CAPTURING THE RIGHT MOMENT USING A CELLPHONE • THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHOTOBOOK

May 2013

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www.betterphotography.in

Learn to make fascinating

photos of stars & galaxies
EASY TIPS FOR PICTURE PERFECT

HOLIDAYS
Want great vacation shots of friends & family?
Here are 20 simple techniques to get them!

Unique ways to capture

quirky photos of the city

INSIDE
EXCLUSIVE TESTS
INE Nikon D7100
L MAGAZ
A SPECIA LPHONE Sony RX1
ON CEL PHY
PHOTOGR
A Sigma 35mm f/1.4
Nikkor 70–200mm f/4 VR
Tamron 24–70mm f/2.8 VC

VISUAL MUSINGS SPECIAL FEATURE GREAT MASTERS PROFILE

Prashant Godbole explains the A special showcase of the Hippolyte Bayard and his Clare Gallagher talks about
value of seeing and observing 2nd national photo awards struggles with the medium her love for the simple life
V O L U M E 1 6 • I S S U E 1 2 • M A Y 2 0 1 3

Founder & Editor, Network18 Group CEO, Network18 GET PUBLISHED IN BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
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EVP-Human Reasources For PhotoCritique and Your Pictures:

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M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 EDITORIAL Pictures that Make You Smile
“We can also There are many grand reasons to do photography. We can capture
images that inspire wonder and awe, or shock masses into
create images awakenings. We can chronicle lives and events with greater depth.
in abandon, We can document in larger quantities and in greater detail than ever
in random before. We can scrutinise microcosms and record from the frontiers
succession, of space. We can skirt the fringes of reason and then go beyond.
We can develop heady concepts into fine works of art that sell or are
without need, not meant to be sold. We can also create images in abandon, in random succession, without
without rules need, without rules or guidelines, without limit, and without a second thought.
or guidelines, Somehow, at this point, I find that the most meaningful rationale to do photography is
without limit...” to put a smile on the face of someone special to me, thirty years from now. However much
I think about it, that smile will be worth a lot more than any investment that I make today.
Albert Einstein, the man who gave the world its foundations for the study of physics, is
famous to me for something he had once said—“A photograph never grows old. You and I
change, people change all through the months and years but a photograph always remains
the same. How nice to look at a photograph of mother or father taken many years ago.
You see them as you remember them. But as people live on, they change completely. This is
why I think a photograph can be kind.” In our current environment of billions of images
floating on social networks, I cannot think of a more significant reason to make a picture.

8
K Madhavan Pillai
editor@betterphotography.in

Untitled,
from the series
Domestic Drift
by Clare Gallagher
This is one of her favourite
images. It shows her son
peeking in, through the
dusty glass of the kitchen
door. For Clare, a mother
of two, photography is
all about enjoying the
mundane moments of
her life, and considering
them just as valuable
as the special ones.
“Looking back, I really
appreciate how transient
those moments were,
how much the images
show me of my children’s
personalities and their
changing interests and
activities,” she says.

To read more about

Clare Gallagher’s joy in the
ordinariness of things —
Turn to page 104

For our brand new section

entitled ‘Better Cellphone
Photography’ —
Turn to page 63

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY APRIL 2013

May 2013

78 104
SnapShots GearGuide CellphonePhotography
28 Book Review
‘50 Photo Icons–The 36 TEST
Nikon D7100 66 TEST
Nokia Lumia 920
Story Behind the Light weight with heavy Is this PureView
Pictures’ by Hans- weight performance cellphone pure enough?
Michael Koetzle

32 Look Who’s Shooting

Anshul Mehrotra

33 Visual Musings
50 Sony RX1
by Prashant Godbole The world’s first full
frame compact tested
68 Micromax Canvas HD
The budget smartphone
with a smarter camera
ON THE COVER
CAPTURING THE RIGHT MOMENT USING A CELLPHONE • THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHOTOBOOK
56 Nikor 700–200mm f/4
Excellent optics for those
69 Intel Xolo X1000
A look at the photo
FR
who don’t need f/2.8
May 2013 • Rs. 150
EE
An In

(Total 186 pages + 8 pages supplement)

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capabilities of this
en ide
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superfast gadget

Learn to make fascinating

photos of stars & galaxies 58 Sigma 35mm f/1.4 70 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE
Don’t Miss
EASY TIPS FOR PICTURE PERFECT
Is this third-party lens the Moment!

HOLIDAYS actually better? Simple tips to speed up

your cellphone camera
60
Want great vacation shots of friends & family?
Here are 20 simple techniques to get them!
Tamron 24–70mm

74
Unique ways to capture f/2.8 VC
quirky photos of the city A Spark of Magic
Adds stabilisation, but is What can you do with the
INSIDE
EXCLUSIVE TESTS
L MAGAZ
A SPECIA LPHONE
ON CEL
PHOTOGRAP
INE

HY
Nikon D7100
Sony RX1
Sigma 35mm f/1.4
that enough? cellphone’s flash?
Nikkor 70–200mm f/4 VR
Tamron 24–70mm f/2.8 VC

VISUAL MUSINGS
Prashant Godbole explains the
value of seeing and observing
PHOTOGRAPH: BEN EARWICKER
DESIGN: SANTOSH D KAMBLE
62 MICRO TEST
76
SPECIAL FEATURE GREAT MASTERS PROFILE
A special showcase of the
2nd national photo awards
Hippolyte Bayard and his
struggles with the medium
Clare Gallagher talks about
her love for the simple life CELLPHONE DIARIES
Lowepro Photo Learnings from
Hatchback 22L AW and our readers’ best
Lexar 800x CF card cameraphone shots
 InFocus

110 116
BetterPictures ShowCase PhotoFinish
78 SHOOTING TECHNIQUE
20 Simple Secrets For 104 Clare Gallagher
PROFILE
182 Ways of Reading HISTORY

Fun Holiday Photos Recording fleeting Tracing the evolution of

...for capturing moments from life the photobook
memories of a lifetime.

84 Quirks in the City

Photographing humour
184 A Doctor ofPhotography
STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE

in urban spaces

90 ON ASSIGNMENT
The Sacred Night
Photographing beautiful
star trails in the sky
110 GREAT MASTERS
Hippolyte Bayard
Discover who this
earliest practioner of
photography was
Regulars
116 SPECIAL FEATURE
2nd National
FEEDBACK ............................................................16
PHOTOCRITIQUE .................................................. 94
98 TIPS & TRICKS
Learn to photograph
Photo Awards
A showcase of the
Q & A .................................................................102
1000 WORDS ....................................................... 124
money, masks winning images of the
YOUR PICTURES ..................................................128
and restaurants country’s premier awards
 Feedback
Send your feedback to
The Editor, Better Photography, Network 18 Publishing,
Ruby House, ‘A’ Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W),
Mumbai-400 028, India
Email: feedback@betterphotography.in

Better Photography should be the

facilitator and should organise and
promote such kind of meets. I think it
is really important that photographers
mingle with one another and share the
things they have learned.
Rajeev Seth, Indore, via email

An Attempt to go Back
I remember asking for a camera during
my first year in college. It was the Canon
EOS 1000D. As soon as I received it,
I began shooting vigorously. I would
photograph every single day. These were
not great images but the thrill of looking
through the camera lens is something
The April 2013 issue I cannot put into words.
featured a “Make Your That year, photography was all that
Own ‘Photography Is’
I had in mind. But then all of a sudden,
Cube project”.
I stopped shooting. Exams came in
Informative and Creative the way and I slowed down. Then the
The April 2013 issue was one of the monsoon came and I avoided taking my
best issues that I have read so far. camera out. These obstacles became
I am really happy to see that Better daily excuses and before I knew it, I felt
14 Photography is coming up with innovative awkward pointing the camera at anyone.
accompaniments along with the I began asking myself if I had rushed
main magazine. into photography only to own a camera.
I was most impressed by the ‘Make Your What did not change though, was my
Own “Photography Is” Cube’. My son thirst for information.
and I both jumped at the opportunity to Slowly, I started using my cell phone
create it. It took me back to my school to shoot everyday objects. In the midst
days of craft classes. The thought on the of this transition, Better Photography
cube, “Photography is here and now” was continued to encourage me. I am hoping
brought alive through Roman Vishniac’s to overcome the awkwardness of using
work in the same issue itself. Amit Mehra’s the camera and photograph like I used to.
photographs were also commendable and Nikhil Wagh, Pune, via email
inspired me to even write a little poem.
Samitkumar Biswas, Nadia, via email Unconvincing Photocritique
The Q&A section of Better Photography is
Organising Meetups very thorough. Having taught photography
I am really taken aback at the quality and for the past 30 years, I find that the answers
volume of response that the ‘InstaMeet’ given to the questions are very informative.
hashtag has received on Instagram. I do not think that any other photography
It is amazing to see a large number of magazine in India is so precise in the way
instagrammers getting together on a they answer such questions. It reflects on
set date and doing photography related the amount of research and effort put in by
things like photowalks or simply the team members. For instance, in the April
discussing photography. issue, your answer to the question of ‘Dust
“I think BP As much as these meets have been on Sensors’ was written in a manner easily
should facilitate happening all over the world, somehow understandable by all sorts of readers.
and organise I find a lack of it in India. It makes me However, I do not find the Photocritique
photography wonder if people are even aware of such section up to the mark. I feel that some
meetings, despite several Instagram users of the panelists offering their criticism
related meetups in in the country itself. Why is it taking us so seem to be inexperienced in the field of
different cities.” long to organise such events? the photo they are judging. The practical

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 Twitter: twitter.com/betterphoto
FEE DBACK Facebook: facebook.com/betterphotography
Youtube: youtube.com/betterphotoindia FIND US ONLINE!
Website: betterphotography.in

Sieving Through the Unwanted

It is incredible to see the volume of photographs
uploaded to the internet every single hour, not to
mention the number of comments that accompany
these images.
I have noticed that as soon as I upload an image,
it does not take long for it to be bombarded by
Likes and Comments. While most of the feedback is
positive, I do not really know whether to take it for
granted that my photograph is good. At the same
time, though I receive criticisms with an open mind,
I do not know whether the faults outlined in the
comments are actual problems with my photograph.
Alternatively, I have seen amateurs receive great
positive responses on photographs that do not
even come anywhere close to adhering to what a
good image should look like. Therefore, as
photography lovers and hobbyists, are we Write in to
providing inaccurate feedback? Are we Better Photography
falsely encouraging work that should not with your feedback, and
be uploaded in the first place? No wonder
if your letter wins the
that today, several amateur photographers
think that they can master the art, simply by
Letter of the Month,
practising photography for a short duration. you will get a Envie
I think a system needs to come into place. Speedster charger!
An arrangement where photographers can
sieve through the feedback they receive and
make informed decisions about the images
that they make and upload. This would also
give them some perspective about their work.
Karen Pinto, Nashik, via email

“Old photographs difficulties one faces while shooting a Rediscovering Myself

convey silent particular subject should also be
stories of the considered. I believe only a specialist of that
specific field can understand and appreciate
people in them.” or depreciate while offering their opinions.
S Thiagarajan, Bengaluru, via email
A Beautiful Encounter
16 With my grandmother’s recent passing
away, my family chanced upon several
objects that were kept locked away for years.
One of the many things that we discovered
was a collection of really old photographs
that were stacked together in an old plastic
cover. The photos featured my grandparents
in their younger days, including my dad and
his siblings. My grandmother was a very
private woman and since my dad had no
clue about the photographs, the discovery
itself was quite a thrill.
I also came across the Indian Memory
Project (www.indianmemoryproject.
com), a website dedicated to the collection
of old images that traces the personal
history of India. This made me recollect
how mesmerised I was after reading
the December 2012 article, ‘From a
Family Album.’
Renuka Dhruve, Mangalore, via post
Pol Úbeda Hervàs’ On Assignment,
‘I’m Not Here’ in the April 2013 issue of
Better Photography, is one of the best pieces
I have read in a long time. I think this has
more to do with the fact that I could really
relate to his frame of mind when he created
the images.
I too went through a similar phase in my
life and was unsure about how to proceed
ahead. While picture making helped Pol,
I rediscovered myself through music.
He mentions that he will continue shooting
such kind of pictures only if he faces a
similar situation again. In my case, I still
continue composing music and spend time
playing various instruments.
His photographs are a reminder of
how people eventually find their path or
Pol Úbeda Hervàs’
discover themselves when they are in their
interview was published
in the April 2013 issue of darkest moments.
Better Photography. Carol Thomas, Mumbai, via post

Variety in Booklets
Although I enjoy the Secrets to Shooting
Pocket Guides, I wish Better Photography
could come out with other interesting
booklets. For instance, you can make a
gear related booklet or a booklet dedicated
to fun and creative DIYs for adults and
children alike.
Saloni Pathak, Indore, via email

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 W H AT ’ S N E W

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF6

National Photo Awards for Eminent Photographers
This latest Micro Four
Thirds camera sports
a 16MP Live MOS
T he Photo Division, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India, announced the
for their contribution to Indian
photographic movement.
Turn to Page 116 to see a showcase of winning images.
Sensor, newly designed second edition of National Photo
Venus engine, a 3-inch
Awards on 28 March 2013.
flippable touchscreen
that does not swivel, One of the most prominent awards
Full HD AVCHD video amongst other features. in the country, the National Awards
With built-in WiFi and NFC ability, the camera is recognised the efforts of various
equipped with interesting connectivity options.
You can even use your smartphone or tablet as a
Indian photographers. The event held

Image Source: Ministry of I&B

remote shutter with this camera. at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, was
attended by Manish Tewari, Minister
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for I&B while Meira Kumar, Speaker of
The pocket-sized
The Lok Sabha was the Chief Guest.
Cinema Camera sports
a 1080HD Super 16mm Eminent photographers, Pranlal
sensor and a MFT lens Patel, T N A Perumal and T S
mount. The camera Nagarajan were honoured with
can shoot lossless
Pranlal Patel receives the Lifetime Achievement award from Meira
the Lifetime Achievement award Kumar and Manish Tewari during the event at Vigyan Bhavan, Delhi
compressed CinemaDNG RAW and includes a
Feature Film Quality option that the company
claims is almost identical to shooting on a
18 professional film camera.

Sony Apps for NEX-5R and NEX-6

Sony has released two new apps on their
PlayMemories App Store for the WiFi equipped
Sony Alpha NEX-5R and NEX-6. While Light Shaft
app lets you add various light effects to photos
already taken, the Motion Shot app on the
other hand lets you isolate a moving object and
superimpose on a fixed background.
Pentax K-30 in Multiple Colours
Pentax’s mid-level DSLR will be available in multiple
colours now. You can choose between a shiny
Eggleston Honoured, Rare Images Published
W orld Photography Organisation
honoured iconic photographer
William Eggleston with the Outstanding
Contribution to Photography award.
Known for his colour photography, a
selection of Eggleston’s rarely seen images
along with some of his recent work were
published in the 2013 edition of the
Sony World Photography Awards book.
Furthermore, his prints were exhibited as a
part of Sony’s Photography Awards.
Speaking about the award, he said,
“The world is in color. To paraphrase my
friend John Szarkowski, my attempt has
been to see simultaneously, both the blue
and the sky as one thing.”

Image Source: Eggleston Artistic Trust

crystal or a matte silky finish. Pentax K-30 users can

now personalise and stylise their DSLR by opting
from nine bold colours like orange, yellow and blue.
Eggleston is recognised as the pioneer of colour photography and for his personal documentary style of photography.

“When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way

they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice.”
ROBERT FRANK

Robert Frank is known for his contribution to American photography and films. His book, The Americans, is one of his most notable bodies of work.
Frank is renowned for his fresh and subtle view of the American society. The photographer later went on to experiment with film making and video. Image Source:
he has also explored the technique of manipulating photographs and creating photomontages. Hasselblad Foundation

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 SN APS HOTS

W H AT ’ S N E W

Canon PowerShot SX280 HS

The travel zoom
compact from
Canon does not
look very interesting
on the outside
but is packed with
features. The SX280
HS comes with a 20x optical zoom lens and the
latest DIGIC 6 processor. The camera sports the
latest processor that has not been seen even
in Canon DSLRs. This makes it blazing fast with
a continous shooting speed of 14fps and super
fast autofocus.
Manfrotto StilePlus
Camera Bags
If you are a fashion concious
photographer, then Manfrotto has
good news for you. Their StilePlus
line of bags are practical while
still being stylish. The bags are
available in multiple colours and
sizes and can be used for your everyday use.
Wildlife Photographers Up in Arms Against Nikon
N ikon’s new line of Monarch
hunting rifle scopes has created an
outcry amongst several animal welfare
Optics website claims that the rifle scope
is “designed specifically for dangerous,
big game hunting in Africa,” and one that
communities. This includes many wildlife could mean “the difference between a
photographers who successful hunt and a
strive to underline painful debacle.”
the importance of The site
wildlife preservation. also featured images
The Japanese of grinning hunters
camera and optics posing with these
manufacturer’s scopes which was later
marketing for its new taken down. We are
Monarch range of surprised that this
rifle scopes brings to product comes from a
light a new height of company that proudly
hypocrisy. The copy claims to be “at the
on Nikon Sports heart of the nature.”

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

This is a Super-35 format, 4K-capable camera
World’s Oldest Photo Musuem now on Google
20 with global shutter for smooth panning and image
motion. It can capture footage in Apple ProRes
422 HQ or lossless compressed CinemaDNG Raw.
G eorge Eastman House, world’s oldest
museum dedicated to photography has
now joined the Google Art Project. You can
To see all the images, visit www.googleartproject.
com/collection/george-eastman-house

The camera is built around a Canon EF-mount
and an internal SSD recorder to cope with the
data rates.
Lenovo ThinkVision
LT3053p
ThinkVision LT3053p is a wide
30-inch LCD monitor with
a resolution of 2560x1600
pixels. The AH-IPS LCD
monitor is designed for
colour-critical applications like photography and
video. It promises 99% coverage of the AdobeRGB
color space and 100% of sRGB.
now browse images dated back to the 1840s
without having to step out of your house.
So far, around 50 high resolution images
have been uploaded while others are still
in the process. Over time, all of the 40,000
photos and negatives from the museum’s
archives will be available online. From the
first train wreck ever photographed to a
portrait of Louis Daguerre, the images are
varied and feature a variety of subjects. Frida Kahlo photographed by Nickolas Muray in 1939

Cinegram for Android

Cinegram has released an Android app after a year NASA Holds Its Own Photography Tournament
T
of being present only on iOS. The app allows you
ournament: Earth 2013, the first ever underwater volcano that won the
to upload four second videos compared to Vine’s
six-second ones. What sets it apart is the Instagram photography competition held by championship. The satellite image was
like filters for your GIFs. NASA had an interesting made on 10 February 2012.
and new concept. It did It shows the site of the
Canon XA20 and XA25 not involve photographers eruption off El Hierro, the
The two new camcorders
from Canon feature submitting their images. smallest of Canary Islands.
a 20x HD zoom lens, Instead, NASA pitted The bright area of the water
simultaneous MP4 and their own selection of 32 shows the volcanic material
AVCHD recording, a
photographs against each in its highest concentration
3.5-inch organic LED
touch panel display and wireless connectivity for other to decide the best just after the eruption.
digital content uploading. You can also operate the image from the year 2012. NASA called the victory
camcorders remotely via tablet or smartphone. The winner was decided by a a ‘Cinderella story’ as the
Canon also announced a third camcorder, VIXIA HF
simple public vote. image was ranked seventh
G30, which is more affordable but compromises on
an HD lens and the touch panel. At the end, it was This winning photograph snagged 91% of but eventually went on to
the photograph of an the votes in the final. beat other contenders.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 E V E N TS

13 April–4 May
Colours of Punjab
Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh

Harp Farmer
P R O TA L K

Guide Number is used

Two New Entry-Level DSLRs from Canon
Alliance Francaise
is hosting a photo
to express the
power output of
any flash strobe.
C anon has included two new entry level
cameras to its EOS series of DSLR
cameras. While the 700D is an upgrade of
Both cameras will come with Canon’s
new EF-S 18–55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit
lens. With in-built image stabilisation and
exhibition by Harp
Farmer. It will showcase It helps to calculate the 650D, the 100D is a completely new non-extending focus capabilities, the lens
the vivid culture of the aperture for
correct exposure built body from Canon. It is the company’s promises to offer better focusing while
Punjab, the vibrancy
of the fields and his when using smallest and lightest DSLR to date and can shooting video on DSLRs. Canon seems to
experiences with the the external flash. reportedly fit within your palm. have made a great move by shrinking the
people that he captured The 100D features the same 18MP DSLR size with 100D’s build. We believe
through his lens. CMOS sensor as seen in the 650D and that photographers will be tempted to
19 April–11 May 700D, a 3-inch LCD screen with multitouch choose the 100D over a mirrorless for its AF
Tribal Lights capabilities and an improved Phase-Detect system and a wide options of lenses.
Galerie Romain Rolland, New Delhi
Auto Focus system.
An exhibition by Magali
Couffon will display
There isn’t much
images captured by difference between
the photographer from EOS 700D and 650D,
over 18 years in India. exception being for
The images document
her travels from a new mode dial
different parts of the that rotates 360° and
country over the years. the ability to apply
2–5 May creative filters in Live
Catch ‘em Young View mode.
NCPA, Mumbai

