FUJIFILM X-T1 (24.3mm, f/8, 1/280 sec, ISO200)
This is the meaning of life!
To watch the sunset at the sea. Unfortunately I live in a place where this is not possible so whenever I have to chance to have a sunset at the sea I go for it. Like here in Coronado, Southern California. We arrived there early so we went for a long walk on the beach. I took nothing but the Fuji X-T1 plus the kit lens with me. Just like on our first vacation to the USA where I took nothing but the Sony NEX 5 with its kit lens on long beach walks. It is so liberating to have no big gear but just a small but capable camera with you. The Sony NEX 5 kit was already a massive jump from compact cameras but the Fuji X-T1 kit is even better. Especially the lens.
But the camera is great too and fast. Just take a look at the image above. A young guy had his fun jumping as high and as wide as possible. I tried to capture him mid air which wasn’t too complicated thanks to the fast 8 frames per second of the X-T1. In 2010 mirrorless meant great image quality but lots of compromises in other areas. Now they perform great.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (55mm, f/8, 1/280 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (18mm, f/8, 1/300 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (32.9mm, f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO200)
I just love the warm and beautiful evening light at the beach. Everything looks great and the colors are gorgeous. That’s why wedding photographers seem to love it too. This one worked really hard to get the best shot but he also asked for some commitment from the couple. And they were willing to spoil their weeding dress and suit just to get to perfect shot. It was only fair that the photographer laid flat on the ground to get the best angle. Not sure if the flash light was strong enough from this distance though.
How about being a weeding photographer in Southern California? When he goes to the beach it’s paid work while I have to spend a small fortune to be here. But I’m not complaining. Nobody is holding me back to live a life like that except my own fears and the convenience and safety of a monthly pay check.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (55mm, f/9, 1/250 sec, ISO400)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (55mm, f/4, 1/350 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (31.5mm, f/3.6, 1/420 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (24.3mm, f/11, 1/160 sec, ISO250)
Better back to gear talk. What I really like about the kit lens is its flexibility. Don’t get me wrong. It is not the most exciting lens I can think of. It’s not a Canon 24-70/2.8 II on a full frame camera. But it is much more than just a stupid standard kit lens. First of all it is a little faster than what most competitors offer. Not by much but good enough to make a difference. Bokeh is not outstanding but it is also better than on the average standard zoom. Plus the lens is sharp wide open which gives a better subject isolation than most other standard lenses. It does all that but it still remains compact and light. Perfect!
I really like how it worked on the portrait of my wife. I shot wide open to get rid of the busy background and I like how it blurs the hotel in the back just good enough that it doesn’t kill the shot. It seems that I overlooked the guy in the back though.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (32.9mm, f/10, 1/160 sec, ISO320)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (55mm, f/4, 1/30 sec, ISO320)
Of course we waited until the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Everybody did but right after the sun was gone most people went back to their cars. But that’s a big mistake. The colors are most beautiful after sunset. If you go too early you miss the best. It didn’t take long and the sky went from yellow and orange to pink and purple.
Colors that reminded me of the days of Fuji Velvia. My favorite slide film. And that is what I have used on this shots. VSCO’s Velvia slide preset for Lightroom. I just love this “better than life colors” almost as much as I love sunsets by the sea. The meaning of life.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (20.5mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO800)