, even when shooting on to the light.
Support acts
Joby in with a ring
3 Legged Thing has added to its range, with an Alan 2.0 monopad and an L-bracket called Roxie
The Joby Beamo Ring Light 12in is just the ticket for more professional-looking pictures, videos and online conference calls. It is a lightweight, portable ring light with ten brightness levels and three colour temperature settings: 3000K, 4000K or 5600K. It comes with four coldshoe mounts and a coldshoe adapter. joby.com/uk-en
Roxie is an Arca-Swiss-compatible L-bracket that is custom designed for Canon EOS R5/6 cameras. Precision milled from aerospace- grade magnesium alloy, Roxie is available in copper or metallic slate grey and costs £89.99. 3leggedthing.com
Starting with the Alan 2.0, this monopod has a new-style leg lock, improved internal leg mechanism and updated tri-mount plate. It extends to 148cm, has a 60kg max load and weighs just 615g. The guide price is £129.99, or £169.99 for the kit with the Docz foot spreader.
system is available now, with prices starting from £17.99. intro2020.co.uk
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Vanguard travel tripod worth £220 must be won!
A Samsung memory card! WIN!
Capture life’s magical moments across all devices with the Samsung Evo Plus 256GBmicroSDXC memory card with SD adapter, offering read speeds of up to 100MB/s and write speeds of up to 90MB/s. Samsung’s latest cards are also ultra-reliable and water, temperature, X-ray and magnet proof, so shooting in the most challenging conditions isn’t an issue. We have one Samsung Evo Plus 256GBmicroSDXC card with SD adapter, worth £51.99, for the eagle-eyed winner. Complete the word search below, and you’ll find one word in the list that’s not in the grid. Email us on puzzle@photographynews.co.uk with that word in the subject box by 11 July. The correct answer for PN 87 was ‘grit’, and the Samsung Evo Plus 256GB card was won by J Taylor from Penge. • samsung.com/uk/memory-cards
W F P W S G P E G Z B W E R E X U N V K D N A P H N N J N I M N O X A N O N R P R I U L H T D O T M O D I O E X E R N E N L W H S R Q O A R N O A Q I G E R T D Y O I R Z K J H G S N P Y S I O D J G Z A A D A I S K V Q R L C T T B V E S S I E Z D S S Y X R T A T M V O W E M Q A H C A M D P I G W T J D T B U R P B N E Z F I I L S O Z C O T C E L O E F N J X L P Z X O N T K E M E M O R Y S U U N
VANGUARD’S LATEST TRIPOD range, the VEO 3T+ series, is so new that sales have only just started this month. For authorised UK stockists, please check Vanguard’s website. In this issue, we are offering the exclusive opportunity to win one of the new VEO 3T+ tripods: the 234AB. It’s an incredibly versatile, aluminium travel tripod, worth £219.99. With a 10kg load capacity, easy-to-clean, twist-grip leg locks and three easy-set leg angles, the 234AB is an impressive piece of kit. It also features Vanguard’s innovative MACC (Multi-Angle Central Column), so you can get the camera into almost any position quickly and easily. The prize comes complete with a VEO BH-110S dual-axis ball head that accepts Arca-Swiss-compatible plates. It’s a terrific prize, well worth winning. To be in with a chance of owning this ultra-versatile tripod, just answer the following question: The VEO 3T+ 234AB is an aluminium travel tripod that weighs in at 2.19kg complete with head, but what is its size when folded down for maximum portability? Is it… A) 4.6cm, B) 46cm or C) 4.6m?
Exclusive easy-to-enter contest
To enter, go to photographynews.co.uk and follow the link. The closing date for entries is 12 July 2021 – the first correct answer drawn at random after that date will take home the Vanguard tripod. The winner of the Vanguard 3GO 265HCB tripod featured in PN issue 87 was S Baker from Kent. Thank you to everyone who entered. vanguardworld.co.uk
COMPETITION
Winners revealed
SUNRISE TABLET TAPE VISION
SOUND STANDARD STATE SUMMER
PEN PODCAST POLARISER SOLID
DRONE LONGEST MEMORY NOON
ACTION BAYONET DISTORT DRIVE
In PN issues 84, 85 and 86, we ran three contests to win a K&F TC2535 carbon-fibre travel tripod. The winners have now been randomly selected from all the correct entries received and they are: J Skinner, Northants; S Neville, Shrops; P Karry, Kent . Congratulations to them and we hope they enjoy the tripod! Thank you again to everyone who entered. photographynews.co.uk
If you do not want to receive any marketing information from Bright Publishing or our partners, please type NO INFO in your email entry.
