Collect Your exclusive N-photo tips cards
Print on card in ‘duplex’ mode and cut along dotted lines
Key settings for Slow-sync flash
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Shutter Priority Focus mode Continuous (AF-C) Shutter speed 1/8 to 1/60 sec Drive mode Single-shot
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
For perfect panning, stand square-on to your subject’s path and swivel your torso as they move through the frame. Start with a 1/30 sec shutter speed. Try a faster one if there’s too much blur, or slower if it looks too static. Increase ISO to boost the flash power.
Toptip To achieve the most realistic results possible, set the flash to rearcurtain sync so that the flash fires at the end of the exposure.
Key settings for Tilt-and-shift cityscapes
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Aperture Priority Focus mode Manual Aperture f/2.8 ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
T o enhance the tilt-and-shift effect, open the aperture to the widest setting possible on your lens.
Shoot in the twilight hour after the sun has set, so the sky has a blue tint to it. Blur the top and bottom half of your image to create the miniature effect.
Toptip If you can’t get hold of a pricey tilt-and-shift lens, you can fake the effect in Photoshop. Go to Filter>blur>tilt-shift...
Key settings for Tennis photography
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Shutter Priority Focus mode Continuous (AF-C) Shutter speed 1/100 sec ISO 100
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
Use an external flashgun to sidelight your sports model to add heavy shadows that indicate form.
T o suggest movement, reduce your shutter speed a little to add a hint of blur. Get down low on the ground and tilt your composition for a dynamic result.
Toptip Get your model to do a repetitive action, like the serve in our example, so you can keep shooting away until you get a winner!
Pocket Reference Chromatic aberration
Chromatic aberration is an optical flaw caused by the light travelling through the lens of your camera.
1
Purple fringing
The effect causes colour fringing around the edges of detail; the most common and obvious is a purple fringe, and is particularly noticeable around the tops of trees or buildings against a bright sky. You can use image-editing techniques to help correct this later on in post-production.
2
How chromatic aberration is caused Light is refracted as it passes through lens elements, resulting in dispersion where different wavelengths of light strike the image sensor in slightly different places. Zoom lenses are more prone to the effect and usually perform best at their midlength focal settings.
Key settings for Close-up flowers
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Manual
Focus mode Manual Aperture f/16
Lens 100mm macro
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
Mount your camera onto a tripod and take the aperture to around f/16.
A djust your white balance to ensure the flowers’ colours are true to life. Get creative with your composition, and make sure you have no distractions in the background.
Toptip Avoid shooting on a windy day. If you are battling with breezy conditions, create a windshield around your flower to stop it moving.
Key settings for Dancing damselflies
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Manual Aperture f/8
Shutter speed 1/500 sec or faster
ISO Auto
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
Shoot using a long macro lens.
Look for damselflies mating to capture the classic heart shape they make with their bodies.
D amselflies particularly like brambles and green vegetation next to large bodies of water, such as ponds or rivers.
Toptip Damselflies can be spotted any time from late May into June. Head out first thing to capture them waking up and drying out.
Pocket Reference ISO sensitivity
The ISO is the sensitivity of your image sensor. You can adjust this setting to make it more or less sensitive to light.
1
Low ISO (64-400)
Image noise should not be an issue at these settings, and the difference will be barely noticeable.
2
Medium ISO (800-1600)
When the light begins to drop or is overcast, you may want to push the ISO up. 3
High ISO (3200-6400)
In low light, you might see some noise, but a little noise is better than a blurry shot! 4
Very high ISO (12,800-plus)
While modern Nikon sensors are fantastic at controlling noise, at very high ISO numbers, your camera may produce noisy results, particularly in dark areas.
Key settings for Popping water balloons
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Manual
Focus mode Manual Aperture f/8
Shutter speed 1/200 sec
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
In the garden, hang a colourful piece of material or card up as a backdrop. Fill a balloon up with water and hang it in front of the backdrop.
T ime the shot to fire the shutter as you pop the water balloon. You may need to pop a few balloons to get this right!
Toptip Add food colouring to the water to add impact. Make sure the colour of the water complements the background colour of your shot.
Key settings for Summer portraits
For your first shot ,try ... Exposure mode Aperture Priority Aperture f/2.8 Focus mode Single (AF-S) ISO 800
TO IMPROVE YOUR SHOT…
Keep the aperture setting wide open to throw the background out of focus. Shoot later on in the day, or first thing in the morning, when the light is softer. Side-light or backlight your model so the sun picks up the edges of their hair, for that summery look.
Toptip To eliminate distracting shadows, hold up a diffuser against the sun. Get an assistant to hold the diffuser to free up your hands.