Photography News

 

1. What Is A Triptych? 

A triptych is an image that consists of three different images that usually relate in some way. Why three? Well, items grouped in odd numbers are usually more compositionally pleasing and you can use three shots of different things or split one image up onto three separate panels. Generally, the image is presented so each shot is given the same space/shape to sit in on the canvas and they are evenly spread out. 

Triptychs are a great way to combine multiple viewpoints of the same place into a single shot so you can better tell the story of the scene you captured. It's also a good way to present images of a similar theme you've captured over time. 

 

2. What Photos Should I Use?

The images you use need to link to each other some way, but this doesn't necessarily mean it has to be of the same subject. They could be linked by colour, for example, or you could have applied the same treatment to them during post-production to make them appear similar. Images taken at the same focal length tend to appear more balanced when put together however, this rule isn't set in stone. You could also try linking them by movement, with three shots showing someone/something moving closer to the front of the frame or further away. 

 

3. Get Creative

Another way you could create a Triptych is to use several parts of the same scene in three separate images, capturing a wider view in the first then focusing on detail in the two that follow. Taking shots of the same scene at different times of the day or even the year can work effectively. For example, you could capture images of a tree during summer and autumn to show the contrast in colour/weather. 
 

4. Photograph Portraits

When shooting portraits, these types of shots tend to work better when your person, animal or object is looking into the frame rather than out as having them looking out of the shot will draw the viewer's attention away from the centre of the image. You can change the direction of which your subject is facing during post-production if you so wish. You could also have your subject creating three different facial expressions or poses a technique that can work particularly well with children. 
 

5. Fun With Photoshop

The easiest way to create a triptych is with editing software and we have a tutorial on creating triptychs in Photoshop over in our technique section: Create A Triptych For Your Photographs
 

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© Canon

 

Canon has released a free firmware update for the EOS C80 and EOS C400, enhancing image quality and workflow for professional filmmakers. The headline feature, Cinema Exposure Mode, improves highlight performance above base ISO and streamlines the log shooting menu. The EOS C400 adds Auto Exposure Ramping Compensation, while both cameras now support Canon's new CN30x40 Cine Servo lens. The update is available now for download.

 

From Canon UK:

Canon announces a new free firmware update for the EOS C80 and EOS C400, delivering image quality, workflow and compatibility enhancements for professional filmmakers. Headlined by the introduction of Cinema Exposure Mode, the update reflects Canon's ongoing commitment to evolving Cinema EOS products based on professional user feedback, helping customers get even more from their existing equipment.

Improved image performance and enhanced workflows

The latest firmware update introduces Cinema Exposure Mode, designed to improve highlight performance when shooting above base ISO levels (up to 2-stops), as well as providing a more streamlined camera menu specifically for log shooting. This gives filmmakers greater flexibility in challenging shooting conditions while helping maximise image quality throughout post-production workflows.

The EOS C400 also benefits from a range of workflow and usability enhancements, including Auto Exposure Ramping Compensation for smoother operation in broadcast and live production environments with supported Cine Servo lenses, alongside additional refinements that streamline day-to-day camera operation.

Further expanding the Cinema EOS ecosystem, the update adds enhanced compatibility with the all-new and optically groundbreaking CN30x40 Cine Servo lens, strengthening integration across Canon's professional imaging portfolio and providing greater flexibility for production teams.

By adding meaningful new capabilities at no additional cost, Canon continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting professional creators long after purchase, ensuring the Cinema EOS platform continues to evolve in line with the needs of filmmakers.

 

Availability

The EOS C80 and EOS C400 firmware update will be available to download free of charge from 19 August via canon-europe.com/support.

 

Beach huts are wonderfully photogenic and you can get great pictures of them almost regardless of the lighting conditions. However, beach huts get elevated to iconic status when the scene is complemented by a photogenic sky.

 

1. Gear Suggestions

A wide-angle will help you make the most of big skies, but even the short end of your standard zoom should be fine. Obviously the wider your lens the more sky that you can include. However, there is the danger of going too wide and including fantastic sky detail as well as more mundane bits, so do frame carefully. A selection of filters can come in very handy so do pack some graduates as well as the polariser.
 

2. When?

Lovely skies can occur at any time of year and at any time of day so you just have to be aware of the conditions and keep an eye on what’s happening. With heavy showers followed by brief spells of intense sunlight, there is every chance of dramatic skies, not to mention things like rainbows.

Periodically check what’s happening in the heavens as the day progresses and in the end, you might end up with a good set of images, all taken from the same spot but looking very different as the sky is constantly changing.

 

3. Metering

Exposure can be tricky because of the wide contrast range between the sky and the beach huts, so you need to think about metering to ensure the optimum result. In some cases, you might even find the foreground to be brighter than the sky, say when there is a doom-laden dark sky behind the sunlit huts.

With this sort of shot, the most important of the scene is the highlight detail (usually the sky) so meter off that and let the shadows worry about themselves. If the foreground then looks too gloomy use exposure compensation to help and reshoot.

