What Camera Gear do they use?

  Gordon Parks: The Humanist Storyteller Who Changed American Photography Introduction Gordon Parks (1912–2006) was one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century — a photographer, filmmaker, writer, and composer whose work reshaped how America saw itself. As the first Black photographer and later the first Black staff photographer at Life magazine, Parks used his camera as a weapon against racism, poverty, and injustice. Raised in poverty in Kansas, Parks taught himself photography and quickly developed a visual language rooted in dignity, empathy, and moral clarity. His images confront social inequality head-on while preserving the humanity of his subjects. From civil rights leaders to everyday families living under segregation, Parks documented American life with courage and compassion. More than a photographer, Parks was a storyteller. His images were not just records — they were arguments, poems, and calls for change. Camera Gear Used by Gordon Parks Gordon Pa...

  Philippe Halsman: Inventor of “Jumpology” and the Environmental Portrait Philippe Halsman (1906–1979, born Riga, Latvia) was a portrait photographer known for his creativity, technical inventiveness, and psychological depth. He designed custom cameras, used large-format and TLR systems, and was obsessed with light, gesture, and the unexpected. His portraits for Life , collaborations with Salvador Dalí (e.g. Dalí Atomicus ), and his own “Jump Book” project remain hallmarks of 20th-century photography. Camera Gear Here are camera tools and setups directly confirmed from sources, or with strong evidence: Old view camera (plate camera, ~9×12 cm) — Halsman started young, using a view camera found in the attic. Twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera designed by Halsman himself — He constructed a 9×12 cm twin-lens reflex in the 1930s, later other dual-lens (twin-lens) large-format “Halsman” cameras. Hasselblads and Rolleiflex TLRs — Used for certain portrait and reportage work. ...

  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 Nanny Photographer Who Secretly Captured America’s Streets Introduction Vivian Maier (1926–2009) is one of the most astonishing discoveries in 20th-century photography. Unknown during her lifetime, Maier worked as a nanny while privately producing more than 150,000 photographs that would only be discovered after her death. Her incredible archive reveals a street photographer of immense talent — curious, empathetic, bold, and visually sophisticated. Maier roamed the streets of Chicago and New York with a Rolleiflex around her neck, quietly documenting daily life with humor, psychological depth, and poetic timing. Today, she is recognized as one of the greatest street photographers ever to live, her work standing alongside icons such as Robert Frank, Helen Levitt and Garry Winogrand. 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...

  Here’s a structured profile of Elliott Erwitt —focusing on his photographic vision, iconic work, and the cameras that helped him document life with wit and humanity: Elliott Erwitt: Master of Life’s Subtle Ironies — and the Cameras He Trusted Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023) was a legendary Magnum photographer celebrated for capturing candid moments full of humor, compassion, and uncanny visual wit. His images—whether of dogs, famous personalities, or everyday urban vignettes—convey candid truth through simplicity and timing. Visual Style & Biography Born in Paris to Russian émigrés and raised in Italy and the U.S., Erwitt developed an early sensitivity to cultural nuance and irony. After studying photography and filmmaking, he joined Magnum Photos in 1953 and went on to produce iconic images of children, dogs, world leaders, celebrities, and intrusions of absurdity into daily life . His signature lies in the surprising conjunction: a pair of boots beside a tiny dog, a couple ki...

  Man Ray (1890–1976), the legendary avant-garde artist, was best known for his experimental photographic techniques rather than for being associated with specific camera gear.  However, here’s what we know about the equipment he used: Cameras Man Ray Used Large-format view cameras (plate cameras) Man Ray primarily worked with large-format cameras that used glass plates or sheet film, common in the early 20th century. These cameras allowed precise control over focus and exposure, essential for his portrait and fashion work in Paris. Specific brands/models are not well-documented, but likely candidates include: Voigtländer , Zeiss , or Contessa-Nettel plate cameras Possibly Graflex or similar American studio cameras during his early career Rolleiflex TLR (later years) In his later career, when technology advanced, he is reported to have occasionally used a Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex for more portable work. Rolleiflex TLR More important than the camera: his te...

Larry Clark is best known for his gritty, handheld film photography, and the gear he favored reflects that intimate, documentary style. Film Cameras Rolleiflex TLR : He frequently carried a twin-lens Rolleiflex, often with a strobe in his car—his go‑to in street environments. Rolleiflex TLR Leica (likely M4) : Known to have used a Leica M4 paired with a 35mm lens for projects like Tulsa and Teenage Lust—combining portrait-like composition with decisive framing. Leica M4 Clark’s early work (1960s–70s) was shot on 35 mm black-and-white film, possibly Kodak Tri‑X or Plus‑X, underexposing highlights to preserve shadows and achieve his signature high-contrast aesthetic. Analog, Always on Hand He was notorious for " always having a camera ": the Rolleiflex and flash were permanent fixtures in his car—his friends expected him to document whatever unfolded. Cinematic Shift By the '90s, Clark evolved into filmmaking. On movies such as Kids , Wassup Rockers , and others...

  Brassaï (born Gyula Halász, 1899–1984), the famed photographer of Paris by night, used relatively simple but effective camera gear suited to his distinctive low-light, nocturnal photography. Cameras Brassaï used Voigtländer Bergheil 6.5×9 cm folding plate camera → This was Brassaï’s primary camera, equipped with a Voigtländer Heliar f/4.5 lens . → It used glass plates , offering large negatives (6.5×9 cm) that could produce high-quality prints with rich detail. Voigtlander Bergheil 6.5 x 9 Occasionally: Rolleiflex TLR (Twin-Lens Reflex) in later years Rolleiflex TLR Some sources mention he experimented with Leica for certain reportage-style work, but the Voigtländer was his iconic tool. Why the Voigtländer Bergheil? It was compact (for a plate camera), foldable, and portable enough for night walks in Paris. The Heliar lens provided a distinctive rendering, with beautiful tonal gradation and subtle softness in highlights—perfect for the atmospheric, moo...

  Saul Leiter: The Quiet Poet of Color and Reflection Introduction Saul Leiter (1923–2013) is celebrated as one of the most lyrical and understated photographers of the 20th century. Although he worked for decades in relative obscurity, Leiter helped pioneer color photography in the 1940s and 50s — long before color was accepted as an artistic medium. Living and working in New York’s East Village, he created a world of muted tones, soft abstractions, and intimate street scenes influenced as much by painting as by photography. Leiter’s images feel like quiet poems: fogged windows, silhouettes in the rain, reflections in shop glass, and fragments of the city seen through passing umbrellas or bus windows. Today, he is revered for his delicate vision and for showing that beauty often hides in the margins of ordinary life. Camera Gear Used by Saul Leiter Leiter’s choice of gear was simple, modest, and perfectly suited to his gentle way of seeing. Primary Cameras Leica IIIg &...