CARS YEAH – AGAIN
Thanks to Mark Greene for inviting me to a second podcast on his site Cars Yeah.
My first appearance was show #52, this one is #1703!
PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
As a full-time pro for over 30 years, the gear I take on assignment depends on what is needed. Contrary to what it might look like, I prefer to work with the minimum amount of equipment.
Being familiar with the gear is most important to me. To that end, I’ve always carried some form of Canon or Leica in my kit. With their cameras and lenses, I don’t have to think. I just do. When Leica discontinued their 35mm SLR film-based system, I switched to autofocus Canon EOS 35mm SLRs. Around the same time, I also switched from Kodachrome 25 to Fujichrome Velvia 50 slide film. When digital camera image quality evolved to a more than satisfactory level, I transitioned to Canon’s full-frame digital camera bodies and their latest lenses for my editorial and commercial work. Recently, I’ve begun using a Leica SL3-P camera for my professional work, especially in the car studio and for portraits.
My Basic Automotive Photography Kit For Commercial/Editorial Stills and Video:
Canon R5 mirrorless bodies (2) with spare batteries and memory cards
Canon 16-35mm f/4 IS EF L lens
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II lens
Canon 35mm f/2 IS EF lens
Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS RF L lens
Canon 50mm f1.2 EF L lens
Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS EF L II lens
Canon 500mm f/4 IS L EF lens
Canon 1.4X II Extender, 12mm ext tube
Adapters to use Leica R, Nikon AI and Voightlander lenses
Remote and cable release, ND and polarizing filters
Leica Q with 28mm f1.7 Aspherical lens
Samsung Galaxy camera phone with DJI Osmo Mobile 6 and mount
Power bank
Kit for Studio, Portrait and Art Work – Stills and Video:
Leica SL3P body with adapters
Voightlander Nokton 21mm f1.4 lens
Leica R 35mm f2 V.II lens
Leica M 35mm f1.4 V.I lens
Voightlander Nokton 40mm f1.4 lens
Leica R 50mm f2 lens
Leica R 60mm f2.8 Macro lens
Leica R 80mm f1.4 lens
Leica R 180mm f3.4 Apo lens
Adapters to use Leica R, M, Nikon AI and Voightlander-M lenses
Matte Box
Cable release
Leica Q with 28mm f1.7 lens
Leica M analog and digital bodies with a dozen M lens options
Carry On Bags – for selected items from kits above:
Lowe-Pro backpack in Pelican carry on case
Leica table tripod, ball head and mount
Walkie talkies, Marine radio
Small carry on bag with change of clothes, sunglasses, hat, dopp kit, and
MacBook Pro M2 with card readers and Samsung Drive
Checked bag #1:
Either:
Profoto B1 portable lighting lit with modifiers, grids, stand, sand bag, batteries, charger
DJI Phantom 4 Drone with batteries, charger or
DJI Ronin Stabilizer x 2 with monitor, handle rig and roller
Large Pelican Case
Small Gitzo tripod
Cable lock
Car rigs and harness
Clothes
Checked bags #2 and #3
Includes what’s not in checked bag #1 from above and
More clothes if over a couple of days
Large Pelican case
Canon 5D Mk III camera with 17-35 Canon EF lens for car mount
Reflectors
Numerous GoPros and mounts
Tascam and cell phone audio recorders
Camera car mounts, monopod
Additional for long road trip:
More Pelican cases and cable locks
A variety of Gitzo tripods
Apple boxes
Gyrostabilizer
Portable studio
Tribal Rug
Porsche Cayenne equipped for car to car photography and cinematography
Notes:
For flash, the Profoto portable lighting system has proven reliable for studio shots and moving subjects outdoors. All flashes can fail, just like memory cards and external hard drives, so I also carry two, plus a spare flash tube. The lighting kit also includes C-stands, reflectors, gels and a variety of modifiers and soft boxes. A GoDox light is added as needed.
Spare lenses for the crew include a set of Nikkor AI lenses 20mm f4, 28mm f2, 35mm f2, 50mm f1.4, 105mm f2.5 adapted. I rent Red, Arri Mini and medium format digital as needed.
