N-Photo: the Nikon magazine

Every month we bring you 132-pages of step-by-step advice on how to get the best results from your Nikon digital SLR. Our camera skills section will show you how to shoot great pictures and how to edit them to make them even better! You'll be inspired by the beautiful images shot by top photographers and fellow readers. And you'll learn the basics through our Nikopedia reference pages – picking up tips from the pros with our exclusive interviews and masterclasses. ****Note: This digital edition is not printable and does not include the covermount items or supplements you would find with printed copies***

This issue’s special contributors…

Welcome to issue 138

Spray & bray • Our apprentice has been champing at the bit to meet horse photographer Astrid Harrisson

TECHNIQUE ASSESSMENT

PRO KIT THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT…

EXPERT INSIGHT KNOW YOUR SUBJECTS

PRO KIT BENRO MONOPOD

EXPERT INSIGHT HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

HOW TO: EDIT EQUINE IMAGES

EXPERT INSIGHT BACKGROUNDS

PRO PORTFOLIO ASTRID HARRISSON

LIGHTBOX • Our favourite Nikon images from the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year competition

READER OFFER FREE LOWEPRO PASSPORT DUO • Take out a subscription to N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine and get 13 issues direct to your door, plus a Lowepro Passport Duo bag worth £53 for carrying your Nikon gear…

The changing landscape • Landscapes might be static scenes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t change. Carmen Norman explains why you should revisit the same locations time and time again to capture something different…

Scale Force • Nature’s impact on a fallen tree has made a big difference to how this classic scene is photographed

Ashness Jetty • Changes to a favourite man-made focal point means it’s time to think outside of the box at the lakeside

Allonby Beach • With miles of sandy shores constantly affected by the tides, this is a scene that’s a little different every time you visit

Blaze Beck • Here, the changes arrive at a slower pace as seasons pass and new trees grow over the years

Woodhouse Island • The combination of time of day, weather conditions and the season mean you’ll end up with something different every time you visit

Write your story, find your people • As much as images are in a photographer’s DNA, words (and the stories they tell) are every bit as important. What’s your story?

NikonSkills • Ingenious recipes for stunning shots

Give it some time • Take your long exposures beyond your Nikon’s 30 sec limit. Adam Waring explores Bulb and Time modes

Shoot a cinematic close-up • Mike Harris raids his toy box to show you how to capture a cinematic scene and add special effects

Photograph a mini dark-side diorama

Sword special effects • USE LAYER MASKS, ADJUSTMENT LAYERS AND BLENDING MODES TO CREATE REALISTIC-LOOKING LIGHTSABERS

Step into the light side • HARNESS THE POWER OF BLENDING MODES TO ADD LIGHTING EFFECTS

Polarized opinions • Mike Harris adds punch to the sky and removes glare using NiSi’s True Color NC circular polarizing filter

Take control of colour • James Paterson reveals the power of luminosity masking when you want to enhance a photo

Place any subject in your virtual studio • Jon Adams explains how to use virtual backgrounds to change a portrait into a studio-quality shot

Get your goat • James Paterson shows how you can capture stunning portraits on location as he travels to a rare-breeds farm

On location: farm it out • BUILD A PORTABLE STUDIO WITH A THREE-LIGHT SET-UP FOR BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL PORTRAITS

Top tips: farmyard portrait studio

Low key anywhere

Creative hen-semble • SHOOT SOME DRAMATIC...