24

CA L L F O R E N T R I E S

Prizes: Winner in each category will receive a cash prize

Think your child has it of USD 1,000 (Approx. Rs. 54,020).
in him to be the next big Website: www.invisiblephotographer.asia/awards2013
name in photography? Deadline: 3 June 2013
This workshop by
P K M Pillai will LSP Awards 2013
inspire children to The competition: The 2013 edition of London School of
use cameras and Photography (LSP) awards is inspired by photography
learn a new hobby. legend Sebastião Salgado’s Genesis project.
The workshop is for The competition is open to photographers across
children across all age
the world and 5 images in each category can be
groups irrespective
submitted.
of what camera
Categories: Elements of Nature, People & Cultures,
they have.
Geometry & Patterns and Animal Kingdom.
4 May
Canon Female Canon Female Photojournalist Award Prizes: Full time professional photography course at
Digital Post Photojournalist Award is The competition: The Canon Female Photojournalist LSP. Category winners get a free workshop and Blurb
Processing a great opportunity for Award granted by the Association des Femmes Books vouchers
Workshop women photographers Journalistes (AFJ) and Canon France is presented to a Website: www.lspawards.com
Toehold Seminar Hall, Bengaluru to fund and showcase female photojournalist regardless of her nationality who Deadline: 8 September 2013
Toehold is organising a their projects. wishes to cover a social, economic, political or cultural
one-day postprocessing subject in a journalistic manner. Professional Photographer of the Year 2013
workshop for photo Prizes: Cash prize of 8000 Euros (Approx. Rs 5,71,000) The competition: Professional photographers worldwide,
enthusiasts. You will to fund their project and an exhibition of their work. can submit their images across 12 categories in PPOTY
learn the basics of Website: www.canonafjaward.com organised by Professional Photographer magazine.
how to edit your Deadline: 31 May 2013 Categories: Medium Format, Street Photography, News,
digital images using a Travel, Lifestyle, Weddings, 50mm and more.
software. The workshop Invisible Photographer Asia Awards 2013 Prizes: Each winner will receive a professionally
will be mentored The competition: The contest aims to recognise street produced print, a specially designed logo for their
by photographer and documentary photography. Produced by Invisible own marketing purposes and an exclusive feature in
Philip Ross. Photographer Asia (IPA), it is open to photographers the magazine.
For more details from Asia. You can only submit images made in the last Website: www.professionalphotographer.co.uk/
visit: www.toehold.in/ one year. PPOTY2013
workshop-dpp.php Categories: Street, Photo Essay and Photobook. Deadline: 16 October 2013

M AY 2 0 1 3
 E V E N TS

8–14 May
Evening Ragas
ICIA, Mumbai

Derry Moore
P R O TA L K

Resolution is a
Rare Images of Beatles Sold for 30,000 Pounds
Tasveer has organised
measure of
counting the
number of the
T he Beatles concert at New York’s
Shea Stadium in 1965 was the biggest
pop concert ever by any band at the time.
some of the most memorable moments
from the day. Luckily for him, the only other
photographer during the concert ran out of
an exhibition of
photographs by British pixels on a Marc Weinsten, a 16 year-old amateur film, making his images iconic today. Over 61
photographer Derry digital sensor.
It is measured photographer then, pictures Marc made
Moore. It puts together
more than sixty limited in megapixels. was there to take during the concert were
edition autographed pictures of the event. sold at Omega Auctions
prints from Moore’s Marc used a fake recently. The images
project that started in press pass and got fetched a whooping
1976. The images paint
an interesting portrait a spot next to the 30,000 Pounds (Approx.
of pre-modern India. stage from where Rs. 25,13,300) from a
he documented Marc Weinsten Beatles collector in US.
14–16 May Image Source: Omega Auctions
Tiger Photography
Trail
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bill Gates and Paul Allen Recreate Iconic Image
Banglore Photography
P aul Allen recently uploaded an image
from his twitter account similar to a
photo taken back in 1981 with Bill Gates.
Workshop for six The iconic photograph was made when the
wildlife photography
enthusiasts will focus
two co-founders of Microsoft Corporation
on the basics of signed a historic deal licensing Microsoft
26 shooting in the wild. MS-DOS to IBM. Interestingly, the pair
The three day trail posed with the exact same computers as in
will be guided by two
wildlife photographers
the old picture.
Contact: Ashish Parmar
+91 9945153005
20–27 May Re-imaging: The People of India of interactive events, talks and photography workshops
by photographers Arko Datta, Ishika Mohan and Taras
Workshop The nine-day exhibition at India International Centre,
Taraporvala. The one-of-its-kind event was curated by
for Young New Delhi from 18–26 April showcased rare albumin
Tunali Mukherjee.
Photographers prints made during the 1850s. Juxtaposed with
ICCR, Kolkata this were photographs by contemporary
Indian Council for photographers—Mahesh Bhat, Dinesh Khanna, Kumbh: Native Realm
Cultural Relations is Sandeep Biswas and Dileep Prakash. The exhibit 40 photographs made by Joydeep Mitra were on display
organising photography was curated by Aditya Arya and highlighted the at ICONART Gallery, Hyderabad from 14–18 April.
workshops for students contrasting views of the past and the present. The images documented the auspicious day of Makar
aged 4–18 years. Sankranti at Kumbh Mela. Joydeep’s pictures revolved
Selected images at the Khachaak around the belief that the Kumbh is a way to search
end of the workshop Khachaak was a collaborative photography exhibition your own true self.
will be exhibited along held between 12–14 April by three premier institutions of
with the story behind Mumbai. It was inaugurated by Vikramaditya Motwane Odd-One-Out
each image. and Sooni Taraporevala. On display were the works Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre hosted
Contact: 03322872680 of second year Bachelors of Mass Media students a display of wildlife photographs by Hunagrian
from K C College, H R College and St Xavier’s college. photographer László Berta. From 9–24 April, the
25 May–8 June In addition to the exhibition, Khachaak also held a series images were showcased at Hungarian Information and
Photo Workshop Culture Centre in New Delhi. The photographs were
for Adults of various birds from India, Sri Lanka and Hungary.
Mumbai The tittle, Odd-One-Out comes from a lone image of a
Suraj Studio‘s short bat which is a part of the exhibition.
term intensive
photography workshop Bird Photography Exhibition
for serious hobbyists Birdwatchers Society of Andhra Pradesh (BWSAP)
and adults will be held organised a two-day photo exhibition exclusively on
over three days a One of the birds. The images at this exhibit were photographed by
week for three weeks. images from active members of BWSAP. On display between 28–29
Professor P K M Pillai Joydeep’s exhibition April at the Goethe Zentrum, Hyderabad, the exhibition
will mentor the students. Kumbh:Native Realm. Joydeep Mitra was a part of Internation Earth Day celebrations.
Contact: Mr Sharma
+91-9820203939

M AY 2 0 1 3
 SN APS HOTS

I N D U ST RY VO I C E

“We are aiming to increase our customer

outlets from 890 to over 2000 branches
by the end of this year”
Canon photo printers have
witnessed a tremendous
growth in the Indian
market. In India, the
PIXMA SFP and PIXMA
AIO printers already enjoy
a market share of 25%
and 20% respectively.
The PIXMA PRO series is
Eggleston Wins Legal Dispute Against Collector
R enowned American photographer
William Eggleston won the legal
dispute against an avid collector of his
the value of his collection. The judge
ruled in favour of Eggleston saying that
the reprints differed from the limited
images. In April 2012, Jonathan Sobel edition in size and production medium
had filed a lawsuit of fraudulent and and method.
negligent misrepresentation against
Eggleston. Sobel owns one of the eight
dye-transfer limited edition prints of the
Memphis (Tricyle) made in 1980s. Last year,
Eggleston made a large format inkjet

William Eggleston
Mr Rajeev Tewari, only an extension of the
Director, CSP, print from a digital scan of the same
Canon India printing options already
available from Canon. image. This was sold at Christie’s Auction
With the launch of our PIXMA PRO series, Canon for USD 578,500 (Approx. Rs 3,15,35,400).
intends to revolutionise the market for in-studio Sobel argued that the new set of large The digital reprint of Eggleston’s famous Memphis
photo printing in India.
format digital inkjet prints diluted (Tricycle) photograph was auctioned for Rs 3,15,35,400.
Chandni Gajria
Before launching any product in India, we make
sure that we have completed the ground work.
This involves making our sales and support system
strong and robust. With the PIXMA PRO series,
it took great precision to set up the after sales Full Resolution Tamron Reduces
Uploads on Google+ Lens Price by 25%
support for the printers which caused the delay
for India launch. The PRO series now has a direct
service facility in 11 cities in India today and is

G T
available in all Canon outlets with a turnaround time
28 of 4 hours.
We have felt the need for a better reach to our
customers. Hence, we are aiming to increase our
customer outlets from 890 to over 2000 branches
by the end of 2013. We also aim to explore newer
markets which in turn will help us increase our
traditional channel. Additionally, we want to expand
our presence in Large Format Retail and increase
our online trade portals reach.
While PIXMA PRO is our latest and finest product,
we will continue to add more products and expand
our B2C and home segment printing as well.
—As told to Ketan Kundargi
oogle has now integrated full resolution
uploads into Google+ making it
an attractive option for photographers.
This along with the new zoom and panning
feature are bound to improve the image
viewing experience on the social media
website. Google+ is set to compete with
image sharing websites such as 500px
and Flickr with these new improvements.
In response 500px has unleashed new
redesigned portfolios while Flickr has
introduced hashtagging on its images.
amron India has slashed prices of
the Tamron AF 18–270mm f/3.5-6.3
Di II VC PZD by as much as 25% in the last
month. The all-purpose zoom lens, earlier
priced at Rs 39,775 has now been reduced
to Rs 29,900. This is a strategic move from
the company in a bid to boost sales in
India. Tamron said that they wanted to
make the lens more affordable and reach
out to more people. The lens will be the
cheapest option for photographers looking
for a wide range of zoom in one lens.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: 50 Photo Icons—The

Story Behind the Pictures
Author: Hans-Michael Koetzle
ISBN: 978-3-8365-2693-7
Publisher: Taschen
Price: USD 29.99 (approx.
Rs. 1627)
Stories Behind the Frame
Have you ever looked at an iconic image and wondered how it came to be made? What could be the story behind it?
Hans-Michael Koetzle takes you through 50 important images ever made and the story behind them in the photo book
50 Photo Icons—The Story Behind the Pictures. The book features images from 1827 to 2001.
Predictably, the book begins with Nicéphore Niépce’s View from the Study
Window, considered to be the first photograph ever made. However, through
the pages, you will visit iconic images like Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother,
Alfred Eisenstaedt’s VJ Day, Nick Ut’s Kim Phúc – Napalm Against Civilians
amongst many others.
The book is filled with stories never heard before. For example, did you know that
Nick Ut’s image of the Vietnam War played a big part in changing the world’s outlook towards
war? Did you also know that Bert Stern was the last person to photograph Marilyn Monroe a few
weeks before she committed suicide?
50 Photo Icons is a treasure trove for anyone who is passionate about photography. Hans-Michael Koetzle provides
an insight into what went in the making of some of the most recognisable photos in the world. The book is beautifully
compiled, with equal importance given to Koetzle’s words as well as the various masters’ photographs. The book is
one of those reads which you can refer to every time you feel like a photography rut is setting in.

— Written by Supriya Joshi

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 SN APS HOTS
WEBSITE REVIEW
S O F T WA R E O F T H E M O N T H
30
Ketan Kundargi
Photo! 3D Album
Photo! 3D Album is a simple free program that lets
you create a virtual exhibition of your photographs.
All you need to do is select the images from the PC
or hard disk and drop them into the preset template
frames. You can choose to display your images in
over 11 environments—an art gallery or within the
Pyramids of Egypt. Once you select the environment,
the exhibit is like a walkthrough. You can walk closer
or away from an image and even move around
the gallery. Moreover, each location has multiple
exhibition spaces so you can move from one room to
other or from one pyramid to the next!
While the number of frames you can showcase
in each exhibition is limited, it is just right for a good
collection of images. The software offers several
options to export it. You can turn it into a screen
saver, a stand alone offline virtual exhibition or even
a web gallery. Hit Share and save the exhibition for
your viewing at any time.
You can download the software from www.pho.to/
album3d/
— Ketan Kundargi
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Old Photo Books in a New Free Digital Version
P
roject Gutenberg is a unique effort by
volunteers that picks up books
available in the public domain
and converts them to freely
available eBooks. The 25,000th
book added to the collection is a
book on photography titled The
Art and Practice of Silver Printing.
The book published in 1881 and
written by Capt Abney and H P
Robinson is the latest addition
to a small but interesting collection of
Encode Secret Messages into Facebook Photos
W
hat if the images you post on your
Facebook timeline were more than
just images? What if you could encode a
special message into them which can be
decoded only by special friends whom you
choose? Secretbook is a Google Chrome
extension that lets you do exactly that!
Developed by Owen-Campbell Moore,
a computer science researcher at Oxford
University, the method can be used for
passing secret messages through Facebook’s
photo sharing feature. For now, the messages
are limited to 140 characters of text.
Images need to be atleast of 970x720 pixels
with not too much of a single colour.
www.cambridgeincolour.com
Cambridge in Colour began in 2005 as a website
by Sean McHugh to share a gallery of his photos
from Cambridge, UK. Today, the website has turned
into a learning environment for photographers
to come and improve their skills. You can sign up
as a member for free and participate with the
photography community in the active forums.
The tutorials on the website are exhaustive and
precisely segregated. You can choose to learn
about the absolute basics such as the concepts
and terminology used in photography or skip to
learn how to postprocess and edit your images.
While most of the articles might sound similar
to others available on internet, a few provide
in-depth information on the topic. The website
also has a set of simple tools like sunrise & sunset
calculator, effect of photo filters and others that will
make photography easier. The forum though less
populated, is very lively and interactive.
— Ketan Kundargi
photography books. It also contains books
such as The Pencil of Nature by
William Henry Fox Talbot who is
considered as one of the fathers
of photography.
While most photography books
on this site are old and do not apply
to the imaging technology, they are
helpful to give readers an insight
into the history of photography.
Till date the collection consists of 37
books on the subject of photography.
While this is not a new technology, this
secret message plug-in stands out as it
works on Facebook. It takes into account
recompression technique used by Facebook
and makes sure that the messages stay intact.
M AY 2 0 1 3
 SN APS HOTS

Canon Unveils Virtual DSLR for Beginners UN Rewards Photogs

C anon Canada has launched a new
website that challenges amateur
skip to the Play section which is the fun-
filled part and lets you experiment with the
Who Help Bring Change
photographers to explore their DSLR
cameras beyond the automatic mode.
Outside of Auto, as the website is called,
Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutterspeed
Priority modes. You can adjust the ISO,
Aperture and shutterspeed to take a picture
T he United Nations Department
of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA) recognised the contribution by
lets you experiment with various camera yourself. The site even briefly reviews the photographers and filmmakers amognst
settings with a simple click of the mouse. final image that you have made. other individuals, for their efforts to
On the website, you Challenge section lets raise awareness about forests. For the
can Learn, Play or you race against time to first time, the Forests for People Awards
choose to Challenge recreate six set of images were given to six photographers and five
yourself with various using the controls of the filmmakers. Photographers Atakan Baykal,
photo situations.In the virtual camera. So if you Eka Fendiaspara, Riccardo Gangale, Olga
Learn section, one have any doubts about the Lavrushko, Prasetyo Nurramdhan and Pablo
can read about what technicalities of making a Pro won the 2012 edition of the awards.
makes a good picture. good picture log on to the The winners were chosen from over 400
Alternatively, you can Try the simulator at www.canonoutsideofauto.ca website and start practising! entries across more than 40 countries.

LO O K W H O ’ S S H O OT I N G

Anshul Mehrotra
Indian Student Finalist for Sony World Youth Award 2013
Currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in
32 photography from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
Anshul Mehrotra was one of the top 10 finalists
to be shortlisted for the Sony World Photography
Youth Award 2013. He says, “My fascination with
photography began when I picked up my father’s
Minolta Maxxum 7000 for the first time as a kid.”
I have been making pictures since my school days
but the decision to turn this into my profession
“Photography happened only recently.”
is a constant Anshul is an avid traveller who loves documenting
endeavour his experiences with the camera. His winning image,
to freeze titled Over The Top was photographed on one of
his travels during Chhath Puja. “The endless joy on
and preserve
memories and
experiences.”
the two kid’s faces as they look up to my camera,
makes this a very special image for me.”
For the final round of the awards themed Family,
Anshul decided to document the traces left behind
by a family when they are not present in the house.
He is also working on a personal project that focuses
on sugar mills. “I was still a kid when I visited a sugar
mill for the first time. Some time ago, when I was at
home, I came across the images I had made there then.
This inspired me to document the events that unfold at
these mills”, he says.
— As told to Ketan Kundargi

Noticing various
people pass by the
same road, Anshul
decided to get on to a
bridge to get a unique
Anshul Mehrotra
vantage point.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
`
VISUAL MUSINGS
To See, To Feel, To Observe:
To Get a Fresh Pair of Eyes
Prashant Godbole
C
urrently, we have over 300 million photos uploaded per
day, or around 9 billion every month. There are more than
100 billion photographs on Facebook. And I haven’t got
around to mentioning Pinterest, Flickr, Picasa and Instagram.
We’ve become accustomed to chasing likes, shares and
comments. We constantly monitor every digital update for
impressions, and get excited to see the ‘Like’ count go up.
I am one of those guys who chases Likes, getting excited when
I receive 500 likes.
And I get questions like: Could you please review my work?
Could you tell me what you think of these shots? Any suggestions?
How can I improve my photography? Here is my observation.
Thanks to digital cameras, there is a rush to produce bodies of
work; with very little or no understanding of what they are shooting.
Canon, Nikon, Sony, Sigma, Pentax and of course Apple spend time
and money promoting the ease of taking a photograph. Just push
the button, and voila, you are a photographer. But in this age of
point-and-shoot gratification, we must first train ourselves to see.
Unfortunately, very little time and money is spent on training our
eyes to see and senses to observe.
“I believe there are three kinds of men: the one that learns by reading, the few
who learn by observation and the rest of whom have to pee on the electric fence
for themselves.” - Will Rogers
As a species, we need to revisit the art of observation.
Observation is an activity of every living being, whereby we
receive knowledge of the world and our environment through
our senses, which often later involves the recording of data. It is
important to realise that observation is much more than merely
seeing something. It also involves a mental process.
Prashant Godbole’s minimalist photographs are influenced by his background as an art director in advertising, where he has closely worked with
photographers like Swapan Parekh. He says that he does not read fiction or other stories. Instead, he prefers to read a book called life.
M AY 2 0 1 3
Prashant Godbole
Powers of observation can be developed by cultivating
the habit of watching things with an active, inquisitive mind.
The key to becoming better observers of the world, through
words and images, is to work with sight, sound, smell, touch and
taste, to remember the impressions and experience we collect.
Observing is taking the picture in your head.
“To me, photography is the art of observation. It is about finding something
interesting in an ordinary place...I’ve found it has little to do with the things
you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” - Elliott Erwitt
‘Observing’ something means to understand it in a deeper
way. The most important instrument of thought is the eye.
Originality is simply a fresh pair of eyes. Observing people,
places, and activities in the world can make us better storytellers,
communicators, writers and photographers.
Observe space. Observe chaos. Observe emptiness.
Observe scene. Observe beauty. Observe drama. Observe life. 33
Observe beginning. Observe middle. Observe end.
Observe energy. Observe force. Observe calm.
Observe heartbreak. Observe joy. Observe indifference.
Observe right. Observe wrong. Observe neutral.
Observe rich. Observe poor. Observe weak.
Observe cause. Observe effect. Observe life.
Observe perspective. Observe 360°. Observe your point of view.
Observe dark. Observe light. Observe the space between.
Observe texture. Observe patterns. Observe shadow.
Observe geometry. Observe synchronicity. Observe accident.
Observe law. Observe wonder. Observe journey.
Observe past. Observe present. Observe the future, and capture
the moment.
Prashant Godbole
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 GearGuide
TEST

HOW WE TEST
Product Categorisation
We first segregate products
into categories for the purpose
of equitability in testing.
The DSLR is divided into
entry-level, semi-professional
and professional categories.
For compacts, we distinguish
between advanced and basic
compact cameras. Similarly, we
also test consumer and pro
lenses, flashguns, 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 list out hundreds of individual
variables (for eg. colour accuracy
for individual colours in different
lighting, individual features,
dynamic range, center-to-edge
definition, light falloff, etc) against Nikon D7100

Icing on the Cake

which we either give points
or simply mark ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Thus, we arrive at a score for
that parameter, and then, the final
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 final percentage,
because prices for products
change constantly. Raj Lalwani ponders over how one can improve one of the best non-full
Our Seals of Approval frame DSLRs ever, and finds his answer in the Nikon D7100.
Any product that scores 80%

or higher in individual tests gets
‘BP Recommended’—a seal
of approval from our team.
In comparison tests, we also tag
products as ‘BP Best Performer’
and ‘BP Best Value for Money’.
BP Excellence Awards
At the end of the calendar year,
the highest rated products in
each category automatically
win the Better Photography
Excellence Award. This is
Better Photography’s recognition
of the very best products
launched in the course of the
year, and the companies that
made them.
T
WEIGHTAGE OF he Nikon D7100 gave me a feeling serious enthusiasts. But how does the D7100
PARAMETERS of déjà vu. It was like meeting a take the bar further? Let’s take a quick look.
bunch of cameras that I was familiar The big change, of course, is the sensor.
with, and saying a brief hello to With the D3200 and D5200 getting 24MP
5% 15%
each one. It was a nice feeling... sensors, it is no surprise that the 16MP
15%
getting the best of several worlds, but at one sensor in the D7000 says goodbye. But then,
20% 45% level, excitement levels did not spike up so in the D7100, the 24MP sensor has a trick up
high. But then, that is the problem when you its sleeve. It has no optical low-pass filter.
set out to improve what is one of the most An optical low pass filter is something that
Features
impactful APS-C DSLRs of recent times. most sensors have, to reduce a problematic
Performance
effect called aliasing. Only thing is, in doing
Build Quality
Ergonomics Features so, the filter also tends to make the image
Warranty & Of course, the ‘old’ D7000 is still a very good slightly less sharp. No optical low pass filter
Support
camera, and extremely popular amongst implies that your images will look more

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 TEST TEST TEST
Sony RX1 Nikkor 70–200mm Tamron 24–70mmT Ef/2.8ST
The first full frame f/4G ED VR Di VC USD
compact camera! Finally, an f/4 option Stabilised, but what else?

