Jack Neubart

Documentary photography, street photography, photojournalism, news photography, the photo essay—at their best, each records moments in time where man, nature, or machine impacts the surrounding universe. Centered in Rochester, New York, George Eastman, the man, and Eastman Kodak, the company, changed the universe around them as they rose to prominence. And when Eastman Kodak fell, a tidal wave broke on the shoulders of a city and its people.

Joe McNally learned the value of supplementing available light with flash early on in his career as a photojournalist. Currently a Nikon Ambassador who works mainly as a commercial/editorial portrait photographer, McNally has become a staunch advocate for the use of Nikon Speedlights on location, often using these small flashes off camera in multiple lighting setups. McNally even mixes his Speedlights with studio strobes on occasion when the situation warrants.

Everywhere you turn in Las Vegas, there are lights flashing, or should we say, flashy lights? And while the Las Vegas Convention Center was not awash in the bright, showy lights of the Strip, still the lights of photography shone in their own small way. As did tripods...

This year has seen many new introductions in lighting gear for all photographers. Auxiliary and accessory lighting can make a big difference in your work. Here, reporter Jack Neubart gives us a sampling of products he found at trade shows that caught his eye. For more information on the companies whose products he mentions we encourage you to explore their websites to discover their full offerings in this category plus check www.shutterbug.com for lighting gear tests. We’ve provided a full list of contact information at the end of the article.—Editor