Category Archives: Photography

As photographers become more experienced, they often upgrade their camera or lenses. This isn’t just a case of buying the most recent camera in the line they started out with, they make a step up and invest in more sophisticated kit to enable them to take better photos in a range of situations, or to make capturing images easier in certain conditions. In this post we’ll take a look at the best camera upgrades that photographers make and explain their significance.

Increase in sensor size

The sensor is usually the most expensive component in a camera, which means that, all other things being equal, cameras with larger sensors tend to be more expensive than those with smaller sensors. Consequently, many people start out with a small sensor camera and at some point they upgrade to a camera with a larger sensor.

One of the main benefits of a larger sensor is that, provided the pixel count is about the same, the pixels on the sensor are larger. This means that each pixel captures more light and as a result, they each generate a stronger image signal that requires less gain to be applied. The upshot of that is that the camera produces cleaner (less noisy) images at the mid-to-high sensitivity (ISO) settings.

Cameras with a larger sensor also usually have more dynamic range, which means they can capture a greater number of tones in a singe image and the highlights are less likely to burn out early while the shadows retain more detail. Wider dynamic range also gives images more latitude for adjustment in post-capture editing.

Another popular reason for switching to a camera with a larger sensor is to be able to limit the depth of field more at any given aperture. This enables a subject to be isolated more noticeably from its surroundings.

Higher resolution

The pixel count race has slowed in recent years, but high-resolution cameras are still attractive to anyone who wants to capture lots of detail or make large prints. As a rule, the sensitivity (ISO) setting needs to be kept lower on a camera with a high pixel count, but in good light, they can produce spectacular images.

Variable aperture lenses upgraded to fixed aperture lenses

Entry-level zoom lenses usually have a variable maximum aperture, it helps to keep their size, weight and price down. The downside is that the exposure settings change when you zoom from one focal length to another. With the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, for instance, when you zoom from the 18mm point to the 55mm end, the maximum aperture that’s available reduces from f/3.5 to f5.6. That means that you have to reduce the shutter speed or increase the ISO setting to compensate. With a constant or fixed aperture lens, however, the maximum aperture setting is the same throughout the whole focal length range and there’s no need to change the exposure settings when zooming the lens.

Increase in maximum aperture size

Photographers also often upgrade their lenses to optics with a bigger maximum aperture. They might upgrade their standard variable aperture zoom to a 24-70mm f/4 lens, for example, or go from a 24-70mm f/4 to a 24-70mm f/2.8, or an 85mm f/1.8 lens to an 85mm f/1.4.

A key advantage of moving up to a lens with a large maximum aperture is that you can use fast shutter speeds without pushing the ISO up. The wider aperture also means that you can blur the background in your images more than with a lens that has a smaller maximum aperture. That’s especially useful for portrait photography or anytime you want your subject to really standout from its environment.

Having a large maximum aperture is also advantageous for your camera’s focusing system as more light is able to reach the AF sensor in a DSLR or the imaging sensor of a mirrorless camera. More light makes it easier for the camera to focus.

Better autofocus system

More advanced cameras usually have more sophisticated and sensitive autofocusing systems. It can mean having more focusing points across the frame, so you’re less likely to need to focus and recompose, the camera is better at tracking a moving subject around the frame and it can focus in lower light.

In some cases you can customise the camera’s autofocus response to suit the subject and shooting conditions. It can take a little getting your head around, but it can result in a higher hit rate as well.

We’ve also seen an increasing number of cameras with subject detection technology that track animals, birds and vehicles as well as humans. It’s amazingly useful!

More robust camera

High-end cameras tend to be more durable than entry-level models, so they can withstand heavier use and will cope better with large, heavy lenses being mounted on them. They are also usually weather-sealed, which means you don’t need to stop shooting if it starts to rain. However, you need to ensure that your lenses are weather-sealed to keep your kit safe and bear in mind that weather-sealed is not the same as waterproof.

Downsizing

Although large-sensor cameras are often regarded as ‘better’, there are plenty of photographers who prefer to use a camera with a smaller sensor because of the more compact size and easier portability. And it’s not just the cameras that decrease in size with a smaller sensor, the lenses can also be significantly smaller and less expensive, making the weight of a whole kit much more bearable and affordable. It can open up a whole new rage of photographic opportunities.

Specialising

Another reason that some photographers upgrade their camera is to access specific features such as the ability to shoot multiple exposures, focus stack or to shoot at a faster rate. It’s a particular popular with photographers who have started out as generalists, shooting a bit of everything, and who then develop an interest in a certain genre of photography.

About MPB

Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB is the world’s largest platform for used photography and videography kit. MPB has transformed the way people buy, sell and trade equipment, making photography more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Headquartered in the creative communities of Brighton, Brooklyn and Berlin, the MPB team includes trained camera experts and seasoned photographers and videographers who bring their passion to work every day to deliver outstanding service. Every piece of kit is inspected carefully by product specialists and comes with a six-month warranty to give customers peace of mind that buying used doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability.

