My Kit

This nature-loving photographer talks about feelings in photos, fostering a community and how music helps him to get the best out of a shoot

Ben Sasso uses minimal camera kit, but invests his photos with emotional impact

Each piece of gear I own because it helps me express a mood or evoke a feeling that I want in my work

Keeping the honesty up front, I’m not a gear guy. I don’t keep an eye on the newest things that come out and I don’t know (or care about) all of the specs and charts. Some images might have gorgeous tones, light, or composition, but the reason they stick with you for so long is probably the emotion or mood that they evoke. They make you feel.

What I’m after is creating an image that makes the viewer connect emotionally and using gear that helps me do that. I have pretty minimal kit (two bodies, three lenses) and that’s because I’ve found gear that works for my goals and got rid of the extra stuff. My kit is there to help ideas shine, not to be responsible for creating great work.

If I’m looking for an energetic, dynamic feel, I’ll use a wider lens (my Canon 24mm f/1.4l II) because it can help emphasize the energy in my subject’s posing, by elongating limbs and making angles look a bit more dynamic. If I’m after a look that’s more serene, I’ll use my Canon EF 50mm f/1.2l USM lens because its focal length and shallow depth of field are perfect for creating a calm, focused portrait without the distraction of the environment (which may be busy or cluttered).

I’m a big believer in knowing how your gear can help you draw out certain emotions and the best way to do that is to experiment and research – for example by watching emotive movies so you can see which lenses and angles they choose. Know your gear, focus on the art.