Nikon D850

Nikon has always been a leader in developing intuitive camera bodies that demonstrate a complete understanding of a photographer’s needs, both on a professional and amateur level.

When I was invited to be a part of the D850 launch last year, it was a true honour, given that Nikon has been with me every step of my career. This camera body is indeed a material step forward, a ‘game changer’, a ‘king of cameras’. The resolution is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, supported by high frame rate capabilities and an autofocus performance that are second to none. As my pictures end up as very large prints, in the past I have had to choose resolution over frame rate – but the D850 removes this compromise, offering the best of both worlds.

Nikon D5

When I’m not using the D850, the D5 is the piece of equipment I always like to have to hand during an extreme environment photography project. It is particularly good for high speed shooting, when you need to capture many shots in a second.

Its expanded sensitivity also gives you the freedom to switch from bright sunlight to night time without a hitch, something that is especially important in my line of work where I often don’t know which far flung corner of the world I’ll be in at any given time.

AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G

When you’re working in extreme, tough environments, you need a set of lenses that can hold their own in harsh weather conditions, whether that’s the intense heat of Vergenoeg in Namibia to the freezing-cold snaps of Igloolik, Nunavut.

I seldom use a long lens; in fact, I don’t even own a zoom-lens. In my opinion, Nikon’s prime lenses are best in class.

The 35mm wide angle lens is perfect for my style of shooting, where I need high quality optics to discover and capture the soul of the subjects I’m photographing. Its quiet auto-focus operation is also crucial for when I’m within metres of a lion or wolf!

AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G

This is a robust prime lens which really pushes the boundaries of what is possible in terms of image quality. The f/1.4 maximum aperture and 58mm focal length contribute to an incredible wide-open performance, ideal for my portraits of some of nature’s most beautiful creatures. It is also helpful for shooting night scenes.

AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED

The 105mm prime lens is an immense piece of material. I can tell it was designed to encourage new and unique levels of artistry in portraiture and fine art photography, because it is flexible enough to capture a photographer’s own unique style and aesthetic in a way many other lenses fail to do. Its optical construction guarantees a first-class sharpness, contrast and resolution and paired with the D850, this lens is undoubtedly one of the best out there.

MONARCH HG 10x42

I don’t want to have to take out a heavy telephoto lens to see things. This is such a small piece of kit and a much more practical way of scoping the landscape. I’ll willingly buy into anything that can make my job easier and MONARCH HG binoculars make me more efficient at what I do. They help me to determine what I should go and photograph and what I should avoid. And they allow me to just take in the serenity of Africa without the pressure of having to press the shutter.