The theme for the first round of the brand new Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year (CJPOTY) competition was ‘Winter’ and there were some stunning entries. However, after much debate, we can reveal that the following images will go onto our shortlist to be judged by our illustrious panel of judges (soon to be announced) at the end of the year.

One of these ten shortlisted images has also been selected as the round winner with the photographer being awarded a voucher from MPB worth £500 – scroll down to find out who.

CJPOTY January 2023 Winter shortlisted images

Sara Jazbar

Sara put in a superb performance in our previous competition and was place third overall. Now she’s back with another stunning entry. Any bird photographer would be proud of this image. It captures all the detail of the colouring and feathers but also portrays the hardship of winter and the part that humans can play in helping wildlife.

Chris Stark

Snow and frost can render a scene almost monochrome and Chris’s image makes the most of that with the blue tone giving a real sense of the cold. We love the composition and framing.

Alison Tetley

The Camera Jabber team all love the minimalism of this image which was shot overlooking a lagoon in winter. The tufts of grass add some scale while the swirling clouds give a little tonal variation in an otherwise almost completely white scene. It’s a very peaceful image that would look great printed and hanging on any wall.

Eric Browett

You can’t fail to be impressed by the eye contact and detail on the head of the owl in Eric’s image, they really pull you in. Catching the wings at the bottom of their down beat with a little blur and a flurry of snow gives a wonderful sense of movement and you can imagine yourself there with the bird coming towards you.

Helen Trust

Helen has got the exposure of this image absolutely spot-on. There’s detail in the snow yet it doesn’t look grey, and the sky looks ominous. We also like Helen’s composition which gives plenty of space for the sky to reveal its threat above the isolated house.

Pawel Zygmunt

This is a scene we’ve seen photographed many times but Pawel has captured an image that many aspire to create. The aurora looks fantastic above the mountain and its colour contrast beautifully with the warm-looking buildings below. The swirl in the water around the rocks adds an extra bit of magic.

Pawel’s second shortlisted image grabbed our attention because of its superb sense of scale and isolation. The walker’s head torch gives the impression that night is approaching while the path behind them suggests how far they have travelled.

Wendy McDonnell

Snow tends to smooth out the landscape and obliterate many features, in Wendy’s image, shot in the Yorkshire Dales at sunset, it looks like a rolling sea with the light and shade mimicking reflections on water. There’s a lovely contrast between the blue tones of the snow and the warmth of the sky. It’s an image we keep going back to for another look.

Bryce Powrie

Bryce’s image has bags of impact. His wide angle of view puts the climber in context amongst the snow-covered rocks with the valley floor vanished into cloud. The climber’s bright clothing ensures that he stands out brilliantly from his surroundings and Bryce has captured him at the perfect moment as he swings his icepick ready to move further up.

Wim Solheim

Shooting at sunset, when the snow is in shadow, enabled Wim to create an unusually colourful image of a snowy scene. The composition of the three interlocking hills, each with a tree perfectly positioned on the top works beautifully while the footprints adds a leading line and scale.

CJPOTY January 2023 winner: Pawel Zygmunt

Congratulations Pawel, a voucher to the value of £500 from MPB is heading your way!

Pawel’s image joins the other 9 images that have been selected this month and goes onto our shortlist for judging by our panel of VIP judges at the end of the year for the overall prize.

CJPOTY February 2023: Close-up

The theme for the second round of the 2023/24 Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year (CJPOTY) competition is ‘Close-up’. We want you to get close to your subject and reveal the interesting features of the smaller things in life. Your images don’t have to be true macro shots, but they can be if you like.

This round of our monthly competition is open for submissions until 23:59 GMT (00:59 CET and 15:59 PST) on 28th February 2023.

Follow the link to cjpoty.com or click on the CJPOTY button at the top of any of our website pages. You can submit up to three entries for £2.00 plus payment processing costs (£0.26). Images should be Jpegs at least 1920 pixels along their longest side but no larger than 1MB.

Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year prizes

At the end of the month, the Camera Jabber team will pick one winning image and nine runners up from the February entries. The photographer of the winning image will receive a voucher from MPB.com to the value of £500 which can be spent on anything from a huge range of kit from the World’s biggest platform for used photographic gear.

All 10 of the selected images will go into our shortlist for the year.

We’ll do this each month in 2023 so that by the end of the year, there will be 120 shortlisted images. These will then go before our fantastic panel of judges (to be announced soon) who will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-placed images.

The photographer of the first-placed image overall, as decided by the panel of judges , will receive a voucher to the value of £1000 from MPB.com as well as a trophy and the title ‘Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year 2023‘. The photographers who come second and third will receive vouchers worth £500 and £250 respectively.

