Cactus | FUJI X WEEKLY

Flashing Cactus — Using a Godox Lux Master in the Desert

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

I really like Godox flashes. They’re good quality, easy to use, oftentimes retro styled, reasonably priced, and fun to use. The Godox Lux Junior is my personal favorite mainly because it is compact and lightweight. I also like the Godox Lux Cadet; it’s also fairly small and light. Either one of those are fun to use, but I’m not really a flash-photography guy, so I only occasionally utilize them.

I paid for my Lux Junior out of my own pocket, and wrote briefly about that flash in Getting that ’90’s Film Look with Fujifilm Cameras. Perhaps because of that, Godox sent me a Lux Cadet, which I discussed at length in Using a Godox Lux Cadet for a ’90’s Film Look. More recently, Godox asked if I’d be interested in trying the Lux Master. I said sure; however, I probably should have researched a little before agreeing. Anyway, the flash arrived, and I was a little surprised by the size of the box. The Lux Master is neither compact nor lightweight!

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s not good, because the Lux Master is definitely a pro-level flash (and only $250, which seems like a bargain for what it is). If you are an event, wedding, or portrait photographer and do flash photography, the Lux Master is one to strongly consider. Or, put on a fedora hat with a paper containing the word PRESS on it, and you could be an old-fashioned photo journalist. I don’t have anything negative to say about the Lux Master, other than it’s a little too much for my photography. I’d use a Lux Junior or Lux Cadet over the Lux Master any day of the week, personally, just because those suit me better (mainly, the size and weight). But, there are some people who need a bit more, and that’s where the bigger flash comes into play. If you need a pro-level flash that is retro cool and affordable, the Lux Master should be high on your list.

There are two main ways that I use an external flash with my photography. With the X100-series I sometimes use the built-in flash for daylight fill, but for the Godox flashes I use them either to get a retro ’90’s look (for lack of a better description… essentially, Film Simulation Recipes combined with flash) and/or creatively use shutter drag (slow shutter speed with intentional movement combined with flash). That’s how I typically use the Lux Junior and Lux Cadet, and how I initially was using the Lux Master.

*Fujifilm X-T5 + Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 + Godox Lux Master flash*

But then I decided I’ve probably covered that topic enough, and maybe you’d like to see something else. So I waited until sunset, grabbed my Fujifilm X-T5 with the Godox Lux Master attached, and headed out into the desert. How about some cacti photographi? (BTW, that spelling error was intentional). I live in the desert and photograph cactus regularly, but not often when combined with a flash. I did this after-sunset desert trek a few different times, and came away with a few good pictures.

Obviously there’s a pretty significant difference between after-sunset photography with and without a flash. How bright the flash is set, how close the subject is to the camera, and the exact light situation will all affect the outcome. I don’t know if I came away with any good tips to pass along, other than try and try again. For a lot of images, finding the right flash and camera settings often took three or four or five tries, sometimes more. It was a fun little project to do, and I think the experimental nature of it (for me, anyway, since it’s not something that I normally do) was somehow both therapeutic and thrilling. Even if you don’t do much flash photography, something like the Lux Master could be a good training tool to help improve your photography. Or it could be just for fun.

The photographs below are all camera-made JPEGs captured with a Fujifilm X-T5 + Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 lens + Nostalgic Americana Film Simulation Recipe + Godox Lux Master flash:

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 R WR:
Amazon, B&H, Wex, Nuzira
Godox Lux Cadet:
Amazon, B&H
Godox Lux Junior:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Godox Lux Master:
Amazon, B&H

Photoessay: An Arizona Spring in Color

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Colorful Cactus Blooms – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

When most people think of Arizona, they picture dry dusty deserts and sprawling cities. It’s hot. It’s brown. It’s inhospitable. There are endless rows of look-alike stucco homes. Many people might be unaware that the desert bursts with color in the spring. Arizona isn’t just brown, there are vibrant greens, blues, reds, yellows, purples and other colors, especially in the spring, which is my favorite season in the state.

