The charging bull elephant stampeded into the murky water, thrusting his long trunk high into the air.
The sound of splashing ringed in my ears. Blackened water erupted, upsetting the surface and its rival wake, each heaving step pounded in an effortless hustle.
My vision was drawn to the elephant’s emotive eye, its hazy reflection stared back at me, filling my finder.
I watched the backlight silhouette his age showing nothing but moving muscle and wrinkled hide.
His victory song could be heard for miles, the loud trumpeting signifying for his young family to follow.
Witnessing this experience was surely the heart of Africa. A moment I had longed to see.
Photographed in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Light began to fall with a golden glow guiding the sailing boats along the choppy horizon. I watched in wonder as the boats moved back and forward navigating the openness of the earth. Vessels shot along back and forth like children’s toys in a tub. The race had begun.
Looking into the scene I couldn’t help but feel small at the sight of the over-towering clouds as light filtered magically through them, adding a richness to the scene.
Sometimes its best to look at the interesting parts of a scene. The end result won’t look like another boring sunset…… take this photo as an example.
Do you like this?
Over the next week I would like to challenge you in your photography. Try photographing the smaller details of a scene rather than the complete scene. Let me know what results you get by posting a link in the comments below.
Captured using the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and Fujinon 35mm f/1.4
I photographed this abstract of the Perth Arena a few months ago when I was walking through the City Of Perth. Since its completion the building has hosted some major events like Elton John’s opening concert and the Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis tournament.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE – CLICK HERE
I could smell the freshness of the forest. A raging river forged its path through the divided valley. Moss covered rocks crammed against each other fighting for elevation above the banks of the flowing river. Downstream the chuckle of laughing kookaburras broke the faint roar of the fading rapid.
I was surrounded by my element, the ever-changing outdoors.
Flowing and moving in a circular motion a collection of colours lingered at rapid’s end. I cast my view down to see my rippled reflection. A traversing mirror stared back. I could see a well-travelled landscape photographer in his element.
The last light was due for a show, patiently I watched and waited as a stream of gold broke from the scattered mass above me. My tripod was set. The image was ready. The shutter pressed.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE –CLICK HERE
I’m having a quick break from editing wedding photos and I thought I would upload a photo for the fans!
Thank you so much to the regulars who stop by the blog every day. I am still blown away that you call this little corner of the internet part of your online home.
As always I have made this photograph free for anyone to download. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Enjoy.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE – CLICK HERE
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE –CLICK HERE
I created this artwork using layers blending modes in Photoshop. The effect is kind of cool and funky! I’m interested where do you see a picture like this belonging? In a child’s room; in a museum; at your house or should it go straight to the scrap heap? Thoughts?
I might even do a small tutorial for F Stop Lounge on how to do this – if I get the time! I have a few weddings to edit.
Iridescent clouds passed the reflective ocean tide. The lone paddle border waited with patience for the wave seemed a scarce occurrence. His gaze was fixed on the lonely horizon. The still ocean didn’t seem to want to break the glassy norm.
I could see his shoulders shrug with a sigh. Maybe it was a moment of relaxation or frustration, I’m not quite sure as he seemed to be somewhat transfixed in the moment.
Paddle ready the border balanced afloat the watery mass. From no where the glistening watery surface gained in height to form an elusive wave. A powerful strong standing stroke aligned the nose of the board to the beach. The paddler elevated gracefully with the energetic wave.
Awaiting the wave – the moment had arrived. The short thrill of a ride, a journey of freedom and escape.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE
Have you ever sat in an amazement of a sunset in awe of its grandeur and beauty?
Yesterday I was fortunate to witness one of the world best sunsets at Cottesloe Beach located in Western Australia. I feel privileged to share this photograph with you and hope the best sunset in the world will bring some colour into your life. May you be inspired to create and share.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE – CLICK HERE
People were out and about as the afternoon light fell upon the earth. I passed an energetic exerciser running on the beach as she was frantically being chased by a pack of wet dogs. The soggy reward of a tennis ball seemed to be enough to keep the dogs running up and down the beach. With dogs of all sizes running around me in every direction I had to be carefully carrying my camera as it might have been mistaken for a play thing. The dog owners seemed to sense my panic and the call of names filled the air. “Rex, Peach, Sacha, Lady – come here!”- “Lady come here!” With a delayed scurry, flicked sand filled the air and the disobedient dogs bolted in the direction of the newly found tennis ball. The though of a being jumped on by a wet slobbery retriever was too much to bear so I set off from the pack to capture the sunset.
Crashing waves broke on me as I walked the shallow shores of Mosman Beach. I headed for the rocks toward the end of the beach and was met by a young family fishing the shores. Trying not to interfere with their recreational activity I dodged the lines and found myself at this scene. Clouds on the horizon hung full of colour. I found some jagged rocks to fill the foreground and flicked the camera on. With the 18mm set on my Fujifilm X-Pro 1 I composed the image into three photographs as later I was going to stitch them together.
