Kit

I thought it would be useful to outline the kit I'm using instead of mentioning it each time.

I use a Canon 5D Mk III with a 24-105mm lens most of the time, but the 50mm f/1.4 is whipped out from time to time and when I'm feeling strong, the Sigma "Bigma" 50-500mm lens makes an appearance.

In my lens arsenal, I also pack a 100mm macro, a 17-40mm f/4 and a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM.

I have a number of flashes now, amassed over the years: a recently-purchased Canon 600EX-RT, a Canon 430EX, which I bought in NYC in '07, Pentax AF220T (a Christmas present from my parents YEARS ago) and a Vivitar 285HV, my Dad's old flash, which he got with a Pentax K1000 and 55mm f/2 lens in the mid-1970s.

For the off-camera flash action, I have some YongNuo RF-602/C triggers to replace my Cactus V2s (as they're more reliable than the Cactus triggers, which used to go off randomly).  I'm not a pro-shooter, so I don't really have the budget for PocketWizards or AlienBees. One day, perhaps.

I don't have a full studio set-up, so I've also got a number of flash modifiers instead: a Lumiquest 80-20 bouncer, a Lumiquest Mini Softbox and some home-made snoots.  I also bought a Strobella mini umbrella from http://www.strobella.com for a mere 7 Euros (about 11 Euros with delivery). I'd recommend getting one as a) they're cheap, b) they made shooting through an umbrella highly mobile and c) it looks like you've stolen Barbie's brolly. Hand-holding flash with this umbrella attached is simple and quick.  And you look silly, but don't let that bother you.

In the past, I have used a Canon EOS 5D Mk II, Canon EOS 10D and various Pentax film SLRs: Pentax K1000, P30, MZ-50 and MZ-M.  I also have an array of 'weird' cameras - lomo stuff like a Lubitel 166B TLR camera and a Zero Image pinhole camera - and a medium format Mamiya 645AF, which I've always wanted.  I use it rarely, so it might be on eBay soon.