Diane Bentley Raymond (@dianebentleyraymond) is a full-time travel and landscape photographer who often captures the beautiful scenes and architecture she comes across. When she’s not shooting for clients or traveling the globe for work, you will likely find her roaming around her home city of San Francisco with camera in hand. “I spent 25 years as a marketing consultant,” she says. “I often found myself directing photographers in my attempt to ‘tell the story’ as I would see it in my head. Late in life, I had that ‘aha’ moment when I realized I needed to be behind the camera telling the story. I jumped in with both feet and have never looked back! I’m proof that it is never too late to find your true calling and pursue your dreams. Sony has been my go-to camera since the beginning. I love Sony color, the clarity, and the wide range of options.” We got this inside look at the Sony Alpha gear Diane uses for her photography.

See the Sony Alpha gear photographer Diane Raymond Bentley uses to create stunning travel and architecture photos.

Sony Alpha 7R II: The Alpha 7R II is an amazing camera. With a resolution of 42.4 megapixels, nothing is out of reach. I love having the ability to shoot a bit wider and really crop in post-production to reveal details. It’s my favorite travel camera and delivers crisp and clear results as I’m shooting on the go.

Photo by Diane Bentley Raymond. Sony α7R II. Sony 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6. 20-secs., f/11, ISO 100

Sony Alpha 6500: The Alpha 6500 is a comfortable, lightweight camera I often use for architecture, but it is also excellent for video. I have had the good fortune to have photographed so many of the iconic buildings in San Francisco for my clients, both from the ground and sometimes from the top of a skyscraper using the Alpha 6500. 

Lenses

Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3: My favorite travel setup is the Sony Alpha 7R II with the 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. Shots are crisp at every focal length and it is a luxury to be able to run and gun with one lens for 80% of the shots I need. I love seeing the world from every angle and one lens means I don’t miss that “moment” changing my lens. The depth of field and clarity of this lens are both impressive. Some of my favorite shots are the ones that happen naturally. I come around a corner and ‘voila” there it is, and I know I need to take that shot.

Photo by Diane Bentley Raymond. Sony α7R II. Sony 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3. 1/15-sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Sony 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6: The 28-70mm is another one of my favorites and a great option when I am not on the run. I tend to use this when I am shooting from a tripod and have a bit more time for set up. This is also my lens of choice for long exposure shots. It’s an all-around great lens to have in your arsenal.

Photo by Diane Bentley Raymond. Sony α6500. Sony 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6. 1-sec., f/22, ISO 100

Sony E 10-18mm f/4: When using the Alpha 6500 for architecture, I use it with the Sony E 10-18mm f/4. This wide-angle zoom lens is a sharp optic that adds ultra-wide perspective without a lot of distortion. Capturing elements around the building is critical to telling the whole story of that building. This lens helps me capture it all and I enjoy how lightweight this set up is.

Photo by Diane Bentley Raymond. Sony α6500. Sony E 10-18mm f/4. 1.6-secs., f/8, ISO 100

Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3: I throw on the Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS when I need to zoom in and capture details in the shot. It’s sharp, fast and does the trick.

Photo by Diane Bentley Raymond. Sony α6500. Sony E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3. 1/160-sec., f/4.5, ISO 800

Accessories

Peak Designs Camera Strap: Simply the most comfortable strap ever. Super-fast on/off. When I shoot video, I am typically using a gimbal and who want to mess with tricky straps.

K & F Concept Fader Variable Filters: An easy to use filter for long exposure. A variable filter is the way to go for me.

Hot Shoe Level Camera Bubble: A must-have for architecture.

Inateck Backpack: When I travel, weight is critical, and this backpack has a place for everything and still manages to be lightweight. I carry this on the plane, keeping my gear safe and keeping me from having separation anxiety.

Starbucks Via Instant Coffee: Just have to have my coffee no matter where I am.

See more of Diane Bentley Raymond's work on Instagram @dianebentleyraymond.