Tangents

photography tutorials, reviews & workshops

tangents photography blog
learn : discuss : share
  • Tangents
  • Tutorials
    • Flash Photography
    • Wedding Photography
    • Studio Photography
    • Posing People
    • Understanding Your Camera
    • Exposure metering
    • BFT
    • Best Photo Books
  • Reviews
    • Sony
    • Nikon
    • Canon
    • Fuji
    • Profoto
    • lighting gear
  • Workshops
    • Info: Workshops
    • In-person
      tutoring sessions
    • Online
      tutoring sessions
    • Workshops in
      New Jersey (NJ)
    • Workshops in
      New York (NYC)
    • Photo walks in NYC
    • Studio Workshop
    • Video tutorials
    • Workshop results
  • Books
    • On-Camera Flash (revised ed.)
    • Direction & Quality of Light
    • Off-Camera Flash Photography
    • Lighting & Design
    • On-Camera Flash (1st ed.)
  • Projects
    • Two Perspectives
    • B&W Infrared
    • Vintage lenses
    • Time-lapse photography
  • Info
    • About
    • Contact
    • My Photo Gear
    • Books by NvN
    • Join us on Facebook
    • Acclaim
    • Success Stories

using multiple speedlights with high-speed flash sync

December 6, 2010 Neil vN 56 Comments

using multiple speedlights with high-speed flash sync

This photo of Angelique, our model, was taken at 1/8000 @ f2 @ 100 ISO. Yes, an eight-thousand-th of a second.  The accompanying wide aperture (with an ultra-wide angle lens), gives a unique look to the image. The shallow depth-of-field and high shutter speed are mutually dependent effects in shooting in bright light. Working with a fast shutter speed, brought us into high-speed flash sync (HSS) territory. Do keep in mind that this shoot was more of a technical exercise to work through the settings and see how the flash behaves  Read more inside...

review: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G

October 22, 2010 Neil vN 52 Comments

review: Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4 G

Itching to try out the Nikon 85mm f1.4G (B&H /Amazon) during a photo session, I had Jessica model for me. During this short photo session, I used the new 85mm f1.4G and the classic 85mm f1.4D side-by-side. As you can see in the photo above,  the lens' extremely shallow depth of field and superb bokeh, give backgrounds that just melt away. My first impression already is that lens is even better than I anticipated ...  Read more inside...

review: Litepanels MicroPro LED Video Light

September 13, 2010 Neil vN 31 Comments

review: Litepanels MicroPro LED On-Camera Light

I've been using the Lowel ID-Light whenever I wanted the specific effect that a video light gives when used for stills photography.  The not-so-gradual fall-off in the light's spread gives a dramatic quality to images. However, the Lowel ID-light can feel clumsy with the handle and battery pack that needs to be attached via the thick power cable. So I've been looking at various options to replace it ... or at least use at times that I need something compact and simple. Enter the Litepanels MicroPro LED video light (B&H) ...  Read more inside...

review: Nikon 24mm f/1.4G

August 16, 2010 Neil vN 27 Comments

review: Nikon 24mm f/1.4 G AF-S

For a long time the only wide-angle auto-focus prime lens that Nikon had available, was the remarkable 28mm f1.4D ... which caused the lens to reach astronomical prices eventually on the used market when it was discontinued.  I sold my copy of the 28mm f1.4 a few years ago - a move I still regret - but I couldn't pull the trigger on a $4000.00 wide-angle prime lens when Nikon's wide-angle zooms were so incredible.  The Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 AF-S (B&H), for example, set a new standard for how good a wide-angle zoom can be, surpassing pretty much ever  Read more inside...

