Professional Documents
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www.betterphotography.in
NoisE REdUction FiltErs An exclusive head-to-head of ve popular software packages to nd the best one for you
DIGITAL TECHNIQUE
10 quick ways to improve your photographs in Picasa David Alan Harvey and his world of joy and celebration
REviEWEd Kodak EasyShare C142 Fujilm FinePix Z700 EXR Nikon COOLPIX S4000 Aperture 3.0
Living across three centuries: Portraits of centenarians
GREAT MASTERS
PHOTOFEaTuRE
PROFILE
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SnapShots GearGuide
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BetterPictures
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Book Review The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-processing Software of the month DupDetector Look Whos Shooting Sandesh Ravikumar
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HEaD-TO-HEaD
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SHOOTING TECHNIQUE
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ON THE COVER
ON ASSIGNMENT
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Kodak EasyShare C142 A small budget compact camera for snapshooting Nikon COOLPIX S4000 More than just a touchscreen camera?
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DESIGN: ASHWIN R BORICHA
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InFocus
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ShowCase PhotoFinish
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DIGITAL TECHNIQUE
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PROFILE
Vidura Jang Bahdur A photographer who uses photography to tell personal stories
MY BEsT SHOT
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DIFFERENT STROKES
Quick Fixes in Picasa 100 10 Learn how to use Picasa to edit your images instantly
PHOTOFEATURE
Photograph
FEEDbaCk.............................................................14 PHOTOCRITIQUE..................................................102 Q & A.................................................................. 110 1000 WORDS........................................................128 YOUR PICTUREs...................................................134 BP BUYERs GUIDE.............................................. 204
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fter months of speculation and rumours, Sony nally unveiled the nal production versions of the NEX system, a mockup of which they had showcased at the Press Marketing Association event in February. The company launched two mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, the NEX-3 and NEX-5. Both cameras use a new 14.6-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, that was showcased by the company at the same event. The NEX cameras are the rst cameras to use this sensor. Built around a new E-mount, they are also compatible with Sony Alpha, Minolta and Konica Minolta AF lenses by using an adapter. The cameras have APS-C sized sensors in a body that is even more compact than other mirrorless cameras like the Olympus PEN E-P1 and Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1. The cameras have a number of features including high-resolution tilt-and-shift
LCDs, HD video, an Auto High Dynamic Range mode and Sweep Panorama. The panoramas can also be viewed in 3D on a compatible Sony BRAVIA television. While most of the photography-related features are identical to both cameras, the NEX-5 made of magnesium alloy has superior build quality, as compared to the NEX-3 that is made of polycarbonate. The other difference between the two cameras is the NEX-5s ability to shoot 1920 X 1080i Full HD video, as compared to the NEX-3 that shoots 720p HD video. Both cameras also have built-in stereo microphones and allow autofocus during video shooting. Unlike Sony Alpha cameras, the NEX system does not have in-body stabilisation. The company also launched three kit lens optionsa 16mm f/2.8 xed wide-angle lens, an 1855mm f/3.5-5.6 stabilised zoom and an 18200mm f/3.5-6.3 stabilised lens. All three lenses have silent focus motors and are optimised for video recording.
Evolution in action: First God said, Let there be light. Then he created two nude models. Now we have photographers.
BIll JaY (1940-2009)
Bill Jay was born in Maidenhead, England. Early in his career, Jay worked for several photographic periodicals and was the rst editor/director of Creative Camera magazine and founder of Album magazine. Jay also founded the program of photographic studies at Arizona State University, USA, where he taught history and criticism classes for 25 years. His career includes being the rst Director of Photography at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, UK. In his literary career, Bill Jay has published over 400 articles and is the author of more than 20 books on the history and criticism of photography.
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lens has a maximum aperture of f/2-4.9). One prominent feature that the IXUS 300HS boasts of, as compared to the S90, is the inclusion of HD video recording. The 300HS shoots 720p HD video with optical zoom during video. It also features a Super Slow Motion movie mode that records 340 X 240 movies at 240fps.
