12 DIGITAL CAMERA^ OCTOBER 2019Inside the artist’s kit bag
Andy’s gear for his distinctive shots is simple but effective1 Nikon
D
“Bought in 2011, this DSLR
has shot everything from
weddings to horse racing
right through to long
exposures, and now my ICM
abstract landscapes. It’s
feeling its age with a small
12MP sensor, but is a beast.”2 Nikkor
lenses
Andy’s collection includes
a Nikon 16-35mm f/4 (used
most on our shoot), a 50mm
f/1.8 D, a 70-200mm f/2.
VR II, and a 35mm f/2 D.3 Manfrotto
ProX550B
Andy’s tripod is paired with a
Manfrotto 460MG head. “It’s
something I use much less
these days, but has served
me well for over 12 years. It’s
also not the lightest model,
but a decent starter tripod
and not stupidly expensive.”4 Think Tank
Photo
Retrospective 20
“I’m not a fan of backpack-
type bags,” says Andy. “I like
my camera to be quickly
accessible, so a shoulderbag is ideal. Carrying all my
gear on one shoulder means
it aches by the end of the
day, but it’s ideal for the way
I shoot.” Andy combines his
bag with a Lens Changer 25
and a Lens Drop, which lets
him carry water and store
filters and cloths in the soft
inners of the Lens Drop.5 B+W^
z(ˡǼɎƺȸɀ
“I use screw-in full ND filters
all sized at 77mm, with an
adapter for smaller thread
lenses. I don’t see the point
in buying smaller filters for
smaller lenses.” Andy uses
his 10-stop ND filter for
shooting long exposures,
but finds that it’s too dark
for ICM photography. A six-
stop ND is Andy’s workhorse,
used almost all the time for
getting his ICM captures. “It’s
dark enough to use in almost
all light, yet light enough to
use as the light diminishes.”3421Andy checks images
for clipping, using the
highlight alert function
and the histogram.11.45am
Andy tried several
different blended edits
of his frames from
Dunstanburgh Castle.
Here, applying a blue
colour in Photoshop
was his main choice.slightly differently. He adapts to each different
site instinctively. Here the camera gets flicked
round in an arc motion, then side to side from
his wrist – a movement that’s affectionately
referred to as a wiggle by a fellow photographer
we meet during the day. “Even a small change
in movement can make the difference between
a massive blowout or a success,” he says.
Andy’s images are truly ‘made’ after the
shooting stage. He’s a self-confessed nerd
and loves playful experimentation in the
editing suite. “I’ve never been afraid of carrying
out seemingly excessive alterations to my
captured images,” he says. “This has probably
been a large factor in the way my individual
style of ICM photography has developed.”
The editing starts in Lightroom and
Photoshop, then Andy uses his own presets
in Analog Efex Pro from DxO’s Nik Collection
to apply distinctive colourings (the presets
are available on his website).
The real joy of Andy’s imaging style is that
there is no right or wrong. “Remember that
this technique and way of processing has zero
rules,” he says. “The biggest hurdle is to let
go of much of what you know of photography.”
On his website, Andy writes: “After years of
trying to find a niche, I have now found it, and
am comfortable enough in it to begin dispelling
my knowledge and thoughts to others.” In
person, though, I’m keen to find out where his
work goes next. More ICM at new locations?
More time creating content for YouTube? “As
part of my move into creating video content,
I host a weekly YouTube livestream (www.
youtube.com/andrewsgray) called Tuesday
Night Edits, where I edit my work live,” he
says. “Soon, I’ll also be developing my group
shooting workshops. With Northumberland
as my home, its iconic but subtle landscapes,
coastline and nature in general continues to
inspire me – though the challenge of a change
of scene does appeal now and again...”one
to
one