DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

 

During the summer, there are all sorts of agricultural events held all around the country and they are great occasions to capture some good images. There are the events themselves, the animals and the people to photograph. It is a great day out too. Usually, there are also plenty of stalls to browse around so there are chances to spend a few quid too.

 

1. Gear Choices

Your camera and a couple of lenses is a perfect outfit, ie pairing of a standard zoom and a telephoto zoom would be a very versatile combination. If you want to travel light, a camera and a superzoom are worth a thought. If you want to travel lighter still, take a zoom compact or one of the mirrorless style cameras.

 

2. Light Can Be Tricky

With luck, the sun will be shining but that can mean exposure and contrast problems. You might find that your camera slightly under and overexposes in contrasty light, so a few test shots to start with is a good idea. If, for example, you find that your camera consistently leans towards overexposure, set -0.3 EV, -0.7EV or even -1EV on your camera so get a more balanced exposure.

 

3. Try Capturing Images In RAW 

Shooting in RAW format is a good idea too, so if you do have exposure or contrast problems they can be controlled during the RAW workflow process. RAW conversion software allows you to adjust exposure, brightness and contrast very easily – and you can do it non-destructively.

 

4. Arrive In Plenty Of Time

For the events, you might have to find a spot early if you do not want to be shooting over people's heads. Often, there is plenty of room to find a decent viewpoint where you can get an unhindered view. Depending on the show, you might find displays of shire horses, carriage driving, dog agility and much more. The dog agility events are great fun to photograph, firstly because there is plenty of action but also there are brilliant candid moments of the owners to be photographed too. Just find yourself a good spot - close to the see-saw, weave poles or a fence - and just get ready for some frenetic action.
 

5. Messy Backgrounds Spoil Shots

Some events and participants are more photogenic than others, but one common problem you may experience is messy backgrounds and you may find avoiding them quite challenging. Stripey or white marquees, enclosures and fellow visitors can all spoil your shots so keep an eye on the background and use your feet and zoom lens to exclude as much clutter as possible. Using your telephoto lens at wide apertures for shallow depth-of-field is a technique to try to minimize bold subjects coming out too sharp.

 

6. Don't Forget Close-Ups And Detail

Concentrating on details within the scene is another photographic approach to consider. Close-ups of shire horses decked out on their finery can look excellent, just take care with exposure. Very dark horses can cause overexposure so appear lighter than they are, while light/white horses can cause underexposure and appear grey. Just use exposure compensation to ensure a good result.

 

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Gunshot punctures, from the series Guilty Grounds, 2023 © Steffi Reimers, courtesy Contour Gallery

 

Nikon is delighted to announce that the Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award has been awarded to Steffi Reimers. The announcement was made during a special ceremony which took place in the Nikon Gallery, Olympia, during Photo London 2026.

Steffi Reimers is a Dutch photographer whose work explores themes of transience, history, and loss — narratives that often remain hidden from view. Through long-term projects, she is establishing herself as one of the new voices in contemporary Dutch photography. Reimers’ series asks the question: What memory does a landscape hold when it witnesses a crime? In Guilty Grounds, Steffi Reimers investigates the landscapes of Calabria, Southern Italy, revealing  them as silent witnesses to the unsettling crimes and pervasive influence of the ‘Ndrangheta’.

Reimers’ work engages not only with landscape but also with forensic traces, employing specialised lighting to reveal subtle marks, textures, and traces left behind, echoes of human violence that the eye might otherwise miss. Through this forensic approach, the photographs capture hidden details: scars on the earth, remnants of past activities, and the silent testimony of spaces that have witnessed crimes.

Launched in 2015 during Photo London’s first edition, The Emerging Photographer Award was set up to nurture and champion the career development of up-and-coming artists, helping to elevate the profiles of new, young lens-based storytellers. 

Photographers who enter are shortlisted by the Photo London 2026 Curatorial committee, comprised of some of the field’s most esteemed curators, critics and museum directors. This year’s final shortlist included: Sebastián González, Edward Rollitt, Steffi Reimers, Sal Taylor Kydd, Baud Postma, Devin Oktar Yal, Akshay Mahajan and Ci Demi.

The winner will be awarded a Nikon Z camera and a choice of two NIKKOR Z lenses, with specialist training from Nikon School to help take advantage of the capabilities that Nikon’s Z range has to offer.

Lucy Brice, Head of Marketing for Nikon Northern Europe says: “We are thrilled to announce Steffi Reimers as this year’s Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award winner. Her forensic approach to landscape photography reveals stories that might otherwise remain unseen, highlighting the impact imagery can have on our understanding of the world. Championing emerging talent is central to Nikon’s mission: by equipping and training the next generation of visual storytellers, we hope to amplify bold new voices and help them push the boundaries of craft and conscience. Congratulations to Steffi and all of this year’s shortlisted artists on their remarkable work.”

Sophie Parker, Fair Director of Photo London says: “A huge congratulation to Steffi Reimers on winning the 2026 Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award. It is incredibly important to us at Photo London to champion the work of every artist, from those who are established household names to artists just starting their careers. Previous winners of the award have gone on to make outstanding contributions to photography, and the future looks no different for Steffi, we are very excited to witness the trajectory of her career.”

Find out more about the winners here.