Nature Photo Magazine 2014/1

WINTER / 2014/1.

nature photo magazine

®

ONLINE PHOTO MAGAZINE

TRAVEL | WILDLIFE | LANDSCAPE | PEOPLE-CULTURE | TEST

SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY | Tips & Tricks NIKON Df | Tested in the field KEYWORDS | Lightroom 5

I AM THE NIKON Df. I am the fusion of Nikon’s iconic SLR design with the latest Pro technology. ISO extendable up to 204,800, 16.2 MP CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 processor. I am the best from the past and today in one body. europe-nikon.com

WELCOME Dear Reader, Here we are with the 2014/1 spring issue. At last it is a bit warmer, the temperature is rising significantly, the birds are twittering and wild flowers are blooming. The spring is here, nature has been renewed again.

A taster from our current issue: In the Photo Adventure we continue our trip in Central America to discover the cloud forests of Costa Rica and its wildlife. You can explore the hidden treasures of this unique world through the pictures and travelogue of Anikó Imre and Tamás Imre.

As for the Shopping Guide column - in the previous issue we explained tips for tripod selection, and now we have analysed tripod heads a bit more thoroughly, to help the decison of future customers.

We show the opportunities of bird bath photography in spring in the Photo School column. Nature photographer János Szekeres gives technical help and inspiration to our Readers through his pictures and text.

We have tested in the field Nikon’s newest full-frame camera, Nikon Df. There will be lots of novelties in this test, as we would not tell what technical opprotunities are hidden behind its retro appearance, not to mention the pleasant feeling what no other camera body can offer to the photographer.

In the Portfolio column we welcome János Német journalist and nature photographer who made our magazine more precious with his wonderful photos.

In the Tips and Trick column Árpád Krivánszky and László Suhayda László offer ideas for the photography of spring themes; how to capture landscapes, plants and macro themes.

In the „People-Cultures-Cities” series you can read about Pál Teravágimov Pál newest journey in India. He presents the life, habits and fate of the local people through his pictures taken during the long trip.

In the Nice Places series we describe and show you scenes worth visiting and being photographed. Árpád Krivánszky presents the atmosphere and wildlife of the hills of the Zsámbék region.

Photo: © Tamás Imre Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM f/4 1/100sec ISO 1000

Our colleague László Szilágyi László has launched a new column on the workshop secrets of photo processing. He explains Adobe Lightroom 5 software and in the first part he makes you familiar with the picture catalogue functions.

Please receive our 18th issue with love – now in IPAD, iPhone and ANDROID versions too!

Tamás Imre Editor-in-chief

Photo adventure - Costa Rica 6

© Tamás Imre

TIPS & TRICKS - SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY 28

SHOPPING GUIDE - TRIPOD HEADS

38

The wheel of the year turned, the spring is here again! The end of winter switches to early spring almost unnoticably.

Trees still show their bare branches and the final, melted remains of the snow can hide in the hollows of the fields but the nature photographer’s index finger tingles, so the first, timid rays of sunlight find him or her in the fields or forests. It is worth going outdoors even if the fruits of photography can be a bit poor in late winter or early spring.

In our previous issue we provided detailed information about photo tripods. It is not easy to choose one, but having a good tripod is not the end of the shopping misery A proper tripod head is the dream of every photographer, so let’s have a look at the market to see what is for what and what should we go for.

PORTFOLIO - JÁNOS NÉMETH

44

I would boast happily about being born with a camera in my hand saying that, thanks to my photographer ancestors, I sucked in the ins and outs of photography with breast milk, but unluckily it is just not the case. Having said that I fell in love with nature photgraphy in my childhood when I spent the summer holidays at my grandparents in Veszprém and while my classmates kicked the dust in the soccer fields in Pest, my local friends and I was wandering in the Bakony mountains.

People-cultures-cities - India 74

© Pál Teravágimov

TESTED IN THE FIELD - NIKON Df

64

Nikon Df camera was launched in November 2013 at a press conference, causing a not a little surprise for us, photographers.

What the hell is that? – I asked based on my first impression. I could not wait to try it out in live situation, then I received an e-mail from Nikon Ltd that the camera has arrived and was ready to be tested.

PHOTO SCHOOL - BIRD BATH

94

One of the big dreams of nature photographers to take close pictures with nice background of tiny birds. It is only possible if we can get close to them without disturbance. A bird bath is a real help, especially if we combine it with a hide and a mirror.

Two years ago my friends and I decided to build a bird bath with hide.

INTERESTING PLACES - ZSÁMBÉK

102

There are beautiful hills lying at the foot of Gerencse Mountains, situated to the north-west from Budapest. It is attractive for nature photographers because at some places the top of the hills are not covered of woods, so climbing up you can have an unobstructed view of the land beneath.

LIGHTROOM 5 - KEYWORDS

60

Photo adventure

COSTA RICA, CENTRAL AMERICA Part 2 - Monteverde and the Poas Vulcano After our morning shooting, full of adrenalin, we were waiting for a taxi to get to Monteverde.

The taxi was a bit late, so we had time for a lunch and left the Lodge only at 1 pm. To our surprise, a Nissan jeep arrived. I thought that’s great we won’t have problem in the field. I was right, our trip to Monteverde took four hours and the driver helpfully explained for us the economy of Costa Rica and the local people’s life.

Canon EOS 7D, EF200mm f/2L IS USM

f/2.8 1/1000 sec ISO 1000

He was the proudest of his coffee fields.

He even found the time to stop and give us a taste of the buds of coffee beans which really made us high.

So he entertained us really well.

We arrived to Monteverde through the city center in the evening, and our driver listed where the best restaurants were and which ones offer what kind of food. Moreover, he gave us a phone number which we could call free from the hotel reception and the driver came for us whenever we needed.

Of course we used this opportunity many times during our three-day stay.

We had a very nice dinner in the Tree House restaurant. The restaurant had a specific local atmosphere and was not a usual place. The restaurant and hotel is built on a giant jungle tree, the stairs are in the trunk and tables are on the huge branches. A real jungle atmosphere for visitors. The exotic dishes were much more delicious in this interesting environment.

Next morning we called our driver and drove to Selvatura Park. The place is actually a fantastic cloud forest in which you can take tours of different length through the suspension bridges under the foliage of the giant jungle trees.

Along the the way you can come across with plenty of interesting animals and if you are lucky they even let themselves to be photographed. Within the natural reserve there is a hummingbird bath specially designed for photographers, a little terrace (about 60 square meters) in the heart of the cloud forest.

