Damian Strohmeyer

Sports | Last Updated: April 20, 2023

Hi, my name is Damian Strohmeyer.

I am in my fourth decade as a professional photographer. At the start of my career, after a short stint at newspapers in Topeka, Kansas, and Denver, Colorado, I spent the next twenty to thirty years as a photographer with Sports Illustrated.

I completed a few thousand assignments and racked up seventy-two covers while working with them, and it was definitely my dream job!

Being in the world of sports photography, I’m a bit of an equipment aficionado.

I love my Canon gear, and I cater to each individual assignment. That’s my explanation for why you see so much gear in the photo.

I need lots of different camera equipment, and I’ve used Canon equipment almost exclusively as a professional.

This is probably only half of my camera gear, and my lighting gear is just as extensive.

The emergence of mirrorless cameras is the most exciting change in the digital camera world. The Canon EOS R3 was my entry into mirrorless. It’s an amazing piece of equipment! It’s light and powerful, and the file is a treat to work with.

I have three of them!

In addition to my three Canon EOS R3 bodies, I have a Canon EOS R5 as a backup camera as well as an EOS 1 Dx Mark III.

I use a range of lenses from 15mm to 400mm on the Canon bodies.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM – this is my primary super telephoto lens which I probably use more than any other piece of gear. Canon’s long lenses are amazingly sharp and rugged.

I haven’t bought the new Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM yet, but I have plans to acquire one soon.

I also use the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM and the Canon EF 200mm f/2.0L IS USM for some work, but not nearly as much as I use the four hundred.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM and the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM – these three are the go-to lenses that I call the trifecta of lenses above the “Holy Trinity” as they are all important in virtually every genre of photography.

Discover more about Canon lenses.

The other items that I keep in my bags are the little things that you need on virtually every assignment; extra batteries, chargers, gaffer tape, CF cards, a lens cloth, an air blower, a Gitzo monopod, and rain covers.

I also try to keep a cherished family photo somewhere at hand if I’m going to be out on an extended assignment.

I pack things into a variety of Think Tank bags and a Think Tank Shape Shifter backpack. They are the best I have ever used; end of discussion. The little items fit into my Mountainsmith Tour Classic waist pack.

I am still actively shooting sports, events, and commercial stuff, anything that may come down the chute. Our industry is challenged, but I believe that the next generation of image makers will be even better, particularly with the constant improvement in equipment.

As a sports photographer, I have always been a bit of a gearhead. I love new cameras, exotic lenses, and the latest, greatest accessories and software.

When I think back about my camera gear, it’s pretty amazing how cameras have evolved. My first camera was a Canon AE, and I remember buying a winder for it, so it ran at the rate of two frames per second. What else could you ask for?

After a long time of observing photography and being a part of the industry, I can safely say that, in my humble opinion, there are so many more great photos made today than ever before.

I’m happy to have made a small impact on our photography world.

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