My Gear #37 - Mike Swiech

My name is Mike Swiech.  I have been interested in photography since I was in high school.  (Many moons ago...:D ) I started out on a Sony Mavica 2.1mp camera 12 years ago. That lasted my wife and I throughout our daughters younger years. We retired that and went onto a Olympus SP-510 UZ. That was a big jump back in the day when I knew nothing in terms of photography.  After losing that camera and all the pictures while on vacation in Montreal. My wife and I decided to get ourselves a camera a few years back and we decided on a Nikon D3100 after doing some research. The D3100 just came out that year so we decided to get it.  Within a few months of me doing research and studying like crazy and finding some pretty amazing sites and YouTube channels (That Nikon Guy :p )

I knew that I had to learn the basics first and then I wanted to jump into the world of Full Frame eventually.   I gave myself a goal of within 1-5 years that I would either have one and/or both a new lens / Full Frame body. After realizing that he kit lens was not cutting it for me I decided to use one lens for that duration and I went and picked up a 50mm F1.8G AF-S lens to use.  I've used that lens for all my shots that include the good, the bad and the ugly (I know everyone as a few of those lying around). I think that I have appreciated just using one lens as I have had to training myself to think and then shoot, and that is something that us as Photographers (whether armature or professional). I never wanted to just rely on a telephoto zoom lens, as I knew that I had to walk towards my subject If I wanted something closer or set back if I wanted to get a full frame shot.

I have a wide range of interests that I like to shoot.  I really enjoy photojournalistic imagery, to still life, and I am now wanting to venture into portraiture and OCF.

So enough chit chat and let's get into my gear that I currently have laid out:

Camera / Lens:

Nikon D3100 (Not Present shooting with it.)

Nikkor 50mm F1.8G AFS

Nikkor 18-55mm VR (Not Present shooting with it)

Digipower Battery Grip for the D3100 (aftermarket)

Bags:

Think Tank Airport 4-Sight

Think Tank Retrospective 30

Tamrac Evolution 6

Filters:

Hoya 58mm CPL

Hoya 58mm UV Filter

Hoya 58mm NDx8

Optex 52mm UV Filter

Filter Holder

Tripods / Monopods

Velbon Sherpa 200 (Not Present shooting with it.)

Vanguard Tracker 284 AP

Vanguard SBH-250 Ball Head

Strobist / Flash

Metz 50 AF-1 Flash

Rosco Strobist Flash Gels

Cactus V5 Transceiver Duo

Sekonic L-358 Light Meter

Westcott Apollo Orb and Light stand

Memory Card

Lexar 8GB x2

Lexar 16GB x2

Lexar 32GB x1

Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket

Tamrac Memory Card Holder

Accessories

Gaffer Tape 1"

Lenspen

Giottos Rocket Air Blower

BlackRapid RS-Sport

Toddy Gear Smart Cloth

EN-EL 14 Battery x2 (Using one to shoot)

Nikon MH-24 Battery Charger

Neweer 5 in 1 43" reflector

Cable Release

JVC Everio HD Camcorder

As you can see I have a wide range or equipment, but my goal is to still get my new lens first and that is still a decision between the Nikon 24-70 F2.8 or the Nikon 70-200 VRII F2.8. Either one of those lenses would open my repertoire tremendously.  After that, I will be looking at the D600 or D800 from Nikon.  Maybe by that time Nikon might have a replacement for their D700 and I might possibly be eyeing that. If I had the money, I would be looking at the Nikon D4, but that is wishful thinking right now.  As long as I am out there shooting, getting feedback on my photographs it doesn't matter what gear you might have, but rather that you are out there practicing and learning.

If you would like to see some of my work you can do so here as well as follow me on social media:

http://www.mikeswiechphotography.com (Site remodelling right now.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mswiech/

http://500px.com/mikeswiech

http://twitter.com/mikeswiech

http://www.facebook.com/mike.swiech

http://pinterest.com/mikeswiech/