50 56
sharp, but if you are shooting a subject that
has repetitive patterns, like fabric, you may
observe moire.
The D800E reduced the effect of the
filter to a large degree, but there have
been cameras like the Fujifilm X-E1 and
the Pentax K-5 IIs that have removed the
filter completely. The D7100 follows in
their footsteps.
The other big change is something
that everyone will welcome... a 51-point
autofocus system (with as many as
15 cross-type sensors), instead of the
39-point AF system that was in the D7000
(and is now in the cheaper D5200).
This makes the autofocus at the level of
The 51 AF points
spread across the frame cameras like the D800!
and one can focus on Also, considering that this is a DX body,
off-centre subjects
the focusing points occupy a much larger
really quickly.
Exposure: 1/200sec at f/8 part of the finder. Indeed, I was reminded
(ISO 400) of the D300S, which also covered almost
60
the entire viewfinder with AF points. This is
a boon for users of long lenses who do not
want to focus and recompose while shooting
off-centre subjects. The camera is also able
to acquire focus in darker conditions than
earlier... like the D4 and D800, it can AF in
light as low as - 2EV.
The other changes are a little more subtle.
The same Auto ISO program that we saw
in the D4 and D800 is now incorporated
in the D7100. This means that the camera WHAT’S IN THE BOX
can automatically detect the minimum
• D7100 body
shutterspeed required, based on what focal
• Battery charger
length you are using. • USB Cable
There is a new Spot White Balance • Stereo AV cable
feature, which works rather similarly to • Camera strap
• Body cap
Spot Metering... it is set while using Live • Camera strap
View and allows you to set a custom White • Accessory shoe cap
• Lithium battery
Balance far more quickly than earlier.
• Software CD-ROM
The maximum shooting speed remains
• Instruction manual
6fps. The camera still hasn’t reached the

37

All photographs by Raj Lalwani

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

Test Shots

Incredibly Quick AF Excellent Detail

While the older 39-point AF system, the 51-point AF of this camera is far more reliable, The D7100 captured excellent detail, when we tested it with the 16–85mm VR and
even if you shoot from the hip and let the camera make the decision for you. Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lenses. Other superzooms did not give as good results though.

burst rates of APS-C heavyweights like Handling

ALSO LOOK FOR
the Nikon D300S and the Canon EOS 7D.
• Canon EOS 7D However, a 1.3x crop mode allows greater
• Sony Alpha 77 reach and allows you to shoot 15MP files
at 7fps.
Video shooting sees several small
changes, including the ability to now
shoot at 1080p30 and the ability to use
38 the crop mode. Of course, since this is
already a DX camera, a further 1.3x crop
becomes a 2x crop. So if you use a 50mm
lens on the D7100, you can get a field of
view of 100mm, if you so desire.
The camera allows you to fine tune the
quality of the audio and also allows you
to monitor it, by including a 3.5mm jack.
It also has a built-in stereo microphone.
While all these changes are inside, the
physical appearance of the camera is
almost identical to the D7000. There is
not much to complain about in terms
of handling. In fact, most of the minor
niggles that plagued the D7000 (and
even the D600) have now been sorted.
For instance, the OK button at the P LU S
centre of the thumbpad can now be • Excellent detail
configured to give a direct 100% view, to • Improved video
confirm focus. • Superb AF system
• Battery life
The new ‘i’ button works well for video.
It allows you to tweak the main settings MINUS
while using Live View, without delving
into the main menu. The only complaint • No tilting screen
• Needs great lenses
from a video perspective is the lack of a

ERGONOMICS

Front Customisable Top Rear

Thumbpad for
DOF preview Drive mode
AF-point selection
button dial

AF-assist
lamp

AF/MF switch Built-in Exposure

Front-facing Customisable
with integrated
exposure dial Fn button
AF mode button
The D7100 is lightweight, but has the same grade
of weathersealing as the heavier (and much
more expensive) D800. Like the D800, the D7100
also has an AF/MF switch which includes the
button to switch between AF modes.
Lock for stereo mic compensation Pentaprism High resolution Live View/Video
mode switch
mode dial button viewfinder non-tilting LCD
The mode dial lock is extremely irritating. Not only The back of the camera is largely unchanged from
do I think it is unnecessary, it is also extremely the D7000, apart from the inclusion of the typical
cumbersome and unintuitive. The placement of stills/video switch that is also seen in the D800.
the Metering and Video buttons can be confusing, The viewfinder’s display is now OLED, and not LCD,
but one can get used to it. which improves visibility of the camera settings.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 T E ST

39

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

S P EC I F I CAT I O N S Noise Test

D
MMENDE
RECO tilt-and-swivel LCD screen. The cheaper
D5200 has one, as does the competition.

Performance
The D7000 had great noise performance, a ISO 6400

Model name Nikon D7100 significant leap over the D90 which it had
replaced. The D7100 does not raise the bar
MRP Rs. 79,450
as much. On a per-pixel level, the noise
Effective pixels 24.1
performance is similar to the D7000, only
Max. resolution 6000 x 4000
with eight extra megapixels. It is good, but
Sensor size, type 23.5 x 15.6, CMOS, no optical does not compare to the class-leading
low pass filter
APS-C sensors from Fujifilm.
Sensor cleaning Yes
In terms of detail captured, the
ISO 12,800 (Hi 1)
Focusing modes Single, Continuous, Auto D7100 performs better than the other
AF type Phase Detect 24MP sensors of Nikon, probably due
AF points 51 (15 of which are to the omission of the low pass filter.
crosstype sensors)
However, remember that unlike the
Metering Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot D7000, this is not a very forgiving sensor.
Shutterspeed range 30–1/8000sec It exposes the flaws of your lenses and
Exp. compensation -5 to +5 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps amplifies them further. It is best to invest
Colour space sRGB and Adobe RGB in some high quality lenses.
ISO Auto, 100–6400 (Expandable up You also need to be doubly careful of your ISO 25,600 (Hi 2)
to ISO 25,600) own technique—everything from choosing With good exposures, luminance noise is barely
White balance Auto, Incandescent, Direct Sun- the right aperture to avoiding any sort of visible until ISO 800 and coour noise till ISO 3200.
40 light, Shade, Cloudy, , Preset, camera shake become even more vital. After this, the images deteriorate quickly, but due
Spot and Kelvin to the large resolution of the camera, it is easy to
Dynamic range is stunning. The JPEG
Drive modes Yes, 6fps get a relatively clean 8 x 12-inch print from even the
7fps with 1.3x crop at 15MP
files have a lot of detail that one can pull highest ISO settings. Like the D7000, the grain has
out from the shadows. Metering is accurate, a pleasant film-like structure and while the Hi1, Hi2
Built-in flash Yes
but on the rare occasion that you may blow settings see a lot of noise, there is no colour shift.
External flash Yes, hot shoe
out the highlights, the RAW files have a lot
Flash modes Auto, Auto with Red-eye
of latent detail. Battery life is excellent.
Reduction, Fill-flash, Red-eye
reduction, Slow sync, Slow FINALRATINGS
sync with Red-eye Reduction, Conclusion Features 13/15
Rear-curtain with Slow Sync,
Rear-curtain Sync, Auto FP There is very little to dislike about the Dual card slots, 51-point AF system, no
optical low pass filter, 6fps
High-Speed Sync supported D7100. It is a solid upgrade of a camera
Flash range Guide no 39 that was already excellent. while I cannot Performance 41/45
Excellent battery life, superb detail and
Flash sync speed 1/250sec help appreciating the finesse achieved by dynamic range, extremely quick AF
LCD size 3.2 inch APS-C DSLRs, I cannot help wondering...
Build Quality 13/15
what lies next? The D7100 incorporates Partly made of magnesium allow with
LCD dots 1229k dots
the best of so many worlds that it is really weather sealing graded as high as the D800
Viewfinder Pentaprism
(100% coverage) difficult (but well, exciting) to envision Ergonomics 16/20
File format JPEG, RAW, MOV a non-pro camera that will take the bar Solves most quirks that plagued the D7000,
no tilting LCD, irritating mode dial lock
even further.
Image stabilisation No
Also, D300S users would be Warranty & Support 4/5
Live View Yes Widespread service network in India
understandably worried. The D7000 and
Remote control Yes, Optional, WiFi also

OVERALL 87%
D7100 are several steps ahead in terms of
Self-timer Yes, 2, 5, 10, 20sec image quality, but lack the body balance
Storage types Dual slots, SD and hands-on ergonomics of the larger
Timelapse recording Yes bodies. Is the D7100 the new DX flagship? Who should buy it? Landscape photographers and
Movie clips Yes, Full HD Or is there a D400 in sight? other professionals who value extra reach.

Environmentally sealed Yes While there are no clear answers yet,

Why? The omission of the low pass filter translates to
Battery Lithium-ion there is no doubt that the D7100 will be stunning detail, if you use good optics. Until the D300S/EOS

Dimensions 135.5 x 106.5 x 76mm a great buy for serious hobbyists and 7D upgrades arrive, this is the best APS-C DSLR around.

professionals who prefer the extra reach of

Weight 765g Value for Money
an APS-C sensor.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
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 TEST

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

One of a Kind
50

In quite a twist to the story, the only full-frame fixed lens digital camera in the
world, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC RX1, puts K Madhavan Pillai to the test!

V
ery few other cameras have
consumed as much mindspace in
recent months as the Sony RX1.
The minute the BP team learnt
about the price tag of Rs. 1,79,990,
WEIGHTAGE OF suffice to say that it did more than just raise
PARAMETERS eyebrows and drop jaws. Apart from other,
more vociferous reactions, the common
5% 20% exclamation was...‘what were they thinking?’
20% The answer to that was not evident by
simply glancing through the list of features.
15% 40% Despite the fact that Sony was bold enough
to attempt a full frame compact, the pricing
seemed ludicrous.
Features
Performance My personal opinion began to change
Build Quality the day I got my hands on the camera.
Ergonomics The possibilities with the RX1 challenged
Warranty & my skills as a photographer. It often tested
Support
my patience as well.
Features
The RX1 is a 24.3 megapixel 35mm
full frame compact camera with a non-
interchangeable 35mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar
T* f/2.0 lens. This alone makes the camera
unlike any other camera in existence.
A full-frame sensor promises an imaging
performance that is at par with other
recent full frame DSLR introductions in
terms of low light capabilities, colour,
dynamic range and detail. The Sonnar
(successor to the venerable Tessar of
Rollieflex fame), was originally developed
in 1929 by Carl Zeiss, primarily for
rangefinders. It is known for its simplicity
in design, sharpness and flare control.
Modern variants, with newer lens coating
and aspherical lens elements, have been
acclaimed for their optical brilliance.

M AY 2 0 1 3

Now, imagine the possibilities of a
Sonnar lens, custom built and fitted for
a specific full frame sensor, packed into
the body of a compact camera! No more
backpacks! Especially considering that
the pathbreaking Nikon D800 and D600
sensors are both made by Sony, I found the
prospect quite exciting.
However, the first automatic question
that came to mind was about speed. Does it
really shoot continuous frames as fast as a
DSLR would? What of focus? The RX1 uses
contrast detection AF which is not going to
be as fast as a DSLR with phase detection.
The camera allows full time AF and MF,
and assisted MF through Direct Manual
Focus (DMF). Within AF, photographers
can choose between multi-point focus,
user defined flexible points, or center
Up against the
noonday sun, this image point. Both Focus Tracking and Face
shows off the excellent Tracking is available in the RX1.
control over flare MF is fly-by-wire. You can have the
afforded by the Carl
image magnified to assist when focusing
Zeiss Sonnar of the RX1.
Exposure: 1/200sec at f/22 manually. To help with MF, there is also a
(ISO 100) feature termed as Adjustable Focus Peaking
M AY 2 0 1 3
T E ST
that highlights the areas of highest contrast
on the LCD, but only in the magnified view.
The RX1 boasts of a shooting speed
of 5fps at full resolution, with the focus
locked at the first frame. The camera
sports all the shooting modes found on
a DSLR, plus 13 scene modes found in
most compacts as well as creative styles
to produce high-key and low-key images.
What I particularly liked was that the
RX1 lets you adjust contrast and color
saturation for each creative style separately.
Also present are multi-shot scene modes
pioneered by Sony, including the useful
Handheld Twilight mode, and the fun
Sweep Panorama mode. Of course, these
modes don’t record images in RAW.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
The movie mode shoots upto a
resolution of 1980 x 1080, 60p. An audio • Sony DSC-RX1
• Micro-USB Cable
input jack is included for an external
• USB AC Adapter
microphone, but there are no manual • Lens cap
audio controls available in the camera. • Accessory shoe cap
• Camera strap
The RX1 boasts plenty of display,
• Lithium-ion battery
playback and customisability options.
• Instruction manual 51
This brings us to its handling.
All photographs by K Madhavan Pillai
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

52

The sensor and lens

pairs superbly well.
C I was extremely thrilled
p to see a very high level
a of detail and sharpness.
s Exposure: 1/8sec at f/8
E (ISO 400)
f/22 (ISO 16,000)

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 T E ST

Handling
The all-metal camera feels great in the
hand, but it is quite diminutive. While the
functions and controls are all extremely well
placed, it takes a while to get used to the tiny
grip. At least initially, there is quite a bit of
fumbling around. For instance, the focus
limiter ring that switches between macro
and normal shooting lies in between the
aperture and focus rings. There were a
number of times when I inadvertently
shifted it without realising it, and
desperately tried to get the camera to focus.
That said, manual focus has never been
this good in a compact! The fly-by-wire
focus ring is smooth, and the magnified
view as well as Focus Peaking works
superbly well. My only issue here was
that the focus kept resetting every time
the camera was turned off. While this
may not seem like much, it becomes quite
frustrating when the lens is a beautifully
sharp 35mm, and you want to use
hyperfocal distance settings. I still fail to
understand why an automatic hyperfocal 53
distance mode cannot be built into
cameras like the RX1.
The aperture ring is an operational
highlight. It rotates and clicks crisply
between f/2 and f/22 in increments of
1/3rd stops. The lacuna here is that the ring
becomes useless in the program mode, or
in any shooting or custom mode where the
aperture is automatic. Rotating the ring
at these times does not really change the
aperture, and neither can it be customised
for any other setting.
There are no less than five fully
customisable buttons, along with three
user definable custom shooting modes on
the main dial. This makes it quite easy to
set the camera controls to suit your specific
style of operation. There is a useful FN or
Function Menu button that throws up a
large array of settings. I wish this menu was
customisable as well.
There is no viewfinder. It is difficult
to expect one on a camera of its size.
However, Sony could have made the LCD
tiltable. Both an EVF and a Carl Zeiss OVF is
available as accessories. Both are atrociously
priced (you can buy the RX1 for the price
of about 5 OVFs) and they are not available
on Sony’s India website. And yes... if you
manage to buy an EVF, it can tilt upwards!

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

Test Shots

A Brilliantly Wide Dynamic Range Excellent Control over Colours and Contrast
The extremely versatile dynamic range of the RX1, as seen in the RAW files, is second The colours of JPEG files were vivacious, if a little oversaturated, straight out of the
only to the class leading Nikon D800 and seems slightly better than the Nikon D600! box. However, both colours and contrast can be fine-tuned to just the way you like it.

The battery charges within the camera via Performance

ALSO LOOK FOR
USB, either using a computer or through
• Fujifilm X-E1 (no the supplied USB AC adapter, which I find
35mm equiv. incredibly silly for a camera of this nature!
lens for now)
Not only does it take almost four hours for a
• Nikon D600 with
the Sigma 35mm full charge, it is cumbersome. A stand-alone
f/1.4 DG HSM AF charger is available as an accessory too.
Fortunately, it is available in India and it is
not very expensive at Rs. 2990.
54
Another expensive accessory, that is not
available on the Sony India website, is the
lenshood. In Sony’s American website, the
lenshood costs 3.6 times as much as the
charger. Now, do the math!
For the price of the RX1, Sony should
have bundled the lenshood and the quick
charger with the camera. All of these affect
handling, and eventually, the performance.
Let’s do some more math. It takes about four
hours to charge the battery. It runs out in
about two hours, or three hours if I conserve
it, or in less than 200 shots. If I were to go on
a photo holiday, I would need three spare
batteries and a spare charger. I would also P LU S
have to set an alarm on my phone, and wake
up in the middle of the night to replace the • Size
• Full-frame sensor
charged batteries with the depleted ones.
• Lens sharpness
And, of course, the batteries are not available • Image quality
on Sony’s India website. • Low light capability
The only other major performance gripe
MINUS
I have with the RX1 is with low light AF.
It fails to lock on patterns or textures, even • Battery life
distinct ones. For example, while shooting • Handling quirks
decorative lights against the night sky, I was • Low light AF
• Price
forced to switch to manual focus.

ERGONOMICS

Front Top Rear

Aperture Mode dial Customisable Main Video
9-bladed aperture Flash popup
Grip Focus ring button input record
diaphragm switch Function menu
Limiter dial button

Inbuilt Popup
Focus assist lamp flash Accessory Exposure
Focus Modes shoe for flash, compensation dial High 4-way control Main
EVF or OVF resolution LCD input dial menu

The all-metal Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 feels
quite sturdy in the hand. The Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2
Sonnar T* dominates most of the front, leaving
just enough room for a leather textured grip and
a large, accessible focus mode switch.
Visible on the lens are three rings for MF, limiting
the focus between normal and macro, and the
aperture. Both the mode dial and the exposure
compensation dial are well designed. Note the
three user defined modes on the mode dial.
The back is dominated by the large, bright LCD.
Three directions of The 4-way controller can be
customised, with the fourth dedicated to the
display modes. The Fn button brings up the rather
elaborate Function menu on the display.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 T E ST

S P EC I F I CAT I O N S Noise Test

D
MM ENDE
RECO
Now for the good part... the 35mm Sonnar
along with the full frame sensor produces
phenomenal quality that is only surpassed ISO 1600
by the flagship DSLRs of Nikon and Canon.
I was thrilled to see the high levels of near
Model name Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 perfect center-to-edge sharpness that the
MRP Rs. 1,79,990
lens delivers, almost all across the aperture
range. Control over flare and vignetting
Effective pixels 24.3MP
is superb. Chromatic aberrations were ISO 3200
Max. resolution Stills 6000 x 4000
barely visible. There is a very slight visible
Video 1920 x 1080, 60p
distortion with straight lines at the edges of
Sensor size, type Full frame, Exmor CMOS
the frame. Simply put, the 35mm Carl Zeiss
Sensor cleaning No
Sonnar T* sets the benchmark for 35mm
Lens 35mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
fixed focal length lenses today.
Aperture range f/2 to f/22
The sensor is amongst the best full
Lens Construction 8 elements, 7 groups ISO 6400
frame sensors available. It effectively takes
(3 aspherical)
all the details thrown at it by the Sonnar
Aperture Blades 9 blades
and resolves it to perfection. High ISO
Min. Focus Distance 24cms or 14cms in Macro
performance is excellent. There is a lot of
Focusing modes Multi-point, Center weighted,
Flexible spot (tracking and face latitude that the sensor belts out, making
tracking), Single-shot, Direct RAW images rich in latent detail. This allows
Manual Focus (DMF), MF the user of the RX1 a lot of freedom in fine-
ISO 12,800
AF type Contrast Detect tuning the camera’s creative controls for Noise control is excellent with easily usable results
AF points 25 producing excellent colours and tones with up to ISO6400. In comparison with other newer full
Metering Multi segment, Center-weighted, the JPEGs too. frame sensors we have tested, the RX1 lagged very 55
Spot slightly behind the Nikon D4, D600, and the Canon
In the end, I actually found myself
Shutterspeed range 30–1/4000sec EOS 1DX, beating Sony’s own Alpha 99. As with other
forgiving all the other faults of the camera Sony cameras, in-camera noise reduction for JPEGs
Exp. compensation -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV steps just because of its superb image quality. is too aggressive, even kept on ‘low’, and reduces
Colour space sRGB and Adobe RGB detail. I preferred to leave it turned off.
ISO Auto, 100–25,600 Conclusion
White balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy,
Tungsten, White Fluorescent,
The RX1 is expensive. But let us do some
more math, one last time. If you consider
FINALRATINGS
Flash, Kelvin, Custom
the total cost of a high-end full-frame
Features 17/20
Drive modes 5fps, 2.5fps when focus is AFS Full frame sensor, 35mm Carl Zeiss Sonnar
Nikon or Canon (let’s say, the Nikon D600 lens, maximum 5fps, no viewfinder
Built-in flash Yes
for Rs. 1,25,950), and add their top-of-the- Performance 34/40
External flash Yes, multi interface hot shoe line 35mm lens to it (AF-S Nikkor 35mm Extremely poor battery life, superlative
Flash modes Auto/Fill-flash/Slow Sync/Rear image and lens quality, poor low light AF
f/1.4G for Rs. 1,31,950), the combination
Sync/Off/Wireless with optional
compatible flash (Rs. 2,59,900) would turn out to be more Build Quality 14/15
All metal, not in the same league as high-end
Flash range In ISO Auto, 0.75m to 21.7m expensive than the RX1 (priced at Rs. DSLRs, but certainly very well built
1,79,990). Of course, you could say that the
LCD 3.0 inch, 1.22 million dots Ergonomics 16/20
Nikkor 35mm is f/1.4, but what you get for Tiny and light-weight but also felt too small,
Viewfinder No, EVF or OVF accessory
the sacrifice of a stop with the Carl Zeiss no articulated LCD, odd handling quirks
File format JPEG, RAW (14-bit),
AVCHD Ver2.0, MP4 Sonnar, is better sharpness. Warranty & Support 3/5
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 is far Three-year warranty, widespread network in
Microphone Jack Yes India but no dedicated camera centres
from perfect. Perhaps it would have been
Image stabilisation SteadyShot Image Stabilization

OVERALL 84%
better if Sony had offered fewer features,
Live View Yes, continuous live view
but got them right. When the performance
Remote control No
is so good, the flaws strongly come to the
Self-timer Yes, 2 or 10sec fore as well. Sony also needs to do some Who should buy it? If you can contend with its
Storage types Memory Stick (Duo, PRO Duo, serious rethinking about what they bundle irritating eccentricities, and want to brag about the best
PRO-HG Duo), SD, SDHC, SDXC image quality in a tiny camera (that money can buy), this is it!
along with the RX1, so that it makes a good
Battery Lithium-ion
buying proposition. Why? The sensor lens combination is a match made in
Dimensions 113.3 x 65.4 x 69.6mm
If you can accept that quality trumps heaven, and is a tough act to beat (despite the price).
Weight 482g all, if everything else is tolerable, you will
Value for Money
certainly be very happy with the RX1.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

Nikkor AF-S 70–200mm f/4G ED VR

56

It’s Here, Finally

Canon has had a similar lens for the longest time, and Nikon now has released
its own AF-S 70–200mm f/4G ED VR lens. Shridhar Kunte puts it to the test.

