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Photography · Sierra Nevada · California

ADD/
SUBTRACT

Music is an additive art — you build from nothing.
Photography is a subtractive art — you remove until only truth remains.

Sony · Leica · Aerial · Sierra Nevada Foothills

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8+
Years Shooting
A1·II
Primary Body
107
FAA Part
01
Gallery
Photography & Aerials
02
Blog
Photography · Gear · Ideas
03
Reviews
Honest Gear Takes
04
Gear
Kit & Setup
// 01 Gallery

RECENT WORK

View All
Portrait
Portrait Series
Landscape
M11-P · Landscape
Concert
Live Music
Aerial
Mavic 4 Pro
// 02–03 Blog & Reviews

LATEST POSTS

All Posts
Review
March 2026 · 8 min

Sony A1 II vs A9 III: Two Seasons In

A year of shooting concerts, aerials and family sessions with both bodies. Here's what the specs don't tell you.

Seth · SCR Photos
Blog
Feb 2026 · 5 min

Why I Moved My Entire Library to Capture One

The migration was painful. The results weren't. Catalog structure, color science, and what I miss about Lightroom.

Seth · Add/Subtract
Review
Jan 2026 · 7 min

Leica M11-P Safari: Six Months of Real Use

60MP, manual focus only, and the first camera with hardware Content Credentials. What it's like to actually live with it.

Seth · Add/Subtract
// 04 Services

WHAT I OFFER

Book Now
01
Portrait & Family

Sony A1 II, full prime kit, MagMod flash. Delivered via Pic-Time gallery.

02
Aerial Photography

FAA Part 107 certified. Sierra Nevada foothills and Greater Sacramento region.

03
Event & Concert

Dual-body Sony and Leica rigs. Fast delivery. Low-light specialist.

04
Consulting & Workshops

Capture One training, workflow consulting, Framer strategy. Remote or in-person.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Available for bookings · Inquiries · Collaborations

Get In Touch

// 01 Portfolio

VISUAL
WORK

Photography · Aerials · Portraits · Concerts · Landscape

Sierra Nevada · Aerial
Sierra Nevada · DJI Mavic 4 Pro
Portrait
Portrait · Sony A1 II
Landscape
Landscape · M11-P
Concert
Live · Sony A9 III
Aerial
Foothills · Aerial
Street
Street · Leica M11-P
Family
Family Session
Drone
Sunrise · Aerial
Night
Nightscape · A1 II
340+
Images Published
Part 107
FAA Certified
A1 II
Primary Camera
M11-P
Leica Secondary

// 02 Editorial

THE
BLOG

Photography workflow, gear philosophy, audio experiments, and notes from the Sierra Nevada foothills. Long-form and honest.

Read Latest
Featured Post Thumbnail
Latest Post
Why I Moved My Entire Library to Capture One
Feb 2026 · 5 min read
All Posts

RECENT WRITING

Archive
Blog
Feb 2026 · 5 min

Why I Moved My Entire Library to Capture One

The migration was painful. The results weren't. Color science and what I miss about Lightroom.

Seth
Review
Jan 2026 · 8 min

Sony A1 II: Six Months of Real Work

Beyond the specs — how this body actually behaves at 30fps in low light at a concert venue.

Seth
Gear
Dec 2025 · 6 min

Fractal Axe-Fx III: One Year of Worship Gigs

In a low-stage-volume church context where feel matters more than headroom.

Seth
Blog
Nov 2025 · 4 min

Shooting Leica in the Sierra Nevada Foothills

The M11-P as a hiking companion — what it forces you to think about differently.

Seth
Review
Oct 2025 · 7 min

DJI Mavic 4 Pro After 50 Flights

The drone I actually reach for. Real-world Part 107 commercial work in California.

Seth
Blog
Sep 2025 · 3 min

The Case for a Two-Camera System

Why Sony for events and Leica for personal work isn't redundancy — it's a workflow philosophy.

Seth
Blog
Coming Soon · 8 min

Fractal Axe-Fx III Turbo: The Modeller That Changed Everything

1,024 presets, Cygnus X2 modeling, and zero stage volume. Why this is the benchmark everything else gets compared to.