Every morning the workers of the park place out the hummingbird baths which are visited daily by about 15-20 species of these birds in incredible number. It was fair enough for us, we just went and stood by the baths, one of us by each one, equipped with our tripods and cameras waiting for our little friends.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

f/5.6 1/2000 sec ISO 800

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

f/10 1/1600 sec ISO 320

Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM

f/4 1/1000 sec ISO 1000

Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM f/3.2 1/800 sec ISO 2500

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/

/4L IS USM f/9 1/125 sec ISO 1600

Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM f/3.2 1/640 sec ISO 1600

Canon EOS 7D, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM f/3.2 1/250 sec ISO 800

Canon EOS-1D Mark II N, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM f/2.8 1/320 sec ISO 640

Canon EOS 7D, EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro IS USM f/3.5 1/800 sec ISO 1600

There was very low traffic in the morning, then two Spanish photographers came and stood by another two baths, so we looked quite well with our photo equipments but the hummingbirds did not mind it. At nine there were so many birds in the field that we had them even on our hands and some of them used our lenses as a sitting branch. It was an amazing experience to stand and photograph among so many tiny and nice birds.

Having focused on the big shooting we did not noticed that a group of coatis was slinking around our photo bags and then ran away with sandwiches in their mouths. So we had to close everything and put our bags to a higher place where the animals could not reach them. It was very intense, you are in the middle of the jungle, hundreds of birds keep flying around you and you have to watch the mammals on the ground because they are hunting for your lunch. We could enjoy all this without any hide or pre-arranged scene. The amazing thing in Monteverde is that you just cannot believe that there is such an exotic and wonderful place in the world which is totally relaxing.

The next day we undertook a hiking tour.

We were told that it took about two hours, of course it took us much longer as we stopped time to time and photographed continuously: landscapes, macros and of course we captured some birds too. It is an unforgettable experience to walk on the jungle bridges at 30 meters height, at the edge of the top of the foliages.

This way the wildlife of the jungle can be observed much more thoroughly. During the three days spent in the Salvature Park and the Monteverde cloud forest we had enough time to experiment what was worth shooting. On the final days of our adventure tour we visited a very exciting scene, the forests of the Poas Volcano and of course we saw the volcano itself.

Our taxi driver took us to this place gladly, it seems that it is usual here that they take tourists and photographers by Jeep taxis to everywhere. Our hostel was in a huge valley, in the vicinity of the volcano. The place is owned by a Spanish botanist couple who built it as an orchid observation station.

There is only five double rooms there, as the state of Costa Rica strictly controls rainforest tourism. Our hosts told us that the major part of the hostel’s income has to be returned to rainforest protection. We did not expect it, but they fed the birds and mammals daily, so we had the chance, with the help of a local biologist student, to have an insight into the wildlife of the region. The tour took about an hour and the guy told quite scarry stories about a watering place which by the river which was frequently visited by animals.

The point is that there were jaguar footprints and some people even saw the predator around. I thought that it was better to move on. We learned a lot about the poison dart frogs, bats and other animals. At the end of the tour he guided us back to the Lodge. My friend, Zoli told him that he liked these hummingbirds too which kept coming to the garden watering place and started to photograph them. However, AnikĂł and I did not want to shoot hummingbirds anymore as the passed three days were all about that. So we took our tripods and macro equipment and ventured back to the deep forest. We were wandering around for about two hours and made different kinds of interesting compositions and formation pictures of huge leaves and tiny things. When we arrived to the river, I had a bad feeling as something grumbled. We looked at each other and the blood froze in our veins.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

f/16 2 sec ISO 200

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

f/8 1/30 sec ISO 400

It might be a wild boar or something similar, I told her, but after a minute when behind our back and closer something grumbled again, I said „let’s get out of here quickly” before any bigger trouble happens. We picked up our backpacks and took open the tripods and off we went looking back and forth for at least a hundred yards as we were so frightened. I still don’t know what was that, it could be even a jaguar. By the time we reached the way to the Lodge we were already running like the chased game. When Zoli spotted us with our upset faces and listened to our story he did not wanted to photograph anything else but birds in safety. We spent the rest of the day around the Lodge.

The next day we went for an allday tour to the Poas Volcano.

It is a very famous volcano and still working. The water of the volcanic lake is acidic and sulphurous, thus the colour of the water is emerald green and its puffing and smoldering throat fits well into this volcanic atmosphere. The crater is impressive with its width of about a mile. The volcano has been calm recently but it can erupt at any time. However, it still causes smaller or bigger earthquakes, there were a few in the past years too, so sometimes it just tears down the roads leading to it and eliminates them from the surface of the ground.

We were lucky as we could drive up and even had a nice and clear weather, so we could capture this geological wonder.

Our driver took us home in the evening.

Unfortunately the next morning we had to end our Costa Rica adventure which lasted more than two weeks.

We said goodbye to our hosts and packed up, then off we went to San José Airport and flew home.

Text: Tamás Imre Images: Anikó Imre EFIAP and Tamás Imre EFIAP

Planning Destination: Central America, Costa Rica

two, i and b

Accessibility: from San José Airport.

Acco the re

What to photograph: birds, mammals, reptiles.

Best from

What to take with us: first of all telephoto lens 300 mm with 1,4x and/or 2x teleconverter; macro lens 100 mm, flashes – at least

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

if possible -, tripod, release cord, memory cards batteries, as much as you can.

omodation: egion of Monteverde and Poas Volcano. time to go: November to March.

f/16 1/250 sec ISO 200

Tips & Tricks

WORKSHOP SECRETS OF SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY

article’s sponsor:

Canon EOS 7D EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x 1/1600 s f/7,1 ISO 400 Singing Yellow Wagtail A male yellow wagtail settles on the top of the flowers in the yellow canola field proudly proclaiming with his song that he is the lord of this feeding and breeding area. Spring is the breeding season of birds, at this time their whole being is filled with the preparation for mating.

Many of them less cautious than other times, so there is a good chance to take photos of different mood from the hide. Slow and patient approach, strong telephoto lens, 1.4x, tripod, one or two hours time and a great deal of luck was needed as well to create this photo.

Lรกszlรณ Suhayda

Árpád Krivánszky The wheel of the year turned, the spring is here again! The end of winter switches to early spring almost unnoticably. Trees still show their bare branches and the final, melted remains of the snow can hide in the hollows of the fields but the nature photographer’s index finger tingles, so the first, timid rays of sunlight find him or her in the fields or forests. It is worth going outdoors even if the fruits of photography can be a bit poor in late winter or early spring.

Canon EOS 30D EF 80-200mm f/2.8L+extension tube

Some of the animal species come out of their hide and the close pictures of them can be the first „preys” of nature lovers.

Male birds lure females in their fresh and nice feather-clothing and defend their breeding and feeding territories. It is the best time to photograph amphibians and reptiles too, however, it is advissable to get the wellies on to walk around the swampy fields. Early blooming wild flowers are also nice but their are mostly tiny and really test our macro lenses. Even the lowest position of the nature photo tripod is too high for them, so a beanbag placed under the camera helps a lot.

