The Gear & Settings Article

I’m often asked what camera I use. Or when somebody sees my photography I’m told, “You must have an expensive camera.” I’m here to dispel some myths. Yes, I do own a nice camera. No, it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. And it’s not necessary to upgrade and upgrade to infinity to become a better photographer.

Sand. Is it really a camera’s worst nightmare? I say get out and go play.

I won’t be joining any Canon vs. Nikon vs. Sony vs. whatever else is popular these days debate. Film or DSLR or mirrorless? It doesn’t really matter. They’re all great pieces of equipment. They each have their pluses and minuses. If you already own one and want to get better, then stop reading this article, get out, and shoot. It’s really that simple. Your experience and your adventure, the fantastic light you are blessed to witness, and the never ending creativity inside of you will all mean more than the number of pixels or weight of a little black box.

Think of your camera as the paint brush. The tripod as the easel. You can go out and buy the best of the best. But the sheer act of owning something more technologically advanced and expensive doesn’t put the paint to the canvas. Think of them as what they are: tools. Yes, nicer tools can make getting the job done easier and more enjoyable. And, yes, sometimes you need a more advanced tool to further your vision. I'll freely admit to that. But make sure to take those tools out of the bag. Beat them up a little. You’re building something beautiful.

If photography is your jam, or you’re getting into it thinking it may become your calling, I always recommend buying the best you can afford. Maybe even stretch your budget some. You’ll no doubt come out ahead. Buying and selling marginally improved equipment over and over again will hit your wallet much harder than if you simply buy the version that you really had your heart set on in the first place and hold onto it. Changing brands or systems is costly. Choose and move on. Stop reading reviews. Ignore new releases and focus on what you have. Solidly made gear can also save you money. There’s no doubt: I use and abuse my gear. I would much rather repair than replace and I’m confident in the ability to repair the brands I have chosen.

But here’s the kicker. You don’t need the latest and greatest. Yesterday’s technology more than suffices. I purchased my current set-up of two camera bodies and two lenses used. All of them from the experts at my local camera shop. I quite literally saved $1,000s off the original list prices.

Marketing often focuses on megapixels and sharpness. You can pixel peep and check the sharpness of your corners until you are gray. In practice, you won’t notice the difference. Especially when you’re not looking at 100% zoomed in side-by-side comparisons on the internet. With a single shot I can make beautiful fine art prints up to 30” x 45” with either camera. I’m not trying to print super sharp billboards. If I wanted to go bigger, I can and do pano horizontally and vertically. Beautiful compositions and great light are never included in the purchase price. Move beyond the technicalities and start taking in the bigger picture.

I’m not worried about my camera while I’m standing here. I’m worried about the ocean and the oncoming tides about to take me out. I’m not always facing the “right” way.

So what’s in my bag you may still ask? I have a couple of full-frame camera bodies. One is a Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The other is a Canon EOS 6D. Both came out in 2012 and both are in the low 20-megapixel range. In the recent past, these were considered top of the line cameras. They accomplish feats previous generations of photographers could only dream of - such as excellent low light performance.

To this day, if I killed one of them off I wouldn’t hesitate replacing with the same model. I wouldn’t even put much thought into an upgrade. If I did, there’s going to be a bunch of new “old” models to choose from. At this point in my life, I enjoy the familiarity. I know them well. I know the dials and I know the controls. I know there’s a ton of features I don’t use. I’m sure I’ll learn a few more of them over the years. I have increasingly become aware of the ins and outs of the settings I frequently use to create my work. I believe the less time you're fiddling with learning new gear, the more time you can get those creative juices flowing.

Stop chasing perfection. Go for good enough and start enjoying what is directly in front of you.

Why two? Backup and protection from the elements. Let me explain. After moving on from film, my first DSLR was a Canon 20D. A great semi-pro crop sensor 8-megapixel camera. Never strayed very far from the kit lens. Bought it new and held onto it for ten years. Upgraded to the full-frame 6D in 2014. Bought it used when the model had already been out for two-plus years along with a variety of prime and zoom lenses over the years before I settled on the two lens set-up I still use today. In particular, the wide angle lens blew my mind and opened up a whole new world of compositional opportunities in my head.

With my first 6D, I would quite literally be switching lenses in the middle of sand whipping up whilst atop the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado or in the midst of some kind of water spraying at me while in the Pacific Northwest. Less than ideal.

Shortly thereafter I killed my 6D while attempting to sneak in a picture of my daughter’s first stand-up shower with her mom. The wall of humidity I walked into was deep. I knew pressing the shutter wasn’t a good idea. I actually did succeed in getting a shot. However, I never got another one out of that 6D. It ended up being beyond repair. I went down to my local shop, Englewood Camera, the next morning and bought a beautiful used 5D. At that point in time I knew I needed two camera bodies. I was going pro and didn’t want to ever be out of luck if I was on location and killed one. My shop gave me a more than generous trade-in value and I also picked up another used 6D.

When I purchase used gear, I’m thinking I’m purchasing it from someone who held it like it was an infant. Maybe they rarely took it out or when they did, couldn’t fathom exposing it to the harsh environments I choose to seek. I would never want to buy my own used gear. I’m not exactly gentle with it at all times. The two body set-up does; however, assist in keeping the interior of my bodies and lenses clear of dust, sand, and other elements. Needless to say, one body or two, I never hesitate to bring my gear into extreme conditions. That’s often where the magic happens.

Never do I ever want to drop my camera. Not off a ledge. Not into water. None of the above and definitely not both.

Most of my work is shot with a 16-35mm f/4 that is always on my 5D. The 6D holds my 70-200mm f/4. I never have to change lenses unless I decide to backpack with one less camera body, but bring both lenses. I have two Canon RS-80N3 remote shutter releases for each body for a couple of reasons. One, in the past I’ve had a propensity to dip them in water, so it’s nice to have a backup. Two, when I’m working back and forth between my set-ups, it’s simply easier and quicker to not have to move one remote switch from one to the next. I enjoy the consistency of a wired connection rather than wireless to remove camera shake.

I also own a Really Right Stuff TVC-24L tripod and BH-40 ball head. The extra-tall version works well for me since I’m over 6 feet tall and I can maintain height on uneven surfaces. I purchased both together from someone off craigslist. At the time, neither had a scratch and it looked like I was purchasing them new in the original box. Because the guy even had the original boxes. There was no hesitation spending about $800 on a used tripod and ball head. If I ever lost them to the ocean or dropped them off a high dune, I’d be on Really Right Stuff’s website with a tissue in hand ordering a new one costing about double that if I couldn’t find a used one locally. I imagine that these will be with me for a decade or two or more. They’re that well made.

Since I put settings in the title of this article, I want to briefly touch on that topic. Almost everything is nonessential. Don’t believe that a certain shot “must” be done one way or the other. There are no perfect settings. Your intentions and Mother Nature’s countless variables will define your approach. You will define your preferred settings and build those skills over time and experience. I’ll leave you with this:

The baby does not learn to speak by learning the skills of speech and then using them to speak with, or to walk by learning the skills of walking and then using them to walk with. She learns to speak by speaking, to walk by walking. When she takes her first hesitant steps she is not practicing. She is not getting ready. She is not learning how to walk so that later she may walk somewhere. She is walking because she wants to walk. Right now. She has thought about it, worked it out in her mind, convinced herself that she knows how to do it, and can do it. And now she is going to do it. So get out there and go do it yourself. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Make mistakes. Fall on your face. You already know how to do this.