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Simply thebest TIPA is a worldwide organisation of 25 leading imaging magazines, including Photography News among its members. Each year, TIPAmembers vote for the best imaging equipment and software across an extensive range of product categories, from cameras and lenses, to software and monitors. Here are all the winners from 2020-21. For the full award citations, go to tipa.com
BESTAPS-CCAMERA ENTRY-LEVEL Canon EOS M50 Mark II
BEST FULL-FRAME PROFESSIONAL CAMERA Sony Alpha 1
BEST PRIME STANDARDLENS Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM
BESTULTRA- TELEPHOTO ZOOMLENS
BEST FINEART PRINTINGSOLUTION Hahnemühle Print Protect & Authenticate Product Range
BEST PORTABLE FLASH Godox Pocket Flash AD100Pro
BEST PROFESSIONAL PHOTOMONITOR
BEST PHOTO ACCESSORY
LG UltraWide Thunderbolt 4 (40WP95C)
Hoya ProND GRAD Circular Graduated ND Filters
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS | Contemporary
BEST PORTRAIT LENS Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN | Art
BESTTRIPOD Vanguard VEO 3GO series
BEST PRIME TELEPHOTOLENS Canon RF600mm f/11 IS STM
BEST PROFESSIONAL VIDEOMONITOR LG UltraFine OLED Pro (32EP950)
BEST RETAIL FINISHING SYSTEM CEWE Photocenter
BESTAPS-CCAMERA ADVANCED Fujifilm X-S10
BEST PHOTO/VIDEO CAMERAADVANCED Sigma fp L
BEST PHOTOPRINTER Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300
BEST PHOTO/VIDEO CAMERAEXPERT Sony Alpha 7S III
BESTMACROLENS Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro | Art
BEST IMAGING SOFTWARE EXPERT Zoner Photo Studio X
BEST PHOTO SMARTPHONE Sony Xperia 1 III
BESTWIDE-ANGLE ZOOMLENS Nikon Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
BEST PHOTOLAB WhiteWall RoomView
BESTAPS-C CAMERAEXPERT Pentax K-3 Mark III
BESTTRIPODHEAD Gitzo Ball Head Series 4
BEST POWER ACCESSORY
BEST PHOTOSERVICE CEWE Photo Calendar A2 Gold Edition
BEST IMAGING SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL DxO PhotoLab 4
BESTMEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA Fujifilm GFX100S
BEST STANDARD ZOOMLENS Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070)
BESTVLOGGER CAMERA Sony ZV-1
Nitecore SCL10 2-in-1 Smart Camera Light & Power Bank
BEST FULL-FRAME CAMERAADVANCED Nikon Z 6II
BESTGIMBAL SYSTEM Manfrotto Fast Gimboom and Gimbal series
BEST ENTHUSIAST PHOTOMONITOR ViewSonic VP2768a
BEST PROFESSIONAL VIDEOCAMERA Panasonic Lumix DC-BGH1
BEST LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY Profoto AirX
BEST FULL-FRAME CAMERAEXPERT Nikon Z 7II
BESTTELEPHOTO ZOOMLENS
BESTVIDEOACCESSORY Rode Wireless GO II
BEST IMAGING COMPUTER ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED (UX582)
BEST PRIME WIDE-ANGLE LENS Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A056)
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SUCCESS + EXHIBITIONS + PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS + OUTINGS News Camera club
Analternative approach
The City Photo Club in Norwich is the brainchild of two keen amateurs – and it continues to flourish FOUNDED FOUR YEARS ago by Steve Gibson and Phil Kelly, City Photo Club is hoping to resume meetings at its Norwich social club venue in September. “I belonged to a couple of camera clubs,” explains Phil. “Although I learnt a lot, only a few members were willing to share their knowledge and
experience. With Steve, I started a club that encouraged knowledge sharing – where no question was stupid or people felt they could not ask. Our tag line is: belong, learn, advance. “We introduced our Tog of the Year competition, with voting from the members, editing evenings, still life and portrait sessions – keeping to our ethos of providing practical opportunities. We have been meeting online and will soon be having our first battle with another local club. We welcome new members who are willing to contribute, help and share their supporting knowledge.” cityphotoclub.co.uk
Pride of the north
Gosforth CC is one of the biggest photographic clubs in the north of England. Since lockdown, it has continued holding weekly Tuesday- evening meetings on Zoom. Publicity secretary, Lesley Hughes, says: “It has been a great success – we’ve invited speakers from far and wide, including internationally renowned photographers. All competitions have been digital, with judges from far afield. We’re continuing our programme throughout the summer, with photographic walks, members’ contributions and more speakers to showcase their work.” This year, the club produced a video where each member was invited to submit two images. It can be viewed on YouTube by searching ‘Gosforth Camera Club Exhibition 2021’. gosforthcameraclub.uk