When I arrived home I got a little distracted from an immediate upload due to a tooth ache. After another journey to the chemist for some strong pain relief I find myself sitting here typing this story for you all and uploading the latest free photograph.
I hope you enjoy this image. I certainly enjoyed taking it.
THIS FULL RESOLUTION PHOTO CAN BE DOWNLOADED FORFREE – CLICK HERE
Photographed with the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 (3 image stitch)
Australia is experiencing one of the biggest heat waves at the moment with temperatures in some parts of the country exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 Farenheit).
The car parks at my local beach, South Beach are filling up very quickly in the afternoon as workers and their families seek relief from heat of the day. As I only live less than a minute away from this beach its great to go down every now and then to cool off, get my feet wet and soak up the surroundings.
It’s not often I upload a photo straight to my blog without much post processing so consider this photo a rarity. I captured this photo with the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 which is probably why I didn’t need to do much to it. Clean and sharp. What more could you need?
Soft patterns of light danced on the lapping waves. A warm velvet glow caressed the ocean tide leaving brief mirrored pastels along the shoreline.
Clouds gathered and the instrumental orchestral sound of the ocean drew me ever closer to the water’s edge. My mind was resting and I didn’t want to leave.
The sky was forming a masterpiece a painter could only dream of. The intensity of coloured light grew as the sun fell off the horizon’s edge, disappearing to reveal its colourful trick.
Cold fresh crisp air filled my senses with the intense aroma of salt. I took a deep breath and began to relax from my busy day.
My gaze became fixed beyond the soothing waves lapping at my feet. Minuscule silhouettes seemed to float lost on the distant water’s edge. I wondered how long these tiny vessels would sail the ocean tide before they reached their final destination.
Their journey had only begun. For me the day was at an end, an end that seemed to form magically before me.
Split toning is always fun to experiment with because there are so many different colour combinations you can choose from. For me choosing a warmer tone in light areas and a cooler tone in darker areas works quite well.
I have had this image sitting on my hard drive for some time. The image has been stitched together from 18 images to create my latest fine art landscape.
I can’t wait to head back to this location at the end of the month to photograph another wedding at the beautiful Maitreya Private Retreat.
The Black Swan is a unique species found in Australia as it is the only swan in the world to be completely black. I photographed this beautiful bird in the early morning light and created my next fine art wildlife piece. Enjoy
My African wildlife art can now hang on your wall every day of the year! If you are an African lover then this calendar is for you.
Calendars can be printed and delivered by Christmas if you get in early. To order and view the full 2013 Calendar “African Wildlife Art” simply click on the image below. Enjoy.
After working on weddings all of yesterday and this morning I decided to post another photo from my recent holiday.
The light in the South West of Western Australia is magnificent to photograph especially when the light warms the side of the hill as cool clouds roll by.
Photographed with the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 near Bridgetown, Western Australia.
PayPal is currently reviewing my business account so at this time gift certificates purchased through the Leigh Diprose Gallery can’t be purchased online. Donations have also been affected.
PayPal have assured me for a quick turnaround with the review of my account. I expect the outage to last around 1 or 2 weeks.
In the meantime if you wish to purchase a gift certificate or contribute a donation please contact me directly through email (leighdiprosephotography@yahoo.com.au) and I can offer an alternative solution whilst my account is being reviewed.
Thank you to everyone who has offered financial support so far either by purchasing a gift certificate, providing a donation or purchasing a photograph. It truly helps me provide more free photos for you all. In case you missed the news any wildlife or landscape photo I take next year I plan on providing the photo free to the public. All of these photographs will be Royalty Free with no copyright attached so you can download and use the photos for whatever you like. Currently I am providing two free photos a month however next year I plan to release at least 300 free fine art images for you all.
If you would like to find out why I am doing this then please follow the link to the previous post – “The Meaning Of Free”
The deafening howl increased as wind shuttled passed my ears. My vision was temporarily interrupted, the blast of sand in my eyes was agonizing. Recovering the gritty debris from my vision I wasn’t about to retreat to the car without exercising my camera. Nothing was going to stop me.
The picture before me was developing into a scene…one that was worth waiting for.
The light was starting to revel itself from lost clouds gathering on the distant horizon. Secure in its footings the wooden jetty stood strong against the battling water thrashing against its dilapidating wooden boards. Seaweed draped over the edge of the wet structure breaking up horizontal repetition within the frame. My mind raced as fast as the clouds gathered in front of me.
With the fishing trawler awaiting a new dawn the light above began to broadcast itself between the clouds. A magical glow illuminated the camera sensor into action. The scene was born.
If you would like to see the scene I also took from this spot check out my recent post – Beauty Abounds in Port Gregory.