The geometric lines of the fresh crop and the early sprouting trees are also just perfect subjects to be saved on landscape photographers’ memory cards. Spring landscape photos are very different from the summer or autumn ones. It is advisable to find hilly places where you can climb up to a peak from where the forest does not prevents the view on the land beneath. It gives an interesting perspective if we do not work only with our wide-angle lenses but take out our telephoto lenses too which pull the space together and highlight the graphic patterns of the land. It is worth looking up the sky as well. If it is not nice, narrow the image frame, sometimes you can leave out the sky entirely.

In other cases the spectacular clouds can give a beautiful background to our pictures. Polar filters do a good service as they increase colour density and contrasts, therefore it make the picture much „cooler”.

From mid-April the renewal intensifies and there are so many exciting themes that nature photographers just don’t know where to look. Everything gets green, the fruit trees are blossoming, the rapeseed fields are full in yellow and more and more wild flowers bring their petals out. The different forecast sites help the preparation of the photographer, they give more more correct forecast even for local sites or smaller lands.

Among others they predict the direction and strength of wind, the density of clouds and the sky and the sunshine hours.

Now we would like to give further tips and tricks and exciting themes and wish nice lights.

Cotenants

We can encounter the pink flowers of the Dog’ dens-canis) in the south-western lands of Hung ing with other different flowers, so they can be photo too. The bowing inflorescence of the Sno form-contrast with the upright petals of the Do flowerheads „look” to different directions. The b sky and the trees and the patches of the blosso frequent spring winds sometimes might try ou

Árpád Krivánszky 1/800 s f/3,5 ISO 250

’s tooth violet (Erythronium gary in March. It is blossome captured in a common owdrop make an interesting og’s tooth violet. The two background consists of the oming flowers beneath. The ur patience.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II EF 80-200mm f/2.8L+extension tube

1/2500 s f/3,2 ISO 800

Summer snowflake We can encounter with it in swampy areas in late April and early May. In cloudy weather the details of the petals cannot be seen, while in strong sunlight the white areas can be easily overexposed, so the most favourable conditions is the veiled sunslight. If the sunlight is too strong, you should place a light-softening diffuser between the flower and the Sun. Grazing light shining from the side highlights the patterns of the petals even more, and the background is drawn by the oblong leaves of the plant which receive less light than the inflorescence.

Wolf spider (Lycosa singoriensis) The insect world also wake up in spring, it is worth comb through the just-shooting grass fields for the species of arthropods, it is easier to find them in the scarce undergrowth. Some species, like this wolf spider, have wandering periods when it is easier to capture them. It is worth getting down to their level! You should lie flat and put the camera on the ground. This way their body parts look better than photographed from above. Take several photos with different angles and focal lengths as this way you can get very different sights.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM 0,4 s f/5,6 ISO 800

Lรกszlรณ Suhayda

Árpád Krivánszky

SPRING ABSTRACT We can search the world of the waters for promising themes. The volcanic stones of a riverbed was illuminated by the low positioned Sun. The abstract effect of this picture derives from the game of the waves, the contrast of the flashing lights and the deep shades at the bottom of the riverbed and the softening effect of the changing water depth. The biggest stone is reminiscent of a fishhead. You should apply different shutter speeds because of the moving water and experiment with teh depth-of-field too, then select the nicest one.

Canon EOS 30D EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 1/20 s f/7,1 ISO 250 Árpád Krivánszky

STORMY SKY

Canon EOS 5D Mark II EF28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 1/640 s f/7,1 ISO 320 Árpád Krivánszky

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Zeiss Flektogon 20 mm f/4 1/800 s f/11 ISO 200 Árpád Krivánszky

In spring the clouds of the fast-changing weather fronts can be spectacular: it can illuminate the land beneath in patches, or can make the sky dark dramatically or sometimes the diffused light on the raindrops can create a rainbow. It is advised to dress up properly as these weather phenomena usually come with strong wind. It is worth spending more time at one place – in this case at the top of a hill – as the light and the sight can change minute by minute.

LAND IN BLACK AND WHITE The spring clouds temptphotographers to create black and white pictures. It can be done at the spot or by subsequent processing (RAW format makes it easier).

A good composition is important as subsequent development does not help a not really well-thought picture. The sky can be made dark by orange or rather red filter and gives a dramatic effect to the picture. You have to make sure when experiment with the slides that there are recognizable details even in the darkest parts and the lightest parts of the clouds are not overexposed either.

ERANTHIS HYMEALIS It is annoying when the environment of our chosen nice flower is ugly. In such case we can create a pleasant environment from the blurred patches of flowers and leaves in the foreground. We need some luck to find such constellation. Every lens has a minimum focal length withion which the picture parts will appear blurred and patchy in the photo. To check the extent of sharpness or blurriness of the other picture parts use the depth-of-field (DOF) button and choose the aperture accordingly.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II EF 80-200mm f/2.8L+extension tube 1/2000 s f/2,8 ISO 400

László Suhayda

PASTEL FLOWER PHOTO Diffuse light (pale sunshine or slightly cloudy sky) is also suitable for flower photography, but it will result in different, pastel-effect photos.

In such light conditions a composition of the inflorescence of ramsons creates a greenish atmosphere.

BACKLIT PHOTOS OF FLOWERS IN DEW This photo was taken in late spring, early in the morning, in thin fog and plentiful dew. Against the light of the rising sun we got a strongly contrasted picture which was made more beautiful by the sparkling dewdrops.

We had to be careful with the exposure because of the strong contrast as the lightest areas can be easily overexposed. We mentioned that some weather sites even predict the early morning dew.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III TS-E90mm f/2.8 1/320 s f/3,5 ISO 800 László Suhayda

Besides the opportunity of taking nice photos this information is important for the photographer to dress up properly (e.g. take on wellies). If you are not well-prepared, you can get wet up to the waits in the cold dew. As we mention, some weather forecast sites warn of the early morning dew formation too.

GREEN ALLEY

Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM 1/4000 s f/4,0 ISO 400

This green alley which fits harmonically into the yellowish-brownish stripes and patches of the fields caught my eye. Early spring is beneficial season to photograph these trees as the leaves already sprout, they are not bare anymore, but their foliage do not cover the nice structure of the branches.

László Suhayda Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM 1/64 s f/8 ISO 800

Lรกszlรณ Suhayda

Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x 1/320 s f/13 ISO 400 Lonely tree It is not advised to cut our main subject by the horizon, so there are two solutions to photograph nicely structured, lonely trees. Find a tree and photograph it the way that the sky is the background, or select a tree of which you can have a view from above (you will experience that not easy to fine trees like that). This tree could be photographed from a great distance with telephoto lens in a way that the geometric lines of sprouting crop give its background.