Back in January, the Leicester and Leicestershire PS decided to take the plunge and hold its annual exhibition in 2021. “We are pleased to say we had an excellent response, with 530 images selected for display from over 730 entries, with the selection made by John Whitby MFIAP,” says exhibition secretary, Jean Burbridge. The images were entered into nine categories. For L&LPS members only, there was colour, monochrome and nature; open to everyone was colour, monochrome, nature, sport and Great Central Railway. The latter is sponsored by the Great Central Railway for images taken there, whether of trains, stations or re-enactment events. Finally, the Greenlees section for club entries, where each panel is for four images. The exhibition is online now. landlps.org.uk On show, online
ABOVE This lovely monochrome shot by Don Smith, entitled ‘Red Fox Resting’, was voted favourite image of the year by Gosforth CC members
Sent to Coventry
Coventry PS is holding an exhibition of members’ prints – coinciding with Coventry’s year as City of Culture – at The Albany Theatre, Albany Road, Coventry, CV5 6JQ, throughout June 2021. The Albany is open Monday to Saturday, 10.30am-1.30pm, plus whenever shows are on. “We welcome new members of any ability,” says competition secretary and publicity officer, Terry Bailey CPAGB. “We’re holding lectures and competitions on Zoom, but hope to resume face-to-face meetings for our autumn season on Monday evenings in September.” coventryphotographicsociety.co.uk albanytheatre.co.uk
Bungay’s success
Our congratulations go to two members of Bungay Camera Club, who recently achieved RPS distinctions. Sue Grief gained her LRPS with a panel of images that performed well in club competitions and included personal shots. Sue says: “My mother was accustomed to being a model, because my father was a keen photographer. My favourite image is the monochrome close-up of her hands.” (Pictured above.)
Holly Stranks achieved her ARPS with a panel of canine portraits. Holly describes the inspiration: “When we got Pippa, our black lab, I relished the challenge of getting good images of her, particularly with Cassie and Jack, our yellow labs. I did a 365 project in her first year with us, which certainly improved my photography. Through doing that, I settled on a theme for my ARPS: dog portraits.” bungaycameraclub.co.uk.
The next issue
Send your contribution to clubnews@photography- news.co.uk with the text document and image (1500 pixels across) attached. Deadline for the next issue ISSUE 90: out from 13 July, deadline for contributions: 3 July
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Q A and
Space – Gold prize Adam Stunkel, from the United States, won the gold prize in the Space category for this stunning image of a barred owl, entitled Sleeping Forest. As well as earning £500, Adam progresses to the grand final Image © Adam Stunkel / WAPOTY
Nature for art’s sake The WildArt Photographer of the Year
How long has the contest been running?
on a regular basis, but I can’t hold a candle to many of the great images produced by our judges and competition entrants. After resigning my directorship with BPOTY last year, the time was right for a new competition, focusing more on the creative approach to wildlife photography – the direction my own work has been taking. There was space to develop something that better engaged its audience and entrants, a competition with regular monthly themes, avoiding all the peaks and troughs of the traditional annual competition cycle. The whole WildArt concept is entirely my own. It was developed frommy BPOTY experience, seeing what worked well and what could be improved. I was also keen to develop something that concentrated more on the creative side of wildlife photography as opposed to the literal; a competition that celebrated all of nature, not just the hero species, megafauna and rarities. I started with a wish list of judges. Some are professional wildlife photographers, while others are award winners. All are unbelievable nature photographers, pushing the boundaries of their craft – I greatly admire and respect their work. Everyone on my initial list agreed without hesitation – it’s a privilege having them join the judging team.