I watched as the darting bird stealthily fished beyond the reaches of my telephoto lens. The bird dove with tucked wings from a standing height; water erupted on the horizon as the bird breached the surface chasing a scaly meal from the watery depths below.
The choice of a telephoto lens was rewarding, I was able to separate the common predator from the breaking waves and colourful ocean hues. It’s such a shame the Tern returned to shore without a prize meal as it would have made the photo into a masterpiece. I suppose that is what wildlife photography is all about, you may capture a great image you may not – it can be so unpredictable if you don’t know what you are looking for. You simply have to perceive and eventually the behaviour of an animal will become known. It is only then you can master the art of wildlife photography.
“You don’t need carrots to see in the dark – you simply need a Fujifilm X-Pro 1. Hopefully the photos and story show just how this camera performs in low light when using high ISO – no need for those carrots anymore!”
PART 2:
Motionless, beat up and lost the door stood as a gateway into a darker world. The urban rustic weathered paint was a reminder of the harsh abandoned life this building had become custom to. The distant street light shed new life on the neglected doorway. My X-Pro 1 picked up the little available light with ease. ISO 5000 had never looked so clean against a decrepit dirty background.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 5000 – f1.4- 1/40 second
Continuing my stroll down heritage surrounds my camera was drawn to a light like a moth to a flame. The building before was bathed in an iridescent glow. Bold straight architectural lines gave form with a modern twist.
Double doors centred as a focal point balancing the two outer archways. Caged vertical bars broke horizontal lines. Interior warming light shone juxtaposed against the outside cool colour temperature. All I had to do was simply lift the camera, look and click. The magic light danced around my viewfinder and instantaneously the camera showed off its work on the back LCD. Impressive!
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f2.0 – 1/125 second
Street art always intrigues me. Fremantle is not really renowned for the modern art form so it was a breath of fresh air coming across it. The intricate detail of pen on textured walls stood proud. I was impressed at the quality both of the artist and camera’s reproduction alike. Smooth tones and noiseless photos proved the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 had been a perfect choice. ISO 6400 had never looked so clear before. Maybe it was down to the amazing sensor or just the sharpened glass present on the robust camera either way I was happy the X-Pro 1 was in my hands and my Canon Pro body was at home.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 6400 – f1.4 – 1/25 second
Eyes attuned to detail my legs trekked down the road stopping momentarily at a nearby notice board. Full of interesting events I focused my attention toward the centre of the board and set the lens to a shallow depth of field. Posters hung carelessly fighting for space. People hurried past ignoring the abundant plethora of words and information. Noticing the lack of interest my eyes lost focus and blurred the swamp of dictation before me. Briefly all I could see was vibrant colour – words became a jumbled mess.
I wanted to recreate the vibrant colour I had seen briefly so dashing through the menu, Velvia film simulation mode was locked and loaded. Colours popped and vibrance shone, E6 processing without the chemicals was proven to be the perfect combination. Slide film was reborn. Digital had finally made its modern move. The debate of film was no more.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 1200 – f1.4 – 1/50 second
By now the light was falling into a darker trance. Contrast and shadows filled every space the moonlight burned textures reflecting an eerie glow. Gathering clouds surrounded the ball of light above. My camera pitched into the darkness. The frame was set, ticking time detailed the foreground as my camera’s ISO was pushed to capture the remaining light. The clouds formed clean white streaks which brushed the blackened sky. The halls magnificent towering peak almost formed a pirouette in the night sky as the clouds danced behind, stars twinkling in delight. The night show had begun.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 5000 – f1.8 – 1/125 second
Walking along a busy Queen Street I felt like a photographic King as I noticed the printed word Queen on a window pane. Bathed in a strong red backlight (from an interior sign) I lined up the text to fill my viewfinder. The text stood strong with hardened edges as a the lens depicted the scene without colour bleed. I was more than impressed.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f5.6 – 1/220 second
Amassing on the monument of Fremantle’s heritage I found myself among the buildings that time forgot. The worn, cracked weathered limestone reflected the hastiness of the surrounds. Windows bound in formality repeated along the structure. Shadows formed across the strewed masonry filling shadows with amazing hues. My camera picked up the contrast with ease and the final shot stood still, the way time had left it.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 1000 – f1.4 – 1/105 second
The detailed attention of the master sculptor filled my frame. His eyes fixated and focused at the sculpture at hand. Street light hit the bronze statue highlighting the shapes of his worn jacket and combed hair. Standing as still as the statue I locked focus, held my breath and proceeded to push the shutter. The almost depressing light engrossed the frame. Beautiful golden bokeh broke the scene into two as the emerging human shape jumped from the foreground. It was almost as the statue had come to life.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 35mm – ISO 2500 – f1.4 – 1/15 second
Steps filled with a hurried pace as I travelled on my homeward journey. The chilled cold night air had won. The quest to test the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 was over. I didn’t need to eat any carrots as the camera was able to see into the darkness for me. High ISO and low light noiseless images had made this camera one of the best in my collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this two-part test. If you would like to see some more of my work be sure to subscribe to this page.
