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Time-lapse photography tutorial

July 6, 2022 Neil vN Leave a Comment

Time-lapse photography tutorial

This video tutorial on timelapse photography covers a lot of ground, including the cameras and other gear I currently use. We cover an entire range of techniques you need to know to get started with time-lapse photography. Most importantly perhaps is the section on getting smooth motion in your timelapse videos. There's a specific formula or algorithm in getting timelapse footage that is smooth, and not jittery. It's all in the choice of Frame Interval. This is covered thoroughly in the video, but it might help if it is written out where time can be  Read more inside...

Sony A1 : large vs medium RAW highlight recovery

June 29, 2022 Neil vN Leave a Comment

Sony A1 : large vs medium RAW highlight recovery

One of the limitations for me about the Sony A1 (Amazon / B&H), was that I couldn't select a smaller size RAW file than 50 megapixels ... until now.  Sony changed that with the release of firmware 1.30 and now there are two further options than the 50 mpx full RAW file. You can now have Medium RAW (21 mpx) and Small RAW (12 mpx). There were immediate reports that the smaller RAW files, don't have as much leeway for recovering blown highlights. With this video, I wanted to get a clearer idea of what we are up  Read more inside...

Finding a solution for poor low-light auto-focus with mirrorless cameras

June 20, 2022 Neil vN Leave a Comment

Finding a solution for poor low-light auto-focus with mirrorless cameras

As much as I love all the advantages mirrorless cameras offer, at this point there is still a serious flaw in my experience - the low-light autofocus response just isn't as solid as the top-end DSLRs.  The autofocus capabilities of my Sony A1 (Amazon / B&H) as amazing as it is in proper light, just isn't a match for my Nikon D5 when it comes to low light levels with low contrast. As the current technology is, mirrorless cameras have a hard time seeing the AF-assist beam from an on-camera  Read more inside...

Studio lighting ideas : learning from other photographers

May 7, 2022 Neil vN Leave a Comment

Studio lighting ideas : learning from other photographers

One of the cool things about renting out my studio to other photographers, is that I get to see how they work, and what they do differently in terms of their lighting, and how they work with their subjects.  During the past 2 days, I had Jason Buff in my studio where he presented his masterclass workshop on his style of portraits. Jason specializes in studio portraits with a painterly quality. He was kind enough to invite me to take a few photos as well. I didn't take the photograph much further in terms of his style of  Read more inside...

Facebook -vs- your own website and online presence

April 19, 2022 Neil vN 2 Comments

Facebook -vs- your own website and online presence

I just had a 30-day ban handed to me for "human exploitation" because of this comment in a Facebook group where we were discussing workflow. A friend got a 24-hr ban from Facebook because she mentioned the killer lasagna she made. The lesson here for photographers and other business people -- do NOT rely on any Social Media platform as the only way to have your work seen. You HAVE to maintain your website. The ban was reversed later the same day, but there is always a risk that your appeal will be disregarded on something  Read more inside...

Finding your niche in photography … or not

February 15, 2022 Neil vN 2 Comments

Finding your niche in photography ... or not

A photographer friend once told me that regarding my social media presence and my websites, it's not clear what I do as a photographer. I’m all over the show — portraits, weddings, headshots, corporate stuff, product photography, timelapse. He suggested that I specialize in a niche, and then make sure I stand out in that niche as the best. For example just do product photography, and be the best at products on white. Become even more specialized. Sounds like solid advice on the surface. Yet, I love the seeming randomness of what I do.  Read more inside...

What’s in my camera bag – 2022

January 30, 2022 Neil vN 9 Comments

What's in my camera bag - Jan 2022 edition

Every so often I get asked whether I have switched systems, and whether I am shooting with Sony or Nikon. What complicates things even more for the casual visitor to the Tangents blog and my Instagram feed, is that I occasionally post photos taken with Canon and Fuji as well. So the answer to "what's in your camera bag", is slightly complicated ... and hopefully this video unravels some of that. Even though I photograph events and weddings with a Sony-based system, I still have a substantial Nikon system. The Nikon cameras are primarily  Read more inside...

Photographing New York City from the air

January 9, 2022 Neil vN 3 Comments

Photographing New York City from the air

As a treat, I booked 2 spots on a helicopter flight over New York with FlyNYON, for Sara and myself. We took the open-door / doors-off flight at sunset. It was as incredible an experience as I had hoped for. I have been fascinated for a while with the idea of seeing and photographing Manhattan from the air. I took along my Sony A1 camera (B&H / Amazon), and the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM zoom lens (B&H / Amazon). I had debated taking a longer range zoom ... but in the end I wish I had brought along a  Read more inside...

Best photography purchases of 2021

December 31, 2021 Neil vN 32 Comments

Best photography purchases of 2021

The past year was definitely an improvement on 2020, which was a strange year with businesses shutting down. Things started to turn around when vaccines helped a sense of normalcy to return. For me, like many photographers, 2020 came crushing down, but in comparison 2021 was crazy-busy as all the events postponed from 2020 started to be added to the 2021 calendar. As far as the Tangents blog goes, posts have been relatively scarce -- in 2020 I wasn't busy enough to really have anything new to write about. And in 2021, I was just too busy to have  Read more inside...

Scammers & the overpayment scam

December 27, 2021 Neil vN 2 Comments

Scammers & the overpayment scam

Here is how the overpayment scam works : The scammers will overpay you for the fees you quoted them for your products or services you offer. Then they will nicely ask you to please pay the extra money to the “planner”. Or "florist". Or someone. The scammer will even throw in some extra money to make it worth your effort. You deposit the check into your account … and then pay the “planner” the excess money, just like your "client" asked. A few days later the bank will reverse the money you deposited into your account because it’s a fraudulent  Read more inside...

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Recent Comments

  • Neil vN: There is a distinct possibility of banding when using the electronic shutter. Some cameras are more...
  • Neil vN: Hi there Rick, Thank you for the kind words. As far as I know, Amazon automatically bumps up the price on...
  • Rick: Neil, I was having problems with my somewhat new Nikon z6ii flash not working correctly (or so I thought) and I...
  • Simon vail: Thank you for the post. I’d like to ask if you experience banding when using electronic shutter under...
  • Valent Lau: An interesting idea. Personally, I’ve been told I need to niche or else they (business network)...

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