Photography for beginners - Issue 28 (2013)

Great photos
in a weekend
Easy steps to better pictures
Top portrait tips
✔
Master natural lighting
✔
Pick the right modes
✔
Perfect compositions
www.photoforbeginners.com
Essential guides for
Great shots with any camera
No. 1 for beginners
S
CREATIVE PROJECTS
✔
Fake infrared
✔
Fun still life
✔
Light painting
✔
Time lapse
10
KEY
SETTINGS

FOR AMAZING SHOTS
Essential features explained
P

A
Find us on…
and share your shots!
Cameraphone | iPad | DSLR | CSC | Compa
M
LATEST TECH
Touch screen kit gets
put to the ultimate test
MACRO EDITING
Small tweaks for a big
impact on close-ups
HOLIDAY SHOTS
Practical tips for your
best ever travel snaps
Great photos
in a weekend
Great photos
in a weekend
Great photos
Easy steps to better pictures
Top portrait tips
Easy steps to better pictures
Top portrait tips
Easy steps to better pictures
Master natural lighting
Pick the right modes
Master natural lighting
Pick the right modes
Master natural lighting
Perfect compositions

Pick the right modes
Perfect compositions
Pick the right modes
Great photos
in a weekend
Great photos
in a weekend
Great photos
Easy steps to better pictures
Top portrait tips
Easy steps to better pictures
Top portrait tips
Easy steps to better pictures
Master natural lighting
Pick the right modes
Perfect compositions
Pick the right modes
Perfect compositions
Pick the right modes
CREATIVE PROJECTS
Cameraphone | iPad | DSLR | CSC | Compa
Cameraphone | iPad | DSLR | CSC | Compa
ISSUE 028
Focal length: 270mm
Exposure: F/6.3,
1/640 sec, ISO 250

Focal length: 18mm
Exposure: F/4.0,

1/2000 sec, ISO 250
www.tamron.co.uk
18-270mm
F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD
One lens for every moment
This Tamron Megazoom-Lens is an unbeatable
combination of exibility and performance.
Thanks to the 15x zoom the right focal length for every situation is available
anytime. The VC image stabilization and fast, almost silent PZD autofocus
completes the package. The low weight and compactness of this lens leaves
even enough room in your travel bag for souvenirs. Available for your digital
APS-C SLR from Canon, Nikon or Sony *.

*

The Sony mount does not include the VC image stabilizer.
www.facebook.com/TamronUK
Improve your skills with
Photography for Beginners

Meet the team…
Annabelle Sing
Photoshop expert
Annabelle designs the
mag and provides you
with editing advice to
enhance your shots
Jo Stass
Our staff writer Jo is
on hand to give you

the best tips and
shooting tricks to
improve your images
Alicea Francis
Alicea is our sub
editor, and makes
sure that all of our
tutorials are clear and
really easy to follow
For more great photo tips, head to photoforbeginners.com
Get in touch with us…
Ask questions, leave feedback on the magazine or share your shots via the following social sites…
For more great photo tips, head to photoforbeginners.com
@PFBMag
PFBMag
PFB Magazine

photoforbeginners.com
We all love taking photos of friends and family – it’s one of
the reasons why a lot of us get started with photography in
the fi rst place. But our cameras are often full of dull shots
of people sat on the sofa or against a plain wall, so this
issue we’re encouraging you to get outside and shoot some
portraits on location. Turn to page 22, where we teach you
about using natural light, interacting with your location,
composition and more.
We also have some tips for great holiday shots on
page 30 and plenty of creative projects to get stuck
into, including light painting on page 36, creating a
time-lapse journal on page 38, and faking an

infrared effect on page 66. We hope you
enjoy learning some new skills to help you
shoot, edit and share, and don’t forget
to get outside with your camera!
Amy Squibb
Editor
Follow us at @PFBMag
Adam Smith
Writer Adam from
Advanced Photoshop
magazine is here to
help you manipulate
your photos with ease
Improve your skills with
Improve your skills with
Photography for Beginners
Photography for Beginners
Meet the team…
We all love taking photos of friends and family – it’s one of
We all love taking photos of friends and family – it’s one of
the reasons why a lot of us get started with photography in
the reasons why a lot of us get started with photography in
Welcome!
Photography for Beginners 3
WELCOME
Issue 28
AUTO
Contents
Issue 28
CAMERA SCHOO

