Luke Mackenzie
Travel | Last Updated: May 31, 2023
G’day everyone! I’m Luke from Brisbane, Australia!
I got into photography after my first trip overseas, and I couldn’t figure out why my iPhone 6 photographs wouldn’t give justice to what I was seeing.
So I picked up my first real camera, a Canon 600D. I learnt all about this camera, both inside and out. I soon figured out that there was more to taking photographs than just pushing a button.
I slowly worked my way through the Canon lineup over the years but last year, I got rid of the Canon R5 & Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0-7.1 IS STM set-up and jumped ship to the smaller Leica M.
I needed a more compact set-up and easy carry load, which I could sling around my shoulder to wander off and shoot. I have had seven shoulder reconstructions, so my gear needed to be lighter.
Shooting on an M series camera is a very different experience; the rangefinder and manual focus lenses are not for everyone. I choose to shoot the whole camera manually, from shutter to aperture, to ISO, which some people find interesting.
It slows me down, allows me to think about the shot and makes me accountable for my mistakes. It also gets me pretty stoked when I nail the shot!
After shooting on the Leica M for about nine months, I finally got the focus distances dialled in. But boy, have I missed some shots along the way. However, that’s the learning curve and what makes it fun!
I make the picture what it is; the camera doesn’t do it all on full auto whilst you’re firing off a massive burst of fifty photos. This is what I’ve really come to like about the Leica rangefinder setup.
I predominantly shoot travel photography, but I’m starting to cross more into the photojournalism genre, picking up a pen and putting my thoughts and stories down about my photographs.
I’ve got some exciting, off-the-beaten-track destinations coming up in 2023, and I couldn’t be more excited to document it all with my little Leica setup.
So what is the nitty gritty gear in that little 6L Wandrd Rogue Sling, you ask?
Leica M11 – it’s a powerhouse that’s compact and easy to carry. It comes with me everywhere I go! I can fit it inside my jacket pocket if I need and the sixty megapixels allow me to really crop a photo easily if I don’t have the right lens on.
Leica Super-Elmar-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH – this is probably the sharpest lens I’ve ever used in my life. It’s only f/3.4, but I’ve never had a better-performing lens than this one. I mainly use this for wide landscapes and cityscapes or whenever I enter a building or temple and need to capture something internally.
Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH – the 35mm is on my camera eighty per cent of the time. If I grab my camera and just want to go for a walk, this is the lens that’s coming with me. I think it’s the perfect focal length for a broad range of shooting, whether it’s landscapes, portraits, street and travel photography.
It is just a great allrounder!
Leica APO-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH – when I don’t want to zoom with my feet, this 90mm comes in handy. Good for shooting mountains, compressing a frame or grabbing a photo of something from a distance without disturbing the scene.
With this Leica camera and these three lenses, I feel I have every aspect of my shooting covered. I don’t feel the need for anything else, and of course, this comes down to what works for me.
I use an Apple iPad with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard and Lightroom as my editing suite.
As I mentioned early, the Wandrd 6L Rogue Sling in Yuma Tan fits all the gear I need, including the extras like one spare battery, two spare SD Cards, a cleaning cloth and a packet of gummy bears.
That’s it from me, and if you got this far, thanks for reading and feel free to come and say hey on the gram!
Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.
Includes limited-time discounts.
WELCOME TO SHOTKIT
Enter your email to be sent
today's Welcome Gift:
19 Photography Tools
🔥 Popular Now:
Shotkit may earn a commission on affiliate links. Learn more.