If you have any questions on the camera or any of the images feel free to ask them here or on my new collaborated website – F Stop Lounge – a site made by photographers for photographers.
The world is light; tone; shape and form – its my job as an artist to share life’s intricate details.
Beauty abounds the natural wonders of Port Gregory. Waves turn and tumble roaring as weathered water amasses to the shore. Running in synchronization waves continues their forceful journey along the beach gliding until the evanescent wave reaches its peak. Receding water reflects the final afterglow. The watery rhythm continues as the bright beams fill voids upon the open ocean.
A gazebo stands steadfast upon its foundations as winds howl in its path. Weathered rotting wood holds little protection for the passing traveller. The storm shows no sign of holding back. Light passes through thick developed clouds shedding warmth wherever it lands. The spectacle emerges as low clouds pass; clearing the misty confusion. Crouched with tripod and camera in hand the words develop in my mind. Wind; rain; light and water – the perfect composition.
Canon EOS 1D MK IV – 85mm – ISO 50 – f14 – 1 second – PS CS5
Fujifilm Cameras Australia have come up with a brilliant concept for any photographer to have the opportunity to hijack their Facebook cover photo making them Fujifilm Famous for one month! This months theme is Australian Landmarks. Have you been anywhere in Australia that stands out?
If so I challenge you to go to the Fujifilm Cameras Australia page hit LIKE to hear about how you can become Fujifilm Famous! There is only 13 days left before the comp has finished. So get to it! This was my entry I posted on the Fujifilm Cameras Page to become Fujifilm Famous! I took this photo of the Sydney Opera House from the Harbour.
As a photographer I have travelled around various places and seen some amazing sites…some of them I didn’t even have a camera with me! Oh No! One of my favourite places to visit here in Western Australia would have to be around Geraldton area also known as the Coral Coast. The rocky coastline and beautiful sunsets are beautiful on any day. Whenever I head to the ocean around that area I can always rely on capturing something special.
Taking about taking special photos, the last two Fujifilm Famous hijackers have had some really amazing photographs. This months photographer is Paul Pichugin who found some amazing water detail along the West Australian coastline. What an amazing photographer and an amazing image don’t you think? The clouds on the distant horizon seem tame compared with the swirling water in the foreground and I love the way the water trickles over the rocks creating a cascading waterfall. Simply beautiful.
The previous months Fujifilm Famous photographer, Sue-ann Tilby captured another beautiful sunset which rocked the community on the Fujifilm Cameras Australia Facebook page. The colour in this image is simply amazing! I would certainly have a big smile on my face if I captured this image. I’m sure Sue-ann did! Have you ever tried taking a photograph like this before? Why not get out this weekend and give it a go then share it with the world so everyone can see it….who knows you might be the next Fujifilm Famous photographer!
I am planning a beach shoot this weekend down at my local beach however I don’t think I can match these two photographers….however I will give it a go.
I’ll leave you with this question: If you could go anywhere in the world to take a photograph where would it be?
This review is based solely on my own opinion about the camera. I have been using the X-Pro 1 since the beginning of May and have seen some amazing results.
All my photographs were taken as a RAW file and edited in some way using Adobe Lightroom 3/4 or Adobe Photoshop CS5.
I have spread my thoughts on this camera across different aspects that are important to me. If you are after a detailed spec review then this is not the site for you. This review is based on a user experience the highs and the lows….so lets get started!
To celebrate the camera’s ability to shoot in low light I put this video together. Enjoy.
DESIGN
Fujifilm have managed to design the X-Pro 1 with style, class and quality. The full metal body speaks highly of the cameras design. The X-Pro 1 fits like a glove. The sleek stylish curved body accentuates and oozes quality. Many say a poor man Leica? I say touch of class.
However there are a few things that I don’t like so much about the camera. I’ll get into those later on.
I have found the bold black magnesium alloy shapes aesthetically pleasing. The designer in my has ignited. I simply wanted to get my hands on one. Two months later and I am thankful I have one.
Having a history with professional DSLR cameras the physical size of the camera and lens combinations have been a pleasure to hold. Most compact pro cameras out there have simply been too small. The Olympus OM-D EM5, Nikon V1, Sony Nex 7 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 have all been in my hands before, all of which have lost their appeal due to their compact size (the closest thing to comfort out of these cameras would have to be the Olympus OMD with the grip on). Don’t get me wrong the other cameras out there take a great photo – what I am trying to say is coming from a Pro DSLR background, the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 simply feels better in my hands.
I think the Japanese do things well. For a camera to be in my kit it must be made in Japan or Germany. Quality is Japan and German – period. Luckily the X-Pro 1 was forged in Japan otherwise I wouldn’t even touch it!
