Tools that give me confidence in my craft
It took me a long time to discover what suits my style of photography and my obsession with capturing every detail perfectly in the field. My commitment is to producing archival quality images that serve society – preserving moments, places, and subjects with absolute precision. This pursuit demands equipment that performs flawlessly in any condition: from my primary cameras and backup bodies, to the drones that give me new perspectives, to the reliable vehicle that gets me to remote locations, and the rugged camping gear that keeps me comfortable during long shoots in the wilderness. I hope sharing my research and hands-on experience with this essential gear will give you a thoughtful starting point in your own pursuit of technical excellence behind the lens.
The Camera
As a photographer, I often create images that are designed to be printed or displayed at very large scale in high resolution. My panoramic vistas are crafted to draw the viewer deeply into the scene, allowing their mind to wander and explore for extended periods. These immersive images have proven particularly valuable in healthcare, aged care, and educational settings, as they have the ability to transform large public spaces.
My journey with Canon equipment spans over 25 years, beginning with my first love - their legendary 70-200mm lens paired with an entry-level digital SLR. This relationship with Canon has evolved alongside my photography, leading me to my current setup with the R5. The R5's sensor represents a significant leap forward, particularly in handling shadow detail - an area where my previous 5D Mark IV sometimes struggled.
To achieve the quality and impact I seek, my equipment needs to be up to the challenge of capturing a scene just as nature presents it. Preserving the purity and breadth of the color palette, full tonal range, and sharp focus from foreground to horizon requires overcoming significant technical hurdles. When composing a shot, I have to rapidly account for a variety of factors, including extreme lighting conditions, moving subjects, vast distances, potentially hazardous wildlife, and uneven terrain.
Around 95% of my portfolio, including many of the wide-format vistas and 6K video pieces, is captured handheld while on the trail. Most of my images can be a blend of 6 exposures, and so the shutter has to work fast. The wide-format vistas typically consist of 25-100 individual frames stitched together. When I have only seconds to react to changes in lighting, wildlife activity, or other fleeting phenomena, everything needs to function flawlessly, especially auto-focus and Image Stability. Canon does that for me.
The combination of my photographic vision and the capabilities of my equipment allows me to create images that transport the viewer and transform the spaces in which they are displayed. This unique blend of artistic intent and technical mastery is the foundation of my work.
