DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

Photo by Daniel Bell.      Why this style of photography works is because, generally, people feel more relaxed out of a studio environment which will produce better photos. Throw a bit of fun into the mix and you'll soon have a collection of images that are unique and interesting.  [HOOK]position_1[/HOOK]  1. Gear Advice 

For environmental portraits, a 14-24mm lens can work well but a go-to lens popular with many photographers is a 70-200mm, which can produce great perspective at the right focal length. When working with families, particularly when shooting a little more candidly, natural light works well but do pack essential lighting accessories such as a reflector. If you find you're out during the middle part of the day, particularly on a sunny day, find shade you can shoot in to produce a more even exposure. 
 

2. Conversation Is Key 

Even if you know the people you are photographing it's still important to talk to them during the shoot as direction and encouragement will always be welcomed. Suggest poses and always get your 'money shots' in the bag early so you can have more fun and also shoot more candidly later on. Good shots to ensure you capture are images of the group as well as shots with tighter framing of individuals or one or two family members together.

Direction doesn't have to come via your voice either. You could kick a ball into a particularly good patch of light or ask children to play with toys in a certain part of the landscape you're working in. Remember that children do have a short attention span so make the posing part of the shoot as quick as possible then leave them to play, capturing candids with your camera as they do. 
 

3. Colours, Backgrounds & Clothing 

Backgrounds that contrast with what your subject is wearing can create vibrant images and don't get too hung up on having everyone in matching shades as a mix of colours adds interest and if they pick their own outfits, they'll be more comfortable. 

 

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© Sigma

 

Sigma has officially launched the AF Cine 28-105mm T3 FF, the second lens in its autofocus cinema line. The new model is designed to merge the optical performance of Sigma’s Art series with professional-grade cinema mechanics, offering filmmakers a versatile tool for modern production.

 

Features

• Advanced optical design: Built on the foundation of Sigma’s 28–105mm F2.8 DG DN | Art, the lens delivers high resolution, smooth bokeh, and minimal flare or ghosting across its focal range.
• Cinema-ready mechanics: Includes industry-standard 0.8M pitch gears, a clickless aperture ring, and a limited-rotation focus ring for precise control during filming.
• High-performance autofocus: Powered by Sigma’s High-response Linear Actuator (HLA), the lens ensures near-silent operation and dependable tracking, making it suitable for fast-paced action, gimbal work, and documentary shooting.

 

© Sigma

 

Price and Availability

The Sigma AF Cine 28–105mm T3 FF will retail at £2799. It will be available in Sony E-mount and L-Mount versions starting April 16, 2026. Product specifications may be subject to change prior to release.
 

For more information, visit Sigma’s official website.

 

The well known saying: 'Keep it simple stupid' is well known for a reason – it works. Yes, there are times when lots of compositional elements do work but by creating an almost 'empty' space, you can actually create a stronger image.

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1. Why Does It Work?

By cutting out clutter, other people etc. you remove potential distractions and it'll be easier for the viewer of your image to understand what / who your main focus is in the shot and what you're trying to say.
 

2. Subject Choice

 

Just because you're keeping things simple it doesn't mean it has to be boring. Actually, with this technique, you have to work hard to do the opposite and find a strong subject that can stand up on its own. This becomes even more relevant when you're using a large amount of space so your subject only takes up a small amount of the frame.

Also, rather than thinking about what to include in your frame, think the opposite and look for items you can remove.
 

Here are a few ways you can achieve a minimalist look to your shots:

  3. Blurry Backgrounds

 

An obvious way to make your subject stand out is to adjust your aperture so everything in the background is thrown out of focus. You can find more tips on how to do this here: Creative Aperture / Depth Of Field

  4. Plain Backgrounds

Studio backgrounds and other material can be used to hide distracting objects inside and while you're out, use plain walls, fences or if you're shooting small subjects such as flowers, try taking your own backgrounds with you. On the subject of flowers, you can lower your angle so you're shooting up at the flower with the sky as your background which can give you a minimalist-style shot. White backgrounds are an obvious choice but don't think you can't use some bold, strong colour too (as we'll explain further down the page).

