Review Digital Camera World 02-04-2014

Digital Camera World

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Photoshop for beginners: master your photo editing workflow in 24 hours Feb 4th 2014, 00:01, by jmeyer Photoshop CC is a complex and sophisticated program, but once you understand what it can do and how it works, the pieces will fall into place. In this guide to Photoshop for beginners we’ll take you through the stages of setting up the ideal photo editing workflow. Photoshop for Beginners: 01 Organise photos with Adobe Bridge The Photoshop subscription package includes Adobe Bridge, a separate application you can use to organise and evaluate your pictures. You can use the Folders panel to look at any of the folders containing images that you have on your computer, and pictures are displayed as thumbnails in the main window. Adobe Bridge can be used to check the shooting information saved by your camera in its image files, and you can add keywords, copyright information and other 'metadata' to your photos to make them easier to sort. Adobe Bridge can also be used to open Adobe Camera Raw, a Photoshop add-on that opens raw files from digital cameras – see step 02 for more on Adobe Camera Raw. SEE MORE: Best photo editing tips for beginners: 18 quick fixes to common image problems Photoshop for Beginners: 02 Get started with Camera Raw Photoshop opens raw files using the Adobe Camera Raw add-on, and this offers an ever-increasing range of adjustments for enhancing your photos. SEE MORE: Adobe Camera Raw – the secret to using it for just about everything In many cases you won't need to open images in Photoshop at all. You can adjust exposure, white balance, contrast and other global settings, as well as apply 'local' adjustments with the Graduated Filter tool, Adjustment Brush and Radial Filter. Changes you make in Adobe Camera Raw are non-destructive – you can go back and change them at any time. SEE MORE: 101 Photoshop tips you really have to know Photoshop for Beginners: 03 Smart Objects and filters Sometimes, adjustments you make in Adobe Camera Raw are simply preparation for more serious work in Photoshop, such as adding effects with filters. Photoshop CC has a clever feature called 'Smart Objects'. You can turn any image into a Smart Object and then add filter effects 'non-destructively' – you can double-click the filter in the future if you need to re-edit it. This photo has three filters applied: one to straighten the building, another to create the black-and-white effect, and a third to create the aged, 'stained' look. PAGE 1: Photoshop for Beginners steps 1-3 PAGE 2: Photoshop for Beginners steps 4-7 READ MORE Image sharpening – how to bring out more detail in your favourite photos Best Photo Editing Software? 6 budget alternatives to Photoshop tested and rate Photoshop Curves Tool: 6 techniques every photographer must know Unsharp Mask – how to ensure the sharpest images possible every time Adobe Camera Raw: 8 tools that will save your raw files Moving targets: how to plot trajectory and beat camera shake every time Feb 3rd 2014, 12:43, by jmeyer Discover how to photograph moving targets with our handy guide to the best shutter speeds and plotting a subject’s trajectory. One of the fundamental rules of photography is that if there is blur in your pictures it has to be there deliberately! There are no excuses for camera shake, and moving targets should be frozen, unless you want make use to blurry effect for artistic reasons. The key to achieving these things is to use the right shutter speed for the job. Your first stop is to avoid the shakes. If you are hand-holding your camera, the image is not completely still and you need to set a shutter speed that is fast enough to allow for the involuntary movements of your arms and body. How fast you need to go will depend on things such as how fit you are and how cold it is, but also on the focal length of the lens you are using. The longer the lens, the more obvious any slight movement in the lens becomes in the image, necessitating a faster shutter speed than if you had a wider angle of view. But if you are in any doubt, always play safe and go for a faster shutter speed than you think you need! SEE MORE: 10 camera techniques to master in 2014 – how to focus on moving subjects Get the best shutter speeds for moving targets Click on the infographic to see the larger version, or drag and drop to your desktop. Banish camera shake The standard way of working out which shutter speed to use is the reciprocal rule: if using a 50mm lens, you need to use a shutter speed of 1/50 sec or faster. For a 500mm, use a minimum of 1/500 sec. If you use a crop sensor camera, you need to take the crop factor into account and multiply the shutter speed by 1.5, so use a 1/750 sec with a 500mm