C
anon has always had one
significant advantage over
Nikon in their lens lineup,
and that is the presence of
high quality f/4 zoom lenses.
These lenses have had optics and build
quality that is as good as the more
expensive f/2.8 lenses, but in a lighter,
WEIGHTAGE OF more accessible package. Nikon users can
PARAMETERS now heave a sigh of relief as the company
has announced its very own 70–200mm
5% f/4 VR lens.
20%
15%
Features
25%
35%
Why is this focal length so popular?
It provides a natural perspective along
with a convenient workable lens-to-
Features
Performance subject working distance. This is what
makes any 70–200mm lens a natural
Build Quality
Ergonomics
choice for wedding photographers and
Warranty & travellers who want a bit of extra reach.
Support
Also, though this lens does not have f/2.8,
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
at 200mm, it offers a pleasing, shallow
depth-of-field for portraits.
The lens has as many as 3 special
elements out of 20 and these are arranged
in 14 groups. These elements are coated
with a special coating that improves light
transmission and offers superior colour
consistency and reduced flare. To achieve
fast, accurate and noiseless focus, this lens is
equipped with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM).
This is the first Nikkor lens that claims
to give a five-stop VR advantage. This
means that one can, in theory, shoot at
shutterspeeds that are five stops slower
than usual, without any camera shake.
Not everybody
needs f/2.8.
Handling This f/4 option
I used this lens on a D7100 as well as delivers optical
D800. On both the cameras, the lens
excellence in a
balances very well. If you compare the
weight with a 70–200/f2.8 lens, this one much lighter and
is lighter by approximately 700g, which is cheaper package.
M AY 2 0 1 3
 TEST

a huge advantage for landscape and travel
photographers, who hike long distances.
It also makes it much easier to carry
around with the lens permanently attached
to the body, and also to handhold the lens
for lengthy shooting periods. I found that
with the D800, the centre of gravity lies
where your left hand grip should be while
capturing images.
The focus ring has an angle of rotation
of approximately 70 degrees, in which the
lens covers entire focusing range. The
There is hardly any amount of distortion S P E C I F I CAT I O N S
that is noticeable. The corner light falloff is
visible at f/4 but it disappears at f/8.
With VR on I was able to shoot consistent DED
ECOMMEN
sharp images at a shutter speed of 1/20 sec. R
But at 200mm I was more comfortable with
a shutter speed of around 1/50 sec. On most
of the against-the-light shooting, the lens
performed well but I found that it produces
a fair amount of flare at times.
Model name Nikkor AF-S70–200mm
Conclusion f/4G ED VR

SWM design allows for instant manual The Nikkor 70–200mm f/4G ED MRP Rs. 86,950

override. While using the lens in full
manual focus mode the focus ring offers
just enough resistance, which is required
to fine tune the focus. The focusing and
DOF scale is cramped in a single small
window; this makes it difficult to read.
Performance
The f/2.8 big brother of this lens has a
very good reputation when it comes to
performance. This new lens is not far
behind. It exhibits very good sharpness
when used wide open, even on the D800.
This improves when the lens is stopped
down. It gives optimum sharpness at f/5.6.
The focusing speed is fairly fast and the
AF operation is very quiet. The chromatic
aberrations are kept well under control.
VR performs very well in all the Lens construction 20 Elements in 14 Groups
departments. This lens is priced at an Min. focusing distance 0.99m
MRP of Rs. 86,950. While the lens offers Max. Magnification 0.27x
tremendous value, one wishes that a Diaphragm blades 9
tripod collar was included. Filter diameter 67
By spending few thousand rupees Dimensions 78 x 178.5mm
more, one can buy f/2.8 optics from Sigma Weight 850g
or Tamron. But here one must ask the
question... is it really necessary to go for
f/2.8? Considering how good full frame
cameras are at high ISOs, f/4 is enough for P LU S
most lighting situations. It is only if you need 57
• Excellent optics
the shallower DOF that one should consider • Efficient VR
f/2.8. And besides price, there is a significant
MINUS
weight and portability advantage with this
lens. The lesser 700g will help you stay fresh • Sporadic flare
for a longer time in your photography stint,
and that will only help your pictures.

FINALRATINGS
Features 15/20
Five-stop VR, first f/4 zoom of its kind from
the company, no tripod collar included

Performance 31/35
Excellent sharpness, high quality bokeh,
sporadic flare, slight vignetting

Build Quality 22/25

Completely weather sealed

Ergonomics 13/15
Fulltime MF override, cramped DOF scale

Warranty & Support 4/5

Two-year warranty, limited service centres

OVERALL 85%
Who should buy it? Travel and landscape
photographers who need reach, but value portability.

The quality of bokeh is

Why? Despite the lack of f/2.8, this is an extremely
sharp lens that offers a good balance of a not-too-
quite pleasing and the expensive price tag and convenience.
autofocus, near silent.
Exposure: 1/320sec at f/11
(ISO 800) Shridhar Kunte Value for Money

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST
58
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM AF
Of Art and Freedom
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM AF is the first of the company’s ‘Art’ series of
flagship optics. Raj Lalwani tests it through a variety of situations and reports.
T
wo years ago, Better Photography
had published a Shooting
Technique article, in which we
had asked several photographers
about what kind of lens they
WEIGHTAGE OF liked most. My favourite photographer,
PARAMETERS the Magnum legend, David Alan Harvey,
had replied that all he needs to view the
5%
20%
world, is a fixed 35mm lens.
15% I identified with Harvey’s sentiment.
35mm is my favourite focal length as well.
25%
35%
But I always looked at these lenses from
afar. The proprietary f/1.4 version of the
Features
fixed 35mm costed well over a lakh, and
Performance personally, I did not have the funds to buy
Build Quality a lens that expensive. This is why I watched
Ergonomics with great interest, when Sigma announced
Warranty & a 35mm f/1.4 at a price of Rs. 56,900, almost
Support
Rs. 80,000 cheaper than the Nikkor version.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Features
Despite the low price point, the company
has not skimped on any features. This is
an exquisitely designed piece of optics,
very rightly (though cheesily) labelled the
‘Art’ series. The lens incorporates several
technologies to maintain this premium
nature on the inside. It has one Low This is a very
Dispersion and four Super Low Dispersion sharp lens.
elements to minimise the aberrations that
It does full
are common to fast wide-angle prime lenses.
Besides a Hyper Sonic Motor for silent
justice to the
focusing, the lens also incorporates high resolution
a Thermally Stable Composite metal. sensor of the
This component is supposed to limit the Nikon D800 and
expansion or contraction of the internal
parts, even when ambient temperatures
does not even
fluctuate. The company claims that burn a hole in
this will increase the life of the lens. one’s pocket!
M AY 2 0 1 3
 TEST

While there is no way of confirming this Photography at 35mm is remarkably S P E C I F I CAT I O N S

while testing a brand new lens, those who intimate and the quick AF of this Sigma
buy the lens through the official channels meant that I was getting several shots that
in India will appreciate the fact that the I was proud of. DED
ECOMMEN
company has a 1:1 replacement policy, When I inspected the images on the R
if the lens needs to be serviced beyond a computer, it actually hit me. The photos
certain level. produced by this lens are very sharp, even
at the widest aperture. The quality is much
Handling better than what one would expect from a
The lens balances perfectly on the Nikon non-proprietary lens manufacturer. In fact,
D700 and D800. It feels a little front heavy it is sharper than the Nikkor and Canon Model name Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM AF
on the D600, but it is something that one alternatives, and even does full justice to MRP Rs. 56,900
can easily get used to. The lack of weather the 36MP sensor of the D800. Vignetting Lens construction 13 Elements in 11 Groups
sealing may have been a compromise to is prominent at f/1.4, but it eases off at Closest focusing 0.3m
keep the price down, but it is one of the few around f/2. One can see a bit of pattern distance
things that go against this lens. flaring in extreme conditions, but there is Max. Magnification 0.19x
The focusing ring is large and well no loss of contrast. Diaphragm blades 9
damped. I often found myself switching Filter diameter 67mm
to MF—not because of any AF problems Conclusion Dimensions 77 x 94mm
(autofocus is very good), but because the Rarely do we see a third-party lens Weight 665g
feel of using a fixed 35mm just made me that surpasses the capabilities of its
want to take complete control of what I was proprietary competitors. The fact that one
shooting. The distance scale also allowed can buy two Sigma 35mm lenses for the
me to focus manually at the hyperfocal price of one Nikkor or Canon 35mm f/1.4, P LU S
distance and prowl the streets, simply is of course, a little ironic. 59
• Excellent sharpness
concentrating on framing and moment. If you are a disciplined photographer who • Price
revels in the idea of using one fixed lens for
MINUS
Performance all your work, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is an
It is a great feeling to view images shot at astonishing piece of optics. Embrace the • No weather sealing
a relatively wide focal length, but with constraint of a fixed focal length, and enjoy
their backgrounds completely blurred. the freedom that follows.

FINALRATINGS
Features 17/20
TSC technology, fast f/1.4 aperture, instant
manual focus override

Performance 34/35
Tack sharp even at the widest aperture,
minimal flare, excellent distortion control

Build Quality 22/25

Solid plastic build, no weather sealing

Ergonomics 14/15
Excellent focusing ring, DOF scale

Warranty & Support 3/5

Limited service centres, replacement policy

OVERALL 90%
Who should buy it? Street and travel
photographers who want a fast lens that is not very wide.

The colour rendition

Why? The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is not only half the price of
the Nikkor and Canon alternatives, it also matches up in
is fantastic, and the terms of optical quality.
focusing, very quick.
Exposure: 1/500sec at f/6.3
(ISO 1000) Raj Lalwani Value for Money

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST
60 Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
Something Different?
The stabilisation of the Tamron 24–70mm f/2.8 VC differentiates it from its
Nikon and Canon counterparts, but is that enough? Shridhar Kunte finds out.
N
ikon and Canon has enjoyed
vast success with their fast
aperture standard zoom lenses.
Third-party lens manufacturers
have tried to venture into
this orbit, but without much success.
WEIGHTAGE OF Tamron had earlier introduced the
PARAMETERS SP 28–75mm f/2.8 XR, but with newer
technologies coming to the fore, the
5%
20%
company has now introduced the SP
15% 24–70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD, the first lens
of its kind with image stabilisation.
25%
35%
Features
Features
Besides being unique, it is also the first
Performance lens from the company that has f/2.8, VC
Build Quality (Vibration Compensation) and a USD
Ergonomics motor. The motor allows quick, silent
Warranty & AF with fulltime manual focus override.
Support
The lens construction is extremely
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
complex. The lens consists of 17
elements in 12 groups. To overcome the
deficiencies of the construction, extensive
use of special optics is employed. There
are three LD (Low Dispersion) lenses and
two XR (Extra Refractive Index) lenses.
With the zoom action, the overall length
of the lens varies but this is not the case
It may be the
with focusing. only f/2.8
The front element of the lens does not standard
rotate while focusing—a big plus for CPL zoom that is
users. The lens accepts 82mm filters;
this is a real pain in India. Filters of this
stabilised, but
diameter are not only difficult to get, they the optical
are also more expensive. I think the larger quality of this
diameter was essential for the aperture lens does not
of f/2.8 and to accommodate the VC
mechanism. While VC is useful enough
match the
for stills, it will make the lens popular proprietary
amongst filmmakers. lens options.
M AY 2 0 1 3
 TEST

Handling When I was using the lens on the D7100, S P E C I F I CAT I O N S

With an overall weight of 825g, the lens feels
really solid. When mounted on a Nikon
D800, the package becomes hefty but the
balance of the camera-lens combination is
quite good. The lens mount is metallic and
the circumference of the mount is fitted
with weather sealing gasket. The outer parts
are made from engineering plastics.
The zoom ring is covered with rubberised
textured material. The focusing ring is
narrow, but can easily be rotated for manual
I faced no problem with distortion over
the entire focal length. But with the full
frame D800, barrel distortion is noticeable
at 24mm. Also, when zoomed at 70mm, a
bit of pincushion distortion is observed.
At mid focal lengths there is nothing to
complain about. I tried some panning
shots with VC and I consistently managed
to get sharp images. Our tests found the VC
to give an advantage of 3 stops. Model name Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8
Di VC USD

focusing. The focusing distance scale is Conclusion MRP Rs. 77,800

clearly marked in feet as well as metres, but This lens is available at an attractive Lens construction 17 elements in 12 groups
I felt the need of a depth-of-field scale, which price of Rs 77,800, which is about half Closest focusing 0.38m
distance
is missing on this lens. The AF/MF switch is the price as compared to Canon and
a bit hard to reach with the left thumb, while Nikon! But then, though the proprietary Max. Magnification 1:5

keeping a firm grip over the lens barrel. lenses are far more expensive, they are far Diaphragm blades 9

better performers as well. If you use an Filter diameter 82mm

Performance expensive full frame camera, especially Dimensions 88.2 x 108.5mm

The lens exhibits decent edge-to-edge one that has a demanding sensor like the Weight 825g
sharpness up to 50mm, but the quality D800, you would not want to compromise
does not compare to the excellence on the optics, even if you get the added
displayed by Nikon and Canon’s advantage of VC. P LU S
proprietary lenses. At 70mm, images shot The new Tamron 24–70mm f/2.8 VC, 61
• Stabilisation
at f/2.8 have soft edges. High-resolution thus, is recommended mainly for those • Price
sensors like that of the Nikon D800 pose a who shoot a lot of handheld video, and
MINUS
few problems for this lens, and one needs wish to throw the background out of focus.
to stop down to f/5.6 or f/8 to get optimum For most others, it does not do enough to • Need to go to f/8 for
sharpness over the entire focal length. displace the popularity that the proprietary optimum sharpness
The focusing mechanism is very lenses enjoy. Of course, if you are on a
quiet, but it is not as quick as Canon’s or budget, you can get this one, or also look at
Nikon’s. There is no hint of chromatic
aberration or flare.
the much cheaper non-VC lens 28–75mm
f/2.8 lens from Tamron. FINALRATINGS
Features 17/20
Fast aperture, Vibration Compensation, USD
The quality of bokeh motor for autofocus
is quite good, but
the lens is not as Performance 26/35
sharp as its Nikon or Good VC performance, AF not as fast as
proprietary lenses, soft at 70mm at f/2.8
Canon counterparts.
Exposure: 1/20sec at f/6.3
(ISO 3200)
Build Quality 22/25
Solid build, weather sealed

Ergonomics 12/15
No DOF scale, fulltime manual focus override

Warranty & Support 2/5

Limited number of service centres

OVERALL 79%
Who should buy it? Filmmakers who value image
stabilisation and wish to throw the background out of focus.

Why? This is the only stabilised fast standard zoom for

full frame. For still photographers, while it is priced very
well, it is not as sharp as the proprietary options.

Shridhar Kunte Value for Money

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 MI CRO TE ST MI C R O T EST

Lexar Professional 800x CompactFlash memory card Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22L AW

Fast to Read, Slow to Write The Travel Companion

Equipped with a good read speed but a Not really an affordable backpack, but it is
terrible write speed, it is a dissappointment. designed for comfortable travelling.

W L
hy would anyone buy a owepro’s Photo Hatchback 22L
S P E C I F I CAT I O N S S P E C I F I CAT I O N S
Lexar 800x CF card when AW is good for the avid traveller
they have the option to buy • Product name: in more ways than one. Not only • Product Name:
the faster 1000x version? Lexar Professional is it comfortable to carry, but the Lowepro Photo
800x CompactFlash Hatchback 22L AW
Simply because the 800x travel ideal backpack can fit your
memory card • MRP: Rs. 5500
card is almost half the price of the 1000x • MRP: Rs. 3990 personal stuff as well as your photographic • Dimensions (W x H
card and only a bit slower. But how does it • Warranty: Lifetime, equipment at the same time. x D): 11.42 x 9.25 x
otherwise match up to its faster cousin? but limited The upper compartment can store a 19.88 inches
• Warranty: Lifetime,
The Lexar Professional 800x is available shirt/jacket, a lunch box, sunglasses and
but limited
in capacities ranging from 8–128GB. other essentials. A zippered pocket and
It promises a minimum read speed of two stretch mesh pockets here store your
120MB/sec. This is 30MB/sec slower than headphones, cellphone, wire or cables if any.
the1000x counter part but still a good Keys or a wallet can be attached to the safety
speed nevertheless. We tested the card in hook for easy access. You can even carry
the humongous Nikon D800 with 14-bit an iPad or a 11-inch laptop. Stretch pockets
uncompressed RAW files. The card could on either side of the
62 write only 15 frames in the continous bag can carry water 62
shooting mode. After that, it could take only bottles or even a small
one or two images per second. This came as tripod. The camera
a huge disappointment. One would ideally compartment below is
expect a write speed which is 80% of the accessible only when
read speed. However, with the Lexar 800x, the backpack is off you
the write speed can be as low as 35MB/sec. or sideways. The bag
This means that older accommodates a full
Lexar Professional frame DSLR attached
600x CF card, which with a 24–105mm lens
is now scrapped is along with an additional
actually faster when 50mm lens, an external
writing data. It has a flashgun, battery
consistent read-write charger and spare
speed of 90MB/sec. memory cards.
That answers why An interesting feature
Nikon has listed the is that this padded
Lexar 600x rather than camera box can be
the Lexar 800x CF card removed entirely
as a D800 compatible and the extra space
card on their website. We tested the card can be used to fit your travel essentials.
using a utility software on a computer and A flap covering on the box keeps the
it gave us the same results. camera safe, even when not inside the
Product source:
If you do not want speed, then this card bag. Comfortable carrying is ensured with
Fastrack
is a good value-for-money option for your the heavily padded back. The all-weather
Communications, Product source:
high-resolution cameras. It can playback cover protects the gear from rain, dust, sand
New Delhi Inter Foto, Mumbai
50MB RAW files and HD videos with or heat. While the gear can be removed
Tel: +91-98713 88886 Tel: +91-22-24925151
ease. But if you want to make the most of sideways, it is not very easily accessible, if
the burst mode of your camera, then you R AT I N G you are on the move. This, and its slightly R AT I N G
would rather get the Lexar Professional high price point of Rs. 5500, are the only
1000x CompactFlash card. negative points of this otherwise good bag.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 NEW

Cellphone SEC
TIO
N

Improve your
SHOOTING SKILLS
with Mobile Phones
Get the perfect moment!
The hidden powers of your phone's flashlight
TESTED IN THIS ISSUE

Nokia Lumia 920 Micromax Canvas HD A116 Xolo X1000

Best cameraphone in the world? High on features, but how well does it shoot? Meet the speed photo demon
Editorial
“In this chaos In Search of Imperfection
of imagery,
what makes a What is it about the past that makes us want to rewind and revisit?
Nostalgia, for me, is an intriguing human emotion, that dominates all
good picture? our lives. I was born in the eighties but even today, Frank Sinatra, Dire
Does the answer Straits and The Doors create all the background music that plays in my
really change?” life. Modern-day songs are good, no doubt, but the more technology
distances us from the tactile nature of life, the more we yearn for the
warmth of the past. It’s like the fuzzy sound of vinyl, versus the clinical precision of a CD.
I am not getting into an analogue versus digital debate here. Quite the contrary, in fact.
It was Instagram that spurred these thoughts in my head when I saw a bunch of pictures
with faux retro effects. Isn’t the irony amazing? We want to upgrade our cameras because the
latest DSLR shoots at some insane ISO. But with cellphone images, we sprinkle some grain
and throw in light leaks. It’s not just about Instagram. Every cellphone photo embraces the
imperfection of the technology... simply because what we are shooting is close to our hearts.
Photography has been around for almost two centuries, but it is estimated that ten per cent
of the total number of photos ever made, have been shot in the past one year. In this chaos
of imagery, in this longing for romance, what makes a good picture? Does the definition
really change? Join us, as Better Photography enters the world of cellphone photography.
Consider this a magazine within our magazine, like a new app in your favourite smartphone.

