When Susan Brudd (@hike4beauty) moved to Arizona from Chicago in 2016, her love for photography was rekindled after spending so much time outdoors. Then. in 2020 she won her a Sony Alpha 7R IV camera and 24mm f/1.4 G Master lens in an Instagram content put on by Adorama and Art of Visuals. "It was literally my dream come true," she says, "and from that point on, I spent every spare moment practicing, experimenting, learning and growing my craft." Brudd's true love is landscape photography and trying. to convey what she's feeling at a moment in time, standing in a beautiful place. She's also become enamored with astrophotography. "A good friend of mine taught me astrophotography not long after receiving my camera," she says. "There's something about seeing the Milky Way in your camera for the very first time that is absolutely mind blowing and I was immediately obsessed. I find astrophotography incredibly whimsical and it's a real chance to let my creative imagination fly." After a couple of years with just the Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM, Brudd was craving a telephoto to photograph the Rocky Mountain elk, javelina, mule deer, coyotes and acorn woodpeckers that are frequent guests at her home in Northern Arizona so she saved up and purchased a Sony 70-200mm f/4 G zoom. We caught up with Brudd to see which camera and lenses she relies on to create such compelling imagery, and to see more of her inspiring work. Keep reading below as she shares what's in her bag.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7R IV
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master
–Sony 70-200mm f/4 G
–Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander
–Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries
Camera
Sony Alpha 7R IV: To say I love this camera would be an understatement. It is incredibly reliable – I never doubt what I can capture with this camera - especially in low-lighting. It produces sharp and detailed images. The Face/Eye auto focusing tool is one of my favorite features and I use it frequently when photographing animals. I also love how light-weight this camera is. Typically, I am hiking or traveling and this camera does not take up a ton of space in my bag and it doesn’t weigh me down.
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/100-sec., f/5, ISO 100
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/160-sec., f/6.3, ISO 200
Lenses
Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: I use this lens the most. It’s perfect for landscape shots, of course, but I use it for everything – pet photography, lifestyle, travel, product photography and astrophotography. I use the entirety of its f-stop range. This lens is definitely my go-to!
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/2.8, ISO 125
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/6-sec., f/8, ISO 100
Sony 70-200mm f/4 G: I love this lens for capturing wildlife, portraiture and for getting those beautiful distant mountainous landscape shots. It’s also perfect for capturing the moon and for some deep space astrophotography. It’s a great focal range to have in my kit!
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 70-200mm f/4 G. 1/160-sec., f/11, ISO 160
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 70-200mm f/4 G. 1/60-sec., f/11, ISO 400
Accessories
Sony RMT-P1BT Wireless Remote Commander: This remote is great for when I need to be both the photographer and the model at the same time. It’s incredibly easy to use and small enough to conceal in my hand. I also use it for astrophotography so that I can press the shutter without shaking my camera during a long exposure.
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/1250-sec., f/2.8, ISO 400
Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries: I always carry an extra battery or two just in case!
Fotopro X-Aircross 3 Carbon Travel Tripod: Super lightweight and fast leg locking system – this tripod works for me on most occasions because it’s super lightweight and easy to set up.
Photo by Susan Brudd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/20-sec., f/6.3, ISO 500
See more of Susan Brudd’s work on Instagram @hike4beauty.
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