Seth
Blog
Coming Soon · 7 min

Darkglass Anagram: Bass Modelling Has Finally Grown Up

Hexacore DSP, NAM integration, and a 7" touchscreen. What happens when a bass-focused company builds its own platform.

Seth
Blog
Coming Soon · 6 min

Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini: Same Brain, Half the Footprint

Six SHARC cores, Neural Capture V2, and a form factor that finally fits a board. Real-world comparison with the full QC.

Seth
Topics
Photography14 Posts
Gear Reviews9 Posts
Workflow7 Posts
Audio5 Posts
Aerial4 Posts

// 06 Honest Takes

GEAR REVIEWS

Long-term real-world testing — no press samples, no PR relationships

Featured Review
Sony A1 II vs A9 III: Two Seasons In
Camera · March 2026 · 8 min read
Drone
DJI Mavic 4 Pro After 50 Flights
Modeler
Fractal Axe-Fx III Turbo: Worship Context
Software
Capture One vs Lightroom: 1 Year Later
◈ Camera Bag · Sony · Leica
PHOTO REVIEWS
Sony · Leica · G Master · Sigma Art · Lighting · Drones · Accessories
// Cameras

CAMERA BODIES

All Cameras
Camera
—
Sony · Full Frame · Flagship

Sony A1 Mark II

50.1MP stacked sensor. 30fps. 8.5-stop IBIS. The primary workhorse — real-world assessment after extended use.

In Progress
Camera
—
Sony · Full Frame · Global Shutter

Sony A9 Mark III

First full-frame global shutter camera. 120fps RAW. 1/80,000s flash sync at any speed. What changes in practice.

In Progress
Camera
—
Nikon · Full Frame · Retro

Nikon ZF

24.5MP BSI. EXPEED 7. 8-stop Focus-Point IBIS. Retro dials that actually work. Legacy lens heaven.

In Progress
Camera
—
Leica · Rangefinder · Safari Edition

Leica M11-P (Safari)

60.3MP. Manual focus only. World's first camera with hardware Content Credentials. 256GB internal. No video.

In Progress
Camera
—
Leica · Fixed Lens · 43mm

Leica Q3 43

60MP. APO-Summicron 43mm f/2. First Q with an apochromatic lens. Natural perspective. Leaf shutter sync at any speed.

In Progress
// Sony E-Mount Lenses
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 50-150mm f/2

Sony 50-150mm f/2 GM

f/2 throughout the zoom range. Event and portrait workhorse. What a constant f/2 zoom changes.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 28-70mm f/2

Sony 28-70mm f/2 GM

Released alongside the A1 II. Constant f/2 wide-to-portrait range. How it performs in real sessions.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 70-200mm f/2.8 II

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II

Dual XD Linear Motor AF. 1,045g. The event and concert telephoto. Two seasons of real work.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 50mm f/1.4

Sony 50mm f/1.4 GM

Dual XD Linear. 516g. Renders beautifully wide open. The portrait session standard.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 35mm f/1.4

Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM

The daily driver. 524g. Stays on the A1 II most of the time. Why this focal length works for everything.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G Master · 24mm f/1.4

Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM

445g. Environmental portraits, landscapes, event coverage. f/1.4 at 24mm is a different kind of image.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sony G · 90mm f/2.8 Macro

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G

1:1 macro. OSS stabilization. Doubles as a portrait lens. The versatile G that punches above its class.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sigma Art · 14-24mm f/2.8

Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 Art

795g. No front filter. Ultra-wide for aerials, architecture, astro. Art line quality at a non-GM price.

In Progress
Lens
—
Sigma Art · 85mm f/1.4

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art

1,130g. Optically superb. Autofocus that keeps up. The heavyweight portrait lens that earns its place.

In Progress
// Lighting
Lighting
—
Flashpoint · Strobe

Flashpoint AD600 Pro II: Location Portraits

600Ws battery strobe. Overpowers direct sun. The workhorse for outdoor sessions and event fill.

In Progress
Lighting
—
Flashpoint · Strobe

Flashpoint AD200 Pro II: Run-and-Gun

200Ws portable strobe. Three in rotation. TTL, HSS, and a head that swaps in seconds.

In Progress
Lighting
—
MagMod · Flash Modifier

MagMod System: Octaboxes, Strips & Beauty Dishes

Magnetic modifiers that actually stay put. Speed and consistency across portrait sessions.