About MPB

Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB is the world’s largest platform for used photography and videography kit. MPB has transformed the way people buy, sell and trade equipment, making photography more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Headquartered in the creative communities of Brighton, Brooklyn and Berlin, the MPB team includes trained camera experts and seasoned photographers and videographers who bring their passion to work every day to deliver outstanding service. Every piece of kit is inspected carefully by product specialists and comes with a six-month warranty to give customers peace of mind that buying used doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability.

The artistry of fashion photography is better seen than described, as evidenced through the just-up joint exhibition of Patrick Demarchelier and his son Victor.

On view through April 1 at the Staley-Wise gallery in New York, the show highlights how a distinguishable style translates from one generation to the next. The assortment of art, editorial and portrait photography magnifies the high style of the father-and-son creatives and has an added poignancy following the elder Demarchelier’s death last year. For 40-plus years, his images appeared in such magazines as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. His son, Victor, has followed a similar route successfully, shooting for fashion magazines and clients like Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren and Lancôme.

Referring to the Staley-Wise show, Victor Demarchelier said he loved the symmetry of the images that amplify a sense of beauty. To that point, a 2012 photograph of the model Heloise Guerin wearing a mammoth black tousled wig that he took for Harper’s Bazaar appears to mirror one of Christy Turlington with a similarly oversized white rose-like head piece that his father took in 1996.

Having “learned everything from his father,” Victor Demarchelier said, “he was the only teacher that I ever had for photography really. It’s more than photography too. Growing up together, you have the same aesthetic. First, it’s your family and then your whole surroundings. It’s more [about] your taste. Everything is shaped by your parents and your family.”

© Provided by WWD
“Karlie Kloss, Feast for the Eyes, New York, Vogue 2009,” as pictured by Patrick Demarchelier.

© Provided by WWD
“The Mane Event” for Harper’s Bazaar was photographed by Victor Demarchelier.

© Provided by WWD
Patrick Demarchelier’s 1990 portrait of Princess Diana for British Vogue.

Straight out of studying art and economics at Vassar College, the younger Demarchelier determined after one year of working in his father’s studio that photography would be the job for him. Just as Patrick Demarchelier was known to be meticulous in his techniques, his son said he was quick to take to the darkroom and “really loved” working with his hands and making prints. Celebrity portraiture is another medium that the Demarcheliers thrive in. The show features images of Princess Diana, Leonardo DiCaprio and Anthony Hopkins, among others.

© Provided by WWD
Work by Victor Demarchelier for Harper’s Bazaar.

As for Patrick Demarchelier’s vast archives, those are still being sorted through. Victor Demarchelier has also been involved with curating two upcoming solo exhibitions of his father’s work. One gets underway at A. Galerie in Paris on Feb. 28 and the other will debut at Atlas gallery in London this fall. Another was staged at Camera Work in Berlin last year. A book spotlighting Patrick Demarchelier’s work is being developed with the aim to publish next year. Needless to say, constantly leafing through his father’s pictures continues to influence Victor Demarchelier.

An artist with many gifts, Patrick Demarchelier’s greatest one was his “joy for life,” his son said. “He loved traveling and meeting people. He loved spending behind the camera getting to meet people.”

© Provided by WWD
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge portrait by Patrick Demarchelier.

Victor Demarchelier will soon be off to St. Barts with his model wife Heloise Guerin for a shoot for Doen, a California brand that the couple started working with during the pandemic, starting out by doing home shoots, which was a change of pace. “We started doing it during COVID[-19] and we learned to love it. It’s a very intimate approach, when it’s just you and your wife. Of course, we do regular shoots with the team now. But occasionally we have the home shoots, which is a great experience.”

© Provided by WWD
A self portrait of Patrick Demarchelier and his son Victor.

Visitors to Staley-Wise are greeted at the entrance to the exhibition with an image of Guerin that her husband shot for Harper’s Bazaar. Not surprisingly, that image is a personal favorite of the photographer’s, as is one of his own images of colorful candy from the “Artificial Color” series, and his father’s portrait of an arms-crossed Christy Turlington with a white mouse on one shoulder. From a fine art perspective, Victor Demarchelier enjoys doing still lifes, whereas his father was not as keen on that genre. When it comes to fashion, though, they are “quite similar in the portraiture,” his son said.

© Provided by WWD
Victor Demarchelier’s “Artificial Color, Study 1.”

Understandably, Victor Demarchelier said there “definitely was a void” at the Feb. 9 opening night party at Staley-Wise. “When you’re doing a joint show and one person is not there, you’re definitely thinking how they would feel and how they would like it. It wasn’t the first time that we had sone a joint show. We had spoken about it many times, but they are all different too. It would have been nice obviously to have him there,” he said.