What Camera Gear do they use?

  Françoise Huguier – A Traveling Eye and Cinematic Gaze Françoise Huguier (b. 1942) is a French photographer whose career spans fashion, documentary reportage, and deeply personal travel narratives. Growing up in Indochina and later documenting life in Africa, Siberia, and Russia, she weaves cinematic storytelling with empathetic intimacy.  Huguier’s celebrated books—such as Sur les traces de l’Afrique fantôme and Kommounalki — showcase her profound ability to blend cultural observation with emotional resonance. Camera Gear Françoise Huguier’s gear choices are less documented than her imagery, yet clear from her approach—favoring tools that move quietly with her and allow for deep immersion: No fixed signature camera —she adapts her equipment to the context of each assignment, from intimate portraits to expansive landscapes. Zenit : in her early years, she used an old Zenit camera.  Zenit Nikon : Françoise Huguier has indicated in a video for Nikon that she alway...

  Robert Capa – The Fearless Eye of War Robert Capa (1913–1954), born Endre Friedmann in Hungary, was one of the greatest war photographers of the 20th century. Renowned for his motto “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” Capa documented five major wars, from the Spanish Civil War to the First Indochina War where he tragically lost his life. His raw, immersive images captured not just the chaos of battle but the human spirit enduring within it. He remains a towering figure in the history of photojournalism and a co-founder of the Magnum Photos agency. Camera Gear Capa was known for using lightweight, reliable gear that allowed him to stay agile in dangerous war zones: Leica III rangefinder cameras – his primary tool during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, loaded with 35mm film for fast shooting. Leica III Contax II rangefinder – another favorite, valued for its Zeiss lenses and rugged build. Nikon rangefinders (later years) – for grea...

  Peter Turnley – Witness to the Human Condition Peter Turnley (b. 1955) is an American photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work has taken him across more than 90 countries. Known for his deeply humanistic approach, Turnley has covered many of the most significant world events of the past four decades, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to conflicts in the Middle East. His photography, often in striking black and white, balances historical documentation with a poetic sensitivity to everyday life. Camera Gear Turnley has long favored cameras that allow for intimacy, discretion, and immediacy — essential tools for a photojournalist capturing unfolding history: Leica M Rangefinders – his signature choice, particularly the Leica M6 and Leica M9 , for their unobtrusiveness and precision. Leica 35mm and 50mm lenses – classic focal lengths that let him work close to his subjects while keeping compositions natural. Nikon DSLRs – used in some of his later color w...

  Mary Ellen Mark (1940–2015) was a renowned American photographer celebrated for her compassionate and intimate portraits of people living on society’s margins—from street children in Seattle to circus performers, mental hospital patients, and twin festivals. A Format for Every Story 35 mm Street & Documentary Work Started with analog film: Kodak Brownie at age 9, then Leica M-series rangefinders (e.g., M6 TTL ) and Canon EOS-1N with wide angles (24mm–35mm). Leica M6 She favored 35 mm for fast-moving, immersive street or reportage work—pre-focusing at common distances for rapid response and discretion. Medium Format (6×6 & 6×7) for Portraiture and Formal Essays Employed Hasselblad bodies (often with 60mm lens) and Mamiya 7 with 43/50/65 mm focal lengths. Mamiya 7 Medium format allowed her to build slower, more considered portraits—each frame weighted with presence and visual clarity. Large Format & Polaroid 20×24 ≈ Monumental Projects For amb...

  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...

  David Ingraham has embraced the iPhone as his primary photographic tool , using it to craft moody, cinematic street photography with remarkable agility and subtlety. Primary Camera: iPhone (since ~2012) He has been shooting exclusively with an iPhone for around six to twelve years , crediting it for giving him the invisibility needed to capture natural, unguarded moments on the street. Early on, he used an iPhone 4 , then an iPhone 8, and currently shoots with a later iPhone model (likely iPhone 12 Pro or newer) . iPhone 12 Pro see it on Amazon He typically uses the stock camera app , sometimes with Apple's built-in Noir filter, favoring spontaneity and ease. Post‑Processing: Apps & Style His black-and-white conversions are done using Snapseed , and occasionally older apps like Hipstamatic and BlurFX for grainy or motion effects. In his early iPhoneography days, he experimented with multiple apps, but has since simplified to just a few, focusing on tonal con...

  S Paul—born Sharampal “S” Paul—was a legendary Indian photojournalist, and his gear reflected both the depth and breadth of his passion: Early & Medium Format Gear Zeiss Ikon 6×6 medium-format (e.g., Nettar): his first professional camera, used during his early development in Shimla in the 1950s . Zeiss Ikon Nettar First paying camera: Rolleiflex : a pivotal medium-format twin-lens reflex that helped launch his career. Renowned “Gear Collector” Owned over 100 cameras , spanning multiple brands and formats, always eager to explore new tools . Later Gear (Visual Evidence & Interviews): Sony Alpha 7 / A7 series He was often photographed with it in his hands during photo walks and interviews. Lightweight and mirrorless, the Sony A7 likely appealed to him because of: Full-frame sensor with high dynamic range Compact body (compared to DSLRs) Compatibility with classic lenses via adapters — important for someone with a vast camera collection. ...

Sam Abell, renowned for his poetic storytelling in National Geographic, embraces a minimalist yet potent approach to photography gear: Minimalist Philosophy Abell prefers “ less gear ,” typically carrying just one or two camera bodies with different prime lenses to stay fully “in the moment” Classic Minimalism: Leica & Olympus (Film Years) He carried two Leica rangefinder bodies (M-series primarily, with some use of R-series SLRs) . His go‑to “walk-around” lenses were a 28 mm wide-angle and a 90 mm for more focused shots. Occasionally used Olympus bodies (notably models with spot-metering, like the OM‑4T) with the same lens pair . Abell avoided flash and heavy gear, preferring available light and micro composition to create “short‑story” images Sam Abell with Leica R4 Transition to Digital: Canon Setup Currently, when he collaborates with Canon, his gear includes: A Canon EOS 5D Mark III body with battery pack and charger youtube.com usa.canon.com . ...

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...

  Danny Lyon Danny Lyon, whose career spans the civil rights movement, outlaw biker subculture, and prison reportage, has favored a diverse range of gear across decades—suitable for documentary immersion and cinematic storytelling. Early Equipment Exa 35 mm SLR Bought in Munich during his Europe travels before joining the University of Chicago; his first photographic tool around 1959–1960 . Exa 35mm Leica M-series Used early alongside his Exa; small, quiet, ideal for the high-stakes environments of 1960s civil rights protests . Nikon Reflex (early Nikon F) Became his “real workhorse” during his Bikeriders years—loaded with Tri‑X and mounted with a 105 mm lens for dynamic street shots . Danny Lyon and his Nikon F Rolleiflex Carried during Bikeriders era, often paired with his Nikon and motorcycle kit. Large-Format & Field Cameras Calumet view camera Purchased in Manhattan post-1967 for architectural and demolition photography—cheap but effective for lower ...