Review: Lightstands – Manfrotto 1051BAC & 1052 BAC & 1004BAC

June 25, 2010 Neil vN 28 Comments

Review: Lightstands - Manfrotto 1051BAC, 1052BAC and 1004BAC

I recently updated the lightstands that I regularly use, to the three of the Manfrotto range of light-stands, - the compact: Manfrotto 1051BAC  (affiliate ) - the medium-sized Manfrotto 1052BAC  (affiliate) - the taller, heavier tall: Manfrotto 1004BAC  (affiliate) They have a few interesting features. They are: - light-weight, - air-cushioned, - stackable. The air-cushioning helps prevents damage to equipment, or injury to fingers if you forget to fully tighten the section locks.  Read more inside...

review: Lastolite Ezybox 24×24 softbox

June 6, 2010 Neil vN 85 Comments

review: Lastolite Ezybox 24x24 softbox

Softboxes used on location shoots, need to be easy and quick to set up. Ideally they should also be compact. Several photographers have recommended I check out the Lastolite Ezybox. So I took the plunge, and got the Lastolite EZYBOX 24×24" softbox (affiliate). Lastolite has a range of other Softboxes as well. All just as easy to use, with the Lastolite-specific way of expanding and collapsing. There's a specific way you twist it to collapse it. It's all in the wrists.     The speedring simply clips into  Read more inside...

review: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

May 15, 2010 Neil vN 22 Comments

review: Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

The Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS II  (B&H / Amazon), is touted to have improved optical quality, faster auto-focusing, and much better stabilization than the much-loved previous version of this lens. Using the lens on different shoots and walkabouts and tests, I got a fair idea of how the lens performs.  In short, the lens is all that .. faster, sharper and with better image stabilization.  Noticeably so. The bokeh of this lens is pleasant.  Easily seen in this portrait of my little model, where she is busy collecting  Read more inside...

review: Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II

February 7, 2010 Neil vN 44 Comments

review: Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II

I've been very happy with the older 70-200mm f2.8 VR telephoto zoom.  Even even though the edges are softer than the center, it never bothered me.  With weddings, I am mostly only interested in the center portions of the image being super-crisp.  Similarly, the vignetting didn't bother me.  I usually add more vignetting in post-processing anyway. Still, I ordered the new Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 AF-S VR II (affiliate). My first impression - it is a beautiful lens! Doing a few test shots around the house, and was immediately  Read more inside...

review: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS lens

October 30, 2009 Neil vN 26 Comments

review: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS lens

The specialty of a macro lens is in allowing you much much closer to your subject than a normal optic would .. with the ease of continuous focusing from infinity to the closest distance.  No need to screw in additional rings or lenses or reverse your lens.  A macro lens works as a close-up lens, and as a more usual optic.  And that's the versatility of it. The main feature of the Canon 100 mm f/2.8 IS macro lens (B&H / Amazon) is that it offers stabilization.  Now this might not seem such a big deal to photographers who work  Read more inside...

review: Nikon D5000

August 12, 2009 Neil vN 34 Comments

In testing cameras these days, they are rated not just for specification, but for their primary qualities in helping you take great photographs.  And for that, judging the camera according to handling, image quality and auto-focus speed and accuracy, becomes even more important than just the list of specs.

Nikon D5000 hands-on review

So with that in mind, when I recently got my hands on a brand-new Nikon D5000, (B&H), I thought I'd hit the streets and see how it performs.  I took it for a late-night stroll around Times Square in New York, armed only with a Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S,  Read more inside...

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • Next Page »

categories

Articles & Tutorials

  • • About myself & this site
    • Books by Neil vN
    • Best photography books
    • Black foamie thing
    • Photographers’ success stories
  • • Flash Photography Techniques
    • Natural looking flash
    • Flash + Ambient light
    • Dragging the shutter
    • Bouncing your flash
    • On-camera flash outdoors
    • Exposure metering
    • Flash exposure compensation
    • Bounce flash examples
    • Which is the best flashgun?
    • Flash brackets
    • Off-camera flash photography
    • Flash photography basics
    • Using video lights
    • Flash photography tips
  • • Photography workshops NJ / NYC
    • Models @ photography workshops
tutorials:
flash photography
Photography
Workshops

All rights reserved. Copyright © Neil van Niekerk 2025 · Customization by The Traveling Designer

Copyright © 2025 · NvN on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in