Bits of Kit...
Camera Bodies:
I own two digital SLR cameras: a 35mm full-frame Canon 5D MkII and a Canon 50D. I use one camera for high-quality prints and the other primarilly for sports photography.
The 5D MkII, a "professional" full-frame body, is ideal for scapes, architecture, portraits and weddings. At 21.1 megapixels in 14bit colour, the output quality is stunning, and I'm able to produce extremely sharp images at large print sizes for use on canvas or framed wall prints, for example. Checkout the Canon 5D MkII here.
The Canon 50D, despite its smaller sensor, has a much faster frame-rate than the 5D and I generally use this body, with a 10mm fisheye or 500mm telephoto, for shooting skateboarding and surfing, respectively. I never miss a shot when shooting sports with the 50D. This means I'm able to retrospectively select the frame that captures the most critical moment in a sequence. Timing is crucial in sports photography when a millisecond can make or break a shot! Checkout the Canon 50D here.
Ultra Wide Zoom:
For scapes and architecture I use Sigma's ultra-wide 12-24mm F4.5 EX DG ASP HSM. With a 122º angle of view this lens squeezes so much into a frame it gives an incredible sense of depth and perspective. This particular lens produces great contrast and vivid colours. Check it out here
Wide Angle Zoom:
For long exposure scapes and architecture I use Canon's wide angle 17-40mm F4, often combined with a big-stop ND filter. Canon's professional L-series lenses are so sharp and this one is also super wide on a full-frame... the perfect lens for landscape stiching. Check it out here
Fish Eye Prime:
Sigma's 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM fisheye is awesome for skateboarding shots or radically creative shots. It's got a 180º field of view, producing striking images with exaggerated perspective of near subject & extreme barrel distortion of the surrounding areas. For specs on this awesome lens, click here
Portrait Telephoto Prime:
I love Sigma's 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM. This lens is a purpose-built portrait lens that leaves Canon's 85mm equivalent for dead. With the aperture wide open the depth of field is incredibly short, producing a natural and stunning blur while the focus point remains incredibly sharp. This piece of glass should be in every portrait/wedding photographer's kit. Check it out here
Mid-range Telephoto:
Sigma's APO 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG MACRO HSM is ideal for shooting live gigs. I've owned every other brand in this focal range, including Canon's popular L-series, and I settled on the Sigma for good reason.... unlike the other brands, Sigma's hyspersonic motor (HSM) provides fast, accurate focussing in low light and, for me, that makes it the winner! A reasonably wide aperture of f/2.4, combined with this mid-range telephoto means I can shoot from a distance in a dark venue and still get the results I'm looking for without having to throw a light across the room. I also use this lens as my all-purpose outdoor shooter. Check it out here
Super Telephoto:
To get up nice & close to the action, Sigma's APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM is just awesome. I can easily fill a frame with a surfer from a hundred yards away. Great for stalking too! With a slightly narrower aperture it can sometimes be a little slow, but as far as bang-for-buck goes, it's great. Check it out here
Standard:
For everything else, the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM does the trick! It's a standard lens, but is actually quite nice and fils a gap between my wide angles and teles. But I rarely use it, generally opting for something more suited to the occasion. Check it out here
Filters:
I use various Neutral Density (ND), ND grad filters and polarizers. When shooting outdoors, most days I'll be using a Hoya polarizer for added saturation and depth.
I also own a Hoya ND400.... one of the darkest (9 stops!!) ND filters on the market. It's so much fun shooting with a super-slow shutter under the burning Ozzie sun. You've got to checkout these amazing shots by some very talented photographers using an ND400.
Flashes:
To shed some light on the situation, I own three Canon Speedlite 430EX II flashes. A great, versatile flash unit that's perfect for fill-in under tricky, harsh sunlight and equally as good indoors, such as a church or reception. Check out Canon's range of flashes here.
Wireless Flash Transceivers:
I often combine my flash units with a set of Pocket Wizard flexTT5 transceivers for off-camera, remote flash firing. Pocket Wizard is the market leader in wireless flash technology and the flexTT is the latest, greatest transceiver available. They're not cheap, but worth every penny. These little gems allow me to setup a portable studio wherever I go. Read more here.
Software:
And how could I not, lastly, give a massive thumbs up to Adobe's Creative Suite (CS5) ...the new darkroom and the essential software behind any good shot.
DP Review:
I love the DP Review website... in my opinion, it's the best photographic equipment review site on the planet. It's completely unbiased, so whether you're into Nikon or Canon or whatever, jump on here and research your next lens or camera.
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About Me...
I'm a freelance writer and photographer based in Sydney, Australia. Most recently I've been working with Soggybones Magazine, a surf/skate lifestyle publication. Working with Soggybones has been the most rewarding professional experience in my career to date. When I'm not writing or shooting you'll find me hunting down loney reefbreaks South of Sydney with a couple of close mates or carving a concrete wall at my local skatepark in Sydney's infamous sea-side suburb of Maroubra.
I've been a professional writer for over a decade and working a camera for several years now, and while it's been a long haul to where I am today I've really only just begun.
My journey started as a fairly dry one... As an apprentice in Graphic Pre-press, I often spent hours alone in a darkroom, operating industrial-sized graphic cameras and other photographic equipment, developing film manually for printing plate and cylinder production.
As technology progressed with amazing speed, I was soon freed from the darkroom and found myself glued to a computer screen, operating drum scanners, performing colour correction, lots of masking in Photoshop, creative design, and tonnes of retouching. I cut my teeth on Adobe Photoshop v4 in '92. Over the years I've been through every iteration of Photoshop, which is now CS5, and I still learn something new everytime I open it.
Initially my interest in photography stemmed from my love of surfing. However, I soon grew tired of simply shooting surfers and turned my attention towards more creative persuits, such as slow-shutter work and long exposures. I'm also hugely inspired by Hollywood's classic film noir period (1940's and 1950's). The term film noir (French for "black film") describes a low-key, black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, and is a style that uses a very strong, single light source. Click here to view an example of my work.
I love the way light interacts with nature's creations, water and landscapes, juxtaposed with man-made structures. I love lines, texture and shading that draw the eye into a scene, giving it depth and meaning, evoking emotion and capturing the mood within the moment. It's my goal to render that fleeting moment in time, freeze its fluidity and share it with others. A photograph is much more than a memory, it's a legacy of a single, unique moment in time ...unlike a memory, it's never lost, it never changes nor is it forgotten.
I'm available for weddings, on-location shoots, events, live gigs, your own private surfing or skating shoots, real estate and architecture photography, or just something unique to hang on your wall. These are just some of the services I offer... if you want to know more, please contact me via the link at the top of the page or click here to send me a message.
Peace
Nigel
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