Raj Lalwani 65
raj.lalwani@betterphotography.in

A Page from a
Family Album
by Raj Lalwani
I made this picture one
early morning, as my
grandfather sat in his car,
just about to set out of
the house. After making
this moment with my
cellphone, I ran up to my
room and brought my
DSLR, hoping to make a
‘higher quality’ picture.
The pixels were better,
sure, but this moment,
this gaze, did not come
back. Perfection isn’t
always a good thing.

The best camera is the one that’s with you.

CHASE JARVIS

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
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 TEST

Nokia Lumia 920

66 The Best Around?

The Nokia Lumia 920 is definitely the most hyped cameraphone of recent
times. Raj Lalwani sees if this Pureview device matches up to its name.

F
or those of you who associate the Floating Lenses and Other Geektalk
term ‘PureView’ with the large What the company is touting though, is
sensor that was the highlight of something called floating lens technology...
INTERESTING FACTS the Nokia 808, let me burst your a fancy name for good old optical
bubble. The Lumia 920 has a 1/3- stabilisation. This works brilliantly for
The most popular
camera on Flickr is not inch sensor, which is around the same size video, and casual handheld video looks like
a Canon or a Nikon. as the sensor of an Apple iPhone, and much a dream. Stabilisation works well for still
It is the Apple iPhone
4S. The iPhone 5 and smaller than the Nokia 808’s. Neither do you photos shot at night without flash, but here
iPhone 4 are second get 41MP, nor do you get lossless zooming is the catch. IS only combats camera shake...
and third respectively!
like the earlier PureView. it does not help freeze moving subjects.

Some Lumia 920 Photographs and What We Fou

Low Light Quality AF Speed Depth of Field

The detail retained in low light photographs is Touch focus works really quickly and there is Unlike the 808, the Lumia 920 does not have a very
fantastic. This is because the phone is deliberately virtually no shutter lag. This encouraged me to look large sensor. This means that you cannot control
not choosing a high ISO and using IS instead. for frames where the timing of the shot was vital. DOF as much, but also makes focusing easier.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3

Last I checked, real people do tend
SELF ASSIGNMENT to move. This makes the Lumia 920 far
less effective in real-world usage. Yes, it
Make a portrait of
every person you
gives better low light performance than
come across in the smartphones from other brands, but it
span of four hours. does not come close to the 808.
Try to keep as many
elements constant as
possible—the same A Difference of Day and Night
app, the same aspect
ratio and so on. Ironically enough, the image quality in the
daytime is not as good. Tonality is excellent
but the not-as-good optics make the images
not as sharp as, say, an iPhone.
One irritant is that unlike most phones,
metering is not linked to the focus point.
This needs you to constantly adjust
Exposure Compensation if there is a
bright element in the background. Unlike
the 808 PureView, one needs to press the
touchscreen at least thrice to compensate.
A phone that touts its camera so much
should either give control at one’s
fingertips, or should be so good at
automation that one doesn’t need the
added control.
To Windows or Not to Windows
Photographers who want a great camera
that simply makes calls would rather look
at the older (and now much cheaper) 808
M AY 2 0 1 3
TEST
All photographs by Raj Lalwani
67
Portraits in this light
PureView. If you are addicted to cellphone
were blurred, but with a
photography because of the app ecosystem, still subject, the Lumia
you will anyway gravitate more towards the 920 weaved magic.
iPhone or an Android device as Windows is
woefully short of photo-related apps.
If it seems like I’m only picking out
flaws, let me put it this way. The Lumia
920 is a magnificent technological The 920 shoots
breakthrough, and quite easily the mindblowing
best cellphone for video in the market. video, good
But purely from a stills point of view,
it has a few innate quirks, which are
quality stills, but
disappointing because the potential of its battery life is
the technology was so good. extremely poor.
AT A GLANCE
SPECIFICATIONS 8MP, 1/3-inch sensor, optical image stabilisation, Windows 8, 1.5GHz dual
core, 2000mAh battery, Rs. 35,999
WHAT WE LIKE Gorgeous screen, great video, one of the best cellphone cameras at night
WHAT WE DISLIKE Poor battery life, barely any apps, no 808 sensor, optics don’t do justice
WHY BUY IT? For those who do not care for apps, the 920 is an excellent smartphone
with good looks and a great camera. Just don’t expect an 808 PureView.
FINAL RATINGS 86%
CAMERA FEATURES Floating lens technology, fun Cinemagraph feature 13/15
IMAGE QUALITY The best quality in low light after the 808 PureView 31/35
VIDEO QUALITY Superb tonality, sharp footage, well stabilised 19/20
HANDLING Slippery body, user control hidden in the menus, poor battery life 9/15
SPEED & RESPONSIVENESS Excellent hardware and fast performance 14/15
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 TEST

Micromax Canvas HD A116

A Fantastic
Budget Buy
Raj Lalwani tests the Micromax Canvas
HD A116, and realises that its camera lives
up to the elaborate feature sheet.

E
very now and then, there comes
The Canvas HD a product that tries to disrupt
not only gives the market by offering a lot at
great value a relatively low price point.
In the world of smartphones,
for money, but the Micromax Canvas HD is one such
also captures partypooper. The kind of hardware
excellent photos. that this Rs. 14,500 phone packs in is
68 astonishing... a 1.5GHz processor and
Android 4.2, amongst others.
The 5-inch 720p HD screen works like a
giant viewfinder and is clearly visible, even
in broad daylight. The colours are not so
accurate though. The tones of the display are
cooler than what is actually being recorded.
Raj Lalwani

Delightfully Subtle Tonality in Good Light
Before I inspected the images on a
computer screen, I was skeptical.
Photographic capabilities cannot be
measured by long lists of specifications.
Some popular smartphones have sub-par
cameras, with their gorgeous displays
masking the flaws of their image sensor.
This is where the Canvas HD springs a
delightful surprise. Not only are daylight
images sharp, the tonality seen in the files
APPS YOU MUST TRY is actually quite graceful, much like a
The Canvas HD is a very likeable camera. The phone captures
It is a fantastic deal and produces better excellent tones in
quality than some heavyweight cellphones. the shadows and the
It is also an excellent smartphone with a compression artifacts
are lesser than
solitary bug that has been widely reported, the competition.
but not solved yet—Flipboard, a magazine
rich with photography-related content,
keeps crashing. A pity, really.
AT A GLANCE
SPECIFICATIONS 8MP, LED flash, Android Jellybean 4.1, 5-inch 720p HD, 1.2GHz quadcore
processor, 4GB storage (expandable), 2000mAh battery, Rs. 14,499

budget compact camera. In low light, noise WHAT WE LIKE Excellent quality in good light, quick response overall
Both iOS and Android
reduction goes overboard, but some B&W WHAT WE DISLIKE Lot of flaring with sun in the frame, Flipboard crashes
have an official TED
app that allows you processing and added grain in Snapseed WHY BUY IT? The Canvas HD is arguably the most value-for-money smartphone in the
to view and download market, and its camera capabilities are excellent for its price.
TED talks given by gave me usable images without flash.
experts from diverse FINAL RATINGS 83%
fields. While some of A Problem of Optics CAMERA FEATURES 8MP, Android 4.1, shoots continuously up to 99 shots
these talks directly 14/15
deal with photography, The lens is sharp, but flares up really IMAGE QUALITY Admirable quality for a not-too-expensive smartphone 27/35
there are several badly... I saw a ridiculous amount of
others that will still VIDEO QUALITY Excellent quality in good light, slightly jerky in low light 17/20
provide a bunch of pattern flaring and rainbow-like effects.
HANDLING Good battery life, OS allows quick access to camera 13/15
inspiration to any Thankfully, this happens when the bright
creative individual. SPEED & RESPONSIVENESS Flipboard bug, otherwise very fast 12/15
sun is prominent in the frame.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 TEST

Intel Xolo X1000

If Speed is
Your Thing
Have you ever seen a phone that shoots
at 15fps? Raj Lalwani puts the Intel Xolo
X1000 on the photographic test bench.

T
This is a great he Intel Xolo X1000 is designed
to make jaws drop. Not only is it
phone, but the a stunning looker, it also boasts
camera is not as of some of the most high-end
good as the rest specifications seen in a premium
of the phone. cellphone. Intel themselves have been
highlighting its 2GHz processor, and this
processor gives the phone’s camera some
interesting photographic powers.
69
So Quick!
This is a cameraphone in a hurry. It fires
away at not 5, not 10, but 15fps! That is
insane, considering that most compact
cameras and DSLRs cannot touch these
speeds. Sure, the phone pauses for a brief
while, but it gets ready for the next shot
soon enough. I was a little disappointed to
see that it runs on Ice Cream Sandwich and
not Jellybean. Jellybean allows cellphones
to shoot continuously without pausing and
an OS update may reduce or even remove Burst mode apart, I will not recommend this The lens is reasonably
the slight lag that happens while writing the cellphone to photo enthusiasts. There are sharp, but the phone
gives good results only in
images shot during the burst. phones that deliver better image quality at soft, non-contrasty light.
lower price points.
A Good Lens, But...
The smart design extends to the optics. AT A GLANCE
The lens controls flare very well. One thing SPECIFICATIONS 8MP, LED flash, Android ICS 4.0, 4.7-inch 720p HD screen, 2GHz singlecore
that severaly affects image quality though, is processor, 8GB storage (expandable), 1900mAh battery, Rs. 19,990

the stunted dynamic range. As compared to WHAT WE LIKE It is extremely fast and the lens performs well

other phones at this price range, the X1000’s WHAT WE DISLIKE Though HD, the screen in the Camera mode is not as sharp
ON BEING INSPIRED metering consistently tends to overexpose WHY BUY IT? This is an excellent phone with a decent camera with some great features.
But purely for photography, there are better cameraphones at this price.
LIFE magazine has a and the highlights get blown out easily.
free app on iOS that While the screen is HD, strangely, it is FINAL RATINGS 78%
hosts a huge archive FEATURES Android ICS, 15fps, 720p screen
a little unsharp while using the default 13/15
of content from the
iconic magazine. Camera module, almost as if focus has IMAGE QUALITY Blown out highlights, good control over flare 24/35
So while you take a not been acquired. I am nitpicking, but
break from shooting VIDEO QUALITY Excellent quality, even in low light 18/20
on your iPhone, look considering how good the screen is
ERGONOMICS Great design, screen not as sharp in the Camera module 11/15
up the masters and otherwise, this was a disappointment.
get inspired! SPEED & RESPONSIVENESS Extremely fast, but no Jellybean capabilities 12/15
The X1000 is a very nice phone, no doubt.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

70

All photographs by Raj Lalwani

Previsualise the story
that you wish to
narrate, and then wait.
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus

Don’t Miss the Moment!

Whether you are using a basic cellphone or a high-end smartphone, there are
several things you can do to speed up its camera. Raj Lalwani elaborates.

H
INSTAFOLLOW NOW ow many times have you blamed Focus Before You Click
your cellphone for images that Most phones take time to make the picture
Magnum photographer
David Alan Harvey (@ have missed the moment? Are the after you have pressed the button because
davidalanharvey) is an subject’s eyes closed? Or is it there is a bit of delay before autofocus is
avid cellphone shooter
and maintains a visual not even in the frame? To avoid acquired. If you have found a potential
diary of his travels pictures that miss the action, here are a subject and are simply waiting for the action
on Instagram.
bunch of things you should keep in mind. to happen, keep the focus locked and wait.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

Make pictures from
the hip. Your subject will
have no idea and you will
get the natural moment.
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus
How Most Phones Actually Work
This is something that confuses almost
everyone! Most cellphone cameras work
very differently as compared to compact
cameras and DSLRs. The photograph
is not made when your finger presses
the button (or touchscreen). Instead,
it is made at the exact instant when
your finger is released. So, keep the
click button (the physical one or the Focus precision is
touchscreen) pressed, and release it at the usually not required with
phones... a rough idea is
perfect moment.
usually enough.
Shot with: Samsung
Do Not Abuse the Burst Mode Galaxy Nexus
High-end phones nowadays do not have
Get into the heart of
this problem, but budget cellphones
the action yourself!
often take a bit of time to get ready for 71
Shot with: Micromax
the next image. So shoot only if it is Canvas HD A116

Shutter lag is a
constraint, but
that should only
encourage you
to understand
and predict your
subject better.

PROBLEM SOLVING
The inherent dynamic
range of most
cellphone cameras is
quite poor, which is
why it becomes even
more important to pay
attention to lighting.
Avoid burnt out
highlights, especially if
they are situated close
to the main subject.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

Cellphones Need You to Get Really Close... But Where Does the Limit Lie?

When Subjects May Become Conscious Photography Around One’s Own Periphery
If you want a candid movement instead of a posed stance, you would do best Since cellphone lenses are quite wide, you may find some interesting activity
to stand at a slight distance and then crop the photograph, as was done in this happening, literally, at your own feet. It may be a dog scampering across, or a
image shot from a distance. few interesting shadows. The catch is to be quick, but silent.

absolutely necessary instead of blindly application, especially in terms of the lag

firing away. between two shots. After you have got the
Sometimes, the best moment, you can transport the picture
way to get one shot that Use the Native Camera App to the app of your choice and make the
has everything in place, You may enjoy apps like Instagram, required changes.
is to make a lot of photos
but avoid shooting through the app
in the first place.
Shot with: Samsung itself. The native camera module is Assign a Shortcut
Galaxy Nexus almost always faster than a third-party You anticipate a picture, remove the
72 phone, unlock it, go to Apps and then
click on the Camera icon. Quite obviously,
the moment would have elapsed by then.
Keep the Camera icon on the
homescreen. Some phones allow you
to access the camera when the phone is
locked, while others let you configure a
button as a direct shortcut.

SEEING IN SQUARES
Lighten the Load
The camera module is directly linked to Are you an Instagram
the Gallery folder on your phone, and if addict? Keep in mind
the fact that the app
there are a lot of images in there, it tends only allows square
to become slow. Always back up your photos. A composition
that works really well
images after a day’s shoot and keep the
otherwise, may not
Gallery as clean as possible. look so good as a
square. Look at the
works of masters who
Use a Task Killer have used the 6x6
Some phones are not as good at format successfuly to
get some inspiration.
multitasking as others. Close the apps that

Essential Practices for the Serious Phone-ographer.

• Carry Your Phone Everywhere: Well, most of us do this anyway, which is why
cellphone photography is great for creating a visual diary of everything we do.
But remember, do not underestimate any shooting situation. A potential great
frame may be lurking anytime, anywhere.
• Be Serious, Look Casual: Cellphones are unobtrusive, but sometimes, a
photographer’s approach may attract too much attention. Be serious about
getting the shot, but do not kill the moment by intimidating the subject.
• Ask Yourself Which Camera You Need: Recognise which situations are better
shot with a DSLR and which ones need the inconspicuous cameraphone.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

are running in the background manually,

FUN TRICKS TO TRY or use an efficient Task Manager.

Cellphone cameras
have small sensors
Look for OS Upgrades
and wide lenses, which While your phone’s basic hardware
often means an infinite cannot change, OS updates often make the
amount of depth-of-
field. Shoot from really cellphone more responsive. Sometimes, as
up close, to get some in the Android update of Jellybean, the OS
crazy perspectives!
update activates continuous shooting and
virtually erases shutter lag.

Don’t Talk Too Much!

There are often phases when everything
is going perfectly... there are plenty of
potential subjects around, and several
Once you find an great moments seem to present themselves
interesting background, to you. Wouldn’ t the worst possible thing
lock focus and release at a time like this be a phone call? If you
the finger only once a
are in the zone, consider switching to the
subject enters the frame.
Shot with: Samsung Airplane mode for awhile, so that nothing
Galaxy Nexus can disturb your shooting.
Technical considerations left aside,
remember that gear is secondary.
Whether you are using a high-end
DSLR or an expensive phone, the most
essential step to capturing the moment
is to understand your subject and then,
practise, wait and anticipate.
Cellphones don’t have
optical zoom, so you
need to get physically
closer. Take one step at
a time, so that you don’t
scare the subject away!
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus

73

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

Certain sights that

need to be shot with
flash as the light levels
are that low.
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus

Flash helps highlight

textures while shooting
extreme close-ups.
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus

A Spark of Magic
Raj Lalwani tells you about the possibilities offered by your cellphone
camera’s flash, and how it is more versatile than you may actually think.
74

M
ost cellphone cameras have
a tiny flash, which we either
ignore, or simply use on the
Automatic mode. What if we
The best flash photos you were told that there is a
are often those in
which the effect of the wealth of photographic possibilities and
illumination is subtle. control in the most basic of cellphone
Shot with: HTC Wildfire flashes? Read on to know more.
When in Doubt, Use Flash Warn your
Cellphone sensors are usually tiny, and
this leads to blurry images in low light.
subject before
The simplest solution to this, is to use flash, you fire the
which helps keep the subject sharp. flash, especially
if you are
Get Really Close
Of course, the flash will not weave magic
shooting from
in every situation. The power of your up close!
cellphone flash is nowhere near as good
as a DSLR or even a compact camera’s
onboard flash. To get good results, you will
need to get close enough to your subject.

Control its Power

Enjoy shooting close-ups of your food?
The problem while shooting such pictures
is that your own shadow may fall on the ODDS AND ENDS
subject. Flash acts as a saviour by adding just
the right amount of fill light. However, the Use tracing paper
or tissues to diffuse
Auto output may be too bright and cause the flash, or make
your subject to burn out. Dial a - ve value of use of coloured
gelatin papers to add
Exposure Compensation and then try. a psychedlic effect.
Remember that this
Avoid the Typical Flash Look may reduce the power
of the flash output and
Dislike the harsh look that plagues most you may need to get
snapshots? When shooting group shots, use closer to the subject.
Also, while covering
the Night Portrait Scene mode. This fires the the flash, see that
flash, but also captures some ambient light, you do not cover the
phone’s lens!
giving more natural colours.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 CELLPHONE TECHNIQUE

AFTER YOU SHOOT

Cellphones sometimes
struggle to give
accurate colours
while shooting at night.
Warm tones become
too orange, and skin
tones go for a toss.
Switch to B&W or use
a high quality editing
app like Snapseed
(iOS, Android).

Tweak the WB settings

subtlely while using
flash, to control the way
the final colours look.
Shot with: HTC Wildfire

Use it in Bright Sunlight Keep the charger handy if photography is a

Most phones have poor dynamic range part of the evening’s agenda!
and struggle in harsh light. Minimise any 75
ugly shadows by forcing the flash to fire, The External ‘Flashgun’ Hack
DO NOT DO THIS! even if it is completely bright otherwise. Does your friend have a phone with a flash
Shot something too? Ask them to switch to the Video mode,
that you don’t quite Beware of Lag turn on their flash, and use it as a continuous
like? Do not delete
The use of flash can slow your cameraphone light source for portraits! Add your own The flashlight of
it immediately.
Cellphone screens down, so shoot only when necessary. mobile’s flash as fill light, if required. two different phones
are sometimes too Finally, remember that while was used to light this
small for you to portrait, with some
judge expression, Keep the Charger Handy cameraphone flashes are useful, what
added in-camera editing.
moment and Some phones do not allow you to fire the adds that final spark is a burst of creativity Shot with: Micromax
other technicalities.
flash if the battery falls below a certain level. and a lot of imagination. Canvas HD A116

All photographs by Raj Lalwani

You may need to vary

your shooting angle
slightly, so that the
flash falls at the
perfect spot.
Shot with: Samsung
Galaxy Nexus

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 READERS’ GALLERY

READERS’ GALLERY
Want to see your cellphone photos here? Send us
your best shots to entries@betterphotography.in, or
give us a shoutout on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
betterphotography) or Twitter (@betterphoto).

