My Gear

The kit I travel with has been shaped by one simple rule: if it does not earn its place in the bag, it does not come.

After twenty years and more camera systems than my father would like to know about, I have settled into a setup that I genuinely trust in the field. Here is what I use and why.

Cameras

Nikon Z8

My primary camera for both photography and video. Fast, reliable, and capable of producing extraordinary results in the challenging light conditions the Azores throws at you regularly. This is the camera that is always with me.

Nikon ZR

A recent addition, primarily for video. The RED RAW format it supports produces extraordinary color, genuinely unlike anything I have worked with before. The file sizes are currently enormous, and I am waiting on a Nikon firmware update to make the workflow more practical day to day. But the quality is worth it.

Lenses

Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

My most-used lens for landscape photography. Wide, sharp, and built for the volcanic coastlines and open skies of the Azores.

Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4

The lens that lives on the camera when I am not sure what the day will bring. Versatile enough to cover most situations and light enough to carry all day without thinking about it.

Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S

Not on every trip, but essential for certain islands. When I am heading to Pico, São Jorge, or Flores, this comes with me. The compression it brings to those landscapes is worth the extra weight.

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S

For video, and for the moments when I want to shoot simply and intuitively.

Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S

Primarily a video lens for me. One of the best 20mm lenses on the market, and the wide aperture handles low light beautifully.

Nikon TC-1.4x

Teleconverter for when the 70-200mm needs a little more reach.

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro

What I Actually Travel With

The full list above rarely leaves Terceira together. In practice, the kit adapts to where I am going and what I am doing.

For multi-island photo tours

Z8, 14-24mm, 24-120mm, and one drone. If I am heading to Pico, São Jorge, or Flores, the 70-200mm joins the bag. Everything else stays home.

For video work

ZR as the primary body, Z8 as backup and secondary camera. Lenses are the 20mm, 50mm, and always the 24-120mm for its versatility. I shoot handheld whenever possible. The RS 4 Mini comes with me but rarely leaves the bag.

On Terceira, my home island

This is where I have the freedom to experiment with the full kit. No baggage limits, no inter-island flights, no compromises.

Drone

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Creative Combo

With the RC Pro controller. My only drone on the road. The Mavic 3 Pro stays home as backup. Four batteries. In the Azores wind, battery management is as important as any camera setting.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro eND Filter

DJI’s electronic ND filter, adjustable from ND4 to ND64 directly from the controller. The light changes fast here, and being able to adjust exposure mid-flight without landing to swap filters makes a real difference.

DJI ND Filters

Dedicated to the Mavic 4 Pro. Essential for smooth video footage in bright Atlantic light.

Filters

NiSi 112mm CPL

Exclusively for the 14-24mm, which requires a 112mm filter due to its front element design.

NiSi JetMag Pro 82mm Kit

CPL plus 3, 6, and 10-stop ND filters. The magnetic system changed how I think about filters. Fast enough to actually use in the field.

NiSi JetMag Pro 82mm Variable ND (1-5 stops)

For video. Lets me keep the right shutter speed as the light changes, without swapping filters mid-shot.

Audio

Sennheiser MKE 600

Main microphone for serious video work.

Sennheiser MKE 400

Compact option for lighter shooting days.

DJI Wireless Mic

For any situation where a cable is not practical.

Support & Storage

Sirui AM-324

My travel tripod. Carbon fiber, tall, light.

Peak Design Outdoor 45L

Main bag for multi-day tours. Excellent organization, though the C-shaped zipper and the depth for larger bodies with L-brackets could be better. Great bag, not perfect.

CFexpress Type B Cards

512GB exclusively, one SanDisk and two Angelbird. The Z8 also has an SD slot for backup, but CFexpress is the only option that keeps up with RAW video demands.

Software

Adobe Lightroom Classic

For photo editing and cataloging.

Adobe Photoshop

For more advanced edits, with Luminar Neo as a plugin for specific looks.

DaVinci Resolve Studio

For all video work. The color grading tools are exceptional for the kind of landscape footage I produce.