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The new issue of Digital Photographer is out now!

Subscribe today to get DP delivered to your door and device.

This month we have another amazing issue for you, featuring professional tips, reviews, and practical how-to guides. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s inside!

Discover creative compositions

Sometimes in photography, as in life, intricate planning can be the route to success. However, in many cases, spontaneity is what yields the most inspirational results. Take composition, for example. You can follow the rules set out in all the photo textbooks but often we press the shutter button when the image feels right. In the moment, improvisation produces the most unexpected successes. 

To that end, explore our special cover feature starting on p36 of the magazine, where you’ll learn how to identify unusual framing opportunities for professional-looking shots that go beyond the obvious. We’ll show you the key ways to find unusual angles and exciting new ways to photograph everyday scenes, for images with energy and drama.

Secrets of the mode dial

In our other main feature, starting on p24 of the magazine, we’ve got a refresher guide for you about professional ways to use your camera’s shooting modes. The humble mode dial might seem familiar, but are you using each shooting mode to its fullest potential and getting the most from your camera’s exposure system? Even pro photographers can benefit from evaluating how they use their cameras, so take a look at these pages and rediscover your kit. 

Ditch the tripod and master handheld photography

Next up, be certain to explore our creative project pages where travel photo expert, Kav Dadfar, demonstrates how to shoot and edit handheld images in low-light situations. There are times when a tripod or monopod simply isn’t practical and, in these cases, knowing how to capture sharp images in any light is critical. 

NEW! Photo Kit Leaderboard

Starting on p96, our new Kit Leaderboard has been an instant hit! It’s an exciting live snapshot of the photo industry, listing the very best cameras, lenses, accessories, software and more. Stay tuned to see if your camera reaches the top! And will our current winning camera, the Sony A9 III, be knocked off its throne? Pick up a copy of issue 278 to find out! 

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Plus we’ve got the usual tutorials, interviews, insight and opinion, from a range of experienced pro photographers from across the industry. 

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Halfway up the steep 915-metre hike to Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, one of the places where Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan, my guide asked me again if I’d like him to carry my pack. Struggling to catch my breath, I declined, yet again. The weight felt heavier with every step, but as any photographer knows, some suffering is necessary to get the right shot.

My trigger finger had been putting in overtime since arriving in the tiny Himalayan kingdom tucked between India and Tibet. The country draws many types of tourists – the spiritually inclined, wellness enthusiasts, trekkers, birders and photographers to list a few.

REVIEW: Sleep in sweet tented suites at Bhutan’s Punakha River Lodge

Everywhere you look, there’s a photo to be captured. Bhutanese culture is vibrant, the architecture is breathtaking and the country is teeming with ecological diversity. I brought as much photography gear as I could because I knew that the range of what and who to photograph would be great, but what I did not understand was that the altitude – which ranges from 2,400 m to 3,350 m – would make my camera bag feel like I was carrying a boulder.

Within an hour of landing at Bhutan’s Paro airport, I found myself on the side of the highway at Tachog Lhakhang, a temple resting at the base of a mountain. We couldn’t go inside because it was closed for renovations but there was still so much to see.

FIRST PERSON: The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is in my backyard. I try not to take that for granted

To reach the temple, there’s an iron chain suspension bridge built over Paro River and secured by traditionally built gatehouses with whitewashed walls and windows framed with interlocking, elaborately carved and painted wood that makes the structure stand out against rolling hills and a valley that descended as far as I could see. The bridge swayed slightly as we crossed, the river below my feet gently babbled and the morning haze still lingered in the sky, shielding some mountains while exposing others, adding to the mystique of this remote country. Awestruck, I wondered how I could possibly fit all I was seeing into one frame. But I tried anyway.

As a photographer travelling through Bhutan, I felt a pull I’ve never experienced before: I was torn between raising my camera to compose a photo or allowing myself to be immersed in the moment. Prayer flags fluttered on every hillside and were somehow strung across wide gorges, making a pleasing sound as they snapped back and forth in the wind. Buddhist prayer wheels were equally as prevalent around the country and a bell rang to let you know someone nearby was spinning it – always clockwise.

Hiking in Bhutan brought me a whole lot closer to Shangri-la

In many of Bhutan’s most sacred structures, cameras, phones and sometimes bags must be given up and locked away before entering. Watching my guide hand over my camera was painful but it allowed me to find new ways to remember. I have no photos of the intricately painted murals retelling the country’s history that covered every inch of walls and sometimes the ceilings inside the Lhakhangs we toured, but I remember those legends that are so important in Bhutanese culture because my eyes studied every inch of those paintings.

One morning while visiting the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery, our guide, who always went ahead of us, hurriedly returned from the building to exclaim that the Queen Mother was inside. To honour her surprise visit, the nuns were reciting a special chant. We were welcomed to sit in the back row and included in an offering of sweet rice. As I ate, I was deeply moved by the soft, melodic voices of about 50 young women that filled the space.

When the chanting came to an end and the Queen Mother rose to depart, I realized the nuns, draped in rich scarlet fabric, were going to exit the temple, too. All I could do was watch from the back row as they swiftly got up, smiling, talking, embracing, and then they were gone. I could only imagine the photo that I could have shot as they stepped into the sun, but the sound of their voices would’ve escaped the frame.

