On his Alpha Universe Profile , Neil Tapman describes himself as a freelance photographer and videographer currently based out of Dublin, Ireland. "My love for landscape photography comes from my love for nature and travel," he writes. "When I'm in a breathtaking location and I witness a truly special moment, photography allows me to lose myself in it!” Having been published in magazines such as GEO, Outdoor Photographer, and Landscape Photography, as well as featured online by National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Travel, and NatGeoYourShot, Neil's work has found a wide audience around the globe. We connected with Neil to learn more about him, his photography and why he switched to Sony Alpha cameras and lenses. Read more about him below and visit his profile for more.
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Photo by Neil Tapman. Sony α7 III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 30-secs, f/2.8, ISO 400.
Career Snapshot
I got into photography and video five years ago, but it wasn't until two years ago that I decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a career in photography/videography. 50% of what I do are commercial projects and the other 50% is in teaching photography – workshops, tutorials, lessons. In between that I also sell prints, license my images and write articles!
Why I Made The Switch To Sony
I switched to Sony from Canon four years ago – DSLR to Mirrorless! My first Sony camera was the α6300, which blew me away. The main reason for the change at the time was the fact that I could shoot video at 120fps, as well as in 4K up to 30fps. Besides the video aspects, I was equally impressed by the image quality. This was huge because I now had a camera that could produce both great video and stills. An all in one device! The fact that I could get all of these specs/features from an entry-level camera was a pretty big deal to me.
Photo by Neil Tapman. Sony α7 III. Sony 70-200mm f/4. 1/160-sec., f/4, ISO 200.
Since then I've owned a few Sony cameras and lenses. Sony continues to innovate and continuously drives forward new products year after year while pushing the boundaries for what's possible. In terms of my experience using Sony equipment, since day one I've been blown away by the specs/features and quality. One of my all-time favorite features with Sony cameras is the EVF. What you see is what you get and it's been a real game-changer in the field. The auto focusing system has always been impressive and continues to get better and better, especially with super cool and useful features such as Eye AF and Animal Eye AF.
My Go-To Sony Gear
I currently own two Sony α7 III bodies, as well as the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 24-70mm f/4, and Sony 70-200mm f/4 G lenses.
As a landscape photographer, the 15 stops of dynamic range with the α7 III has been amazing, as has its low light performance.
My go-to lens is the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. Whether shooting at sunrise or under the night sky, my images are always extremely sharp and clean. Between the bodies and lenses, there's a comfort in knowing that my equipment can always be relied upon and will consistently deliver.
Photo by Neil Tapman. Sony α7 III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. .5-sec, f/13, ISO 100. This image was focus-stacked for the foreground.
What Photography Means To Me
Photography is simply my world! Nature got me into photography in the first place and in return gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for nature. It deepened my love and bond with it, somehow making me feel more connected to it. Besides landscape photography, I also shoot various other styles or genres. Whether it be landscapes, cities, lifestyle, travel, interiors, or events, they all have their own challenges and rewards and have helped me continue to improve in different areas. This is another thing that I love about photography. There's always something new to shoot and learn...new challenges and approaches. Photography is a perfect blend of art and science. (The theory, settings/techniques, technology, etc.)
Photo by Neil Tapman. Sony α7 III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/40s, f8, ISO 100. (Base Image with GND FIlter.) This image was focused stacked for the flowers in the foreground.
Being a part of the Sony community has been great. Over the past few years, I've seen a lot of my friends and peers make the switch to Sony. This is great because we can share information, tips and tricks with one another, as well as trying out new gear. Additionally, it's been a great way to meet new friends and photographers!
See more of Neil's work on Instagram @neiltapman.
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