 

5. Play With Colour

 

If your subject and background contrast your subject will stand out from the shot. You can do this with colour (bright, strong colours work well) or light, using a brighter subject against a darker background and vice versa. Just make sure there are no 'hot spots' which will pull the viewer's eye away.

Also, having a strong colour filling your background that's the same as your subject can work in some situations or try producing black & white shots which rely on strong subjects and textures to make them interesting. You could even use shapes and colour as your subject, creating a strong composition that fills your frame in the process. 

6. Space To Breath

When used right, adding space to a shot can work just as well as cropping in close. To find out why sometimes it's what you leave out of your images that makes them great, read our tutorial: How To Use Negative Space In Your Photos

 

7. Crop Out Objects

An easy way to remove objects that are at the edge of your frame is to use your zoom to crop them out. You can also use editing software such as Photoshop to crop your images and we have a detailed tutorial on how to use this tool here: Introduction To Photoshop's Crop Tool

If you find the distracting objects are too close to your subject to crop out, you could use the Clone Stamp Tool to remove them. You can also remove distracting backgrounds and replace them with plain ones in Photoshop, too.

 

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© Sigma

 

Sigma has released the 35mm F1.4 DG II | Art, a large-aperture wide-angle lens for full-frame cameras. This new evolution of the popular 35mm focal length focuses on delivering superior resolution while significantly reducing physical size and weight.

The lens uses a new optical construction consisting of 15 elements in 12 groups. This includes four high precision aspherical elements and two SLD glass elements to fix color fringing and distortions. To improve clarity in difficult lighting, Sigma introduced an Advanced Amorphous Coating (AAC) that minimizes ghosting and flare.

 

Key Features

• Enhanced Optics: 15 elements in 12 groups for edge to edge sharpness.
• Compact Design: 20% lighter and 14% shorter than the previous model.
• Advanced Coating: New AAC technology reduces reflections and flare.
• Fast Autofocus: Dual HLA motors provide quick and quiet focusing.
• Video Ready: Minimized focus breathing and a de-clickable aperture ring.
• Durability: Dust and splash resistant body with a water repellent front coating.

 

© Sigma

 

Price and Availability

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art has a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of £849. It will be available for purchase starting April 16, 2026. The lens is compatible with the following camera mounts:

• L-Mount
• Sony E-mount

For more information, please visit the Sigma website.

© Sigma

 

Sigma officially unveiled the 15mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary, a large-aperture wide-angle prime designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras. Set for a March 12, 2026 release, the lens achieved a rare balance of professional F1.4 brightness in a body approximately 50% lighter than its predecessor.

By utilizing a sophisticated optical path with FLD and SLD glass elements, Sigma refined the lens to a mere 220g and 64.8mm in length. This palm-sized footprint made it an ideal companion for gimbal work, travel photography, and high-quality video production.

 

Features

• Compact and lightweight: Measures just 64.8mm in length and weighs 220g (Sony E-mount version), making it approximately 30% shorter and 50% lighter than the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary.
• Large F1.4 aperture: Delivers professional brightness and smooth circular bokeh, ideal for low-light shooting and creative depth of field.
• High optical performance: Incorporates FLD, SLD, and aspherical elements to ensure edge-to-edge sharpness and suppress sagittal coma flare, perfect for astrophotography and landscapes.
• Video-friendly design: Equipped with a quiet stepping motor for fast, precise autofocus and minimal focus breathing, enabling natural focus pulls.
• Durability: A dust and splash resistant build combined with a water and oil repellent front coating makes it reliable for outdoor use.
• Expanded lineup: Strengthens Sigma’s APS-C F1.4 DC series, now covering ultra-wide to mid-telephoto focal lengths for unrestricted creative expression.

 

© Sigma

 

Price and Availability

The 15mm F1.4 DC | Contemporary represented a high-value entry into Sigma’s expanding F1.4 lineup, which now spans from ultra-wide to mid-telephoto.

• Suggested Retail Price (SRP): £449
• Available Mounts: Sony E-mount, Canon RF Mount, and FUJIFILM X Mount
• Release Date: March 12, 2026

With this launch, Sigma reinforced the idea that APS-C users could achieve unrestricted creative expression without the typical bulk of large-aperture glass.

For more details, please visit the Sigma website. Read our full review of this lens here.