Skip to main content

Giedo Van Der Zwan

 

Giedo van der Zwan is renowned for his vibrant street photography—often shot on beaches or at festivals—with a minimal yet powerful setup focused on proximity, light, and spontaneity.

Primary Camera & Lens

  • He consistently shoots with a Leica Q (or Q2)—a 28 mm full-frame compact with a fixed wide-angle lens—perfect for his style of shooting close, fast, and intuitively.

Leica Q2
see it on Amazon
  • In some cases, he has also used the Fuji X100F, another wide-angle fixed-lens camera, offering similar portability.

Fujifilm X100F
see it on Amazon

Lighting: On-Camera Flash

  • He pairs that fixed wide lens with a small flash, shooting brightly-lit, colorful scenes—even in daylight—to create a candid, near-studio effect.

  • This combination allows him to pop the subject into sharp relief against their background, often adding surprising details.

Gear Philosophy: One Camera, One Lens

  • Giedo embraces streamlined gear—just one camera, one lens, and a flash—so he can move quickly and follow his instincts.

  • He shoots close to people, working from multiple perspectives to build layered, sharp, colorful compositions.

Summary

Giedo van der Zwan keeps it simple yet expressive:

  • Leica Q (or Q2) phone-like fixed wide lens

  • On-camera flash for vivid, punchy daylight shots

  • Minimal gear = maximum spontaneity and connection

Popular posts from this blog

Saul Leiter

  Saul Leiter, renowned for his pioneering work in color street photography, utilized a diverse array of camera gear throughout his career, adapting his equipment choices to his evolving artistic vision.   Here's an overview of the cameras and lenses he employed: Film Cameras Leica M4 : During the 1970s and beyond, Leiter frequently used the Leica M4 for his commercial and fashion photography assignments. Leica M4 Leica CL : For street photography, he often opted for the compact Leica CL, appreciating its portability and discreet profile. Leica CL Canon A-1 and AE-1 : Leiter incorporated these Canon models into his street photography repertoire, valuing their versatility and the availability of quality FD lenses. Canon A1 Canon AE-1 Minox 35 EL : Known for its ultra-compact design, the Minox 35 EL was another camera Leiter used, aligning with his preference for unobtrusive equipment. Minix 35 EL Rolleiflex 6x6 : In his early career, particularly during the 1950s, L...

Matt Black

Matt Black, a renowned Magnum photographer, is celebrated for his stark black-and-white imagery that delves into themes of poverty, migration, and environmental issues, particularly in California's Central Valley.   His approach to photography is characterized by a minimalist setup, allowing him to focus on storytelling without the distraction of extensive gear. Camera Equipment Olympus Digital Camera : During his extensive travels for the American Geography project, Black utilized an Olympus digital camera (Olympus OM-D-E-M5 II). This choice provided him with a lightweight and reliable tool suitable for long journeys and varied shooting conditions.  Olympus OM-D-E-M5 II Find it on Amazon Sony RX100 II : for some of his work including his "Geography of Poverty" series and for images posted on Instagram, Black used a Sony RX100 II.  Sony RX100 II Find it on Amazon Hasselblad XPan (Panoramic Film Camera) : Complementing his digital work, Black employed a Hasselblad ...

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson, often called the father of modern photojournalism, is most famously associated with Leica rangefinder cameras and a philosophy centered around the "decisive moment." His gear was intentionally minimalist, allowing him to be discreet, fast, and focused on composition and timing. Camera Bodies Leica Rangefinder Cameras: Cartier-Bresson almost exclusively used Leica 35mm rangefinder cameras throughout his career. He began with the Leica II and Leica III models, both equipped with collapsible 50mm Elmar lenses. After World War II, he transitioned to the Leica M3, which became his main camera for much of his later work. Henri Cartier-Bresson's first Leica Leica M3 Henri Cartier-Bresson's Leica camera Other Formats: On rare occasions, he also used medium format cameras such as the Rolleiflex and Hasselblad, but these were exceptions rather than the rule. Lenses 50mm Lens: His signature lens was the 50mm, most often the collapsible Leica 50mm Summ...