Community member Andrew Kornylak loves to cling to sheer rock faces with others and stare down at the world below. See what photos he’s taken from such dramatic heights.
Community member Andrew Kornylak loves to cling to sheer rock faces with others and stare down at the world below. See what photos he’s taken from such dramatic heights as he shares his story that includes working for Lowpro and writing for National Geographic.
Our ‘What’s in your bag?’ community spotlight series features readers sharing their favorite gear and photography, including from past DPReview collaborators. See below for what Andrew has to share.
Nikon D800 | AF-S Nikkor 35mm F/1.4G | F7.1 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800
Meet Andrew Kornylak
Home base: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Andrew’s interest in photography began in high school after his older brother gave him a hand-me-down Minolta camera. The hobby grew through years of rock climbing and travel before he left a career in software development to become a full-time photographer in 2006.
“My older brother gave me his old Minolta camera when I was in high school. Taking pictures quickly became a hobby. I eventually got into rock climbing in the early 90s while in college, which was a great subject for photography and really got me motivated to get more serious. When I graduated, I worked as a software developer, traveled around the US and climbed, taking pictures whenever I could.”
Keeping one foot in analog has been good for me, as it helps me keep my skills sharp and challenges me to think more deeply and be more deliberate in my approach to projects.
Although he embraced digital photography early, Andrew has continued to work with both film and digital throughout his career. He believes shooting film keeps his technical skills sharp and encourages a more deliberate, thoughtful approach to his work.
“I still shoot a mix of film and digital. Shooting film with a strobe is especially challenging, but worth it. I spent years shooting climbing with off-camera strobes, using medium-format film. Keeping one foot in analog has been good, as it helps keep my skills sharp and challenges me to think more deliberately in my approach to projects.”
What’s in Andrew’s bag
Favorite camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II sure is a popular camera, as last week’s spotlight also stated it was their favorite. Here’s what Andrew thinks about its 45MP stacked sensor compared to his Nikon gear.
“I’ve shot with and owned almost every major camera system, but I have been primarily a Nikon shooter for my bread and butter. Just this year, I switched to Canon, mainly because all my cinema video cameras are Canon, so I wanted to consolidate lenses. I am currently shooting with the Canon R5 Mark II and about a half dozen lenses.”
Support gear
Nikon D800 | AF-S Nikkor 35mm F1.4G | F7.1 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800
Any experienced photographer is going to have a set of gear that works well together and is ready to go at a moment’s notice. Apart from the cameras and lenses above, here’s Andrew’s other interesting gear he takes with him on trips into the mountains.
“I shoot a lot with lighting, both in the studio and on location. For photography, this was mostly Profoto and Broncolor strobes. I’ve been transitioning more to continuous lighting. LED technology has really come a long way, with significant advantages over other lighting options, especially since I also shoot video.”
“Aperture is my go-to brand here. I am FAA drone certified, so there’s that. Though I have a mini warehouse full of grips and accessories, I try to keep things as simple as possible. My Really Right Stuff Apex TVC-34L carbon tripod (which allows me to quickly change out photo and video heads) and RRS BH-55 ball head go with me 90% of the time.”
These days, I mix and match. I have to think about video gear as well. Mountainsmith (for a time), Think Tank and Peak Design all make great bags.
Favorite bag: “Definitely the Pelican 1510 with Trekpak Dividers and 1519 Photographers Lid Organizer. Hands down, my most useful camera case.”
“For years, I was an ambassador and design consultant with Lowepro, so I’ve been loyal to that brand. The bag I use the most is the Lowepro Whistler BP 450 AW. These days, I mix and match. I have to think about video gear as well. Mountainsmith (for a time), Think Tank and Peak Design all make great bags.”
What’s it like ‘hanging out’?
NIKON D850 | 60mm | F29 | 1/250 sec | ISO 64
Whether suspended hundreds of feet above the ground or in a quiet neighborhood park, Andrew is drawn to photographs that reveal something extraordinary. He believes the most compelling stories are often found in everyday places, where ordinary moments can become unexpectedly transcendent.
“Hanging from a rope hundreds of feet above the ground is a pretty unique perspective. I love shooting in all conditions, high up, underwater, in the rain, and so on. It can sometimes be risky or dangerous. I do enjoy the adversity, but it’s not where you find people most of the time. People occupy mundane spaces – cities, back yards, parks and their automobiles. It’s even more exciting to find something sublime or transcendent in an everyday environment.”
I shot a story on the (Mississippi) river. It’s an unheralded landscape, right in the middle of the country. A seemingly mundane place even, but unexpectedly wild, full of mystery and power.
One place that continues to inspire him is the Mississippi River Delta. First photographing the region for National Geographic Adventure in 2007, he has returned several times, captivated by its quiet beauty.
“One memorable place I’ve been to close to home is the Mississippi river. Specifically, in the Delta region. I shot a story on the river for National Geographic Adventure Magazine in 2007 and have gone back several times since. It’s an unheralded landscape, right in the middle of the country. A seemingly mundane place even, but unexpectedly wild, full of mystery and power.”
How do you keep fear at bay?
Nikon D2X | Tokina AT-X 10.5mm F2.8 Fisheye | F7.1 | 1/400 sec | ISO 100
“Willpower. For a typical magazine story, I used to just overshoot to make sure I covered all the bases. That is a reasonable approach, and in the moment, you might pick up a few bangers. In reality, that approach is based on fear. You might have some ideas or intentions, but you quickly realize they don’t go as planned, so you embrace serendipity.”
What’s the perfect shot, though? I sometimes don’t even realize it until years later.
“I do love that about photography, but I think as you gain more experience, you can become bolder with your intentions, really make them come to life instead of assuming they won’t. That’s where the perfect shot happens, not by chance but by intentional visualization and a strong will.”
“What’s the perfect shot, though? I sometimes don’t even realize it until years later.”
Turning photography into published books
Nikon D200 | Tokina AT-X 124 AF PRO DX II 12-24mm F4 @ 12mm | F6.3 | 30 sec | ISO 400
“This year, I am busy working on a couple of multi-year documentary films. I am really used to the constant hustle. That changed during the pandemic, when I was forced to sit still for a while and meditate on what I really wanted from my work. I scanned all my old film (about 30,000 images) and began thinking bigger. I began writing.”
“As a direct result of that, I published my first book last year about climbing in the South – Spare These Stones (Mountaineers Books). Such a small thing, a book, but it feels like the culmination of decades of work. It really has propelled me into the next stage of my career, I think. I have also started teaching. This fall, I will teach two classes at the UNC Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism.”
A piece of advice from a rock climber
“My advice is to work hard, but don’t be afraid to take a break and survey where you are headed. Your approach and strategy will change dramatically over time. Embrace every stage of it, and have fun!”
Andrew really enjoyed participating in this spotlight article and would love to hear what you think of his photography and to answer any of your questions in the comments below.
You can check out Andrew’s other work at andrewkornylak.com.
Editor’s note: This article continues a series, ‘What’s in your bag?’, highlighting DPReview community members, their photography and the gear they depend on. Would you like your photography to be featured in a future installment? Tell us a bit about yourself by filling out this form.
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