CAMERA SCHOO
●

Get to know your camera
●

Key settings explained
●

Why does noise appear?
Learn how to use your
camera and take your
best photos ever!
Shutter speed: The
time your shutter is
open for, in seconds
Compact system
camera: Good image
quality, lightweight
Cameraphone:
Smartphones that
are always with you
Compact: Small,
low-cost and easy-
to-use cameras
22
Find out how to use natural light, compose
and more for fantastic portraits on location
Outdoor
portraits

PRACTICAL STARTER SECTION! P50
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO…
44
Get creative with fl ower photos
in fi ve easy-to-follow steps
Fun still life
CREATIVE PROJECTS…
Paint with light on p36
Create a time lapse on p38
Fake infrared on p66
76
Aperture: The depth
of field of an image,
as an f-number
4 Photography for Beginners
Discover the right
modes for great shots
ESSENTIALS
06 Your photos
A showcase of photos sent in by PFB
readers for you to be inspired by
10 Readers’ challenge
Win some slideshow software by getting
involved in our monthly shooting challenge
12 How to share your photos
Discover the best ways to share your
photographs with the PFB team
13 Win a camera!
Enter to be in with a chance of winning
Samsung’s WB250F compact camera

14 Need to know
Pentax release a new DSLR and you could
win an evening with David Attenborough!
18 Ask the team
Your questions answered and problems
solved by our panel of photo experts
46 10 inspirational images
Learn from these amazing wildlife images
and get some ideas for your own shots
49 Win a 2-day photo course!
Improve your skills on a black-and-white
landscape course by entering now
74 Subscribe!
Save money on your copy of Photography
for Beginners with our exclusive offer
84 Upgrade
Canon’s any-way-up PowerShot N, the
Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 & more on test
96 Accessory reviews
We show you some great solutions
for backing up your shots
98 The great photo hunt
Win a fantastic forex print by sending us
your sunset shots!
Your quick-start guide to all the icons you’ll see in Photography for Beginners
What the icons mean…
DSLR: Usually more
expensive, but
good image quality
Create

a gallery
Showcase your
shots in style
SUBSCRIBE TO
74
Get money off issues!
Contents
Issue 01
HANDS-ON
PROJECTS
INSIDE
Get money off issues!
SHOOT
22 Beginner’s guide to…
Outdoor portraits
Key tips for shooting on location
30 Your best holiday photos
Tricks to capturing great memories
36 Light painting tricks
How to get creative with light
38 Shoot, edit & share
a time-lapse journal
Document change on your device
42 The story behind a shot
How this landscape was captured
44 Take creative fl ower shots
A fun still-life project to try at home
48 Add drama to landscapes
Make your vistas really stand out
52 Master key settings

The settings beginners often overlook
56 Why can shots be noisy?
The implications of ISO explained
58 Using LED lighting
How to use LEDs for great effects
EDIT
60 Tips to improve close-ups
Adjust exposure, sharpen and more
64 Increase contrast
Add more range to make shots pop
66 How to fake infrared
An easy effect for arty images
68 Ideas for creative editing
Make some fun images in no time
70 Convert to black and white
Make rich and deep monochromes
72 Edit shots on the go
Use Pixlr Express to tweak your shots
SHARE
76 Create a stylish gallery
Use Whip to share from your tablet
78 Print at unusual sizes
Use OddPrints.com for unique sizes
80 Share from a camera
Tips for getting connected
82 Use Pages to
create a photo
postcard
A great way to
display snaps