Text and images: Lรกszlรณ Suhayda, ร rpรกd Krivรกnszky

Shopping guide TRIPOD HEADS In our previous issue we provided detailed information about photo tripods. It is not easy to choose one, but having a good tripod is not the end of the shopping misery.

A proper tripod head is the dream of every photographer, so let’s have a look at the market to see what is for what and what should we go for.

ARE TRIPOD HEADS IMPORTANT? Everybody asks our editorial only about what kind of tripod should be bought. However, it is equally important, or maybe more important, what head we apply to the tripod as our camera will be attached directly to it. Basically there are two main parameters of tripod heads too. What is the weight of the head and what is the maximum load it can hold. Let’s take Benro B1 Pro ballhead as an example.

According to the factory data the head weighs 0.36 kg and has a load capacity of 12 kg. This is a very good head as it is light but handles a heavy load. For professional photographers, apart from the above data, the head mount and the height of the head itself are also important. These are key factors because the higher the head, the harder to reach the desired height for photo subjects at low position such as wild flowers.

As for the support, it is important to pay attention to the distance from the tripod food. Therefore the so-called joystick head is avery bad choice.

WHICH ONE SHA

ALL I CHOOSE?

Photo: Lรกszlรณ Suhayda

VS Manfrotto 501 HDV

WHAT TRIPOD HEAD SHOULD WE CHOOSE? It is a crucial question: it depends on the purpose! Different themes require different solutions. Let’s examine this issue more thoroughly. If you often photograph animals and birds, a video head such as Manfrotto 504HDV, Benro Gimbal or Wimberley Gimbal heads would be ideal. I think of longer focal-length telephoto shooting (300mm f/4 or bigger 300mm f/2,8 lenses) at both head types.

In this case the tripod foot is to be attached to the plate of the lens ring, so the camera is actually situated right on the lens. The portrait or landscape format is to be solved also by the usage of the ring, the head remains in the same plane with the tripod.

The precise setting of the weight distribution provides the possibility of fast movement and stable support in both cases. This solution has been used by professional wildlife photographers for many years, up to present there is no other solution to support heavy telephoto lenses stably and precisely.

The price of these heads ranges between EUR 180 and EUR 500.

Landscape photographers’ most important device is the big and stable ballhead. There is a standard tripod foot of these types called Arca-Swiss, this is actually the cutting-edge technology.

However, professional tripod producers make similarly good but cheaper solutions to, such as the Benro and the Induro. And there are other professional tripod makers, like Gitzo and Manfrotto which are present on the market with their unique solutions and good quality.

Induro GH Gimbal Heads

The point is that if you like photographing landscapes, choose a type which provides a separate option for side movements. It is useful in the case of panorama photos if the tripod head includes the necessary marks. These

are at least two fixing screws which can be set separately. A leveler in the tripod head is very practical too, as without that it is very difficults to set the straight horizon properly.

There are two solutions for macro photography. The first one to use a good quality ballhead with a macro plate, like the Manfrotto Micro-positioning Sliding Plate.

This make focusing really precise in case of bigger enlargements, when using a reverse ring or an extension tube. The other solution is a clamp used for studio photography, like the Manfrotto Super Clamp without Stud which we can attached to the leg of the tripod and place the ballhead on it, from which we can photograph.

TO SUMMARIZE Do not save on tripod heads! Many of my photo students and photographer friends make this mistake; they spend a lot of money for the equipment and gor for a cheap solution regarding tripods. You should not do that, as the stability of the support and the load capacity of the tripod is crucial.

These factors influence the sharpness of our pictures significantly.

Entrance level: Dรถrr, Hama Intermediate level: Velbon, Giotto, Manfrotto, Benro, Induro Advanced level: Gitzo, Wimberley, Arca-Swiss I already mentioned in the previous issue where I analysed tripods, but I repeat it here again that it is not necessary to buy the tripod and the tripod head from the same producer. For instance, I have an Induro tripod with a Benro ballhead. But I have a different set too: a Manfrotto head on a Gitzo tripod. Usually the top brands are compatible with each other.

Have a nice browse!

Text: Tamรกs Imre EFIAP

Induro BHD3 ball heads

Dovetail (Arca-Swiss Style Compatible)

Manfrotto Micro-positioning Sliding Plate

JÁNOS NÉMETH

I would boast happily about being born with a camera in my hand saying that, thanks to my photographer ancestors, I sucked in the ins and outs of photography with breast milk, but unluckily it is just not the case. Having said that I fell in love with nature photgraphy in my childhood when I spent the summer holidays at my grandparents in Veszprém and while my classmates kicked the dust in the soccer fields in Pest, my local friends and I was wandering in the Bakony mountains. We spent almost the entire day in the forests and fields and discovered playfully our environment, the flowers of the meadows and the inhabitants of the woods. It was not conscious at all but I saved these experiences and the bonding with nature became permanent for me.

I first aquainted with photography in my high school years and instantly fell in love with „the art of moment”. Since then I consider photography as the best way of artistic self-expression.

Portfolio

Ghosts

Spring fr

reshness

Summe

er sunset

The tooth of the dawn

I took my first pictures with my dad’s Ljubitel 2 camera and, as many other people, I gained the required knowledge of photography from books, magazines, in photo clubs and courses. Many people cannot imagine what an amazing experience was the processing of the pictures that time, the processing of the negative film and the enlargement onto a photo paper. The undisputed positive side of analogue photography was that the picture became an object at once and the photographer could experience the creative process more real as the result was concrete.

When I finished high school studying photography was an option for further education but eventually things developed in a different way and I became an IT professional. Thanks to my profession I had no problem with switching from analogue to digital photography.

The technological solutions, the background processes, the sign processing and all the new concepts linked to them were familiar to me. It is a lucky coincidence that my profession and my hobby met in digital photography, and thanks to this fact I published several informative articles for the „Digitális Fotó Magazin” in 2002 and 2003.

I always tried to spend as much time as I could with hiking and tours in the nature but for some reason I never took my camera with me. I only decided in the beginning of the 90s that I should photograph nature consciously and capture the beauty, harmony and diversity of all the things I see and experience.

Before sunset

I do not have priority themes, I can say I am an „alleater” or I favour every themes of nature. The point is the contemplation and the beauty of creation. I believe that every picture is the result of a complex, conscious creative process which requires serious background knowledge and preparation. Besides the confident technical knowledge, biological knowledge is also important. You have to know the photographed species, its behaviour and habitat.

Without this knowledge, good nature photos cannot be created. And, of course, we do not only have to know what we want to photograph but how to make it appear in the picture. There is no good photo without an idea and planning, first you always have to have a „picture in mind”.

