Table of contents for Issue 4 in Digital Camera User

Photography has been around for a very long time. From its earliest, most widely regarded inception in the 1800s, photography has captured the world around us and also captured the hearts of so many devotees. These days it can be easy to forget its historic past and overlook many of the fundamental skills and accrued knowledge that make image capture through lens to sensor the art form it is today. Lets redress the balance a little and devote a few pages to some history and some knowledge that can only serve to make you, the photographer, a more rounded and experienced person for it. “These days it can be easy to forget its historic past and overlook many of the fundamental skills and accrued knowledge that make image capture through…

You would imagine that the starting point would be to grab your camera, set its functions to black and white mode and start shooting. Many photographers always shoot in colour, in order to maintain as much tonal variation in the Raw image as possible; it just gives you more data to play with when it comes to the conversion process. A key word in the last sentence was ‘Raw’. Always shoot in Raw format. You want to record as much scene data as you can without your camera trying to process the image for you. Although it might sound odd, you need to develop the ability to ‘see’ in black and white. A great visual aid is to shoot Raw, as we’ve said, but also to set your camera’s picture…

“You can normally adjust the flash by 2 stops in either direction in order to fine tune the power output.” It is a fair bet that your camera has a pop up flash. This is a small flash unit that sits on the top of your camera and, if you are using it in automatic mode, you may have encountered situations where it has suddenly popped up as you were about to take a photo. This tiny flash draws its power from your camera’s battery and as such it has limited power and range so as not to totally drain your battery. A pop up flash usually has a range of about .5m up to 5m. Anything further out and you will not be able to light your subject properly…

“Yes, you should never ‘look’ directly into the sun or very bright sources of illumination of course, but why should you not let your camera do it for you?” If you’ve ever been given any photography advice and had some pearls of wisdom passed down to you, chances are that one of the main ones would have been that you should not shoot into your scene’s main light source or the sun. This advice goes on to say that you should always have the sun at your back or at least over one shoulder. While this is one aspect of working with light that works well enough for a variety of situations, it doesn’t always have to be the case. Yes, you should never ‘look’ directly into the sun or…

For many years, the go to image processing software was Lightroom Classic. It is the main desktop-focused application used by photographers to wring every pixel of detail and colour out of their images. However, if you need a more streamlined version that can be used both on a desktop and on a mobile device, then Lightroom is your next stop. “However, if you need a more streamlined version that can be used both on a desktop and on a mobile device, then Lightroom is your next stop.”…

One-click Power Although this mode is designed to be quick and simple to use, it is still a powerful method to rapidly improve your photos with easy one-click presets that give you instant feedback on how your image will look with the new adjustments applied. There are many filters to choose from and many ways you can adjust your image to make it perfect, so you can share it with the world. 1 The File Menu Although a number of file menu option will not be accessible, the main ones that you need will be available. All the Enhance options are there as well as the Filter Gallery presets. 2 Mode Selector Here can you can exit the current mode and choose to enter the Guided or Expert modes. 3 The Open Button…

We’ve mentioned it before, but getting inspired can sometimes be a struggle. When you first start out as a photographer, everything is new, full of possibilities and it’s all wonderful. Then there are times where the next stage of photography, namely being able to master it, has you scratching your head and staring at your camera and wondering why you can’t get the shot you want. Those moments can feel like you’re going backwards, but if you persevere, you will break through and find yourself a better photographer because of it. Never stop learning. Never stop looking at what others are doing and always admit to yourself when a shot is wrong. Break down the reasons as to why it is wrong and then seek to do it again in…

You cannot talk about photography without talking a little about the history of photography itself. The two are inextricably linked because all we had to begin with, at the dawn of the medium, was black and white. It goes without saying that the equipment and techniques we have today are a far cry from those early days when the pioneers of photography were experimenting with how to collect light, light-sensitive materials and equipment to capture and focus the image. The story of black and white photography, although cited as beginning sometime in the 1800s, actually goes back much further in history to the days of Aristotle around 384-322 BC. Aristotle understood the principle of the camera obscura (dark chamber), although at the time there was no known method to ‘fix’…

Professional photographers use some very simple tricks and rules-of-thumb that have been developed over many years and even include rules of composition that are inspired by classical art. That may sound a little off-putting but don’t worry, we’ve got a few tips that once you’ve tried them out, will help you develop as a photographer. There are more hints and tips than we have room to cover, but we’ve got a few that should prove useful. Even if you focus on just a few favourites, they can form the foundation of your very own photographic style that can stand you in good stead for years to come. “Have you been taking photos for a while and wondered why they still look like simple snaps and not professional level images?” City…

Bowen is a renowned manufacturer of lighting equipment for photographers and they are a byword for quality and innovation. Bowen are cited as creating the first electronic studio flash unit with its own built in power source, rather than relying on a separate power pack from which all lights in use were connected. These self-contained units were known as monoblocs (or monolites) and have since become an industry standard lighting method, used by studio photographers everywhere. Bowen have now released their XMT portable location lighting system and their XMS studio lighting system. Both systems give you the power to light your scenes with amazing creative freedom. XMT500 The XMT500 is a lithium-ion powered unit that is perfect for photographers who need to be mobile but demand the very best when…

While almost all digital cameras have some sort of flashgun built in, these are usually relatively weak with a useful range of only a few metres. The more advanced cameras, including all DSLRs, most CSCs and several advanced compacts and super-zooms, have the ability to use an external accessory flashgun to provide more illumination over a much greater distance. These cameras have a bracket known as a ‘hot shoe’ (see image above), into which the flashgun slots and includes electrical connections that allow the camera to trigger the flash. Most camera manufacturers make flashguns designed for use with their own cameras, which have more connections to allow the camera’s light metering system to control the output of the flash. These systems are known as ‘dedicated’ flash. Flashguns While older and…