30
Your best ever
holiday shots
30
holiday shots
Use our tips to take amazing landscape, architecture
and people shots while on your travels
Share your shots at
photoforbeginners.com
Or search for PFBMag on
PFBMag
For back issues & more go to…
Your best ever
holiday shots
LEARN EASY LANDSCAPE TRICKS P48
LATEST KIT REVIEWED P84
MASTER OVERLOOKED SETTINGS P52
Your photos
Send us your best shots and they could feature here!
WIN!
A Samsung 16GB
memory card
Every issue, one winner will receive a
Samsung 16GB SDHC memory card
or a prize of equal value
www.samsung.com/uk
WIN!
Full terms and conditions
available online
Dawn Crossing

“This photograph was taken
at dusk at Newport
Transporter Bridge in
Newport, South Wales.”
Shot on: Fuji Finepix HS20EXR
bridge camera, ISO 100, f2.8,
1/30sec
Sent in via: PFB website
Reader: Jim McSweeney
6 Photography for Beginners
yOUR PHOTOS
Readers’ gallery
Photography for Beginners 7
Reader: Emma Molle
Flower Girl
“This is of a friend, outside in my
garden. She started laughing and
I managed to quickly snap the
photo when she wasn't looking.”
Shot on: Canon EOS 450D,
Portrait setting
Reader: Joseph Parry
Flower
“I decided to invest in a new
50mm f1.8 prime lens and this
was the fi rst shot I took with it –
fl owers in my living room."
Shot on: Nikon D3100, ISO 100,
f3.2, 1/320sec
Reader: Michelle Yorke

Snail
“I bought some extension tubes
to try out macro photography. I
went exploring in the garden and
came across this little guy.”
Shot on: Canon EOS 7D, ISO 200
f4, 1/1000sec
Reader: Pernille Staff ord
Oil Floating In Water
“It took a lot of shots to get one
where the detail is correct. The
water is constantly moving, so it
is diffi cult to get good focus.”
Shot on: Canon EOS 400D with
macro lens, ISO 400, f4, 1/60sec
Reader: Andy Dodds
Waterfall
“The photo was taken at Roche
Abbey near Rotherham. I didn’t
know the waterfall was there
until I walked through the woods
at the back of the Abbey.”
Shot on: Canon 550D, ISO 400,
f22, 30sec
Share
your shots at

photoforbeginners.com
Or search for PFBMag on
8 Photography for Beginners

YOUR PHOTOS
Readers’ gallery
R y
Reader: Phoebe Pearce
Title: Mum's Roses
Reader: Laurajane McDowall
Title: Mother’s Day Rose
Reader: Stuart Bagnall
Sunset On The Reservoir
“This was taken at Belmont
Reservoir in Bolton at
about 9.30pm."
Shot on: iPhone 5 using an
app called Filters
Winner!
Reader: Isabelle King
Title: Strawberry Plant
Win cameraphone kit!
Send us your cameraphone shots and you could win a Manfrotto
KLYP kit worth £95/approx $150. For more info head to www.
manfrotto.co.uk. Full terms and conditions available online.
Win cameraphone kit!
Send us your cameraphone shots and you could win a Manfrotto
ENTER NOW: Send your shots to
Reader: Harry Turnball
Title: The Writing's On The Wall
Reader: Yvonne Warriner
Title: The Algarve
Reader: Gavin Davies
Title: Dusk At Shwedagon Pagoda

Photography for Beginners 9
Your camera is great for capturing split seconds of
action that may be too fast to see with the naked
eye. You can then preserve those fantastic
moments forever in the form of a dramatic and
stunning photo. Manipulating your camera’s
shutter speed lets you achieve some really creative
results when photographing moving subjects. A
fast shutter speed will freeze them in the frame,
while slowing it down will let you capture some
motion blur to imply speed. You can also try
panning with your subject to keep them in focus
but create directional blur in the background. In
Issue 27, we gave you all the tips and advice you
need to take fantastic photos of action, including
some fun projects
to try at home and
test out your skills.
Then we challenged
you to send us your
best shots. Here is a
selection of our
favourite ones.
Action photography
Our Beginner’s Guide to action
photography can be found in PFB
Issue 27. Get back issues from…
We challenged, you delivered…
Spinning Ride
“I took this photo at a funfair in

