Review Digital Camera World 02-01-2014

Digital Camera World

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9 creative photo ideas to try in February Feb 1st 2014, 00:01, by jmeyer As part of our ongoing series to help you get more creative with your digital camera, each month we publish some fun, seasonal, creative photo ideas to help inspire your imagination. Along with some amazing images, we've also provided some quick photography tips by both amateur and professional photographers who are experts in these fields. This month we kick off February with a slew of fun projects like de-focused portraits, empty spaces, macro with ultra-shallow depth of field, city views and light painting still life photography, among many other fun and creative photography projects that are perfect for this time of year. On each page you’ll find a stunning image and an explanation from the photographer on how it was made. If you attempt any of these photo ideas, don’t forget to share them on our Facebook wall! Creative photo ideas for February: 01 Shoot a defocused portrait Pulling the lens out of focus might seem an odd technique to try with that expensive lens you've saved hard to buy, but it's a quick way to give a scene an impressionistic look. Photographer Philip Payne manually defocused his 18-50mm f/2.8 lens to create this shot. "Having worked with dancers on a number of occasions, I was struck by how otherworldly they can seem at times," he says. "Not only are dancers particularly graceful, but they are also exceptionally strong – far stronger than they would appear from a quick glance. I wanted to produce a picture that looked alien, and I remembered that a defocused image was often used in the X-Files. "It's possible to produce defocused images with any camera that you can focus manually. It helps you select the broad elements of the image, rather than worrying about the detail of sensor resolution and lens quality. “Defocusing an image in-camera produces a distinctly different effect to anything that can be produced (or at least that I can produce) with software. I'd always rather do this type of shot as a straight exposure rather than trying to simulate the effect later." Get started today * Naturally you'll need to work with the lens set to manual focus. Use large apertures to maximise the amount of blur. * When working with backlit subjects, try over-exposing the image to enhance the effect. * See more examples of this technique in the Blur Will Save The World group on Flickr. Creative photo ideas for February: 01 Shoot a defocused portrait Creative photo ideas for February: 02 Shoot a portrait and add a hand-drawn look Creative photo ideas for February: 03 Shoot empty, open spaces Creative photo ideas for February: 04 Shoot macros with minimal depth of field Creative photo ideas for February: 05 Light-paint a warm still life Creative photo ideas for February: 06 Shoot a city view Creative photo ideas for February: 07 Shoot deconstructed hardware Creative photo ideas for February: 08 Shoot yourself in the picture Creative photo ideas for February: 09 Shoot a heart-shaped shadow READ MORE 54 portrait ideas: free downloadable posing guide 40 more portrait ideas: part 2 of our free downloadable posing guide Family photos: what the pros won’t tell you about taking pictures of family Free portrait photography cropping guide 10 portrait photography mistakes every photographer makes (and how to fix them) The Photography Show 2014: 10 reasons every photographer should go Jan 31st 2014, 12:06, by jmeyer The Photography Show 2014 is just one month away and set to be the most exciting date in your photography calendar – as a keen photographer, you'd be mad to miss it. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should plan to visit. 1.  Get your hands on new kit Explore the hottest kit available from some of the world's leading brands. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Samsung, Manfrotto and EPSON are just some of the names you'll see at the show. This is a great chance to test and compare all the kit available to enhance your photography. View the full exhibitor list 2.  Bag a bargain Upgrade your kit for the year ahead with three leading retailers; Calumet, Camera World and London Camera Exchange. Enjoy some guilt free shopping with exclusive show deals on offer throughout the show.   3.  Be inspired by your photography heroes An A-list cast of speakers will appear on the Super Stage sharing the stories behind their signature styles. Iconic portrait specialist Rankin, the globally renowned Steve McCurry of 'Afghan Girl' fame, 60's portrait legend Terry O'Neill and celebrated photojournalist Joe McNally are only a taster of the stellar line-up. Tickets are just £10 per session and available via photographyshow.com. View the full line-up   4.  Build your own SLR Visit the Lomography team and take your analogue experience to the extreme! Most people can't boast the fact they made their own camera – now you can. For just £35, you'll explore the inner workings of a camera, build your own and learn all about shooting with film. Tickets are available via photographyshow.com. 5.  Learn new skills straight from the pros Join some top-class professional photographers in The Studio as they talk you through a range of genres and techniques to help take your skills to a whole new level. Shooting wildlife, flash lighting, fine art photography and how to go pro are just a few of the sessions you can look forward to. The Studio is free to attend. View the full programme 6.  Improve your photo editing skills with Adobe Photo editing is an essential skill for most modern day photographers but the Creative Cloud can be a challenge to master. Don't panic! Experts from Adobe will be on-hand to answer your questions and will be running Photoshop and Lightroom workshops. You won't want to miss this chance to get an overview of the key features old and new.  Adobe Studios are free to attend. View the full programme 7.  Capture some unusual images on the Live Stage Professional photographers will give you step-by-step advice on how to take great images of some challenging subjects. BMX tricks, a fire eater and Storm troopers are just some of the highlights. The Live Stage is free to attend. View the full programme 8.  Get creative with the Catwalk Enjoy practical demos of wedding, portrait and fashion photography from some of the industry's most creative minds. From concept to capture and lighting set ups to surviving a wedding, the Catwalk will give you the inspiration you need to last until next year's show. The Catwalk is free to attend. View the full programme   Spring in the Box garden by Gary Rogers,– Go to www.igpoty.com for more information about International Garden Photographer of the Year. 9.  Master your macro and garden photography Whether you're an avid garden photographer or you just enjoy taking photos outside, you'll love our real flower garden hosted by the International Garden Photography of the Year (IGPOTY) team. IGPOTY experts will walk you round the garden and give you one-to-one advice on how to improve your macro photography and outdoor shooting technique. The IGPOTY Garden is free to attend. View the full programme   10.  Learn how to mount your own work The right mounting combinations can add £'s to your portfolio but it's no easy skill to master. The UK School of Framing will bring you a series of practical workshops that will teach teach you the skills you need to give your work the professional edge.  Tickets are £20 per session and available via photographyshow.com. View the full programme Book your ticket today using DCWA142014 and get an exclusive discount on your ticket. Protect your gear: get covered with Photoguard (Sponsored) Jan 31st 2014, 10:31, by jmeyer Did you know that your everyday household insurance may only cover your camera equipment up to a certain value – and it might not be covered at all if you’ve taken it out of the house for use? Photoguard has been providing specialist insurance to photographers since 1999, and with more than £40 million worth of cameras and other equipment on cover at the start of 2013, Photoguard really knows its market. If you received new gear for Christmas, or perhaps you picked up a new camera in the January sales, you need to ask yourself: is it covered by your insurance when using it? Photoguard offers cover for all of your photography gear up to a maximum limit of £50,000. Photographers can pick and choose the type of cover they require, with options such as in-vehicle cover, UK, EU or worldwide available. You can even get a quote in seconds using the instant quote indicator feature on the Photoguard website. Or if you'd like to find out more, please call us on 0844 826 2294 or come and visit us on stand J12 at The Photography Show, running from 1st – 4th March at the Birmingham NEC. Click here to learn more about Photoguard and its different types of cover

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