RR: It’s in its inaugural year. The first category opened for entries in January, while the final category closes at the end of October. What is it that makes WAPOTY so different fromall the other wildlife contests? RR: The competition is different in a number of ways, and I have already touched on a few. There were certain principles that formed the main drivers for the competition structure. The emphasis on the creative approach is key, as well as the focus on the image itself, not just the subject it features. A butterfly deserves every bit as much attention as a lion or tiger. In fact, our very first category prize was awarded to an image of marbled white butterflies. A judging panel comprised entirely of respected wildlife photographers was also important – these are the only people properly qualified to judge other photographers’ images. And the monthly category themes are a different approach, involving entrants throughout the year, one category at a time. There is no waiting around throughout months of silence from competition organisers. We open a category, judge it and announce the winners – while the other categories
Can you introduce yourself and WAPOTY? Are you a keen wildlife photographer? How didWAPOTY come about? Rob Read: After a career in the corporate world, I became a professional photographer more than 15 years ago. I fell into a role digitising and running a natural history photo library. While in this post, and developing my own wildlife photography, the opportunity to start Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) came about. With my fellow directors, I spent the next six years building that competition into one of the world’s most respected wildlife photography projects. It continues to be a passion, and my work is published
is a nature imaging contest with a difference, designed and judged by wildlife photographers, for wildlife photographers. It features ten monthly themed categories, with entrants vying for a £13,000 total prize fund – we get the lowdown from its creator, Rob Read
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Interview
Space – Silver prize UK-based photographer Steve Palmer took home the category’s silver prize, banking £200 for his image of a great crested grebe. Featuring colourful reflections, the photo is entitled Great Crested Grebe Preening (above) Image © Steve Palmer / WAPOTY
How do you choose the conservation causes you end up supporting?
RR: Our judges individually select the conservation cause they wish to support through their contest. There are a wide range of organisations and causes from large charities who purchase land for conservation, including local wildlife sanctuaries. WildArt donates 20p from every image entered to the monthly cause. In addition, all the proceeds from entries into the young competition go into a conservation fund, awarded to the organisation chosen by the eventual WildArt Young Photographer of the Year winner. At the time of writing, we have raised in the region of £1300 – and that money is already contributing towards conservation. PN: How has the response been from sponsors? RR: They are supporters and partners as much as sponsors. The competition does not rely on financial or prize support from any external organisation. If it is offered – as in the case of Swarovski Optik, Cotton Carrier, Topaz Labs and any other additional prizes that may be provided – it’s a bit of a bonus for the entrants. Our relationships are based primarily on marketing and promotional support, leaving the competition entirely independent. All the companies we work with have been unbelievably supportive of WildArt. Like me, they also see the potential for a fresh approach to wildlife photography competitions and sponsor relationships.