Shoreham, West Sussex, capturing
the movementof the ride.”
Shot on: Canon EOS 1100D,
1/13sec, ISO 100, f36
Sent in via: PFB website
Winner!
Reader: Gemma Clark
best shots. Here is a
Send us your shots at
photoforbeginners.com
Search for PFBMag on
Your next
photo challenge

Outdoor portraits
Test out our tips for taking great portraits on location
in this issue’s Beginner’s Guide and send us your best
shots by 6 August 2013 for a chance to win a MAGIX
PhotoStory on DVD 2013 Deluxe.

Prize may be substituted for an item of equal
value. Full T&Cs available online.
WIN!
PhotoStory on
DVD software
Send us your shots for a chance to win a copy
of MAGIX PhotoStory on DVD, courtesy of www.
magix.com. This software, which allows
you to turn your photos into fantastic
slideshows, is worth £70/$70.

READERS’ CHALLENGE
Action
Reader: Clinton Harvie
Title: Scooter Boy
Reader: Steven Beck
Title: Paralympics
Reader: Laura Ann Wood
Title: Puddle Jumping
Reader: Michelle Scoplin
Title: Water Sport
READERS’ CHALLENGE
Action
Photography for Beginners 11
Share on our social sites Join the Facebook, Twi er and Flickr communities
@PFBMag
Click the Compose New Tweet box and select
Add An Image. Find your shot and click Open.
Write some text, include @PFBMag, then click
Tweet and we will see your photo!
PFB Magazine
Hit Upload to add images. Click on the image
you want to share, then click Share>Grab the
link. Email it to pfbteam@imagine-publishing.
co.uk or post it to us on Facebook or Twitter.
PFBMag
Search for ‘PFBMag’ and click the tab. On our
page, hit Photo/Video, then Upload Photo/
Video. Browse for your image, write a message
and click Post for it to appear on our wall!
Also share on our website Head to www.photoforbeginners.com now

Share your shots at
photoforbeginners.com
Search for PFBMag on
Share your shots
Here’s how to show us your stunning snaps
Become our favourite!
We pick our favourite shots to
highlight in our Featured Image
section. This could be you soon,
so get uploading!
Create a gallery
You can showcase your favourite
images by creating your own
gallery page on our website. It’s
quick and simple to set up.
The best of the rest
on our great website
Also online…
Enter the Face-Off
Your shots are entered into our
Face-Off section and pitted
against other people’s – have fun
watching your score rise!
Be inspired
Browse through all the different
categories to be inspired by
other readers’ photos and get
ideas of your own.
Tips and tutorials
Our website is piled high with step-by-step

tutorials and useful tips to help you take
better photos of any subject.
News and debate
We help you keep up to date with the latest
industry news and releases. You can also get
stuck into hot topics with our debates!
Competitions
Head to www.photoforbeginners.com and
enter our weekly competitions to win some
really fantastic prizes!
12 Photography for Beginners
Get colourful with
the new Pentax DSLR
Choose from 120 diff erent colour combinations for the K-50
Pentax has launched a new entry-level DSLR
that really stands out from the crowd. The K-50
is available in a choice of 20 body colours and
six grip colours that you can mix and match to
customise your kit, or you can opt for the more
traditional black design. The compact and
lightweight camera is also weather-sealed for
safe shooting in adverse conditions. The 16MP
sensor has a maximum ISO of 51,200, so you
can get some great quality images even in low
light, and there are 19 creative fi lters to
experiment with for arty shots.
The RRP of the K-50 is £530 (approx £790) for
the body only and £600 (approx $896) with an
18-55mm lens. Pentax has also recently

