My Gear & Workflow

The tools and process behind my photography and printing

Every photograph begins long before the shutter clicks.

The equipment I use is chosen to support the way I work: patient, flexible and responsive to changing light and subject. This page offers a behind-the-scenes look at the cameras, lenses and tools that help me create the images you see throughout this website.

The equipment and workflow I use are chosen for reliability, consistency, and print quality rather than novelty or specification.

Cameras

Nikon Z8

The Nikon Z8 sits at the core of my wildlife setup. Its fast autofocus, reliable subject tracking and strong dynamic range make it well suited to birds in flight and unpredictable moments. The files are clean and detailed, providing flexibility when cropping and preparing images for large prints.

Fujifilm X-T5

For travel, street photography and creative portrait work, I often turn to the Fujifilm system. The compact design, colour rendering and film simulations offer a different way of working and complement my wildlife kit well.

Lenses

NIKKOR 180–600mm f/5.6–6.3

My primary wildlife lens. It offers the reach needed for distant subjects while remaining manageable in the field. Sharp and responsive, it performs reliably in fast-moving situations.

NIKKOR Z 14–24mm f/2.8 S

An ultra-wide lens used for landscapes, architecture and environmental scenes. It delivers excellent sharpness across the frame and performs well in challenging light.

NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 S

A versatile telephoto lens suited to wildlife, portraits and action photography. Fast autofocus and consistent performance make it a dependable part of my kit.

NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S

A compact prime lens used for portraits, everyday shooting and low-light work. It offers a natural perspective and clean rendering.

NIKKOR AF-S Micro 105mm f/2.8G ED VR

A dedicated macro lens with true 1:1 reproduction. Ideal for insects, flowers and detailed close-up work where precision and control are essential.

Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR

A fast prime lens for the Fujifilm system. It is used primarily for portraits and street photography, offering excellent sharpness and subject separation.

Supports

iFootage Gazelle TC7 Tripod

A lightweight carbon-fibre tripod that provides stability without adding unnecessary weight. Suitable for wildlife, landscape and macro work in the field.

Acratech 1165 Geared Head

Used when precise composition is required. The geared controls allow for fine adjustments, particularly useful in landscape and macro photography.

Wimberley WH-200 Gimbal Head

Designed for tracking fast-moving subjects. The gimbal allows smooth movement when photographing birds in flight and other dynamic wildlife behaviour.

Field Accessories

A selection of practical tools supports my workflow in the field, including filters, memory cards, cleaning equipment and protective carrying solutions. Each item is chosen for reliability and ease of use rather than novelty.

Editing and Workflow

My editing process is centred on maintaining a natural, balanced look while allowing each image to reach its full potential. The aim is consistency, control and restraint rather than heavy-handed processing.

Adobe Lightroom Classic

Lightroom forms the foundation of my workflow. It is used for organising, processing and preparing images, with careful control over colour, contrast and tonal balance across a body of work.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop is used when additional refinement is required. This includes detailed adjustments, local corrections and preparation of images for print, ensuring files meet a consistent professional standard.

Alongside these core tools, I use a small number of specialist applications at specific stages of the workflow, chosen for their strengths in targeted areas rather than as default processing steps.

DxO PhotoLab 8

Used for advanced RAW processing where greater control over noise reduction, optical corrections and fine tonal detail is beneficial.

DxO PureRAW 5

Applied selectively at the pre-processing stage, particularly for images captured in challenging light, to maximise image quality before further editing.

DxO FilmPack 7

Used sparingly to introduce subtle film-inspired characteristics when appropriate, drawing on analogue aesthetics without overpowering the image.

DxO Nik Collection 8

A collection of targeted tools used for precise tonal adjustments, contrast control and monochrome work when a focused approach is required.

Exposure X6

Occasionally used for creative colour grading and film-style rendering where a different interpretive approach suits the subject.

Across all stages of editing, the emphasis remains on supporting the image rather than defining it, with the goal of producing photographs that feel natural, considered and true to the moment.

Why This Gear Works for Me

This equipment supports the way I prefer to work rather than dictating it. The combination allows me to move between wildlife, macro, landscape and creative projects without compromise.

The focus is on:

Reliability in the field
Flexibility across different subjects
Consistent image quality
Control during editing and printing

The goal is not to use the most gear possible, but to use the right tools to support a considered and deliberate approach to photography.

See the results

To see how this equipment performs in real-world conditions, explore the Portfolio or visit the Printing Service page to learn how images are prepared and produced as fine art prints.