You’d be surprised just how often a great photo is edited using simple but very effective techniques. These techniques often centre around the colour options within Lightroom and through the tutorials we will be showing, you can learn to apply these subtle alterations to great effect. Taking an image you may have recognised from one of our project guides about shooting in to the light. The difference between the original capture and the final result may appear fairly subtle at first glance but the exposure, saturation and colour balance of the main image has been carefully tweaked using the Basic panel, found in the top right sidebar of the Develop module. Sometimes, subtlety is key.…

Photoshop is everywhere. You can’t move for photos that have been edited in some way by it. The problem is that many casual users don’t necessarily want to be tied in to a monthly subscription in order to use its features. That’s where Elements comes in. Think of it as Photoshop’s baby brother. You can own it outright for a one-off payment and enjoy its surprising amount of features. Although it is not as advanced as Photoshop, it has plenty of tools and features that the hobbyist photographer and image editor can enjoy. It even has its own version of the Raw photo processing application so you can adjust your own photos. It is layer-based just like Photoshop and we thought we’d dive in and start to explore it in…

Now you need not consign a photo to the trash just because your subjects eyes are shut. Thanks to this handy tool in Elements, you can tackle the problem with ease. If you have another example of a face where the eyes are open and they are not too different in terms of their colour and lighting, you can swiftly replace those closed eyes for open ones. This works in both the Quick mode and Expert mode. 1 Open your photo by going to File > Open and navigating to where your primary photo is kept and either double-click the image or select it and press the Open button. 2 Go to Enhance > Open Closed Eyes and you will see the Open Closed Eyes dialog box. Here you can choose your…

Steady as you go For those shots where longer exposures are not only required, but sought after, you will need a tripod. We’ve always maintained that after the camera and lens, a tripod is the next must-have item if you are serious about your photography. No amount of photoshop work can save a picture ruined by camera shake. For exposure times measured in seconds and more, a camera mounted securely to a sturdy tripod will eliminate any movement and keep your long exposure shots tack-sharp and shake-free. A matter of scale There is no substitute for good composition in your photography. Even simply adhering to the rule of thirds can elevate your images beyond simple snaps. There is another thing that can make your images more interesting to the viewer…

“It seems nothing can diminish the power and allure of the black and white image.” From its distant origins and development through the 1800s, right up to todays’ most modern digital cameras and software, the black and white image has left an indelible legacy. It seems nothing can diminish the power and allure of the black and white image. Indeed, it can be noted that some of the greatest and most iconic images ever captured, were done through the medium of black and white. From a projected image appearing within a darkened room or box, to the daguerreotype, to gelatin-silver prints, to modern day advanced digital imaging, this whole technology needed a name. The term ‘photography’ is said to have been proposed by the scientist and noted astronomer Sir John…

Do you need a new camera? Are you upgrading from smartphone photography and want a first step into DSLR photography? Do you already have a DSLR with interchangeable lenses and want a great piece of glass for wide angle landscape work? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then take a look at the following pages for some insight into a few great bits of gear that would be a great upgrade on existing kit. When it comes to digital photography and lenses, you can’t go far wrong with Canon. If you already have a decent setup but are looking to enhance your lighting, then we also have a high-end studio setup and a simple strobe for your daily image capture. For something a little more left…

Two photographers are shooting a scene. Let’s say it’s a wedding and the bride and groom want some photos taken together. One photographer is a professional and the other is John, the bride’s father, with his latest purchase of a very expensive DSLR. Under the same daylight with similar camera and lenses, the shots may well look the same. How do you make your shots different to those taken by John? In our experience, one of the best ways to do that, is to employ supplemental lighting. Your camera may well have a built-in flash, but is that enough to really make your photos stand out? “In our experience, one of the best ways to do that, is to employ supplemental lighting. Your camera may well have a built-in flash,…

Trying to take your photography to the next level does not have to be a chore. You can approach it at your own pace and find out what works for you and what doesn’t. The key is to dive in and get started. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just enjoy the fact that you’re learning a new skill or perhaps ramping an existing skill up a few notches. Next, we cover some ideas such as shooting into the light and how you can make that work in creative ways, as well as some beautifully simple photo hacks to achieve great results on a budget. “The key is to dive in and get started. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just enjoy the fact that you’re learning a new skill…

Have you ever seen all those glossy brochures and magazine adverts produced by car manufacturers? There’s always a very cool shot of their car taken from a low angle, appearing to be traveling at a 100 miles an hour. The car’s wheels are a blur of motion and everything around it is streaking by, portraying an amazing sense of speed. You might look at those images and wonder just how it was done. Was it just some incredible panning shot as the car sped by? Was it taken from another chase vehicle, with the photographer in the back snapping away as both cars speed along a deserted road? Did the photographer have to use settings that catch the car in sharp enough detail, but with shutter speeds slow enough to…

Welcome Home When you open Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019, you are presented with a Home screen. This simple screen is your gateway to the Photo Editor program or the Organiser. The third option available is to activate the Adobe Premiere Elements Video Editor, if you have purchased that as well. If not, it will ask if you want to download a trial version. You also have the option at the top of the Home screen to search for help on things you want to achieve in the programs or to click on any of the featured Try This guides and What’s New items and Inspiration articles ranged across the screen. On the extreme top right of the page are buttons for Facebook and Twitter and a Help button that takes…