Since I am often asked about the gear I use, I have compiled a list of just about every piece of kit I use for my photography both above and below the surface of the ocean. The items in italics are those little things that I’ve found to make a big difference. Let me know if there’s anything you would recommend, and be sure to check out my one-stop-shop for the items I’ve listed below and more.
Underwater
I am proud to be a Nauticam Ambassador. After shooting underwater for nearly 10 years, and having used a wide variety of brands I can tell you that, in my opinion, Nauticam makes the best gear on the market. However, I always encourage my clients to try to get their hands physically on a housing before purchase. Ergonomics and how your hands fit on a housing are key to your comfort and overall enjoyment of your investment!
Underwater Photography Gear
Nikon D850 — I absolutely love this camera. The auto-focus is amazing, as are the image quality and dynamic range. The 7fps is just an added bonus.
Nikon 105mm ƒ/2.8 — This is my single favorite lens, and I use this lens for a vast majority of my macro work. The bokeh is stunning.
Nikon 60mm ƒ/2.8 — I use this macro lens for larger critters and for portraits of larger fish.
Sigma 15mm fisheye — This has been my go-to wide-angle lens ever since I made the switch to a full-frame camera. Image quality is great, and the lens focuses ultra close - a necessity for creating stunning close-focus wide-angle images.
Nauticam D850 Housing — The build quality is spectacular, and I highly recommend the vacuum system.
Nauticam 45º Viewfinder — Honestly I don’t know how I was able to compose images without one.
Ikelite DS160 Strobes — These workhorses have been tried and true for me for nearly ten years. I have yet to meet their equal in power, recycle speed, quality, and reliability. Added bonus: Ikelite Customer Service is AWESOME!
Light & Motion Sola 1200 — This focus/dive light has worked great for me over the past 5 years. The red function comes in handy when shooting some critters at night.
Nauticam 140mm dome port — This is the ideal compact dome port for a fisheye in front of a full-frame sensor. Its small size also makes lighting close-focus wide-angle images easier.
Nauticam SMC (Super Macro Converter) — This wet lens is my go-to for all-things super macro. With the Nauticam flip adapter, it’s easy to switch from macro to super macro.
DJI Mavic Air Drone — No kit is complete without a drone! This one is super easy to fly and record 4k video, plus its small size makes it easy to pack for travel.
Shelta Hats — Simply put, this hat is the best hat I’ve ever worn on the high seas. Not only is it comfortable, but its proprietary brim design keeps it from flapping in your face, even when skipping across the water at 30 knots!
Giottos Rocket Air Blower — I must have at least 6 of these lying around … a must-have for any kit.
Kimtech Kim Wipes — These delicate wipes are my secret weapon against water spots on my expensive glass. These are lab-quality wipes, designed for use on high-end microscopes. Put out a box in the boat’s camera room and you’ll make friends fast.
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes — These are great for getting salt spray off your sunglasses and stubborn spots off lens elements and port glass. I keep a few of these individually-wrapped wipes with me at all times.
Garmin inReach Mini — I use this, along with Garmin’s flexible usage plans, to stay in touch with loved ones while overseas.
RinseKit — This thing is AWESOME. It holds two gallons of water, pressurized by filling it from your tap. It’s perfect for rinsing your housing and gear after diving. I usually take it when I’m on smaller boats or when I’m beach diving. Highly recommended.
Dive Gear
Atomic Aquatics Frameless Mask — The very low profile of this mask allows my eye to get as close to the viewfinder as possible, which helps me accurately compose my images. I love this mask!
Hollis Elite 2 Backplate System — After using tradition BC designs, I have found this backplate to offer better overall balance and maneuverability. And with the steel plate I am able to remove 5 lbs of lead from my belt. Bonus!
Hollis S38 LX Wing — I have found this bladder to provide plenty of lift when using large high pressure cylinders and a dry suit.
ScubaPro MK25 First Stage — This reg has performed flawlessly for me since the beginning.
Aqua Lung Rocket II Scuba Fins — I prefer going low and slow, with the ability to turn and pivot on a dime. These fins allow me to do just that as well as provide the fast-moving power when I need it.