announced the launch of the K-500 DSLR and Q7
CSC, so there is a lot to be excited about from
the camera company.
Need to know
A snapshot of what’s exciting us this month
Take HDR images
The HDR mode lets you
combine several images taken
at different exposures to
produce a single dynamic photo
Freeze the action
A maximum shutter speed of
1/6000sec and 6fps shooting
will help you to get great shots
of fast-paced action
Shoot in RAW
The K-50 lets you shoot in RAW,
and you can process your
images in-camera to save you
time at the computer
Sharp shots
Shake reduction and dust-
removal functions are on hand
to ensure your shots are clear
and sharp
14 Photography for Beginners
How to get sharp shots
Getting your photos sharp can be
tricky, and it is practically impossible
to bring a shot back into focus in

post-production. Learn how to
master focusing techniques and
prevent fuzzy photos with our tips.
This month on… photoforbeginners.com
Plus all this…
• Master your camera’s flash
• How to shoot portraits in
bright sunlight
• Competitions and the
latest photography news
Plus all this…
• Master your camera’s flash
• How to shoot portraits in
bright sunlight
• Competitions and the
latest photography news
Enter the SaveWaterSaveMoney
Wonderful Water competition
Win an evening for two with Sir
David Attenborough
See incredible photos from the
past in All About History magazine
Things your camera sees that you don’t
As well as recording a replica of the
scene in front of you, cameras can
also capture things that are not
possible to see with the naked eye.
Get to grips with your camera’s
settings for breathtaking shots.
Photography allows us to

document events that
occur in our lifetime, and
gives others a sense of
what it was like to be
there. We can learn a lot
from old photographs, and a brand
new history magazine from Imagine
Publishing aims to use them to help
tell fascinating stories from the past.
All About History magazine is
available from all good retailers and
www.imagineshop.co.uk. There is also
a companion website, www.
historyanswers.co.uk and digital
editions for Android, iPhone and iPad
available from www.greatdigitalmags.
com. Follow @AboutHistoryMag on
Twitter and like the All About History
Facebook page today.
The money-saving advice company
SaveWaterSaveMoney has teamed up
with The Gorilla Organization to offer
you the chance to win a prize worth
over £1,000.
Submit your watery shots to their
Wonderful Water photo competition at
www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk, and
the person with the best photo will
receive two tickets to the VIP,
celebrity-packed Hope 4 Apes gala

dinner atThe Savoy Hotel in
Londonon 27September 2013.
As well as two tickets to the event,
which is hosted by Sir David
Attenborough, the prize also includes
transport, a champagne reception,
music by, among others, Brian May of
Queen and a deluxe twin room at The
Savoy Hotel.
The deadline for entries is 17 August
2013, and the competition will be
judged by a panel of experts that
includes members of the Photography
For Beginners team. Enter now for
your chance to win!
Enter your best water
shots for a chance to win
Fascinating stories illustrated with old photographs
NEED TO KNOW
News
Photography for Beginners 15
Do you print shots or
keep them digital?
In the days before digital photography, the only way
to see and share your photos was to get them
printed. There are still plenty of printing services
around, and it’s now also possible to print high-
quality images in your own home thanks to
developments in home printer technology. But
these days, digital photography and the internet

allow us to show our photos to friends and family,
or even the entire world, in just a few clicks. Not
only is this method quicker and easier, it’s also
better for the environment and your pocket. So is
there any need to print your photos?
Things we love…
The poll stands at 67% keep digital, 33% print and frame. Cast your vote today!
Our staff writer Jo says:
“I very rarely print my photos. Printer ink isn’t
cheap, and neither are online printing services.
Sharing my photos on the internet is quick and
easy, and I can show them to friends and family
abroad without having to pay for postage. I also
like the fact that people can leave feedback on
my photos online to help me improve my skills. I
have a digital photo frame for displaying shots
at home, and save printing for photos that are
truly special and that I want to show off in style.”
What Photography For Beginners readers have to say…
01
Lowepro Transit
Backpack 350 AW
Web: www.lowepro.com
Price: £98/approx $150
This great new camera bag from
Lowepro gives you fast access
to your gear, and the interior can
be customised to suit your kit.
02
ShotHotspot.com

