N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

this issue’s special contributors…

Chris Nevard PAGE 6 Model-maker and photographer Chris schools our Apprentice in taking brilliantly realistic-looking shots of train sets. Ross Harvey PAGE 26 Nikon Ambassador Ross shares the secrets behind his clever documentary shots of everyday life on the streets. Paul Parent PAGE 66 N-Photo reader Paul invites us to view his macro gallery of creepy-crawlies, revealing the hidden beauty of wasps and hornets. Ellie Sharples PAGE 68 Animal-lover Ellie documents her beautiful shallow depth-of-field photography of her faithful canine companion, Dax. Sophie Harris-Taylor PAGE 82 Fine art portrait photographer Sophie explains why she seeks out ordinary people to pose, rather than professional models. Pieter Ten Hoopen PAGE 90 Nikon Ambassador Pieter documents love stories with a difference – those of refugees searching for a better life. SUBSCRIBE AND GET A FREE VANGUARD MESSENGER BAG! Subscribe from just £12.50 and get N-Photo delivered direct to your door, plus we’ll…

welcome to issue 103

It’s a funny one, street photography. After all, it is, in essence, documenting the unremarkable goings-on of everyday life. But developing your photographer’s eye can reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary, and carefully considered compositions can bestow shots with laugh-out-loud humour. Nikon Ambassador Ross Harvey exclusively reveals his secrets for creative street photography in this issue’s lead feature. Our Apprentice learns to shoot streets of a different kind; in the miniature world of model railways, as pro Chris Nevard shares his techniques for making these scaled-down sets look larger than life. In this issue’s Big Test, we turn the spotlight on studio lighting, weighing up the options of mains and battery-powered lights, as well as constant LED devices. We also try out six flash triggers for more creative off-camera flash setups in…

mini moments

THE APPRENTICE NAME: Jim Stewart CAMERA: Nikon D5200 Jim is a retired airline manager and spends much of his spare time playing guitar. His first Nikon camera was an F2 Photomic, but he now owns a D5200. His main subjects are his grandchildren, although he also enjoys photographing architecture. Jim also builds model locomotives, and is keen to learn how to focus stack and shoot small subjects. THE PRO NAME: Chris Nevard CAMERA: Nikon D700 Chris has been interested in photography and railways for over 40 years. He cites famed steam-era railway photographer, Ivo Peters, as his inspiration for both passions. The Guildford-based photographer and model maker currently shoots for model railway magazine Model Rail and also runs his own bespoke model making service. He’s rarely without his trusty Nikon D700. See more of his work by…

technique assessment

1 SHOOT IN RAW Chris says… I only ever shoot in Raw as it affords me complete control when editing. It’s also the reason why I’m not interested in shooting with huge megapixel sensors. My D700’s resolution more than meets my needs, and I don’t want to be storing massive files when I don’t have to. 2 USE MANUAL FOCUS Chris says… I never use autofocus. I work with stationary subjects, so speed isn’t a factor, and I’m working very close to my subjects too. Manual focus gives me more control. I also do a lot of focus stacking and find that focusing manually is the easiest, most accurate, way to photograph a stack. 3 APERTURE PRIORITY Chris says… I switch between Manual mode and Aperture Priority. I use Aperture Priority when I focus stack…

how to: focus stack

1 USE A TRIPOD Chris says… Focus stacking is essentially taking several identical shots, moving the focus point slightly between them, and it’s therefore vital that every shot is perfectly aligned. Set up your camera on a tripod so that it’s rock steady and be careful not to nudge it – or the zoom ring – between shots. 2 MANUAL FOCUS Chris says… Start by manually focusing on the foreground and work your way back (take a photo each time you alter your point of focus). Note exactly where the image begins to soften and ensure that section is crisp when you take your next shot. I slightly overlap my areas of focus so I know everything will be crisp. 3 BLEND YOUR STACK Chris says… Open your stack collectively in Camera Raw and manipulate…

chris nevard

ARNE WHARF I like the sweeping wide-angle effect of this industrial narrow gauge scene, set on the Isle of Purbeck in the 1950s. I used my ancient mid-1980s 28-85mm AF-n zoom and a Nikon D700. This vintage optic has a macro setting at the 28mm end. It was taken using light from a nearby window. POLBROOK GURNEY This photo is a good example of focus stacking to increase depth of field – there’s no other way of getting everything in such a small scene in focus. This 1/76th scale (aka ‘OO gauge’) model depicts a long-gone Somerset coal field and was shot under the model’s own built-in lighting rig. COMBWICH WEST I build layouts on commission. For this recent model, I dug out my 13-year-old Nikon D200 and married it with my 28-85mm. Today’s Raw…