Hey, y’all, I’m Stacy Pearsall, a retired U.S. Air Power fight photojournalist. Though I’m “retired” from army service, I’m nonetheless working as a photographer, creator, educator, motivational speaker, tv producer and host, Nikon Ambassador, and Founding father of the Veterans Portrait Mission.
Simply as my profession path has been a journey, so too has the gear I’ve used alongside the best way. It’s loopy to suppose that the primary digicam I ever picked up was a Nikon N90 digicam I used throughout my highschool images class again in Canton, South Dakota.
I discovered fundamental digicam features, movie processing, and print manufacturing. These had been the times of darkrooms, timers, and fixer baths.
Shortly after I joined the Air Power in February 1998 and attended the Protection Info Faculty at Fort Meade in Maryland, Nikon launched their first DSLR – the Nikon D1. It was such a leap ahead from utilizing movie.
I keep in mind these preliminary reminiscence playing cards boasting 2MB of storage and considering that was fairly whiz-bang! In fact, gear advanced and improved as I bounced from my first obligation station in Omaha, Nebraska, to my second in the UK.
By the point I arrived at Fight Digital camera in Charleston, South Carolina, in January 2001, Nikon dropped the D1X.
Together with my freshly unboxed cameras, I used to be supplied 128MB reminiscence playing cards, which blew my thoughts. All through my time within the unit, expertise superior, and equipment was upgraded.
I used to be lucky to have the newest and best in my digicam bag whereas deployed around the globe. I lived out of a rucksack for two-thirds of a yr, so my gear noticed some severe miles, to not point out put on and tear.
Once I transitioned out of army service in 2008 and struck out alone to open an expert studio in historic Charleston, South Carolina, I needed to begin from scratch.
My digicam bag held a Nikon D3 and D3s and two lenses
NIKKOR 28-70mm f/2.8 lens – NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 VR G lens.
Over time, I squirrelled away a proportion of my earnings to amass extra gear and improve my outdated stuff. It took a while, I guarantee you.
By the point I based the Veterans Portrait Mission in 2013 and hit to highway full time, I had;
Two Nikon D800 cameras and three lenses
NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8 – NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8 – NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II
I’m constructive I additionally had an 85mm and a few prime lenses as properly.
When the Nikon D850 hit the cabinets in 2017, I used to be one of many first to leap at upgrading my gear. The Nikon D850 was and stays an incredible digicam. It traversed all fifty States of the union with me and captured over 8,500 veterans’ portraits.
An archive I treasure and a legacy of those unimaginable women and men’s service.
Simply after I thought issues couldn’t get any higher, Nikon launched their mirrorless Z collection. I bought my palms on a Nikon Z 7 and took it on the highway alongside my Nikon D850. I used to be impressed however not able to relinquish my DSLRs.
That’s till Nikon unveiled the Nikon Z 9. That was an actual recreation changer! From the second I picked up the Nikon Z 9, I knew there was no going again. I strategized my transition to all mirrorless in 2022 and commenced discovering properties for my beloved FX cameras and lenses.
They’re sure to make one other photographer’s artistic desires come true, I’m certain of it!
Within the meantime, I’m buying Z collection gear and filling my bag with the way forward for images.
• Nikon Z9 x2
• Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8
• Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8
• Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
• Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
• Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
• Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-2.0x
• Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x
• Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II
• NIKKOR 105 mm f/1.4
Good gear issues, and having the appropriate device to realize the job issues. With that mentioned I imagine crucial factor any photographer can convey to a shoot is themselves!