By our times the man almost consumed its natural environment and exiled himself to the cities and locked himself up there. So nature photos not only document the sight but transmit a message too.

It is the responsbility of nature photgraphers to draw attention to our still existing natural treasures in order to urge their protection and defence.

Autumn

n magic

Ar

rch

Rest

Winter fur

Start

High-stepper

Ice stala

agmites

Adobe Lightroom 5 KEYWORDS The first chapter of our Lightroom series deals with the search of keywords and pictures. First of all, let’s define what a keyword is.

A keyword is a word which describes the whole picture or just a part of it and can be embedded in the metadata of our photos.

You can add more than one keyword to a picture. Why should we add keywords to our photos? Primarily, to make them searchable.

For example, if I search for a picture to compile an album or portfolio about which I only know that it was taken in Norway during an eagle shot, then I only have to search for the words “Norway” and “eagle” in Lightroom to find the wanted pictures from thousands of images. Unfortunately the keywords do not get to the images automatically.

You can enhance the efficiency of keywording but it is obviously a great deal of work, especially if you have a significant photo collection. It is not worth doing it superficially, putting only a few words, because this way the description of your picture will be too general and you will not be able to exploit the benefits of keywording. For example, in case of a landscape photo it is not enough to put only the word ‘landscape’. It is advisable to refer to the scene, the period of day and the content of the picture. However, technical details do not need to be keyworded. The type of the camera and exposure data applies to the searchable metadata automatically.

After this theoretical introduction, let’s see how it works in practice. Keywording can be found in the Library module where you can work with the Keywording and Keyword List panels. There are three blocks within the Keywording panel, Keyword Tags, Keyword Suggestions and Keyword Set. The different panels and blocks can be enlarged or closed by clicking on the triangle on the right.

Filtering by Keywords

Keywording panel

If you select an image, then the first block, Keyword Tags shows the existing keywords of the photo, and if there is none or you want to add more, then you can type in further keywords after clicking on the blank area. Keywords have to be seperated by commas when they are typed in. A keyword can consist of more words too, such as the terms “busójárás in Mohács” or “gopher from Tihany”. However, in these cases it is advisable to separate the words for the sake of better searchability.

We can confirm the typed-in keywords by hitting the Enter key. After typing in a few words Lightroom will suggest keywords in the Keyword Suggestions panel. If you want to accept any of them, just click on it and the keyword will apply to your photo.

A more targeted way of keywording is

Default and Custom Keyword Sets

Edit Keyword Se

using the Keyword Set. In this block you can determine what keywords you want to be available. You can select from the dropdown list the set you want to be active or you can create your own set by clicking on the Edit Set menu. This is a very useful option as you can preset the most often used keywords after a certain shot in advance.

Painter is another keywording tool which might be strange at first sight but it is really efficient. You can find the toolbar under the thumbnails of the Library module; if it was not active, press the T key. If you click on the little triangle on the right side of the toolbar, you can select whichever tools you want to see. Tick the box at the Painter option if it was not active. After this a paint sprayer appears by which you can “spray” several things, keywords too. Click on the

et

Keyword List panel

word next to the Paint title and select keyword from the drop-down menu. Then a text box appears with a text Enter keywords here, so you can type in the keywords which you want to spray, separated by commas. Try to paint over the thumbnails. Those pictures you spray on will receive the previously set keywords. Photos taken in the same scene and with the same theme often contain similar elements, thus you can work with this tool quite efficiently.

The whole process would not make too much sense if you could not work with the keywords afterwards, especially if you could not search them. You can search among the pictures in the Library module.

If you switch to Grid mode, then Library filter will appear above the thumbnails. Click on the metadata option. You can filter your pictures by the appearing columns. By clicking on the

letterhead of the first column you can select the first search condition. Select the Keyword option. In this case all keywords which were added to photos of the selected folder will appear. Then you can select a keyword and Lightroom will filter the wanted pictures. If you want to narrow your search further by another keyword, then activate the Keyword option at the second column too and filter. At the second column not every keywords will appear, only those which were added together with the first keyword. If you surely know which keywords you used, then you just have to simply type in them in the Library filter line after clicking on the text option. By the keywords and the search option we can find our photos quickly, even in a database containing thousands of pictures.

Text: Lรกszlรณ Szilรกgyi

Tested in the field NIKON Df

Nikon Df camera was launched in November 2013 at a press conference, causing a not a little surprise for us, photographers. What the hell is that? – I asked based on my first impression. I could not wait to try it out in live situation, then I received an e-mail from Nikon Ltd that the camera has arrived and was ready to be tested. In the factory box of the Df body a Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1,8G lens was hidden too. Opening the box a nice feeling caught me: this body was reminiscent of Nikon F, the first SLR camera launched in 1961. The 50 mm lens also suggested that it would be something different what we accustomed to on the market.

THE BODY It was a bit strange at first as a retro design with digital display is not an everyday sight.

It has a quite good grip, although it is smaller than the big professional cameras, but it was not aimed to topple Nikon D4 off the throne.

By the way, I used to have a Praktica body and it is much bigger than that. The switch on button perhaps a bit small, but you can get used to it.

The camera is sold in two different colours, I had the silver-black version for the test, but there is a full black version too. The silvery one represent a more retro style. Its outlook makes it excellent for report and social photography as people would not tell that they face with an out-and-out professional camera. The buttons placed on the top of the body are well-structured and can be learned in about ten minutes. I have heard several feedbacks that this design is not really practical, but I disagree, for those who know how to photograph it does not matter where the buttons are, they can get used to it quickly.

Moreover, by the bigger dial on the left hand side you can change ISO sensitivity quickly and the exposure compensation dial over that is also handy. The exposure mode dial can be found on the right hand side with its four functions: P, A, S, M to satisfy all needs. „P” is for automatic mode (it is for amateurs), „A” for aperture pre-selection setting. To control this function you can find a small sub-command dial on the front of the body under the shutter release button. If that is not comfortable, it can be reprogrammed at any time to the rear control dial. „S” for the pre-selection of shutter speed which can be changed by a another bigger dial at the top of the body on the right, and the „B” is also there which is very practical! Both big control dials can be used after we pushed a function button in the middle. It is very beneficial as the cannot turn accidently if we do not want it so. The rear part of the body shows the appearence of today’s digital cameras, to put it more exactly it is reminiscent of Nikon D 610.

