How to get your 29 digital gifts

BONUS SOFTWARE EXTRAS! Turn to page 92

All aboard the heritage express

Railway photographer Jack Boskett has captured the magic of steam since childhood – we join him for a day at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

A disposable camera for the digital age

Ross McLaren takes a trip down memory lane with the Pocket Dispo disposable lens

Cornwall’s tin mines

Capture disused 19th century mining architecture as part of the landscape, with Wendy Evans

Go bonkers for conkers

Forget about reliving your childhood, says Wendy Evans, use autumn’s bounty to create a macro image

Webs of intrigue

Come weave a tangled web in the early morning dew, with Wendy Evans

Going underground

If it’s raining outside, get your photographic fix by heading below the surface, says Wendy Evans

Turn to the dark side

It’s the season of witches and spooky thrills so why not try your hand at Gothic-themed portraits, says Wendy Evans

Capturing the morning mist and sun

Set your alarm for an early morning encounter with misty landscapes and the rising sun, recommends Mike Jefferies

Shooting at Mach 1

Dan Eley explains how to have a successful day photographing fast jets at Europe’s biggest airshow

Horsing around

Wendy Evans heads for the hills in search of wild horses to photograph

Halloween challenge

Send us your best shot to win a £50 voucher towards Cewe Wall Art

MASTER THE MAGIC OF MACRO

Shoot tiny details close-up and hone in on incredible details hidden to the naked eye. Professional photographer Dan Mold is your guide...

GET THE RIGHT GEAR

Dedicated lenses aside, there are plenty of gadgets and gizmos out there to help you get better close-ups

HOW TO LIGHT SMALL SUBJECTS

The right light is crucial to achieving stunning macro photographs

INCREDIBLE INSECTS

Butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies make brilliant colourful subjects, so you should seek them out with your macro lens

WIDE-ANGLE MACRO

Macro lenses with wide-angle features allow you to focus closer to the foreground

KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE FINER DETAILS

How to find the perfect focal point for timeless images

INCREASE DEPTH WITH A FOCUS STACK

Depth of field becomes more limited when shooting closer to your subject, so boost sharpness with this top creative technique

This month: Capturing the coast

Master the art of modern photography

Get the knowledge

Set yourself a project to give your seaside photos purpose

Essentials to make the most of coastal imaging

A small setup can be a benefit for seaside shooting

Three filters for your camera bag

Use filters to make the most of your coastal photos

Perfect examples of captivating pictures by the sea

Being by the sea has endless potential for great photos, whatever the season or time of day

Shutter speed skills

How exposure duration will impact your seaside scenics

Pros and cons Shooting the seaside

Enjoy the beach but treat the sea with respect

Camera know-how Understanding the histogram

Interpret the graph for perfect exposures every time

Top tip Shoot HDR

Record both highlight and shadow detail

Take photos like a pro

Our coastline is a treasure trove of photo opportunities

Camera skills Capture the wide view

Multi-shot panoramas are fun to shoot and the results can be awesome

Pro tip Tripod care

Look after your support

Digital Darkroom

Transform your photos with our easy, effective guides

Become a Layers master

Get to know Photoshop’s base of operations with James Paterson – and transform your images with vintage brushed border effects

Correct exposure and contrast

Using Lightroom’s basic tools, Sean McCormack demonstrates how to fix underexposure in your images

Dual land and sky enhancements

James Abbott uses global enhancements in Photoshop to boost landscape images

Turn your photos into art

Wendy Evans can’t paint or draw but with PortraitPro 24 doing all the work, she can channel her inner artist

Get AI help for basic edits

Sean McCormack gets to grips with ON1 Photo RAW 2024

Retro film looks without the cost

Don’t waste money on film stock, says Wendy Evans, shoot digitally and experiment with the various film styles in Dehancer

24 Actions, presets and borders for your photos

THIS MONTH’S BONUS SOFTWARE EXTRAS

Photo Answers

Nonplussed by noise reduction? Terrified about creating a triptych? Send your technique and camera questions to digitalcamera@futurenet.com

The art of seeing

With a gap in his travel schedule, Benedict Brain has been exploring his home turf with fresh eyes

Hotshots

Our highlights of the winning entries from the 17th iPhone Photography Awards

Reader gallery

Digital Camera readers show how they’ve been getting creative, submitting images across a range of genres

Shot of the month

A composite of the sun by Ryan Imperio won Astronomy Photographer of the Year 16

In Focus

The latest photography news from around the globe

Behind the lens

SERGEY GORSHKOV Wildlife photographer www.instagram.com/sergey_gorshkov_photographer

Scanning ahead…

With Chinese brands on the rise, Jon Devo considers the effect on the imaging industry

KitZone

New gear, buying tips and the world’s toughest tests

Walter Moser on Gregory Crewdson

US photographer Gregory Crewdson is famous for his cinematic images. After a recent exhibition of his work, Steve Fairclough discovers more about his career

What the f-stop?

How much do you really know about photography? Test yourself to the max every issue with our tricky trivia quiz!

Lumix GH7

£1,999/$2,199 (body only)

Ricoh GR III HDF

£1,049/$1,067

Lumix S 14-28mm F4-5.6 Macro

£699/$698

Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II

£1,849/$1,798

DJI Neo

From £169/$199 (standalone)