Waterproof D7 Pro Cordura ISS Drysuit — I L-O-V-E this suit. I've been using it for nearly 5 years and it has performed really well for me. The only thing that makes this suit better are a p-valve and the Waterproof Ultima Dry Glove System. The dry glove system is so good that I removed the wrist seals entirely for easier donning and doffing of the suit!
Beuchat Mundial Sport Fins — These are my go-to fins for all-things freediving. They are a high quality entry level full-foot long fin, and as an added bonus, the blade separates from the foot pocket for more compact travel or if you want to swap to carbon blades.
Fourth Element Proteus II 5mm Wetsuit — This is my favorite wetsuit for diving in warm water and when freediving in temperate waters.
Aqua Lung Solafx 8/7mm Wetsuit — By far my favorite cold water scuba wetsuit. The front entry zipper makes donning/doffing a breeze, especially with cold hands.
Suggested Reading
The Soul of the Camera by David duChemin — I think this is a must read for anyone who carries a camera.
Underwater Photography Masterclass by Alex Mustard — The master himself shares his techniques and approaches for all to learn.
The Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge — This is often referred to as the “bible” for underwater photographers. It is chock full of information that is essential for establishing a base knowledge of underwater photography.
Secrets of the Seas by Alex Mustard and Callum Roberts — Full of amazing imagery and stories, this book contains the inspiration I sometimes need to get out shooting.
Landscape
Landscape Photography Gear
Nikon D850 — I absolutely love this camera for landscape work. The image quality and dynamic range are simply incredible.
Nikon 24-70mm ƒ/2.8 — Probably my most used lens. It’s on the pricier side, but offers amazing image quality throughout the focal range and is perfect for a lot of landscape scenes. It’s also a great lens for portraits and other events.
Nikon 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 — This lens is simply stunning. The build quality, along with the fast-focus and image quality make this a must-have for landscape and wildlife photography. It’s also great for sporting events and portraits.
Gitzo GT3543LS Carbon Fiber Tripod —I use this workhorse for both landscape and wildlife, especially when shooting locally. This investment will last for years as it’s built for the long haul.
3 Legged Thing Universal L-Bracket — This bracket makes switching from horizontal to vertical compositions a snap. You can also break it down to be used an arca-compatible plate.
Peak Design Clutch Strap — I don’t often have a strap on my camera for landscape shoots, but for scouting and hand-holding the camera I will often use this low-profile hand strap. Great design and functionality.
Filters — I use the Breakthrough Photography system including their new magnetic filter wheel with the magnetic CPL, their X100 Filter Holder, and X Series 150x100 and 100x100 filters.
Ruggard 10-Pocket Filter Pouch — This easy to open/close pouch holds up to 10 150x100mm filters along with my filter holder. It comes with belt, tripod, and shoulder straps.
Shutter Release Cable — This off-brand cable has worked very well for me, and I use it just about every time I shoot.
DJI Mavic Air Drone — No kit is complete without a drone! This one is super easy to fly and record 4k video, plus its small size makes it easy to pack for travel.
Giottos Rocket Air Blower — I must have at least 6 of these lying around … a must-have for any kit.
Kimtech Kim Wipes — These delicate wipes are my secret weapon against water spots on my expensive glass and filters. These are lab-quality wipes, designed for use on high-end microscopes. I carry a box with me wherever I go.
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes — These are great for getting salt spray off your sunglasses and stubborn spots off lens elements and filters. I keep a few of these individually-wrapped wipes with me at all times.
Garmin inReach Mini — I use this, along with Garmin’s flexible usage plans, to stay in touch with loved ones while I’m hiking in remote areas. It also has a great tracking and SOS feature.
RinseKit — This thing is AWESOME. It holds two gallons of water, pressurized by filling it from your tap! It’s perfect for rinsing your boots/shoes/tripod after a hike or an outing to the beach. Highly recommended.
Suggested Reading
Landscape Photography On Location: Travel, Learn, Explore, Shoot by Thomas Heaton — This kindle edition is FREE! Thomas Heaton almost single-handedly inspired me to get into landscape photography. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel, too!
The Soul of the Camera by David duChemin — I think this is a must read for anyone who carries a camera.
Mastering Landscape Photography by David Taylor — This book explores some of the practical skills and requirements that landscape photographers need.
