N-Photo 65 (Sampler) by Future PLC

WIN A nikon d500 in our photo competition! Issue 65 • November 2016 • £5.49 www.digitalcameraworld.com

FULL TEST

Nikon D3400

Get better shots with your Nikon

Transform your photography this weekend with our 48-hour photo scavenger hunt!

LIGHTBOX special The world’s best wildlife photos

What’s the best laptop for photographers?

Woodland masterclass

The advantage of film is that people can’t see what I’m doing. If you shoot digitally they can flick through and see exactly what you’re doing Britta Jaschinski, documentary photographer p92

Lion’s share

On stage with the cast of The Lion King p100

Joe McNally

Mixing a bit of blur with a burst of flash p130

Heather Angel reveals how to shoot stunning macro images

Rock solid

Get the low-down on 8 multi-angle tripods p112

From the editor

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About the cover

Title Ricketts Glen, Pennsylvania Photographer Marty Desilets Camera Nikon D300 Lens Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 with 10-stop ND filter Exposure 20 secs, f/6.3, ISO200 Web www.marty.fm

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Autumn is a special time for the outdoor photographer. The ever-shortening hours of daylight mean that you want to make the most of your weekends before winter really sets in. And the glorious colours of fall, that start to get at their best from late October in my neck of the woods, act as a reminder to head out in search of colourful foliage. We are all creatures of habit, and therefore it’s very easy for us to end up taking the same set of shots whenever we use our Nikons. I have an obsession for shooting markets, for instance, and it is hard to break from taking similar pictures of stalls wherever I travel in the world. So how do you get yourself trying new subjects, and approach the season or situation with a new set of eyes? Heading out on a photo scavenger hunt is one idea to try. Rather than you choosing what to photograph, you’re given a list of things you have to shoot, and the order to shoot them in. It’s a great team-building exercise for nonphotographers – but great fun for real photographers too. You can go on a hunt on your own, but it’s more fun if you go out with a like-minded photographer or two. For this month’s feature, I did just this. I headed on a road trip with my old mate Marcus Hawkins to see what our deck of scavenger cards would force us to shoot. You can see how the game is played, and how we fared, on page 16.

Chris George, Group Editor-in-Chief chris.george@futurenet.com

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Welcome to issue 65

VIDEO TRAINING IS LIVE!

Learn online with our expert courses Our new e-Learning website has hundreds of videos that will help you improve your SLR skills and image-editing techniques. With courses on getting to grips with your first Nikon D-SLR through to mastering Lightroom and Photoshop, there is something for everyone. You can subscribe to video access alone, or subscribe to N-Photo as a Member Plus to get video access thrown in (see page 30). Check out the site at www.digitalcameraworld.com

500

videos!

November 2016

Contents 52 62

Cover feature

Photo scavenger hunt Spice up your photography by injecting your weekend with new challenges

You GO s r p h ot o Y o u r h o o t cha l le n ph … MGO ge : s o o ot o cha l Y oo u rviphn l t e ng e : …c h h ogtw o l l e ng e : MoGO s h o o t… atae vin r g

w Moving w ater ater

Nikon Skills

Nikopedia

Essentials

36 Focus on the familiar

76 Freeman on… 82 Nikon software 84 Ask Jason 86 Head to head

Lightbox 08 51 Over to you Apprentice 52 91 My big break Interview 92 On assignment 100 The final word 130

Use a wide aperture, choose a simple background and zoom right in close to capture exciting squirrel portraits

38 Have fun at the fair

From long exposures to HDR, documentary style to reportage, there are plenty of unusual ways that you can capture your local fun fair

40 Colour with light

Combine your flashguns and coloured gels to create a rainbow of photographic possibilities where you are the master of light and colour

42 Add a subtle tone

Our resident expert explores the whys, rather than the hows, of processing Export your photos to a range of digital destinations using Capture NX-D Jason answers your queries on everything from shooting at twilight to lenses for landscapes Which is best for shooting stills, a three-way tripod head or a ball head? We reveal all

44 Enhance your sunsets 46 Fill the skies

Your photos, plus our favourite shots from our Photographer of the Year competition

Cover feature

Our Apprentice goes down to the woods for a macro masterclass David Tipling describes how a languid leopard helped to kickstart his career

Britta Jaschinski explains the passion behind her animal rights photography projects

Use Photoshop’s Radial Gradient tool and adjustment layers to boost a washed-out sunset

Create an incredible composite of aircraft taking off in a convoy, using Adobe Bridge

Haunting images of animals in captivity

November 2016

Cover feature

Stunning Nikon images shortlisted for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016

