PhotoPlus

How can I apply lens corrections?

awaring — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:56:47 +0000

Q: I’ve had chromatic aberrations and distortion appear in some of my photos. Can I fix this without buying an image-editing program?

A: Shoot in RAW with most Canon – and a few independently built – lenses, and Digital Photo Professional, the program that came free with your camera, can sort it out.

Peripheral illumination

Zoom lenses at the wide-angle extreme of their range are notorious for dark image corners. Click the Peripheral illumination checkbox and adjust the slider.

Chromatic aberration

If colour fringing around high-contrast edges is noticeable, click on a suitable area to see it magnified (top right), then use the sliders to tune it out.

Distortion

Zoom lenses often suffer from barrel distortion at the wide-angle end and pincushion at the telephoto end. Click Distortion and adjust strength with the slider.

Adobe announces a major update to its Creative Cloud

hlatham — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:04:55 +0000

Today Adobe announces that Creative Cloud now includes the next generation of “CC” desktop applications and delivers new community and publishing capabilities.

With a brand new set of “CC” desktop applications and cross-device collaboration and publishing capabilities, creative files can be stored and shared, via Creative Cloud, on Mac OS, Windows, iOS and Android; and Behance, the world’s leading online creative community. This integration with Creative Cloud enables users to showcase their work and get feedback on projects and gain global exposure.

“We’ve added a ton of new innovation to all our CC desktop apps like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. These apps include new features that increase productivity, streamline the effort to build mobile content and showcase some stunning new imaging and video science. And in addition to the traditional areas of innovation these apps are now connected to the powerful publishing and community features integral to the Creative Cloud experience,” said David Wadhwani, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media, Adobe. “And with even more great updates coming to Creative Cloud throughout the year, we can’t wait to see the incredible work our customers are going to deliver.”

With Creative Cloud, publishing finished work has never been easier… with enhanced services that build and power websites, mobile apps, tablet publications, online portfolios, and content for virtually any medium and device. The new features include:

Creative Cloud Experience on the Desktop

With the new Creative Cloud desktop app, your entire creative world is synced and organised across your desktop, website, and mobile device. You can stay connected to work on Behance; track feedback; and install and manage apps and updates. More features will be added soon to manage your files and desktop fonts within this same experience.

Integration With The World’s Leading Creative Community

With Behance now integrated with Creative Cloud, members are able to publish their own portfolios, follow other creatives, publish work-in-progress from within a growing number of CC apps and solicit feedback from the worldwide creative community. Over 1.4 million creatives globally are part of the Behance network.

Store, Share and Collaborate

All files and assets can be shared between the desktop, cloud and mobile devices. A designer can take a photo on their iPad, use Photoshop® Touch to refine the photo while on the go, then access that file, via the cloud, and use Photoshop CC on their Mac or Windows PC to further enhance the image. Designers can send files to view, download or comment. Individual members receive 20GB of storage.

Seamless Publishing

Creative Cloud members have access to the services necessary to publish highly personalised portfolio websites using Behance ProSite, high-impact digital publications for iPad using Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) Single Edition, and PhoneGap™ Build to create and publish mobile apps for any device. Adobe Typekit features an unmatched library of old-classic to new-favourite fonts for use on websites and, coming soon in an update to Creative Cloud, creatives will also be able to quickly find the perfect fonts in the growing Adobe Typekit library, sync them to their computer, and have them immediately available for use in any desktop application. Full Creative Cloud members will soon have access to over 700 fonts, installed with a single click.

The following new family of CC desktop applications are now available exclusively to Creative Cloud members

This update to Creative Cloud includes the next generation of 15 Adobe desktop applications

Adobe Photoshop CC<http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/photoshop.html

InDesign® CC<http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/indesign.html

Illustrator® CC<http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/illustrator.html

Dreamweaver® CC<http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/dreamweaver.html

Premiere® Pro CC<http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/premiere.html and much, much more.

Hundreds of new features are now included in these latest versions…

Photoshop CC

New sharpening technologies and designer workflow enhancements. Camera Shake Reduction deblurs images that would have otherwise been lost due to camera movement. All-new Smart Sharpen makes texture and detail pop, and Adobe Camera Raw 8 adds even more powerful photographic controls to straighten and perfect images. Photoshop CC and Illustrator CC are the first Adobe desktop applications to include the ability to post files directly to Behance, showcasing work immediately and integrating peer feedback into the creative process.

