Amateur Photographer - 27.09.2019

14 21 September 2019I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113

is money down the

drain on a regular

basis. Some friends have

had similar success stories.

See: perils-of-the-policy.

co.uk for more information

• it’s a layman’s guide to
  the pitfalls of insurance.
  David Norris

Somethingfishy

CouldI ask you to please

to run a feature on how to

get really good shots of

fish, and other pets besides

dogs? We have recently

gone back to keeping

tropical fish, and have

two cats as well (who

are probably the most

photographed in England).

I would like to see a feature

on getting the best,

photographically, out of

other pets besides dogs,

which are of course lovely,

but not everyone has a

dog. Here is a picture of

Autumn, our Yellowish

Betta Splendens (above).

Jane Boswell

NTimages on

Facebook

I was interested to read

about the National Trust,

and image infringement.

However where does one

stand on publishing images

on social media? I’m a

member of a Facebook

group promoting

holidaying in the UK, and

have uploaded images

taken at Scotney Castle, on

the property. What are

your views on this?

Ian Hartley

Technically you’re still

publishing them and

copyright still applies,

but the National Trust

is only really interested

in pursuing those

making money out of

photographs of their

properties. Copyright

infringement is so

widespread on Facebook

that the law is, to all

practical intents, virtually

unenforceable on there

for large organisations

such as the NT– Nigel

Atherton, editor

Off-camera flash

with Lumix

I’ma fan of off-camera

flash. Now having just

acquired a Panasonic G

I attended this year’s

Photography Show in

Birmingham looking for

off-camera flash solutions,

and was taken with the

Godox TT350. How does it

perform wirelessly? I asked

the gentleman on the

stand. He said: you need

the commander. I said my

camera is able to control

up to three groups of

flashguns in the flash

sub-menu. Surely the

commander was therefore

surplus to requirements?

He reiterated that a

commander was required.

This would not only entail

extra significant cost, but

add an extra component to

what was supposed to be a

small lightweight system.

He advised I ask at the

Panasonic stand. There,

despite looking through

the flash sub-menu, we

got no further.

Abiding by the principle

of ‘if in doubt don’t spend

your money’, I decided to

do some further research.

As it turns out, modern

Panasonic cameras use a

‘visible light’ system for

controlling compatible

flashguns wirelessly. This

system sends a series of

control pulses, usually from

the camera on-board

flash, to enable TTL flash

exposure using up to

three groups of flashes,

with the ability to control

the intensity of each group

from the camera. The

on-board, or controlling,

flash can be switched to

only send the control

pulses, and so not be part

of the overall exposure.

I am now joyfully

possessed of a (pre-loved)

Nissin i40 flashgun, which

works exactly as described

above! Although there are

drawbacks to visible light

systems, so far I have

successfully experimented

with indoor portraits.

And so to the AP of 29

June and your review of

the Panasonic Lumix G90.

On page 41 you state the

on-board flash cannot be

used for wireless control. I

beg to challenge this. It is

true that googling the G

specs there is no mention

of wireless control, but the

advanced user manual on

page 166 contains full

instructions on the usage

and limitations of recording

using wireless flash.

This simple, convenient,

small system is exactly

what I need right now.

In fact I’m looking for a

‘pre-loved’ brother for

my i40. I hope that my

clarification is of use to

prospective buyers of

the Lumix G90.

Andrew Stefanowski

Jane would like a feature on how to take great images of fish

Back in the day

Awander through the AP archive. This

week we pay a visit to September 1991

A major interview with Yousuf Karsh was a highlight

THISweek the slightly unsettling cover heralds an

interesting interview with Simon Donnelly, who was

a fully fledged photographic pro by the age of 21.

We think, though we are not sure, that Simon is still

working as a professional wedding photographer, so

if you are reading this, please get in touch to confirm.

Another highlight was an interview with the legendary

Yousuf Karsh. Karsh, who would have been 83 when

this was published, gives some great insights into his

way of working and talks about some classic images.

Karsh photographed some of THE major figures in

20th-century history and politics, such as Churchill

and Fidel Castro, as well as Hollywood celebrities. He

was a master of portrait technique and lighting as well

as a generous spirit. It’s also good to see that some of

those who put this AP issue together are still working

for the photography press in various guises, including

Keith Wilson, Steve Fairclough and Chris George.

1991

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