Exploring the world, capturing the moments and sharing the journey.
The equipment and technology behind my photography and videography.
Every Perspective Begins With a Moment
Photography and videography are about far more than the equipment used to capture an image. They're about discovering new places, noticing the smaller details, appreciating the world around us and preserving moments that might otherwise pass us by.
As a self-taught photographer and videographer, I've developed a collection of cameras and creative tools that allow me to explore different styles, techniques and perspectives.
From the versatility of a full-frame camera to the freedom of miniature action cameras, each piece of equipment offers something different. Some are perfectly suited to carefully composed photographs, while others are designed to capture movement, atmosphere or an entirely different view of the world.
The equipment featured here forms the foundation of my creative work, helping me bring together photography, videography and aerial imagery.
Sony Alpha 7Cii | New Brighton Lighthouse | 70mm | 1/125 | f/11 | ISO 100
Sony Alpha 7C II
Versatility, detail and creative freedom.
The Sony Alpha 7C II is my principal photography camera, combining the image quality of a full-frame sensor with a compact and versatile design.
It's ideally suited to the broad range of subjects I enjoy photographing, from dramatic landscapes and architecture to street scenes, travel photography and the finer details that make each location unique.
Paired with my Sony 24–70mm lens, it offers the flexibility to move between expansive views and more closely framed compositions. My Tamron 70–300mm telephoto lens extends those possibilities further, allowing me to isolate distant subjects, explore different perspectives and capture details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Together, these lenses provide a versatile combination for documenting the world, whether I'm exploring a busy city or photographing a quiet stretch of coastline.
Ricoh GRiiiX HDF | Early morning shop | 26mm | 1/80 | f/2.8 | ISO 1000
The Ricoh GR III HDF offers a different approach to photography, combining excellent image quality with the simplicity and convenience of a genuinely pocket-sized camera.
Its discreet design makes it particularly well suited to travel, street photography and capturing everyday scenes without the need to carry a larger camera system.
The camera's built-in Highlight Diffusion Filter also introduces an additional creative element, producing a softer rendering of highlights when desired.
It's a wonderfully capable camera that demonstrates how simplicity and portability can encourage a fresh photographic perspective.
Ricoh GRiiiX HDF | Covent Garden, December 2024 | 26mm | 1/500 | f/2.8 | ISO 640
Videography - Capturing Life in Motion
DJI Osmo Pocket Series
Smooth movement. Natural storytelling.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P and Pocket 4 are compact, gimbal-stabilised cameras that play an important role in my travel videography.
Their combination of portability, stabilisation and creative recording options makes them particularly effective for capturing the atmosphere of a location.
From walking through historic streets and exploring coastal towns to recording scenic viewpoints and everyday travel experiences, these cameras allow me to create smooth, immersive footage.
They are also well suited to timelapses and moving sequences that add variety and interest to my finished travel films.
Their greatest strength is the ability to capture high-quality video without the size or complexity of a traditional camera and gimbal combination.
Timelapse filmed in Tenerife, 2025 on the DJI Pocket series camera.
Insta360 Luna Ultra
Creative flexibility for moving images.
The Insta360 Luna Ultra provides another option for capturing video, offering a different set of creative possibilities within my equipment collection.
Its compact design and versatile recording capabilities make it useful for travel filming, everyday scenes and experimenting with different visual styles.
Having a selection of video cameras allows me to adapt my approach to different environments, whether the focus is on movement, composition, atmosphere or capturing an unexpected moment.
The background of this video and some of the shots taken using the Insta360 Luna Ultra in Hong Kong, 2026.
Action Cameras - Small Cameras, New Perspectives
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Versatility for life on the move.
The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 brings together portability, durability and high-quality recording capabilities, making it particularly useful for active filming and situations where a conventional camera might be less practical.
Its compact design allows for a wide range of camera positions and filming styles, helping me capture different viewpoints while travelling and exploring.
From dynamic sequences to more unusual compositions, action cameras offer the freedom to approach familiar scenes in new ways.
Insta360 GO Ultra and GO 3S
Small in size. Big on possibilities.
The Insta360 GO Ultra and GO 3S take portability a step further.