A Stark Contrast
Aditya Nair, Mumbai
76 What made me shoot this:
It has almost become a
custom for me to take
a picture from outside
the plane window, every
time I travel. As I was
wondering what to shoot
at Birsa Munda airport,
I saw this lady being
wheeled away.
What I learnt: To highlight
the relationship
between the subject and
background, I added the
Lo-Fi filter in Instagram.
Shot with: HTC One X

The Canon-Nikon Love Story

Gaurav Sawn, Mumbai

What made me shoot this: The obvious irony of the two big
camera brands in the same frame, with two headless
people under an umbrella.
What I learnt: No puns intended, but the camera does
not matter, does it? I find cellphones handy for street
photography as they encourage you to constantly be
on the lookout for interesting moments.
Shot with: Apple iPhone 4

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 READERS’ GALLERY

The Broken
Colour Grid
Apeksha Maker, Mumbai

What made me shoot this:

The attractive colours
and broken patterns
caught my attention while
I was waiting for my train.
What I learnt: The ease
of editing and sharing
my photo instantly
is what draws me to
cellphone photography.
Shot with: Apple iPhone 5

Stories on
My Wall
Tunali Mukherjee, Mumbai

What made me shoot this:

As sunlight streamed into
my window, I noticed the 77
shadows being created
by the vase and the
other showpieces.
What I learnt: Do not
show the entire frame.
The more a picture
conceals, the more it
can intrigue.
Shot with: Google Nexus 4

An Owl Saw It
Ankush Vengurlekar, Mumbai

What made me shoot this:

You don’t see a sight like
this daily, and as Murphy
would have it, I did not have
my DSLR with me.
What I learnt: Fire the flash
and make the picture.
Technicalities can be
fussed over later.
Shot with: HTC One S

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 BetterPictures

78

Rajiv Kumar

Simple Secrets For

Pay special attention
to kids. The memories
you capture will become
extremely important to
them in the future.

Fun Holiday Photos

K Madhavan Pillai tells you how to get an album full of happy summer
holiday memories by using some easy picture making practices.

T
he bags are packed. You are about
to leave for a fun-filled vacation.
For most of us, a family holiday is
1 It is all about Memories, Not ‘Art’
To begin with, you need to ensure
that your loved ones are the heroes of your
a rare occasion because it happens photo story. Be the fun-loving holidayer,
just once a year, or once every few not a serious photographer. Let every
years. Subsequently, getting good pictures special moment add to your frame count.
becomes one of the most important parts
of the holiday agenda. Over time, these
pictures serve as joyous reminders of our
fun moments of togetherness. A few simple
2 Thus, Be a Storyteller
Think of your album as a movie
in frames. Record all the little moments
practices can go a long way in making your that make up the story. Weave in the plot
holiday photo album something to cherish. as the story unfolds. Every good movie

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 SHOOTING TECHNIQUE ON ASSIGNMENT TIPS & TRICKS
Quirks in the City The Sacred Night Interesting ideas to
Capturing the odd The dizzying world make pictures of money,
facets of a metropolis of stars and galaxies masks and more!

84 90 98
has adventure, romance, exotic locales...
For excellent
even suspense and angst, just like a family
family photos, holiday. In the end, the heroes return home
first stop triumphant. Of course, through it all, you
being a serious need to ensure that the process of picture
photographer! making is fun for your family too.

3 Showcase Relationships
A family is all about close-knit bonds.
Photographing the interaction between
family members, or showing relationships
through body language, increases the
emotional content of your photo story.

4 Pose for Posterity

Vacation time is when your family
will be at their undisturbed best. It is
Vivek Nigam

a perfect chance to make wonderfully shooting, your family will soon forget that Knowing how your
relaxed individual or group portraits. you have a camera. This is when you will family reacts is a good
way to get pictures.
These are the kind of portraits that later get the best natural, candid shots.
Simply request someone
may go well in a family photo album. to do something out of

6 Include the Environment

the ordinary... and wait

5 Get Candid A large part of the story is to for the reaction.

Most people, including family showcase the beauty of the place you
Spontaneous moments members, tend to get self-conscious when are in, with your family in the frame. 79
are simply impossible
they know you are making pictures of Marketplaces, shops, streets, mountains,
to replicate. You need to
be quick and ready with them. For candid portraits, you need to be lakes, gardens, valleys, forests... use them all
your camera at all times. patient, but alert and quick. As you keep as backdrops for your portraits.

Vivek Nigam

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80
7 Do not Forget to Include Yourself
In most cases, the one with the
camera is rarely in front of it. The album
gets more interesting for the rest of your
family if you are also a part of the story.
Use the Self Timer of the camera or request
someone else to shoot pictures in which
you are with your family.
Shooting on the move
with the road in the
8 It is not Just About Faces
Make closeup pictures of hands
holding a steaming cup of chai in the
frame is a great way to
depict a long journey. morning. Or your own feet in the sand.
Just be very careful! Or silhouettes of your loved ones against
Jayanta Das
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Pragadeeshvel S
a beautiful sunset. Or of your family
walking down a path in the middle of the
woods. Their faces may not be visible, yet
First frolic and
games, then quieter
conversation, and
finally the introspective
pictures like these strengthen the story by silence... long-distance
depicting the mood of the moment. train travel yields many
picture possibilities.
9 It is also about Objects and Spaces
From odd looking menu cards at local
restaurants and the decor of the hotel room
to the street signs or the cobblestones on
the sidewalk, all of these tell small stories of
their own about the place you are in.
10 Establish a Sense of Scale
It is easy to gauge size or distance
when you include your family in the frame,
standing close to the monument, as a point
of reference. On the other hand, if a family
member is closer to the camera than to
the Taj, it could appear much smaller than
what it actually is. Have you seen pictures of
people holding the Taj Mahal in the palm of
their hand? Try out clichés like that. It can
be fun too!
11
Check and Recheck Composition
Simpler, cleaner compositions
are much more impactful than crowded
ones. Before you shoot, quickly check the
M AY 2 0 1 3
 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

Interesting Picturemaking Ideas for your Holiday Album

Rajiv Kumar Solanki Rajtilak Naik Amith Nag Raman Mahajan

A Family of Shadows
This is a great idea to try out at a
beach or in any place with a large,
plain foreground. Strong morning or
evening sunlight works best because
of the longer shadows.
Playing with Silhouettes
This needs strong backlighting, and an
undisturbed background. The picture
becomes more interesting when the
silhouetted figures are interacting with
each other in some obvious manner.
First-person Point of View
Trams, buses, trucks, rickshaws...
capture their unique nature while
you are travelling in them, to give the
viewer a feeling of being right there
with you on the trip.
Obvious Odds and Ends
Common objects belonging to your
family can make interesting pictures
too. Their colours, the way they are
arranged, the backgrounds... they all
convey a part of the story.

edges of the frame, the foreground and

background. This lets you to inspect the
frame for unwanted elements. If there are
distractions, recompose and recheck before
releasing the shutter.
13 The Magic of Available Light
Morning or evening light is
wonderful for frontal, warm lighting.
At noon, open shade gives you soft light
to shoot in. At any given time of the day,
whether indoors or outdoors, light can be

12 The Advantages of a Light Tripod

Despite the tripod being an
invaluable accessory, it is often the first
your friend as long as you are aware of how
it affects the scene. Similarly, shadows can
look beautiful, dramatic or ugly, depending
piece of equipment to be forgotten. on how you use them in your pictures.
Shooting with a tripod makes you more
You need to make
photography
conscious about composition. It compels
you to shoot from lower vantage points than
your normal standing eye level. It also keeps
14 Scene Modes for Better Pictures
Sunset mode, Sports mode,
Landscape, Portrait, Night Portrait, Beach...
When the situation
allows, move to a
just as enjoyable the camera steady and lets you use the Self all of these modes help you get better shots
radically low viewpoint
for adding a lot of
for your family, Timer. There are many low light and long in those particular situations. Use them drama to the action
81
as it is for you. exposure techniques you could try out. wherever and whenever you can! in the frame.

Vivek Nigam

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 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

Rajiv Kumar Solanki

82
15 Turn Face Detection On
Face detection helps ensure that the
faces in the frame are in sharp focus. It also
17 HDR for High Contrast Scenes
Many cameras now have a High
Dynamic Range (HDR) feature. It allows
Toddlers and children
are naturally very
expressive. A family
vacation is the perfect
adjusts exposure for the faces in the frame. you to retain details in very dark and bright time to make pictures of
areas in a scene. Alternatively, you can also them having fun.

There is an easy way

to make great photos.
16 In Bright Sunlight, Use the Flash
It helps fill unflattering shadows in
portraits. If your camera has the feature
use Auto Bracketing to snap off multiple
frames with different exposures, and
combine them later. This feature works
Get your family to do to reduce flash output, keep the flash best with static subjects. If you need to
something fun together
just for the camera. exposure compensation value at -0.7 or -1, make HDR pictures with your family in the
One, two, three... go! for a more natural looking photo. frame, they need to be very still.

Learn how to
quickly preset
the camera to
get the best
Rajashree Raghavendra
holiday photos.
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 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

Things to
Remember
18 Shoot a Lot, Make a Tight Selection
It is good to be a careful, thinking
photographer. But it is more important to
Make it a point to
carry storage media capture every special moment. So preset
and batteries so that camera settings, be spontaneous, and make
they last you for at plenty of pictures. Eventually, select from
least 400 pictures a
the top five percent of all the frames you
day. The camera’s
manual will give you shoot for your holiday photo album.
an approximation

19 Add Flavour with Fun Captions

of image file sizes
and battery life. It is
Good, witty captions embellish your
better to spend a
little extra than to images with interesting little details. Do not
miss out on capturing forget to include the date, place and names
precious memories. of the people in the photographs. It helps
when friends or others in your extended
family see the pictures.

20 Finally... Share, Share, Share!

The joy of a photo story is when
others can share in your holiday fun.
After you get back, organise a slideshow at
home for your near and dear ones. You can Rajiv Kumar Solanki
also share it by putting it up online. Most of
all, make high quality prints from a good Decades later, after the kids have grown Try vertical framing
Include the photo lab for your album. Despite social up, a single image sent as a print with a for impact. It works 83
environment in your well for monuments
media and online sharing, the pleasure small message is bound to bring back fond
portraits, so that others and large interiors with
viewing the album know of going through a physical photo album memories and a smile. This is why family high ceilings.
what the place is like. cannot be overstated. holidays must be picture perfect.

Debashis Mukherjee

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 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

84

I was waiting for a bus

when this scene unfolded
several kilometres
away from me.
Modern cameras ensure
you do not miss the
moment, no matter how
far away you are from
the subject!

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 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

85

Quirks in the City

All photographs by Supriya Joshi

Supriya Joshi invites you to take a closer look at your city, and enjoy all its
little whims, oddities and peculiarities through photography.
M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

86

B
efore you even begin reading this
Shooting Technique, I urge you
to take a walk around a familiar
part of your city. You may
have been through this space
hundreds of time, but have you truly
seen it? As you take a walk, observe the tiny
details— the cracks on the walls, the scooter
that was last used in 1963 or the hoarding Observing such
that advertises weight-loss pills. You will situations often makes
one wonder, “Who
see everything around you in a new light.
would put a doll on a
Your city is a beautiful, magical place, roof anyway?”
filled with the little quirks that make it
endearing. Here is how you can make
portraits of all the things that make your
city a wonderful place to live in.

Listen to upbeat
music or even
funny podcasts
while shooting
your city. It will
put you in a
better mood and
Religious symbolism let you uncover
exists all over India and
can be quite fascinating
your city’s
to photograph. silly quirks.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3

Embrace the Silliness
Unless you truly fall in love with your city,
you will not be able to do complete justice
to your photographs. So open your heart to
the maddening crowds, the noise and even
the quieter moments of your world.
Being Comfortable
For such projects, your choice of camera
is not important. What matters is how
comfortable you are with the equipment in
order to fully enjoy making the images.
Dedicate Time
If you find a spot you like, wait for a while
and anticipate the moment. Everything in
your frame may work well, but even a
single element can make all the difference.
Keep Yourself Updated
Your city is always going to be buzzing with
activity at any single moment. Whether it
City Animals that Add an Interesting Flavour to Your Photographs
Pariah Dogs Cats
They don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing! Despite being temperamental, cats are wonderful to
Becuase of their easygoing nature, dogs can add a photograph. They perch on any surface, sometimes
certain liveliness to your images. with hilarious results.
M AY 2 0 1 3
SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE
I pass by this scene
almost every day. It is
only when you realise
the absurdity of the
frame can you make an
effective photograph.
be a political rally, a festival or even a circus
that is passing through, there is always
something going on. Check your local
newspaper or even the internet to find out
event listings and make your photography
plans accordingly.
On the Commute 87
You can see a varied amount of
eccentricities during your daily commute.
Sometimes a bus breaks down and the
commuters get off to push it, a lot of people
fall asleep during train journeys and there
are several distressed passengers who run
after buses that they missed by a second.
These everyday anomalies define your city
and can make for great subjects.
Employ Juxtapositions
Your city is a mix of the absurd and the
straightforward. There are so many times
when these instances unfold right in front
Crows
By far, these are the most dynamic city birds.
They are so strangely photogenic, they can add
strong juxtapositions to any frame.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

88

Magic can happen any

Love your city of your eyes. Such photographs can be
for what it is, quite humourous in nature.
and don’t try
Walk, Explore!
to manipulate On a weekend, get onto a bus and buy a
situations bus ticket to anywhere. Visit the remote
while shooting.
villages, the abandoned buildings or even second. You just have to
the most iconic landmarks of your city. have enough patience to
wait for it.
Engage in conversations with people
to find out the best, albeit relatively
unknown, spots to shoot around the city in
order to get the best perspectives.

Cultural symbols
have their own strong
identity. Because of how
out of place they look in
certain contexts, they
make for quirky frames.

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 SHO OT ING T ECHNIQUE

Being Sensitive
While Shooting
Remember to
be sensitive in
your approach.
Your aim should be
to celebrate the
peculiarities and not
to hurt someone’s
sentiments. If you
be mindful of this,
you will have a more
fruitful experience as
you shoot.

Graffiti and lettering

around your city can add
a subtle humour element
in your photographs.

Your city may be Enjoy the Silence Remember, the quirks you see in the
flawed, but it is yours. As dramatic as your city may be, you should city are the quirks that exist inside you.
Love it for what it is,
also pay homage to the quieter moments Not everyone will be able to see your
and without a doubt, you
will be rewarded with and the silent spaces. Only then can you city in the same way as you do. Enjoy the
great pictures. truly appreciate it for its silliness too. differences and keep shooting!

89

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 O N A S S I G NM E N T
90
The Sacred Night
Manish Mamtani takes you through the dizzying, and often
bright and colourful world of stars and galaxies.
G
rowing up in Nagpur, I spent
most nights sleeping on the
terrace of my house. During this
time, I would be on a constant
lookout for constellations. To me,
the stars are not just sparkling dots in the sky,
rather, they are prized jewels, visible to only
those who seek them.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
My Perspective
When I moved to the USA, I found myself
spending most of my weekends in the
wilderness of national parks. I get a sense
of completeness when I am close to nature.
Hiking in the night not only fulfills my
adventurous appetite but also makes me
appreciate my existence amidst thousands
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 O N A S S I G NM E N T

My Assignment
Description
To capture the beauty and purity of the night.

Duration
It is an ongoing project that began a year ago.

Notes
This project has helped me appreciate the
universe which we often take for granted.

91

This image which was

shot on a new moon
night makes one feel
as if the galaxy is
directly overhead.

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 O N A S S I G NM E N T
I spotted the North
Pole star and composed
92 it in such a way, that the
circle formed in between
the two rocks.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
of galaxies, where our planet Earth itself is
not more than a tiny dot.
The Process
There is a lot of planning that goes into a
passion like this. When I research about
a location, I try to find a place away from
the city, thus limiting light pollution.
Preferably, I try as much to shoot on a
moonless night to increase the star visibility
In the middle of a
30sec test shot, I had
accidently left the lens
cap on. Since I removed
it while the exposure
was still going on, I got
this effect.
Tips to Keep in Mind Before Shooting the Night Sky
• Scouting the Location: Once you have decided on the area, explore it. It is
essential to know the exact location where you will be setting up your camera
and shooting from.
• Knowing your Science: Depending on whether you want to shoot the Milky Way or
just star trails, you need to know the time and direction where the Milky Way will
rise and the exact position of the North Pole star, respectively.
• Unfavourable Weather: Despite keeping a check on the weather conditions,
there will be days when it will not be in your favour. You may return home with
no photographs. This is absolutely normal. Continue trying the next day.
M AY 2 0 1 3
 O N A S S I G NM E N T

While hiking in the in the sky. On the day of the shoot, I take
Arches National Park ample rest during the afternoon so that I am
in Utah, USA, I spotted
fully energised for the nighttime hike.
this small accumulation
of water and decided to Postprocessing depends on the image
capture a reflection of
and the amount of work it requires.
star trails.
Sometimes, the photo may require
extraction of shadow detail and White
Balance adjustments. In the case of star
trails, I photograph several short exposures
and stack them together in Photoshop.
For images like those of the Milky Way,
I use noise reduction software like Nik
Dfine, since I shoot at high ISO values. 93
Shooting the night sky has made me
realise the importance of preserving areas
Aurora Borealis, also
for night sky viewing and the hazards of air
known as Northern lights
pollution. I want people to look at the sky can be seen in the areas
in the same way our ancestors have seen near the Arctic Regions.
it. I will never forget the first time I saw a Solar activity was so
high a few days before
meteor shower. There were so many of them
taking this picture that
falling across the sky that I felt that I was I was able to capture
somewhere short of wishes. this photograph.

My Equipment
I use a Canon EOS
5D Mark III with an
EF 16–35mm f/2.8
lens. It is important
to use a tripod when
shooting photos of
this nature, since you
will be photographing
at long exposures.
At the same time,
use a remote release
instead of pressing
the shutter-release
button. This will avoid
any camera shake.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 PhotoCritique
Want your photographs reviewed? Send your photographs to
The Editor, Better Photography, Network18 Publishing,
Ruby House, ‘A’ Wing, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W)
Mumbai - 400 028, India
E-mail: photocritique@betterphotography.in

94

The sky could have The mountain ridge These clearly defined It was a good decision to The right side of the By Ujjwal Vanvari,
been less dull. and foliage form layers forms of the animals include this structure as frame is a lot emptier
Rohini
Currently, it lacks in shades of grey. This create a strong visual it lends the frame with than the left, which is
colour and punch. gradation is interesting. point of interest. some context. full of animal figures. Camera: Nikon D5000
Aperture: f/22
Shutterspeed: 1/250sec
The flare caused by ISO: 320
the rising sun adds
a nice touch to the
overall image.

A Morning in Pushkar
Soumitra Ghosh: I like this photograph a
lot for its placement of the camels. It was
a good idea to include an unknown tomb
at a place like Pushkar, Rajasthan.
There is a lack of clear delineation of
the forms of the camels against the sun’s
rays. And this is really wonderful.
However, there is a lot of empty
space on top of the frame. Despite that,
I still like the composition. I only wish
that the photographer had used Spot
Metering and been more careful about
his exposure. Maybe he could have
chosen a better spot to meter from.
Additionally, this kind of an image makes
me wish that it was shot at the lowest
possible ISO value.
Ambarin Afsar: I am familiar with the
lure of warm mornings and evenings,
and the beautiful flare that comes along
with them. For that reason, I really like
this photograph.
I also like the image because it is very
different from the usual photos that
I have seen of the desert, the Pushkar
fair and Rajasthan. By relegating the
camels to a small part of the frame, you
have effectively drawn attention to the
location itself.
Most people would argue that the
quietness of the image makes up for
everything else, and that the frame does
not need another element. Yet, I feel that
the image is incomplete in some way.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 The Panelists

Soumitra Ghosh
is the current Photo
Editor of Daily News
& Analysis, Mumbai.
Previously, he worked
with Hindustan Times
as a National Pictures
Editor. In his words, he
simply ‘loves to see’.
Interestingly, he also
owns a chain of Bengali
fast food takeaway
outlets, called Hangla’s.

95

These textures in It would have been easy It was an interesting These blown out By Vipul Nair, Amrita Ganguly-
the reflection of the to be lured into making a choice to include only highlights are a little Silchar, Assam Salian
sky, further add to drastically tilted frame. this much of the actual distracting, but befriended the camera
the overall gritty, Even the slight tilt could human figure, balancing overall add to the Camera: Nokia 5230 22 years ago, and
dark mood. have been avoided. the frame nicely. contrasty image. Aperture: f/2.8 continues to inspire
Shutterspeed: 1/1000sec many students of
ISO: 60
photography. Her critique
From the top of the image,
is rooted in classical
to the bottom part, the
theories and balances
tones progress smoothly
the photographer’s
from black to white.
opportunity with the use
of technique.

A Mirrored Life
Soumitra Ghosh: This image is an
interesting visual. What interests me
about it is the body language of the
character you have included in the
frame. To my understanding, this image
is a reflection of a wet street, simple, yet
intriguing.
Your choice of exposure is apt and this
has made the image crisp. The texture
and the highlights of the undulating
surface of the street have definitely added
to the overall visual. They have further
helped create a three-dimensional effect.
The image also looks like a interesting
abstract. However, I find the composition
to be just about okay.
Amrita Ganguly-Salian: Very poetic.
Clichéd but poetic. It is an intelligent
treatment of a popular idea. The reflection,
in this case, is not just a reflection, but has
been creatively composed to give a ‘walking
on water’ feel. Typically, I would have asked
for this frame to composed with the subject
placed more traditionally on a 1/3rd segment Ambarin Afsar
(Rule of Thirds). But I won’t insist on this, as is a writer with the BP
the slight skew creates interesting leading team. She exudes an
lines into the frame. infectious zest for almost
everything around her.
On the technical front, this frame is Consequently, everything
wanting. Critical focus is missing and the is a possible subject for
frame could have been grainier. Also, study photography and she
is more than happy to
the zone system when dealing with
appreciate new ways
predominantly monochromatic settings. of seeing.

