About » Garry Brannigan's equipment
Despite the transformation in how a photograph is recorded by most cameras - digitally rather than on film - the foundation of photography remains unaltered. It is the lens that gathers the rays of light and it is here that your image is created. So the quality of the glass you choose to put in front of the camera is crucial. Once you understand the technical fundamentals of photography (usually gained with the kit lens that came with the camera if it is a DSLR) then strive to buy the best lenses you can afford. And before thinking about upgrading your camera from last year's Mark 4 SX to this year's Mark 5 XS, always first consider keeping your existing camera and buying a lifetime's lens.
In landscape photography, the foundation of all this is the tripod and there are two types - those that are light and easy to carry around, and those that are good for landscape photography. So the sturdier the better. I use a geared head on mine which I much prefer to a ball head. Other photographers adore ball heads. It's a very personal choice.
I appreciate that some will want to know what gear I take out with me so I have included a list below. It happens to be digital, but I would love a full set of large format film equipment too. If there were 25 hours in the day (and I didn't have a fuel-hungry Land Rover to feed and wasn't saving up to give my children a fighting chance of getting through college) then I would. Partly because large format would evoke an attachment to the photographers of the past who I greatly admire, such as Eliot Porter, and also because of the tilt and shift movements that would bring far better overall sharpness to my images. I do intend to explore large format at some point, but fear that when the time arrives sheet film may well be RIP. I hope not.
But whichever format you use, it will not find the subject of your photograph for you, nor will it give you even the remotest idea of how to compose it. Plus it is worth remembering that while you may hear a group of oil painters in conversation about Francisco Goya's pivotal role in the development of 18th century Neoclassicism, you will rarely hear them discussing what type of brushes he used to achieve it.
Aside from my tea flask, the other important items inside my Tamrac Expedition 8 camera bag are:
Canon 5D Mark 11 & Canon 1Ds Mark 1
17 - 40mm f/4 L
24 - 70mm f/2.8 L
70 - 200mm f/2.8 L
Extender EF 1.4x 11
100mm macro
Lee Filters: 0.3, 0.45, 0.6, 0.75, 0.9 ND graduated
Lee 105mm circular polariser
Lee solid 0.6, 0.9 ND
Hoodman LCD screen loupe
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod
Manfrotto 405 geared head
