Digital Camera World March 2020

Wildlife photography requires planning, patience and technique, but the rewards are substantial. A well-composed shot of your subject timed to perfection will have you purring with delight. So for this month’s cover feature, we reveal our hints, tips and hard-learned advice to capture birds, beasts and more like a pro. As ever, Digital Camera is packed with ideas, inspiration and insights – turn the page to discover our highlights of the issue. Something else we’re really excited about here at DC Towers is The Photography Show, which takes place in Birmingham’s NEC between 14-17 March. This four-day event is a must for anyone with a passion for photography and there’s an amazing range of talks, demonstrations and much more – we hope to see you there! Read more in the…

Josef Koudelka Magnum photographer This mainstay of Magnum Photos has been visiting Israel and Palestine for a major panoramic project. He shares his experiences on page 134. Santiago Borja Aviation photographer Santiago is a commerical pilot, which gives him an unusual platform to take some stunning weather shots. Check out his work on page 24. Paul Reiffer Commercial photographer Paul takes ultra-high-definition photos for a genuine A-list of business clients. We join him and his Phase One for a very special photo shoot on page 8. Jim Cumming Nature photographer Jim has been photographing wildlife for over a decade. He shares his techniques for capturing critters in the snow and shares some photos on page 48. Quintin Lake Roving photographer Quintin is on an epic photo walk around the UK coast. This month, he encounters the rowdy tradition of Raisin Weekend and shoots the…

Paul Reiffer Commercial photographer Paul shoots and produces ultra-high definition images of vibrant cities and iconic landscapes for clients including Land Rover, CNN, National Geographic, Ford, British Airways and Hyatt. www.paulreiffer.com Last year was noteworthy for a succession of image resolution records being smashed, as a sensor-size arms race broke out in the digital camera market. From medium-format mirrorless (Fujifilm’s GFX 100: 102MP) to full-frame (Sony’s A7R IV: 61MP), and even a crop-sensor DSLR (Canon’s EOS 90D: 32MP), 2019 saw genuine technical progress. But the launch of the year was surely Phase One’s XT, a pro-grade full-frame medium-format camera designed to be used with the brand’s IQ4 digital back (sensor resolution: 151MP). Some may ask: does any of this really matter? Whether you’re using a full-frame or crop-sensor camera, a resolution of 22MP is perfectly…

1 Phase One XT camera “My landscape camera body,” says Paul, “and the most digitally integrated field camera solution available on the market today.” 2 Rodenstock HR Digaron-W 32mm f/4 Wide and incredibly sharp, this lens has a precise carbon-fibre shutter. 3 Phase One XF camera Coupled with ultra-sharp ‘Blue Ring’ Schneider Kreuznach lenses, this is Paul’s main commercial body, and his first-choice camera for high-res images. 4 Schneider Kreuznach 35mm LS f/3.5 “My XF 35mm lens is my go-to for landscape shoots on the XF body,” says Paul. “One of the sharpest lenses that Phase One makes, this optic allows me to see almost impossible details way out into the distance while still delivering a wide-angle view in one shot.” Phase One IQ4 digital back 150MP “This is my workhorse – the pinnacle of image quality thanks to 151MP of full-frame medium-format sensor…

1 “Get up high if you can – but if not, get down low. We’ve all seen cities and landscapes from eye level, so there’s not much new to show from that angle.” 2 “Don’t rely on Auto White Balance. A small shift in colour temperature can completely change the feel of an image, so get comfortable with correcting it.” 3 “Don’t be afraid of shooting with small apertures at night – purists may cry: “f/8, f/11!” But when I’m shooting car light trails, I’m often at f/16 and a very low ISO – just for a longer period of time.” 4 “Only use long exposures when appropriate. It makes sense some of the time, but they can wash out sunrise colours in the sky, or turn sharp reflections to a silky mush.…

10 things to shoot, edit or create this month, including charity portraits and compressed cityscapes The human eye has the ability to see an extraordinary amount of colour and detail, outside of the visible light range is ultraviolet at one end and infrared at the other. We can’t see infrared light – but I can show you how to take a picture with it. You’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera and an infrared filter. This will ensure that only infrared light is coming through the lens and hitting your cameras sensor. Cheap models can be picked up online for around £20; just make sure you get one that fits the filter thread of your lens. Most modern digital camera sensors, however, have a filter on top of the sensor to virtually cut…