I was recently reading a post by Don Giannatti (someone I have been reading on and off for years). The post extoled the virtues of going back to basics, reseting, giving yourself (as a photographer) some challenges to shoot in a way you are not at the moment.
As I write this I cannot find the actual post but I remember he made a few suggestions;
- Shoot with a fixed lens for a week
- Use the JPG images straight from the camera (SOOC) – no editing
- Working in Monochrome (if you dont already), or at least set the JPG/preview to monochrome to understand how it affects the colour frame
- Return to the same subject every day for a week and shoot it differently each time
You get the idea. Lists like these have been around for many years and are almost cliche now – but I am not knocking it. I am embracing it – we all need to get out of our comfort zone. So in fact this week I am embracing this by shooting the same subject each day this week, on the same fixed lens camera, straight to JPG and posting them here. (A week after they were taken).
Day 1:
Single Godox flash in a 1M parabolic set to TTL exposure. Resized JPG from the camera with a 28mm (equivalent) lens.
Note the proof of the non-edited image – the shaft of the parabrolic brolly on the right.
So the total opposite of last week’s post, where I talked about the AI masking tools in Lightroom.
The self-portrait (note: Not Selfie!) is the standard subject for all artists and photographers. I have many painted and drawn self-portraits (which my father says is very self-obsessed), but I’m not sure I have attacked myself with a camera in this way. I’m not expecting these to be flattering; I know the one above is not. It was made at 5 p.m. after I had been concentrating all day on Monday. They should show how I was that day and how I progressed through the week.
I say non-edited JPG, and the eagle-eyed of you will be thinking, hmm that’s not a standard X-H (or X100) shaped frame. Oh, and it’s a 28mm you say – so definitely not the X100.
Nope…
This post also relates to another recent post.. I found a business proposition and purchased that camera, and I am pleased to say it still feels 100% right in my hand.
The above portrait was also a test to control it with the x-app from the phone and checking it would fire the remote flash okay before I take it on 2 jobs this week.
And the Camera? GFX100RF of course.
I miss my GFX50R, although it was right to trade it in for the X100VI. Although this F4 lens will not have the sharp to soft transitions of the faster lens I used on the 50R, I am sure it will match the soft colour graduations as well as the lovely transitions from light to shadow.
I have many plans on how I am going to incorporate this camera into my business, but that will follow as I get used to it. Expect upcoming posts to feature this camera heavily.
Until then, look out for the next (daily) 6 posts, a self-portrait a day on this camera in my office.
Julie Edwards-X 