NIKON Df, Nikkor 50mm F1.8

f/1.8 1/250 sec ISO 160

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS The resolution of the Nikon Df sensor is 16.2 megapixel, FX-format („full frame”) CMOS, with a size of 36,0 x 23,9 mm; the system provides the same strong performance as Nikon D4. The big sized sensor makes possible an excellent noise ISO proportion, its light sensitivity produces good results between ISO 100 and 12 800 sensitivity range and can be extended up to 204 800 equivalent. It performs well in almost every light condition. Its shutter is excellent, it works without any problem through 150000 cycles, according to producer’s tests.

The shortest shutter speed provided is 1/4000 with even 1/200 s flash sync speed to satisfy all needs. Despite its retro look the AF system is really fast – which can be controlled by the AF selection button next to the lens mount.

The 39-point AF system works even with f/8 lens; it has its benefits if you put on a 2x extender on a f/4 70-200 mm lens, so the starting aperture will be f/8. Not too many cameras are able to do that. You can select from four different modes and it includes the newest 3D tracking as well. The speed of focusing is quite good and we need it. After the selection of fast exposure we can „grind” at 5.5 picture/ sec speed. To review the taken pictures Nikon offers the recently usual inbuilt, big sized and high resolution LCD monitor. For building and landscape photography we can select a twoaxle electronic virtual horizon for the precise water levelling, bot hon the LCD monitor and in the viewfinder. Through this option the position or the angle of inclination of the camera can be checked as well.

MAXIMUM LENS COMPATIBILY Nikon Df has not only a retro look, but in a unique way, it is compatible with the old, original F-mount Nikkor lenses as well. Many reporters kept their beautiful, older lenses in the case but now Nikon Df body makes it possible to work them in the following two modes: „A” (aperture preselection) or „M” (manual).

This is good because the camera recognizes the aperture selection and can calculate the suitable exposure.

NIKON Df, Nikkor 500mm F4

f/4 1/320 sec ISO 200

NIKON Df, Nikkor 50mm F1.8

f/10 1/13 sec ISO 100

THE TEST I chose for the test one of my favourite places, the Bayerische Wald German national park.

Nikon Df was challenged in several situations. I was shooting with it from the morning to the evening.

In the morning lights I shot forest landscapes with impressionistic effect. Unfortunately there were not too many themes during the day, but to my luck I could capture a lynx in the evening light. The body looked quite funny with a Nikkor 500 mm f/4 lens.

The camera worked hard, it delivered sharp pictures with very good ISO noise level. I beat Nikon Df for almost a week and I really made friends with it. It evoked my good old days, of course in an excellent digital quality. I set the body to basic sensitivity of ISO 100 for landscape photography and used the factory 50 mm lens, unluckily I had not any wider angle lens on me. Despite the morning fog and the backlight the AF did not jump but found the contrasts in the picture precisely. I was very happy for that as the nice light disappear quickly. The result and the rich details of the pictures speak for themselves. This body includes the usual extras too, the HDR and multi-exposure options are good helpers of creative photography. The HDR function (with which we encountered in Nikon D4 first) can be used at TIFF setting only for the sake of reaching the higher dynamic range. Of course, my another big favourite the multi-exposure saves RAW images into the memory card which was a pleasant thing to do during testing. Nikon Df is suitable not just for city and report photography, but it is suitable even for nature photography as its massive magnesium-alloy body, and its upper and rear cover provides a strong protection against dust, bumps and adverse weather conditions.

SUMMARY Nikon Df is a new category with retro look, and a cutting-edge digital body at the same time.

As the champion of compatibility it became one of the most outstanding cameras of photography history. It is recommended for those who can afford it and have lots of Nikkor F mount lenses. If you start photography now, and do not want to be too striking, go for it! It is an uplifting experience to work with this camera. We would like to say thank you to Nikon Ltd for the long test opportunity.

Tester: Tamรกs Imre EFIAP

People-cultures-cities Return to India

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

f/6.3 1/640 sec ISO 640

IN RAXAUL AGAIN „No, no, it’s a shorter way.” – our young driver replied when I asked whether it was the main road out of Kathmandu. Of course, there is always a shorter way, the only question is what kind of way is that.

By this time we were bumping along for an hour up from the Kahtmandu Valley, and my question seemed to be timely because the asphalt surface of the road disappeared for quite a while on the single-lane serpentine road beneath us meandering along terrifying precipices. Instead of the asphalt cover sharp

stones, smaller or bigger potholes and gullies alternated with each other. But our driver knew his job and was catious enough, so we got through the mountains surrounding Kathmandu after a few hours and soon we reached the border of Nepal and India.

Luckily we had no administrative problems at the birder at all, thanks to the fact that we even did not stop. Between Nepal and India the citizens of the two countries can travel without passport, so our driver drove through the border without much ado, and took us straight to Duncan Hospital, a few hundred meters from the border, where we spent the next few weeks.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

I have already wrote two articles about this place for the readers of the Nature Photo Magazine. Now the time has come to return to Raxaul again, where my wife worked at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology as a volunteer doctor, for the third time.

Doctors assist at 6000 births per year, but it is not the biggest challenge: about a year ago the only obstetrician and gynaecologist consultant left the hospital. Of course, the number of births has not decreased but babies born somehow. Freshly graduated physicians, mainly surgeons undertook the challenge.

f/10 1/250 sec ISO 640

MEDICAL EXPERIENCES On the first day in Raxaul Emese had to perform a post-partum hysterectomy. The patient had seven children and unfortunately during the last delivery she suffered an uterine rupture and her baby died. Uterine rupture occurs the most often if the previous child was born by caesarean section and there is a scar on the uterus. It is very rare after normal deliveries, doctors encounter with such cases mainly in the developing world, after several deliveries, like in this case.

Emese’s another interesting case was an 18 years old, first-time mother.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

f/4 1/40 sec ISO 160

When the doctor on duty admitted her, she nearly died due to multiple seizures. Probably it was due to a serious complication of pregnancy, the so-called eclampsia. Eventually, they managed to take her to the intensive care unit and start delivery. Unfortunately, tha baby died in this case too. The mother was put on a ventilator during the delivery. Luckily, soon she could be detached from the ventilator and started to move and speak, then later completely recovered. A few days later she could talk and their brain functions recovered too. Emese talked to her and her single-eyed husband, apperantly they were very poor.

Emese tried to convince them to visit prenatal care next time. The biggest objection for them probably is that they do not have 30 rupees (about 50 cents) to do so.

Not Emese was the only foreign volunteer doctor in the hospital. After a few days we made good friends with Paul, a retired Scottish anesthesiologist who helped a lot for the hospital. He told us a story one day that two infants was admitted to the emergency department, almost at the same time with serious pneumonia. Both of them needed to be put on ventilator. The bigger baby was admitted to the ICU soon. The other infant was a one month old boy who was ventillated by his parents as they did not have money for hospital care. Poor Paul was really upset about that as the little boy reacted really well and he would have needed only a few days on ventilator and antibitics to survive. Luckily good news arrived soon that the hospital has a fund from which they could finance the baby’s care. We learned that the cost of the care would be about 1500 rupees. The life of a one-month-old baby was depend on this small amount (little more than 10 USD).