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the intention of providing a platform for children to discover their talent, groom them and also showcase their photography skills to the world. The Grand Prize for the contest is a Chevrolet Spark, and other prizes like SLRs and digital cameras will also be given away. The last day to register for the contest is 15 June 2010. For more information, visit: www.igenius.org.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD TEsT
GearGuide
HOw WE TESt
Product Categorisation
We rst segregate products into categories for the purpose of equitability in testing. The DSLR is divided into entrylevel, semi-professional and professional categories. For compacts, we distinguish between advanced and basic compact cameras. Similarly, we also test consumer and pro lenses, ashguns, printers, and other photographic accessories and gear.
The Process
We primarily test for features, performance, build, ergonomics, warranty and support. While this remains constant, the weightage we give to these parameter differs from category to category, because different types of consumers have diverse expectations from products.
Final Ratings
Under each main parameter, we 36 list out hundreds of individual variables (for eg. colour accuracy for individual colours in different lighting, individual features, dynamic range, center-to-edge denition, light fall-off, etc.) against which we either give points or simply mark yes or no. Thus, we arrive at a score for that parameter, and then, the nal score, denoted as a percentage. Additionally, based on the current pricing of a product, a star rating for Value for Money is considered. Value for Money does not affect the nal percentage, because prices for products change constantly.
Raj Lalwani
Ambarin Afsar pits some of the latest noise reduction (NR) lters against each other in an intensive head-to-head test.
A World of Noise
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30% 40% 30% uppose you have made a spectacular night shot of a monument. Now, when you are admiring this image, you nd it spoiled by a sprinkling of dots and specks known as noise. Most of us have encountered this situation and wish for a x that will restore the image to all its glory. We tell you what noise is, how noise reduction works and which noise reduction lters can help clean up your images in a jiffy. Any system meant for capturing images will also produce some noise. All digital cameras, from compacts to DSLRs are susceptible to noise which is most obvious at high ISO values and with long exposures, such as night shots. The lm equivalent for noise is grain and on television, you must have observed it as snow. Since this noise spoils images, it needs to be removed for better visual quality at all ISO values, regardless of sensor size. However, there are different patterns of noise that vary with lighting and colour, which make noise reduction extremely difcult. So, we pitted some of the most popular noise reduction lters against each other to see which lter meets up to its claims. In this head-to-head, we were looking for effectiveness of automatic noise reduction presets, the manual control allowed by the lters and the kind of noise eliminated by the lters. Another deciding factor was that the lter should not compromise on image quality and sharpness while performing noise reduction.
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At the end of25% the calendar year, the ve highest rated products in each category automatically gets nominated for the Better Features Photography Excellence Awards. Performance A panel of experts then decide the Build Quality winners. This is BPs recognition of Ergonomics the very best products launched Warranty & in the course of the year, and the Support companies that made them.
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Noise Ninja 2 Pro Version USD 79.95 (approx. Rs. 3700)
Ease of Use
The user interface takes some getting used to and is complex for a rst-time user. You will need a few hours of dedicated exploring to understand the functions of each tool, tab and their respective sub-options. Tabbed panels like the Noise Filter, Noise Proler, Noise Brush and so on are placed close together. It becomes difcult to navigate through the interface due to the proximity of these tabs. Another setback in the exploring of the interface, is the square-marqee like preview region. Toggling this region on and off becomes cumbersome. Noise Ninja could have simply included a split-screen preview which would display the effect of NR settings in a more simple manner.
Platforms Supported Photoshop, Elements, Aperture, Paint Shop Pro, Capture NX Minimum Requirements Pentium-compatible Processor (Windows); G3 or better (Mac); 256MB RAM (for both users); 50MB HDD Space www.picturecode.com
Features
Noise Ninja has features like automatic proling and automatic prole loading. You can either create your own proles or download device-specic proles for a range of conditions from the ofcial website. Noise Ninja then uses the EXIF data of an image to load the appropriate prole automatically. This feature is aimed at busy photographers who process hundreds of photos in a singlebatch. Besides automatic proling, users are also allowed manual control over noise reduction settings Also, selective noise removal has been made possible with a feature called the Noise Brush. It can be used to paint on parts of the image to undo or redo the effects of noise removal. Additionally, Noise Ninja Pro also boasts of a batch processing feature that can automatically lter multipleimages.
