What Equipment is used, and why?

After weighing in all the parameters for successful imaging today, I made the decision that the best work flow for what I want to create is one that utilizes the advances of digital SLR photography. For several years, I was a "hybrid sort" shooting both digital SLRs, but not wanting to give up my familiar handling Nikon F100, slide film processing, and the tradition that I grew up with watching and learning from my father, a photographer with exceptional talent and creative eye.

While I still maintain a large library of chrome images, all of my photographs today are taken with digital SLRs. I use NIKON equipment because that is what I had invested time, learning and accessories for over the years and I am very happy with the results obtained that suit my needs.

I use two digital SLRs, a Nikon D200 a 10.2 Megapixel body for extraordinary optimized images that convert to almost any sizes needed without compromising quality. For shooting wildlife, birds, butterflies when quick response is needed, I use the Nikon D2H , a fast handling 4.1 megapixel body which handles extremely well when you need to concentrate on fast action subjects and increases my chances of getting an image I might of otherwise missed.

I have a lot of lenses that I formerly used with my film-based Nikon N70 and F100, and have added a few of the newer lenses optimized for digital captures as well, such as the Nikkor 12-24 Wide Angle lens which gives decent wide angled shots on a digital body, considering the multiplication factor of the smaller sensors that digital SLRs use.

Most of my lenses are Nikkors to match my camera bodies and focusing features well, but I also am partial to the Sigma EX series of lenses, find the quality quite good and I use Sigma's telezoom "BIGMA" 50-500 with really nice results for wildlife and birds, after some learning to handle techniques and a very steady tripod! Other favorite Sigmas are my 300mm f/4 which yields very sharp images, and my two macro lenses, the Sigma EX 100mm 2.8 macro and Sigma 180mm f3.5 macro lens.

Anything that helps organize and save time is essential so that you can concentrate on image taking, and so I organize two camera backpacks with the equipment needed for a particular shoot. One usually stays in the car, while I transport my equipment to the field in the other.

Many will tell you and it's certainly true that essential to shooting wildlife and nature photography is a good tripod system. I use a Bogen 3001& 3021 with a light to mid-weight Bogen 308RC ballhead on the lighter Bogen 3001 system; and a Manfrotto hydraulic 468MGRC2 ballhead on the heavier Bogen 3021 system that supports telephoto lenses and also handles quickly for wildlife shooting. Additionally, I sometimes prefer the flexibility of a lightweight monopod for shooting fast moving creatures such as butterflies.

I find with careful planning, that I can tote any combination of my chosen equipment without difficulty.

Quick Links - Equipment Resources

• Nikon USA - Nikkor Lenses
• Nikon D200 Digital SLR
• Nikon D2H / D2Hs Digital SLR
• Sigma Camera Lenses
• Bogen/Manfrotto
• Tamrac Camera bags
• Lowepro Camera and Lens Bags