I am asked often what photography equipment I use. Probably the best way to answer that question is with a picture. You might think I suffer from GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome, but I use everything in the picture.
Photography requires using both the left side (technical and analytical), and right side (creative and artistic) sides of the brain. When it comes to photography, it is your skills and creativity that matter the most. However, there is no denying that your choice of camera equipment is very important as well.
My cameras are professional level full frame Nikons, as are all but one of my fourteen lenses. It is better to invest more money in good lenses than in a camera. An average camera body and great lens will win over a great camera with an average lens any day. In addition, where the camera is replaced every 5 years or so, a good lens will last 20 years or more and retain its value much better than a camera.
My four tripods include one made of carbon fiber, which is light, but sturdy. The Pelican case on the far left holds my astrophotography equatorial mount. Other equipment includes speedlights, remote shutter releases, intervalometers, lens hoods, batteries and chargers, filters, L-brackets, and camera bags, including three camera backpacks of varying sizes.
What I take with me depends on what I am shooting and where. It’s not unusual that I carry between 15 – 25 pounds of equipment on a typical shoot, and that includes a tripod, several lenses, an intervalometer, some tools, extra batteries, and a lens cleaning kit.
When I shoot the stars, the total weight increases to over 40 pounds and includes the equatorial mount and a heavier tripod. A high quality and comfortable camera backpack is essential, especially when I hike for a couple of hours in the middle of nowhere over some pretty rugged terrain to capture an astrophotography image.
I also carry bear spray and a knife while in the wilderness since my encounter with a large aggressive black bear in Algonquin Park several years ago. I am quite comfortable being alone in the wilderness, even at night, but that incident scared me and now I won’t hike in the wild without being armed.