What Camera Gear do they use?

  Patrick Joust (b. 1978, Oroville, CA) is a self-taught photographer living in Baltimore whose work explores urban life at night, everyday rituals, and Americana. His photographs are deeply rooted in the slow, human pace of analog, yet they resonate with cinematic clarity and emotional depth. Visual Philosophy & Practice Joust views photography as a way to engage with time and memory—a method of making sense of daily life through visible evidence and quiet attention. Inspired by poetry, cinema, and visual diarists like William Eggleston and Joel Meyerowitz, he uses photography as both exploration and understanding. His photographic categories vary widely—street, nighttime, urban landscapes, nature—but his consistent emotional through-line is curiosity, observation, and poetic noticing. Gear & Format Overview Patrick’s equipment reflects his interest in variety, spontaneity, and tactile engagement with photography: Film-First Practice : Predominantly shoots medium fo...

  Chrystofer Davis is a documentary and fine art photographer based in Newark, New Jersey. His work is rooted in community, identity, and everyday life , and he's known for creating deeply human, often poetic images of urban America — especially within the vibrant and evolving neighborhoods of Newark. Davis is not just a photographer; he’s an educator, mentor, and advocate for making photography accessible to youth and underrepresented communities. His images reflect the life, energy, and resilience of people and places often overlooked, and his camera is as much a storytelling tool as it is a creative one. Camera Gear Chrystofer Davis uses both film and digital cameras , and his practice reflects a deep respect for analog photography — something he incorporates into both his art and teaching. Film Cameras Davis is especially passionate about 35mm and medium format film , using cameras such as: Nikon F3 – a classic 35mm SLR known for its reliability and clean design. Nikon F...

  Jeff Wall is a Canadian artist best known for his large-scale, backlit photographic tableaux that blur the line between reality and fiction. A pioneer of the "staged photography" movement, Wall’s work is influenced by painting, cinema, and literature — often echoing the compositional grandeur of classical art but through the medium of contemporary photography. While many photographers capture moments that unfold before them, Jeff Wall builds his moments. His works are often the result of weeks or even months of planning, casting, lighting, and post-production — making his gear choices central to his ability to construct seamless, believable scenes with extraordinary detail. Camera Gear & Process Cameras Jeff Wall has used a variety of large- and medium-format film cameras , and more recently digital systems, including: Linhof Technika 4×5 view camera (in earlier works) Linhof Master Technika Classic Hasselblad medium format systems Phase One IQ digital bac...

  Helmut Newton (1920–2004) was a German-Australian photographer whose provocative, cinematic imagery—often erotic, stylized, and framed in urban or hotel settings—became iconic in fashion and portrait photography. His work appeared extensively in Vogue and Elle , and he was celebrated for images that blended scripted glamour with moments of candid surprise. Camera Gear & Toolkit An Equipped Minimalist Newton famously kept his kit small yet versatile: Four camera bodies , five lenses , a strobe, and a Polaroid camera—all fitting in one bag under 40 lbs . This minimalist setup enabled him to work anywhere with ease . Over his career, he experimented with a variety of systems including a 4×5 Graflex Super D , Rolleiflex TLR , Nikon , Canon , Pentax , Olympus , Instamatic , and even point‑and‑shoot compacts like the Stylus Epic —often choosing whichever tools suited the situation best . Graflex Super D Helmut Newton and camera He is seen on a number of pictures using a ...

  Edward Weston , one of the most influential American photographers of the 20th century, is best known for his large-format black-and-white work. Here’s a breakdown of the camera gear he used throughout his career: Primary Camera Gear 8×10 View Camera (Large Format) Camera Type : 8×10 inch view camera Brands : Several over time, including Century Universal and Eastman View Camera No. 2-D Purpose : Used for the vast majority of his most iconic images— nudes , still lifes , landscapes , and vegetables (e.g., his famous pepper series). Eastman View No. 2 Lenses Weston used large-format lenses compatible with his 8×10 camera: Cooke Convertible Lens (12", 13.5", and 21") Goerz Dagor lens (widely respected at the time for sharpness and contrast) Rapid Rectilinear lenses earlier in his career He focused heavily on lens quality and sharpness , choosing lenses that would give him the greatest tonal control and detail in contact prints. Film and ...

  Michael Kenna is deeply associated with a quintessential — yet minimalist — analog setup that reflects his artistic vision. Here's a breakdown of the gear he uses: Main Camera: Hasselblad Medium Format (since the 1980s) Kenna primarily works with Hasselblad medium-format cameras – fully manual, mechanically reliable, and ideal for his long-exposure landscapes . He typically carries: 2 bodies : from the 500 CM Series 2 viewfinders (metered pentaprism + waist-level) 2 film backs 5 lenses , often Schneider Kreuznach primes: 50 mm, 80 mm, and 135 mm. This gear lives in his backpack (tripod excluded) as he hikes and shoots over long hours. Hasselblad 500 C/M Exposure Style: Ultra Long Exposures Typical exposures range from 10–30 minutes , and he’s known for even eight-hour night shots . His goal: embrace unpredictability—fog, cloud movement, lens effects—as part of the image . Toy Camera: Holga for Experimentation Kenna also carries Holga plastic ~m...

Stephen Shore is known for his pioneering work in color photography and for elevating everyday American scenes into art, particularly in the 1970s. His gear evolved significantly over time, depending on the phase of his work.  Here’s a breakdown of what cameras he has used: Early Work (1960s) 35mm Leica M3 Used during his teenage years while documenting Andy Warhol’s Factory Equipped with standard Leica lenses Leica M3 1970s: Iconic Color Work (e.g., Uncommon Places , American Surfaces ) 🔹 American Surfaces (1972–1973) Rollei 35 (compact 35mm camera) Very small and portable Allowed him to shoot casually and frequently in color Shot on Kodak color negative film Rollei 35 🔹 Uncommon Places (mid-1970s onward) Linhof Technika IV 4x5 Large format camera Used with color 4x5" sheet film (Kodak) Shifted to more deliberate compositions, with extreme detail and clarity Often mounted on a tripod Linhof Technika IV 4x5 Deardorff 8x10 View Ca...

David Bailey’s camera gear has evolved from modest beginnings through to top-tier film and digital setups.  Here's an enhanced breakdown: Early Career & Film Era Rolleiflex TLR (2.8F / 3.5F) His first camera came via Singapore during his National Service—a cheap Rolleiflex copy that kickstarted his iconic portrait style .  He continued using higher-end versions (Zeiss Planar, Schneider Xenotar) for medium-format studio work . Rolleiflex 2.8F Pentax Spotmatic S3 (35 mm SLR) Switched for portability and reliability, especially favored for street and candid shoots. He admired its durability and Takumar lens lineup—particularly the 15 mm f/3.5 . Pentax Spotmatic S3 Nikon & Nikkormat SLRs Also used these earlier, learning what he liked and eventually returning to Pentax for quality consistency. Studio & Magazine Work Large-format cameras (5×4 / 10×8 inch) Preferred for high-end studio and editorial projects. Bailey noted each sheet cost ~£50, but valued ...