What Camera Gear do they use?

  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...

  Blake Andrews – Observing Life’s Quiet, Strange Poetry Blake Andrews (b. 1968) is a prolific American street photographer and blogger based in Eugene, Oregon. A member of the In-Public collective, he built a reputation through subtle, quirky black-and-white images that balance the everyday with a sharp, visual wit. His work challenges expectations of street photography—he's less about decisive moments and more about lingering on the oddly poetic or quietly absurd. Camera Gear Andrews favors unassuming, practical tools that let him stay alert, nimble, and fully engaged with his surroundings: Black-and-white film (Kentmere, Arista) – "I’m a cheapskate," he admits, using whatever’s affordable—and embracing imperfection in the negative as part of his aesthetic. 35 mm rangefinder bodies (e.g. vintage Leicas, though he doesn’t fixate on a specific make), favored for discreet, responsive shooting. Blake Andrew's vintage Leica iPhone – used intermittently, esp...

  Dante Sisofo – Street Photography as Visual Diary Dante Sisofo is a Philadelphia-born street photographer whose lens is trained on everyday human moments, light, and rhythm. A graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art, Sisofo’s work spans from city streets to international scenes in Jerusalem, Zambia, and Mumbai—infusing his images with empathy, awareness, and quiet energy. His practice is deeply personal, rooted in spontaneity, grounded in presence, and guided by the belief that photography is an act of exploration, connection, and storytelling. Camera Gear Sisofo’s minimalist toolkit supports his fast-moving, intuitive style—never getting in the way between him and his subjects: Ricoh GR III & GR IIIx – compact, fixed-lens compacts perfect for spontaneous street shooting and capturing light and emotion quickly Ricoh GR IIIx HDF see it on Amazon GoPro Mini – used occasionally for immersive or experimental perspectives GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini see it on Amazon In...

Hiroshi Tabata: A Quiet Eye on Movement, Light & Everyday Humanity Born in Japan and now based in Brighton, UK, Hiroshi Tabata is celebrated for his contemplative black‑and‑white street photography. His visual sensibility is rooted in simplicity, observation, and the quiet poetry of human movement. Vision & Philosophy Tabata returned to photography around 2015 after a hiatus, rekindling his passion through candid street work—first in London, now in Brighton. His interest lies in “people on the move”—the fleeting gestures, crowds, and delicate rhythms of daily life. He creates what he calls “photography of presence”: moments captured at particular times and places, now part of his personal visual diary. Camera Gear & Workflow Though few photographers openly disclose all their gear, Tabata’s setup reflects his minimalist, mindful approach. Leica Film Rangefinder (M-series) Tabata began shooting around 2010 with a Leica M6 , drawn to its quiet shutter and reliabil...

  John Sypal is an American-born, Tokyo-based photographer whose keen observations of analog camera culture evolved into Tokyo Camera Style (TCS) —a celebrated platform documenting the vibrant world of film photography in Japan. His journey is deeply tied to film, darkrooms, and a disciplined aesthetic built around simplicity and consistency.  Camera Gear: Minimalism in Motion John’s gear reflects his belief in becoming inseparable from one reliable tool, avoiding distraction by excessive choice. Core Setup (Film-Based) Leica MP (often chrome) with 35mm Summicron lens is his primary camera—and often the only one he carries. Around since 2006, it’s handled countless rolls. Leica MP He also has a Leica M5 , a 28mm Elmarit , and 50mm Summicron / Elmar‑M lenses—though the MP + 35mm remains his steadfast tool. Leica M5 He shoots exclusively on film: Fuji Presto 400 and Super Presto 1600 , which he develops at home with Kodak HC‑110 . Prints are made in his darkroom and ...

