Photo equipment that I use and general comments on technical issues

In my view, an advice regarding or an opinion on the photographic equipment should be taken only from someone whose photography you personally appreciate. A person whose photography you do not respect either does not have enough knowledge on the subject or, which is often the case with those interested in photo equipment per se only, misinterprets the degree of relevance of technical issues to real-life photography. Therefore, please see the Gallery first to decide if you want to read any reviews or technical essays on this Web site.

As far as photographic equipment is concerned, there is always a considerable danger of slipping into the mist of comparing brands or pieces of equipment and forgetting about actually taking photographs. This, however, does not mean that one should take photographs without paying attention to the equipment at all. Rather, it is about balancing the two.

In order to cope with this balancing problem, I have adopted the following approach: I thoroughly research a subject or a piece of equipment prior to making a decision or a purchase and then make basic tests, where necessary, once I get it. After this is done, I come back to the technical side only if something peculiar draws my attention while using equipment in the field or if I start feeling limited by the features it can offer. For some it might appear insufficient; I, however, am of the opinion that worrying too much about photo gear is likely to hurt your photographs more than any potential minor faults of your equipment would hurt a great image.

Anyone who is serious about photography and practices it for at least some time is bound to try and go through different formats, recording and reproducing media, brands, etc. in search of a setup that suits his particular photographic needs best. While research on photo gear can eliminate obviously unsuitable options, the set of equipment that approximates one's optimum choice can only be arrived at through personal experience and practice as we are all human and have different preferences and priorities. Moreover, this process never stops - you will find yourself adopting new techniques, technologies and equipment as you grow as a photographer and technology develops in general.

You will probably note that different photographs presented on this Web site were taken with a wide range of equipment - this in fact represents the searching process that I have gone through. As a result of it, I currently use the following photo gear:

• A Nikon D70s digital SLR camera with a couple of zoom lenses. This is used to photograph family gatherings, social events, occasional commercial work as well as on non-photographic trips.

• A Hasselblad system based on the 503CW body (film only). This is used for landscapes and any other serious and art work.

My camera support system includes a Gitzo G1227 carbon fiber tripod and a Kirk BH-1 ball head. The bodies and zoom telephoto lens(es) have dedicated Arca-style quick release plates permanently attached to them.

Although some of the images on this Web site were taken with negative film, I normally use transparencies (currently, Fuji Provia 100F or Fuji Velvia 100F). I then scan the slides with a dedicated film scanner, do all the necessary corrections in photo editorial software, and record them onto CDs. The best images I decide to print are taken to Fuji Professional Laboratory. This procedure has finally given me the complete control over the photographic process that I have always longed for.