N Photo

100% NIKON 100% INDEPENDENT

One of the biggest challenges we all face as photographers is finding a fresh perspective on familiar subjects. Sure, you can nail the banker right off the bat, but what then? Pack up and go home? Or strive for something better?

When I was starting out, the best piece of advice I was given was to ask myself the ‘What would…?’ question: what would my friend Steve do in this situation…? What, come to that, would Joe McNally do? Pick someone whose work you like. Heck, just pick someone who’s a better photographer. As long as they make you think, you’ll be half way there.

With this in mind, for this issue’s feature (p28) we asked what seasoned shooter James Paterson would do, and he told us. You might not be a fan of all his ideas, and that’s fine. The point is to get you thinking more creatively.

But of course, all that creativity counts for nought if we don’t share our shots, so our step-by-step guide to printing (p62) will tell you all you need to know to get prints that pop. Plus, we reveal which flash offers the best pop for your pound in this issue’s Big Test (p118); how to make the most of your flashgun in Gear Skills (p52); and just what a flashgun is capable of in the hands of a lighting master (p138). Happy shooting!