I started with photography as a way to catalog my experiences outdoors. For me, it was a way to live in the moment. Standing on a summit watching the sun fade beyond the horizon, and the stars slowly emerge from the inky blackness consumes you on a level that’s nearly indescribable. Taking those feelings and attempting to freeze them into a single still frame is an incredible challenge, and a way that I’ve found truly motivates me to get out and experience the world.
When I began, I did that for me. It was my way of forcing myself to look at a moment from every angle, and truly experience the moment I was in. As I grew in my photography, I had several people ask where they could buy these prints. While the concept was foreign, the compliment is immense. The intention of my work is — above all — to encourage you to get outside, see the beautiful planet we all live on, and experience moments of your own. If you’re interested to know what I keep in my gear bag to make my adventure photography possible, keep reading below.
Camera Bodies
Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera
This body is my primary workhorse. For almost everything I do, it’s just absolute perfection. It has the fastest burst speeds of any camera I’ve ever used, immaculate autofocus, amazing low-light performance, and video specs that would make most cinema cameras drool. There’s almost nothing this camera can’t do. It’s so versatile that I’ve genuinely considered selling my other bodies and making the A1 the only camera I use for all my projects.
Sony Alpha a7S III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body
This is an undisputed photo and video hybrid champion of the consumer camera market. This camera is my go-to for projects with a video focus. Although I don’t find 12MP to be quite satisfactory for most photo work, the incredible low-light performance of this body is nothing to scoff at, and the video capabilities are second-to-none.
Sony Alpha a7 IV Mirrorless Digital Camera
In my quest to find a perfect all-around camera to nestle between the A1 and the a7S III, I’ve recently added the a7 IV to my bag. So far, I’m in love. It’s not quite as fast or high resolution as the A1, and not as capable for videos as either the A1 or the a7S III. But, in reality, it’s the perfect Jack of all trades I’ve been looking for. I find 33MP to be a beautiful sweet spot. At less than half the price of the A1, it really makes sense to have this as a backup on wilderness projects where gear can (and will) get damaged. Plus, I’ve owned every iteration of the A7 since the original — so why stop now?
Lenses
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM (G Master) E-Mount Lens
This is, by far, my favorite lens I’ve ever used. It’s also my most used lens for landscape photography. While the super-wide 16mm field of view isn’t perfect for every scenario, I spend a lot of time in landscapes with towering mountains and expansive vistas. I love being able to fit all that in a single frame.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II Lens
To say I always have a 24-70 in my bag isn’t exactly a groundbreaking photography tip. Although, there’s a reason this is considered the golden classic of zoom lenses. It’s incredibly versatile in almost any genre of photography. If you dropped me into a random photoshoot with no knowledge of what I was doing, this is the lens I would want.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II G Full-Frame FE-Mount Lens
The updated 70-200mm is lighter, faster, stronger, and better than the old version. This is one of the more exciting upgrades to my camera bag in a long time. I used to carry the 100-400mm as I enjoy the extra reach. But now that the new 70-200mm is so much lighter, it’s found a permanent spot in my bag for any shoot where wildlife isn’t likely.
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full Frame E-Mount Lens
While I don’t often bust this lens out for paid shoots, it’s a personal favorite of mine for anything astrophotography. It’s the sweet spot for wide focal lengths and has fantastic f/1.8 aperture. The incredible optical performance has made this the only lens I reach for when the skies get dark.
Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM (G Master) OSS E-Mount Lens
When I think of highly specialized lenses with limited use case, this is the first one that comes to mind. It’s not a lens that you bring on every outing, but when you find yourself needing a lens like this, it is life changing. This lens has easily the best image quality of any lens I’ve ever used. Every time I put it on my camera I know I’m about to have a blast.
Tripods
Full disclosure: I own probably 15 tripods. I — like many photographers — bought the cheapest one I could find when I first got started and quickly realized I got exactly what I paid for. For some reason, tripods are an accessory that I tend to accumulate in various shapes and sizes. Because of this, I now have exactly the correct tripod for any given situation. Among all the clutter, a few of them stand out from the pack and are worthy of a specific mention.
Colorado Tripod Co. Centennial 2-Series Carbon Fiber Tripod
This is it, folks. This is the holy grail of travel tripods. It’s the perfect blend of lightweight yet sturdy — affordable without being cheap. This truly is the smoothest, most functional tripod I’ve ever owned. Once the folks at CTC flesh out the product line a bit more, it’s very likely that I will use their products exclusively. This isn’t the absolute smallest ultralight tripod available, but it’s incredibly strong, rigid, and still comes in at just over 3 lbs. with the ballhead. I’ve carried it hundreds of miles through the backcountry and to the summit of massive mountains. It is absolutely the only tripod I reach for when I need gear I can trust.
Sachtler aktiv8T Touch & Go Fluid Head System with Flowtech75 Tripod
Yes, this tripod costs as much as a professional, full frame camera. But when I need to mount a 600mm lens for a smooth tracking shot, this tripod is worth every penny. As mentioned before, I’ve purchased (and destroyed) a lot of different tripods, and I have no doubt this one will survive — and serve me well — for decades.
Check out more of my work in AdoramaTV’s new docuseries, THE MASTERS.