Photography equipment is simply a tool. Seeing and having something to say are MUCH more important. That said, I look for gear that is of the highest quality, easy to use, and has characterful rendering. For analog film, I use a Hasselblad 500C, Canon EOS-1V, Nikon F, Leica M3, and Leica M6.
I always shoot in RAW on two cards in each camera. After the shoot, one set of shot cards stays in a secure holder inside a zippered vest pocket on my person. As soon as I return to my hotel, the RAW files are backed up on my computer, Dropbox, and at least one hard drive. All drives are kept in different locations, or one is FedExed home. I love what I do, but I’ve also learned not to assume anything.
P.S. My kit for vacationing and personal work is a digital camera, usually the Leica Q with its 28mm f/1.7 Aspherical lens and an Leica M9 with a 50mm f/2 Summicron. This is for pure seeing, shooting slowly and deliberately.
(Last updated September 2026)
MORE PORSCHE PUBLICATIONS
The Fall 2020 issue of 000 Magazine tells a story about the original material used on the outside of the Porsche 914 roof. My images illustrate the unique textures used in the early ’70s. Yes, it’s esoteric and a bit complicated. Continue reading “”
SAIL AWAY
Linda Ronstadt sang a Randy Newman song back in 1973. Continue reading “”
SAMURAI OPTOMETRIST
Saturday Night Live with John Belushi as the “Samurai Optometrist” aired in November, 1978. I remember that night very well because a dozen of us optometry students were watching it live in a small apartment in Chicago while attending the Illinois College of Optometry. I don’t think anyone who was there has forgotten it.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
For the artist, photographer, writer, or anyone else doing a job that looks like a lot of fun… Competition and rejection are part and parcel of what you will experience, especially early on. Believing in yourself is critical at this juncture. Continue reading “”
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME – FLYING CARS
“The 1960s animated cartoon series – The Jetsons – is best remembered for its depiction of a future that just never seemed to get any closer (apart from video phones). And nothing about this future is more lamented than the prolonged absence of George Jetson’s flying electric car. The bad news: There are still no flying electric cars. The good news: Florida is building a place to park them.” Continue reading “”
THANKS FORZA – THE MAGAZINE ABOUT FERRARI
Thanks also… to garage manager Fred Russell, writer Jay Gillotti, and car owner Frank Mandarano (L to R), for making this recent Ferrari Daytona shoot so much fun.
Photographing two Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Spyders together is a dream come true for any car photographer. Only 122+ were made.
Look for this feature in the December 2020 issue of Forza Magazine! Continue reading “”
SEAN CONNERY R.I.P.
Known as the ultimate Jame Bond, here’s a photo of Sean Connery, MI6 agent 007, with his Aston Martin DB5 in the 1964 movie Goldfinger. Continue reading “”
LOVE IS THE DRUG
Roxy Music’s 5th release Siren is arguably their best albums and could be considered one of the best glam rock albums ever, if only for the hits “Love Is The Drug”, “Both Ends Burning” and “Just Another High”.
Perhaps their finest hour, consistent and thematic, and released almost 45 years ago. All said, Siren has aged very well. Their last album Avalon comes close, although it belongs to an entirely more mainstream family. Continue reading “”
FORD BRONCO + FILSON CAMPAIGN GOES WILD
Bronco and Filson – two iconic American brands with long histories in the outdoors – announced a campaign today where they are joining forces to celebrate wildland firefighters and raise funds to help maintain and preserve America’s natural resources and National Forests. I was asked to pitch in.
I feel very fortunate for that assignment. See my still shots from last week’s photo assignment of this vehicle for Ford and Filson below. Five million views in the first week! Some say 50 million views, but I’m guessing that might be overall. Continue reading “”
THE PIONEER – ROTHSPORT RACING & PCA
No one knows for sure when Porsche’s 1995 3.8-liter air cooled motor was first transplanted into a pre-1974 early 911.
What we do know is that in late 1999 Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing in Oregon started thinking about constructing a long hood 911 using the most powerful normally aspirated air-cooled flat six available from Porsche.
SO YOU WANT TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER?
First you need to establish your goals. Does income from photography matter to you? If not, then join the millions of other people with the same avocation. Continue reading “”