CAMERA LAYOUT
All the buttons are ergonomically designed to fit the users hand. One of the main features I like about the design was the placement of the viewfinder. Too many cameras have the viewfinder in the middle. When you press your eye up against the viewfinder your nose becomes jammed up against the LCD which eventually smears the screen The X-Pro 1 has fixed that problem by moving the viewfinder to the side of the camera.
DIALS
The dials on the camera also reflect Fujifilm’s attention to detail. As you turn the on/off switch, the shutter speed dial or the exposure compensation dial you can be assured of the change as each movement is confirmed with a solid “click” as the dial moves into place. I have read a few reviews in my time and played with many cameras. One big issue for Fujifilm on the earlier X100 was the mode dial would move if you bumped it. This hasn’t been a problem on the X-Pro 1 as Fujifilm have added a much-needed lock on the shutter speed dial.
Coming from a Canon background I found when looking through the viewfinder navigating the button and dial configuration seemed second nature. When reviewing images on the 3 inch screen or through the 1,230,000 dot electronic viewfinder the colour and detail was very close to what I saw through my own eyes.
VIEWFINDER
Hybrid viewfinder. Now there’s an idea. I found myself using this feature all to often. I’ll give you an example. I was photographing some stars on a moonless night near Pemberton, Western Australia. I travelled there only to find there was no bright light source to set my focus on. I had two cameras with me the Canon EOS 1D MK IV and the Fujifilm X-Pro 1. After setting both up on tripods I attempted to gain focus on the Canon. Using only the optical viewfinder I set the focus point to the center point and half pressed the shutter button. The Canon 17-40mm f4 L lens whirred and hunted back and forth trying its best to focus on the brightest star in the sky. After five minutes of trying I had no luck. I’m sure if the Canon could talk it was saying “I think I can…I think I can…” My eyes were too bad to attempt to manually focus so the camera was useless on this occasion. The Fujifilm X-Pro had its chance.
I set the hybrid viewfinder to the electronic viewfinder. WOW! I was blown away. Not only could the camera focus in almost pitch black it was like I was looking through a window into clear daylight. The electronic viewfinder boasted amazing quality and only took less than a second to gain autofocus! To this day I am still amazed a camera can perform better than how I see in low light. Fujifilm clearly got something right!
X-PRO 1 – 18mm – ISO 400 – f2 – 30 secs
MENU
The camera’s menu took a bit of getting use to. Although after the first week I seem to have mastered it.
Conveniently placed the menu button sits nestled in-between the selector keys. Once pressed the shooting menu tab is the first out of eight tabs to be displayed – five of which are camera settings and the remaining are playback settings.
Previously on the Fujifilm X100 menu you had to fight your way through various functions to get to the next page of settings. The main menu on the X-Pro 1 has been laid out with some thought – thanks Fujifilm for listening! The X-Pro 1 menu allows you to bypass all the unwanted settings by selecting a tab on the left hand side. Navigating your way around the menu is simple. The selector keys scroll up, down, left and right while the command dial controls the function of the mode you have selected.
For changing settings on the fly the X-Pro 1 features a Q (Quick) button. 15 of the most common settings appear as symbols on the back LCD allowing you to bypass the main menu. I was able to control what settings appeared on the Quick menu as the camera allowed 7 different custom screens. Each custom screen allowed me to save my favourite camera settings to the quick menu. For example I set a custom quick menu for low light shooting which centred around ISO and bracketing controls; the other custom menu was set for landscape photography where I pre-saved my film simulation mode to Velvia.
I think without the Quick mode Fujifilm would have made a huge mistake. This button was designed to keep the user out of the menu so they could spend more time shooting and it certainly worked for me!
Check out the video from the Fuji Guys on how the new menu works.
Auto (400), Auto (800), Auto (1600), Auto (3200)….ok now that’s over….. I tended to use ISO 400 right through to ISO 2500.
The camera has really challenged me with my photography. I am so used to carrying my clunky tripod or flash to capture the dimly lit scenes in life. With the X-Pro 1 I didn’t have to worry about all the other photographic paraphernalia. I was able to go anywhere and photograph anything.
Setting the ISO control to 3200 my head was telling me ARRRGHHHH what are you doing???? I wanted to explore the camera…I mean if Fujifilm were going to put a setting on the camera it had to be good right? I had to test it – sort of like when you have to test if the paint is dry just after painting…I got that feeling! The question was at ISO 3200 was there going to be noise?
Really ISO 3200?
BOOM!
No noise.
The shutter had been pressed when shooting some low light urban scenes in Melbourne and Fremantle and look no noise! Crazy!
This would definitely be one of the very best features on the camera. High ISO with no noise. What more could I want?
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 2500 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/170sec – Split Toning in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f10 – 5 secs
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f10 – 30 sec
Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – 18mm – ISO 200 – f2 – 1/4 sec
MOVIE
HD Video on the X-Pro 1 is a feature I am still dabbling in. However if you want to see what the quality is like at 720p I found this video showcasing the video quality. Remember to change the YouTube video setting to 720P HD for better viewing quality.