These miniature cameras are ideal for capturing creative point-of-view footage, hands-free sequences and perspectives that would be difficult to achieve with larger equipment.
Their lightweight designs make them especially useful for travel videography, where capturing a brief moment or an unusual angle can add something distinctive to a finished film.
My collection also includes the GO 3S Retro edition, combining the flexibility of the miniature camera format with a distinctive appearance.
Together, these cameras offer a different perspective on everyday moments, making them valuable additions to my wider videography equipment.
Background footage filmed on the Insta360 Go Ultra. Hong Kong, 2026.
360° Imagery - Seeing the Whole Picture
Insta360 X5
Every direction. Endless possibilities.
Traditional photography and videography capture the world within a chosen frame. The Insta360 X5 offers a different approach by recording the surrounding environment in every direction.
This creates exciting opportunities for both immersive imagery and more conventional video sequences.
By reframing 360-degree footage during editing, it's possible to explore different compositions, follow subjects and create camera movements from a single recording.
The X5 is also particularly effective for creative timelapses, travel footage and scenes where the environment itself is an important part of the experience.
From bustling city streets to open landscapes and coastal views, 360-degree recording provides another way to share not just what a location looks like, but what it feels like to be there.
Background footage recorded on the Insta360 X5 360 camera.
Aerial Imagery - A Different View From Above
My Drone Collection
Discovering new perspectives beyond the ground.
Aerial photography and videography have opened up an entirely different way of capturing landscapes, coastlines, architecture and the world around us.
My drone collection includes the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, Avata 360, Avata 2 and Neo 2.
Each offers its own creative possibilities, from detailed aerial photography to immersive and dynamic video.
Rather than explore the equipment in detail here, I've created a dedicated website where you can discover more about my drones and view the photographs and films I've captured from above.
Waves breaking over rocks. Filmed on the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Tenerife, 2025.
Beyond the Camera - Editing and Creativity
From the original capture to the finished image.
Taking the photograph or recording the footage is only one part of the creative process.
Editing provides the opportunity to refine an image, enhance its atmosphere and bring together the individual elements of a finished video.
My photography and videography workflow is built around Adobe's creative applications.
Adobe Lightroom
Lightroom is my main environment for organising and editing photographs.
It allows me to make precise adjustments to lighting, colour, contrast and detail, developing the overall appearance of an image while preserving the atmosphere and character of the original scene.
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop provides additional creative control when an image requires more detailed work.
From local adjustments and refinements to more advanced editing techniques, it complements my Lightroom workflow and allows greater flexibility when preparing finished photographs.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Premiere Pro is where my video projects come together.
By combining individual clips, photographs, music and sound, I can create finished films that capture the atmosphere of a destination and bring a visual journey to life.
Colour grading, transitions, pacing and sound all play their part in shaping the finished result.
My editing equipment includes Apple Mac computers, allowing me to work with photographs and video both at home and while travelling.
Use the slider to see the RAW base image (left) to the completed edit (right)
Technology Supporting Creativity
Although cameras and lenses form the most visible part of my equipment collection, they are supported by a range of accessories and technology.
Filters, camera mounts, stabilisation systems and other accessories all contribute to the creative process, helping me adapt to different lighting conditions, environments and filming techniques.
Neutral density filters, for example, allow greater control over exposure and motion, particularly when filming in bright conditions or working with longer photographic exposures.
These supporting tools may not always appear in the finished photograph or video, but they play an important role in achieving the result.
The Moments Matter Most
Technology continues to evolve, bringing new possibilities to photography and videography. From full-frame cameras to 360-degree recording and aerial imagery, the range of creative tools available today is extraordinary.
Yet the most important element of any photograph or film remains the moment being captured.
A beautiful landscape, an unfamiliar street, an unexpected detail or a fleeting expression can all become part of a much larger story.
The cameras are simply the tools that help preserve and share those experiences.
Across my websites, you'll find photographs, albums, aerial imagery and travel videos captured using the equipment featured on this page.
I invite you to explore the collections, discover the different perspectives and enjoy the journey.
Swipe the menu below to choose what to explore next or tap my logo to return to the homepage.
One Life. Countless Moments. Endless Perspectives.
Learning photography and videography as part of my recovery from PTSD.
© Simon Garland-Lo · Photography & Film