A few weeks ago, I found myself in Joshua Tree. I’ve been there a few times now, but things were going to be different this time. I had some new lenses, new cameras, and a different eye.
For the last few years, I’ve been shooting a lot of Landscape and HDR photography and found myself getting stuck with the routine that often comes with those styles. I was just going with the trends, and I needed to hit the breaks.
Voigtlander 35mm f1.7, ISO 200, f5.6, 1/1500
This year, I’m trying to shoot everything I can, looking for incidental stories and moods. It can be challenging to get great shots, but at least this way, the results are your own.
Joshua Tree – XT1
In Joshua Tree, I shot almost exclusively with the Fujifilm XT1. I brought my A7rII and my X100T, but I just love shooting with the XT1 more than any other camera right now. All your settings and dials are right there, and you never have to go into a menu, so shooting becomes muscle memory.
I also shot with several new lenses. The Voigtlander 35mm f1.7, the Fujifilm 35mm f2, and Fujifilm 23mm f1.4. I’ve had the Voigtlander for a while, but I mostly use it for my A7rII. I’m completely in love with the Fujinon 23 mm f1.4, and I’m still warming up to the 35 mm f2. It’s a good lens, but for what it is, it either needs to be less expensive or faster.
Fujinon 10-24mm@10mm, ISO 200, f10, 1/320
Fujinon 10-24mm@10mm, ISO 200, f8, 1/1250
Fujinon 10-24mm@10mm, ISO 200, f11, 1/640
Voigtlander 35mm f1.7, ISO 200, f1.7, 1/550
To process these shots, I used RNI film simulators. I use these a lot, maybe more than the VSCO presets. RNI gave me the full pack last year to try out, and I’m glad they did. I love them and will recommend them to anyone who likes the film look.
Fujinon 10-24mm@18mm, ISO 200, f4, 1/4801500
Fujinon 10-24mm@24mm, ISO 200, f9, 1/110
Fujinon 10-24mm@24mm, ISO 200, f8, 1/600
Voigtlander 15mm f4.5, ISO 200, f8, 1/1000
Fujinon 23mm f1.4, ISO 200, f8, 1/210
In Joshua Tree, I finally figured out what the ES+MS shutter setting does on the Fujifilm XT1. At first, I thought maybe it was an Electronic First shutter, but what it actually does is allow you to shoot at higher shutter speeds with the electronic shutter once you pass the maximum limit of what the mechanical shutter can do. This is very useful in bright desert scenes like these.
Fujinon 23mm f1.4, ISO 200, f8, 1/125
Fujinon 23mm, ISO 200, f11, 1/250
Fujinon 23mm, ISO 200, f11, 1/90
Fujinon 23mm, ISO 200, f11, 1/100
Fujinon 10-24mm f4 @10mm ISO 200, f9, 1/250
I’m still working on a few reviews, but you can see my current lens reviews here.
Fujifilm Lens Reviews
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