SWEEP PANORAMA
This sort of setting is not new for me. I have used this setting mainly on compact Fujifilm, Olympus, Canon and Sony cameras. The first series of cameras to bring this feature out were …how do I put it….crap.
The X-Pro 1 must have majored in sweep panoramas at production school! When it comes to sweeping the X-Pro 1 knows! The quality of the stitch is seamless if done correctly.
I pushed the camera to the limits by acting as a drunk and even portraying the smoker withdrawal shake. The pictures weren’t pretty….lets just say I found the limit. This mode is definitely not for the drunks. To be expected there were some problems with stitching due the rapid hand shake. My advice would be to use a tripod or monopod if you like your drink or smokes and suffer from withdrawals…this camera setting isn’t for you….but for everyone else all you need is a steady hand and you will be fine. This is the result in a high contrast scene. The outdoor light was pouring in and I don’t think I could have photographed this almost 180 degree view without the use of the sweep panorama mode.
Power consumption was probably one of my only dislikes on the camera (maybe because I used it so much!)
The CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association) standard is said to be 300 images from one charged battery. CIPA test under strict conditions. Each camera is turned on, the shutter button is pressed once taking a photo and the camera is then turned off. The process is repeated until the camera won’t turn on again. Fujifilm reached 300 cycles.
Fujifilm amped up the power from the previous X100’s NP-95 battery to the new Fujifilm NP-W126 battery. I would definitely recommend a spare as I found myself running out of power too often. The battery drain can really be likened to a car. Performance vehicles use a lot of fuel so really you should expect the X-Pro 1 to use a lot of battery.
LENSES
The XF lens system has produced some amazing results. No detail was spared when designing these lenses. The tow lenes I have been using are the Fujifilm XF 18mm F2 R and the Fujifilm XF 35mm f1.4 R. My favorite out of the two would have to be the 35mm as it gives a true representation to what I see. Recently Fujifilm announced the XF 14mm f2.8, 18-55mm f2.8-4, 56mm f1.4, 27mm f2.8, 55-200mm f3.5-f4.8 and the new 10-24 f4.
I just wish I had the 10-24mm as it would provide a nice wide-angle for shooting my landscapes. Currently I am stitching all my photographs which is quite time-consuming.
Pictured below is the road map of Fujifilm XF lenses which will be released shortly.
IMAGE DETAIL
Overall I think when it comes to reviewing a camera the image detail is one of the most important things. I won’t write too much more on this subject as the Jpeg images taken on the APS-C sized senor will show you . Take a look.
Full sized compact pro – fitted perfectly in my hands
High ISO with extremely low noise. I was able to shoot ISO 3200 with no problems at all.
Quick Menu allowed me to bypass the main menu for ease of operation
Hybrid Viewfinder worked well in low light situations.
Horizon tool on the rear LCD allowed me to get all my landscapes straight!
Magnesium alloy body meant I could take the camera anywhere without any problem.
XF lenses – clean, sharp and crisp – especially the 35mm f1.4
Amazing detail due to the removal of the low pass filter
Camera strap – the underside of the strap was rubberized and provided good grip. Never slid off my shoulder!
THUMBS DOWN:
Battery life – didn’t seem to last two days of shooting.
Diopter adjustment lens seemed to want to unscrew itself from the camera. I found it in my camera bag on one occasion.
Slow start-up time (compared with a Pro DSLR)
OVERALL
Overall I can recommend this camera to the keen enthusiast or professional photographer. The camera is light and perfect as a stand alone or second body. Shooting in low light stacks up against some of the bigger players like the Canon 5D MKIII and Nikon D800. I think the removal of the low pass filter to mimic film has paid off. Fujifilm have really developed a ground breaking camera adding to the overall success of the X series camera lineup. I look forward to seeing what other photographic boundaries can be pushed by Fujifilm in the coming year and I’m sure the X-Pro 1 will be just one of many X series cameras to wow the photographic world.
The evolving storm clouds masked the last of the warming light. The sound of the ocean was threatening with wave after wave crashing against the battered landscape. Rock hopping with tripod in hand and camera bag on my tired shoulders I fought my way against the howling wind.
Quickly constructing my tripod I felt like a soldier assembling a weapon. Clouds swarmed above me blackening the sky. By now the ocean was tumbling and churning – the storm was rolling in. The reflection usually seen on the surface of the water was nowhere to be seen instead violent ripples formed by the wind accelerated across the water.
Taking in the scene for a few minutes I noticed a pattern was developing from the break as it left the shore. The streaming water quickly invaded the shoreline filling every gap, stopping briefly then retreating back into the ocean. I was inspired to capture the ocean rhythm playing around me.