location search
Web: www.shothotspot.com
Price: Free
This website helps you fi nd fab
photo locations worldwide. Enter
a destination and it will tell you
where to get the best shots.
03
What I see when
I look at… blog
Web: www.whatiseewhenilookat.com
Price: Free
Designer Robert John encourages
you to take photos of everyday
things and then edit them in an
imaginative way.
04
Manfrotto PIXI
tripod
Web: www.manfrotto.co.uk
Price: £25/approx $38
The PIXI tripod is incredibly
compact and lightweight so you
can take it anywhere, plus it will
support a wide range of devices.
Join the debate
#PFBLoves
Search for #PFBLoves on
Twitter to see what we love
67%

keep digital,
33%
print and frame. Cast your vote today!
print and frame. Cast your vote today!
Charlotte Talbot
“I keep all my photos in
digital format on my
external hard drive and
print out my favourite
ones to put in frames or
give to people.”
Sent in via PFB website
Kirsty Baigent
“Sharing shots digitally is
great for receiving
worldwide and instant
feedback, but you can’t
beat seeing your work as
a print.”
Sent in via PFB Twitter
Tony Woodward
“I save all half-decent
photos to my PC, share
selected ones on
Facebook or Twitter and
print my favourites to
frame and hang up.”
Sent in via PFB website
Matt Doogue
“I like sharing my images

digitally. The option of
having a bigger viewing
audience via social media
and photo sharing
websites is great.”
Sent in via Facebook
Join the debate at
photoforbeginners.com
Search for PFBMag on
NEED TO KNOW
Join the debate
16 Photography for Beginners
Ask the team questions at photoforbeginners.com
4 of the best…
Ways to avoid
distractions in
your photos
Shallow depth of fi eld
Use a wide aperture (low f-number) to create a
shallow depth of fi eld and then focus on your
main subject. Any distractions surrounding it
should then be blurred to ensure that your
subject stands out.
New angles
Sometimes, simply shooting from a different
angle will eliminate a distraction from your shot.
Experiment with shooting from low down or up
high, keeping an eye on your camera’s LCD

display to see what works.
Go back later (or earlier)
If the distraction in your shot is other people,
then try visiting the scene at a quieter time of
day, like late in the evening or early in the
morning. You may even capture a great sunrise
or sunset!
Crop it out
Of course, you can always just crop the
distracting element out of your shot using editing
software. Just make sure that cropping the photo
will not negatively affect the overall composition
or remove important features.
I currently have a 4GB memory card, but I
take so many photos these days, including
RAW fi les, that I often fi nd it gets full quite
quickly. There seem to be lots of different
types of memory card available, but I’m
not sure what all of the jargon means. Can
you explain it for a beginner?
Valerie Walker, via Facebook
The most important thing to look out for when
buying a memory card is the capacity – that
is, how much data it can store. The number of
photos a memory card can store will depend on
the resolution of the images and the fi le type, as
RAW fi les take up more space than JPEGs. Up to
8GB should be large enough for most beginners
shooting in JPEG. You also need to note the
speed of the memory card. The write speed

describes how fast images can be saved onto
a card, so if you’re doing action photography,
especially with a continuous shooting mode,
you will need a card with a fast writing speed.
The read speed describes how fast data can
be retrieved from a card and transferred to a
computer or printer, so if you take a lot of photos,
then a card with a fast read speed is useful.
Which memory card should I buy?
Make sure you have space
on your memory card so you
never miss a great shot
SD (Secure Digital)
SD cards are the most common type of memory
card and are compatible with most digital
cameras. They are often very cheap but can only
store up to 2GB of data, and have slow read and
write speeds.
3 of the best Memory card types
SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity)
SDHC cards have a higher capacity, as they can
store up to 32GB of data, and often have faster
processing speeds. Not all digital cameras
support SDHC cards though, so check that your
camera is compatible before you buy one.
SDXC (Secure Digital ‘Xtra Capacity’)
SDXC cards have an even higher storage capacity
of up to 2TB and much faster read and write
speeds. These cards are more expensive, and
again, you will need to check that your camera