Website
Noise Test
Red Channel
Blue Channel
Performance
Noise Ninja lacks the ability to reduce noise based on the size of noise artifacts such as ne grains or large clumps. Yet, you can use available options to reduce noise without compromising on detail. Once a prole has been generated, the default NR settings need further tweaking. Spending a few moments adjusting them can considerably reduce the loss of detail. 37 Green Channel
All Channels
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Noise Ninja excels in the use of device-specic proles, ne control of luma noise and good automated results. It also lters colour noise separately from luminance noise.
FINALRATINGS
Performance
Efcient NR with detail preservation
Features
Needs more manual NR control
Ease of Use
Complex interface that takes some getting used to,
OVERALL
The interface supports greyscale previews of individual channels. This is especially helpful in identifying noise and the effects of NR in Red, Green, Blue, Luminance and Chrominance Channels
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he FinePix Z700EXR is not only the rst touchscreen camera from Fujilm, but it also has a number of interesting features. With a number of touchscreen cameras in the market, we were keen to see whether the usability and functionality of the Z700EXR is any different.
Features
The Z700EXR is a 12MP camera that is based on a Super CCD sensor. It is equipped with the companys proprietary EXR technology that allows you to capture an expanded dynamic range and minimise noise in images shot in low-light situations. The camera has a 5x optical zoom lens, but its wide end only begins at 35mm (in 35mm parlance). The camera is equipped with other features like CCD-shift image stabilisation and HD video. The Z700EXR also has a Super Intelligent Flash mode for
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better macro photography and even has a Film Simulation mode. The camera offers Automatic Scene Recognition mode and also a brand new Auto Dog / Cat Detection mode that actually works quite well. Even the Face Detection function of the camera is quite sophisticated. For instance, the Couple Timer automatically shoots when the camera detects two faces close to each other. Apart from detecting faces, the camera can tag and register up to eight names. These names not only appear in real time, but also allow users to search for images by name. This is also useful because the camera lets you upload images and videos to websites like Facebook and YouTube. Playback on the large touchscreen of the camera is a joy, as it allows you to categorise photographs, depending on whether they are solo shots, couple pictures or groupportraits.
WHATS IN THE BOX Rechargable battery Battery charger USB Cable CD-ROM Camera strap
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Commendable Performer
The Kodak EasyShare C142 is an inexpensive camera targeted at the rst-time buyer. But does its performance match up? Neha Mutreja takes a closer look to nd out if it is worth your money.
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odak is known to produce cameras that are extremely simple to use. The EasyShare C142 is no exception. The camera targets a rst time buyer, who wants to click images without getting into the details and complexity of photography.
This 10-megapixel camera has a 3x optical zoom lens (34102mm in 35mm parlance). The camera is packed with 20 scene modes that include Self Portrait, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, High ISO and many others. The Smart Capture mode reads a scene and congures the settings according to the scene. The camera includes Face
Detection, but lacks the Face Recognition function that is present in the slightly more expensive Kodak cameras. Additionally, the camera allows you to upload your images and videos instantly to social networking websites like Facebook and YouTube. If you wish to steer away from the Auto and Scene modes and experiment, the C142 also has a Program mode that allows you to control settings like White Balance, Exposure Compensation and ISO. The video mode of the camera can shoot at a resolution of 640 x 480, at 30fps. The camera uses two AA batteries, which is handy because you can purchase extra rechargeable batteries easily for extendeduse.
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Shridhar Kunte tests the COOLPIX S4000, a touchscreen camera from Nikon to nd out if it has anything more than the touch functionality.
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Features
he recent surge of touchscreen technology has meant that every prominent camera manufacturer has at least one touchscreen compact camera in their lineup. The COOLPIX S4000 is a successor to the famous COOLPIX S230.
