I’m a Nikon shooter through and through, for wildlife I think they make the best tools for the job, even if I keep a few non-Nikon cameras around for other needs. But great photos take far more than a body and lens. Tripods, filters, backpacks, printers, papers, and a pile of small accessories all play a role in turning an idea into a finished print. This page is a peek at the gear that helps me make it happen.

My Cameras

Nikon Z9

Almost always paired with the 600 mm f/4. This is my dedicated wildlife body for speed, tracking, and rugged reliability. Seriously I've dropped this thing with the lens attached and it always just works.

Nikon Z8

This was my main wildlife camera until I upgraded. Now this is my go-to for macro and landscapes. Light and flexible, perfect for close work or when I want to keep my kit nimble.

Nikon Zf

Pure fun: vintage looks with a modern sensor. I grab it when I want to slow down and enjoy the process.

Fuji X100VI

This is my fun camera, the camera I take out when my wife doesn't want to go on a photography trip. I love everything about this camera and how it lets me explore the world.

Canon AE-1

Because sometimes shooting film is just fun.

Fuji Instax Cameras

I love install, it's such a fun and expressive medium, I love taking it to conferences, events, and workshops, and giving people souvenirs.

My Lenses

Nikon Z 600mm f4 TC

This is the wildlife lens, the best one available from any brand today in my opinion. The addition of the internal 1.4 teleconverter is what makes it and I use that addition all the time.

Nikon Z 400mm f4.5

Light, capable, and some of my favorite rendering of any lens. It's a shame I don't use this more but I find 400 often isnt enough, that said this is my travel wildlife lens when I'm off on a landscape adventure.

Nikon 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 f2.8 Zooms

The trinity of zoom lenses, I use these for almost all of my landscape work. They are versatile, sharp, and wonderful lenses. Best off all the interchangeable hood lets me carry one set of filters for all of them.

Nikon 105 Macro

I love this lens, any time I take close up shots its with this, its sharp, looks great, and its just fun to explore the world with it.

Nikon 153 Plena f1.8

This is technically my wife's lens but I steal it all the time. Corporate shoots, portraits of friends, pet photos. This is the most optically perfect lens I think I have ever shot with and its results wow me every time.

Nikon 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.4

I don't shoot these often, but when I do I pair them to the Zf and go out to have fun. The 1.4 specifically has such awesome character. Concerts, events at my kids school, stuff like that for these.

Accessories I Care About

AK Macro Diffuser

This is in my opinion the best macro diffuser out there, it breaks down small, is very smartly made, and just goes together perfect. Honestly can't speak highly enough about this company.

Profoto A10

My flash of choice, as someone who almost never uses a flash. Its simple to use, works every time, and is just phenomenal when I do need to use it though.

Explorer Ascent Tripod

This is my big tripod, but still light and wasnt super expensive. There isn't much to say I just really really like it.

Peak Design Travel Tripod

I love Peak Design gear, and the travel tripod is no exception. Its light, small, works great.

Acratech Pano head and leveling base

I'll never go back to a ball head again, this changed the game for me for landscape and general tripod shooting.

Benro Polaris

My high tech finicky astro tracking head, but honestly I love it because it lets me take cool images of the stars and I don't need a laser to align it which I don't understand how to do anyway.

Kase Wolverine Filters

I have a full set of these at 125 mm to go with my landscape zooms. Dead easy to use, love the magnets, solid product overall.

Wimberly WH-200

I don't typically use a tripod or a monopod when I shoot wildlife, but when I do this is the one I prefer 100%

GuraGear Kiboko 30L +

There are few bags that can pack a 600mm f4, cameras, a few extra lenses, and still be carry on acceptable. This is the best one I've found. Great bag, stores a ton, and lets me fly with the big stuff.

Printing

First lets talk about printing

While most client orders go through professional labs, I still produce many of my own prints in-studio for shows, galleries, local sales, and personal collections.

Im a strong believer that every photographer should print, and I think how I consider printing on every shot is what sets my photo and editing standards so high. There is something special and tactile to having the image in your hands, holding it, touching it, seeing it on something other than a 5 inch screen.

Canon Pro 1100

My new printer, archival, beautiful colors, complete customizability of profiles and paper types.

Epson ET 8550

The printer I recommend to people who want to start printing, and in my opinion every photographer should print. It's relatively cheap, ink is super cheap, it prints big 13x19 prints at an amazing quality. Basically it punches way above its weight class and is a wonderful way to dip your toes into printing.

Papers I Trust

Hahnemühle, Pictorico Pro, Red River to name the main ones I use. I'll break it down a little though:

If the shot is moody or black and white, I usually print on a velvet fine art, cotton rag, or bamboo

If the shot needs color and contrast, Pictorico Pro ALL DAY, its a Japanese film stock and is the only real glossy I really use because its so different and vibrant

If you want that fine art vibe, Satin or Bartya semi gloss, look amazing, archival, gallery ready.

My secret weapon though, other than Pictorico is metallic lister paper, for anything backlit, anything you want to really glow, this stuff is unbeatable. Gives that printed on metal vibe without printing on metal.

A good print isn’t just output, it’s the last creative choice you make for an image. That’s why I obsess over papers and profiles, mats and presentation as much as I do about light in the field.