Of course, a ventilator is very important, but the basics would be even more essential.

Education, contraception, clean drinking water should be above all. Luckily Duncan Hospital realized that medical care is not enough on its own, so it has lots of projects which help to enhance the living standards to create the conditions of dignified life for local people.

Hindu szertartรกs Patanban

Katmandu

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

A fazekasok tere Bhaktapurban

f/5 1/320 sec ISO 250

Unfortunately the next day we received bad news.

One of the babies died. Both of us was shocked as our Scottish friend Paul said the evening before that the boy was alright and would survive the illness if he received the care. I wanted some peace after all these, so I walked out to Sundarpur, the village of lepers which is about ten minutes walk from the hospital. I often visited this place in 2011 and at this time as well. I sat in the weaving house where women in nice colourful clothes moving their spinners and weavers by hand, sitting on the ground and chatting like women do in any other part of world. They looked at me time to time and told something to each other, then laughed out load. I did not understand a word of their talk but obviously they were laughing at me and this was all right. I laughed with them and they laughed even more. They laughed at me and I laughed at them and at myself, we laughed at the world well.

SHOOTINGS Of course I did not spend most of my time in the hospital but I walked the region and take photos and videos. Usually I set off at six in the morning. It was a big advantage compared to my 2011 trip that I did not have to explore the region, although it had its beauty as well. I already knew the places in walking distance, so I could decide every evening where to go next morning.

I often photographed the same faces which I did two years ago, it was interesting to see them again. There was only one problem, the plenty of children, all of them wanted to be in the pictures too. But this time I was a bit stricter than before.

If I wanted to photograph an adult, immediately a few kids joined but I did not take the picture until the kids were there. When the chosen adult understood this, he or she sent the children away, so I could take the picture. If I did not do like that, I would have photographed children all the time.

The little monsters frequently spoiled my videos too. When they noticed that I was videoing, they ran into the view at once. Some of them were little crafty and who did it the way I did not even notice immediately. First they just walked through in front of the camera as if they did not even suspect that I was recording. Then they did it again. Then again, innocently like they would know nothing about video-making.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

f/5 1/60 sec ISO 100

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

f/4 1/250 sec ISO 320

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

f/4.5 1/500 sec ISO 800

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f

f/8 1/250 sec ISO 250

f/11 1/25 sec ISO 125

f/4L USM

There were a few interesting things which I have not captured before. For instance, I participated in the last two days of the biggest Hindu religious festival of Bihar state, the Chhath. Women take on their most beautiful clothes at that time, they wear gorgeous make-ups and stand in the little river by the city, some of them with trays full of food in their hands and pray to the rising or the setting sun. Thousands of people took part in the morning and evening celebration as well, it was an amazing experience to mix with them as the only European and watch.

Well, at least as I could mix with my tripod and cameras. Of course, this action also ended up with that everybody wanted to be photographed and they all wanted to give some food afterwards, so all my pockets were full of bananas, apples and different kinds of fried vegetables by the time I got home. Back in the hospital I gave everything to the poor people sitting on the ground and waiting.

One of my most interesting experience was when I mixed with workers shoveling and packing cement at the railway station. They invited me to the wagons, offered me some hashish (what I did not accept) and pose for me (even if I didn’t ask). I was covered with cement dust from top to toe by the time I got out of them.

Of course, something always happened in the hospital too, even if not always cheering things. When I wanted some rest, I always went in the premature newborn infants unit, where it was always hot but silence and peace and beautiful little babies under the lamps. And some miserable ones too.

I followed up the treatment of a little boy suffering in Ritter’s disease. Ritter’s disease is a serious inflammation of the skin of newborn babies caused by infection. If the inflammation affects more than the third of the body surface, it can be fatal. The poor little boy was quite neglected, he was taken into the hospital only when his body was full of blisters. But eventually he nicely recovered.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

f/5 1/60 sec ISO 400

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF17-40mm f/4L USM

f/6.3 1/13 sec ISO 400

FUNNY THINGS As for a physician, it was an interesting experience for Emese that when she tried to pay more attention and respect to women for the sake of supporting their equality and tell what will happen to them, they apperantly were not keen on it. One day she asked a patient where she lived. The woman could not answer, even she did not know how far she lived from the hospital. She told Emese to ask her husband. Another woman came to give birth to a bigger fetus. Emese enquired about the weight of the first child and whether it was a natural birth. The woman could not answer these questions either, she could not tell whether it was a normal birth, neither the weight of her first child.

There was a usual problem when a baby girl was born that the parents frame the doctors that they exchanged the baby. Boys are very important because when the parents die, their ashes can be thrown to the river only by their son, so they can have final rest. According to the Hindu religion the son is the key for the final rest, at least someone explained us this way. If there is no son in the family or if he dies, then they bear as much children as they die themselves. The sixth, seventh or eighth pregnancy can be a disaster not just to India but to the mother too. Another bad custom that Hindus do not bathe for seven days after giving birth, and they don’t wash their babies either. Thus of course we can expect many infections.

CONTINUATION? I have made plenty of materials, mainly in Sundarpur, the village of lepers. Currently I am working on the cutting of a short film which is about the life of the villagers. Through this film hopefully we can raise some funds to support them. We still keep in touch with the Duncan Hospital and hopefully our connection will last in the future too. We are almost family members there, and if we have the chance, we might return again.

Text and images: PĂĄl TeravĂĄgimov

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

f/8 1/500 sec ISO 200

f/4 1/200 sec ISO 400

Photo school BIRD BATH

One of the big dreams of nature photographers to take close pictures with nice background of tiny birds. It is only possible if we can get close to them without disturbance. A bird bath is a real help, especially if we combine it with a hide and a mirror. Two years ago my friends and I decided to build a bird bath with hide.

Nikon D2x, Nikon 2.8/300

article’s sponsor:

f/3.5 1/800 sec ISO 400

We had to face several difficulties during the work and we had to consider different problems. The first one was that the bath could not be set on the ground as wild boars were frequent visitors there and they might have used it for wallowing.

So we lifted the bath up in a way we could photograph comfortably sitting, from eye position. The direction of the sunlight had to be chosen carefully too, so it was suitable for shooting in the morning and in the afternoon equally. The third aspect is the background; it has to be elected carefully as well, not to be too close so we could photograph a nice and blurred or dreamlike background.

The next important thing is to set the distance between the bath and the hide to make it suitable to the lens used. It is required for depicting the birds with good proportion and in proper size. You have to be careful with the depth of the water as well.

