Equipment

"What counts in photography is not neither the way in which the equipment appears, neither the brand of the camera and not even the price paid for it, but rather his fitness to the job which it has to perform, his technical quality and the ability with which the photographer knows how to use it. After all a camera doesn't have certainly more creative ability than a fistful of clay, that nevertheless, in the hands of an artist, for sure can become symbol of true creative expression"

This sentence, mentioned from Andreas Feininger, contains a simple truth that very often is neglected. Cleared the mind from every "fetishistic" misunderstandind, the fact remains that in the photography a good tool could be an help, above all in a kind of photography with specialistic aspects like the nature photography. For this reason, and why I'm often asked for, I show a survey of my equipment. This doesn't mean that my equipment is the ideal for the nature photography; it's simply a personal compromise between costs and sizes, on one hand, and my requirements in terms of quality and specialization, on the other.

Updated 11/11/2009: the digital era had as consequence an even more stress on the gear, the brand, the tool as the main way to produce a good picture. That's an obviously misleading concept. It is actually true that such an equipment it's needed to give you back images above a given quality threshold, but that's all what it does. More than ever before who is behind the camera has been neglected; his feelings, the way he reproduces them in a photo, his ideas, his freshness, his originality. Or their lack. Therefore I decided to completely stick with Feininger's statements above, and to delete any mention of brands and models for the equipment I use.

Cameras

Two digital SLR body (10 and 12 Mp), a 15 mp digital compact camera with RAW capabilities. I still own film cameras but I basically do not use them anymore. I have used in the past 6x9, 6x7 and 10x12 medium and large format cameras. 

Lenses

I use lenses from 12 mm up to 500 mm, integrated by a 1,4X tele-converter.

Flash units 

4 flash units, all of them have the regulation of output level in manual mode, essential to photograph birds in flight with special techniques.

Tripods 

I use two tripods, different in size and features. One heavier for landscape and wildlife, but still good for hiking; the other one, small and light but nevertheless reliable and sturdy, for close-up and longer excursions. I use ball heads on both, and a video head for the longer lenses.

Filters 

I use filter with much thrift, and however only Polarizing filter, a couple of Neutral Density graduated filters ND2x and ND8x, and a Neutral Grey ND8x.

Backpacks 

I use four different sized backpacks, choosing time by time the one more suitable for the situation. The bigger one can host a fast supetelephoto lens with a body on it, some more lenses and a flash unit.

Accessories 

● Lightmeter and flashmeter.

● A Close up Lens.

● A right angle viewfinder, irreplaceable in close up.

● An extension ring, which I use with the long lenses to reduce the minimum focusing distance.

● A remote cord.

● Photo Cells for remote release.

● Two hides, one derived from a classic hunting hide with iron pipes and box shaped, the other one self-made, igloo-tent shaped with flexible poles, only 3 chilos weight. The last one is a "pop-up" type.

To all that it's necessary to add a crowd of cables and cords, clamps, adapters, clothes and other various stuff.