Inside My Camera Bag | Marco Petracci

The passion for beautiful things, explicit, uncontaminated but at the same time expressive has always fascinated me.

Whilst studying art during my youth I acquired the basic sense of colors in painting.

As an adult, I transferred my curiosity towards music through the study of guitar with a preference for jazz. But only on the discovery of photography did I find my true element, a world where I am able to express myself freely.

Over the years, through my music I acquired a taste for explicit harmony, where a triad of specific notes create a harmonic chord. In the same way, a photograph accurately composed and harmonically conceived creates emotion.

Photography for me is a constant discovery and respect towards Nature, a perpetual emotion and a personal gratification.

Many of my shots are planned over a period of 2 years because of the variability
connected with landscape photography.

On the other hand, certain shots are clearly taken on the spur of the moment depending on the existent situation to be able to capture the exact moment is an essential component for both my photography and personal life.

The choice of my equipment is from personal experience and not a result of what’s popular in the market. I chose Canon for its ergonomics, warm colors and essence.

I passed on the Canon 1D Series to the 5D Mark III, finding it more convenient, and to Canon 6D because it’s lightweight but functional.

The tripod that I use most is a Sirui-T-2204x, which I acquired at the outset of my career. It’s an excellent brand, one chiefly employed in the photographic world. Connected to a Manfrotto 410 head it becomes outstanding for use in long exposure even of 20 minutes, despite strong winds. I sometimes use it with a Sirui K30 ball head.

Other tripods I use less often are the Benro, which is very efficient, small, light, and very simple to transport, and the Manfrotto 055x prob, which I use exclusively for video sessions. On both tripods I mount L brackets with Arca Swiss attachments, being in my opinion one of the best of its kind—secure, quick and very stable. With the L bracket it’s possible to take photo vertically without having to rotate the head in an unstable position.

Another very important piece of equipment for me is the Peak Design Capture Pro camera clip. This is an essential element for a photographer who loves long hikes, adventuring in the unknown, and who does not wish to pack his camera in his camera bag. This clip can attach my camera to the straps of my camera bag, thus keeping it on hand for shooting.

I pack my gear in Fstop bags because I find them indestructible. I possess three different models with ICU (internal camera unit) linings M and L.

For traveling I use Fstop Ajna with the L ICU, which packed with maximum equipment can weigh up to 20kg. For short journeys of 24 hours I use the Fstop Guru with M ICU, and for local town or street use the Fstop Kenti.

The Goal Zero Nomad 7 is excellent for charging batteries. I use it to charge my battery pack which then charges my camera battery. It works very well even when cloudy.

I use different lenses for varied occasions especially for the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8. as when I’m working it has a stabilizer of 3 stops. I use the Tamron only for commercial works like weddings or portraits, but not for landscapes.

Samyang 35mm f/1.4 is great because its manual with no electronics and is very neat even at f/1.4. M42 lenses are very creative, economic and with no packing problems.

My last arrival is an Olympus 35mm f/2.8 shift, a lens unique in its kind.

My gear list:

Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 6D
Sirui T-2204X tripod
Benro flat mini tripod
Manfrotto 055 x prob
Sirui k30 Ballhead
Manfrotto 410 Ballhead
Arca Swiss quick release
Peak Design Capture Pro camera clip x2
Peak Design Shell
Memory Lexar pro
b+w 6 -10 stop Filter
Formatt Hitech 16 Stop 77mm
Nisi 10–15 stop Variable ND Filter + polarizer
Hähnel Giga T Pro II Remote control
Lowepro AW200 Backpack
Fstop Ajna
Fstop Guru
Fstop Kenti
Goal Zero Nomad 7 Sky Tracker Minitrax hand made
Canon 300mm f/4L
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L
Canon 17-40mm f/4L
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 SP
Sigma 50mm f/1.4
Samyang 35mm f/1.4
Olympus 35mm f/2.8 shift
Helios 58mm f/2 m42
Mir 35mm f/2.8 m42
Porst 135mm f/2.8 m42
Mac Pro late 2013
Macbook Pro 2010
Dell UP2516D 25” Monitor x2
Wacom Intuos 5