What Camera Gear do they use?

  Ralph Gibson: Precision, Light, and the Leica Legacy Ralph Gibson, born in 1939 in Los Angeles, is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary photography. Known for his striking use of shadow, geometry, and surreal abstraction, Gibson has built an entire career around the discipline of seeing — and the precision of his beloved Leica cameras. Camera Gear Leica M rangefinders – primarily the Leica M6 and later the Leica M9 , M Monochrom , and Leica Q2 Monochrom . Leica M6 Leica M9 Leica M11 Monochrom Leica Q2 Lenses: predominantly 50 mm Summicron and 35 mm Summilux lenses. Film: for decades, Gibson shot exclusively on Kodak Tri-X 400 black-and-white film, which defined his signature tonal style. Digital transition: In recent years, he has embraced digital Leicas while maintaining the same minimalist discipline — one camera, one lens, one idea. Technique and Vision Ralph Gibson’s photographs are about perception rather than documentation. He composes wi...

  Chris Steele-Perkins: Humanity in Everyday Britain Chris Steele-Perkins (b. 1947, Burma/UK) is a British photographer and long-time member of Magnum Photos, known for his powerful documentation of British life, identity, and social change. From his seminal work The Teds — chronicling British youth culture in the 1970s — to his later projects across Africa and Japan, Steele-Perkins’s images combine compassion, structure, and a sharp sense of storytelling. Camera Gear Chris Steele-Perkins has used a range of cameras throughout his career — from classic 35mm film systems to digital full-frame setups — always prioritizing realism, immediacy, and intimacy. Film Era Leica M4  –  He stated he liked his Leica camera because it was "tough, simple and small" and mentioned using a Leica M4 for his work from The Teds project to his work in Afghanistan and Japan. Leica M4 Canon F-1 was another camera he was known for using Canon F-1 Kodak Tri-X 400 Film – A constant c...

Arnold Newman: The Master of Environmental Portraiture Arnold Newman (1918–2006, USA) was one of the most important portrait photographers of the 20th century. Celebrated as the pioneer of environmental portraiture , Newman placed his subjects within their personal or professional surroundings — creating images that revealed as much about their character and work as about their appearance. His portraits of Picasso, Stravinsky, and Kennedy are timeless studies in visual storytelling and composition. Camera Gear Arnold Newman worked across decades of photographic evolution, mastering both film and lighting with remarkable precision. His choice of tools reflected a commitment to control, clarity, and depth. Film Cameras Large Format 4x5 View Cameras – Used extensively for studio and on-location portraits, offering unmatched detail and tonal range. Arnold Newman and 4x5 Medium Format Cameras (Rolleiflex 2.8F, Hasselblad 500C) – His preferred systems for environmental portraits and ...

  Annie Leibovitz: The Art of Portraiture and Precision Annie Leibovitz (b. 1949, USA) is one of the most influential portrait photographers of the modern era. Her work has defined visual culture across five decades — from Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair covers to intimate portraits of artists, politicians, and cultural icons. Leibovitz’s photographs are theatrical, meticulously staged, and instantly recognizable for their cinematic lighting and storytelling power. Camera Gear Throughout her long career, Annie Leibovitz has adapted her tools to match the evolving demands of her work — from film-based reportage to high-end studio portraiture. Film Era Nikon F and Nikon FM2 – Her early cameras during the Rolling Stone years, when she photographed musicians like Mick Jagger and John Lennon. Nikon FM2 Kodak Tri-X and Ektachrome – Classic film stocks used for their reliability and tonal depth. Medium Format Cameras (Mamiya RZ67 Pro) – Became her tool of choice for editorial...

  Constantine Manos: The Vibrant Eye of America Constantine Manos (b. 1934) is a Greek-American photographer whose work blends documentary precision with a painterly eye for light and color. A longtime member of Magnum Photos, Manos has spent decades chronicling American life, from the South in the 1960s to the vivid street scenes of contemporary cities. His images capture both the extraordinary and the ordinary, finding poetry in everyday gestures and fleeting moments. Camera Gear Manos’s choice of cameras has evolved over time, but always with an emphasis on tools that allow him to work quickly and remain immersed in the street. Leica M Rangefinders – A cornerstone of his practice, particularly the Leica M6 , known for its reliability and compact form. Leica M6 Leica Lenses – Typically 28mm and 35mm focal lengths, perfect for close engagement with his subjects. Kodachrome Film – Central to his richly colored work in American Color , offering unmatched tonal depth. ...

  W. Eugene Smith: The Relentless Eye of Human Truth Few photographers embody the spirit of uncompromising dedication to truth and storytelling like W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978) . Known for his searing photo-essays in LIFE magazine and his meticulous commitment to documentary work, Smith revolutionized photojournalism. His projects, from Country Doctor to his magnum opus Minamata , captured the raw struggles and resilience of humanity. Smith was not only a master of light and composition but also a photographer who often risked his health and safety to pursue the story behind every frame. Camera Gear W. Eugene Smith’s work spanned decades of rapid technological evolution in photography, but he remained consistent in his use of durable, high-quality gear that could withstand his grueling fieldwork. His equipment was chosen for reliability and image quality above all else. Minolta SRT-101 : Smith used the camera for his famous Minamata work Minolta SRT-101 Leica Rangefinders –...

  Vivian Maier – The Mysterious Maestro of Street Imagery Vivian Dorothy Maier (1926–2009) was an American photographer whose astounding body of street photography remained undiscovered during her lifetime.  Working quietly as a nanny in Chicago, she captured over 100,000 images—mostly in black and white—of city life, and layered them with humanity, wit, and emotional resonance.  Her work only emerged after being discovered in a storage auction in 2007, compelling the world to recognize her visual genius posthumously. Camera Gear Vivian Maier favored tools that allowed candid observation and compositional focus: Rolleiflex Twin-Lens Reflex (TLR) : Her principal tool. Models included the 3.5T, 3.5F, 2.8C, and Automat versions—used for their waist-level viewfinder, medium-format quality, and discrete operation. Rolleiflex TLR Kodak Brownie Box Camera : Her first camera, simple and basic—used during her early years in France. Vivian Maier's Kodak Brownie 35 mm Ran...

  Paul Strand – The Father of Modern Photography Paul Strand (1890–1976) is often hailed as one of the founding figures of modern photography . His career bridged the worlds of art and social documentation, shaping the medium into both a form of creative expression and a tool for truth-telling. From his abstract studies in New York to his portraits of ordinary people and vast documentary projects across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, Strand’s work established photography as a serious art form on par with painting and sculpture. His uncompromising vision, combined with his mastery of photographic tools, continues to influence generations of photographers. Camera Gear Strand primarily used large format view cameras , including 5x7 and later 8x10 models. These heavy, tripod-mounted machines gave him the precision and detail he sought in his landscapes and portraits. For his early street photography, he often relied on a Graflex camera , modified with a dummy lens that allowed ...