If the light is changing quickly, and this can happen in stormy conditions, bracket exposures to make sure you get a result you are happy with. If you find the sky is still coming out too light, fit a graduate filter.

 

 

4. Enhance

A polariser can intensity a colourful or a stormy sky depending on the direction of the light so that too can work. A polariser can enhance a sky to make it work even better for a black & white conversion. However, you might prefer the natural approach and that is perfectly fine.

 

5. Composition

In terms of composition, being bold can help. Some people might want to compose using the rule-of-thirds, but this can actually look rather static. Lining up the huts along the very bottom of the frame can work better and give even more prominence to the sky. Just explore the options when you are framing up the shot.

 

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In October 1906, a portrait of the German Crown Prince left Munich as nothing more than a flickering electric current, fought through roughly 1,800 kilometers' worth of telegraph line, and emerged at the far end as a photograph you could actually recognize. No train carried it. No courier, no envelope, no darkroom on the far end printing from a shipped negative. And the strangest part is that this was the encore.  

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In the age of AI editing and retouching, high-resolution pen display tablets still offer an irreplaceable user experience. This one from a brand called GAOMON checks a lot of the boxes of what we look for.

 

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The best photo shoot of your year will probably be the one you never planned. Every photographer eventually runs into the gap between careful preparation and the messy reality of shooting, and how you handle that gap shapes the work you end up proud of.

 

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Take a single trip with six different cameras and a hard question follows you home: which one actually earned its place in the bag? Peru offered a real test of that, pitting a video-friendly workhorse against a stills machine that stopped everyone cold.

 

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A fisheye lens locks you into curved horizons and bowed lines, but the 7Artisans 10mm f/2.5 for the Nikon Z mount ships with a way out. A free lens correction profile straightens those shots into a clean wide angle look, and applying it takes a handful of clicks.

 

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Fresh snow skimming the peaks, streams cutting through beaches, and moss-covered cascades that only exist because the storms haven't ripped them clean. Fiordland packs more usable foreground into a single beach than most locations offer in a week, and knowing how to read it is the difference between a snapshot and a photograph you'll return to for years.

 

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The Toronto Blue Jays posted an animated short on Tuesday and spent the afternoon telling fans it was not made with AI. Pull the video down and step through it frame by frame, and the props on a stationary wheelbarrow respell themselves four times in under a second. 

 

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Use a tripod when shooting macro work to reduce the chances of shake creeping into the shot.

Camera shake, which can occur when you're not holding/supporting the camera correctly, can really spoil your shots but it's a problem that can be easily fixed. Most cameras now have features that help them prevent camera shake, however, there are still a few things the photographer can do to limit or even remove the shake that blurs your shots completely.

 

1. Use A Tripod

This may seem like an obvious response, but sometimes it may not be your first thought to use a tripod. A tripod will make a big difference to images if camera shake is a recurring issue. If you're travelling light, even a small tripod/stand that you can keep attached to the bottom of the camera will be handy for placing the camera down without worrying about scratching the bottom.

 

2. Shutter Speeds 

If you're working handheld, try and use the fastest shutter speed possible to minimise the risk of blur. If you're working in low light, try upping the ISO a little to enable you to shoot with faster shutter speeds, too. If your camera doesn't tend to produce good-quality shots when higher ISOs are used, take your tripod with you so you can use longer shutter speeds without having to worry about shake spoiling your shots. 

 

 

3. Remote Release

A remote release will enable you to trigger the shutter without physically pressing the shutter button and causing minute vibrations which can cause shake. Some cameras also allow you to trigger the camera using a connected smartphone or tablet device, which will work just the same as the remote release to stop vibrations. You can also use your camera's self-timer if you don't have one as even though you're still touching the camera, the timer should mean the camera's stopped moving by the time the exposure begins. 

 

4. Stance and Breathing

The way you hold your camera can have a big effect on the amount of blur caused by your own movement. Hold the camera with two hands close to your body and make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart. If composing with the screen, keep your elbows tucked in as you'll stand a better chance of capturing a steady image. Being conscious of your breathing can further minimise shake. Some suggest taking a deep breath, holding it, taking your shot and exhaling while others prefer to do it the other way around. It's not something that's recommended for very long exposures, though! 

 

5. Use Objects For Support

You may find leaning against a tree or a wall useful to steady your images. Do use the built-in level if you do this, however, to make sure that your horizon stays straight, as leaning can cause wonky images. You could also take a beanbag out with you or if you're really struggling to find a support, see if your camera bag will help. 

 

 

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  If you're looking for a project that you can shoot over several weeks or even months have a go at creating a collection of images that all share the same colour.

As this is something that can take quite some time to do, it's something you can shoot alongside your other types of photography or you could try working on several different 'colour themes' all at once.

Your subjects don't have to be the same but it's important that the colour is, that way once you have a few images in your collection, you can begin to group them together to create panels and triptychs to hang on walls or post in online galleries.  

 

As you don't know what you'll be photographing until you see it, it's best to take a zoom lens out with you. By doing so you'll have various focal lengths to play with plus if you plan on walking for a while, you won't have lots of kit weighing you down.

