Follow my long-term Scottish documentary projects, essays, and field notes over at davidjfleet.com.

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Wildlife Scouting in Autumn with the Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm.

A Swift flies over trees on a Scottish estate.

I haven’t been out shooting wildlife at all over summer. Whether it’s the mass of dense green foliage that offers wildlife so many places to hide, the long days, or simply life taking over, in the last week I’ve started heading out specifically to get to know my local area better—to search for locations that … Read more

Field Notes: Fujifilm X-T30 III First Impressions from a Professional Photographer

A photographer's hand adjusting the Film Simulation dial on the top of the Fujifilm X-T30 III camera.

Unboxing the X-T30 III, my immediate reaction was surprise at just how small the body feels. If you’ve already bought your X-T30 III I’ve written a setup guide which will help you to get the best out of it and after much more use I’ve now written about which accessories are worth buying. I’ve also … Read more

The Hybrid Burden: Is a Two-Camera Setup Worth the Weight?

A photo of Loch Turret in Crieff, Scotland on a sunny day with a NIkon Z6III on top of a video tripod.

I’ve had several cracks at YouTube in the past, and I’ve spent countless hours looking for the right setup. I’ve tried action cameras, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, full-frame rigs from Panasonic, Sony, Canon, and now Nikon, alongside lighter crop-sensor bodies like the Fujifilm X-T4 and X-T5. And I’ve always run into the same fundamental … Read more

Breaking the Gear Acquisition Syndrome Cycle: Why I Sold Everything (Again)

A Shelf full of camera gear. Some of it packed up and wrapped to be shipped off for sale.

As a photographer of over two decades, I have cycled through more gear than I care to count. I’ve shot and owned virtually every mainstream system, from DSLRs to the latest mirrorless cameras. Two years ago, I was briefly back in the UK, took a look at my gear collection—and that’s truly what it had … Read more

Field Notes From Scotland: Black and White Woodland Photography

Black and white photograph of woodland in Perthshire, Scotland.

As those of you have read my recent articles will know, I’ve made the decision to transition from writing about gear to focus on getting out with my camera more. In the last few weeks I’ve waved goodbye to my youngest daughter at the airport, shed more than a few tears, sold off all my … Read more

Summer Update 2026

This week is the last week of my eldest daughter, Sofia’s school holidays and so with everything that has been going on in the last 6 months, I’ve given myself permission to take the week off but I wanted to give a quick update on what is coming in the next few weeks. As per … Read more