Wildlife
Wildlife Photography Gear
Nikon D500 — The super responsive auto-focus system coupled with 10 frames-per-second made this a no-brainer decision for me.
Nikon D500 Battery Grip — I shoot a lot of vertical images, and this grip makes shooting comfortable so that I can focus on my subjects. I also find that grip makes the camera more comfortable in my hands overall, and the extra battery allows me to keep shooting longer.
Nikon 200-500mm ƒ/5.6 — This is my go-to lens for my wildlife outings. It’s very versatile and light enough for me to carry around for hand-hold shooting. I do, however, tend to mount it on my gimbal and tripod when waiting for the action to heat up.
Nikon 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 — This lens is simply stunning. The build quality, along with the fast-focus and image quality make this a must-have for wildlife photography. It’s also great for sporting events and portraits.
Wimberley WH-200 Gimbal Head II — Man, this thing is AWESOME. Yes, I realize there are less expensive models out there, but this Wimberley will most likely be the last one you ever need to buy. It’s rock solid and butter smooth.
Gitzo GT3543LS Carbon Fiber Tripod —I use this workhorse for both landscape and wildlife, especially when shooting locally. This investment will last for years as it’s built for the long haul.
Peak Design Slide Camera Strap — I just love Peak Design products. I am not endorsed by them, so this review is strictly from my own experience. I find this particular strap is perfect for walking around with my D500 and 200-500mm.
LensCoat for 200-500mm (RealTree) — Easy to install, this neoprene lens cover helps conceal the outline of the lens while adding protection from bumps, dings, and the elements like water, sand, dust, etc.
Ghillie Camouflage Face Mask — Super cheap and easy to store, this mask helps conceal your outline when hiding from the critters. I have tried others but I like this one because I am able to shoot verticals without anything getting in the way.
Camouflage Ghillie Suit — I don’t wear this often, but when I do it works like a charm. It’s ultra compact, which makes it convenient to take on hikes just in case you need it.
DJI Mavic Air Drone — No kit is complete without a drone! This one is super easy to fly and record 4k video, plus its small size makes it easy to pack for travel.
Giottos Rocket Air Blower — I must have at least 6 of these lying around … a must-have for any kit.
Kimtech Kim Wipes — These delicate wipes are my secret weapon against water spots on my expensive glass and filters. These are lab-quality wipes, designed for use on high-end microscopes. I carry a box with me wherever I go.
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes — These are great for getting salt spray off your sunglasses and stubborn spots off lens elements and filters. I keep a few of these individually-wrapped wipes with me at all times.
Garmin inReach Mini — I use this, along with Garmin’s flexible usage plans, to stay in touch with loved ones while I’m hiking in remote areas. It also has a great tracking and SOS feature.
RinseKit — This thing is AWESOME. It holds two gallons of water, pressurized by filling it from your tap! It’s perfect for rinsing your boots/shoes/tripod after a hike or an outing to the beach. Highly recommended!
Suggested Reading
The Soul of the Camera by David duChemin — I think this is a must read for anyone who carries a camera. Have I made it obvious by now that you should read this?
Born to Ice by Paul Nicklen — Simply stunning. Paul’s work has been inspirational to me ever since I picked up a camera. This book combines his powerful images of iconic arctic and antarctic wildlife and scenery with his inspiring photographic storytelling.
Post Processing
Post Processing Equipment
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch) — This has been my workhorse for the past few years. The screen is ridiculously sharp, especially when zooming in to those hi-res files!
ThunderBay 4TB RAID 5 External Storage — This drive keeps my files backed-up and secure off my main iMac drive. I found it really easy to install and maintain, and I sleep well at night knowing my files are backed-up on this 4-drive system.
Seagate 6TB External Desktop Hard Drive — Once a month I back-up my files to this drive and keep it in a fire-safe box. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Wacom Tablet — I enjoy editing with this tablet. It makes precise edits a breeze, and I find the flow to much more enjoyable than solely keyboard and mouse.
Datacolor Spyder5 PRO — This is a color accuracy solution for all of your laptop and desktop displays. It’s really easy to use, and I calibrate my monitor about once a month. I think this (or something like it) is a must, especially if you ever plan on printing your images.
