Jeff Bartlett

Hello! I’m adventure photographer Jeff Bartlett. Initially, I set out to become a travel writer during the late 2000s, when newspapers and magazines were suffering in the new economy.

Many publications demanded their writers provide images to accompany their stories, so I upgraded my camera kit and started focusing more on the craft.

As a writer, I often spent long days behind a computer screen, interviewing people on the phone and proofreading my work. As a photographer, I had to be outside, both living the experience and capturing it for my audience.

I was hooked and photography soon became my daily focus.

Since 2011, I have been based in the Canadian Rockies and, although I continue to travel regularly, my work has shifted from a general travel theme to adventure.

I not only love mountain sports and mountain culture, but I am compelled to share these unique outdoor experiences to encourage people to get outside and explore. (Related guide: mountain photography)

My career continues to evolve; however, there are some constants. I lead annual photography workshops in the Canadian Rockies, Scottish Highlands and on the Faroe Islands; shoot for major outdoor retailers and destination marketing organizations; and participate in some social media influencer campaigns.

After nearly two years wrestling with the decision to upgrade my worn Nikon DSLR equipment or switch to mirrorless cameras, I made the jump to Sony and their incredible full-frame series.

Alongside my camera gear, I often carry outdoor specific equipment, including avalanche transceivers, shovel and probe, climbing rope and harness, or a simple first aid kit, compass and map. But for the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on my photography equipment.

Main Gear

While I do not carry this entire kit every day, this is the equipment that I use most often:

Sony A7RIII – This is my workhorse, which I use for 75% of my current work. Its combination of dynamic range and resolution are well known, but I find its fast AF system and battery life are truly underrated. It’s also sneaky durable and has endured my constant abuse.

Sony A7RII –The predecessor to the A7RIII, this was my go-to camera for two years. Since I’ve upgraded it’s become my dedicated backup and timelapse camera. It might be considered outdated, but it still captures 8k timelapses and astounding 4k video.

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM – I recently upgraded to this lens from the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4. It’s noticeably sharper and has become my favourite landscape lens.

Sony 24-70mm f2/8 GM – While I tend to shoot either wide or telephoto, the 24-70 is my most essential lens. It’s my go-to choice if I can only carry one lens or if I’m shooting on the go and trying to capture a variety of images during a mountain activity.

Sony 70-200mm f/4 G – I absolutely love this lens. It’s sharp and light and relatively inexpensive. Recently, this lens has been living on my camera. I use it to compress massive landscapes, portraits, and occasional wildlife images.

Sigma Art 14mm f/1.8 – In the past two years, I worked on a major dark skies project called Chasing Darkness. This was my go-to lens throughout. I cannot think of a better astrophotography lens.

Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 – I don’t use this lens as much as I’d like; however, I use it to challenge myself creatively. Whenever I find myself in a creative rut, I grab the 50mm and go out shooting. It’s such a great focal length because it can capture anything.

Lee ND filters – I always carry a Lee Big Stopper (10 stops) and Little Stopper (6 stops) with me, so I can slow down the shutter speed during the day to blur waterfalls, smooth out reflections or show cloud movement.

Gitzo GT2545T Tripod with Arcatech GPSS Ball-head – I spent some serious money on this tripod about ten years ago, and it’s been worth every dollar spent. It’s put up with unbelievable abuses, like being submerged in the ocean, used to drive tent pegs into the ground, or simply hiked through desert landscapes. I’ve never cleaned it and, honestly, it still works as good as the day I purchased it.

Dell XPS 15 2:1 Laptop – It’s powerful enough to edit 4k video and images and its touchscreen works like a Wacom tablet, which allows me to use a stylus pen for greater control in both Lightroom and Photoshop.

F-Stop Tilopa Backpack – This backpack is rugged enough to take hiking, large enough to hold my entire camera kit and miraculously accepted as a carry-on for most airlines.

Other Gear

There are two factors currently changing my workflow: my interest in video and my adventurous spirit. For the former, I’ve slowly added a filmmakers kit to my equipment list. For the latter, I’ve purchased smaller camera equipment that is easier to carry on multiday adventures into the backcountry. These items include:

DJI Mavic Pro 2
DJI Ronin S
DJI Osmo
Rhino Slider
SanDisk Memory Cards
Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKII
M. Zuiko ED 12-100mm f/4
M. Zuiko ED 17mm f/1.2
MindShift Rotation180 Horizon 34L backpack

Learn more about me or check out my work at:

www.jeffbartlettmedia.com | @PhotoJBartlett