Equipment

EQUIPMENT

Listed below is equipment that I use in the field. I use exclusively Nikon® equipment. That is not to say that other manufactures don’t make excellent equipment.

Remember, the camera is only the vehicle that captures the image. Our eyes see what the camera captures. Having the best gear, without the vision is useless. It is important to develop your personal vision and only then worry about acquiring top rated gear. I always remember how I felt when I was asked if my camera takes good pictures, or when someone said that I must have good lenses.

I almost always use a tripod. My tripod is a GITZO® 3541 carbon fiber tripod .

I recommend a good quality, ball head. I currently am using the BH 55 from The Really Right Stuff®   www.reallyrightstuff.com  

I carry my gear in a various bags from THINK TANK. Many of their products fits in most airline overheads. When ordering ( www.thinktank.com) use the CODE AP-371 and receive a few gift!

When shooting from my vehicle I always use the KIRK® Window Mount with my BH55.

CAMERAS: NIKON D 200 & D700’s LENSES: ALL NIKON I use the appropriate lens hoods for all lenses Nikon 20 F 2.8 Nikon 12-24 f4 Nikon 28-70 f 2.8 Nikon 80-200mm f 2.8 Nikon 200.f4 Macro Nikon 300 f4 ED-IF 1.5 & 2x teleconverters When shooting Mammals & Birds I will add: 500 f4 ais (IN SEPARATE DOMKE CASE)

FILTERS:

Singh-Ray Warming-Polarizer
Singh Ray VARI ND FILTER

Singh-Ray 2 & 3  stop graduated & 3 stop hard Graduated ND Filters
Nikon Polarizer’s for all lenses
CC 10 (for filtering out the green off while flowers caused by light shining through a green canopy of tree leaves)

MACRO:

NIKON 200mm f4 Macro.
I will at times use a Nikon 5T or 6T or Canon 500D Diopters to gain closer magnification.

I also enjoy experimenting and shooting with products from Lensbaby ( www.lensbaby.com). Use this code when ordering to receive discounts and special offers from lensbaby (case sensitive)       wjgraham              

ACCESSORIES:

FLASH: NIKON SB900
Photoflex® diffusers & reflectors (various sizes) / Walt Anderson Flash Extender

MISC SCCESSORIES:

2 chamois
Lens cleaning cloths
Large bubble dust blower
Sensor cleaning material
Leatherman™
Small screwdrivers
Toothbrush
Insect repellent
Small first aid kit

 

IMAGE PROCESSING

 

Photo shop CS4

Lightroom 2.3

Various programs:  Helicon Focus, PTL Lens, Panorama Maker 5

I strongly recommend software from NIK SOFTWARE. This software does what nothing else can come close to doing.

Viveza 2,   Define( for noise)       and Silver Effects Pro ( B&W conversion)……………………is as as good as it gets.