Guest Blogger

Idi Probak – A traditional Basque rural sport

by Guest Blogger September 13, 2016 Comments1

The Basque Country is an area spanning both Spain and France on the Atlantic coast.

In the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit this unique Spanish region (what most people are referring to when they talk about the Basque Country) several times and have been able to learn a little about the culture, traditions and food; all of which are extremely rich.

On my last visit, I was able to join in the yearly celebration of ‘San Pedro’ (or ‘San Pedroko Jaiak’ in Basque). This is celebrated all over Spain, but this festival is especially important to the village of Boroa. Boroa is made up of 15th Century farmhouses, rolling hills of farmland and dense forests, but also has a pioneering industrial centre. Interestingly, Boroa has it’s own Michelin starred restaurant.

The Basque Country is a place with many rich, rural traditions (many dating back centuries), and they celebrate their heritage by keeping these traditions alive during special events throughout the year.

The climax of the Boroa’s San Pedroko Jaiak celebration is a traditional rural sport named ‘Idi Probak’ (which can be loosely translated to ‘Oxen Tests’) and takes place in Boroa’s village centre.

There are a few variations of this game (depending on the region in which it is held) but I will briefly describe the one which I saw.

The game involves two oxen dragging a rock (in this case, a 1800kg concrete slab) along the length of a cobbled track (named ‘proba toki’ – the length of this is typically from 22m – 28m). The oxen are guided by an ox-herder and a goader, whose job it is to steer both the oxen, and the rock along the track. They have 30 minutes to do as many lengths as possible, dragging the 1800 kgs behind them. The spectators bet on how many lengths the Oxen can carry the weight in 30 mins.

I heard that in the past, it wasn’t uncommon for the competitors to bet their harvest, their houses and even their land during this event!

The oxen are trained throughout the year in preparation of this competition, and are regularly taken for long walks in the hills and mountains as well as trained by dragging rocks.

During the evening of the event, the locals (and also those from neighbouring villages) come to watch the spectacle, socialise and end the night with traditional music and dancing.

The Basque country is a very unique place, full of natural and untamed beauty. The people are proud, the food is incredible and the landscapes are stunning.

‘The moment this man won a bet, correctly guessing how many lengths the oxen could drag the weight in 30 minutes’.

All photos taken on a Fujifilm X-T10 using XF16 / XF23 / XF56 lenses.

To see more of Danny’s work, click here.

Filed under Be Inspired Photography Reportage Travel

See The Light with the Fujifilm EF-X500

by Guest Blogger August 25, 2016 Comments6

Let’s talk about the benefits of introducing a new light source into your image!

With the advent of the new EF-X500 flash unit, our first professional ETTL flash, we thought we could shed some light on the age-old question “natural light or introduced light?”

We are here to give you a brief rundown of the Fujifilm EF-X500 and how it can benefit your Fujifilm X-Series kit.

Fujifilm EF-EX500 Flash

Batteries & Accessories

The Fujifilm EF-X500 powers using four traditional AA batteries. Generally we would recommend for any shooter using this flash to carry an additional four AA lithium batteries or better still, AA Ni-MH 2700 mAh rechargeable.

From a set of Ni-MH rechargeable you can expect to get 170 flashes and with the optional battery pack EF-BP1, which holds an additional eight batteries, this amount will be extended to approximately 350 flashes. The EF-BP1 will not only improve the number of flashes but also the recycle time, so if you are a wedding photographer this could be a useful accessory to have.

Flash Zoom

The benefit of zoom allows additional control of the light for the image you’re trying to create.

The Fujifilm EF-X500 allows the flash to zoom from 24-105mm. What this will do is allow your flash to either fire a very wide range to suit a wider angled lens or emit a narrower flash to suit a portrait or telephoto lens. The end result will enable you to light an entire scene or just pick out an individual subject from a scene.

Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR – ISO 200 – F5.6 – 1/125 second – Fujifilm sample image

Optional Rear or Front Curtain Sync

This feature is a very common setting for on camera flash users who wish to add some motion to their images.

Front Curtain Sync means once you depress the shutter button on the camera, the flash will immediately fire, and Rear Curtain Sync delays the flash until the end of the exposure before the curtain covers your sensor.

So what does this actually do to your image?

You won’t notice a great deal until you get to slower shutter speeds under 1/50th of a second. By lowering your shutter speed it will actually allow any moving highlights in your image to blur whilst freezing the image in the foreground fairly sharp, creating a sense of movement in your image.

The easiest way to remember the difference between the two settings is:

Select Rear Curtain Sync and it will capture the movement at the end of the subjects motion, selecting Front Curtain Sync freezes movement from the beginning.

Electronic Through The Lens (ETTL)

Using the automatic setting when starting out with a flash is sometimes the best option. This is essentially the auto mode for flashes and should be used that way. ETTL technology proves to be a fantastic option whenever you are shooting with the EF-X500 flash on the move and want your Fujifilm X-Series camera to do all the work.

The camera and flash will ‘talk’ with each other as soon as you half press the shutter button, to determine the metering settings, distance from your subject, the ISO, shutter speed and aperture. Once this happens (very quickly) the flash will trigger knowing the exact amount of power it needs for whatever situation you may find yourself in.

Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR – ISO 100 – F13 – 1/250 second – Fujifilm sample image

Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR – ISO 100 – F13 – 1/250 second – Fujifilm sample image

Flash Exposure Compensation

When combined with ETTL, Flash Exposure Compensation allows you to be a little more creative. If you’re familiar with your camera’s normal exposure compensation, this works in a similar way, by controlling your flashes light output. On the Fujifilm EF-X500 you can control the power up and down by -5 and +5 EV.

High Speed Sync (HSS)

This is the first time HSS will grace the Fujifilm X Series line up and it has been a request from many photographers since the launch of the Fujifilm X-Pro1. Previously the sync speed of 180X was the maximum sync for flash and on recent models this was increased to 250X. Sync speed is basically the highest shutter speed the flash will sync at.

Now with the combination of the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and the EF-X500, photographers can increase their sync speed up to a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second.

So what does HSS actually do? Remember when we spoke about Front and Rear Curtain Sync? I explained that the flash fired either at the beginning or the end of the frame you will be taking. At shutter speeds faster than 1/250th of a second, the gap between the front and rear curtains is too narrow to expose the whole sensor to your subject illuminated by a single flash output.

HSS disregards that entirely and instead of only letting out one individual flash, it fires multiple pulses to ensure your flash fills the entire frame.

HSS is a very handy setting for combating the sun when photographing portraits or for using flash and a shallow Depth of Field (DOF) during the middle of the day.

Auto Focus Assist Lamp (AF – Assist Lamp)

The LED AF assist lamp on the EF-X500 is Fujifilm’s first on flash AF assist to work with X Series cameras, allowing fast focus in low light! Here’s a quick explanation on why this is a big deal for both introduced light and natural light photographers.

Cameras need contrasting details within the focus area in order to achieve focus. During low light situations there is less contrast for the camera to work with, however the extra light from the AF assist lamp makes up for this.

While the AF assist built into your camera can be useful, some lenses such as zooms can block the light, reducing its effectiveness. The AF assist lamp built into your flash is situated above your camera, so it gets past this limitation. It’s also a stronger light that will reach further than your camera’s AF assist lamp.

Even if you’re shooting with only natural light, you can take advantage of the EF-X500’s AF assist lamp to allow ultra fast and reliable focus speeds in low light.

Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR – ISO 200 – F8 – 1/250 second – Fujifilm sample image

Wireless Master & Slave compatibility

With the introduction of the Fujifilm EF-X500, the option to use your X series flashes off camera has never been easier!

With optical pulse technology built in (wireless communication), a number of EF-X500 flashes can communicate wirelessly when an EF-X500 flash is mounted on top of selected X Series cameras. This function offers four channels within 3 different groups allowing complete control to strobist photographers.

Camera Compatibility

The highly anticipated X-T2 will be fully compatible with all of the EF-X500’s functions.

X-Pro2 and X-T1 (including X-T1 Graphite Silver) will be compatible with some EF-X500 functions. A firmware update will be required for enabling full compatibility.

All other X Series cameras featuring a hot-shoe are compatible with some of the EF-X500 functions (for more details see http://www.fujifilm.com.au)

Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR – ISO 100 – F8 – 1/250 second – Fujifilm sample image

Final notes

This is the first professional Fujifilm flash that has the option for both flash groups and channels meaning it is designed to be used both on and off your camera’s hot shoe.

For more dramatic lighting we would highly recommend using a light stand and moving your flash around your subject at different flash zoom levels and flash powers to create some creative and interesting looks.

About the Author

Will Anlezark works at Fujifilm Australia as Field Technical and Sales Support Representative. He is a passionate wedding photographer and experienced videographer and loves to share his imaging knowledge to a larger audience.

Filed under Photography

Kayaking with a Fujifilm X-T1 and XF100-400mm

by Guest Blogger August 14, 2016 Comments5

By Jon Vause

I am a keen kayaker with a passion for photography so with the estuary and wetlands near my home having prolific birdlife it has been a natural progression to combine both. Using a kayak gives you unique access to the areas you just can’t get to on foot or by boat so this means less (usually no) people, which results in more bird activity. But let’s face it an open kayak isn’t necessarily a camera friendly zone and a DSLR with a zoom lens fitted isn’t the most buoyant combination around so it was a bit daunting at first to take this out in my kayak but over the past couple of years I have developed a reasonably successful and safe technique.

There are a number of advantages using a kayak for photography as birds move with the tides and their feeding patterns so you can cover a lot of ground throughout the wetlands and estuary paddling the kayak. It is low to the water so gives a good angle for photography, is quiet and doesn’t alarm the birds as if on foot, allowing you to drift down onto your subject so you can get close. Sometimes very close as the birds seem to accept your presence. Being 10m away from an Osprey feeding on a fish without alarming it is a memorable experience. Also, it’s a lot more fun that sitting in a hide for hours waiting for something to come to you or wading knee deep in the mud.

I had been using a Canon DSLR, 70mm-200mm F2.8 lens with a 2x converter but wasn’t really happy with the image quality when using the converter so had resorted to just the lens which meant I had to try to get closer to my subject and crop images. To progress further I really needed a longer lens but it had to be practical to use in my kayak and without having to take out a second mortgage.

Enter Fujifilm.

The lens went on the back burner and in July last year I attended a Camera Expo looking for a travel camera as we had an overseas trip planned in 2017 and I didn’t want to take my heavy DSLR. I bought a Fuji X-T1 with the XF18-135mmF3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens as it was compact, light in weight and promised good image quality.

I initially had no real intention of using the X-T1 for wildlife photography but I took it out in the kayak a few times to compliment my DSLR and get familiar with using it for landscape and the occasional bird life, and I was blown away by the image quality. There was also something special about the images compared to my DSLR. They had a vibrancy and just seemed better particularly the jpegs straight from the camera and having used many rolls of Fuji Velvia in my film days it took me back to images produced then. I loved the retro feel of the camera, it was just like my very first SLR many years ago and when I did try it on birdlife it captured the colours and details in the feathers beautifully and when I zoomed in on the image the lens proved to be sharp and I was impressed.

I was hooked and the Fujifilm X-T1 became my go to camera for landscape and general photography but I needed a longer lens for my wildlife. I was pleased to see that Fujifilm had a XF100-400mm lens planned for release in early 2016. So, I waited and read the pre-release reviews with anticipation. It rated well so once released in Australia I parted with my hard earned cash and purchased the XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lens.

The camera, lens set up I had now, even with the optional vertical grip battery grip fitted to my X-T1 was half a kilo lighter than my previous DSLR and lens. This may not sound a lot but the weight reduction at eye level in a kayak plays a big part in balance.

Rule number one in kayaking with a camera – stay upright.

Not only was the weight reduced but when the XF100-400mm lens was fitted to the X-T1 it felt far better balanced and wasn’t “nose heavy” like my previous gear.

So far so good but the proof would be how does the combination perform in the field or should I say in the boat? I just had to find out.

The lens is a similar physical length to my Canon 70-200mm lens, so I now had a 400mm lens that was compact enough lengthwise to fit into my waterproof camera bag in my kayak hatch with the lens hood permanently attached. This allows quick access when an opportunity arises.

And the performance of the lens did not disappoint.

Rated at 5 stops the OIS is just brilliant and I can confidently get hand-held shots at 400mm from the kayak at shutter speeds of 1/400 second and the results are pin sharp. This has allowed more flexibility following birds on the move, as in the past I would try to use a monopod for support which was restrictive should the bird fly away, but now this wasn’t a necessity. The image quality of the lens still impresses me as it is so sharp and quick to focus. It tracks subjects well in continuous focus mode although fast birds in flight can be challenging, in more ways than one. Pan too quick and you can end up having a swim! When combined with the burst speed of the X-T1 you can still get some great shots and this provides a great combination. For my style of photography, this lens is fantastic. I love it.

I’ve also had use of the Fujifilm 1.4X TC WR teleconverter for a weekend and whilst you lose a stop this gives you an 840mm equivalent lens with no noticeable loss of image quality.

But it’s not just the lens, the combination with the X-T1 works so well I’ve left the DSLR at home now. I have been using the X-T1 exclusively for some months while learning its capabilities. The EVF I’ll say took me a little while to get used when compared to an optical viewfinder but that was really me not understanding its capabilities. Once I had the menu options of the X-T1 set up right I realized how good this was and how to use it to get the maximum out of it. I love the WYSIWYG image in the viewfinder as I can spot meter on a bird which may have very contrasting plumage. I see exactly the image and by changing the metering position, I’m able to prevent blown highlights or even change the background exposure. Also to be able to check your images in the viewfinder and use the focus assist button to zoom in check sharpness is a great feature in bright light conditions. I can also shoot at far higher ISO ratings now without any noticeable noise, which I couldn’t do with my DSLR. This allows me to use more of the lower light conditions available in “the golden hour” than before and also keep up the shutter speed and obviously with both camera and lens being weather resistant this is a great advantage in the environment I use it in.

Like all photography though it’s what’s behind the image that makes a good image. When using a kayak you can have a 360-degree possibility of the approach angle on the subject so you have to plan you method of approach. Not only do you have to work out the lighting and sun angle you also have to judge the wind, tide and any current so that ideally you can drift down onto your subject with the camera at ready and eye to the viewfinder. Not to mention a co-operative subject or being in the right place at the right time. There’s a lot of hit and miss and it varies day to day as the birds move, but with Fujifilm and the X-T1 and XF100-400mm lens combination, this has helped to reinvent me in my photography as my results are much improved. This makes the hours of paddling and the effort all the more worthwhile. I am still learning and trying to get that perfect image but now with Fujifilm it’s a lot more fun trying.

I look forward to trying the X-T2 with the XF100-400mm lens one day.

About the author

I live in Mandurah, 70kms south of Perth in Western Australia and have a keen interest in photography seemly always having a camera since the days of my first Kodak Instamatic. I also had a period of developing and printing with my own darkroom back in the film days but had to give that away when we moved to the Pilbara region in WA as the tap water was too hot.

Photography runs in the family and although I work in the telecommunications industry with constantly changing technology I didn’t initially embrace the digital era of photography until my daughter started studying it at school then going on and becoming a professional photographer.

My passion is the outdoors and outdoor activities. I enjoy bushwalking, mountain bike riding and kayaking. Having moved to Mandurah six years ago I now have the extensive waterways of the Peel Estuary at my doorstep and have combined kayaking with photography to pursue my main interest in bird photography.

Capturing bird images in the wild is challenging and using the kayak gives you access to unique areas. I also engage in landscape, seascape and water sports and with retirement coming it in a few years I am working on my skills to make photography my main pastime.

I’m still chasing the perfect shot. More photos are on my website www.jonvausephotography.com

Filed under Wildlife

Fujifilm X70 Review for City and Travel Photography

by Guest Blogger August 1, 2016 Comments2

By Stefano Ferro

What is the most important characteristic of a camera for city and travel photography?

Is it the sensor size? Or the lens aperture? Or the ISO range?

To me it’s the portability and the Fujifilm X70 is a winner in this respect.

Why?

Because the best camera is the one that’s with you.

I planned few days in Sydney. I decided to fly with my carry-on luggage, I could only take 7kg with me. I am used to flying light and I do not find that complicated to organise just the essentials.

What I find challenging is to decide what camera to take with me. I usually shoot with Nikon, fantastic gear but heavy. I sometimes end up taking just my mobile.

Not anymore with the X70. I had it for few weeks and I got so easily addicted to it. I now take it with me everywhere.

This camera is not just light. It’s the size of a compact and a heart of a DSLR. The Fujifilm X70 has an amazing 16MP APS-C sensor in that tiny body.

There is only one limit you have to live with. The X70 has a fixed prime lens with an equivalent focal length of 28m and an aperture of f/2.8.

The legs are the only form of zooming you have. And they work very well, by the way.

Yes, there are situations when you really need a zoom lens and yes, in that cases the X70 will not help. But then there are occasions when you would not take with you an interchangeable lens camera, because too bulky, and the X70 is the perfect camera to have.

The wide aperture at f/2.8 gives an amazing bokeh where needed, still maintaining amazing details on your subject.

The X70 is not a backup on an interchangeable lens camera. It’s so much more than that.

In the city is really what you need. The perfect camera for street photography. Small and unpretentious.

I find that 28mm is not always the optimal focal length for a portrait. That’s why the digital tele-converter at 35/50mm is a great feature to have.

During some landscape photography with the X70 I missed the EVF (you can buy an OVF separately) however I find easier to shoot people with the LCD. The OVF attachment looks too professional and people seems more worried about who you are.

Who would I suggest this camera too?

To everyone that is shooting with a mobile, or a small compact, and want to step up with the own creativity. It’s really a pleasure to use Fujifilm in manual mode.

But not only. I highly suggest it to anyone shooting with a DSLR and looking for another camera to always take with you, anywhere, anytime.

Check more photos and read the full review of the X70 here.

About the author

Italian photographer Stefano Ferro has lived and worked all over the world, but now calls Melbourne home. He successfully runs MEL365.com, a travel photography website that focuses on visual stories from Melbourne, Australia, and around the globe. His work has been published in magazines and websites internationally.

Filed under Photography

Motorsport Photographer Jeff Carter has his say about the NEW X-T2

by Guest Blogger July 20, 2016 Comments7

About Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter founded MacLean Photographic after leaving the Royal Air Force in 1996. The company name is from Jeff Carter’s full name – Jeffrey Stuart MacLean Carter.

With over 20 years’ experience in several fields, including sport, landscape, wildlife and travel, Jeff is based in Dunbar, near Edinburgh in Scotland. However he travels the world with his work in the motorsport and automotive industry and is constantly on the lookout for that next great image to capture.

As well as providing photographic services to editorial and commercial clients, MacLean Photographic runs a number of Photographic Workshops and Tours for individual or small groups of photographers of all abilities in and around the South East of Scotland.

Landscape photography with the X-T2 in East Lothian

Why did you choose Fujifilm?

A camera is the tool of my trade and the best tool is one that becomes an extension of my creativity, something that I can use without thinking about how to capture an image. I have used all different types of cameras over the last 20+ years but, for me, the three X Series cameras I use are like an extension of my eye and brain.

The first X Series camera I bought was an X100 black limited edition for a business trip to Shanghai. The X100 was like a mini version of the Fujifilm GA645 medium format camera that I had used in the early 1990s and the fixed focal length camera put a spark back into my photography, it was a joy to use. The ability to travel light and still get ‘the shot’ really opened up my mind to the possibilities of the compact system camera. This led to an X-Pro1 a year later, then the X-T1, an X-Pro2 in 2016 and now the X-T2, with a good selection of XF lenses to match.

The X-T2, X-Pro2, X-T1 and X100 I currently use, along with the range of quality XF lenses, are tools that allow me the freedom to be creative but they have also put the joy back into the image making process.

How have you found the new Fujifilm X-T2 camera?

This is the camera I have been waiting for ever since I moved from Nikon to Fujifilm in 2014. Each step that Fujifilm has made in the past four years have culminated into this camera. It is like an extension of my arm and eye when working trackside or in the pitlane. The X-Pro2 is a great camera and pointed the way to the next step. And the X-T2 doesn’t disappoint.

On track battles during the TCR International Series at Spa-Francorchamps

I can follow focus a car moving at 200mph and I can follow focus a bird in flight. I can also switch focus from one subject to another quickly and seamlessly. The Electronic View Finder is beautiful, a joy to use, and doesn’t black out when shooting long bursts. The 11 frames per seconds on boost mode adds to the flexibility of the camera, as does the ability to shoot 4K video.

24 Hours of Le Mans Test – no97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8

Photographing the Gannets of Bass Rock in flight. A good test of the AF capabilities of the X-T2 and 100-400mm lens

The 24MP sensor produces the same stunning image quality as the X-Pro2 and 6000 x 4000 pixel images gives greater flexibility to crop the image in post production. The film simulations are to the same high standard as always with Fujifilm and gives me the option to take the images straight off the camera if speed is of the essence, which in sports photography is usually the case.

The quality of the images when shooting at high ISO settings is really outstanding and I have no hesitation in pushing the dial to 6400 or even 12800 when needed.

The leading Porsche arrives for a routine stop in the pitlane at the 24Hours of Le Mans

Heavy Rain during qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans caused the session to be stopped for 20 minutes due to deep water on the circuit

The ergonomics of the X-T2 have taken the best that the X-T1 had to offer and improved the overall operation of the camera. The new dials and locking mechanism are really good to use and the joystick on the back of the camera also speeds up the operation in the field. Finally the new tilting screen which means I can shoot in a landscape or portrait format from down low or above my head is a big plus point and something I was using all of the time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The weather proofing got a thorough test at Le Mans too as it rained for most of the week leading up to the race and the X-T2 never missed a beat, which is more than I can say for the photographer!

For me this is the ultimate X Series camera!

What’s your most loved image taken on the X-T2 so far and can you tell us little bit about it?

Capturing the moment at a top international sporting event like the 24 Hours of Le Mans is hugely important for any photographer working in editorial photography, especially sport. The new X-T2 allows me to react to a situation quickly and this was essential in capturing my favourite image so far.

The image is of the podium celebrations following the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Porsche had a dramatic win in the final five minutes of the 24 hour race when the leading Toyota stopped on the final lap, allowing the Porsche to take the chequered flag. The emotions on the podium were there for all to see.

The winning Porsche drivers Marc Lieb, Neel Jani and Romain Dumas were celebrating in true motorsport style and afterwards Romain Dumas was speaking to the circuit commentator on the podium after his second overall win at Le Mans. While he was speaking he was ambushed by four of the other drivers and they tipped champagne all over his head.

I was able to react quickly and capture a whole sequence of images with the X-T2 and the XF50-140mm f2.8 + 2x converter. This image sums up the relief and elation of winning the most famous motorsport event in the world and this is why this is my favourite image from my time with the X-T2 – so far!

Romain Dumas (FRA) celebrates winning the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche.

What lens do you think best pairs up with this camera for your shooting style?

For sport most people would probably think I would say the XF100-400mm f4.5/5.6 but for me, the best all round lens is the XF50-140mm f2.8. This lens gives me the greatest flexibility and produces images that can match anything produced on the XF56mm f1.2 or XF90mm f2 (which I own and use as well).

Photographing the Gannets of Bass Rock in flight. A good test of the AF capabilities of the X-T2 and 50-140mm lens

The XF50-140mm f2.8 coupled to the X-T2 is a powerful combination, especially with the improvements made to the continuous Auto Focus function on the new camera. The ability to follow focus a fast moving subject, such as a race car, or a randomly moving subject such as a Gannet diving into the sea for fish, is a huge plus point for my work.

Another advantage of the XF50-140mm is the ability to fit the 1.4x and 2x converters, meaning I have a focal range of 50mm to 280mm available to me in a relatively small package.

To see more of Jeff’s work please visit his website and social sites:

Website: www.macleanphotographic.co.uk

Twitter: @macleancomms

Facebook: www.facebook.com/macleanphotographic

Flickr: www.flickr.com/macleancomms/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/maclean_photo/

In the pitlane at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The media focus on the leading car in the LMGTE Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

2014 LMP2 winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans prepares for qualifying for the 2016 race

Graff Ligier-Nissan on track during the Road To Le Mans support race

Former French Soccer Captain and now LMP2 race driver in the European Le Mans Series Fabien Barthez signs autographs for fans in the pitalne at Imola.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge – Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)

The no23 Panis Barthez Competition Ligier hopping over the kerbs at the final corner of the 13.6km Le Mans circuit.

The no86 Gulf Racing Porsche taking the last corner at speed at Le Mans.

The French Tricolor is proudly displayed on the grid before the start of the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans

The no71 AF Corse Ferrari in for a fuel stop.

Teh no7 Audi R18 being worked on in the Audi garage after it stopped to repair damage to the front of the car.

Filed under Be Inspired Interviews Landscape / Cityscape / Seascape Photography Sport X-Photographer

India – The Good, The Great and The Downright Scary – Part 2

by Guest Blogger July 13, 2016 Comments5

This is a two part blog into the adventures of Tom Corban and his trip through North & Northwest India, if you missed the original post you can view it here.

As the trip went on and the temperature increased, I appreciated not having a rucksack covering my back. I began to realise that I was missing something. It was really brought home to me when we went north into the Himalayas to do some mountain biking. We were cycling downhill on a narrow bumpy mud track with a steep cliff face going up on one side and a sheer drop of over 1 kilometre on the other and I realised that there is only so much weight you want bouncing around on you, irrespective of how you are carrying it. I started fantasizing about my X-E2 with its kit lens, but more about that later.

Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. Jo finishing a 26 km cycle ride which started at 3940 m, descended to 3413 m, then climbed back to 3627 m. Quite an achievement at that altitude.

One of the nice things about this trip was that it was a holiday. There was no pressure and no deadline for any images. This gave me the chance to experiment with the Fuji kit without worrying about making any errors. It may sound unprofessional to some people but I have been so impressed by the Fuji Jpegs that I now rarely shoot RAW files. I had not really explored the various film settings and tended to use the Standard and Velvia settings almost exclusively. Having now experimented with the film settings, I am developing a soft spot for the Black and white with a yellow (or in some instances red) filter and I have found that in the right setting the Chrome can be stunning. I had an almost childish delight in finding out what the camera could do.

A man sits on blue steps outside his house in Jodhpur Old City, Rajasthan, India. Jodhpur is also known as the blue city because of the large number of houses and walls painted blue which, according to the locals, repels termites which are a problem in the area.

We had decided to limit our travel to the north and north west of the country, travelling by train, bus and in the more remote areas, camel and 4 wheel drive. I was interested to see how the Fuji kit stood up to the rigour of travel and how it performed in some challenging environments. I was aware that my photography had already changed as a result of using Fuji cameras but it became much more noticeable on this trip. I made fewer images and I have become, on the whole, slower. This is not a bad thing as I find that I am getting the results I want with the Jpegs straight out of the camera.

Delhi, India. India Gate at sunset, The 42 m high archway stands in the center of New Delhi and commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War 1. It also bears the names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan war of 1919. The structure sits in a large expanse of green lawns which are popular for picnics and cricket on summer evenings.

Slower behind the camera and then less time in front of the computer suits me well. I have also found that I have fewer “technical” rejects. I find that the focusing on the X-T1 is not as fast as the Canon 5D mk 3 so in some circumstances I have more out of focus shots than I would expect. However, for me this is more than made up for by the fact that I have far fewer unsharp photographs caused by camera shake in low light settings because of the wider aperture of the Fuji lenses, the lack of a mirror and the vibration it causes and the ease of holding the camera steady.

Phul Mahal (The Palace of Flowers) in the Mehrangarh Fort,Jodhpur, India. Built in the mid 18th centuryit was probably used as a private audience hall. A stunning room but with with very little light showing what the X-T1 can do in difficult lighting conditions.

Perhaps if I were doing a lot of fast action work I would be more tempted to use the full frame camera but as things stand the Fuji suits me fine.

In low light settings such as religious services in Varanasi, the Fuji kit showed its strengths. Wonderfully sharp lenses and a camera that I could hold in my hands at slow shutter speeds.

Sunrise on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Garlands of flowers and candles given as offerings float on the river as the sun rises.

The weather sealing stood up well in some difficult situations with temperatures of over 50 C in the desert and below freezing in the Himalayas, as well as rain, sand and huge amounts of fine powder dye during the Holi celebrations in Jaipur. There was a little wear on the camera body and the rubber cover that protects the HDMI, remote release and USB sockets has become a little misshapen with the heat but it’s a solid body built to last.

A man bathes in the river Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Hindu's consider the Ganges to be the most sacred river in India and thousands visit the Holy city of Varanasi to cleans their sins in the spiritually purifying water. Environmentalists are concerned about the high levels of pollution in the river caused by the increase in population and the resultant increase in pollutants discharged into the river. — A man bathes in the river Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Hindu’s consider the Ganges to be the most sacred river in India and thousands visit the Holy city of Varanasi to cleans their sins in the spiritually purifying water. Environmentalists are concerned about the high levels of pollution in the river caused by the increase in population and the resultant increase in pollutants discharged into the river.

Did I make the right decision to take the Fuji Kit with me on this trip?

Absolutely. It’s a joy to use. The full kit fitted into a small waist bag with the lens hoods still on the lenses, I had no difficulty keeping the sensor clean, the Jpegs were wonderful straight out of the camera and the film simulations are good (I mean really good). I can also hold it in my hands at low shutter speeds, the lenses are sharp and I had no trouble with chromatic aberrations.

With a kit that performed like that, what more could I possibly want?

Well my X-E2 with its kit lens really.

I said earlier that we had been lucky on this trip. Whilst that’s true, we did have some difficult times. We had a bag with my Fuji X-E2 and Jo’s phone in it stolen on a sleeper train from Varanasi to Agra. I had taken my X-E2 on a various trips around Europe during the past couple of years and was really fond of it. It was the sort of camera and lens combination that you could carry unobtrusively and I loved wandering around new cities with it. Heat, rain, fog – just tuck it under your jacket. As our India trip went on, I found myself wanting it as a second camera. I know that this sounds a bit excessive but the option of occasionally leaving the full kit in the hotel and just spending some time wandering around with a smaller, lighter camera and the kit lens was very appealing and certainly would have been useful when we were cycling.

It had never been an option before as there was never anywhere secure that was large enough to lock up my full frame camera and lenses and, as a result, I would carry everything with me all the time. You do get used to it but it’s an ongoing nuisance and wonderfully liberating when you get home and don’t have to carry a heavy bag everywhere. To my delight, I found that the small safes that hotels all over the world use was large enough to fit all my Fuji kit in and still leave room for a backup hard drive and a few other odds and ends.

It’s a real game changer as it gives me the option of going out with the full kit or just the X-E2. Well it would give me that option if someone had not stolen the X-E2! I will clearly have to replace it. Mind you I have not seen the X Pro2 yet but it certainly looks good on paper and the reviews are encouraging. Now, back in England, I find myself wondering if the X Pro2 will be the camera that finally makes me sell my Canon kit and move to Fuji completely.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Young women in traditional dress during Himachal Day. Himachal Day celebrates the creation of the State of Himachal Pradesh after independence in 1948. Hima means snow in Sanskrit and Himachal literally means "The land of snow" — Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. Young women in traditional dress during Himachal Day. Himachal Day celebrates the creation of the State of Himachal Pradesh after independence in 1948. Hima means snow in Sanskrit and Himachal literally means “The land of snow”

And if you’d like to read more from Tom check out: To Glastonbury and beyond featured here at fujifilm-blog.com.

See more of Tom’s work at http://www.tomcorban.co.uk/

Filed under Be Inspired Healthcare Landscape / Cityscape / Seascape Photography Reportage Travel

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About Jeff Carter

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This is a two part blog into the adventures of Tom Corban and his trip through North & Northwest India, if you missed the original post you can view it here.

Did I make the right decision to take the Fuji Kit with me on this trip?