Attaching the fish eye lens to the camera I changed the camera’s settings with solid clicks as my numbing fingers fought the bitter cold. Looking through the viewfinder I was presented with an almost ethereal scene. Light bounced about on the surface of the detailed rocks while water came from all directions filling the frame with a juxtaposing smooth finish.
Developing this image in Photoshop I am convinced there should be more photographs like this – dark and gloomy. Not every landscape scene should have golden light. Right?
I’ve been lucky enough to be given a Fuji X-Pro1 by Leigh Diprose for the last few days to give it a road test and see what I can do with it. I was heading away for the weekend already, so I took the X-Pro1 on a bit of a road trip around the south of Western Australia. My very initial impressions of the Fuji X-Pro1 is that it has an exceptional build quality, the camera is quite nice to hold even with my large hands, many of the smaller cameras seem to get lost in my hands. The controls are all fairly intuitive and very accessible, with in minutes of picking it up I was able to use most of the functions I would normally use on my dSLR.
First stop was about 3 hours drive out of Perth, I’m a sucker for clear night skies, we are lucky enough to have very little light pollution here in the west. I decided to give the Fuji a go at some star photography, normally I’d photograph this with my dSLR as it has quite good high-ISO performance.
Milky Way – Fuji X-Pro1
This image was photographed at ISO1600, f2.8 and a 30 second exposure. The camera was in single shot mode and this is a RAW image with minimal processing. Within the first 3 images I was incredibly impressed by the high ISO performance, there isn’t a huge amount of noise in this image and the clarity in the RAW image is exceptional. The straight jpeg was very similar to this RAW file that I’ve just added some sharpening to.
Dawn – Fuji X-Pro1
ISO1600, f2.0, 1/4000. This is a straight jpeg out of the camera with no adjustments, I’ve just resized it and added my signature. The noise levels are very acceptable, I’d have no issues printing this image fairly large. I’m very impressed with the dynamic range of the sensor too.
One of the more interesting modes I found for shooting was the automatic panoramic mode, you set the camera at your start point, press the shutter and sweep the camera from left to right, it then takes a series of images and stitches them together.
Fuji X-Pro1 – Panoramic mode
This is a slightly adjusted panoramic image, photographed with the Fuji X-Pro1 in panoramic mode. f4.0, ISO400, 1/220 the final full sized image is 5120 x 1440 px, so definitely a printable size.
Salt Lake – Fuji X-Pro1
This was photographed at: f8, 1/1500 and ISO800. I’ve done some processing in Adobe Camera RAW, the files are very flexible and retain a lot of detail.
Secluded Beach – Fuji X-Pro1
A RAW image with some minor tweaks in Camera RAW.
Overall I’m very impressed with the camera, I think it would make the perfect travel camera for someone who is accustomed to having professional level gear with them, but doesn’t want to have to carry it all over the world! This camera is definitely aimed at the enthusiast / semi-pro photographer, it has more than enough manual functions to keep any photographer happy, while retaining enough automatic modes to make it easy enough for the beginner to use. The files it’s 16mp sensor produces are very clean and very ready to print!
I have the camera for a few more days so I’m going to be trying out a few more seascape type images and a few other subjects. I’m definitely going to look into getting one, I’d really like to take one with me to Cambodia in September, I think it would be the ideal camera for the photo-journalist / documentary and street photographer.
I found myself standing in front of billions of grains of sand forming a monumental mountain. The dirt danced in the air as short breaths of wind thrust the sand about. The wind howled, choreographing its own sandy air show. Sand clouds appeared before me – rising and falling in unison as they laid to rest upon the great dune. The sand was forever forming and changing.
I had a small window of opportunity to capture the magnificent wonder. My time was short and my lips were becoming parched from the windy conditions. I felt the threat of rain steadily approaching as the blackening gang of clouds rolled over toward me.
The camera strap felt secure around me neck as the cold wind tried to flatten me. My heels buried into the forgiving sand as I lined up for the shot. With a short steadying breath and cold metal pressed to cheek, I clicked the shutter button forging my first photo. The light and dark tones seemed to jump from the rear screen as I deciphered the small details of the dune. Upon noticing the detail it struck me the entire dune simply did not fit onto the small screen on the back of the camera – the dune was simply too big. Thinking about my options I decided to return the camera to a vertical shooting position and attempt a multi row panoramic.
My excitement to capture the perfect formation was child like. From left to right, overlapping RAW photos fired off one after another to replicate the scene in front of me. Full of energy and a spring in my step I proceeded to the car after the files saved quickly to the memory card. My thoughts of marrying the photos together and applying an artistic touch were unfathomable. I simply couldn’t wait to get home and put the photographs together.
I have included the original RAW photos below and additionally captured my screen as I turned the merged photos into a fine art photograph.