  Ako Salemi is an Iranian-born photojournalist and street photographer, now based in the U.S. His poetic images of daily life in Tehran have won international attention, showing city streets under cinematic light and human stories unfolding amid architectural geometry. A Visual Voice Formed by Light and Silence Born in Bukan, Kurdistan, in 1981, Salemi initially studied drama before discovering that photography—especially street photography—matched his introspective nature better. He worked for years as a photojournalist in Iran before turning to a more expressive, poetic style rooted in his love of classic cinema and visual tension . Since about 2014, he has become known on Instagram as @f64s125 , posting visual stories of Tehran shaped by striking light and shadow, formal alignment, and everyday poetry. Gear: The Mobile Camera That Lets Him Blend In Ako Salemi shoots almost exclusively with a smartphone , embracing its speed and stealth for street photography: He began by...

  Nick Hannes (b. 1974, Antwerp; lives in Ranst, Belgium) is a celebrated documentary photographer and educator. With a background in photojournalism, he shifted toward independent long-form photography—publishing acclaimed books like Red Journey , Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man , Garden of Delight , and New Capital . His work explores urbanization, migration, and globalization across six newly built capitals—astutely observing power, spectacle, and absurdity under the sun. Camera Gear: Precision, Discretion & Speed Nick’s long-term projects demand mobility, minimalism, and responsiveness. While most gear details remain private, credible interviews confirm: Primary Recent Work Cameras : Nikon D810 and Sony A7R III are the main tools he uses for documentary projects. Nikon D810 see it on Amazon Sony A7R III see it on Amazon Earlier Toolkit : During his traditional picture journalism era (e.g. covering local traditions), he reportedly used Nikon D3 and D3x bodie...

  Gustavo Minas , the Brazilian-born photographer based in Brasília and São Paulo, crafts visual essays in color that feel like living paintings—full of reflections, architectural geometry, people in motion, and sharp contrasts. Although his inner world is dense and cinematic, his camera gear has evolved with intention and clarity. Gear Journey: From Fuji X100 to X‑Pro3 Fujifilm X100 (2014–2016) Minas discovered Fujifilm in 2014 when his DSLR broke. He borrowed an X100 and immediately fell in love with its slide-film color aesthetic and compactness. He then transitioned to the X‑Pro1 with a 27 mm lens , giving him more compositional control and a 41 mm equivalent field of view, better suited to Brasília’s urban scale . Fujifilm X100 Fujifilm X‑Pro1 → X‑Pro2 In 2016, Minas upgraded to the X‑Pro1 + 27 mm and the versatile 18–55 mm zoom , which allowed him to work with layered reflections and unified depth, blending planes into visual metaphors .  Fujifilm X-Pro1 He moved to the...

  Pau Buscató is a Barcelona-born street photographer now based in Oslo, Norway. Widely admired for his surreal, humorous, and often poetic compositions, Buscató has carved out a unique place in contemporary street photography by capturing fleeting moments that seem almost too perfect to be real — visual coincidences, playful alignments, and subtle absurdities that reveal themselves only to the most attentive eye. But what's most remarkable is not just what he captures — it’s how he captures it: with minimalist tools and a deep reliance on instinct, patience, and awareness. Philosophy First: Why Less Is More Pau Buscató believes in reducing distractions and allowing vision to take the lead. He emphasizes that street photography is not about chasing gear, trends, or presets—it’s about being fully present , visually alert , and open to the surprises of everyday life. “I try to go out every day to shoot. I want to keep my eye trained and sharp. Most of the time I come back with n...

  Here’s what reliable sources report about Jake Ricker’s camera gear : Primary Film Camera & Film Leica M7 with a 35 mm Summicron ASPH lens , typically shot on Kodak UltraMax 400 color film. He specifically aims to use: “One location, one camera, one film” — though recent film supply issues have reduced his shooting volume . Leica M7 He’s documented the Golden Gate Bridge almost daily since 2018, shooting thousands of rolls with this M7‑35 mm setup. Alternate Film Cameras Occasionally uses Nikon N80 and Leica M4‑P , again with Kodak 35 mm film, to support other documentary work beyond the bridge project. Nikon N80 see it on Amazon Leica M4-P Older Background Gear Early in his life, Ricker received a Pentax K1000 , which sparked his love of film photography during high school classes—though that camera is no longer part of his current working kit . Pentax K1000 He also carried a Contax T3 strapped to his messenger bag in his bike messenger days, used along wi...