New Year, new gear! In fact, it has been many years since I’ve dramatically changed the photography equipment that I use (last one was perhaps my switch from 2.8 zooms to primes in 2015), and this year’s complete brand switch from Nikon to Fuji had many extenuating circumstances. Nonetheless, with the generous help of an Artist Support Grant from the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, and quite a bit of luck on holiday deals, I was able to not only make the change, but to continue photographing professionally. I am so deeply appreciative of this, and to be included among a list of very talented visual artists, musicians and other creatives to receive this award.

The Kit:

CAMERAS

I selected these two cameras because of their right assortment of image quality, performance/UI attributes, price, quality, and size/weight.

• Fuji X-E3 (this camera has slightly better focusing performance than the X-T20, at least with current firmware, and the joystick is an… er, ‘joy’ to use. My walk around cam of choice.)
• Fuji X-T20 (this cam has the articulating screen which gives me the ability to shoot odd angles more easily, and it accommodates an L-bracket more easily since my nose hits the vertical mount part on the X-E3. My tripod cam of choice.)

LENSES

I chose six lenses (four were purchased under the Grant) that accommodated both how and what I photograph. Sure, there are others out there that I am interested in (Fuji 16mm f/1.4, I’m looking at you), but these met my needs and my budget. They are all pretty great lenses so far too. In fact, I’ve owned a lot of lenses over the years, and I’d consider each of these below a steal at their respective prices.

• 7artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye (though not circular, so I can still use it for certain interior shots)
• Rokinon 12mm f/2 (has quite the reputation with astro photographers, and for good reason. For interiors/landscapes, stop it down a tad, and it is a beast!)
• Fuji 23mm f/2 WR (my favorite focal length and a very strong performer from Fuji)
• 7artisans 35mm f/1.2 (fun portrait lens wide open; stopped down, an all around good lens)
• Fuji 50mm f/2 WR (an extremely sharp lens- sharper than any of the four Nikon 50s I’ve owned -with great contrast)
• Fuji 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R OIS (faster than most lenses this size with this focal range, and OIS works very well)

OTHER EQUIPMENT

This equipment layout is a general version of what I would bring with me on a variety of shoots. Depending upon the location and subject, I might add my GoPro kit (for wet/underwater photography and odd angles when coupled with a extension pole), my flash kit (a set of Yongnuo Speedlights, lighting modifiers, and flash trigger), my laptop, a “prep kit” (consisting of first aid, flashlights/headlamps, compass, fire starter, etc.) and/or my tripod.

• Travelon Poncho (self-explanatory. I also have rain gear for the cameras that comes along when needed, and my pack has a rain fly)
• Pocket Notebook and Word Adventure Log (I use these to record location data, and for writing down any other necessary info while out- I sometimes do interviews as well)
• Manfrotto Small Tripods (I generally use these for positioning off camera flashes, or for putting the camera in locations that a full-sized tripod cannot go)
• Neutral Density and Circular Polarizer Filters and Accessories (from a variety of manufacturers, though I don’t use filters very often)
• Fuji EF-X8 (small shoe mount flash included with the X-E3. Not bad for fill-in light in a pinch)
• Batteries (in all, I have 8 batteries that are a mixture of Fujis and Wasabi. Coming from a DSLR, I was nervous about battery life over a long shoot, but so far, I’ve been pretty impressed with how long the Fujis hold up)
• Gloves (I work in a lot of environments that either you wouldn’t want to touch with your bare hands or that the extra grip from the gloves benefits me)
• Charging Gear (my case is a Travelon Tech Accessory Organizer, and in it are two BioLite Charge 20 Dunkproof USB Banks- each one can fully charge either cam twice, one BioLite PowerLight Mini- for light in dark places and some additional charging in a pinch, a Panasonic Eneloop Battery Charger, and a Fuji Battery Charger)

MY BAG

I use a few bags by f-stop Gear, which has been an industry leader in expedition packs for photographers for several years. That’s not to say that getting one is easy or problem free, though in 2019, it seems like most of the logistics issues that plagued the company in the past are behind them. Still, if you are starting from scratch on the pack front (I am an ex-employee of f-stop), you might consider the new line by Shimoda, which are designed by f-stop’s former Head Designer and have excellent distribution.

• f-stop Gear Loka (the Loka is a 37L pack that fit my former Nikon gear well, and does an even better job with my lighter, smaller, expanded Fuji gear. This pack has been used and abused, and has been with me underground, along flooded rivers, inside dilapidated structures, and atop tall buildings. I also have the ICU insert that accommodates a laptop, so this guy is often my daily carry to work.)
• f-stop Gear Guru UL (the 25L Guru UL is a smaller, sleeker, lighter weight Loka. I use a Small Pro ICU to hold my gear, and surprisingly, everything fits from my basic photo kit, pictured above, and more. I’ll be doing a review of this pack in the near future.)