Join me on a photowalk in Sedona, Arizona! It will be on Saturday, November 8th, in Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Sedona. We’ll meet at the West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead at 3:30 PM. This is a collaborative event with Nuzira, so Lucas White will be there, too.
The walk will be about an hour-and-a-half to two hours long. We’ll stroll with our cameras at a slow pace, and not go very far. The West Fork Oak Creek Trail is about three miles long (six total out-and-back), but we’re not likely to go any further than one mile in, if even that (maybe two miles out-and-back, but probably not even that far). It’s a dirt path, but well maintained. It’s an easy hike (literally, it’s rated as Easy), but it might be difficult for those with disabilities since it is not paved. We’ll finish up by sundown, and hopefully get some good golden hour light for our pictures.
The scenery is amazing! It’s such a beautiful place, and perfect for landscape photography. While we’re likely to be beyond the peak of fall colors, there should still be autumn leaves for us to photograph. We’ll also see some abandoned buildings. This is one of my top favorite locations in Sedona. It’s not as well known as some other places, which means it’s usually a little less crowded. It is a fee area (I believe $5 daily, if I remember correctly). Parking is limited, but there has been plenty of spaces each time that I have visited.
This photowalk is free! You do need to register so that we know who’s coming—click here to sign up, and for further information (if you plan to come, click that link). I want to give a special thanks to Nuzira for putting this together and facilitating it. Bring whatever gear you want, and we’re just going to have fun taking pictures at a beautiful place. I hope you can make it!
I’ve been asked many times over the last couple of weeks which Film Simulation Recipes are the best for autumn photography. Sometimes the Recipes that work really well for the endless sunshine of summer aren’t quite as good for photographing fall foliage. I live in the desert; for the most part, the leaves here don’t change colors until November and December, and the show is rather mundane compared to most other places. Because of that, whenever I do get to experience the brilliant colors of the changing season, I’m learning as I go which Recipes work well and which ones don’t.
Last year I traveled a few hours up the road to the mountains near Flagstaff, Arizona, where there is an impressive autumn display. I tried seven different Recipes that I thought might do well, and it was interesting to compare the results. As you’d probably expect, some did better than others. If you are trying to figure out which Recipes to try this fall, I definitely recommend taking a look at that article (click here). I also published an article two years ago with some fall Recipe suggestions (click here), which is also worthwhile. Between those two posts, there are 17 potential options for your autumn photography.
Fujifilm X-T5 – Velvia Film Recipe
Last week I was up in New York and Connecticut. It might be “peak fall” right now—or maybe next week—for those up that direction. It was absolutely gorgeous when I was there, despite not being quite peak colors. I was thrilled not only for the opportunity to photograph the incredible scenery, but to also try out different Film Simulation Recipes for autumn photography. Specifically, I wanted to use ones that were not included in those two articles I mentioned in the last paragraph—between all three posts, you should now have a pretty good selection of potential options.
Everyone has different tastes, and the light and subject will be different wherever you go. That’s why it’s good to have options. My hope is that a few of these Recipes—or maybe some from those other two articles—will stand out to you to try for yourself. The idea here is not that you’ll use all 11 of these on your next fall foliage outing, but that you might try some. You might even decide that some of these are definitely not for you—knowing which ones to avoid can also be valuable.
Fujifilm X100VI – PRO Negative 160C Recipe
For myself, I did find a few that I will certainly use again whenever I have the opportunity to photograph fall foliage in the future. And I also found a few Recipes that I probably won’t. Just because I like (or don’t like) something doesn’t mean that you’ll agree with that assessment. Hopefully, though, if you are unsure which ones to program into your Fujifilm camera, this will give you some direction.
Without any further delay, below are 11 Film Simulation Recipes that I tried for fall photography in New York and Connecticut last week.
Velvia Film was one of the Recipes that I was most excited to try out for fall photography. I had high hopes for it, and it didn’t disappoint. In retrospect, I only wish that I had used it more—a lot more, actually. I will definitely utilize this one on my next autumn adventure!
This Recipe is quite vibrant, slightly warm, and fairly low contrast. If you want to emphasize the vivid colors of the changing leaves, this one will do it. Velvia Film is one of the Film Dial Recipes, and you are likely to get good results with Provia, Astia, PRO Neg. Hi, Reala Ace, Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, and Nostalgic Negative (and maybe others); however, Velvia is top-notch for this type of photography, and what I most recommend. It is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I thought that I was going to love Vibrant Velvia for autumn, but I didn’t. Not that it was bad (because it wasn’t), but it didn’t quite emphasize the colors like I hoped it would. Green and blue stand out, but the warm colors of the changing leaves surprisingly get a little deemphasized. Situationally specific, it could still be a good choice for fall photography; however, I think there are several better options.