Illustrator CC

For designers, the Touch Type tool offers a new level of creativity with type. Move, scale, and rotate text characters knowing that it remains editable. This feature works with a mouse, stylus or multi-touch device. Illustrator also enables painting with a brush made from a photo. Art, Pattern, and Scatter brushes can contain raster images, so designers can create complex organic designs quickly, with simple brush strokes. And Illustrator CC features integration with Behance, so work can be shared directly to Behance<http://www.behance.net/> to get feedback and showcase projects. A new, modern architecture for InDesign CC turbocharges performance, and in-browser editing in Adobe Muse™ CC — a tool for designers to create and publish HTML websites without writing code — allows clients to make edits to a published website, which can then be reviewed, approved, and updated by the designer.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

For video customers new editing features, customisations and improvements to help editors work efficiently. Premiere Pro CC integrates powerful colour workflows, with the addition of the Lumetri™ Deep Colour Engine to easily apply rich colour grading looks. A high-impact version of Adobe After Effects® CC brings motion graphics and visual effects artists more creative possibilities and allows them to work more easily in 3D with the new Live 3D Pipeline with Maxon Cinema4D integration. There are also all-new versions of Adobe SpeedGrade CC, Audition® CC, Prelude™ CC and Adobe Story CC Plus.

Web designers and developers can look forward to significant advances in Adobe’s family of Edge tools and services. The latest Edge Animate CC lets web designers create animated and interactive content with amazing ease and precision, using native HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Dreamweaver users can look forward to the most up-to-date CSS and properties via the intuitive visual editing tool, CSS Designer. And Adobe Flash® Pro CC features a modern, modular 64-bit architecture rebuilt from the ground up to be fast and reliable.

Adobe Create Now

To mark this introduction, Adobe has also launched Create Now: a Celebration of Creativity. Over the course of the programme’s first month, Adobe will host a variety of collaborative art projects, commemorate the birthday of a design icon and provide a forum for creatives to use Adobe tools to express themselves in fun, engaging and unexpected ways. More information is available at: http://adobe.ly/createnow.

Membership Plans and Availability

This major update to Creative Cloud is available now. Current Creative Cloud members receive all of this innovation as part of their existing membership, at no extra cost. Special promotional pricing is available to existing customers who own CS3 or later. Individual, education, team, government and enterprise membership plans are available. For pricing details, visit: https://creative.adobe.com/plans<https://creative.adobe.com/plans?plan=individual&sdid=KGXGU

To find out more and hear what we think about Adobe’s Creative Cloud and Photoshop CC, check out PhotoPlus July issue 76, on sale 25th June.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Now Available

cgillo — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:02:45 +0000

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 is now available for Mac OS and Windows. The product can be purchased an an individual license or as part of the Creative Cloud package.

Vice president of products, Winston Hendrickson at Creative Media Solutions, Adobe said, ““Lightroom was originally conceived through the requests of Adobe customers, and this feedback continues to drive each new iteration. As the digital photography landscape advances and evolves, Lightroom is the best solution for photographers and passionate hobbyists who want to get the most out of their digital images.”

New features in Lightroom 5 include the Advanced Healing Brush, the Upright tool and the Radial Gradient feature. See our thoughts on the new tool here.

Pricing and Availability

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 is available now for immediate download for Adobe Creative Cloud members. Standalone software is available and participating retailers for £102.57 or £57.64 for upgrades. For more detailed information about product features, upgrade policies, pricing and language versions, visit the website.

To see our first thoughts on the software and our overview on Creative Cloud make sure you pick up a copy of PhotoPlus issue 76 on sale 25th June 2013.

Photoshop tutorial: Make Raw adjustments to your landscape shots

Improve your sunset shots in Photoshop Elements

Samyang announce two new lenses

hlatham — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:32:47 +0000

Following the launch of the new Samyang 24mm Tilt and Shift lens earlier this year, Samyang have just announced the addition of two more lenses to their product range in July.

A 16mm f/2.0 wide-angle lens and a 300mm f/6.3 reflex lens, both compatible for DSLRs and mirrorless compact cameras with APS-C sensors.

Wide angle – 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS – Available in July for £419.99 inc VAT

The new Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS is a manual-focus lens featuring an optical construction of 13 elements arranged in 11 groups, including one ED-type lens with an extra low dispersion ratio, one optical glass aspherical lens and one hybrid aspherical. The lenses have multi-layer anti-reflective UMC coating that ensures very good light transmission. Available in Canon EF and M mounts.

