Behind the Scenes: How I Built My Wildlife & Creative Photography Kit

Every photographer ends up with a kit that reflects their style, habits, frustrations and ambitions. Mine has grown and evolved over the years, shaped by early morning bird sessions, creative portrait experiments at home, and countless “I wish I had that lens today” moments.

I’m often asked what gear I use and why, so here’s a closer look at how my setup came together, and how each piece plays a role in the way I shoot.

Nikon Z8 – The Wildlife Workhorse

When I’m out photographing birds or insects, the Nikon Z8 is rarely out of my hands. It combines the speed and tracking I need for unpredictable wildlife, with the dynamic range and detail that help salvage difficult lighting.

I switched to the Z system specifically for the autofocus improvements — and it’s been worth it. Birds in flight are more consistent, low-light performance is stronger, and I get files that hold up beautifully when printed large on A2 or A3 Fotospeed papers.

The 180–600mm – My Most Used Wildlife Lens

This lens is, quite simply, the tool that makes most of my wildlife portfolio possible.

• Good reach without being too heavy

• Fast enough for flight

• Surprisingly sharp across the range

It lives on the Z8. If I can only take one wildlife lens with me, this is it.

Early mornings at local reserves, dragonflies settling on reeds, kestrels hunting over the fields — this lens has captured it all.

Fuji X-T5 – Creativity in a Compact Body

Switching to a Fujifilm setup for travel and creative portraits transformed the way I work. The X-T5 isn’t just a light carry-around camera — it has its own personality.

Fuji’s colours, film simulations and ergonomics give me a different creative mindset. It’s perfect for:

• Travel scenes

• Street details

• Environmental portraits

• Creative experiments at home

Some of my favourite shots — especially portrait and conceptual ideas — were made with Fuji.

Favourite Lenses for Creative Work

Fujinon 33mm f/1.4

This lens is a joy. The rendering is beautiful, the bokeh is clean, and the f/1.4 aperture lets me work in low light without losing quality. Perfect for portraits and controlled setups.

Nikkor Z 70–200mm f/2.8

Ideal for portraits, pets, and more stylised setups — the compression and clarity are superb. Chester features heavily through this lens.

AF-S Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED

My go-to for insects and small details. When I want to capture the structure of a dragonfly wing or the texture on a butterfly’s eye, this is the lens I reach for.

Tripod, Gimbal & Accessories — The Unsung Heroes

A solid tripod with a gimbal or geared head might not be glamorous, but it’s essential for:

• Long wildlife sessions

• Astro and night exposures

• Careful work with macro subjects

• Controlled portrait lighting

Small details — like filters, clamps, remotes and even kneeling mats — all add up to smoother shooting days.

Printing at Home — Why It Matters to Me

One of the best decisions I made was to print my own work.My Canon PROGRAF PRO1100 paired with Fotospeed archival papers means I control every part of the image-making process from capture to final print.

Printing forces you to slow down, refine your edits, and think about colour and detail differently. There’s nothing more satisfying than holding a finished A3 textured print of a bird or portrait that started as just a moment in the field.

Final Thoughts

Your kit doesn’t make you a photographer — but the right tools help you create the images you imagine.

My setup reflects:

• Wildlife instincts

• Creative curiosity

• A love for print

• A desire to experiment

• The ability to switch styles quickly

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If you’d like to see the equipment I use in my photography — from cameras and lenses to accessories, printing tools and workflow setups — visit my Gear & Tech page. It provides a detailed overview of the tools behind my images and the reasoning behind the choices I make.

View Gear & Tech Page