Improve Your Photography

Improve Your Photography is a new series aimed at keen photographers interested in improving their skills and getting some fresh ideas. Each edition explores a different genre, such as landscapes, portraits and nature, and is packed with 100 pages of advice and inspiration from some of the UK’s leading photographers.

Welcome

Improve Your Photography

Rewind to film • New to film or wish to take a trip down memory lane? John Wade explains all you need to know

MANUAL FILM CAMERAS • Here are five types of manual film cameras to consider

The essential guide to shooting film now • Whether you’re a newcomer to film or revisiting it, Matt Parry explains all you need to know to kickstart your film love affair

FILM FORMATS • Matt Parry explains all you need to know about the variety of film formats that are available today

Resources for education & inspiration

Black & white film essentials • Whether you are new to 35mm film photography or want to get back into it, Matt Parry explains the key considerations for shooting and developing mono

Specialist black & white films

Processing film Your options

Alive and kicking • Matt Parry takes a detailed look at the film types you can buy today

Caught on film • Mike Crawford kicks off his film format series with his 35mm project – shooting cityscapes by night

Mike’s 35mm processing tips

In a Holga-day mood • Michael Kenna is lauded internationally for his serene square images taken on Hasselblads, but did you also know he’s a Holga fan? The great man discusses their appeal with Geoff Harris

Make film work harder • Darkroom specialist Mike Crawford shows how pushing 35mm film can yield attractively moody images on a night walk along London’s South Bank

MIKE’S TOP TIPS

Caught on film • Mike Crawford explains the benefits of the 120 format and shares his Slovenian portrait project

120 camera and film tips

From Russia with Lomo love • Taking a film camera on a trip to Moscow not only helped capture great shots, but also left lasting happy memories, as Rod Edwards discovered

Black & white film essentials • Processing your own film is a rewarding exercise and all part of the fun with black & white film photography. Matt Parry explains all

KIT LIST

MATT’S TOP FIVE TIPS

10 steps for processing film • Beginners’ guide for processing black and white film at home

Caught on film • Mike Crawford explains why the stunning results from shooting 5x4in make the challenge worthwhile

5x4in essentials

Evelyn Hofer • An influential 5x4in photographer, known for her portraiture and documentary work

New life for old negs • John Wade shares his best techniques for turning film negatives into superb digital images

Ten tips for top scans

USING A FILM SCANNER

USING A FLATBED SCANNER

From analogue mono to digital magic • Whatever your reasons for wanting to digitise your film archive, Matt Parry has lots of jargon-free insights and advice to make it a stress-free job

KIT LIST

Pinhole Going the scenic route • Landscape expert Martin Henson tells Geoff Harris how he uses pinhole photography with film

Martin’s gear and processing technique

Summer blues • Claire Gillo goes on a journey to discover the art of cyanotypes with Jo Stephen and Glenys Garnett

KIT LIST

Get out the turmeric… • Glenys Garnett reveals how she gets creative using everyday substances found at home

MAKE A WET CYANOTYPE • Jo Stephen reveals her tricks to create the perfect cyanotype

DIY darkroom essentials • If you’re thinking of setting up your own darkroom, photographer and...