Light compact mirror – Samyang 300mm f/6.3 Reflex - Available in July for £289.99 inc VAT

The Samyang 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS is a small-size, manual focus, reflex lens for mirrorless compact cameras. The optical structure features 9 elements arranged in 6 groups, including one ED-type lens ensuring high contrast and effectively preventing chromatic aberration. With its long focal length, small size and weight of only 315g, this lens is a perfect companion for both landscape and nature photography. Available in Canon M mount only.

For further details visit the Samyang website at: www.samyang.co.uk

Improve your sunset shots in Photoshop Elements

awaring — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:06:08 +0000

Q: I’ve taken some early winter sunset shots but they look a bit washed-out and lack colour and contrast. How can I give them more impact?

A: Add some oomph with colour enhancements in Photoshop Elements, to make your sunsets look their best.

Colour variations

Open the image in Photoshop Elements and select Enhance>AdjustColour>ColourVariations in the drop-down menu. This will open a separate dialogue box.

Pick a colour

Tweak the Adjust Colour Intensity slider as necessary, and then click the Increase Red button, for both Midtones and Highlights, to add a sunset glow.

Get curvy

Use Enhance>AdjustColour again, but this time choose Adjust Colour Curves. Select the Increase Contrast option and drag individual sliders if necessary.

Canon DSLR Tips: 5 hints and tips for ultra-wide-angle lenses

hlatham — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:00:18 +0000

Have you recently bought a new ultra-wide-angle lens? So you think you know how to use it? Like many of us, you may have your favourite go-to pieces of kit, but are you really getting the best out of it…

In our ongoing reviews on various pieces of Canon camera equipment, we want to help you better harness your shooting techniques and that means making sure you’re using your equipment to your advantage. Call them tips, or call it a user’s guide to your favourite Canon kit. The advice below comes from experts who have used Canon kit and know it inside and out.

Here’s how to get the most out of your Canon ultra-wide-angle lens…

1. Filter edges

Check the corners of the picture when using filters on an ultra-wide-angle lens. The edge of the filter can end up being captured, particularly if you’re using a full-frame camera; if this happens, zoom in slightly.

2. Tripod technique

When setting up a tripod to support a long lens, you’d position the leading leg straight forward for extra stability. With ultra-wide shots there’s a danger that the leg will appear in the shot, so reverse the tripod.

3. Polarising filters

Avoid using a polarising filter when shooting clear blue skies with ultra-wide-angle lenses. The polarising effect can end up being uneven across the frame, with some parts appearing darker than others.

4. Lens Flare

The lens hood of wide-angle lenses aren’t as deep as those of telephotos, so it’s harder to stop flare and ghosting from appearing in shots. Try using your hand (out of shot) to shield the front element.

5. Distance scale

Use the distance scale to help you set the hyperfocal distance for landscapes or other shots where depth of field is critical.

Photoshop tutorial: Make Raw adjustments to your landscape shots

cgillo — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:22:23 +0000

Do you find your landscape images lack impact? Watch our video tutorial and learn how to make Raw adjustments to your landscape images to get the most out of your Raw files.

WATCH MORE

How to use ND Grads: A step by step video guide

Canon DSLR video tutorial: Understanding the Tv mode

Canon 1D series firmware updates released

awaring — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:44:28 +0000

Canon has released firmware updates for the EOS-1D X, 1D Mark VI and 1Ds Mark III.

EOS-1D X

Firmware Version 1.2.4 for the EOS-1D X incorporates the following functional improvements and fixes:

1. Improves the speed of the camera’s acquisition of focus when using a Canon Speedlite’s AF-assist beam.
2. Reduces the time it takes to display the metering result on the LCD or viewfinder when the meter has been activated.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which a ‘Caution 02′ message is unnecessarily recorded in the camera status log.
4. Fixes a phenomenon in which continuous shooting pauses when using a Canon Speedlite.
5. Fixes a phenomenon, when the Canon GP-E1 is attached, in which the GPS device settings are reset to default settings when the camera has been powered off. This phenomenon occurs only with firmware Version 1.2.1. After changing the GPS device settings, power off the camera before removing the battery. This will ensure that the camera’s GPS device settings are saved.

EOS-1D Mark IV

Firmware Version 1.1.3 for the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV camera incorporates the following functional improvement and fix:

1. Enables the centre AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens and an Extender, whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which abnormal images may result when continuous shooting mode is enabled and the image size is set to “RAW” or “RAW+JPEG”.

