Volodya Voronin (@actionphotographer) is a professional extreme and adventure sports photographer working internationally. “Since childhood, I have been involved in freerunning, and alongside my athletic pursuits, I have also been passionate about photography,” he explains. “I have dedicated more than 12 years of my life to both disciplines. Parkour has always complimented my vision in photography, as well as contributed to my physical preparation. In my field, I often have to shoot or set up lighting systems in hard-to-reach locations, so my parkour and climbing skills come in handy.”
Voronin says that sports also help him see how to shoot scenes from unique perspectives and think more creatively. “I admire athletes who, despite all the challenges in life, never give up and continue striving toward their goals. It's a huge inspiration for me to see how an athlete can easily and professionally perform quite challenging tricks or poses.”
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7 IV
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master
–Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master
He continues, “Since I'm shooting action and mainly working with additional lights – sometimes my bag is quite heavy. That's why I'm using Sony Alpha gear, for me the weight is a really important thing and mirrorless Sony cameras with very lightweight lenses help me a lot in my missions. Trust me, you will count every gram when you hike on a mountain or walk through the forest to the shooting spot for hours with an equipped backpack full of lenses, camera bodies, flashes and other accessories.” Keep reading as he shares what's in his kit for action and adventure photography.
Cameras
Sony Alpha 7 IV: My absolute favorite camera, due to its versatility, is the Sony Alpha 7 IV. Of course, when shooting staged scenes where you have full control over the environment, or during daytime reportage photography, the choice of camera doesn’t matter as much. In those situations, I’d definitely go for the Alpha 7R series for its high megapixel count or the Alpha 9 series for its ultra-fast autofocus and high frame rate.
However, when it comes to sports reportage photography, such as dance festivals or night races, where lighting conditions are critically poor and you have to work with high ISO values, the Alpha 7 IV truly shines. This camera is an absolute leader in image quality at high ISOs. And if you pair it with fast prime G-Master lenses, the cleanliness of the image — free from noise — is simply phenomenal. As a bonus, its ability to shoot 4K 60fps 10-bit video is a great feature if you use your camera for more than just photography.
Night shooting where it was important to have less noise in the final result. Skateboarder: Arthur Bogdanovich. Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/250-sec., f/22, ISO 5000
Lenses
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: An absolute beast and, overall, my top lens among all Sony lenses. Autofocus, sharpness, bokeh quality, weight – everything is perfectly balanced. This focal range is one of the most frequently used for reportage photography and travel, especially when you physically can't move closer or further away from your subject. Overall, this lens is a workhorse – the first one you should invest in because it will help you earn money with commercial reportage photography while also being perfect for creative shoots.
Catching the Sunrise on Koh Tao island in Thailand. Cliff diver: Pavel Egorov. Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100
Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master: I once read a phrase that stuck in my mind: "It’s easy to take a great shot with a telephoto lens because it naturally isolates the subject from the background, but taking a great shot with an ultra-wide lens is much harder." This is because an ultra-wide lens captures a lot of details in the frame, requiring you to master composition and lighting. So this tiny wide-angle lens takes second place in my lineup. First, it’s super lightweight, making it perfect for travel. Second, it has minimal distortion, meaning straight lines stay straight even at the edges. And third, thanks to its fast F1.8 aperture, it can sometimes separate the subject from the background with a bit of blurry bokeh. I also use this lens for underwater photography since water significantly magnifies the image, and ultra-wide lenses compensate for that effect best.
Underwater MTB trick scene. MTB athlete: Arthur Churakov. Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/14, ISO 250
Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II: As I mentioned earlier, some reportage shoots take place in low-light conditions. This means a fast shutter speed and, consequently, a high ISO, so to reduce noise, I switch to the 85mm f/1.4 GM II. This lens (or its first version) is an alternative to the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II. Whenever I can physically move closer or further from my subject and I want the most stunning image quality with a creamy bokeh, this is the lens I choose. I absolutely love the way it renders the image – it’s simply mesmerizing.
Crossing the shallow river on a bike. MTB rider: Arthur Churakov. Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II. 1/800-sec., f/1.4, ISO 64
Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: I honestly can’t put into words why I love this lens so much. But the image quality and the magical, buttery-smooth background blur it creates – I haven’t seen anything like it in any other lens. This lens is my alternative to the 14mm f/1.8 GM ultra-wide. When I need a bit more zoom, more light, and the absolute best image quality among all wide-angle lenses, I go for this one. Not to mention, it’s super compact and lightweight.
World record where an athlete was crossing the distance on a slackline between two towers of the Crescent building in Doha, Qatar. Slackliner: Jaan Roose. Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/2000-sec., f/1.4, ISO 200
Accessories
TENBA AXIS 32L Backpack: With so much gear, a spacious backpack is an important tool. But due my shooting activity besides capacity, it also needs to be water-resistant, well-protected against damage, and comfortable to carry. This backpack checks all the boxes. I can fit all my gear, including a tripod, and head out for a hike or mountain shoot with ease.
Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/800-sec., f/2.8, ISO 200
GODOX FLASHES – AD1200PRO, AD600PROII & AD300PRO: These are my main light-shaping tools. Depending on the situation and shooting conditions, I choose the appropriate flash. For mountains or travel, the AD300PRO is ideal due to its compact size while still providing sufficient power. Sometimes, for longer hikes, I take the AD600PROII if I need more power. And if I need to challenge the sun itself and overpower it, I bring out the heavy artillery — the AD1200PRO.
Photo by Volodya Voronin. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/6400-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100
SMALLRIG x Potato Jet TRIBEX Hydraulic Carbon Fiber Tripod: This tripod is a bit heavy for tough hikes or mountain climbing, but it’s definitely the best for commercial and full-day reportage shoots. The hydraulic system allows you to set it up in under 5-6 seconds, making it an incredibly versatile system that can function as either a monopod or a quick-deploy tripod. The entire tripod is also designed for outdoor use, making it easy to set up on rocks, water surfaces, dirt, and other rough terrain.
See more of Volodya Voronin’s work on Instagram @actionphotographer.