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 PHOTOCRI TI QU E

96

Cell phone cameras These blown out The line formed by this The leaf is the most The colour tones in the By Abhijit
provide great DOF and highlights are distracting dry leaf effectively leads important part of the image are predominantly Karmarkar, Mumbai
this has been made and could have been the viewer to the green frame, and despite the grey and brown, an
use of effectively. made less intrusive in leaf and the foot. presence of the feet, interesting choice. Camera: Samsung Wave 525
postprocessing. draws attention to itself. Aperture: f/2.6
Shutterspeed: 1/136sec
Distortion has worked ISO: 50
well here, making the
feet seem as if they
are protruding from
the image.
Crushed Underfoot
Soumitra Ghosh: This image is eyecatching Amrita Ganguly-Salian: I love wonky
and vibrant in colour, but the viewer seems perspectives such as the “bug’s eye view”
to be forced to feel the scorching contrast in used here, and hence, this earns an extra
every sense of it. brownie point from me. What I like even
I like the green leaf on the tar amidst the more is the somewhat ‘staged’ trampling of
dry dead ones, but the very angle says the the green leaf. This symbolises a lot of things
foot is going to stamp on it deliberately. and the imagery is unmistakable.
This, I feel, was not necessary. Otherwise, it This will lend itself to a very interesting
is a striking visual. I think a balanced mix of series and that is where your creativity will
emotional and cerebral approaches would be properly tested. Looking forward to a
have taken care of the aesthetic quality. larger body of work.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 P H OTO C R IT IQ UE

Vanishing into Oblivion
Soumitra Ghosh: I like this image
best as it is a candid shot and almost
correctly exposed. It has a decent
composition and also tells a story...
a lonely figure moving to nowhere.
A car has evidently passed sometime
back leaving the marks of its wheels
on the sandy road. It somehow takes
the viewer deeper into the photo.
Looking at the picture for some time
evokes the feeling of being at a quiet hill
station on a winter morning. But, the
image could have been more contrasty.
Critics’
Choice
Award
Ambarin Afsar: I am a fan of Send your pictures to
monochrome images because it is quite us, to be featured in the
hard to say so much when you just have PhotoCritique section.
hues of one colour to play with. This is If our judges select yours
as the best photograph,
definitely one image I can spend a lot
you can win the Critics’
of time looking at—it is mysterious and Choice Award—a Sony
poignant and it makes me want to rush off USB Portable Power
to an unknown place. Supply of 4000mAh!
When I look at the hooded figure
moving further into the image, due to
the amount of mist/fog, I think that he
is simply going to fall off the edge and
disappear. What a great capture!

The overall grey tones

of the image lend
to its subdued and
melancholy mood.

The decision of slightly

underexposing the
97
frame has further made
the image moodier.

Complete lack of detail in

this area makes one feel as if
the passerby is going to walk
into oblivion.

The human figure is just at

the right place in the frame.
There is a great sense of
balance.

The decision to make a

vertical frame has further
enhanced the sense of a
long, lonely road.

This road does a wonderful

job of drawing the viewer
into the frame.

By Sanchar Saran
Camera: Nikon D3000
Lens: Nikkor 18–55mm
f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR
Aperture: f/4.8
Shutterspeed: 1/4000sec
ISO: 400

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY

98 ALL ABOUT THE MONEY
Money As Art
While photographing or scanning money
and using it as real currency is illegal,
making art out of money is not unlawful.
Photographing currency notes and coins is
not exactly new—stock photo agencies are
filled with pictures of notes and coins.
Pick up any country’s currency note or
coin and observe the size, colours, designs
and feel of each currency. They will be
different in their own way. Each currency
has its own characteristics. Even the
people honoured on the notes in the form
of portraits, are different.
Create Abstract Patterns
Zoom in completely, use a close-up filter
or a macro lens to photograph the intricate
details of currency. Compact camera users
can switch the shooting mode to Macro.
You can concentrate on those details
that interest you. These could be the
multicoloured motifs and patterns or even
just the eyes or other remarkable features of
the people in the portraits. Since notes are
translucent you can even place a colourful
torch beneath the notes to illuminate them.
Use shallow depth-of-field to add a dreamy
feel to the letters and designs.
Want to share your ideas and tips? Write to
The Editor, Better Photography
Network18 Publishing
Ruby House, ‘A’ Wing
J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W)
Mumbai-400 028, India
E-mail: editor@betterphotography.in
Matteo Pescarin
One can create The designs on the obverse and reverse
abstracts with money side of notes and coins are varied. You can
by just concentrating on
the text and texture on
use the Multiple Exposure mode if your
the currency. camera has one, and merge the front and
the back patterns into a single image.
Old, Used and Torn
New notes and coins look crisp, shiny and
attractive but old, darkened coins and torn
Notice people and their notes can convey the age of the currency.
hand gestures as they You can use worn-out textures to convey
engage in trade. A shot
the duration for which the currency
of few notes in a hand
amongst a crowd can also has existed and how it has exchanged a
be an interesting picture. number of hands.
Gaurav Sawn
M AY 2 0 1 3
 BEHIND THE MASK QUICK TIP

Types of Masks Pick up the first

object in front of you
Different types of masks create a different and photograph it in
mood. Fashionable sequinned and colourful ten different ways.
masks with feathers are most common at This will improve your
still life and product
parties and masquerades. They bring out a
shot skills.
mood of celebration and add glamour to a
plain portrait. Just ask your friend to put on
a fancy dress, a pair heels and a mask for a
professional glamour portrait.
And why just glamour? Try making some
unusual portraits with masks. Ask random Make a mask look
people on the road to pose for you with the more mysterious simply
kind of mask that describes them. It could by veiling it with a dark-
be a tribal animal mask, or a calm white coloured fabric.
Ambarin Afsar
mask with just a frown, usually used in
theatre performances. usually some of the places where you will
find people wearing unique masks. With the
As Props For Portraits help of a mask, you can draw attention to Since masks help
hide a person’s identity,
Festivals like Bohada, Chhau dance the face and the eyes of the person. You can
camera-shy people may
carnivals, themed parties like Halloween either fill the entire frame with the mask feel comfortable posing
and theatre or Ramleela performances are and concentrate on just eyes, or zoom in for you in them.

99

Thomas Warm

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 Chandni Gajria

100 close enough to frame the face. To make the up a small tripod on the upper floor well in Use the architecture
portrait even more mysterious and dramatic, advance to capture an aerial view. This is also of the restuarant to
pay attention to the lighting. If the light is a good time to get to know the staff—from your advantage. If you
wait for long enough,
falling directly on the mask, underexpose the manager, chefs, the waiters, even the the waiters will enter
slightly or make sure the light around the cleaners and cashiers. The staff will get used your frame at the
subject is low. to your presence and will be comfortable on right moment.
Apart from this, you can throw in cartoon the day of the actual shoot.
and superhero masks for a group picture of Be a customer.
Sit down and see how
kids at birthday parties and get togethers.
things look. Use a cell
Preparation In the Kitchen
phone or a compact to The reason a restaurant exists is because
Mysterious and Surreal avoid drawing attention. of its food. So without thinking too much,
A mask in itself is quite a mysterious
object. If photographed lone with a spot
light directly falling on it, you can create a
picture that lends a melancholic feeling.

INSIDE RESTAURANTS

A Field Visit
Firstly, scout the location and interiors of
the food joint. This will give you an idea of
the sort of crowd the restaurant attracts at
different times of the day. You will also be
able to observe the way light changes inside
the eatery. This can give you a heads up on
whether you will need an external flashgun,
a fast lens or a camera that gives you great
quality at high ISO values.
Locate vantage points from where you
can capture good photos. For instance, if
Raj Lalwani
the restaurant has two floors, you can set

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
head straight away towards the kitchen.
Find out at what time the chefs start
preparing for the day and accordingly,
reach the place a little early than they do.
This is usually a calm time when chefs
make preparations of a few basic dishes
beforehand. To avoid distracting them,
and if the kitchen is spacious enough,
use a telephoto lens while they work.
You can quietly capture conversations or
laughs shared between the chefs and other
members of the staff from afar. A wide angle
lens on the other hand will allow you to
include more of the surroundings.
During busy hours, watch out for chefs Ricardo Vasquez
running to fetch ingredients, burning a dish
or two or even mixing up an order in the Ambience and Mood Keep an eye out for
kitchen. To capture this chaos, you will have The lighting, furniture, colour of the wine being used in the
recipes. The chefs use a
to be quick and constantly on your toes. walls and decor—all of these bring out the
technique called ‘flambé’
ambience and mood of a place. Shoot the to glaze food by pouring
Observe the Customers interiors of a restaurant in early mornings alcohol into a hot pan
A restaurant is most crowded on weekends, or afternoons. As much as possible, make which creates a burst
of flames.
karaoke nights or if they have any special use of the natural and ambient light inside
gigs or performances. Know when these the restaurant.
events are likely to take place and capture QUICK TIP For instance, the sunlight entering the 101
families, friends and couples celebrating joy Switch off the room through the curtains, if any, will lend
or a couple of drinks at the bar. Be careful Playback of your a soft romantic feel to the entire room.
to not intrude on customers while they are camera. You will be Carry a small tripod with you to photograph
able to concentrate on
enjoying a meal. With the help of a zoom shooting rather than steady pictures of the seating arrangement,
lens, you can photograph people without being distracted by placement of the cutlery, table pieces, and
getting into their personal space. what you have shot. food on the table.

READER’S TIP
Photograph Dance In Blurs
When travelling to any new city, you are bound to be
introduced to their culture in the form of food, people,
their style of clothing and even their folk songs and
dances. While most photographers attempt to freeze
dance movements, I thought using motion blur with the
dancers would be a unique thing to do.
The technique to get this kind of a picture is quite
simple. All I did was shoot at a low angle and employ
a slow shutterspeed. This let me compose both the
dancers in a single frame with the moon in the back-
ground, and at the same time allowed me to show the
movement of the dancers. Slow sync flash technique
will also lets you shoot dance movements creatively.
Depending upon how fast the subject is moving, you
can use a slow shutterspeed of 1/10sec or 1/20sec.
Motion blur works better when the camera is steady.
Therefore, use a tripod or a monopod or look for a
steady surface around you. Additionally, remember
that with slow shutterspeeds you will have to decrease
the ISO or use a narrow aperture.

— Gaurang Bhati Gaurang Bhati

By using a slow shutterspeed and shooting at a low angle I could compose both the dancers in a single frame.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 Want your doubts cleared? Write to
The Editor, Better Photography
Infomedia18 Limited
Ruby House, ‘A’ Wing, J K Sawant Marg
Dadar (W), Mumbai-400 028, India.
E-mail: editor@betterphotography.in

B R I E F LY How Much is Too Much?

At a recent corporate photo session, I shot
What does ‘stopping around 30 portraits. Should I edit them
down’ mean for facial imperfections? How far should
in photography?
Stopping down is when I go when enhancing the image?
the photographer Geet Sharma, New Delhi, via email
increases the f-stop
number of the lens. People always want to look their best in
This results in a decrease
photographs. Very often photographers have
in aperture and an
increase in the depth- clients requesting them to edit their blemishes
of-field. and scars or even lighten up their skin.
You do not need to take the permission of
the client for basic skin enhancement and
tonal changes. Apart from this explain any
other changes that you will be making and
how it is going to affect the final image. In the Sam Hatch
process, the client may even want to make a
few suggestions of his own. Get close to the baby whenever the opportunity arises. If you are a
Most importantly, while editing, ensure to get interesting shots. DSLR user, consider investing in an inexpensive
During this time, make
that you stay true to the person you have sure to be as discreet prime lens like the 50mm f/1.8.
photographed. Try to avoid drastically altering as possible. Whatever camera you use, remember to
any facial feature of the individual. make pictures when there is an abundant amount
of natural light. Strictly do not use the flash as it
102 Photographing Babies may harm the eyes of your newborn. A diffused
I am creating a photo album of my or bounced flash is acceptable, but only after the
newborn baby. Are there any tips that baby grows up to about six months.
I should know about, related to technique Remember to keep the photo simple.
or lighting? Include family members in the frame and ask
Manohar Bajpai, Hyderabad, via email them to engage with the baby. Also, you do
not have to limit yourself to photographing the
Babies are very sensitive to light and sound. toddler while he is asleep. Be present when
For this reason you need to be quick and efficient he has just woken up. This way, you will be less
while photographing them. Keeping a compact likely to miss out on photographing the quiet,
camera handy allows you to photograph them subtle moments.
W H AT I S

Rembrandt Lighting?
It is named after the Dutch painter Rembrandt reflector is placed at half the height of Getting it Right
who used this technique to light the subjects the key light source, on the opposite side. The key to this technique is getting the
for his paintings. Here, half of the subject’s face Alternatively, a fill light can also be used to size and the position of the triangle right.
is lit and the other half is covered in shadow. diffuse and soften the harsh shadow created It should be no longer than the nose and no
Rembrandt lighting is characterised by the on the other half of the face. wider than the eye.
triangular shape that is formed below the eye, The characteristic
in the shadowed portion of the subject’s face. triangular shape of
light underneath the
Setting it Up eye, is created with the
In comparison to other lighting setups, interaction of the main
Rembrandt lighting is the simplest and fastest. light source with the
The lighting effect can be achieved with the help reflector. This creates
of a single light source and a reflector. an effect called
The key light source is placed in a manner ‘chiaroscuro’ which leads
where it illuminates one side of the person’s to the formation of the If you want to reproduce the lighting from the painting on the left, the
face and is placed at a 45° angle. Then a geometric shape. studio setup for it is explained on the right.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 Camera-friendly Attire
My husband and I are planning to have a portrait
made of our family. We are confused about how
to dress the kids and what to wear ourselves.
Please advise.
Visha Khurana, Mumbai, via post
Begin by deciding on a colour scheme. Stick to three
colours as anything more than that might make the
photograph look crowded. You can pick colours that
compliment the location where you will be posing.
While selecting clothing pieces, ensure that you
do not match anyone’s attire—you want to colour
coordinate and not match. Refrain from wearing white
clothes as they would either appear really dull or
washed out in the final photograph. However, you can
pair white clothes with accessories to spruce them up.
In order to avoid the photo from looking
monotonous, you need to ensure that the colour
scheme allows certain colours to pop. This could
be done by using accessories that are of a different
colour than the clothes, which would create a point of Send in your
interest and draw the viewer’s attention. queries to Better
Photography. If your
Lastly, whether it is an indoor or outdoor shoot,
letter wins Question
keep basic accessories at hand, like extra pair of of the Month, you
clothing, cosmetics, a hairbrush and so on. You want to stand to win a Lexar
be prepared in case of any last-minute changes. 8GB 100x SDHC
media card!

The Right Tripod? around a pole or object placed at an elevation

I am a freelance artist and would like to
shoot videos of my work. What kind of
tripod should I invest in?
Aditi Verma, Bengaluru, via email
Before you invest in a tripod, ask yourself
what you will be shooting. Are you someone
who paints huge murals in public spaces or
someone who spends a lot of time working at
home? Also, what kind of camera do you use, a
compact camera or a DSLR?
If you want to create a standard video at
home, then a gorillapod can be very helpful.
Not only does it come in a convenient size but
it is also extremely versatile and adaptable.
You can twist it and bend it to suit whatever
angle or camera placement you are looking for.
Simultaneously, you can wrap the gorillapod
B R I E F LY
to get the desired height. This is applicable
when you want to shoot an overhead video What is barrel
of yourself drawing. However, a gorillapod distortion?
requires a steady and stable surface so that it It is the property of
can be set up. a lens where straight
lines appear spherical
On the other hand, while tripods are not as
or bulging outwards.
portable as Gorillapods, they can be extremely 103
It is commonly found in
stable in a variety of environments. In case superzoom lenses.
you are shooting outdoors, just ensure that
the tripod you have is lightweight and can be
dismantled easily.
The Perfect Jump Shot
I have seen several images where the
photographer has managed to capture a
jump with the people suspended midair.
How do I achieve such a shot?
Tasneem Shamsuddin, Lucknow, via post

A jump is fairly easy to shoot only if you use

the right settings. Use a high shutterspeed like
1/1000 sec, so that the jump is frozen. Focus on
your subjects while they are still standing, and
then switch to manual focus. This will lock the
focus and prevent the camera from refocusing
when the action actually takes place. Do a
verbal countdown and use the Burst mode to
get the best possible results. Finally, keep at it
and practise a lot.

JA N UA RY 2 0 1 3
 ShowCase
PR OFI L E

Clare Gallagher
• She cites her friend
and colleague Kay Lynn
Deveney as a warm and
encouraging influence.
She also considers
her mother as being
a strong role model
in helping Clare be a
working mother.
• Reading is hugely
important for Clare.
She considers
diving into a book
very immersive
and absorbing.
• She loves Profit and
Loss, a book by Leontia
Flynn, a Northern
104 Irish poet who writes
about the everyday and
the domestic.

Clare likes shooting

with film as she believes
it requires measured,
thoughtful shooting.

Love & Happiness

Ambarin Afsar speaks with Clare Gallagher and learns that god lives in
the details, and in the simple moments of everyday life, which pass us by.

M
ost of us have turned the
camera inwards quite
often—towards our spaces, our
homes and our families. We all
want to preserve memories
and save a significant moment from our
own personal history. However, speaking to
Clare Gallagher, a photography lecturer and
a mother of two, made me realise that there
is more to life than moments of drama and
spectacle. Clare explores the states of mind
and ordinary activities that fill our days.
The Good Life
“I suppose I approach photography from an
anti-capitalist stance. Capitalism encourages

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 GREaT maSTERS SpEcial FEaTuRE youR picTuRES
Hippolyte Bayard 2nd National Photo Awards 2011 A showcaseP rof
o f the
ile
The life of the pioneer A showcase of the National best images sent by
who arrived too late Award winning photographs our readers
110 116 128
us to feel dissatisfied with what we have The Domestic Drift
and what is around us. It urges a yearning This is most evident in Clare’s series,
for the new, the exotic, and the spectacular Domestic Drift, which, in a way, is also
in order to incite us to consume more and about connecting with her children, about She hails from
more. But really, in my corner of the world, recognising impermanence, and having Northern Ireland and
life is pretty good.” For Clare, photography noticed that fleeting moment at all. “As a since her art college days
in England, believes that
is about appreciating ordinary moments grown-up, I find that I am so caught up
everything around her is
and considering them just as valuable as the in doing that I rarely just appreciate what quite fascinating. It is all
special moments that get all the attention. is around me. When I look at a mess, the material she needs.

105

m ay 2 0 1 3 Better PhotograPhy
 pR oF i lE

moments of mess and chaos, tenderness and

G A D G E TS & G E A r
quiet, creativity an fun were passing me by,
while I rushed around doing things.” • Clare has been
using a Bronica SQ
The Ugly Stuff with an 80mm lens,
since the late 90s.
Clutter and chaos can be quite
• She calls the
overwhelming and also, confusing. So, how Bronica a
does Clare pick and choose her subjects? simple, beautiful
“I try to photograph the things that camera with a
really satisfying
I overlook for their ordinariness. This is
shutter clunk.
usually the ugly, messy stuff that challenges • She also uses a
me, and the objects that hold traces of the Gossen Lunasix
people around them.” light meter, and
thinks what really
matters is finding
Stowing Away Photographs a setup that
Things change quite quickly in the course feels natural.
She has always wanted I immediately feel like I should be tidying or of a regular day at home, especially with two
to record real things and cleaning. And as any parent knows, cleaning feisty kids running around. How does Clare
lived experience.
is never finished. Soon, I realised that manage to make any pictures at all? “I do not

106

Her images are

distinctly low contrast
with soft hues and
washed out colours.
She says that Northern
Ireland is so dark in
the winter that light
becomes really precious.
It is this fact that
probably comes across
in her images.

Better PhotograPhy m ay 2 0 1 3

One of her favourite use a tripod as I want to be able to respond
images, Clare feels that and record quickly. Usually, I use a light
the picture captures
the mundane and the meter, take a shot or two, put the camera
precious—the dirty away from inquisitive little hands and get
radiator and the kitchen back to what I was doing.”
bin, and also her
connection with her son.
Of resident Graffiti Artists and Laughter
Clare’s photographs show a sense of
humour, almost as if she made a picture,
all the while chuckling about it. “I don’t
ever construct my images or change
anything—the piles of socks are not
m ay 2 0 1 3
p R o Fi l E
107
artfully arranged and the scribbles are
definitely not commissioned! One evening,
I came home and found a ladder and crayon
marks all around the wall. There were
even four blobs that reminded me of our
family. My immediate thought was, ‘Oh no, “I try to
my wall!’ but a split second later, I saw the photograph
creativity and humour in it.” the things
A Different Kind of Graph
that I overlook
Usually, people chart their family’s for their
progression in occasional photos and ordinariness.”
Better PhotograPhy
 Pr ofi l e

“I really
appreciate how
transient those
moments were,
and how much
the images
show me of
my children’s
personalities.”

108

Clare shoots
on Fujifilm, which
offers great colours,
according to her.
She is very meticulous
about exposure.
Photography has statistics like notches on the wall to indicate her bond with her children. “Looking back,
taught Clare to look
how tall the kids have grown. But Clare did a I really appreciate how transient those
at what is around her,
and to feel how plentiful different kind of documentation, and I was moments were, how much the images show
life is. curious to know whether it had enhanced me of my children’s personalities and their
changing interests and activities. I am glad
I chose to look beyond the to-do list.”

