Ewan MainWhat I use
Hardware
Most of my work is produced on a quad-core 2010 iMac and a 2008 MacBook Pro. (I've used computers for long enough to know never to trust them entirely, so I have two systems always useable.) I'm also able to get a surprising amount done on my iPad when I don't want to lug the heavy, expensive stuff around. Which is pretty much always. Everything's backed up onto a QNAP TS-410 as well as a remote server. So, while nobody can 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong, I think I can come pretty close.
I take my photos on the truly excellent Nikon D90 camera, alternating between a Nikkor 50mm prime lens and a Tamron 18-270mm zoom, with a Nikon Speedlight SB-600 external flash.
Software
I use Mac OS 10.6 99% of the time, but can also run Windows when I need to. I'm also familiar with a few varieties of GNU/Linux and have dabbled in them occasionally.
I use Aperture to import, manage and process my photos. Writing and research projects tend to start life in the wonderful Scrivener on the Mac or PlainText on the iPad. My print design is then mostly done in Adobe InDesign, and I'll also use Illustrator, Pixelmator and PhotoShop quite often. Web designs are hand-coded, usually using a combination of Textmate on the Mac, Gusto on the iPad, and the excellent CSSEdit. For Web graphics I'll use a combination of Illustrator, Pixelmator and PhotoShop.