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Review test shots

We think test shots are important when it

“A new year carries with it a sense of excitement about what the next 12 months will bring”

© Jeremy Flint Every new year carries with

PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II AND S5 II X FINALLY GET PHASE HYBRID AUTOFOCUS

Panasonic updates popular Lumix S5 with improved AF technology

Panasonic also launches versatile Lumix 14-28mm f/4-5.6 Macro lens

© Panasonic Lumix Panasonic has also launched

Nikon’s killer pro lens and pancake glass

Two new Nikon lenses were also announced during CES 2023, the much-anticipated 85mm f/1.2 and a nifty 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens

V&A to host largest UK photo collection

The museum will open a dedicated seven-room space for photography collections, some dating back to 1839

In other news

More snippets of photography news from around the world

STORY BEHIND THE STILL

Photographer: Joshua ‘Lowbass’ Sommerfeldt Website: lowbassguy.smugmug.com Instagram:

ONE-LIGHT PORTRAITS

Learn how to master a simple setup and shoot professional portraits with the minimal amount of kit and space

WORK WITH SOFT AND HARD LIGHT

Embrace the simplicity of using one light and learn to make use of its qualities

CREATE HIGH-KEY AND LOW-KEY LIGHTING

Get more from a single flash with these simple tricks for high-contrast effects

REFINE WITH A REFLECTOR

Discover how accessories and editing software can assist a single-light setup

ORGANISE YOUR PHOTOS

Get to know the best storage solutions for your irreplaceable images

HOW TO HIRE A PHOTO STUDIO

Everything you need to consider when hiring your first studio space

Career advice

Claire Gillo shares her top tips for aspiring photographers to get started and interviews a professional portrait photographer for her advice

What top tips would you give to aspiring photographers?

We asked portrait photographer and Leica ambassador Lara Platman of Photofeature to share the secrets of her career

WHY SHOTS WORK

10 PRO TECHNIQUES FOR ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY

From mountain trekking to exploring the city streets, these tips will help you master the art of documenting your adventures

BIG 5 kit items

Core items of camera gear for adventure photography

Creative pet portraits

Learn the pro skills and techniques you need to capture your pet’s character in unique and eye-catching ways

Know your gear

Here are some of the best kit options for maximising your pet photography

Know your subject

Photographing pets can be hard work so use tricks to bring out their character

Compose a perfect pet image

Use different angles and approaches to make your pet shots stand out

Photograph outdoors

Capture your furry models in their natural surroundings to put them at ease and create more fun action portraits

Capture your pet’s character

Elke Vogelsang gives tips on staging pet shoots in her photography studio

Create and capture ribbons of light

Master this unique method of image making and

Enhance sharpness with zone focus

Use this technique to capture sharp shots in fast-moving scenes and make sure that you never miss the moment

Process JPEGs like RAW files

Take advantage of Photoshop’s Camera Raw Filter to fine-tune your JPEGs

Neutralise blue hour landscapes

Recover golden hour colours in Lightroom for a more vibrant result

Create your own individual bokeh

Apply unique bokeh brushes and integrate them into your photos

Photo CV

We profile an expert photographer’s career journey for insight on becoming established in the industry

CONTEMPORARY COWBOYS

Anouk Masson Krantz has spent over a decade exploring the USA’s Wild West and its cowboy culture. In her three books, she shares their stories, values and way of life with the world

The Gallery

Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2022

SHOT OF THE MONTH

About the shot: “The dawn light shines through the big cypress tree and its drooping canopy of Spanish moss. It looks as though I am deep in the Florida Everglades, wading through knee-deep swampy water full of man-eating alligators but I’m standing on a long boardwalk with dry feet. Sunset and dawn are the only times to shoot this wonderful tranquil land.”

THE BESTOF LONG EXPOSURES

The winners of our latest contest with Photo crowd have been revealed

Kit intro

The expert and independent reviews of gear we’ve bagged this issue

PHOTOGRAPHY’S HEALING POWER

Nature photographer Jean Macdonald on discovering the gift of expression

Budget mirrorless lenses

After some great glass for your mirrorless camera? Matthew Richards tests eight inexpensive buys

Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM £309/$299

Ultra-wide but compact

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM £189/$199

Simple, small and affordable

Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR £379/$449

Small, light and bright

Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) £299/$297

Something old, something new…

Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 £249/$297

A compact but capable prime

Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 RF/Z £338/$399

Huge viewing angle, small price

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN | C £379/$404

Perfect for crop-sensor portraiture

Tamron 35mm f/2.8 Di III OSD Macro £239/$249

A real steal at the price

Tamron’s lens is our budget best-buy

The Tamron 35mm strikes a balance between price and performance

Canon EOS R6 Mark II

An upgrade in nearly every department makes this camera arguably the best you can buy right now. James Artaius and Gareth Bevan take it for a spin

Affinity Photo 2

Serif Affinity Photo 2 proves that budget software doesn’t have to mean compromise. James Abbott finds out whether it offers a real alternative to the established giants

TTArtisan Tilt 50mm F1.4

Matthew Richards sees whether a sub-£300 tilt lens can really be that good

Fujifilm XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

Lauren Scott reviews Fujifilm’s longest lens for X-mount APS-C cameras

ACCESSORIES

A collection of ten fun yet functional products out there for photographers