Andrew Wille (@andrewoptics) is a Los Angeles-based photographer and digital creator best known for his urban, landscape and lifestyle photography. Through his photography, worked with brands like Adobe, Ducati, Google, Mazda, Monster, Snapchat, Xbox, and more. "For as long as I can remember I’ve had an interest in photography, but it wasn’t until 2014 that I purchased my first camera. Since then, photography has become my biggest passion in life. I’ve always believed that a single photo has the ability to inspire or even change someone's life, and I try to embody that in each of my photographs. I’m inspired by capturing and sharing the beauty of the world (sometimes in the most inconspicuous of places) with others. Beauty can be found everywhere, whether out at a beautiful viewpoint in the mountains, or in a city alleyway." No matter where photography takes him, Andrew relies on a simple camera kit with a slightly modified Sony G Master zoom lens trinity. We caught up with him to learn more about what's in his bag below.

Los Angeles-based photographer Andrew Wille uses his Alpha 7R III and a slightly different approach to the typical zoom lens trio with his three G Master lenses.

Camera

Sony Alpha 7R III: I love the Sony Alpha 7R III and have been using it exclusively since it came out in 2017. To me, it is the perfect combination of size and features. Being able to get 42MP out of a mirrorless camera has always been so impressive, and has certainly come in handy over the years. I’ve always been able to ensure I get the highest quality image possible, with room to crop in if needed. I also love how you’re able to see the final shot through the viewfinder, even with long exposures. And with how much I seem to have my bag on my back, I really enjoy how small and light the Alpha 7R III is.

Photo by Andrew Wille. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/80-sec., f/7.1, ISO 200

Lenses

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master: This beast of a lens was actually the only lens I had for over a year once buying my Alpha 7R III. I instantly fell in love with the wide perspective it provided, and how I could capture expansive scenes both in the city and out in nature. With it’s 2.8 aperture, it performs very well in low light, making it perfect for handheld blue hour shots as well. There isn’t a time I leave my apartment without this lens in my bag.

This photo wouldn’t have been possible without the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. Anytime I’m doing a helicopter photography flight, this is my go-to lens because it helps me not only capture the view, but also what’s happening in the helicopter itself. I love showing this because it gives the viewer more of the same feeling I had while I was flying. Because helicopters are quite small inside, I’m often shooting at 16mm. And due to how quickly they fly through the air, having the fast 2.8 aperture is crucial to being able to get sharp photos.

Photo by Andrew Wille. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/400-sec., f/2.8, ISO 500

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master: Having the ability to reach 400mm with a lens unlocked an entirely new style of photography for me, and helped me see the world differently. One of my favorite things about the combination of this and the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master is that you can create such different photos from one trip to a location. Not only does it push me to focus more on the little scenes and details when I’m out shooting, but I love how it compresses the scene and plays with perspective.

This photo of someone walking across the street in the morning is one of my favorites. Because it was shot at 400mm, it makes them appear bigger than they actually are in comparison to the Bay Bridge. It also helps to isolate the person in a busy city.

Photo by Andrew Wille. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master. 1/2000-sec., f/5.6, ISO 250

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: While not at the extremes that the previous two lenses provide, the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master covers everything else in between. At 24mm it is wide enough to capture much of a scene (and actually helps ensure there isn’t any distortion), and at 70mm it’s able to zoom in enough to provide a bit of compression and capture anything else that may be just out of reach. I’ve often said this lens is one of the most versatile you can keep in your bag, and will produce incredible images no matter where you bring it. And with an f/2.8 aperture, it's fast enough for great low light use and provides the perfect amount of bokeh for portraits/lifestyle images.


In order to create this image, I actually wanted to punch in a little bit rather than shooting wide at 16mm. The reason for this is to help put more focus on the mountains themselves by making them appear larger and removing unnecessary foreground.

Photo by Andrew Wille. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/40-sec., f/4.5, ISO 250

Accessories

A few of my accessories include: Slik USA 800 Series Tripod, drone, Rocket Blower, PolarPro CP and ND Filters. All of these accessories allow me to get the most out of my gear, and not limit my creativity while I’m out shooting.

See more of Andrew Wille's work on Instagram @andrewoptics.