§ Gear List
What to Pack
The kit each expedition asks for, distilled from years in the field. Pack light, pack right.
For Every Expedition
- — Camera body (full-frame preferred) with spare battery
- — Lens cloth and air blower
- — Sturdy travel tripod
- — Remote shutter release or intervalometer
- — Sufficient memory cards (raw shooting)
- — Rain cover for your kit
- — Power adapter for the destination
Expedition · N 32.6° / E 129.7°
Hashima (Gunkanjima) — Nagasaki, Japan — THE BATTLE ISLAND
- — DSLR or mirrorless camera body (weather-sealed — salt spray is constant)
- — Wide-angle lens (16–35mm or 14–24mm) for the tight corridors and tower interiors
- — Standard zoom (24–70mm) for documentary and architectural detail
- — A fast prime (35mm or 50mm f/1.4 or faster) for the dim interiors
- — Sturdy tripod with ball head — essential for long exposures in low light
- — Cable or remote shutter release
- — Polarizing filter for the sea and harbour reflections
- — Neutral density filters for long-exposure work on the crossing
- — Lens cleaning kit — microfiber, blower, and sensor swabs (salt and dust are relentless)
- — Extra batteries — cold sea air and long exposures drain them quickly
- — Sufficient memory cards (64GB or larger recommended)
- — Laptop with editing software for daily critique sessions
- — External hard drive for backup of each day's work
- — Headlamp with red light mode for early crossings and dim interiors
- — Rain cover for camera and a dry bag for the boat crossings
- — Gloves with grip for handling gear and steadying yourself on rough concrete
- — Sturdy non-slip footwear — surfaces are wet, broken, and uneven
- — Layered clothing with a windproof outer layer — the sea wind is cold even in November
Expedition · S 50.9° / W 73.4°
Desert of Atacama — Southern Patagonia, Chile — ATLAS OF THE LAST LIGHT
- — 24-70mm and 70-200mm
- — Sturdy carbon tripod
- — Polarizer and 3-stop ND
- — Rain cover for kit
- — Windproof shell layers
- — Microspikes
Expedition · ≈ 8,100 km · 3 countries · 7 time zones
St Petersburg, Russia — Mongolia — Beijing, China — EASTWARD, UNTIL THE WORLD CHANGES ALPHABET
- — Two compact weather-sealed camera bodies; silent shutter; matching sensors if possible.
- — Lenses: 28 / 50 / 85 mm, or 24–70 + 85; avoid unnecessary long lenses.
- — Two encrypted 2 TB SSDs + copies on separate cards; offline catalogue.
- — Six batteries, compact power strip, power bank compliant with Chinese railway regulations.
- — Shell jacket, thermal layers, thin gloves, anti-condensation bags, cloth and brush.
- — Pocket instant printer or small prepared prints to give back.
Expedition · S 26.7° / E 15.2°
Namibia — Angola — THE LOST WORLD
- — DSLR or mirrorless camera body (weather-sealed recommended for dust)
- — Wide-angle lens (16–35mm or 14–24mm) for landscapes and interiors
- — Standard zoom (24–70mm) for general and documentary work
- — Telephoto lens (70–200mm) and a longer option (100–400mm or 150–600mm) for wildlife
- — Sturdy tripod with ball head — essential for dawn, dusk, and astrophotography
- — Cable or remote shutter release
- — Polarizing filter for skies and reflections
- — Graduated neutral density filters for the high-contrast dune scenes
- — Lens cleaning kit — microfiber, blower, and sensor swabs (dust is relentless)
- — Extra batteries — cold desert nights drain them quickly
- — Sufficient memory cards (64GB or larger recommended)
- — Laptop with editing software for daily critique sessions
- — External hard drive for backup of each day's work
- — Headlamp with red light mode for dawn and night shoots
- — Dust protection for gear — camera covers and zip-lock bags
- — Comfortable hiking boots for dune and rocky terrain
- — Layered clothing — hot days, cold desert nights and early mornings
- — Wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and reusable water bottle
Expedition · N 31.6° / W 7.9°
Morocco — Mauritania — Mali — THE ROAD OF OLD MEMORY
- — 35mm and 85mm primes
- — Fast 50mm f/1.4
- — Travel tripod
- — Reflector disc
- — Modest clothing for medina work
- — Lens cloth (dust)
Travel · N 63.4° / W 19.5°
Iceland — LAND OF ICE AND FIRE
- — Wide-angle 14-24mm
- — Sturdy tripod
- — ND filters (6-stop, 10-stop)
- — Remote shutter release
- — Warm layered clothing
- — Headlamp with red mode