monthly category. Our overall WildArt Young Photographer of the Year winner will receive a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars. How do our readers get involved? Do they have to register to get the monthly theme? Does it cost to enter eachmonthly category? RR: Readers can enter as many of the monthly categories as they wish. All that’s needed is to visit the WAPOTY website, purchase an entry package and upload their images to us via WeTransfer. There is a fee to enter the competition, and this is determined by howmany images are entered. The costs are £6 for one image, £10 for five images and £15 for ten. Entry packages relate purely to the current month’s contest, meaning each month requires a new entry package. Entry for the young photographer competition costs £5 for five images. All the details are on our website, including the forthcoming monthly themes. Space – Bronze prize The bronze prize in the Space category was awarded to Vittorio Ricci from Italy. He won £100 for his image of an oryx herd, entitled Open Spaces (left) Image © Vittorio Ricci / WAPOTY
are running sequentially. Plus, this is a competition that offers entrants transparency, as well as the ability to get involved as much, or as little as they wish. I’ve been running a series of Facebook Live events, providing an insight into the judges and the upcoming categories, plus additional events announcing and interviewing winners. All of these welcome live chat questions from the audience. Who comes up with the themes? RR: It is important that each of the competition judges has a degree of control over their categories. As such, the concepts of each category originate from the judges themselves, while I offer some guidance and advice. All the judges have very different approaches to their “All are unbelievable nature photographers, pushing the boundaries of their craft”
organised between the subteam to discuss and agree the winners. At the end of the year, the ten category winners enter our grand final. A Zoommeeting takes place with all the judges who discuss each class, before agreeing the overall winner from this selection. Howmany entries did you receive for each round? RR: Each of the first four monthly rounds has attracted an average of 1100 images. What do readers have a chance of winning? RR: It was crucially important to make the competition entirely self-supporting. The total £13,000 cash prizes are funded by the competition. There is £3000 for the overall victor, while the winner of the Best Portfolio (drawn from entries in at least six categories) gets £1500. Each monthly category delivers prizes totalling £500 for gold, £200 for silver and £100 for bronze. Moreover, we get offered the odd additional spot prize from sponsors. For May, we were fortunately able to offer a Cotton Carrier camera system and a licence for DeNoise AI by Topaz Labs. We are also keen to encourage engagement from under 18s, who can win £50 for the youth section of each
photography, and the categories tend to reflect their individual direction and style closely. You have an impressive list of judges – how does the judging process work? RR: When I established WAPOTY, I was particularly keen to avoid judging too many images, in too short a time frame. It is imperative that every image entered in the competition receives proper scrutiny and consideration. The WildArt judging process achieves this aim through its monthly category assessments, enabling a ‘little-and- often’ approach to the proceedings, rather than biting off more than we can chew. Considering we will likely have received in excess of 11,000 images by the end of the year, that’s simply too many to assess in one go. Each of the category judges is responsible for selecting a list of the top 100 from their category entries – roughly 1100 images at the current average. The top 100 images are scrutinised again by a judging subteam, comprising the category judge, another WildArt judge of their choice and one of my picks. This always ensures a good mix of gender, geographic location and photography style. The images are scored online, before a final Zoommeeting is
Enternow For more contest details, including the upcoming monthly themes and galleries of winning entries, please visit the WildArt Photographer of
the Year website. • wildartpoty.com
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Starting out
BRAND-NEW FOCUS
Buyers’ guide
Here’s our beginner’s guide to making cash from your photography skills
IT’S BEEN AN incredibly challenging year for everyone, but thoughts can hopefully now turn to exciting new chapters. Perhaps during lockdown you were thinking about how you could earn a little extra money from photography, or even go fully professional doing what you love? And it’s a good idea. Yes, there are more photographers out there than ever, but there are also more people wanting
professional-quality images. Almost any web page you visit is an example of this. Those images had to come from somewhere and, if they’re good, they’ve most likely been paid for. So, if you’re considering making the jump, that’s where this guide comes in. We take a look at how you can start selling your photography skills – and showcase some of the services you’ ll need to do it properly.
“YOUCANSELL ANYTHING, FROM LANDSCAPESAND TRAVEL SHOTS, TOGENERIC PORTRAITSAND LIFESTYLE IMAGES”
Inspiration: What to shoot
pets – and commercial fashion jobs. Add in the events sector and there are many opportunities out there to develop your portrait skills. But, of course, there are thousands more niches to explore. Commercial work can also include shooting products and pictures for architectural clients or estate agents, and there are numerous companies and publishers who need travel and landscape photography to illustrate or advertise their wares.
IT MIGHT NOT seem like it, but this is your most important decision. Whether full or part time, having a plan of what your business offers means you can market yourself more clearly, as well as keep your creativity focused – try to follow what you love shooting, as you’ll hopefully be doing a lot more of it! Some of the most popular subjects for professional photography are weddings, social or promotional portraiture – including
Stock: Sell what you’ve shot
HIDDEN TREASURE Potentially, you could be sitting on a fortune in pictures already – get them out there, so future customers can take advantage
something unusual to use as a background. Though you’ll need to jump through some hoops registering, it’s keywords that are most important, so use accurate descriptions. Also, upload multiple compositions and different framings of the same scene. On a smaller scale, if you have a particular interest, try selling prints – whether to a local gallery or at an event, such as a heritage fair.