In Progress
Lighting
—
Godox · Speedlight

Godox V100 & V1 Pro: On-Camera Flash

Round-head speedlights for events where a full strobe kit isn't practical. How they integrate with Sony.

In Progress
Lighting
—
Westcott · Reflector

Westcott Eyelighter 3: Portrait Sessions

The curved clamshell reflector. How it changes the look on location and why it earns the bag space.

In Progress
// Software
Software
—
Phase One · DAM / Editing

Capture One 24: Full Migration Guide

Coming from Lightroom with 80k images. What worked, what broke, what I'd do differently.

In Progress
// Drones & Action Cameras
Drone
—
DJI · Aerial · Part 107

DJI Mavic 4 Pro: Commercial Work

What holds up after real Part 107 commercial work in the California foothills. Long-term assessment.

In Progress
Action Cam
—
DJI · Action Camera

DJI Osmo Action 5: Event & Run-and-Gun

When the A1 II is too conspicuous. Action cam as a B-camera in real event and outdoor contexts.

In Progress
Action Cam
—
DJI · Pocket Camera

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: Handheld Gimbal

The smallest stabilized camera in the kit. Where it earns its place and where it doesn't.

In Progress
360°
—
Insta360 · 360° Camera

Insta360 X5: 360° for Events

360° video as a creative tool rather than a gimmick. Real-world event and aerial use cases.

In Progress
♩ Music
MUSIC REVIEWS
Instruments · Amps & Cabs · Modellers · Pedals & Effects · Software · Accessories
// Modellers

AMP MODELLERS

All Music Reviews
Modeller
—
Fractal Audio · Axe-Fx III Turbo

Fractal Axe-Fx III Turbo

1,024 presets. 300+ amps. Cygnus X2 modeling. 8×8 USB audio. The benchmark — real worship rig context.

In Progress
Modeller
—
Darkglass · Bass Workstation

Darkglass Anagram

Hexacore DSP. NAM integration. 50+ effects. 7" touchscreen. Purpose-built bass platform. Studio and live.

In Progress
Modeller
—
Neural DSP · Quad Cortex Mini

Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini

Same 6-core SHARC as flagship QC. 50% smaller. 90+ amps. Neural Capture V1 & V2. 7" touchscreen. 1.5kg.

In Progress

// 07 The Camera Bag

THE CAMERA
BAG

Every piece of kit I use for paid and personal photography — Sony, Leica, and everything in between. No affiliate links, no sponsored posts.

Primary BodySony A1 II
RangefinderLeica M11-P Safari
Fixed LensLeica Q3 43
AerialDJI Mavic 4 Pro
Post ProcessingCapture One 24
CertificationFAA Part 107
Primary Kit Photo
◈ Photography
CAMERA BAG
Cameras · Lenses · Lighting · Software · Accessories
Sony
A1 II

Primary workhorse. 50MP at 30fps. The perfect hybrid for high-end stills and 8K video.

Mirrorless Body
Leica
M11-P

Personal work and street photography. Rangefinder experience with a 60MP BSI sensor.

Rangefinder Body
Sony G Master
35mm f/1.4 GM

The daily driver. Sharp, fast, and stays on the A1 II most of the time.

Prime Lens

// 06 Digital & Print

THE STORE

Presets · Prints · Courses · Templates — all built from real work, not theory

Products

ALL ITEMS

New Arrivals
New
Capture One Preset
Sierra Suite
$28
12 presets · instant download
Fine Art Print
Foothills #7
$120
16×20 · signed · limited to 25
Sale
Course
Capture One Migration
$49
3.5 hrs · Lightroom → C1
Framer Template
Photographer Portfolio
$79
CMS · responsive · this design

// 07 Hire Seth

LET'S
WORK

Available for portrait sessions, aerial assignments, event coverage, consulting, and Capture One training. Sierra Nevada foothills and Greater Sacramento.

8+
Years
107
FAA Part
A1 II
Primary
Start an Enquiry

// Booking Widget Integration

Please paste your HoneyBook or StudioNinja embed code here.

What I Do

ALL SERVICES

01
Portrait & Family

Location and studio sessions. Sony A1 II with a full prime kit and MagMod flash system. Delivered via Pic-Time gallery within 5 business days.