EOS-1Ds Mark III

Firmware Version 1.2.2 for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III camera incorporates the following functional improvement:
1. Enables the centre AF point to autofocus when the camera is used with the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X lens and an Extender, whose combined maximum aperture is f/8.

Download the firmware update from: http://software.canon-europe.com
Select your country and camera model from the drop-down menus, then click the Firmware button and select your computer operating system to download the update.

Canon DSLR Tips: 5 hints and tips for telephoto lenses

hlatham — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:47:07 +0000

Have you recently bought a new telephoto lens? So you think you know how to use it? Like many of us, you may have your favourite go-to pieces of kit, but are you really getting the best out of it…

Here’s how to get the most out of your Canon telephoto lenses…

1. Camera shake

Telephoto lenses magnify the effects of camera shake, so make sure your shutter speed is at least equivalent to the effective focal length of your lens. Use a tripod, monopod or beanbag for bitingly sharp results.

2. Stabilisation

Canon’s popular telephoto lenses feature two image stabilisation modes for reducing camera shake. Choose the ’1′ setting for general photography, and the ’2′ setting for panning to follow moving subjects.

3. Teleconverters

A teleconverter helps you to fill the frame when even a long lens can’t get you close enough. It costs you some light though, so exposure times will be longer unless you select a wider aperture or higher ISO.

4. Compress the perspective

Telephoto zooms aren’t just for photographing wildlife and sporting events; you can use them in landscape and cityscape photography to compress the perspective and create a ‘layered’ effect.

5. Perfect portraits

Wide-angle lenses can create distorted portraits, whereas the ‘flattening’ effect of a telephoto lens can help create flattering ones. Use wide apertures and distant backgrounds to get silky-smooth results.

Top 10 Tips For Golf Photography

hlatham — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:39 +0000

Shooting golf is a very specialised area of sports photography. Ideally you need to be a keen golfer with a good knowledge of the sport and its rules – it’s important to understand the etiquette needed to navigate your way around the course. Follow our top tips below to improve your golf photography.

1. Quiet, please!

Unwanted noises are a big no-no on a golf course. Once a player has addressed the ball, never shoot until after they’ve made contact with the ball – the sound of a shutter clicking on the downswing is extremely off-putting. Always disable any bleeps on your cameras – this can be done by selecting AI Servo as your focus mode. Be sure to silence your mobile phone, too!

2. Freeze the action

It’s usually best to shoot golf using Tv (shutter priority) mode and to set a fast shutter speed of around 1/500 sec, which will enable you to shoot with a long lens handheld. Shoot in Continuous mode, and set your camera to the fastest burst rate possible to maximize your chances of getting the perfect shot.

3. Take the right kit

My favourite lenses for shooting golf are a Canon EF 500mm f/4L coupled with an EF 70-200mm f/2.8mm. I also keep an EF 16-35mm f/2.8L in my bag for more creative wide shots. It’s also a good idea to invest in a good quality monopod; you’ll need one to hold your long lenses steady, and carrying heavy glass around a golf course for hours can get pretty tiring.

4. Get in position

Positioning is key, and knowing the sport will help with this. Keep track of where players’ shots have landed in relation to the pin to help you get into the best position for their next shot. It’s always a good idea to acquaint yourself with the course you’ll be shooting on to identify the most attractive holes and shots; you’ll also be able to find convenient walkthroughs between holes that will allow you to move between different parts of the course.

5. The golden hours

Ideally, the best times of day to get interesting shots are early and late. Golf courses really come to life when the sun is low and the shadows emphasise every undulation on the course.

6. Don’t be flash

Never, ever use flash during play. This is likely to land you in lots of trouble with players, and the marshals if you’re shooting during a competition!

7. Watch the backdrops

Keep an eye on the background – it can really make or break a shot. Tee areas that have impressive backdrops make for great shots, as do elevated greens. And when you’re cropping in really tight with a long lens, try and find an angle for a clean background in order to keep all the focus on the player.

8. Go landscape

Don’t be afraid to be creative. Putting down the long lens and treating your shot like a dramatic landscape can produce stunning shots. It can also be fun to play around with ND grads to get that dramatic sky look.

9. Getting started

A good way to start is to ask if you can shoot friends or members at your local club, but seek permission from the club first. When you’re comfortable on the course with your cameras try shooting local tournaments. Again, always obtain permission first.

10. Dress sense

Dress appropriately – jeans and T-shirts just aren’t acceptable on course. Unless the weather is guaranteed I normally wear plain blue waterproofs; being caught at the far end of the course in a downpour is no fun if you and your kit isn’t covered up!