YOU DON’T NEED to be commissioned to make money from photography, and selling images as stock is great proof of that. So, if you have a back catalogue, get them online with a stock photography company, such as Alamy or Getty Images. You can sell anything, from landscapes and travel shots, to generic portraits and lifestyle. Even textures and abstract images are fair game, as designers are often looking for
IDEAS FOR CASH There’s always
demand for good-quality
photography. All you have to do is find a niche that suits your skills
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Starting out
Get noticed: How to market yourself
LOOK THE PART Plastic Sandwich is a purveyor of top-quality leather portfolios, while Moo is a leading brand when it comes to business cards
Websites: Your digital shop window
One of our website favourites includes Amazing Internet (amazinginternet.com). You can start by picking a site template from its Portfolio Series from £60 per year (example below). It's a quick way to begin selling prints and get a great-looking site with e-commerce and a blog completed in a few hours. If in doubt, there’s great support. If you need a more customised solution, progress to a Pro Series site at £1199 (including VAT), or a Wordpress or fully bespoke site that has all the extra e-commerce benefits. PN readers have voted Amazing Internet their top choice for the past three years running in the PN Awards, so the brand is well worth your time. Another excellent option is Pixpa (pixpa.com), which offers three website levels to meet your needs. There’s the basic Personal site from £5 a month, then Expert from £7 a month, and finally Business at £11 a month. With numerous excellent, customisable templates to choose from, all options will give your business a professional look. The higher levels offer more powerful marketing and e-commerce-centric tools, plus greater amounts of online storage, with up to 50GB on the Business model.
THERE’S NO DENYING that most photography is consumed through the web, so you’ll require an online presence. Many working photographers have business pages on Facebook and Instagram, but a specific website for your photography makes you seem more legitimate. Even if you have an existing web page, make a new one for the specific business content, so everything is streamlined and separate. No one wants to see holiday snaps alongside the stuff you’re charging for. Starting out, you may just need an easy-to-use, shop window website, displaying your work, listing services and contact information. There are lots of templates out there that provide a professional feel and have nice little additions, such as hosting a blog to give visitors a glimpse into the way you work. Then, in time, you can upgrade to a more bespoke and fully featured photography site. This will have extra stuff, such as file management – where clients can view and download their shots – online booking options, and the facility to sell prints and book products directly, without you getting involved.
suppliers online, but look for one that prints high-quality photographic images, such as Moo, where you can get 50 of the Original business cards printed on 350gsm paper for £13.99. Ultimately, though, the most successful marketing comes from tenacity. If you know of a local business in need of photography, make contact and explain how much better their website, magazine or catalogue could look with you providing the images. Getting perfect prints made of your best pictures is one thing, but you need to present them in a way that’s befitting, too – especially if you’re aiming to sell your photo skills. A good portfolio is about content and your skills as a photographer, but it’s also a tactile experience, whether in print or digital form.
IT USED TO be that photographers would have had a physical portfolio – and that’s still a great option if you’re planning to meet clients face to face. For instance, with wedding photography, many bookings are taken at wedding fairs, and people will expect physical books and prints to leaf through. Check out upcoming event sites, such as weddingfairs.com. Something else to consider is word-of-mouth referrals. This is particularly important if you’re going into the wedding business. Happy couples will often pass on their endorsement, so give your utmost on the day – you never know who is going to be your next client. Plastic Sandwich (plasticsandwich.co.uk) produces bespoke, high-quality leather
portfolios and tablet sleeves – an example is shown above. Its products are handcrafted from British hides, and each is made from a single piece of top grain 3mm leather. In the portfolios, prints are held in optically clear, archival polyester sleeves using a post and screw binding system, which makes adding or removing pages and images easy. Inner covers, portfolio bags and slip cases add to the luxurious feel. To finish it off, you can have your name or logo debossed on the cover. On the same subject, get yourself some quality business cards, which you can hand out to prospective clients, directing them to your website. Include images that represent your style – this will help make a lasting connection. There are, of course, tons of business card
HAPPY DAYS Wedding photography has the potential to be a cash generator, but the competition is fierce and it is a subject not to be taken lightly. It is important to make sure your work, and the presentation of it, is up to scratch
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