Review Digital Camera World 05-12-2013

Digital Camera World

Photo Anatomy: capturing un-tamed moments in the wild May 12th 2013, 00:00 In our Photo Anatomy series on Digital Camera World we select pictures by famous photographers and explain point by point what makes them work. In our latest instalment award-winning wildlife photographer Bence Máté reveals how he captured a rare confrontation between a hummingbird and a snake. Shallow depth of field By using a telephoto lens and throwing the background completely out of focus, Bence has concentrated attention on the bird and snake. The branch provides context and a frame. Long lens Bence captured this unusual stand-off with his Nikon D300 fitted with a 300mm f/2.8 lens. He was only able to fire off a few frames before the hummingbird flew away. Supplementary lighting Rain was falling and the light was poor, so Bence used two flash units – one in front and the other behind the action. The flashes enabled him to capture the motion of the hummingbird's wings. Restricted colour palette The photograph uses different shades of green to striking effect. The bright green snake and moss, and the hummingbird's mid-green plumage, stand out brilliantly against the muted, darker green background. Expecting the unexpected Bence was photographing hummingbirds in Monteverde, Costa Rica, when he noticed they had become agitated. He soon realised why: a side-striped palm pit viper was coiled on a nearby branch. We Say "Getting into the situation where you can photograph something like this is one thing, but this picture could easily have been ruined by the poor light. Using flash to supplement daylight gives wildlife images added impact, and allows you to work with faster shutter speeds." Chris Rutter, technique editor READ MORE Wildlife photography made easy: simple techniques for pro-quality pictures Wildlife photography in any environment: free photography cheat sheet Famous Photographers: 100 things we wish we knew starting out How to see photos like famous photographers… every time you shoot Macro flower photography ideas: create fake dew drops to act as miniature lenses May 11th 2013, 13:00 When shooting macro photography, it’s often the small details that complete an image. And adding drops of water to your photo composition can serve to magnify the finer details of your subject for a striking effect. Here’s how it’s done. Shiny raindrops add the finishing touch to macro flower shots, catching the eye and acting as miniature lenses that magnify the detail in leaves and petals. There's no need to wait for a downpour to achieve the look – you can recreate this effect without getting your camera wet. You can find a floral subject in your local park or buy a potted one. A macro lens will let you get in really close and capture minute details in the flower's petals, while maintaining a shallow depth of field for that dreamy macro feeling. A tripod isn't essential, but it will keep you steady and leave your hands free to create the effect you want. Use a watering can to create a falling rain effect, or mist petals with a hand sprayer for delicate dew drops. How to create your own dew drops for macro photography 01 Set it up Switch to Direct Sunlight White Balance mode if you're not shooting on a sunny day, as this makes plants look fresher. Also, use a low ISO to ensure a crisp final image. A super-shallow depth of field that blurs out the background works best, so pick an aperture of f/5.6 or wider.   02 Perfectly composed Position your flower against a clean background like a grassy lawn. (Pick up any leaves or twigs that might show up in the shot.) Stay parallel to the flower and use Live View to check how the shot is looking. Make sure you focus manually on the rain drops to get them pin-sharp.   03 A spoonful of sugar… Add sugar to the water – this helps the droplets adhere to the flower's leaves and petals and takes longer to dry, giving you more time to compose your picture. A watering can is brilliant for creating a falling rain effect, or you can use a hand sprayer to get a fine mist on petals. READ MORE 25 flower photography tips for beginners Garden macro photography: tips for shooting stunning pictures at home How to set your autofocus for macro photography See the light like a pro: everything you were afraid to ask about natural light

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