Photography Masterclass – Issue 163 2026

Summary

The Sigma 20-200mm lens fronts Photography Masterclass Issue 163 (2026) with a buyers guide on page 18, and "Why Your Compositions Are Flat (And the 15 Rules to Fix Them)" opens on 15.

Issue 163 (2026) runs Editors Choice on 05, the flat-composition fix on 15, the Sigma 20-200mm buyers guide on 18 and Building Depth in Black and White on 25. The reflections masterclass sits on 38, Elisa Miller takes the photographer interview on 56, and a Willemstad, Curacao timelapse runs on 76. Readers Gallery is on 79 and The Truth About Teleconverters closes on 88.

The contents carry no month, so the issue is fixed by number and year. For a photographer fighting flat frames or weighing a teleconverter, those two pages are the reason to buy.

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Content Guide

▸ Features
p.15 · INSPIRATION — Why Your Compositions Are Flat (And the 15 Rules to Fix Them)
The opening feature names fifteen rules for flat composition, addressing why a frame reads as flat. It covers depth rather than just rule-of-thirds. Apply one of the fifteen rules to your last flat frame today.

p.25 · BUYERS GUIDE — Building Depth in Black and White
The guide covers building depth in Lightroom for black and white work, naming the steps and the sliders. It addresses a monochrome conversion. Run one colour frame through the steps named here.

▸ Masterclass
p.38 · MASTERCLASS — Master the Art of Shooting Reflections
The masterclass covers shooting reflections, naming the surface and the angle that make one work. It addresses water and glass alike. Find one reflective surface and shoot it at a low angle using this lesson.

▸ Gear
p.18 · BUYERS GUIDE — The Lowdown on the Sigma 20-200mm lens
The buyers guide covers the Sigma 20-200mm, naming the range and what it suits. It addresses one lens covering wide to long. Test the 20-200mm range on a single walk before buying.

p.88 · EXPERT GUIDE — The Truth About Teleconverters
The expert guide covers teleconverters, naming the trade-offs in reach, light and sharpness. It addresses the real cost of the extra length. Weigh the light loss named here before you buy a converter.

▸ People / Regulars
p.56 · PHOTOGRAPHER (Elisa Miller interview)
The interview covers Elisa Miller and her fine art portrait work, naming her approach to detail. It addresses a self-taught path. Study one Elisa Miller portrait for how she handles detail.

p.76 · TIMELAPSE — Willemstad, Curacao – A Colorful Carribbean Paradise
The timelapse piece runs Willemstad in Curacao, naming the location and the colourful buildings. It covers a place-based sequence. Shoot one colourful street in your own town as a short sequence.

p.79 · READERS GALLERY — Your Best Shots Showcased
The gallery shows reader work with the shots named. It covers what subscribers produce. Send one of your best shots to the next gallery.

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Editor's Take

The flat-composition feature on 15 is the strongest page: fifteen named rules beats another vague "see the light" column, and the Sigma 20-200mm buyers guide on 18 and teleconverter truth on 88 give real buying answers. The reflections masterclass on 38 is practical. The weakness is that the contents give no month, only the issue number and year, and the Elisa Miller interview on 56 is shorter than the cover billing suggests. It suits a photographer fixing composition or weighing a lens and converter, not someone wanting inspiration features.

Strengths
• Fifteen named rules for flat frames
• Sigma 20-200mm guide gives a real verdict
• Teleconverter trade-offs stated plainly
• Reflections lesson names angle and surface

Weaknesses
• No month fixed on the issue
• Miller interview shorter than the cover billing

Verdict: Recommended — the composition and gear pages carry Issue 163.