Review Digital Camera World 06-16-2013

Digital Camera World

Photo Anatomy: creating golden age glamour portraits without complication Jun 15th 2013, 23:01 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 we speak to Russian fashion and portrait photographer Olga Lavrenkova, who explains how classic Hollywood studio lighting techniques inspired one of her most striking portraits. Ideal model "I chose my friend Alla as the model," Olga says, "because she isn't shy, can show any emotions and looks like a 1940s film star. She was perfect for this particular assignment." Uncomplicated kit To shoot this image, Olga used her main camera at the time, a Canon EOS 10D, with a 50mm f/1.4 lens attached. She used an exposure of 1/125 sec at f/11, ISO100. Serendipity The final combination of pose, expression and accessories occurred spontaneously. "It's like a puzzle," Olga says. "First you find one thing, then come all the others, and after many tries you say, 'that's it!'" Dramatic lighting The single light directly illuminated the model's face and created very harsh shadows. It also picked out the curling line of white smoke coming from her cigarette. Classic set-up The model was lit by a Bowens 500 head, with an opened reflector covered by semi-transparent matte white paper. A simple piece of dark cloth was used as the background. We say "Planning is vital in this kind of portrait; you have to know what you want to achieve before the shoot. If you want to use classic 'movie studio' lighting, look at lots of images from Hollywood's Golden Age (1930s-50s) and use their poses and techniques as your inspiration." Chris Rutter, technique editor READ MORE Famous Photographers: 100 things we wish we knew starting out How to see photos like famous photographers… every time you shoot 14 portrait photography tips you’ll never want to forget Free portrait lighting cheat sheet DJI Phantom Quadcopter review: shoot aerial photography on a budget (ish) Jun 15th 2013, 13:00 In our latest review we take the DJI Phantom Quadcopter for a spin to see if aerial photography really is cheaper and easier with this intriguing new accessory. Ever fancied dabbling in aerial photography? Usually you'd have to spend a small fortune to take to the skies, but now for less than £500 (plus the cost of a GoPro) a radio-controlled Phantom Quadcopter is a simple and fun way for your photography to reach new heights. Underside mouldings enable a GoPro to be bolted on in seconds, and thankfully the Phantom calibrates itself to compensate for the additional weight, ensuring an even and steady flight for capturing smooth footage. You'll have to wait for the Phantom to run through several automated pre-flight calibration checks, but after some beeps and flashes it's ready for flight. One of the most impressive features of having GPS on board is that the Phantom can even hold its own position and altitude. Once activated it just hangs in the air, maintaining a static position that's perfect for long, stable aerial shots and recording sporting events. Price: £499 Buy it: http://quadcopters.co.uk Score: 5/5 READ MORE Pole photography: how to take aerial photos with your feet on the ground Studio Lighting: 4 seriously simple lighting techniques to try at home Famous Photographers: 100 things we wish we knew starting out

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