I would not call myself a technical photographer by any means. I started shooting well before the advent of digital and spent years honing my style in the darkroom while shooting every format of film camera. My transition to shooting digital was reluctant and slow. The original digital backs lacked the detail and personality of film craft. Shooting on early iPhones really helped my shift to shooting fully digital.
Now, I like simple, fast, and clean cameras. The camera I’m using depends on the exact type of job or day I am having. I like to be prepared and covered for anything. I also greatly believe quality and detail of glass really makes the difference. The best equipment should be a tool to capture your exact vision. But your equipment should also be an investment in your craft and creativity — so take care of your gear. Now, let’s get into the equipment I typically use.
Cameras
This camera is with me 24/7. The flexibility and size is amazing. I have taken some of my best photos on the Q, and now Q2. The monochrome range is great for me. I do zero edits on the images I shoot.
This is my workhorse camera — great for sports, music, and video. I have two of these bodies around my neck when shooting live music. One with a 24-90mm lens and one with a 14mm. The speed and quality is unmatched. The first generation was great but the SL2 is a major step-up.
Lens
The Leica SL 24-90mm lens has the flexibility to frame and shoot quickly. Leica glass is sharp yet has analog quality. It has an unmatched sharpness, quickness and non-digital feel quality.
Wide wide wide. I have always loved shooting ultra-wide images with a small figure in the frame to give the sense of scale. Knowing the majority of images are viewed on phones, it’s important to show scale.
This is my “slow down and shoot” camera. I use this exclusively for art projects. My happy place is a sunday fall afternoon wandering with this camera and a 21mm lens. This is a timeless process camera for me.
Accessories and More
I love to fly — usually from my parked car through the sunroof listening to music and exploring the city.
For tripods, gimbals, and monopods — it’s Manfrotto or nothing. C-stands from Manfrotto are built for the way I shoot. They have been my go-to for the past 20 years. I have always been skeptical of companies that aren’t centered and build around photographers. This is a photographers company.
Finally, I often use iPhone‘s latest and biggest model. It’s true that some of my best images have been shot on an iPhone. I find — in my most difficult lighting situations — it is always smart to pull out my iPhone and see what it can do. Many times it has helped — or forced — me to rethink how I’m shooting with my camera.
Check out more of my work in AdoramaTV’s new docuseries, THE MASTERS.