lens. If using image stabilisation you can use a slower speed, if the subject isn't moving. SEE MORE: The best shutter speeds for every situation (free photography cheat sheet) Plotting a moving target’s trajectory Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec It's the speed relative to you that matters, not your subject's actual speed. If it's moving across the frame you need a faster shutter speed than if it's heading towards you. SEE MORE: Common mistakes at every shutter speed (and the best settings to use) Shutter speed: 1/250 sec You can get away with a shutter speed that is two stops slower (four times as long) if the car is heading towards you… but be warned, the autofocus is more likely to fail! SEE MORE: 9 situations when autofocus will fail you Shutter speed: 1/30 sec You can get away with slower shutter speeds by keeping the car in your sights and tracking its movement. These panning shots artistically blur the surroundings. Fast-action bolt-ons for shooting moving targets 70-200mm f/2.8 A long lens is the tool of choice for wildlife and sport. How long a lens you need will vary, but one with a fast maximum aperture will help you focus faster, get higher shutter speeds and isolate the action from the background.   1.4x teleconverter A teleconverter is a great portable add-on for giving you more firepower when you need to crop in that bit closer. They only work effectively with certain faster lenses, so shop with care and check the requirements. READ MORE Understanding shutter speed as a creative tool Motion Blur: what shutter speed should you use? Camera Shake: the ultimate cheat sheet for tripods, monopods and shooting handheld Photography Basics: the No. 1 cheat sheet for metering and exposure ZSL Animal Photography Prize now open – win up to £10k! (Sponsored) Feb 3rd 2014, 09:57, by jmeyer Wildlife photographers and animal enthusiasts with a shared passion for photography now have the opportunity to put their passions to a good cause and potentially win with a £10,000 prize fund! The Zoological Society of London’s third annual ZSL Animal Photography Prize (ZAPP) is now open and accepting entries from photographers all over the world. "At ZSL, we know that people love animals, but this competition has proved to us that our wildlife – be it a magnificent blue whale or a dancing butterfly – provides an infinite source of marvel for people from around the world,” said ZSL Director General Ralph Armond. Michael Gallagher 'Papuan Frogmouth' – Weird & Wonderful "Animals across the planet are facing ever increasing threats to their survival, from illegal wildlife trade to complete habitat loss, and as an international conservation charity, we know that raising awareness is crucial in helping to save them. "The ZSL Animal Photography Prize gives us the opportunity to inspire more and more people to seek out the wonders of the animal kingdom, and invite them to share in our passion for wildlife." The ZSL Animal Photography Prize (ZAPP) 2014 features six categories for adult and junior entrants, which include 1.    The Perfect Moment Patience is rewarded when you capture that stunning shot 2.    Last Chance to See? Threatened habitats, endangered species and living conservation 3.    Weird & Wonderful Unique species, amazing adaptations and unexpected surprises 4.    Size Matters From the massive to the microscopic, this is the category for the most amazing micrographs to the biggest panoramas… celebrate all creatures great and small. 5.    The Birds and the Bees From birds in flight to love at first sight… avian images, incredible invertebrates 6.    Deep & Meaningful Everything aquatic – in, around or under the water. Bence Matte ' A giant trophy for a small ant' – Size Matters The overall adult winner in each category will take home £1000 – and an additional £1000 if you are named overall adult winner across all categories. The young persons winner in each category will receive £250, with an additional £500 going to the overall young persons winner. And along with the £10,000 prize fund, winners will also be in with a chance of having their image displayed in a striking exhibition at the ZSL London Zoo in September 2014. Vaclav Krpelik 'The slowest sprinter' – Deep & Meaningful Ornithologist Bill Oddie and television presenter Kate Humble are part of the competition judging panel, and the deadline to enter is 1 April 2014. The competition is open to all, with free entry for children (18 and under) and a £5 entry fee for adults. Entrants are allowed to enter up to six categories. Judges will look not only at technical excellence, but choose photographs that capture “the essence of the animal world.” Click here to enter the ZSL Animal Photography Prize (ZAPP) 2014

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