This portrait of Kelly was using Fujifilm GFX 50S II on the 63mm f/2.8 lens. Not every portrait session goes as planned — and that’s often when the magic happens. When Kelly walked into the studio, I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect. He’s not someone who’s naturally drawn to the spotlight. No flashy …
4 Tracks and 2 Lights and 1 Nostalgic Tape Deck Dream
Let’s talk about a legend: the Tascam Portastudio 424.And how I lit it like it was about to drop the hottest lo-fi EP of 1995. A Brief Ode to the 424 If you were making music in the 80s or 90s : in your bedroom, your basement, or your bandmate’s garage : there’s a good ...
Velouté with fresh pixels
I took out my Thermomix for the first time in a long while. Not to use it. But to take photos because I’m selling it. That’s when it occurred to me: A Thermomix has a lot in common with the Fujifilm GFX 50S II? Yes. That all-in-one German kitchen robot that can sauté onions, knead …
Salar de Uyuni
There’s light. And then there’s Bolivian light. I've had strobes accidentally popping off in my eyes, but I've never known light, bright light, until I was here. Photographing the salt flats, Salar de Uyuni, of Bolivia, was one of the most disorienting and visually surreal experiences I’ve had behind a camera. It’s like ...
The Fuji X-E3 is not a cat
OK, let's try pets analogy... Cameras are like pets. Some are Labradors: loyal, helpful, but absolutely everywhere. Others are like cats: high-maintenance, and kinda judgy. But the Fujifilm X-E3? It’s like a Schnoodle: small but sturdy, clever, quick and also very good looking. This little thing might just be my (second) favorite pet ever. I’ve ...
Using GF50mm for Portraiture
Portrait of Mr. Phua: Making Space Where There Is None — with the GF 50mm Some portraits stay with you long after the shutter clicks. This one of SK Phua, the master craftsman carpenter in his impossibly packed workshop. is one of them. The space was tight. Every inch of wall, floor, and bench was ...
Why GF 50mm is the Perfect GFX Lens
When people think of medium format photography, they usually imagine something big, heavy, and slow. A tripod kind of camera. A “set it up and wait” kind of experience. And sure , medium format can be all those things. (I have a Contax 645 that I love) But what if I told you there’s a ...
Pentax 645 – The Quiet Romantic
Ode to the Pentax 645: The Quiet Romantic of Medium Format In the world of medium format photography, some names shout. Hasselblad shouts pretentiousness, I mean, status. Mamiya is more like a dependable workhorse, all business. But then there’s Pentax. Humble, earnest, quietly brilliant. And among its creations, the Pentax 645 stands as something truly ...
The Disappearing X-Pro 1
X-Pro 1, still number 1 Of all the cameras I've sold over the years, my biggest regret was selling the Fujifilm X-Pro1. It does not have the most megapixels or high-speed tracking, but it was a special camera. It was the perfect balance between digital and mechanical. It was like a digital version of the Leica ...
Falling in Love Again
How the Fujifilm X-Pro1 Rekindled My Love for Photography There was a time when I stopped taking pictures altogether. It wasn’t that I fell out of love with photography , I fell out of love with cameras. As the industry marched forward, chasing specs, screens, and speed, something was lost. The once intimate connection between ...