will support them as not every model does.
Photography for Beginners 19
20 Photography for Beginners
I recently invested in a new compact
system camera and have been exploring all
the different menus. One thing that I have
discovered are the options for different
aspect ratios. I’m not entirely sure what
they do and which one is best to shoot in.
Can you explain it for me please? And is
there any way I can change print sizes in
post-production?
Paul Freeman, via email
Aspect ratio describes the ratio between the
width and height of an image and determines the
overall shape of your photo. It is expressed as two
fi gures, with the width fi rst and the height
second, and a colon between them. Most DSLRs
have a default aspect ratio of 3:2, where the
frame is one and a half times as wide as it is high,
or the other way around if you are shooting in
portrait orientation, and most compacts shoot in
4:3. Both are suitable for creating standard prints,
although you may fi nd that the top and bottom of
an image shot using the 4:3 aspect ratio is
cropped when printed. Your camera may also
allow you to shoot in a 1:1 aspect ratio, which will
produce a square image, or 16:9, which produces
an ultra-wide image that is useful for landscapes
or panoramas. You can also change the aspect

ratio of your images by cropping them in an
editing programme.
Which aspect ratio should I use?
Like
This month we
Post your photo to
our Facebook page
and we’ll share it
with the world
Search for ‘PFBMag’
Change the aspect ratio Crop images to diff erent print sizes with Photoshop Elements
01
Use the Crop tool
Open up your image in Photoshop
Elements and go to Image>Crop. A highlighted
box should appear over your image that shows
the area of the photo that you want to keep.
Gareth James
The surrounding foliage has beautifully
framed this fantastic coastal landscape.
Stuart Brotherton
This was taken on an iPhone, proving that
cameraphones can shoot stunning images.
Bett Atherton
Zooming in so that your wildlife subject fi lls
the frame can make for a striking shot.
Helen Holmes
Including water in your landscape shots
allows you to capture fantastic refl ections.
03

Choose measurements
Alternatively, you can select the Custom
option from the menu and then type in your own
measurements, letting you resize your photo as
you wish.
02
Select a preset
In the Crop menu at the bottom of the
screen, you can select from a number of preset
aspect ratios, including the Photo Ratio to
maintain the original ratio of the shot.
Select the image size you wish
to shoot in by fi nding the
Aspect Ratio menu
3:2
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Photography for Beginners 21
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All sorts of wild creatures can be

found in your garden @caroleharry
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Venturing to the coast gives lots of
shooting opportunities @carlnix1983
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Ladybirds can make for fantastic
macro subjects @Buttyuk
Get great shots anywhere in the world with
these rugged compact cameras
Tough compact
cameras
I am going travelling this summer and
will be visiting a variety of different
locations, including sandy beaches
and snowy mountains. I don’t really
want to take my DSLR, as I am
worried about it getting damaged,
but I defi nitely want to take photos
of my adventure. Can you suggest
a good, tough camera that will
withstand all environments and isn’t

too expensive?
Ryan Jones,
via email
What’s good about it…
✔

Microscope Mode lets you use a focal length of
200mm when you are just 10mm away
✔

There is slow-motion video playback to observe
action that is too speedy for the naked eye
What could be better…
✗

The price matches that of many CSCs, so is
quite expensive for a back-up holiday camera
✗
The 4x optical zoom is adequate, but a larger
focal length would be useful
This 12MP rugged camera from Olympus is
waterproof up to 15m, freezeproof to -10°C
and shockproof from 2m. It also has
Aperture Priority mode and GPS tagging.
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-2
£330/$380
What’s good about it…
✔

It is waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and

dustproof, so you really can take it anywhere
✔

Built-in Wi-Fi means you can share your shots via
your phone, and GPS lets you tag your location
What could be better…
✗
More manual modes would be useful, but Auto
and scene modes are available
✗