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The S4000 is a 12MP camera with a 4x zoom lens that begins from 27mm and goes up to 108mm (in 35mm parlance). The camera is equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen LCD that has a resolution of approximately 4,60,000 dots. Available in six different colours, the S4000 has a number of features that will appeal to casual photographers. The Smart Portrait mode combines a number
of efcient technologies to enhance portrait shots. The mode ensures accurate Face-Priority AF and also smoothens skin. Itdetects smiles and also uses the Blink Proof and Blink Warning technologies to ensure that the subjects eyes are open. Finally, the Smart Portrait also has an InCamera Red-Eye Fix that digitally corrects the image within the camera. To reduce blur, the camera has a maximum ISO of 3200 (at full resolution), but no other form of image stabilisation. It also has a Motion Detection mode that reduces camera shake while shooting moving subjects. The Best Shot Selector mode shoots a sequence of ten frames and automatically saves the one with the sharpest focus. In addition to this, the camera can also shoot 720p HD video.
WHATS IN THE BOX Camera Rechargeable battery Battery charger Strap A/V cable Quick start manual Software CD-ROM (user manual included)
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On the occasion of our thirteenth anniversary, 13 great masters draw from a lifetime of experience to give you over 150 carefully selected tips on photography and ways of seeing. They debate the idea of the perfect moment and share their personal practices. Turn the page for an insight into the minds of some of the biggest photographic legends in the country.
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The vivid blue hues combined with the deep, dark gouges on the side of a container convey a sense of neglect and seem melancholy.
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The beauty of ordinary things becomes apparent when captured with acamera.
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veryday, people walk past objects like old vehicles, torn out posters, grafti on walls. However, I have found that these day-to-day objects remain unnoticed till someone captures them with a camera. When such commonplace things are presented to viewers in the form of a well-composed photograph, the inherent beauty in them becomes apparent. It is a sort of a paradox. It is this paradox that I have attempted to capture in my images. I do not like to style or arrange the elements in my photographs. They just present themselves to me in a particular manner and I simply capture them. However, I do make it a point to actively look for beautiful, hidden details.
My Perspective
When I shot the rst images of this series, I was the marketing manager for a TV station. In those days, we were in constant need for images that had strong textures. So, I began shooting images that were mainly to be used as backgrounds for onair promos.
My Assignment
Description
To capture stark urban textures and themes, ones that seem ordinary and usually go unnoticed
Duration
It is an ongoing project.
Notes
Uneven lighting can add depth and make images look less at. Such lighting also brings out the colours by making them look vivid.
The frame is divided into equal halves by the horith. The dark foreground adds to th
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The combination of shapes like the square of the bolt and a weathered background make this image of the side of a barrack lookstriking.
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Commercial photographer Chase Jarvis goes shooting with his cell phone to prove that the best camera is the one that is with you at all times.
Cell phone diptychs are easy to create, and are a lot of fun too.
fter years of shooting commercial assignments with high-end cameras and lenses, Ihave found myself wishing that I had a simpler device to work with. For instance, I wanted a device with which I can take snapshots of
everyday, interesting things I see around me in my daily life. This is an activity Igreatly enjoy, but using a heavy DSLR for such pictures can get rather cumbersome. I found myself wishing for a camera that is easier to use, pocketable and something that I do not have to bother about much.
Duration
An ongoing project, which I started almost three years ago when I bought my rst iPhone camera.
Notes
Cell phone cameras are an alternate way of seeing. Do not care so much about the nal resultjust go out and have fun.
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The quality of cell phone photos is not great, but they have a unique contrasty look.
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The advantage of a cell phone camera is that it is always with you, so that you can make use of any photographic opportunity you get.
So, when I rst bought an iPhone almost three years ago, my rst instinct was to check how good its camera was. That started my photographic tryst with these tiny, unassuming things that are always with us, wherever we go. Over time, Irealised that the experience of shooting with any cell phone camera is a visual delight as it allows you to see the world in a completely different way, as compared to a regular compact camera or DSLR.