Cover feature

Tinting your shadows and highlights in different colours using Split Toning can evoke different moods and add impact to a scene

Cover feature Learn how to shoot stunning seasonal macros

Cover feature

Get up closer than you would ever dare with Lion King photographer Matt Crockett

Cover feature

Joe captures a dancer’s graceful, flowing movements using hot lights and a flash

www.digitalcameraworld.com

C o ntents

Cover feature

Be inspired by the world’s best wildlife photos

Master your Nikon with our expert videos 01

Capture amazing wildlife photos close to home

Gear Zone Nikon D3400 104 108 New Gear Mini test 110 Big test 112 120 Buyer’s guide 108 Cover feature

Discover what we think of Nikon’s latest entry-level D-SLR

Check out Tamron’s new supertelephoto lens, action cameras and more

Cover feature

We reveal which is the best laptop for photographers

Take a different view of your local fun fair

Experiment with gels to inject colour into portraits

Tint monochrome images to add impact and drama

Give underwhelming sunsets lifelike punch

Create a cool montage of mutiple plane photos

Share images in a variety of ways using Capture NX-D

104

Cover feature

After a tripod with a horizontal column? Don’t miss our in-depth test

If you’re after a new Nikon camera or lens, compare your options to find the best one for you

The new way to subscribe

108

See page

30 110

Watch all our videos online! bit.ly/NPhoto65 Turn to page 6 to meet the team

November 2016

contributors Print 21,730 Digital 6,697

The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication circulation for Jan-Dec 2015 is

This issue’s special contributors...

28,427

A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations N-Photo Magazine, Future Publishing Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, UK, BA1 1UA Editorial mail@nphotomag.com +44 (0)1225 442244 Subscriptions and back issues (UK) 0844 848 2852 (overseas) +44 (0)1604 251045 Subscriptions nphoto@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Or go to www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/nphoto Paul Grogan Editor Emma Swift Art Editor Miriam McDonald Operations Editor Jason Parnell-Brookes Staff Writer Rod Lawton Head of Testing Ben Andrews Imaging Lab Manager

Heather Angel

Marcus Hawkins

David Tipling

PAGE 52

PAGE 16

PAGE 91

Wildlife specialist Heather helps our Apprentice to polish her macro photography skills by capturing some colourful autumnal close-ups

Regular N-Photo contributor Marcus joins our editor-in-chief in leaving his comfort zone to shoot whatever’s on the cards in our ultimate scavenger hunt.

Former auditor David reflects on the big cat he met 30 years ago, on his first big trip abroad, and how it helped to change his life forever.

Video production Pete Gray Producer Adam Lee & Gareth Jones Videographers Advertising Clare Dove Commercial Sales Director Sasha McGregor Senior Advertising Manager sasha.mcgregor@futurenet.com, 01225 687675 Matt Downs Director of Agency Sales Clare Jonik Head of Strategic Partnerships Matt Bailey Account Director matt.bailey@futurenet.com, 01225 687511 Claire Harris Account Manager Marketing & circulation Sasha Kimmel Marketing Director Charlotte Lloyd-Williams Campaign Manager Michelle Brock Trade Marketing Manager 0207 429 3683 Print & production Vivienne Calvert Production Controller Mark Constance Production Manager International & licensing Matt Ellis Head of International Licensing matt.ellis@futurenet.com, +44 (0)1225 442244

Britta Jaschinski

Matt Crockett

Joe McNally

PAGE 92

PAGE 100

PAGE 130

Britta’s strong sense of purpose and respect for all life shines through in her work, as she documents staggering animal rights abuses across the globe.

Matt dared to use composite techniques to get up close to the action of The Lion King in a departure from theatre photography norms.

Joe explores fluid movement and colour, capturing beautiful dance movements and flowing silk scarves with a careful set-up of lights and a flash.

Management Joe McEvoy Managing Director, Magazines Matthew Pierce Editorial Director, Games, Photography, Creative & Design Chris George Group Editor-in-Chief Rodney Dive Group Art Director

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)207 042 4000 (London) Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 (Bath)

The N-Photo team on... wildlife

Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd, on behalf of Future. Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT. Tel 020 7429 4000. Overseas distribution by Seymour International.

N-Photo is an independent publication and is not in any way authorised, affiliated, nor sponsored by Nikon. All the opinions expressed herein are those of the magazine and not that of Nikon. Nikon, NIKKOR and all associated trademarks are the property of Nikon Corporation. © Future Publishing Limited 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

Paul Grogan

Jason Parnell-Brookes

Ben Andrews

Rod Lawton

It can be easy to think of wildlife photography as an exotic pastime for foreign trips, but the animals at home are fascinating too.