Where I think this Recipe works best is in a situation like the photo directly below this paragraph. The fall foliage add pops of warmth to the green and blue, which are the two most prominent colors in the scene. As of this writing, this Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I like Appalachian Negative in general, so I thought I might also appreciate it for fall. Sure enough, I do! It has the right retro Kodak-like vibes to trigger nostalgia. This is another Recipe that I wish I had used more, because I like the results. I can imagine it being especially appropriate for photographing a pumpkin patch or fall decor or things like that.
Because this Recipe uses the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, it is only compatible with the latest cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5. Of the three Recipes in this article that use the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, Appalachian Negative is my favorite for autumn pictures.
I had pretty high hopes for 1976 Kodak when I programmed it into my X-T5, but ultimately I decided that it is just a bit too warm and contrasty for my tastes. It definitely does make the pictures look like they were captured in another era, but it just feels like too much warmth, particularly whenever the scenes are already especially warm. Situationally specific it might be a good choice—such as low-contrast cool light scenes—but overall it was not my favorite for fall photos.
If you are going for a 1970’s magazine vibe, you might consider this Recipe; otherwise, I would instead recommend the one directly below this or especially the one directly above. As of this writing, 1976 Kodak is compatible with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
As far as the Nostalgic Neg. Recipes that I tried, I feel that Kodak Negative sits in-between Appalachian Negative and 1976 Kodak; however, it is divergent enough that I could see having it programmed as a companion to one of those Recipes. For fall photos, I like this one much more than 1976 Kodak, but not quite as much as Appalachian Negative.
In the right light, this Recipe is phenomenal for capturing autumn colors. Next opportunity, I will definitely have this one programmed into my camera. Kodak Negative is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I didn’t expect to like this Recipe for fall foliage because it is soft with muted colors; however, I ended up liking it for that very reason. The Kodak Portra 160 Recipe produces results that are somewhat the antithesis of what one expects from fall photos, which is what makes it work.
This isn’t a Recipe that I would use for all of my autumn images, but, as occasional relief to the vivid pictures that dominate this season, it is quite excellent. This Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras; for fifth-generation models, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.
Kodak Portra 400 v2 is one of my absolute favorite Recipes, so it should be unsurprising that I appreciate the results for fall photographs. Interestingly, there are some similarities between this and Appalachian Negative, so perhaps having both Recipes programmed into the camera is a bit redundant; however, they are definitely divergent enough to justify both.
This particular Recipe is the version for the fifth-generation models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5. There is also a version for X-Trans IV cameras, and one for the X-T3 and X-T30.
Astia Azure is a Fuji X Weekly App Patron-only Early Access Recipe, which means that only App subscribers have access to it at this time. Eventually it will be made available to everyone once a different Early Access Recipe replaces it. I found it did alright in certain light situations (such as the above photo), but was mediocre in others.
While I didn’t necessarily dislike it, Astia Azure wouldn’t be my top choice for autumn photography—I think it’s more of a summertime Recipe, especially if there’s a lot of blue sky… it’s pretty good for nighttime, too. As of this writing, the Astia Azure Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
I liked the PRO Negative 160C Recipe a lot for fall photographs. It combines a somewhat soft tonality with vibrant and slightly warm colors, producing anologue-like results. This is another one that I wish I had utilized more, and will use again for autumn images at the next opportunity.
Because this Recipe uses the Reala Ace film simulation, it is only compatible with fifth-generation models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras. There is a version that uses the PRO Neg. Hi film simulation, which is compatible with the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II.
This is another Fuji X Weekly App Patron-only Early Access Recipe, which means that only App subscribers have access to it at this time. Eventually it will be made available to everyone once a different Early Access Recipe replaces it. I like this one, although it can be a bit too contrasty in high-contrast situations, so it isn’t for every scenario.
While I would certainly consider having this as one of my seven C1-C7 Recipes, I’m not certain if it would make the cut or not. It’s close, and it definitely can be useful, so if it didn’t, it would be a tough cut. The Ektachrome E100 Recipe is compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50 and X-M5 cameras.
Last but certainly not least is Pacific Blues. This is another of my favorite Recipes, so it should not be surprising that I also like it for fall photography. This one has a lot of contrast, so it can be challenging to use, and is clearly not for every fall image. Even if the situation where it works well is only encountered occasionally, I would still have this as one of my C1-C7 Custom Settings presets.
This particular version of the Pacific Blues Recipe is for X-Trans IV cameras, which are the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras; for fifth-generation models, there’s a version for your camera.
Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues Recipe
Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues Recipe
Of these 11 Film Simulation Recipes, which seven would I program into my Fujifilm X-T5 or X100VI? Velvia Film, Appalachian Negative, Kodak Portra 160, Kodak Portra 400 v2, PRO Negative 160C, Ektachrome E100, and Pacific Blues—I think, anyway. Kodak Negative was a tough cut in that scenario, so I would probably take a longer look at it, and really consider if that’s what I want to do. In any event, that seems like an excellent set of seven for fall photography that covers most subjects and situations. But, don’t forget, there are also the seven I used in Flagstaff last year, and I would certainly consider including some of those, namely CineStill 400D v2, Kodak Ektar 100, Fujicolor Superia 100, and The Rockwell. This would be a lot easier if we had more than seven slots. More likely, the next opportunity to capture the autumn leaves, I will have different Recipes programmed into two or three cameras, so that I can use more than just seven.
The fall colors won’t last long. If you’ve been wanting to photograph them, don’t procrastinate. Grab your Fujifilm camera, program in a few of these Recipes, and head out the door. The time is now, so make sure that you don’t miss out.
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The November issue of FXW Zine is out now! Creative Collective subscribers can download it today. Not a Creative Collective subscriber? Join to gain access to this issue plus all pervious issues of FXW Zine and the many bonus articles.
Issue 24—yes, the 24th issue!—has two articles. The first is about fall foliage photography, with its brilliant displays of color. The second is a brief look back at the previous 23 issues of FXW Zine. There are 34 pictures (including the cover) over 24 pages. Enjoy!
Autumn in a Mountain Meadow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100
When you think of dramatic displays of Autumn colors, you probably don’t think of Arizona. It’s easy to miss that Arizona has a significant amount of mountainous terrain, with extensive forests and even snow-capped peaks in the winter. In autumn, some of these trees change color as the leaves prepare to drop. The fall foliage in Arizona can be impressive!
Two days ago I drove up north to the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks just outside of Flagstaff for an autumn hike. The trail is called Aspen Corner Trail, which sits right below the Snowbowl ski resort. Interestingly, I was looking for the Aspen Loop Nature Trail, but I didn’t quite go far enough, and didn’t realize until later that I wasn’t even on the intended path. I had never been on any trails in this area before; I saw all of the cars and the many photographers, and just figured I was in the right place.
It was an easy hike, with very short sections that might be considered moderate (maybe). I didn’t go anywhere close to the end, just perhaps a quarter mile down where the thick forest opened to a large meadow, then back to the car as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. The place was nothing short of stunning!
Arizona Aspens – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell
For those who don’t know or remember, the way I’m currently using my X100V is the rear LCD is turned off, and the hybrid viewfinder is set to OVF. That means that I don’t know how the pictures turned out until later when I review them. This is intended to replicate a film-like experience, in a way. Since I don’t know what I’m getting, I try to take a little extra care to ensure that I get it right. Also, I really enjoy reviewing all of the photos at once, not knowing how exactly it all went; there’s a certain thrill when one is especially great or unexpectedly interesting. This process has been a good exercise for me.
Now, let’s take a look at the seven Film Simulation Recipes that I used to photograph fall colors on my Fujifilm X100V!
This Recipe produces bright and colorful pictures. If you want to really show off a vibrant scene, The Rockwell will do it! The flip side is that it can be over-the-top sometimes—too bold, too colorful, too crisp. I was confident that this would be a good option, and I was right. If you want to emphasize the vivid colors of autumn, The Rockwell will deliver just that. I used this Recipe more than any of the others.
I don’t shoot with the Kodak Ektar 100 Recipe all that often, so I thought this would be a good opportunity. It’s warm and vibrant, and seemingly a good match for autumn photography. After reviewing the pictures, my regret is not using this Recipe more! The image above, for example, is one of my favorites of the outing. I’m going to keep this one programmed into my camera for awhile longer.
Kodak Portra 400 v2 is one of the Recipes that I typically use the most—definitely Top 5, maybe Top 3—so I thought I’d try the “v1” Kodak Portra 400 Recipe instead on this trip. I just don’t shoot with it often enough. After reviewing the pictures, this is another one that I wish I had used more. While it doesn’t emphasize the colors like the two Recipes above, it does produce an analogue-like rendering that’s easy to appreciate.
Another Recipe that I didn’t use a lot was Reggie’s Portra, although it certainly did quite well. In retrospect, I probably didn’t need to have both Kodak Portra 400 and Reggie’s Portra programmed into the camera. Personally, I prefer the aesthetic of Kodak Portra 400 just slightly more (although, overall, they’re pretty similar), but Reggie’s Portra is more versatile, so it can be the better choice if the light might be something other than sunny daylight. If I were to do this again, I’d choose either Kodak Portra 400 or Reggie’s Portra and not both.