Arizona isn’t all desert, either. While it may be best known for the Grand Canyon, you might be surprised to learn that the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world is in Arizona. There are tall mountains and even winter skiing. The state is full of surprises. It’s one reason why I love Arizona and appreciate visiting whenever I can.

Yellow Palo Verde – Black Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

I used to live in Arizona. Back when I was barely an adult, the Air Force sent me to live in Arizona. I met my wife there. My first two kids were born there. I have a deep fondness for the state. I would love to live there again someday. It’s a wonderful place for photography. I highly recommend grabbing a subscription to Arizona Highways magazine to see many wonderful pictures of the state. A fact that you might be surprised to learn is that Ansel Adams was frequently published in that magazine back in the day. Many great photographers were, and still are.

The photographs in this article were captured a few weeks ago. I used my Fujifilm X-T30 camera with a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens and a Fujinon 90mm f/2 lens, which are both excellent examples of Fujifilm’s great glass that they’ve become renown for. I hope that you enjoy this variety of photographs that demonstrate there’s more color in Arizona than one might initially think.

Pine In The Sky – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Green Leaves – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Agave Green – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Cactus & Blue Sky – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Palo Verde In The Windy Blue – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Palm – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Vultures In A Tree – Wickenburg, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Wildflowers & Stone – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Impatient? Stop & Smell – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Yellow Rose of Arizona – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Little Bloom Design – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Yellow Blossom Flowers – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Splash of Red Among Green – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Bougainvillea Bloom – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Bloom In The Rocks – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Blooming Cactus Landscape – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Red Prickly Pears – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Beginning To Blossom Red – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Desert Landscape – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Spring Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Yucca Bloom – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Cactus Blooming Red – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Red Ball Fruit – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Barrel Cactus – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Cactiscape – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Prickled – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Pops of Yellow – Black Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Yellow Desert – Black Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

One Barrel Cactus Bloom – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Red Spiky Blooms – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Red & Purple Desert Blossoms – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Photoessay: B&W Cacti

Posted on January 14, 2018 by Ritchie Roesch

Barbs – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X100F

One thing that I did on my Christmas visit to Arizona was photograph cacti. You can find cactus all over the place there. The spiky shrubs are common in Arizona landscaping, and a short walk into the desert will reveal even more. There are over 60 varieties of cactus that grow there. I only photographed a few different types, including Organ Pipe, Saguaro, Barbary Fig, Cholla, and a couple others that I couldn’t identify.

The ten photographs in this article are all camera-made JPEGs; however, I used X RAW Studio to process the RAW files (if you aren’t sure what X RAW Studio is, be sure to click the link), fine-tuning my Across Push-Process Film Simulation recipe. For most of these I increased the shadows to +4, and for some of them I reduced highlights to +3. I adjusted the exposure by 1/3 stop (either plus or minus) for a few of the pictures, as well.

I love the film-look that the Fujifilm X100F produces. A few years back I captured some cactus pictures in Arizona using a Minolta XG-1 and Kodak T-Max 400 film. What I get from the X100F using Acros and what I got back from the lab using the film gear are surprisingly similar. You can achieve film-like results with any digital camera using software, such as Nik Silver Efex or Alien Skin Exposure (both of which I’ve used extensively in the past), but with Fujifilm you can get it straight from the camera if you want.

People have told me, “I don’t get your fascination with film. I don’t like the film-look.” Different strokes for different folks. I personally don’t like pictures that look digital. I compare it to listening to an MP3 file versus an analog record. The MP3 will be more cold and clean, while the analog sound will have more warmth and character. Digital music is way more convenient, and that’s why it is so common.

Digital photography is way more convenient than analog photography, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. I appreciate the characteristics of film, and the ability to achieve that look while enjoying the conveniences of digital is something I’m thrilled about. One thing I especially like about Fujifilm is that they maintain their analog soul in the digital age.