About Us
Hi! Hello! How's it going? We're Mario and Shelly, we live on Ascension Island (not The Ascension Island's, that place doesn't exist ;)). We're 2 of a population of about 800-900, made up of St Helenian's like Shelly, Ascenionites like me (Mario), although in reality, I am a St Helenian too, we're all British as Ascension Island and St Helena, our sister island are both British Overseas Territories. There are also British, American, Seychellois, Filipinos, South African and a few other nationalities living and working here. There are also two military bases belonging to the RAF and US Air Force. The population fluctuates mainly because of the contractors and military personal that come and go throughout the year.
We both work on the island but in our spare time, we enjoy hiking and scuba diving which allow us to take photos of different locations around the island. We've always just used our mobile phones for photos but recently thought it was worth the investment to have a better camera so we could capture higher quality photos, which is what we have started to do and decided to share it with you.
We've also started a blog to keep you up to date with everything that is happening here for those that are interested.
You can also find us on Social Media so why not follow or subscribe and we hope you enjoy our updates from our little rock in the South Atlantic…. M&S
What’s in the bag?
Right, so maybe not all of this goes into the bag at once when I am out and about but instead a mixture depending on where I am going, but here's a list of everything I have. Some things might seem expensive but I've shopped around, some things are re-conditioned, some were bids from eBay and others I managed to find bundle deals or Promo Codes to help bring the prices down.
Sony A6000 bundle - I did a lot of research before settling on this mirrorless body. It's an old model, 2014 but all the reviews and videos I saw suggested this was the best camera to start and learn with. It also came with an f3.5-5.6, 16-50mm kit lens ideal for everyday use. Shop UK or US.
Sony f4.5-6.3, 55-210mm telephoto lens - This lens can also be found as part of a bundle with the Sony A6000 but I managed to find a new one on eBay for less. This is great for getting those detailed close-up shots. Shop UK or US.
Samyang/Rokinon f2-22, 12mm wide lens - This lens came highly recommended for the A6000, especially for astrophotography. It is a manual lens however so it's up to you to get the focus sharp. Shop UK or US.
DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo - I've been wanting a drone for years, we go on loads of hikes around the island and this allows us to get a different perspective and maybe some photo angles that have never been shot before. I'm still a bit nervous about flying it out over the ocean, those sea birds are way too interested in it! We opted for the Fly More Combo deal as it included extra batteries, blades, ND filters and a bag. Shop at DJI or US.
DJI Osmo Mobile 3 - We purchased this after buying the drone as you get DJI Credit when you purchase directly from DJI so we decided to use that credit and get a gimbal. It allows us to shoot smooth video's using our mobiles. Shop at DJI or US.
OnePlus 6 and OnePlus Nord Mobiles - Not well known but good value for the specs they come with and decent camera's too.
Intova Edge X Action Camera - No longer available to buy but still a good little camera for scuba diving, I've had it for quite a few years and it has travelled with me as well. Maybe a waterproof housing for the A6000 could be an option in the future to get even better underwater shots, we'll have to wait and see but for now, this is my go-to camera for under the sea.
PGYTECH OneMo Camera Backpack - I searched for quite a while for a backpack that was strong enough to cope with the Ascension terrain, dustproof, waterproof, quick access and could store everything I needed. That lead me to this backpack, it is not the lightest but it is comfortable and the inside compartments are customisable and it comes with a separate pouch that can store a drone or your camera if you do not require the main backpack. Both bags are also expandable, with the main bag going from a 25L to a 30L. PGYTECH have loads of other accessories for cameras and drones. Shop UK or US.
Phopik Tripod - Import for landscapes when you're looking to shoot pin-sharp photos or get those starry night sky's. It's Lightweight, almost 2 meters tall when fully extended, 360-degree ball head and can be used as a monopod/hiking pole. Shop US.
Feelworld FM8 Microphone - Not a bad price and decent sound quality even in windy conditions. Shop UK or US.
Neewer ND Filters - We have a few ND filters to go with the Samyang lens, this allows for long exposures at sunset and allows us to capture the smooth water effect. Make sure to measure the size of your lens before buying! Shop UK or US.
Tiffen Circular Polarizer - Another filter for the Samyang lens. This one reduces glare and deepens the colour of the sky and sea. Shop UK or US.
Cleaning and Protection - With Ascension being so dusty and rugged we have an anti-shock/waterproof memory card protector case along with a cleaning kit that consists of an air blaster, lens pen and microfibre cloths. Shop UK or US.