My Perspective
Cell phone cameras have sparked off a huge revolution. The whole idea of having a camera with you all the time is something we always talk about, but it is usually wishful thinking. Over the years, Ihave bought a number of point-and-shoot cameras with the intention of carrying one everywhere I go, but they only end up gathering dust in my drawers. However, in this age of communication, we never
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PROF I L E
ShowCase
Shobhan takes a closer look into the world of Vidura Jang Bahadur, for whom photography is a medium of telling intimate stories.
In Personal Terms
a photographer. He still does not really know how photography happened. He does not recall a specic moment or stage when he realised that photography was going to be an indispensable part of his life. It is something that happened very naturally, and he just went along with theow.
If not a photographer, he would have been running a small caf as he enjoys cooking. Else, he would have been working on a farm. He is currently based in New Delhi and has been a practitioner of the medium for over a decade now.
Manu Anand
is area of interest in school was arts: he drew, painted and sketched. Music, theatre and literature excited him and the experience of soaking it all in was fascinating. He took photos in school too. But he never imagined that he would one day, be better known as
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This photograph of a boy in a vintage Chevrolet car is one of Davids most famous images and was also used as the cover of his book Cuba.
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Raj Lalwani enters the vibrant world of joy, celebration and reection, through the enchanting photographs of David Alan Harvey.
Iwould get a nugget of information about his latest work, and I slowly started getting an insight into his mind. David is a photographer who is loved and revered by millions across the globe, but when you see him interact with his fans and students on the Web, you simply forget his iconic status. Simply put, he is one of us. David Alan Harvey has always had this quality and it is something that
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HISTORY
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Calypso (1960)
he underwater world is lled with wonders and astounding life forms. But how do we all swim down to look at that rare Triggersh or the truly bluemouthed Blue Mouth Fish that you can nd only at the bottom of the ocean? Andonce you do, how do you share with
the rest of the world what you saw? Behold! The underwater camera
Slowly Sinking In
War never did any one good, but one particular war led to a discovery. TheCrimean War, fought between France and Russia, included naval attacks. In 1850,
Nikonos I (1961)
Nikonos IV (1980)
This was the rst underwater camera with electronically controlled shutter, conceptualised and developed by Nikon.
Nikonos V (1984)
This camera had Auto exposure. It was the rst camera that performed well on land and underwater.
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The Calypso camera operates from 200 feet The very rst Nikonos camera after Nikon below sea level. It was conceived by marine took over Calypso. It was an all-weather explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. camera and was completely air-tight.
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HISTORY
By acting as an oversized, airtight container, William Bauers submarine prevented water from seeping into the camera.
German Inventor William Bauer built a submarine for the Russian navy in Kiel. Unfortunately, the submarine, along with Bauer and two terried seamen, sank 55 feet to the seabed. Despite his obviously uncomfortable situation, Bauer clicked pictures through the portholes of the submarine. This was the rst attempt at underwater photography. Eventually, they managed to escape. Bauer realised that the camera was able to function below the surface because it was protected from the seawater by the submarine, which was acted as an oversized, air-tight container.
being used in underwater cameras even today. Boutan and his mechanic Joseph David used the camera to capture the rst underwater photograph of marine creatures in 1899, 45 metres below sea level. The exposure for this shot was 30 minutes.
A Colourful Explosion
In 1926, National Geographic photographer William H Longley eager to capture the mysterious underwater world, used his camera to photograph and study the ora and fauna in the island waters of Florida, USA. Longley and staff photographer Charles Martin used 0.5kg of magnesium ash powdera dangerous quantity to illuminate the scene as the light was scarce underwater. The explosion almost killed Longley, but gave him the rst underwater colour photographs everthat of a Hogsh.
A New Chapter
Soon after that, in 1957, marine explorer, inventor and researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau desired to reveal the beauty of the underwater world to the public. He conceived the idea of a self-contained amphibious camera called Calyspso. However, it was a Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters who designed the camera for Cousteau. Soon enough, cameramanufacturing company Nikon took over the production of the Calypso and transformed it into the legendary Nikonosthe underwater eye of this era. And that is how we crept into the sea with our moment-freezing instrument, to capture new life forms. With recent advancements in underwater photography, new discoveries are constantly being made. But the goal remains the same: to bring back an image that will entertain and educate. 221