A too deep bath is not suiatble for the birds as it frightens them if they cannot see the bottom of the basin. You should make shallow parts. It will do you good if there is some water source nearby. Check the quality of the water, it has to be changed frequently, especially in the summer heat! Last but not least the accessibility of the hide by car is also important. You should also find a place where many different bird species occur and they have some defence or hide from the predators.

I did not list every aspect, only the most important ones.

Nikon 1V1, Nikon adapter Sigma 4/100-300 f/4 1/400sec ISO 400

N f/

Nikon D3, Nikon 2.8/80-200 /4 1/800sec ISO 400

Nikon D1x, Nikon 2.8/300

f/4 1/200sec ISO 400

Bahama

Nikon 1V1, Nikon adapter Sigma 4/100-300 f/4 1/800sec ISO 400

NikonD2x, Nikon 2.8/300

f/3.5 1/400 sec ISO 400

Nikon 1V1, Nikon adapter Sigma 4/100-300 f/4 1/200sec ISO 400

Nikon D3, Sigma 4.5/500 f/4.5 1/200sec ISO 400

Nikon D2xs, Sigma 4.5/500 f/4.5/1/20sec ISO 400

Nik f/4 1

kon 1V1, Nikon Nikon adapter Sigma 4/100-300 1/400Â ISO 200

It is practical to paint the inner surface of the hide black and to wear dark clothing, gloves and mask during the shooting.

You also have to check the colour of the glass to avoid any surprise in the ready pictures. If there is any colouring, cleanse it properly. The bath and hide has another benefit, you can have the chance arrange the scene and the birds. Be patient as it takes time for the birds to notice and accept the bathing opportunity provided by you.

Always more birds visit the bath than the ones breeding in the vicinity. Particularly in the summer heat they often come from miles away to the permanently filled water place. If you provide water all year round, the birds become your permanent guests. Make sure there are landing opportunities for them in form of branches as well.

I do not always like photograph by bird baths, I like the natural circumstances too.

Therefore I installed the bath right next to a bush, so I could take nice pictures of the birds on the branches too. It is very atmospheric when the fresh spring leaves or the colourful autumn ones give the background and the light filters through them, or the when the blurred ghost image of tree trunks faintly appears.

You don’t have to stop bird bath photography even in the winter. However, if there are winter frost, you have to feed instead of providing water and you can continue the shooting. You can take great photos in snowfall too.

The number of photo ideas are countless, only limited by your imagination. Have nice lights and beautiful pictures!

Text and images: JĂĄnos Szekeres

Interesting places HILLS IN THE ZSÁMBÉK REGION

Cemetery in Mรกriahalom Canon EOS 30D EF-S 18-55 mm f/3,5-5,6

1/20 s f/6,3 ISO 200

Hungarian fallow Canon EOS 30D EF 28-105 mm f/3,5-4,5

1/200 s f/8 ISO 250

There are beautiful hills lying at the foot of Gerencse Mountains, situated to the north-west from Budapest.

It is attractive for nature photographers because at some places the top of the hills are not covered of woods, so climbing up you can have an unobstructed view of the land beneath. The center of the region is the village of Zsámbék, famous of its medieval ruin church. The nearby villages have also funny names (except of Máriahalom): Tinnye, úny, Epöl, Sárisáp, Szomor, Bajna.

This land provides interesting sights in every season.

The snow-covered region might rest in peace and silence or strong wind develops fantastic snow formations on it. In early spring the the top of plough field gets black, while the melted, shrunk snow hides in the hollows. The spring winds dry patches in the plough fields and the geometric, green lines of the autumn sowing show themselves up early.

The shooting of the trees starts with the willow trees in the stream valleys cut between the hills. The trees are already green but the tiny leaves do not cover the structure of the branches. The land dresses in emerald green and the blossoming of the fruit trees starts.

In April the yellow bloming rapeseed fields can be seen from a great distance, wheat fields become golden in June, and after a short period of one and a half month visitors can admire the sight of blossoming sunflower fields. In autumn trees changed to yellow and red decorate the hilly land and sometimes fog covers the region. In winter the wheel of the year turns round again.

It is a heartache of nature photographers that there are very few nicely shaped, lonely trees in still environment. Well, in this region, after a little effort, you can find and capture several trees like that. From March to June masses of flowers blossoming on the hillsides visited by colourful butterflies. Perhaps there are less rare and protected flowers here compared to other regions, but maybe they are just waiting to be discovered. In the sky buzzards and ravens circle, pheasants, hares and less often deers can be seen around as well.

If you are sensitive to the sight of buildings which fit into the landscape well, then - besides the above mention church ruins in Zsámbék - you can find in the region nice churhes, roadside, small chapels, old village houses and cemeteries with ancient, mosscovered gravestones.

Rape fields Canon EOS 30D EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

1/100 s f/9 ISO 100

Winter landscape Canon EOS 5D Mark II EF 80-200 mm f/4L

1/250 s f/13 ISO 400

Trees in the fog Canon EOS 30D EF-S 18-55 mm f/3,5-5,6

1/100 s f/16 ISO 100

Spring clouds Canon EOS 30D EF-S 18-55 mm f/3,5-5,6

1/100 s f/13 ISO 100

Golden wheat fields Canon EOS 5D Mark II EF 80-200 mm f/4L

1/200 s f/16 ISO 400

Stone pattern Canon EOS 30D EF 28-105 mm f/3,5-4,5

Directions 1/10 s f/18 ISO 100

Canon EOS 30D EF 80-200 mm f/4L+kรถ

özgyűrű 1/6 s f/9 ISO 100

Tracks Canon EOS 30D EF 28-105 mm f/3,5-4,5

1/60 s f/8 ISO 100 Text and images: Árpád Krivánszky

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief :

Tamás Imre Tamás Imre

Anikó Imre

János Szekeres

Pál Teravágimov

Árpád Krivánszky

László Suhayda

Adrien Imre

Iván Éder

tamas.imre@naturephotomagazine.com

Editors:

Anikó Imre

Árpád Krivánszky

János Szekeres

László Suhayda Associate Editors:

Adrien Imre

Ágnes Kiss

Bence Máté

Dániel Selmeczi

Iván Éder

Martin Perhiniak

Pál Teravágimov Copy Editor:

Árpád Krivánszky Art Director:

Anikó Imre Graphical Design:

Martin Perhiniak Web Design:

Yes I’m a Designer Web Product:

Thomas Picture Translators:

Péter Pál Tóth Advertising:

Anikó Imre aniko.imre@naturephotomagazine.com

Nature Photo Magazine www.naturephotomagazine.com info@naturephotomagazine.com Publisher: Thomas Picture Publisher Ltd. Address: Hungary

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Ágnes Kiss

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