My education and professional background is in electrical engineering. I've had a camera in my hands since early-teen years and about twenty years ago, I decided to take photography to another level. Given my technical background, the transition to digital has been relatively easy when it comes to understanding the theory behind the process. That background has also helped me to help others understand the technology. But, in this business, we all stand on the shoulders of others - those who came before us, those who taught and inspired us. My group of strong shoulders include Bill Fortney, John Shaw, David Middleton and Rod Plank. These guys not only honed my "plumbing" skills of our craft but, more importantly, taught me how to see. Although I've held the equipment in my hand for a long time, I didn't become a photographer until I learned to see. Thanks guys!
What's in my bag?
I’ve been a Nikon shooter for a long time. With the advent of the digital revolution, I became an early convert in 2000. Ten years later, my current “arsenal” includes:
Nikon Bodies: D3s and D700, D200 converted to infrared
Nikon Lenses: 16-35mm f/4 VR
24-85mm f/3.5-5.6
24-120mm f/4 VR
70-200mm f/2.8 VR
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR
200-400mm f/4 VR
TC-14E II 1.4X Teleconverter
Gitzo GT3450XLS Carbon Fiber Tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead
Gitzo 1530 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ballhead
Nikon SB 900 Flash, Nikon SU 800 Commander, Better Beamer flash extender
Specialty Lenses: Macro: Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro
Filters: Niikon circular polarizers,
Accessories: Wimberly Sidekick, Nikon MC-30 cable release(s). Really Right Stuff Pano components and Focusing Rail, PocketWizard Tranceivers
CF Memory Cards: Sandisk - 4 to 16 GB
Both camera bodies, three zoom lenses (including the 200-400mm), teleconverter and all accessories I need fit very nicely into my Think Tank Airport Acceleration backpack that fits in the overheads and under seats of every plane I've flown, including some rather small ones. With today's restrictions, tripods go in checked luggage. If I don't need my big lens (for our non-wildlife travels to places like Tuscany), I'll switch to the lighter Gitzo1530 tripod. I might also substitute the discontinued (too bad) Nikon 24-85mm and the 70-300mm VR lenses for their heavier counterparts. When we travel by car, we take everything!
Marilu is a Ohio Wesleyan alum where she majored in art. She can sometimes see things I don't and when it comes to the interaction of color, she has no peer. When I'm out shooting the grand landscape, she's playing "small ball". She's found her niche in doing collages where she uses the small details to describe the larger picture. While she does collages of places we visit, she really enjoys focusing on our immediate environment - the Colorado Front Range and of Fort Collins, a town we love. The collages have become very popular and because people find they make great gifts, she often gets requests for special assignments. Lately, she's found a new love in bird photography. I did say "small" didn't I?
Marilu's Bag - the lighter approach
Marilu uses the D300 Nikon Body. For lenses, she carries a 12-24mm f/4, an 18-200 f/4.5-5.6 VR and an 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR. For macro work, she uses a 180mm f/4 Micro.
She carries the Gitzo 1530 with the Really Right Stuff BH-40 head.
All our camera bodies and lenses are fitted with Arca-Swiss type quick release plates by Really Right Stuff or Kirk Photo.