Quiet, Special Moments

Her series is filled with moments that
usually seem too ordinary for us to pay
attention. But she is sure to have developed
an attachment for them, I surmise.
“Two photographs from the series were
taken practically minutes apart from each
other, on the same weekend. They really
stick out for me. The kids had thrown
cereal all around the kitchen and I was
furious. I sent them outside, and went
upstairs for a little while, to calm myself
down. When I came back to clear up, the
kids had filled the kitchen roll of paper
towels with dandelions as an apology, and
scarpered. It was just so touching.”

Better PhotograPhy m ay 2 0 1 3
 p R o Fi l E

Timeless Childhood Summers

When I first saw Domestic Drift, I instantly
thought of summers in my childhood and
all the mischief that vacations brought along.
I wondered whether Clare’s work reminded
other people of similar things as well.
“Over the years, I had encountered a
dismissive attitude to women making art
about home. But, I was surprised by how
people told me that it resonated with them,
recalling their own time raising children
and struggling with home, work and family.
It reminded them of just how difficult it is
to really see the loveliness in those transient
moments when you are in the midst of them, graceful series. And it is these images that A successful image
and how quickly they disappear.” remind me of home. takes one or two tries.
If she needs more tries,
It is these images, excluded from
then she knows that she
family albums filled with birthdays and To see more of Clare’s work, you can visit is being sloppy.
anniversaries, which make up Clare’s www.claregallagher.co.uk

109

TIPS by CLArE

• Photograph what
you’re passionate/
angry/worried/
intrigued about.
• Learn your camera For Clare, a good
till shooting image is one that
becomes effortless. challenges her in some
• Make the work you way and rewards
want to make, not further contemplation.
the work you think It makes her think more
other people want profoundly about its
to see. subject matter.

m ay 2 0 1 3 Better PhotograPhy
 G RE AT MASTERS

110

(1801-1887)
Hippolyte Bayard
Supriya Joshi looks at the life of Hippolyte Bayard, one of the earliest
practitioners of photography, and the inventor who arrived too late.

T
he overall mood of the
photograph is sombre. A man
sits against a wall, his eyes
closed. His torso is naked to the
naval. There is a slight smile on
his face. He looks peaceful, yet there is an
eerie stillness to him. The unknown man
appears to be dreaming, but is he alive?
Or is he dead?
Notes on a Photo
The photograph dates back to 1840.
Behind the image, the photographer wrote
a long inscription, marked with heartbreak

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3

and sadness. The inscription, in French,
reads, “the body of the man you see on
the picture on the other side is that of
Mr Bayard, inventor of the process whose
glorious results you have just seen, or are
about to see.”
“To the best of my knowledge, this
talented and untiring scientist has been
working for about three years on perfecting
his invention. The academy, the King, and
all those who have seen this picture, were
full of admiration, just as you, yourselves
are, although (the artist) found the picture
unsatisfactory. It has brought him a great
deal of honour, but not a single penny.”
“The government, which has granted
so much to Mr Daguerre, claimed it was
unable to do anything for Mr Bayard.
Molinos Montmartre, 1842
‘‘He mastered
the principles
of the technique
within 40
days.” -
André James,
biographer.
M AY 2 0 1 3
G R E AT M AST ERS
As a result, the unfortunate man
drowned himself. Oh, human fickleness!
Artist, scientist, and newspapers have taken
an interest in him for a long time, but today,
after he had been lying in the morgue a few
days, no one recognised him or claimed his
mortal remains. Ladies and gentlemen, let
us now move on to other matters for fear
that your olfactory organs will be effected,
for as you have noticed, the face and hands
of the gentleman have already begun
to decay.”
The Making of Photography
The zeitgeist of the early 19th century was Self-Portrait as
a Drowned Man,
that of invention, and there were several
considered one
people who wanted to jump onto the of Bayard’s most
photography bandwagon. One of them important works.
111
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 G RE AT MASTERS

112

was the inimitable Hippolyte Bayard,
whose tragic note you just read.
“Photography is a Born in Breteuil-sur-Noye, France in
child of numerous 1801, Bayard moved to Paris during the
fathers, and 1820s, where he worked as a civil servant.
It was there that he realised what he really
Hippolyte is one wanted to do—find a way to permanently
of them” - Hans- preserve fleeting images that were made by
Michael Koetzle the camera obscura.
Experiments and Creations Still life with plaster
The milieu of writers, painters and casts, 1839
lithographers in Paris further piqued
Bayard’s interest in ‘photography’.
Bayard began his experiments during
the 1830s.
An entry from his journal from 1839 said
that he had managed to produce a direct
positive image from the camera obscura.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 G R E AT M AST ERS

Arrangement of A later entry said that he made photographs
Specimens, 1842 of still life using exposure times that lasted
a quarter of an hour, while capturing
landscapes took him 20 minutes.
The Process
Bayard created his own means of developing
photographs, called the direct positive
process. The images made through this
process could not be reproduced, and
was ideal to shoot still subject matter, like
architecture and statues.
Because of the long exposure time this
method took, photographing people was
difficult. To overcome movement, he would
ask his subjects to sit very still and close
their eyes.
purchase his photography technique in Construction
return for a lifetime pension. Distressed with Worker, 1845 113
this news, Hippolyte protested to the
Academy, saying that he had postponed
the publication of his invention because he
wanted to first make it as perfect as possible.
Too Little, Too Late
By the time Bayard wrote to the Academy,
the daguerreotype process was widely
published, so he never got any credit for
his pioneering work.

The Other Contender

While Bayard was working on
perfecting the direct positive process,
another inventor was working on
something similar— Louis Daguerre,
whom we now regard as the father of
modern photography.
Before Daguerre even came out with his
invention, Bayard had exhibited as many
as 30 prints in 1839. However, Daguerre
had won the favours of François Arago,
the Secretary of the Academy of Sciences.
Because of this, Daguerre managed to
convince the French government to Lace glove, 1840

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 G RE AT MASTERS

114

Madeleine Paris, 1845

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 G R E AT M ASTER S

“On 20 March...
I obtained
direct positive
image with the
camera obscura”
- An entry in
Bayard’s journal

115

One of Us photographer to be granted a Mission An autoportrait of

In protest of the Academy’s unjust
means, Bayard made his most famous
photograph, which saw him as a drowned
man. He wasn’t exactly dead, however,
and continued to photograph till his death
in 1887.
Despite his initial hardships, Bayard
had a lot of success too. He was one of
the founding members of the French
Society of Photography. He was the first
Héliographique by the Commission des Bayard, 1846
Monuments Historiques to document
architecture in France.
In Hippolyte Bayard, many
photographers can see a reflection of
themselves. His story is one of struggle,
passion, disappointments and triumph.
And today, after all these forgotten years,
we can remember Bayard for what he truly
was—a pioneer.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

2 NATIONAL PHOTO
nd

AWARDS, 2011
“The great quality The country’s premier awards return with their second edition for
of submissions photography. We showcase the work of the winning photographers.

T
made it difficult
he National Awards are Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha,
to choose a the most prominent handed out the awards to the photographers
single winner.” award ceremony in India. at a function held in Vigyan Bhavan, New
-S Paul The Awards for photography Delhi on 28 March 2013. The awards
were first presented in 2010 were given to professional and amateur
and are the biggest photography awards in photographers across multiple genres
116 the country. They are aimed at highlighting for documenting the life, landscape and
the images by photographers across the culture of the country. The stalwarts of
country. They honour the work done by Indian photography were also honoured
prominent Indian photographers and with the Lifetime Achievement award.
recognise their contribution to the Indian The winners were selected by a jury chaired
photographic movement. by legendary photographer S Paul.

LIFETIME Achievement Pranlal Patel Centenarian Pranlal Patel has documented some of the
most memorable events of India’s freedom struggle
through several poignant black and white pictures.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

117

“Each of the
winners have
contributed
innovatively in
presenting the
essence of life
and the visual
portrayal of
India as a nation
during the course Did You Know?
At 105, Pranlal Patel is the eldest recepient His photographs are not only a testament “Photography is something which may
of history.” of any National Award till date. He was a to his photography skills but also a be done with the eye, but it is also about
primary school teacher with an inclination repository of social and historical values of the heart,” he says. In spite of his age,
- Manish Tewari, for photography as a hobby. Gradually, he time. The images capture the memorable he is perfectly fit and still continues to
turned this passion into his profession. events of the Indian freedom struggle. make photographs.
Ministry of I&B
M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

LIFETIME Achievement T S Nagarajan T S Nagarajan is an eminent photojournalist known for

stirring up a whirlwind of emotions within the viewer
and highlighting the need for social change.

118

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

LIFETIME Achievement T N A Perumal T N A Perumal is considered as the doyen of wildlife

photography in India and has a special penchant
for photographing birds.

119

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

Subhash Jirange Working as an accountant,

AMATEUR Photographer of the Year

Subhash Jirenge’s interest in
photography has already won
him several awards.

Special Mentions
Professional Category
120 Chetan Soni, Dilip Lokre,
Kailash Mittal, Sanat Kumar
Sinha, Shankar Mondal,
Anand Patel, Atul Choubey,
Shib Narayan Acharya,
Kailash Soni, Vinod Gajjar

Amateur Category
Asis Kumar Sanyal,
Joydeep Mukherjee,
Manish Bhatnagar, Debasis
Tarafder, Sirsendu Gayen,
Subhrajit Basu, Dhrumil
Desai, Subir Kumar
Dutta, Ganesh Shankar,
Rajesh Joshi.

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

Debashish Ghosh Ray Debashish picked up the camera 30 years ago and

AMATEUR Fine Arts

is known for his artistic and creative visualisation
in photography. His work has won him several
international accolades.

Sudip Roychoudhury Sudip Roychoudhury started

AMATEUR Life & Landscape of India

photography while still in high 121
school. He loves documenting
the life and culture of India.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

Salil Bera Known for his widlife pictures,

PROFESSIONAL Photographer of the Year

Salil has worked with several
reputed daily newspapers
and magazines.

122

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 NATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS

PROFESSIONAL Dr Pankaj Sharma He is an award-winning photographer

Green India Environmental Stories

who enjoys teaching photography
through his blog as much as he
enjoys making pictures.

123

PROFESSIONAL Anil Risal Singh Anil has been making pictures

Green India Environmental Stories

for 40 years, leaning towards
architecture which have an
unique graphic appeal.

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 A selection of some of
the best images from the
Indian mainstream media

Hemant Padalkar,
DNA Dash of Colours
124 A young girl finds herself in the centre of
the Holi celebrations, near Shivaji Park
I Do, Do I? in Mumbai. The photographer has subtly
On 17 March, several couples tied the captured the shy demeanour of the young
knot at a community wedding ceremony girl juxtaposed with the jovial revellers
organised by Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust, around her.
at a local temple in Kolkata. The image is
an interesting mixture of expressions from
the brides. While some appear outwardly
happy and shy, the bride in the centre seems Ramkrishnan Samanta,
to look angry. Hindustan Times

Hindustan Times

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 Text Match
On 14 March, due to heavy rains, the
The Indian Express
Australian team could not play the test
match at Mohali. The humourous image
shows the cricketeers simultaneously
engrossed with their phones, as they head
back to their hotel.
M AY 2 0 1 3
Jasbir Malhi,
In the Midst of it All
A model takes a few minutes off on the
second day of Lakme Fashion Week, on 23
March in Mumbai. The photographer has
used lighting effectively to direct attention
Shraddha Bhargava
Chaturvedi, to the model, while the others around her
DNA convey the monotony of being backstage.
125
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 YourPictures
Want your photographs showcased?
Send in your photographs to
The Editor, Better Photography,
Network18 Publishing, Ruby House,
‘A’ Wing, J K Sawant Marg,
Dadar (W) Mumbai-400 028, India
Email:
entries@betterphotography.in

128

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 129

The Calligraphers
Prem Singh Tanwar, Jaipur
“The graceful posture of
the flamingos makes the
image look like calligraphy.
It took me three hours to
make this shot, as I had
to wait for the birds to
get together and position
themselves in this way.”

Camera: Canon EOS 50D

Lens: Canon EF-S
18–135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Aperture: f/16
Shutterspeed: 1/250sec
ISO: 200

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 YO U R P I C T U R E S

At Loggerheads
Manmohan Kansara,
Jodhpur
“I was photographing
these Grey Herons when
they suddenly burst into an
aggressive fight to claim
the best fishing spot in the
lake, resulting in neither of
them getting any catch.”

Camera: Nikon D300S

Lens: Nikkor AF-S 600mm
f/4G ED VR
130 Aperture: f/6.3
Shutterspeed: 1/1000sec

In the Grey Sky

P Vijaykumar, Secunderabad
“This lone bird was
perched on a branch
devoid of any leaves,
creating an eerie feeling.
The monotone nature
of the image makes it
more dramatic.”

Camera: Nikon D3100

Lens: Nikkor AF-S
70–300mm f/4.5-5.6G
IF-ED VR Zoom
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutterspeed: 1/800sec
ISO: 360

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY M AY 2 0 1 3
 Flight and Lines
Abhey Singh Grewal,
Mumbai
“The bird in motion
against the clean
line of the building
made an appealing
contrast. I preset the
camera to capture this
instantaneous moment. ”

Camera: Canon EOS 1000D

Lens: Canon EF-S
18–55mm f/3.5-5.6
Aperture: f/20
Shutterspeed: 1/125sec
ISO: 200

131

Scavengers at Work
Apurba Rajbongshi,
New Delhi
“This image is a
juxtaposition of the
Greater Adjutant Stork
and the earth digger.
The destruction caused
by the machines in the
wetlands of Guwhati has
resulted in dwindling
number of birds.”

Camera: Canon EOS 450D

Lens: Canon EF 70–200mm
f/4L USM
Aperture: f/4
Shutterspeed: 1/1000sec
ISO: 100

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
 Provide a caption for this picture, photographed
CaPTIon THIS!
by Peyush Pushpamgathan, to get a chance to win
Camelion batteries and charger worth Rs. 1455.
The selected entry will be published in the
June 2013 issue of Better Photography.

!
Win

Last month’s winning entry

“lets fly, touch the sky”
— Ratna Vineet Shah, via email 181

Send your captions to

E-mail: entries@betterphotography.in,
or SMS “BP May <your caption> <your name>” to 51818 Last date to receive entries
(for eg. BP May My heart goes nom nom Reema Bhasin) 5 May 2013

B lo g o f t h e M o n t h DiD You Know?

Photographs From Memory Lane
Canadian artist Taylor Jones’ popular blog
Dear Photograph is a culmination of personal
stories from all over the world. The blog uniquely
combines the past with the present through
old family photographs. Started in 2011, Dear
reads, “Dear Photograph, I miss having this shoulder
to lean on.” You may not have submitted your
own pictures or story, but with its simple concept
and presentation, family photographs of various
strangers look quite endearing on the blog.
william Henry Fox Talbot invented the
Calotype Process in 1841
Calotype, also known as talbotype was an early
photographic process to develop pictures on paper
using a translucent negative.
The process was introduced
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Photograph initially began as a personal way for by British inventor and

Jones to recollect moments from his own family’s photography pioneer William
old photographs. The blog today has become a Henry Fox Talbot in 1841.
crowdsourced project where readers can submit William used salt paper
their own family pictures and stories related to them. coated with silver iodide
Essentially, the idea of the blog is to take a picture instead of silver chloride,
of an old print juxtaposing it with the same setting in along with a developing John Moffat

the present. Each photograph is also accompanied
with a short caption that starts with ‘Dear
Photograph,’ which is then followed by either a funny
or a nostalgic thought, story or a memory.
For instance, one of the recently submitted
images is of a young girl leaning on the shoulder of
her mother while sitting on the beach. The caption
agent (gallic acid and silver
nitrate). The calotype process reduced the time of
exposing images on paper from an hour to a minute.
Compared to the daguerreotype, the translucent
calotype negative was an easy way to produce many
prints within a short duration. This was done by the
www.dearphotograph.com simple method of contact printing.

m ay 2 0 1 3 Better PhotograPhy
 HISTORY
182
Ways of Reading
Priyanka Chharia, a self-confessed bookworm, traces the evolution of
the photobook through its past, present and future.
T
he last time I visited a bookshop
was more than a month ago.
As I rummaged through the grimy
bookshelves, I was delighted to
find a solitary copy of Myself Mona
Ahmed—a book that I was looking for since
the last two years. Although, that day marked
the end of a protracted search, it heralded
the beginning of a profound curiosity.
“The book What makes a book a worthy object to
is where possess? Why does a book make for an ideal
photography gift to friends and family? What is the affinity
sings its fullest between books and photography?
and most Once Upon a Time
complex song.” Photography and books are like two
- Gerry Badger old friends that go back a long way.
BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Nachiket Gujar
The Industrial Revolution was the
harbringer of a new era of printing
and publishing in Europe, and the first
book to make use of photographs was
published in the 19th century. In its
initial avatar, the photobook was just
like any other book. Photographs were
used merely as illustrations, and little
autonomy was given to the image.
The Second Fiddle
After the Second World War, the
relationship between text and image
improved greatly from the Victorian
approach. The art of storytelling went
through a change, whereby authors began
to incorporate visual elements in their
M AY 2 0 1 3
 HISTORY

Iconic Photobooks Through the Ages

“I love the narratives. However, the image was still

a secondary character in the story, as the
intimacy of the written word predominated.
book and how it
can open up and A Tool for Social Change
reveal itself.” The 1950s and 60s witnessed the emergence
Photographs of British Algae: The Pencil of Nature (1844) The Decisive Moment (1952)
- Martin Parr of a heroic wave of photojournalism in the
world. Photographers such as Henri Cyanotype Impressions (1843) Henry Fox Talbot’s A collection of 126
Anna Atkins published book was the first B&W photos, the first
Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and
the first book photographically photobook by Henri
David Seymour produced a number that used cyanotypes illustrated book to be Cartier-Bresson
of photobooks that demonstrated the as illustrations. commercially produced. achieved a cult status.
power of the image. Meanwhile, Japanese
photographers such as Shomei Tomatsu
and Daido Moriyama created a radical
visual language in photography. After the
nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, Japanese photojournalists made
use of photobooks to portray a number of
contemporary social and political problems.

Bridging the Divide The Family of Man (1955) The Americans (1959) William Eggelston’s
The transformation of the photobook It was produced in Robert Frank’s atypical Guide (1976)
escalated at the turn of the 20th century. many formats, including photoessays changed the This book by William
a pocket-sized book. way America came to be Eggleston changed the
Photobooks became a united endeavour
It contained 503 photos photographed and seen way colour photography
amongst the photographer, designer, 183
from 273 photographers. by documentarists. came to be viewed.
publisher, author and subject. In addition,
photobooks became increasingly inter
disciplinary as photographers began to
engage with a variety of other genres such as
cinema, poetry, dance, and fiction and so on.

Do It Yourself
Alec Soth, Stephen Gill, Edward Ruscha
and Sooni Taraporevala are a handful of
photographers who chose to self-publish.
Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey On Photography (1977) Japan: A Photo Theatre (1978) The Camera (1995)
A series of pathbreaking Daido Moriyama’s book This book by landscape
self-published his first book at the age of 19. essays on photography by was radical in many ways. legend Ansel Adams
In more ways than one, the contemporary Susan Sontag, the book It brought a new visual was part of a trilogy that
photobook has created a distinct space of its began a vibrant discourse language in the world of included The Negative and
own as an objet d’art. Additionally, the digital on photography. western photography. The Print.

imaging revolution has made it possible to

generate micro productions with unparallel
ease. In fact, a photographer today can create
a photobook simply from the comforts of
his home!
Unlike the Victorian masters, the 21st
century photographer is free from a
number of restraints in many ways. And, the
photobook today serves as an ideal platform
for a photographer to express his or her Myself Mona Ahmed (2001) The Photobook: A The Latin American
creative vision. At the end of the day, even Dayanita Singh’s work is History (2004) Photobook (2012)
a fine example of a joint A book by Martin Parr and A result of four years of
as photobooks become limited and more
production. The book is Gerry Badger, its the first extensive research, it’s a
expensive... the sheer joy of engaging with authored by her subject to document the history complete record of South
a photograph in flesh and blood is a price and friend Mona Ahmed. of the photobook itself. American photography.
worth paying for!

M AY 2 0 1 3 BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY
184

Photograph by:
Guillaume Duchenne de Boulogne A Doctor of Photography

G
Image Source: uillaume Duchenne de Boulogne was a French medical doctor, who
Wikimedia Commons
conducted a number of research experiments in electrotherapy and
neurology in Paris in the 1850s. His investigations were an intriguing
assortment of psychology, neurology, anatomy and art. Guillaume made more
than a 100 photographs, and was one of the first doctors to use photography
scientifically. His ways of working were unlike those of his peers. He had five volunteers to
assist him, and conducted most of his experiments at his apartment in Paris.
Duchenne de Boulogne’s principle subject, as illustrated in the photograph, was a
former shoemaker, who suffered from a slight anesthesia. While Duchenne de Boulogne
described him as “old and ugly,” he still preferred the man, as his wrinkled face responded
well to electric currents during the experiments, and was ideal to perfectly illustrate
a variety of facial expressions. “Only photography as truthful as a mirror could attain such
desirable perfection,” he said.
The photograph above was part of The Mechanism of Human Physiognomy (1862), which was
the first publication to illustrate human expressionss through photographs. It paved the
way for further studies in neurology, including the pioneering work by Charles Darwin,
called The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872).
Duchenne de Boulogne was greatly influenced by French photographers Félix Nadar and
his younger brother Adrien Tournachon. He strongly believed in the power of photography,
and wanted to “change both the history of medicine and of photography.”

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186