Me and film are done. Fuji is here.
Ok, so after an incredibly expensive 6 months experimenting and reacquainting myself with film, I decided it was time to change tactics and move back to digital, and try something new whilst I was at it.
Enter 2018's Fujifilm X-T3, and four train tickets to Amsterdam.
And oh boy has this camera seen things. Telling myself scratches, bumps, craters and scrapes just add character, this hugely discounted option was chosen because it was hugely discounted, and had loads of dials I could twist and make myself feel like a "real photographer".
AMSTERDAM
Fujifilm X-T3's first outing. Featuring shit loads of pastries
After a 4.30am dash to St Pancras and many fields seen between England's rolling hills along with Belgium and Netherland's most adjacent rail-side views, we were met with rain and pastries and the X-T3 was unleashed.
Much research was done into food. I'd like to say it was for shelter from the rain. But that would be a lie. It's a foodie town, and we came to eat.
Looking through windows at the non-stop rain was a whole thing. But an enjoyable thing. Cos we were inside. With food. And beer.
We walked bloody loads which was good cos my step count was looking healthier than a child's beansprout experiment set on a windowsill, and because I was consuming more pastries than my body had experienced in the 35 years prior.
Sure was nice when it rained and sunned at the same time tho. Makes for high drama and reflections everywhere.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the low-light looks of the Fuji - albeit consistent processing and use of it's built in filmic looks (which I've barely scratched the surface of so far) is something that needs more time invested. Nice that Lightroom spots this tho and allows you to commit post photo-taking.
We saw some interactive art installations at the Net Museum which were full on technology-based which I totally nerded out about whilst my travel companions experienced existential crises and questioned whether they had entered a sort of liminal waiting room between limbo and death, but without the music.
We hadn't even had any edibles, my companions had simply become detached from the group (and reality), and this whole thing proves that art really is subjective and what you make of it, and they really made it something else.
And here's my agrro-face not aware it was about to be captured and live inked onto a board in the museum for all to see. Lovely.
What have I learnt from my first dalliance with the fuji I hear you cry? Well firstly, I assume the tears are happy tears, but one obvious thing is I probably I saved myself at least £60-80 in photo processing, and that I didn't lose any of the shots I took (unlike 50% of the photos I took between Feb - Sept 2023).