The above photos were stitched together using PTGui Pro
Fremantle, Western Australia known as ‘Freo’ to the locals is full enthusiasm for late nights, premium local beer, unique fashion and great coffee. The heritage city hosts a mixture of eclectic stereotypical hippies, hipsters, skaters and artists who all bring their own flavour to the streets and stores. I wanted to capture a glimpse into the culture that is Freo so I headed off on foot with the Fujifilm X Pro 1. Instantly I thought of the local Wool Stores where an assortment of posters and urban art coincide to bring life into the old heritage building. I thought a grunge theme would best showcase the building at night.
I was quite impressed with the sharpness of the cameras sensor within both photos. The light trail left by the bus in the square photograph created depth and interest within the long exposure. I found that it really broke up the plain brick wall into something interesting.
My last visit to Melbourne was full of dark and gloomy scenes. As I walked the streets in the blanket of rain I managed to capture the little amount of available light using the Fujifilm X Pro 1 handheld. It was the camera and me. What more could a traveller want?
Usually I would be carrying around my Canon 1D MKIV with a wide angle or even a prime to shoot a bustling city however the ease and portability of the X Pro 1 allowed for a more enjoyable travelling experience. Compared to my Canon I was amazed at the image quality – especially with the higher ISO settings.
Simply put I’m glad that there is a professional camera out there that fits my travelling needs. All the below images were photographed shooting RAW and edited in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 2500 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/170sec – Split Toning in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 800 – 35mm – f4.5 – 1/150 sec – Split Toning in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 800 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/100 sec – Edited using Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 200 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/350 sec – Edited in Adobe Lightroom 4.
Fujifilm X Pro 1 – ISO 800 – 35mm – f1.4 – 1/80 sec – Edited using Adobe Lightroom 4.
You may not know one of my favourite subjects to photograph are people. Don’t get me wrong…wildlife and landscapes are certainly up there…but theres something about photographing people that creates an emotional connection you just can’t get from a landscape or animal.
Some people are cringing right now at the thought of portrait photography. Unpacking the camera bag and pointing the lens in the general direction of their loved one to capture “the shot” may make them want to head for the hills (or Northam…sorry Merv)…not to mention weddings as the ultimate hill runner.
Personally I see the pursuit of the classic portrait as a challenge. Simply pointing the lens at a person and taking a photo is certainly the easy part anyone can do….for me the skill in portrait photography is capturing the emotion of an individual in a single frame. If you can manage to do that then portrait photography might be for you.
Thinking back, since I was a small boy (when I was young…. – ha!) I have always had a fascination with people. I would watch people and learn their idiosyncrasies by building up a mind map of their vastly different personalities in my head. To this day I still practice this by listening and engaging with as many people as I can possible talk to. Over the years my little mind map of humans has been an expansive blueprint into the emotions of an individual, so when it comes to connecting with the shutter on my camera I have a fair idea what I am wanting to portray emotionally within the final photograph.
Being able to read people and capture someone at their emotional peak is what I strive to achieve in my portrait photography. I’ll give you an example… if I am wanting to capture some candid shots at a wedding I simply listen to the conversations around me. A picture develops in my mind and I build up a profile of the people in the conversation. Then, having listened to the conversation I am able to anticipate a laugh or a smile and at that point my fingerprint is left of the shutter button. For me anticipating the emotional reaction of someone always leads to a great picture. I see way too may photographers running around chasing after a photo when the picture is actually painted right in front of them. They simply don’t listen…they are too busy looking for the photograph.
I would like to challenge all the photographers out there to find some emotional connection in the photographs they are capturing. If you aren’t looking to portray emotion within your art then you should really put the tools down and climb a tree. I’m sure Leonardo da Vinci thought about the emotions of his masterpieces before he picked up his paintbrush – so as artists we should do the same.
I want to share some recent photographs each day with you for the remainder of the month. The technical details and sharpness are not my main priority in photography anymore….for me capturing the emotion is my main focus and always has been. So sit back and enjoy the abundance of emotions coming your way.
So you don’t miss out on the emotional journey I will be posting five times daily for the rest of the month. Enjoy.
I can’t wait until the Adobe Labs brings out the RAW update for the X Pro 1. The image quality from the jpeg file is amazing imagine what the RAW file will be like! I took this just before sunrise. Enjoy.
Reflections is my first collection of 4 Limited Edition photographs.
The Reflections Collection depicts the beauty of the water environment on the Western Australian coastline and gives meaning to the mixture of multicultural communities through the ever-changing colour present in the collection. Water ripples present in the four images represent our ever-changing lifestyles on the West Coast due to the expanding resource sector.
Reflections Collection is limited to 1 of 1 and will not be reproduced at any stage all digital negatives will be destroyed.
All four pieces forming the collection are individually sized to 20×30 inches (50x75cm) and presented on an mounted canvas.
As of the 22nd April 2012 Reflections Collection is valued at AU $4,000. A valuation certificate will be provided with the artwork.
To order the Limited Edition – Reflections Collection please contact Leigh Diprose on +61408 957 090.
LEIGH DIPROSE 