Equipment

My general feeling about equipment is that you use the gear that best fits your vision.  For some that may mean purchasing a trunkful of lenses and gadgets.  For others it may mean an oatmeal box pinhole camera.  I worked for many several decades in 35mm, 120 and large format 4x5 film, in Black & White and color to achieve the results I need for a variety of work.   I am now digitally based, but still own the 4x5 and have a mothballed wet darkroom.

35mm Camera Equipment

Nikon D810 body and the following Nikkor lenses -

  • 14-24mm lens (with Fotodiox Wonderpana 66 Holder and Fotodiox filters – 145mm CPL, 145mm ND8, and Graduated ND .9)
  • 28-70mm lens
  • 24mm PC
  • 105mm macro
  • 80-200mm zoom.

My filter pouch contains: Nikon Circular Polarizer (thin), Singh-Ray Vario-n-Duo (thin), and Lee ND.6 Soft Grad

For lighting assistance I often carry:

  • PhotoFlex 32-inch Gold/Silver lite disc
  • Westcott 1-Stop 48” Illuminator/Reflector
  • Nikon SB-800 Speedlight with SC-17 Extension Cord

For primary tripod work I use the Gitzo GT3542XLS Carbon Fiber.  It has 4 leg sections, collapses to 28 inches and has a rise of 80 inches with the head.  Yes!  It’s a bit heavy and long, but that is MOST USEFUL when I’m on the side of slopes and cliffs and need the leg length for camera stability.  And besides, why put a heavy camera/lens combo in a flimsy tripod and return with an unsharp image!!!  The weight is worth the wait!

It’s topped with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead with B2 AS II Clamp.      

GOOD TIP! I purchased a chalk bag from the local climbing store.  It fits nicely over my EXPENSIVE Ballhead, protecting it from sand.  When removed it hangs below and is a good place to hold my remote or a cold beer!

For the must-go-lightly trips I use the carbon fiber MeFOTO tripod.

For fun and when all else (think electronics) fail I sometimes carry a Holga with 120mm film!!!

CLIKElite has supplied me with a pack for years.  I currently carry the Contrejour40 and have found it to be the most comfortable photo pack I have ever carried!  It's excellent for short or extended day trips and I've even made it work on several overnight-be-there-for-dawn-light trips.

In my pack you can also find topo maps (more dependable than GPS!), 30+ feet of webbing (dont' get stuck on an ledge!), fig newtons (the poor man's energy bar!), water bottle, real matches ('cause Kent Frost told me to!) and for the all-too-often-I-just-had-to-wait-for-the-light hike back......a headlamp with fresh batteries!

4x5 Camera Equipment

Toyo Field View 45A Camera (a real workhorse), 90mm Caltar Lens, 210mm Caltar Lens, Lee 3ND and 6ND Graduated Neutral Density Filters, 81A Warming Filter, Polarizing Filter, these Tiffen glass filters for B&W - #11 (green), #12 (yellow), #15 (orange) and #23A (red), and a Wratten #58 (dark green) Kodak Filter (100mm x 100mm) for B&W (used extensively with sandstone to separate tones and any light salt stains on the rock).  My preferred color films are Fuji's Velvia 100 and Provia 100.  I use a small array of films for B&W including Ilford FP4+ and Kodak's Tri-X, Tmax 100, Tmax 400 and Tech Pan.  I hand process all B&W film using Kodak HC110 for most sheet film and D-76 for most roll film.  I use Ansel Adams' Zone System as a basis for film exposure and processing.

Digital Processing

Mac Tower and MacBook Pro

Current versions of CS and LR on both.  I import all photos into LR for organizing and global treatments.  CS is the go-to for BW conversion. 

I also employ Software from Pixel Genius (Sharpening Kit), Google Nik Collection (Silver Efex Pro especially) and Perfect Resize from ON1.

Images look terrific on my NEC Multisync PA272 Monitor.

I believe that no image is complete without printing.  Printing is the tangible end to the creative process.  I print on an Epson 3880 using the following papers with paper profiles made by the exacting Michael Gordon at GreatPrinterProfiles.com -

I tend to purchase computer items from MacMall and photo equipment and supplies from Pictureline in Salt Lake City, B&H or Fred Miranda.