The diversity of experiences during my short time in Bhutan is reflected in these photos – I came home with nearly 2,000 images – but so much of my journey lingers in my memories, long after the shutter had closed.

In “Watching New York: Street Style A to Z,” Queens native and photographer Johnny Cirillo diligently captures the essence of New Yorkers and their eclectic fashion choices.

Throughout the book, Cirillo, affectionately dubbed “The People’s Paparazzi,” offers a glimpse into the city’s fashion world through candid snapshots of everyday individuals.

“I just look for all different kinds of interesting people, creative people, people that are going outside their comfort zone or bold expressions—people expressing themselves,” Cirillo said of his artistic vision during an appearance on “Mornings On 1” Friday.

While he often posts his captures to his 1.3 million followers on social media, his book is a curated collection of his favorite snapshots—one representing each letter of the alphabet.

Sunrise workshop planned at Redwings Horse Sanctuary

– Equine photography enthusiasts are invited to learn from three seasoned photographers during a sunrise workshop on May 18 at Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

Lori Sortino, Deb Hofstetter, and Cathy Wallace, collaborators since 2019, will share their expertise in photographing horses. The trio boasts a portfolio of thousands of equine images, spanning various styles including portraits, action shots, and artistic compositions.

Participants will gain insights into capturing compelling horse images amidst diverse conditions and handling challenges such as backgrounds, lighting, and horse behavior. The workshop will commence at 6 a.m. and conclude at noon at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, located at 6875 Union Rd., in Paso Robles.

Attendees will have the opportunity to photograph the sanctuary’s horses and burros, leveraging the soft morning light for stunning shots. The session will include a light breakfast and guidance on portrait photography using barn shade and natural lighting, as well as post-processing techniques for image enhancement.

Workshop registration options include:

• Bronze Workshop Registration: $300
• Gold Workshop Registration: $400 (includes Redwings swag such as a t-shirt, hat, and stickers)

Proceeds from the workshop will support Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s mission to alleviate equine suffering through education, outreach, and rescue efforts. While refunds are not available, registrants can transfer their registration to another participant if unable to attend after payment.

Click here to register.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary aims to combat equine suffering through education, outreach, and rescue initiatives. For more information, visit www.redwingshorsesanctuary.org.

A PHOTOGRAPH of a formerly homeless woman taken in Birmingham city centre has helped a photographer and academic clinch the Portrait of Britain Award.

The striking portrait image of Mauvette Reynolds, taken in the shadows of the iconic Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, is part of the body of work called Construct,  compiled by Anthony Luvera.

The project is centred around the lives and experiences of more than 50 people facing homelessness in the Second City. The photo has been acknowledged by the British Journal of Photography for its raw and real exploration of the lives of people facing homelessness  and continues Luvera’s rich history of producing socially engaged art.

Construct, ongoing since 2018, was commissioned by GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation dedicated to facilitating high-quality photography projects, in collaboration with SIFA Fireside, a charity that supports homeless people.

Construct made its debut exhibition in Snow Hill Square and Snow Hill train station in central Birmingham. Its photography is currently being showcased across the UK on digital screens in public spaces, including bus shelters, rail stations, shopping centres and Heathrow Airport.

Acclaim

Luvera, also a researcher at Coventry University’s Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, has had his work exhibited in institutions and festivals around the world, receiving widespread acclaim for its impactful engagement with social issues that are often overlooked.

He said: “I have worked with people experiencing homelessness to address issues of housing justice for over two decades. I’m interested in working to enable people with lived experience to amplify their points of view about the systems and services that shape their everyday lives.  

“To see ‘The Assisted Self-Portrait of Mauvette Reynolds from Construct’ recognised by the British Journal of Photography through their Portrait of Britain award is a meaningful validation of the co-creation of this work with Mauvette and the many other people who have experienced homelessness that have participated in my work over the years.”  

The photographer immersed himself in the community, working alongside SIFA Fireside’s staff, participating in kitchen activities, and building relationships with homeless people for over a year before setting up photography workshops with over 50 participants to teach them how to use photography equipment.

They were then given cameras to capture their unique experiences and perspectives.  

Challenges

During the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued the project through online workshops, post, telephone and email.  

He incorporated assisted self-portraits into the project, a process by which each person could choose where, when and how they appear in a photograph, working closely with people in meaningful locations to create powerful and personal imagery, including with Mauvette.

Now successfully rehoused, she reflected on her experience with SIFA Fireside and involvement with Luvera on Construct.

“I was living in a home with no gas, no electricity, no heating for five months and I fell very ill” she recalled.

“I woke up in a hospital after falling into a coma. And since then, I have been in and out of hostels, and I lived on the street for one and half years. My experience of being homeless has been so stressful. Being homeless is more than depressing, it drags you down. It’s like being stuck between two brick walls and there’s no way out.

“I have faced Isolation, discrimination, rejection, being labelled and stigmatised. It has been traumatising.

“I like photography and I always wanted to learn about photography. I also like having my photograph taken. I wanted to be a model when I was younger. I like discovering new things and I love writing about my photographs.

“Taking part in Anthony’s project, Construct, and making the assisted self-portrait with him has had a deep impact on me. It’s been therapeutic. It has been my dream come true. Because, I’ve always liked taking pictures and writing, and I have always wanted my pictures to be published, so people can see what I can do.”