Wildlife parks are fantastic sources of subjects. I love watching the lions, and they move slowly enough to let you zoom in close.

My favourite wildlife shots are the ones taken in a moment of eye contact, making you wonder what the animal is thinking.

This time of year is perfect for shooting crisp, clear landscapes, made even better by a herd of deer wandering into shot.

Editor

paul.grogan@futurenet.com

Staff Writer

jason.parnell-brookes@futurenet.com

Lab Manager

ben.andrews@futurenet.com

Our regular contributors George Cairns, Geoff Harris, Michael Freeman, Marcus Hawkins, James Paterson, Matthew Richards, Keith Wilson, Joe McNally Special thanks to… Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

November 2016

Head of Testing

Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price and other details of products or services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any changes or updates to them. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage.

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Yea r he of t her rap t og P ho ildl if e ’s W ear r th is y d fo rtli ste sho ima ge s Nik on The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition recognises the very best wildlife and nature photography from around the world. Here, we bring you a preview of some of this year’s finalists. All the finalists will be on display at the Natural History Museum in London until 10 September 2017. Nosy Neighbour Sam wanted to capture the inquisitive nature of the urban red fox in a way that would pique the curiosity of its human neighbours. He spent weeks scouting for the ideal location in Bristol, the UK’s famous fox city. He discovered a wall that one curious fox cub liked to peek over and sit on in the early evening. Setting his focus very close to the lens, Sam stood back and waited. He was rewarded when the youngster peeked over and stayed motionless for long enough to create this intimate portrait. Nikon D800, Nikon 17–35mm f/2.8, 1/6 sec, f/4.5, ISO800

November 2016

Sam Hobson, UK

November 2016

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Blast Furnace

Alexandre Hec, France When the golden lava flow from Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island periodically enters the ocean, the sight is spectacular. Kilauea – meaning ‘much spreading’ – is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and has been in constant eruption since 1983. As red-hot lava reaching temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Celsius (1832 degrees Farenheit) flows into the sea, vast plumes of steam hiss up, condensing to produce salty, acidic mist or rain. Alexandre witnessed the action one day and decided to return in an inflatable boat

November 2016

the following evening. There he found that a new crater had already formed close to the shore. Capturing the furious action in a rough sea was no easy task. From 100 metres (328 feet) away, he was blasted with heat and noise “like a jet taking off,” he says. In a moment of clear visibility his perseverance paid off, with a dramatic image of glowing lava being tossed 30 metres (98 feet) into the air. Nikon D300, Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8 lens, 1/350 sec, f/4, ISO800

www.digitalcameraworld.com

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Termite Tossing

Willem Kruger, South Africa Using the tip of its massive beak like forceps, this hornbill would flick termite after termite into the air and then swallow them. Foraging beside a track in South Africa’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the southern yellow-billed hornbill was so deeply absorbed in termite snacking that it gradually worked its way to within six metres (19 feet) of where Willem sat watching from his vehicle. Though widespread, this Southern African hornbill can be shy, and as it feeds on the ground – mainly on termites, beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars

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– it can be difficult for a photographer to get a clear shot among the scrub. The bird feeds this way because its tongue isn’t long enough to pick up insects as, say, a woodpecker might. And though its huge bill restricts its field of vision, it can still see the bill’s tip and so can pick up insects with precision. What Willem was after, though, was the hornbill’s precision toss, which he eventually caught, after a 40-minute wait. Nikon D3S, Nikon 600mm f/4 lens, 1/5000 sec, f/4, ISO800

November 2016

lightbox Swarming Under the Stars Imre Potyó, Hungary

Imre was captivated by the chaotic swarming of mayflies on Hungary’s River Rába. For a few days each summer, vast numbers of the insects hatch from the Danube tributary. This time, the insects emerged just after sunset. Once they had mated, the females gained altitude and filled the air with millions of silken wings in their race upstream to lay their eggs. Then they died, exhausted, after just a few hours. To capture both the mayflies and the stars, Imre created an in-camera double exposure, adjusting the settings as the exposure happened. A flashlight added the finishing touch, tracing the females’ movement on their frantic mission. Nikon D90, Sigma 17–70mm f/2.8–4.5, 1/1.3 sec, f/14, ISO800

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London, and is open to both professional and amateur photographers of any age, from any country. The 16 adult categories include Earth’s Environments, Animal Portraits and Photojournalism, while the young people’s categories are split into three age brackets. The next competition is now open for entries. For details, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/ wpy/competition.html

November 2016