Some of the buttons are quite small and fi ddly,
especially for gloved hands
Panasonic’s 16.1MP tough compact is
waterproof to 13m, usable up to -10°C
temperatures and can be dropped from up
to 2m, plus it has plenty of creative modes.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT5
£296/$400
What’s good about it…
✔

The rugged design makes this compact ideal
for shooting, even in adverse conditions
✔

Burst mode lets you shoot up to 60fps, which is
great for getting a brilliant shot of the action
What could be better…
✗

There are no manual modes, and the lack of a
mode dial is a little frustrating
✗

Image quality could be better, with noise
appearing at a low ISO 200
The 16.4MP XP60 can be submerged to
depths of 6m, frozen to -10°C and dropped
from a height of 1.5m. It also has a 5x
optical zoom.
Fujifi lm FinePix XP60
£180/$200
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Summertime is great for capturing
vibrant landscapes @southpole171
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Shooting
Learn tricks for composing your shots and
lighting your subject on page 26
P26

Take inspiration from our easy-to-follow
outdoors portrait projects on page 28
P28
Discover the most fl attering focal length
for photographing people on page 25
P25
We tell you how to make the most of the
location you’re shooting in on page 26
P26
22 Photography for Beginners
When it comes to portrait photography, the
most important factor is, of course, your
subject. However, the setting should also be
considered, as this will affect the lighting,
composition and overall mood of your image.
Rather than photographing your subject
against a plain wall, think carefully about an
interesting backdrop for your shots. This could
help to refl ect the personality of your subject,
tell a story in a single photo, or simply serve
as an attractive background that will really
complement your model.
Shooting outdoors lets you work with plenty
of space and natural light that can be really
fl attering for your subject. Different times of
year can also present you with different
opportunities for styling up your shots.
Exploring your local area will uncover some
fantastic outdoor locations, but you can also
get some fab shots in your own back garden.

Outdoor
portraits
Essential tips for shooting on location
Over the next seven pages: Learn how to pick the best locations,
as well as how to compose and light stunning outdoor portraits
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO
Shooting
Stunning land
1/500sec F2.8
Make use of colour
When choosing your
location for your outdoor
portraits, try and look for areas
of colour like this fi eld of fl owers,
for a fun, summery style
✔
Photography for Beginners 23
In association with
Gear guideRecommended kit for great outdoor portraits
Lens with a fl attering focal length
Look for a lens with a focal length of 80-100mm. This
NIKKOR 85mm f3.5G lens (£523/$530) has a wide
aperture too to get a nice blurry background.
Refl ector for bouncing light
A refl ector bounces light into the shadows on your
subject’s face. This Lastolite 30-inch refl ector
(£42/$52) has gold side to add a glow to your shots.
Powerful fl ashgun
A fl ashgun helps light your subject at night or when
they’re in shadow. Nikon’s SB-700 (£295/$330) lets

you bounce light and has an LCD for easy operation.
Compact with portrait modes
Many compacts have useful modes, such as a smile
timer and blink function on Nikon’s COOLPIX S9400
(£230/$300). Find out more at www.nikon.co.uk.
Shooting
Beginner
In association with
Shooting at different focal lengths and distances from your subject
can have a big effect on the way your photos look. When you zoom
right out and use a wide focal length, you will need to stand
uncomfortably close to your subject to get a head and shoulders
shot. Standing at a more comfortable distance from your subject will
mean that you capture a lot more of the scene, but if your
background is distracting, then this will leave you with a busy photo.
The wide angle can also result in lens distortion that will exaggerate
your subject’s features for an unfl attering image. Zooming in to use a
longer focal length will allow you to take a few steps back and get a
fantastic close-up shot with everything in proportion. Take a look at
our guide to see the results of zooming in and out for your portraits.
Choose the right focal length for your photo
Choose the right focal length for your photo
02. FOCAL LENGTHS
Photography for Beginners 25
Zooming in to 50mm and upwards will be the most
fl attering for your subject. You can adjust the focal
length by twisting your lens barrel