I recently created an X-Trans II film simulation recipe specifically for wintry conditions called Winter Slide. While I have many recipes that will do well photographing snow, creating a recipe specifically for that particular condition is unusual. Since winter is here, I thought it would be a fun exercise to examine how several recipes do when photographing snow. By several, I mean 14 recipes!
So let’s take a look at how these 14 different film simulation recipes do photographing in wintry conditions!
Note: This was a Creative Collective article, but now it’s available to everyone.
Let’s start off by briefly explaining the process. I used two cameras: Fujifilm X100V and X-H1. I chose seven recipes for each camera, and the recipes were somewhat randomly selected. I chose ones that I thought could possibly do well or might otherwise be interesting in the snow. I captured two images for each recipe: one in sunlight and one in shade. I figured that some recipes would do well in the sun, some would do well in the shade, a few would do well in both, and maybe one or two wouldn’t do well in either, but I really wasn’t sure.
The recipes used on the X-H1 are all compatible with X-Trans III (plus the X-T3 and X-T30) cameras. The recipes used on the X100V are all compatible with the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras, except for Kodak Vision3 250D, which is intended for the X-T3 and X-T30—I modified it for the X100V by selecting Grain size Small, Color Chrome FX Blue Off, and Clarity 0.
Now, let’s look at the pictures!
X-Trans III + X-T3 & X-T30
X-Trans IV
You can look at the examples above, and decide for yourself which ones you like. If one stands out to you, I invite you to try it the next time you’re out photographing in wintry conditions. Of the seven recipes for X-Trans III, Fujichrome Sensia 200 is my favorite for sunlight and Kodak Portra 160 is my favorite for shade. Of the seven recipes for X-Trans IV, Kodachrome 1 is my favorite for sunlight and Fujicolor Superia 1600 is my favorite for shade. Which ones do you like best? Let me know in the comments!
I think the recipes that are cooler tend to be a bit too cold in the shade, although if you’re trying to communicate just how frigid it is outside, maybe that’s something you want. The recipes that are warm can sometimes be a tad too warm in the sunlight. Your recipe choice likely will be dictated by the light you think you’ll encounter. A lot also depends on the exact aesthetic you’re after and the mood you want to convey. I don’t believe any of these 14 recipes are bad choices. Some certainly seem better than others for the snow, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so one person might appreciate one more than the rest, and another might appreciate a different recipe.
If you’ve used a film simulation recipe in the snow and liked the outcome, please let me know in the comments which one it was.
I was hoping to see some black and white recipes. There isn’t much colour in New Jersey in the winter. Not even a blue sky.
I made the assumption that all of the B&W recipes would do well enough, and that the differences in the color recipes mattered more. But maybe my assumption was short-sighted? A white Christmas is forecasted, so maybe I can try this again but with B&W. I appreciate the input!
Thanks Ritchie. I’ve struggled to decide which recipe to use under what conditions.
You are welcome!
Very handy with today’s rare frost in the Central Valley of California! No snow in the valley, so that’s as good as it gets. Superia 1600 did the job.
Awesome! I love the Superia 1600 recipe myself. Has a great analog soul to it.