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This is About Me and my Gear

About Me

I am a wildlife & nature photographer from Hamburg, Germany. Always learning and discovering.

I do like to take photos of whatever appeals to me. This might also include portrait photography and sometimes food & beverage or sports.

On this website I sort my photos into categories - You may have a glimpse at
my latest projects and if you have any questions or just want to tell me something:

Contact me here

You will find some frequently asked questions further below.

FAQ

  • I had an underwater camera when I was younger but I guess I got my first own DSLR in 2018 or 2019. It was a Nikon D3500. Went to London and learned how to photograph in Manual Mode. A few years later, I got a 50 mm and absolutely loved it. In 2024 I took some photos for a cocktail competition of a friend and rediscovered the fun of taking pictures.
    As I bought a 70-300 mm, a new interest in wildlife photography emerged and in summer of 2024 I switched to a mirrorless body. From there on I created this website and took photos on different occasions.
    My interest in discovering nature and watching wild animals comes from my interest in photography. :)
    There’s so much more to tell…

  • I would say, that I’m also still new to wildlife photography but there are a few things that I can recommend.

    The most important lesson:
    Respect nature. You’re a guest out there. Don’t hunt after animals just for a photo. No picture is worth disturbing the habitat of your subject. Be respectful.

    Second, don’t expect, that your first photographs will turn out like the images of those who have years of experience. But don’t let that bring you down.

    Third, get to know your camera. Wildlife is unexpected and, well, wild. If you know, which buttons to press and what settings to use, it will get alot easier.

    And get to know your subject. This is a point I’m still struggling with. But if you know, when and where an animal might be and what noises come from which animal, you can be at the right place at the right time.

    Bonus: better gear doesn’t make you a better photographer. You don’t need the most expensive and fastest camera body or lens to take stunning photos.

    See you out there.

  • As of now, I do not offer to sell any of my work as prints. But I would love to in the future. If you have any questions regarding this topic or anything else, please contact me here.

  • Definitely. There are many channels out there and I don’t know everyone of them but the following have helped and inspired me alot:

    Morten Hilmer
    Olle Nilsson
    Simon d’Entremont
    Stephan Wiesner

  • An ARCA SWISS cage or L-Bracket and the peakdesign CLUTCH. Because I like to quickly adapt my camera to a tripod head and I’m always a little anxious of dropping my camera.

  • I would love to hear from you.
    Please feel free to contact me here!

My Gear

I always want to know what other photographers’ gear is. Here’s a small overview of mine:

My photos are shot on a Nikon ℤ8 DSLM Body.

Click on the drop-down menues to see more of what I use.

  • ℤ-Mount:

    • NIKKOR ℤ 180 - 600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR

    • NIKKOR ℤ 70 - 200 f/2.8 VR S

    • NIKKOR ℤ MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S

    • NIKKOR ℤ 24 - 70 mm f/4 S

    • LAOWA AF 10 mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF

    • Nikon FTZ II

      • to adapt my F-Mount Lenses to the ℤ-Mount of my ℤ8

    F-Mount:

    • NIKKOR AF-S 500 mm f/4E FL ED VR

    • NIKKOR 70 - 300 mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR

    • NIKKOR AF-S 50 mm f/1.8G

    Other:

    • Raynox-250 (for Macro Photography)

  • Tripod:

    • Gitzo GT3543LS

    Tripod Head:

    • Benro GH2

    Lens Bracket:

    • Sirui KY-70 (for the 70 - 200 mm)

    • Benro PL100 (for the 180 - 600 mm and the 500 mm)

    Cage / L-Plate

    • Smallrig ℤ8 Cage

    • Smallrig ℤ8 L-Bracket

  • VND/CPL Filter:

    • Freewell 82 mm V2 Magnetic Hybrid VND/CPL 3-7 Stops

      • Step up rings needed for smaller lenses

    • Calumet CPL 67 mm

  • Speedlights:

    • Godox V860 III

    • Godox TT685 II

    • Godox XPRO II (Transmitter)

    Diffuser for Macro Photography:

    • Cygnustech Diffuser

    Video Lights:

    • GlareOne LED 120 BiColor D

  • Backpacks:

    • Shimoda Action X40 V2

    Trolleys:

    • Shimoda DV Roller

  • Camera Hand Strap:

    peakdesign CLUTCH

    Camera Strap:

    peakdesign SLIDE

    Backpack Clip:

    peakdesign CAPTURE Clip

  • Drone:

    • DJI Air 3 S

    Action Camera:

    • Insta360 X5

    • Nikon ℤ8

    • NIKKOR ℤ MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S

    • peakdesign CLUTCH

    • peakdesign SLIDE

    Depending on the lighting:

    • Godox V860 III

    • Godox TT685 II

    • Godox XPRO II

    • MagMod Flash Kit

    • A few Flash Stands

    • Nikon ℤ8

    • NIKKOR AF-S 500 mm f/4E FL ED VR
      adapted via the Nikon FTZ II

    • Gitzo GT3543LS

    • Benro GH2

    • Benro PL100

    • peakdesign CLUTCH

    • (peakdesign SLIDE)

    for a more versatile approach and according to the situation:

    • NIKKOR ℤ 180 - 600 mm f/5.6-6.3 VR

    • NIKKOR ℤ 70 - 200 f/2.8 VR S

    • Nikon ℤ8

    • NIKKOR ℤ MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S

    • Raynox-250

    • Godox V860 III

    • Cygnustech Diffuser

    • Gitzo GT3543LS

    • Ball Head

    • Smallrig ℤ8 L-Bracket

    • peakdesign CLUTCH

    • peakdesign SLIDE

    • Nikon ℤ8

    • LAOWA AF 10 mm f/2.8 Zero-D FF

    • NIKKOR ℤ 70 - 200 f/2.8 VR S

    • NIKKOR ℤ MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S

    • NIKKOR ℤ 24 - 70 mm f/4 S

    • peakdesign CLUTCH

    • peakdesign SLIDE

    • Smallrig ℤ8 L-Bracket

    • Sirui KY-70

    • Gitzo GT3543LS

    • Ball Head

    • Freewell 82 mm V2 Magnetic Hybrid VND/CPL 3-7 Stops

    • Calumet CPL 67 mm

    • Nikon ℤ8

    • NIKKOR ℤ MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S

    • peakdesign CAPTURE Clip

    • peakdesign CLUTCH

    • peakdesign SLIDE

My Favourite Combinations for different Scenarios

All of the accessories shown above match my camera setup. Note, that they might not match yours. Always check the compatibility.

I would always recommend using tripod heads and cameraplates that are compatible with Arca Swiss - This just means that the the quick release plates on the camera/lens have the same universal standard, so you can put any camera/lens with an Arca Swiss Plate on the tripod head. Otherwise you’d have to always use the Plate that came with the tripod and if you want to switch cameras or lenses you always need to unscrew the plates and put them onto the other type of gear. Arca Swiss Plates make upgrading in the future a lot easier and also help you with your setup right now.

The Gitzo GT3543 LS is a brilliant systematic tripod because of its sturdiness and build quality. I have the Benro GH2 Gimbal Head adapted, which is a genius option for longer lenses with a lens collar. I’m very happy to have these two available in this combination. Although the Gitzo tripod is quite heavy, when it comes to long stakeouts with birds or any other animal, it’s the best option for longer lenses. The Benro GH2 enables movement of the camera and lens in any direction which results in the same freedom as handheld, but without the aspect of lifting all that weight. When tightening the screws, the Gimbal makes for a stable build, too.

I love the peakdesign accessories. The CAPTURE Clip makes walking around with your camera and small lenses (!!) so much easier and you’re ready to shoot in just the matter of seconds. The CLUTCH Hand Strap is also very well made. The way that you can tighten it for carrying and then open it up to still have grip but being ready to shoot - well done! I also use the SLIDE camera strap. It also comes in handy to carry your tripod, as it’s easy to attach and detach via the peakdesign anchor system.

The Freewell CPL/VND Filter Set, covering 3-7 stops is fine for my needs. I love that you’re also able to adjust the CPL and I will use this in the future more frequently. A classic CPL Filter comes in handy, too.