You can sit and create a list of items organised into colour groups you can photograph or try visiting a location and wandering around to see which colour would be best to shoot in that particular place.

Do remember that the lack of other colours does mean you'll have to work harder to ensure your composition is interesting. That means you need to pay particular attention to textures, lines, shapes and framing.

     

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Photographers have a myth, and like most good myths it gets told with real feeling, usually in a comment section, usually in all caps somewhere near the end. Cameras used to be affordable. Real cameras, made by people who cared, sold at honest prices to working photographers who did not have to remortgage anything. Then the industry got greedy, and now a professional body costs as much as a used Corolla. 

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If you had a camera that only shoots in black and white, would you be satisfied with it? Let’s talk about what such a camera can actually bring to the table.

 

We all know that, from the invention of the process of photography until some decades ago, black and white was the only choice until further innovations made color film possible. That is why, for most people, seeing photographs in black and white, regardless of how they were made to be so, gives a feeling of nostalgia and sentimentality.

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Most photographers plan every trip down to the parking spot, the light, and the exact viewpoint. There is another way to work, one that starts with knowing nothing about what you'll shoot when you leave the house.

 

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Presets that carry AI masks are the trick most landscape shooters overlook, and they can shave real minutes off every edit. Fall gives you a short window of color, cool air, and quieter parks, so the less time you spend clicking through the same steps in Lightroom Classic, the more frames you bring home.

 

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A $700 smart telescope and a $4,000 traditional rig pointed at the same patch of sky on the same night in northern New Mexico, and the gap between them was smaller than the price tags suggest. If you've been weighing whether a point-and-shoot device can stand in for a full Milky Way setup, this is the comparison that answers it.

 

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A landscape image either pulls the viewer into the scene or leaves them looking at a flat surface, and the difference usually comes down to how you handle depth. Master a few composition habits and your photos start to feel like a place someone could walk into rather than a picture on a screen.

 

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We know it's not a feature all cameras have but as many of the cameras we review do now have a flip-out screen, it got us thinking about why they're useful and actually, we came up with 8 reasons why more cameras should have a flip-out screen. 

 

1. Bright light 

If you've found the perfect position to shoot, but can't see the image on your screen because of bright sunlight, for example, it can be difficult to compose your shot effectively. If you didn't have a tilting screen, this would mean having to tilt the camera to see what you're shooting, which can end in you losing the ideal shot. With a tilting screen, you can simply partially tilt it to get rid of the glare, without having to move your camera set up at all. 

 

2. Selfies 

The selfie is a word and trend that won't be going away anytime soon so why not embrace it? You can turn your camera's lens to face you and simply click the shutter button but chances are, the framing won't be right and due to the awkward angle you'll be holding the camera at, shake could spoil your shot. Some like to use mirrors, but these don't tend to produce pleasing results either, especially with the camera in-frame. However, if you have a camera with a flip-screen, you can just turn it around so you can see yourself perfectly when setting the shot up. For those without a flip-screen who have a little more time, use a tripod and a remote release to take your self-portrait. For more tips on taking self-portraits, have a read of this: 5 reasons to shoot a self-portrait

 

 

3. Shooting in confined spaces

Taking a photo but can't get behind the camera to take the shot? With a flip-screen, you can leave the camera in its position and still see how the scene looks through your camera's lens.

 

Photo by Joshua Waller

 

4. Shooting from higher angles

When taking photos in a crowd it can be difficult to capture shots of the stage, parade or whatever else you've gone to see when you have rows of people in front of you. If you can, get to the front which will involve a bit of planning and most likely arriving early but at least you'll have a prime spot for your photography. For those who have cameras with screens that tilt and flip, you can simply hold the camera up above your head and check your composition via the flip-screen.

 

5. Shooting at low angles using a tripod

If you are shooting low-level work using a tripod, it can be rather painful if you have to kneel with the camera for a long time to see what you're shooting. It can also lead to wet knees and ruined muddy clothes in bad weather. So, if you enjoy capturing images of fungi in Autumn or spend a lot of time in flowerbeds during the summer, you may want to consider purchasing a camera with a flip-screen so you can still compose your images without having to kneel or lay on the ground. 

 

 

6. Shoot around corners

A camera with a flip-screen allows you to shoot around corners at angles that usually wouldn't be possible with a non-tiltable screen camera. 

 

7. Street photography

By holding your camera at a lower angle and adjusting the screen so you can see what the camera sees without having to move it will mean candid shots in towns and cities will be easier to capture as it won't be so obvious that you're actually taking a photo. In fact, some may think you're just adjusting your camera settings. 

 

Photo by Joshua Waller

 

8. Use Live View

By having the ability to change the angle of your camera's screen you can tweak lights, move reflectors, direct models, adjust still life set-ups etc. and see the effect when using Live View without having to walk round the back of the camera. 

 

Photo by Joshua Waller

 

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GoPro has agreed to merge with a privately held optics company called Starman Optical in a deal worth $285 million. The company will stay listed on the Nasdaq, keep selling cameras, and push into AI data center hardware and defense.

 

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