Enquire about this service →
02
Aerial Photography

FAA Part 107 certified. Commercial and editorial aerial work. Sierra Nevada foothills and Greater Sacramento. Insured for commercial assignments.

Enquire about this service →
03
Event & Concert

High-speed event coverage with dual-body Sony and Leica rigs. Low-light specialist. Fast 48-hour turnaround available for editorial deadlines.

Enquire about this service →
04
Consulting & Workshops

Workflow consulting, Capture One training, and Framer web strategy for photographers. One-on-one sessions remote or in-person near Sacramento.

Enquire about this service →

// 08 The Person

SETH
RUSACKAS

Portrait, aerial, and event photographer based in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento. US Navy veteran. Sony and Leica shooter. FAA Part 107 certified.

Portrait Photography Aerial · FAA Part 107 Sony · Leica US Navy Veteran Capture One Event & Concert Sierra Nevada Healthcare Tech VP
Start a Conversation
// Background

THE STORY

The name is the philosophy. Music is an additive art — you start with silence and build, layering until something exists that didn't before. Photography is a subtractive art — you start with the entire world and remove: the frame removes everything outside it, black and white removes color, the decisive moment removes every other second. Add/Subtract is what happens when those two ideas share a brain.

I served in the US Navy before any of this — a formative chapter that shaped how I approach discipline, systems, and showing up. That same mindset runs through how I shoot: kit that works reliably, workflow that doesn't fight you, and a preference for preparation over luck.

Photography started as a way to document the Sierra Nevada foothills — one of the most visually specific landscapes in California. It grew into portraits, concerts, aerials, and a business. I shoot on Sony and Leica, process in Capture One, and fly commercially under FAA Part 107 certification. The dual-system approach — Sony A1 II for speed and reliability, Leica M11-P for intentionality — reflects the same subtractive logic: choose the tool that removes the most friction between the idea and the image.

The day job is VP of Field Service Operations for a healthcare technology company. The operational thinking crosses over more than you'd expect.

LocationSierra Nevada Foothills, CA
ServiceUS Navy, Retired
CamerasSony A1 II · Leica M11-P
CertificationFAA Part 107
PostCapture One 24
Day JobVP, Field Service Operations
Primary CameraSony A1 II
SecondaryLeica M11-P
DroneDJI Mavic 4 Pro
CertificationFAA Part 107
PostCapture One 24
InstrumentsGuitar · Bass
Built WithFramer
// What I Use

CURRENT KIT

Camera — Primary
Sony A1 II

30fps, 50MP. Event, concert, and aerial. Two years of daily professional use.

Camera — Secondary
Leica M11-P

60MP rangefinder. Personal and landscape work. Slows everything down in the best way.

Camera — Backup
Sony A9 III

Global shutter. Concert and sports alongside the A1 II.

Aerial
DJI Mavic 4 Pro

Part 107 commercial aerial. 50+ flights across the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Amp Modeler
Fractal Axe-Fx III Turbo

Worship and recording. Full IEM rig, zero stage volume, one year in weekly service.

Post Processing
Capture One 24

Full library migrated from Lightroom. Color science, catalog, tethering.

// Audio Side

GUITAR & BASS

Not professional — but serious. Guitar and bass have been there since my teens, and that side of things now lives in the blog, not the gear page. Writing about the Axe-Fx III, the Darkglass Anagram, and the QC Mini is how the ADD/SUBTRACT philosophy shows up in musical form.

Music is where I get to add. Photography is where I get to subtract. One art builds from silence; the other strips from everything. Both demand the same obsessive attention to craft — just in opposite directions.

The gear nerd overlap with photography is obvious in retrospect — both reward understanding your tools deeply rather than chasing new ones.

Current Rig
ModelerFractal Axe-Fx III Turbo
ControllerFractal FC-12
MonitoringIn-Ear Monitors (IEM)
ContextWeekly Worship / Live
StyleZero Stage Volume
LET'S WORK TOGETHER
Bookings · Collaborations · Consulting · Just to say hi
Get In Touch
◈ Review

TITLE

Category · Brand · Type
// Score
Score will be added after extended use
// Manufacturer Specifications