When I started doing photography, I found myself constantly up at night trying to search for the next ND filter, watching lens reviews, and window shopping for cameras that I couldn’t afford. I looked up to many of my favorite photographers/videographers, such as Peter McKinnon or Larry Chen, and always wonder what gear they were using. Luckily these two are very upfront about it, but with many other photographers you are left empty, with no result, and have to start guessing. Luckily, if you’ve had the opportunity to shoot on many camera brands and focal lengths, you’ll start being able to predict what gear someone is using just by a few shots. For example, Sony’s “mirror-less blue” will give it away in an instant. Many of us aren’t, so instead we are left diving through forums and Reddit posts. This isn’t a healthy obsessions; I urge anyone that wants to become a future photographer to spend more time finding what makes their photos special and refining it. While it took me awhile to figure this out, owning a more expensive camera isn’t going to make you better photographer (sorry Canon-loving teenagers).

That doesn’t mean gear doesn’t matter. In capable hands, a powerful sensor with great color reproduction and low light capabilities paired with a very fast lens will achieve jaw dropping photos you won’t achieve on an entry level DSLR. If you are trying to get shots at a sporting event and your buffer is full after 5 shots, your SOL if you press the shutter button like a machine gun, where as a photographer like Larry Chen will get it. However, there’s reasons why certain photographers buy and use certain gear. They have a methodologies to choosing and using the gear they use. Understanding what they need to get the job done is one of the factors that has allowed them to make a living off of the great hobby. Rarely will you find a professional who upgrades his equipment because something is “the latest and greatest”.

I digress. The point I want to make is that understanding why/how photographers use certain gear, and/or their approaches to building their arsenal can help you not only expedite the upgrade cycle when you are ready to take that step, but can also evolve you’re approach to taking that next photo. As an engineer, I find photography a form of problem solving to get the photo I want; my cameras and lenses are tools to get to the solution. I urge you to began thinking why does someone use which tools instead of what they are using. I hope by shedding some light on what I use and why I use it, unlike many photographers, I can help you better understand my still evolving approach to photography.

Camera Gear Storage - Apache 5800

Looking for a budget case that costs almost the 4th of a Pelican? The Apache 5800 is my go to for low cost, safe storage of gear. While it is from harbor freight, at only $69.99, its a hell of a steal for keeping your camera gear safe and easily transportable. I’ll break it down into a TLDR for you:

The Cons: