Shooting U2 Without DSLR
I have been to the U2 concert in the Ziggo Dome last Tuesday. Since I had no accreditation I couldn't breng a DSLR or big camera, So I took my small and trusty Fuji X100. And I must say that little monster performed really well! I had a nice spot near the B-stage with only a 2 or 3 (large)people in front of my, So it was holding up the camera and hope for the best. And I must say it was almost a better spot then the spot that was for the press photographers.
I always work in manual mode during concerts. This because of the chancing light and the dark clothing. If I set it manual I know exactly how to set the exposure.
Street testing the Fuji X-T1 with a portrait sessions
Review of the X-T1 while doing a portrait shoot on the street of Amsterdam.
Last week I traded in my Fuji X-E1 with the 18-55 lens for a Fuji X-T1 body. I really like the concept of the Fuji camera's. Their compactness, weight and a good image quality. But the slowness with image writing of the X-Pro1 and X-E1 let me grab my Nikons faster for jobs then the Fuji's. So I thought to start getting rid of my Fuji gear and start to try Olympus. But after comparing the OM-D E-M5 and the X-T1, there started a feeling to give Fuji a last chance. The main reasons were that it felt more responsive then the X-pro1 and for me the biggest issue, being possible to view the pictures while it is still writing to the card. The large viewfinder is awesome! But also a great dust collector. Another reason was that I already have the Fuji 35 and 56 lenses and I really don't like the standard Olympus 12-50 lens which is the kit lens for the OM-D E-M5. Other pro's are all the controls you really need are on the body, So if you want you would never have to go into the menu's once you set up the camera.
The portraitshoot
Due to traffic/weather Issue a big shoot was cancelled, but when the weather cleared later that morning I really wanted to go out and test the camera. So I called a musician who wanted some new portrait shots and set up the shoot on the streets in Amsterdam.
For me the scary part was that I wanted to travel really light. But have everything I needed, so I took the X-T1 with the Fuji 56 1.2 and 35 1.4 lens and a X100 for the wide stuff. All lighting had to be done with available light.
Once on the location I took an hour with my assistant to scout the location and we found around 5 nice spots.
I met Efraim in the musicstore Hampe on the Spui. From there we started our session. In about 50 minutes we had all the shots we needed.
The results
Before I start discussing the results I would like to start with saying how much I was Impressed by the original X100 camera! It's still a great camera with good results!
I first started editing the photo's in Capture One Pro 8, but with these type of session somehow I feel Lightroom is faster for just basic editing and handeling the Fuji RAF files. So FYI almost all the photo's have had bass raw editing.
RAW vs. Jpeg
With the Fuji's I always shot in Raw and Jpeg mode. I liked the colours and feel of the Jpegs, but not for when I have to do some editing. In Lightroom 5 We got the possibility to add a profile to match the color/feel to the Raw files of the Fuji, But with my X-pro1 and X100 photo's these profiles where not good enough. Now with the X-T1 Raw files I must say the results are way closer. The raw files are a little bit more blueish, but the rest was pretty close! Below are a RAF file with profile and a jpeg
Dynamic Range and ISO
Something that I must give Fuji a lot of credit for is the Dynamic range. It is really great. I took some photo's staring directly into the sun and still there was enough detail left! Although I would wish Fuji could go natively to RAW ISO 100, the ISO range is great, Even add ISO3200 you get great files (which the Starbucks photos, ISO100 straight out of camera). The only thing I don't like is that the Raw images feel a little soft sometimes. But they have this Filmlike look. So when I need more sharpness I still prefer the Nikons/Olympus camera's. But I also have to say all these picture are between f1.2 and f4. So in the studio I have to really test this on higher Apertures with some flash added.
Final Thoughts
For what I have tested now the Fuji X-T1 is a great travel camera, and fuji is started to produce some really great camera's! I heaven't fully tested it yet but I think I will like this camera. Somehow I am still waiting and hoping for the Fuji X-pro2 to come out to decide if I will stay with Fuji. I love the Rangefinder style and the OVF, I was really missing that on the street and even made me a little longing back to the Leica M type 240 I tested some months ago (read the review HERE). So to be continued.....
What's in the camera bag part 1: The Fuji Kit
Hi all, As you might know I currently photograph with a Nikon (D800 and D610) kit, a fuji kit and a Analog kit. In the Up coming weeks I am planning to give you a view in my bags! This week the first Bag is the Think Tank Retrospective 7 with my Fuji camera gear.
Think Tank Retrospective 7 Bag
I must start to say that I love Think Tank bags. I have three off them and use them everyday with out any problems. The way they are layed out is really showing they are not only made for photographers, but also by photographers!
The first thing I like about the bags are that these bags are spacious. I have tried other bags, but the way the Think Tank camera bags are layed out is genius. It is easy for on the go and to get the gear you need fast. Also they are low profile. The retrospective series is also really low profile. The Retrospective series really look like regular "Hey, there is no expensive gear here" messenger bags.
The front flap has also a silent mode. You can flip up the velcro so you can open it up without any sound. Handy during weddings! The only downside is that the flap is lose.
The bags also have a high level of comfort. You can walk around with them for a long time without your shoulder is getting sour.
Now what's in it?
Well it's my Fuji gear bag, so I have all my Fuji gear in it. This is really my everyday with me, reportage/low profile kit.
Fuji Camera:
- Fuji X100: My first Fuji camera, and I love it, especially the leaf shutters which is so silent and great with flash!
- Fuji X-Pro1: This is my workhorse Fuji camera. I really like the whole range finger/Leica style
- Fuji X-E1: This is my back up for the X-pro1 and I use it a lot for the behind the scenes video.
Fuji Lenses:
- Fujinon 35mm 1.4: This is my main lens for the X-pro1. It is a 50mm equiv, and great street en reportage lens
- Fujinon 56mm 1.2: Great lens for portraits!
- Fujinon 18-55mm 2.8-4: This lens I mainly use with the X-E2 for video.
Other:
- YoungNuo YN-560: Great inexpensive flash!
- Cactus V5 Triggers: For remote triggering of the flash
- 2 chargers: For charging the batteries on the road
- Back-up batteries
- Extra SD-Cards
- Business Cards
- Blower: For cleaning the sensor
- iPad Mini (not pictured)
- Back-up charger for my Phone
Well that's what is in it! Next time I will take you through my Think Tank Airport Airstream bag with my Nikon kit!
I switched from Canon to Nikon
After a long of wanting to switch I finally switched. I had Canon but was unhappy with canon as a company and especially their arrogance.
D800 vs D4 vs D4
Last year I had the opportunity to work with the D800, D4 and D600 from Nikon for my Dutch Jazz Portraits Project. I love the High res of the D800 but the file size of the camera was huge. The D4 is a speed monster, but it didn't felt the camera I would love to work with. It is great for journalists,but not for me ad a commercial music and dance portrait photographer. The D600 was also a really sweat camera. But I missed he resolution of the D800 sometimes.
The Decision
So now almost a year later I was still doubting adding D610 or D800, and I couldn't choose. So I took the next solution, I took the D800 with the Sigma 24-105 f4 lens and traded in all my Canon gear for the D610 and the Nikon 85 1.8 (a lens I really love for portrait work).
Upcoming weeks I am planning some shoots to test the camera's out and post some new work with them.
Fuji's
Some off you might think now, what about you Fuji's. Well I still keep them and love them, especially for traveling work. Because the Nikons great, but heavy! In two week sI will go to Paris for some new street work, and I will only take my Fuji's. Also the Fuji's are not good on video so I will use the Nikon for that. So the Nikons will for most be my studio and big shoot camera's and for when I have to more post work. The fuji will keep being my reportage/documentary camera's.
Dance photography session Part 1: The headshots
In the upcoming blogs I am going to take you through the process of a dance photography shoot. A few weeks a go I got the call from Djenz Factor that they needed new promotional photo's for their new website. Having worked with them multiple times before I knew this was going to be fun! For location we have been to the area of the Lichtfabriek in Haarlem. Because that is where the new dance studio is going to be. We wanted to start with an outside session. It is in an old industrial area so it is really nice. The only thing that was looking to be a problem was the weather, but it was great weather that evening! We started with the head shots of the creative team
The Set up
For the Headshots I used a fairly basic setup. On the location we found this lovely brick wall to use as a background. For the lighting I used my Elinchrom Quadra set with A heads. The main light was in the A port with the 100 Rotalux octa soft box. I Also placed a second light on the background, that was in the B port with the Elinchrom 18cm reflector and grid, so it had a little bit of a natural vignette. To have a little bit of fill I used a silver reflector handheld by my assistant. For camera I was using the Fuji X-pro1 with the Fuji 56mm 1.2 lens. I was really happy to use it for the first time on a job. Setting were: raw+jpeg fine, F10, 1/125 ISO 100.
Going to Post
When I first opened the files in Lightroom I was really impressed by the jpegs of the camera. They where so good that I even have delivered some pure jpeg's to my clients. I also noticed that the Lightroom Fuji profiles are still of and not matching enough for my taste. For post I really have speeded up my workflow. In the past I was using Nik Color Efex pro a lot, but the loading time was getting to long for me. When I just have to do a few pictures it is no problem, but when you have to do around 50, it is too long. So I have started to create some actions to speed everything up.
I first started to remove some of the basic blemishes with the healing brush. After that I used the Inverse High pass skin softening action. Which is based on a technique I learned from Scott Kelby on KelbyOne. It gives a nice skin in just a few seconds. After the skin was done I wanted to make the eyes pop a little more. So I created another layer, set it to screen and hidden it with a layer mask. Than used a brush to reveal it on the eyes and used the opacity to make it look more natural. To add a little more contrast I made two level adjustments and painted them in the Layer masks. To finish it off used the High Pass filter to give it a little more sharpness on some areas.
Done
And that was all I did. If you have any questions post a reaction down below!
North Sea Jazz festival 2014
Some of you may have already heard it on Facebook but I had the privilege to expose at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2014 in Ahoy Rotterdam with my Dutch Jazz Portraits project. It was a heavy but fun week. A lot of getting in bed around 3 and waking up at 11 and get back to Rotterdam.
The music was great and I have met some great people. Also I have met new artist who will get into the Dutch Jazz portraits. Also some of the artists who are already been photographed for the Dutch Jazz Portraits project signed their photo at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2014. Guys like Benjamin Herman and Ruud Breuls.
For gear I used my Fuji;s only, mainly the X-E1 with the 35mm and the X-pro1 with the 56 1.2 which I bought the morning of the first day of the festival. And is a great lens, I used it sunday on it's first commercial dance photoshoot.
Shooting The Preacher Men
A couple of weeks a go I got the question from Efraim Trujillo if I could should o location. I told him I just bough a new Elinchrom Quadra RX set and can do photoshoots everywhere. So I got the question if I would like to make some promotional photo's for his new Jazz project "The Preacher Men". We could only plan the shoot a hour before there first gig so I had to work fast. Armed with my Fuji X-pro1 with the 35 1.4 and X-E1 with the 18-55 2.8-4 and the Elinchrom quadra with the Westcott 60" umbrella I went to the gig.
I started with a few portraits of the individual band member. I found this red chair and used the umbrella half closed to create a poor mens soft box, a trick I learned from Zack Arias.
After the ones on the chair I found a couple of doors I thought that look cool and would gave them some extra choices in different kind of looks. So the final groupshot I did in front of those doors
In post I just did some extra sharpening and darkened the background with the chair shots to get of the background noise.
Dance photography with Fuji Camera's
Last week I did a dance photography sessions with the Fuji X-pro1 and X100. I Asked two dancers to model for the shoot, One is a classical ballerina and the other a break- and zouk dancer.
In studio
I started in the studio with just one light. I recently bough a Elinchrom Rotalux 150cm Deep Indirect Octa soft box on a white background. But it was to light for my taste so I changed to a light grey background just for some more moody feel.
For light I started with the Elinchrom RX one, But this was to weak to over power the ambient light in the studio in the 150 Deep octal, It is a big softbox!!! So i changed it to the Quadra. Because the ISO starts at 200 with the Fuji's and they have APS-C sensors, I didn't wanted to much light, for a smaller depth off field (f5.6 to f10/f11).
After some solo portraits and dance photo's it was time to put them together
I am starting to love my Fuji's more and more, The only things I really dislike is the waiting until all the photos are written to the card before you can watch them back. Because I was working with dancers this was getting anoying. They want to look them back fast so they can check if the position is right. Especially the feet. If you never have worked with dancers then it is good to know that, the light and emotion can be perfect an you go, "WHOOOO GREAT PHOTO JEEEEJJJ!!!!", but the feeds or hands are a few degree of..... It is not a good photo. Because people who know dance see it and you will get your butt kicked!
Also I would love to have the option to shoot ISO100 Raw. Just to be able to work with smaller aperture to get a smaller depth of field.
Going Outside
For the outside shots the Fuji X100 is still a killer. Because of the Leaf Shutter you can get a really fast X-sync to get a darker sky. I switched to the Elinchrom Maxilite because it has a higher output, so I didn't had to stress the battery off my power pack so much. I was working with the Elinchrom Ranger Quadra RX with an A-head on the B-port. This has 33% of the A port. So with the Elinchrom Maxispot I had enough light and stopping power to freeze the action! Also when I switched to the X-pro1.
Back to the Studio
After the rooftop shoot I wanted one other shot I saw in a Joe McNally Kebly training video. I just used a Single Quadra head in the B-port on full power in a Small Elinchrom Rotalux strip soft box. This was on a C-Stand at max hight, The dancer was slightly behind the head to feather the lighting.
Into The Dark Lightroom
Into lightroom I do just a little bit of FerryDusting on the imaging. I am not a big photoshopper. I want it to by stylized but still had to be real. So I did just a shapening, a bid of Pumping up the shadow, Drop the blackpoint. Opening in shadows, somehow adds some blue's in black, so especially with the studio shots I pulled down the blue saturation completely. Also some vignetting to finish it.
The Fuji's
Some say the Fuji's are not fast enough for shooting sports or action. But I think these pictures proof different! Getting your techniques down is the clue to good photo's, camera's are tools like a hammer is for a carpenter. And Photoshop and Lightroom is just the cream to finish of the dessert. Getting it good in camera with the light is the most important thing.
I Went Fuji
Ok it's official I went Fuji! After years of shooting Canon I have moved over! The reason, the arrogance of the people that represent Canon and I wanted a smaller and lighter kit. I already had the Fuji X100 last year and fell in love with it. Although it can be a pain in the ass camera sometimes, but when it works with you it's a superb camera.
My kit
My Current Fuji kit is:
- X-Pro1
- X-E1
- XF 35mm 1.4
- XF 18-55 2.8-4
- X100
Fuji X100
The X100 was my first Fuji X camera (my first digital compact camera's where also Fuji's like the S5600). I really love this camera. It has a fixed 23mm (35mm eqv.) f2 lens and I really love the small size and focal length. It is ideal for street and reportage photography. Also the leaf shutter gives you a really fast X-sync, and the 3 stops internal ND filter makes it a great camera!
Another downfall are the sticky blades. Luckily Fuji have a great service and after two weeks of missing the camera I got it back completly repaired and checked.
X-Pro1
I have been wanting this camera for a while, After seeing Zack Arias with it, and some work of other photographers I was like I also want that style. I also been doubting a long time of going to Olympus 4/3 camera's. I love the OM-D EM-5. But the X-pro1 is just a little bit more what I wanted. I wanted a small camera with great sensor and just a few buttons. The only ones I need are Shutter time, Aperture, Iso, Shutter release and a on/of switch. Just like the Analog camera's I like to use .
Also I love to play with a smaller Depth of field. Believe me I still would love to work with the Olympus OM-D EM 5, but for may hands the buttons are just a bit to small and wobbly and there is a little bit to much trickery in it. Also the people at Olympus are great, friendly and helpful and I can recommend the Olympus Camera's to anybody, but for my taste the Fuji Camera's where more fulfilling my needs.
The first real shoot with the Fuji X-Pro1 for me was with Daniel Lanois in the Carre theater in Amsterdam. I only had the 35mm lens for it. I loved how it focused. Also the EVF was nice to have. Being in a theater only being able to shoot availeble light it is a blast to have WYSIWYG fews of your photo's.
During a testshoot for a upcoming commercial shoot it had a few times where it wouldn't trigger my flash. This is something I halve to dig in to. During the day It worked fine in the studio. I don't know if it is the trigger or the camera yet, but it was annoying. Also I really hate i that first all the photo's have to by written to the card before you can really preview them. Notice that you get a 1.5 sec preview after you took the shot in de OVF/EVF.
The OVF is also once to have shooting in low light and on the street. It gives you a more few of also the surrounding. Also it gives you more eye contact with the model.
X-E1
The X-E1 I almost got for free! I wanted the XF-18-55 2.8-4 lens. The lens costs €699,- and as a kit with the X-E1 €749, so for €50,- I got the Fuji X-E1 with it. Firstly I bought it as a back up camera, but as it is almost the same as the X-Pro1 I use it as a co camera, mainly not to have switch lenses or use when I maxed at to buffer and have to keep shooting.
The 18-55 2.8-4 lens became my standard lens. As I am used to use the Canon 24-70 2.8, it is a great replacement. Much sharper, cheaper and lighter!
Video
The Fuji X-Pro1 and X-E1 also have video functions, and to be short, the box is checked for video. But actually it sucks, the quality is not that well. So if you want to do also a lot of video get an Olympus or Nikon!
DSLR Killer?
Are the Fuji's DSLR-killers? The be honest not quite yet. I would use the Fuji kit for any kind of job, but I still keep a DSLR on the side. My Canon gear is going out the door, but A Nikon D610 or D800 will come in for video and high-resolution work on which some more post/photoshoping has to be done. Also the teetering functions are nice to have with a client watching over your shoulder and with workshops/training sessions!
Wishlist
On my whilst is the 56 1.2 portrait lens and many trading in the 18-55 for the upcoming 18-135 for allround lens. Further camera-wise:
- Be able to look back pictures while the photo's are being written to the card!!
- Thetering options
- Shooting ISO100 with Raw Files
My second love: The Fuji X100
Het zal voor velen geen geheim zijn dat ik al een tijdje met de Fuji X100 Camera werk. Ik moet zeggen: "Deze camera begint echt mijn tweede liefde te worden". Deze camera is ongeveer aan mijn schouder vast genaaid, ik ga bijna nooit zonder deze camera de deur uit. Waar mijn Canon 5D MkII mijn echte werk camera is, is de Fuji X100 de camera die mee gaat als ik wil fotograferen. Als je nu denkt dat het een fun camera is, Nee, absoluut niet, ik gebruik hem wanneer ik maar even kan, ook bij commerciële opdrachten!
De Specificaties
Ik ben geen specificatiefetishist, voor mij moet een camera gewoon lekker werken. Maar om het verhaal toch compleet te maken alvast bij deze:
- Megapixels: 12.3 - Image sensor: 23.6mmx15.8mm CMOS - Opslag: SD(HC/XC) - Bestandsformaten: JPG, RAW. Film: H.265 (MOV) met stereo geluid - Lens opbouw: 6 groepen met 8 lenzen (1 aspherische lens) - Diafragma: f/2.0 - f/16 - Minimale scherpstel afstand: 80cm - ISO waardes: 100 tot 12800 - FPS: Tot 10 foto's in JPEG en 8 in RAW of RAW-JPG - Hotshoe: ja - LCD monitor: 2.8", TFT kleuren LCD monitor (100% dekking) - Video opname: 1280x720px (24 frames / sec) - HDMI-mini uitgang - Afmetingen: 126.5x74.4x53.9mm - Gewicht: 445 gram (met batterij en geheugenkaart)
Klassieker
De Fuji X100 is niet alleen door zijn look maar ook door zijn werking een klassieker. Vaak als ik met de camera ergens kom is de eerste vraag: "is dat een oude met rolletje?". Als ik uitleg dat het een digitale is wil iedereen gelijk meer weten. Zelfs een keer bij de Nikon Booth op de IBC beurs wilden de Nikon mensen meer weten over de camera!
De Sensor
Ondanks de camera "maar" een 12.3 megapixel sensor in een periode van een megapixelwetloop heeft. zijn het wel 12.3 hele goede megapixels! Het gebruik van het unieke patroon zorgt voor een uniek dynamisch bereik. In volle tegenzon kan je nog steeds details in de schaduwen houden. Zelfs een ⅓ crop (foto hieronder) blijft nog overeind op een grote afdruk (a4 formaat).
De Sluiter
Het volgende hoogstandje van de camera is de sluiter. De Fuji X100 heeft namelijk een centraalsluiter. Dit heeft twee grote voordelen. Aan de ene kant zorgt het voor een hoge X-sync, je kan de Fuji X100 tot een 1/4000e synchroniseren, doe dat maar eens met een DSLR! Zonder het gebruik van energie slurpende High Speed Sync te gebruiken! Je kan dus in de volle zon nog steeds met 1 flitser werken en het daglicht weg duwen.
Het andere grote voordeel van de centraalsluiter is dat hij super stil is. Je hoort hem bijna niet. Wat zorgt dat de camerasluiter niet afleid. Zoals bijvoorbeeld in een volle kerk.
Hoge Iso
Het bijzondere patroon van de Fuji X-Transsensor zorgt ook voor zeer hoge ISO-prestaties. Op hoge iso' rond de 3200/4000 werkt hij beter dan de Canon 5D MkII!
Kleur vs Zwart/Wit
Ondanks de kleuren van deze camera prachtig zijn. Vooral de Velvia en Astia, werk ik het liefst in het Zwart/Wit met deze camera. Vraag me niet waarom. Op de één of andere manier vraagt deze camera er gewoon om!
Tevens ben ik blij als Adobe komt met de update voor Lightroom waarbij de kleuren nog beter ondersteund worden in RAW modus. Hierna hoop ik ook meer de kleuren functies te gaan gebruiken.
Compact contact
De compactheid en de OVF zorgt ook voor meer contact met je onderwerp. Als je met de Fuji X100 iemand portretteert heb je niet een enorm gevaarte voor je gezicht. Door de OVF blijf je ook echt oogcontact houden. Dit maakt het portreteeren veel intiemer.
Aanrader?
Deze camera is één van de beste camera's die ik ooit gekocht heb. Ik zou iedere opdracht aandurven met alleen deze camera. Tevens heeft Fuji een voorzetlens aangekondigd waarmee de de 23 je een 50mm (35equiv) kan creëren. Wat de camera nog veelzijdiger maakt! Kortom als je deze camera nog niet hebt, koop hem als het even kan!
Dansers, en 5D mkII vs Fuji X100
Zondag ben ik met 4 dansers van Djenz Factor naar Amsterdam geweest voor een locatie shoot. Omdat we redelijk mobiel wilde blijven had ik mijn gear redelijk beperkt tot een Eastpak Snapper rugzak met daarin:
- Canon 5DmkII (nog steeds mijn werk paard)
- Fuji X100 (mijn nieuwe liefde)
- Canon 24-70L 2.8
- Canon 430 EX II
- Setje gels
- Honl Grid
- Cactus V5 tranceivers
Verder nog mijn 5-in-1 reflector en een statief tas met een statief en de Wescott 28" Apollo softbox. Deze softbox is nu de basis voor mobiel portretfotografie.
Java-eiland
Het leuke van het de omgeving van het Java-eiland vind ik dat het diverse plekken bevat waar je kan fotograferen. Op een paar meter afstand gaan de gebouwen van oud naar modern. Tevens is het er vaak erg rustig. Je kan er dus erg op je gemak werken.
Werken met dansers
Tijdens fotografie sessies vind ik het belangrijk om een goede leuke sfeer te houden. Er moet ook gelachen kunnen worden en soms wat foto's puur voor de lol. Daarnaast is het met dansers extra op te letten dat de dansers goed opgewarmd zijn ook niet over vermoeid raken. Dan maar even een pauze of iets anders dan een blessure.
Voor de gene die nu denkt van als je de belichting goed instelt is het toch zo klaar? Nou, met dansers komt er een extra factor bij. Als je hem afdrukt en alles klopt, belichting, feeling sfeer, etc. Maar bijvoorbeeld de voet staat dans technische niet 100% goed moet de foto toch opnieuw.
Canon 5D mkII vs Fuji X100
Video
Camera: Tim Kockx, Montage: F. Knijn