What Camera Gear do they use?

  Nan Goldin (b. 1953) is an American photographer whose raw, diaristic imagery in The Ballad of Sexual Dependency became a benchmark of confessional street photography. Her visual diary chronicles love, gender, addiction, grief, and intimacy within the underground scenes of 1970s–80s Boston and New York. Aesthetic Ethos & Emotional Vision Photography became Goldin’s voice after her teenage years, marked by family tragedy and immersion in Boston’s drag and LGBT communities. Her lens reflects empathy over voyeurism—always capturing subjects she shared life with. Her breakthrough work, The Ballad , premiered as a slideshow of nearly 700 images paired with music—an immersive, cinematic storytelling medium. Gear Journey: Modest Tools, Monumental Impact Instant Film Beginnings Goldin received a Polaroid camera in high school , which she credits with giving her the confidence to engage people and document her inner circle. Shooting Polaroid forced immediacy and direct connectio...

  While Sophie Calle is primarily celebrated as a conceptual and performance artist, photography plays a central role in her work. She has used a variety of camera tools—sometimes with her own hands, sometimes commissioning professionals—to suit the conceptual needs of each project.  Here’s a breakdown: 35 mm Film Cameras (Personal Use & Surveillance) For work like Suite Vénitienne (1979), she followed a subject secretly through Venice using a 35 mm setup with a mirror attachment , allowing her to shoot discreetly around corners as a kind of “private eye”. Her camera was a Leica and the device a Squintar. Squintar Early on, her personal camera was unspecified, often tucked into bags or pockets—one she reportedly received from her father—and she used it intuitively without formal technique or gear preference. She also mentions taking photographs with her phone. Polaroid & Hired Fashion Cameramen For projects without interpersonal interaction—like photographing...