Photographer Evan Possley (@evanpossley) shoots commercial and architecture projects, but says wildlife photography is where his passion lies. “From the reefs of Indonesia to the jungles of Uganda, I love to explore nature and am always looking ahead to my next project,” he explains. “Diving has opened another world to me. The challenges of low light, color loss at depth, and occasional poor visibility make underwater photography demanding, but the reward of capturing the shot makes it all worthwhile."

For such demanding photography, Possley relies on a variety of Sony lenses paired with two Sony Alpha cameras. "While most of my work happens underwater, having gear that is adaptable in many situations is important to me," he says. "Although it's always a work in progress, I’ve developed a versatile kit for both topside and underwater hybrid shooting.” Keep reading as he shares what’s in his kit for photos and videos both above and underwater.

Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 1
–Sony Alpha 7S III
–Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G
–Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6
–Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G
–Sony 20mm f/1.8 G
–Sony 16-35mm f/4
–Sony CF Express Type A 160GB Memory Card
–Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries
–Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander

Cameras

Sony Alpha 1: This camera can do it all. The ability to shoot high quality stills and amazing video in one package is essential for me, especially when I’m underwater. The autofocus is unbeatable. I love the option of using bird eye autofocus, which I have found even works with some fish and sharks. When I can’t get close enough to a wildlife subject, the 50 megapixel resolution allows me to punch in and still get crispy results.

A Shoebill in a Ugandan swamp. Shooting handheld at 600mm on a shaky wooden raft isn’t easy but I was very satisfied with these results. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. 1/1000-sec., f/7.1, ISO 640

Sony Alpha 7S III: This was the first real camera that I took underwater, and I chose it for the video capabilities. It's still my go-to for low light shooting. Shooting S-Log3 at 12800 ISO as high as 4k 120 frames per second creates clean and flexible footage. I also really love the stills from this camera, and it is especially useful for astrophotography.

The jellyfish of this small, isolated lake in Raja Ampat, Indonesia have evolved with no predators, so they have no sting. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 16-35mm f/4. 1/160-sec., f/9, ISO 500

Lenses

Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G Master II: My favorite topside lens! For wildlife, landscapes, portraits, and anything else, this lens has a permanent spot in my bag. It is extremely sharp and lightweight. I often pair it with the Sony Alpha 1, and I don’t think there is a better combination out there.

Orca in Northern Norway taking a breath. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec., f/5, ISO 640

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: A powerhouse for underwater macro. Something about this lens combined with the Sony Alpha 1 produces exceptional results. I also find it very useful for dreamy portraits with amazing bokeh.

A common seahorse in Florida. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/160-sec., f/13, ISO 250

Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6: This is a fun compact lens and has become a surprising but essential part of my underwater kit. Nauticam has developed special underwater optics that pair with this lens, which produces a much sharper and more accurate image compared to using a standard rectilinear lens behind a dome. I use this lens with the Nauticam WWL-1B, a compact underwater lens that provides a nice wide field of view.

A curious baby manatee in the springs of Florida. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6. 1/125-sec., f/5, ISO 1600

Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G: A fantastic lens when I need some extra reach for wildlife. For the amount of zoom, it's a relatively compact lens, and I like that it zooms internally which is great when I’m out in the field in dusty environments. The OSS ensures that I can get the shot even hand held at 600mm.

A Malachite Kingfisher in Uganda. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. 1/1000-sec., f/7.1, ISO 640

Sony 20mm f/1.8 G: an excellent lens for night and astrophotography. When I use this lens with the Sony Alpha 7S III, I feel like I have super powers. It can see in the dark! When I was in the Dolomites last year, after a full day of hiking I couldn’t be bothered to set up my tripod, but with this combination I was able to get some killer shots of the Milky Way, hand-held.

The Aurora Borealis over a small fishing village. I was in Norway to document the orca that migrate here in the winter, but seeing the Northern Lights was a nice bonus. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 20mm f/1.8 G. 4/5-sec., f/1.8, ISO 5000

Sony 16-35mm f/4: This is the first lens I took underwater, and it's still a great performer for me. Behind my Nauticam glass dome, it's great for split shots (showing above and below the water line in one photo). This is a solid, dependable, and lightweight lens.

A “split shot” showing the reef and the resort at Fakarava, French Polynesia. Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 16-35mm f/4. 1/160-sec., f/22, ISO 500

Accessories

Sony CF Express Type A 160GB Memory Card: Shooting 8k or 4k 120fps video, or 30fps 50 megapixel stills with the Sony Alpha 1 requires a fast card. This card has a high capacity and will never slow me down.

Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries: I can never have enough of these.

Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander: if my camera is on a tripod, I’m using this little bluetooth remote. Especially useful for astrophotography when I want to completely eliminate potential camera shake.

AeroPress Go Coffee Maker: Being out in the field or underway on an expedition ship without coffee is a non-starter for me. This little coffee press makes excellent coffee and has definitely earned its spot in my bag.

Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod: It's so lightweight and compact, I never have an excuse to be without a tripod. The Peak Design base plates live on my camera bodies and long lenses so I can always quickly mount them to the tripod, or the Capture Clip if I’m hiking.

Nauticam Underwater Housing: I think what sets Nauticam housings from the competition is the incredible engineering and button layout which makes the system feel natural and easy to control underwater. It's rated to 100 meters of depth, and most vitally has a vacuum system so I can be assured my precious Sony bodies are safe underwater.

Photo by Evan Possley. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/125-sec., f/14, ISO 200

Small Rig Camera Multi Tool: I can never have enough hex wrenches, and this compact tool seems to always have the sizes I need, plus Phillips and flathead options.

Rechargeable LED Headlamp: an absolute must for any adventure. Even if I’m not planning on shooting after sunset, anything can and will happen, so I’m always ready with this light.

Hard Drives: I think every photographer has a horror story about losing data. I do as well, and now I am fastidious about backing up my data when on assignment. I download all content each day, and make sure to format my cards only when the data is fully backed up in two separate locations.

Keldan 4x Video Lights: I love these lights, not only for their power (10,000 lumens), but especially for the quality of light. Good quality lights are absolutely essential for capturing accurate colors underwater.

See more of Evan Possley’s work on Instagram @evanpossley.