This is a Recipe that I suspected might be very good for fall foliage photography, but I wasn’t certain. I’m now convinced that it is! Upon reviewing the pictures, CineStill 400D v2 was one of my favorite Recipes that I used, and another that I wished that I used more. Very beautiful results, perhaps the best of these seven for the light and colors on this particular adventure. I really liked this one!
Fujicolor Superia 100 was my second-most used Recipe (only behind The Rockwell), and I chose it because I wanted a Fuji color-negative film look, plus I thought this might be a good option for autumn images (although I wasn’t sure). While the picture at the very top of this article, which was captured with this Recipe, was one of my top favorites of this trip, overall I was a tad disappointed with Fujiclor Superia 100. It wasn’t a bad choice for fall colors, but it wasn’t as good as some of the others that I used less often. So, basically, Fujicolor Superia 100 was great sometimes and mediocre at other times, depending on the exact light and colors.
I wondered how a Recipe with a bit more green in it might fare in the fall. I knew there’d be some pines, and figured that the Fujicolor NPH Recipe might render those well. I think the results were interesting—and definitely different than the others—but this was my least favorite of the seven. That’s not to say that it was bad, but only I preferred the other six more. It has some potential, though—for example, the very last picture has an obvious similarity to some prints I have in a photo box in the closet. But, overall, I think there are better Film Simulation Recipes for autumn photography.
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Road Through the Autumn Trees – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F – Velvia
Autumn officially arrived yesterday. I didn’t notice because I moved to the Phoenix metropolitan area, and in this part of Arizona it is still summer, as far as the weather and trees are concerned. Besides, this area isn’t known for its fall colors, anyway. But I used to live in Utah, and loved watching the autumn colors descend on the Wasatch, beginning at the mountain peaks in late-summer and working their way to the valley by October. I will miss that this year, for sure.
A common question I’m asked around the Autumn Equinox is which Film Simulation Recipes are best for photographing fall colors. There are many that could work well, much more than merely 10. I think, generally speaking, any recipe that uses Velvia or Astia could be solid options. Classic Chrome and Classic Negative recipes can be good, too. I don’t believe any film simulation is inherently “bad” for fall colors, but obviously some are better than others. I think oftentimes the recipes that are more vibrant will do better, so perhaps look for those. Download the Fuji X Weekly App (if you haven’t already), browse through the sample pictures, and see which recipe stands out he most to you. Or, if you’re brave, use the new Random Recipe selector to choose one for you!
If you are not sure which Film Simulation Recipe to use on your Fujifilm camera and are looking for some ideas, I have suggested 10 below, which I believe will do well for photographing fall colors. Best of luck this autumn season!
Golden Oak – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Agfa Optima 200
In the SOOC live video series, Fujifilm X-Photographer Nathalie Boucry and I discuss, among other things, film simulation recipes. If you’ve never watched an episode, we introduce a recipe to shoot with, inviting you to use it and share your pictures. In the last video (which you’ll find at the bottom of this article, in case you missed it), we announced that Agfa Optima 200 was the new recipe-of-the-month. Use this recipe, upload your favorite picture (link here) that you used this recipe to capture, and we’ll share it in the next episode! Be sure to submit before November 18th, which is when the next video goes live.
Nathalie and I, of course, don’t just ask you to try a recipe—we use it ourselves, too. This is a journey that we’re on together, all of us. I wanted to share with you a few fall photographs that I recently captured using the Agfa Optima 200 on my Fujifilm X-T30. This recipe isn’t usually my first choice for colorful landscapes, but trying recipes in various situations is a part of the fun of this—there’s a lot to discover! I’m learning along side you, and that’s a great thing about this project. I look forward to seeing on November 18th what you captured with this recipe. See you then!
Red Leaves in the Forest – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Agfa Optima 200
Vine Leaves in Autumn – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Agfa Optima 200
Pop of Color in the Canopy – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Agfa Optima 200
Mountain Autumn – Big Mountain Pass, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
Fall might be my favorite season, but it’s always too short. Summer often overstays its welcome. Winter usually comes too quickly. Autumn gets squeezed in the middle. You have to be quick, because it’s fleeting. It comes and goes so quickly! If you don’t take time to see and experience it, you’ll flat out miss it, and you’ll have to wait another year for fall to return.
Autumn is the season of change. The weather changes. The colors of the leaves change. The food we eat and coffee we drink change (if you want them to). There’s beauty in change, and uncertainty. It ends cold and gloomy as winter budges in, but before it does autumn puts on a spectacular show. Autumn can be breathtakingly beautiful!
Apple Harvest – Logan, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
The photographs in this post were captured during the 2019 fall season. Many of them I’ve yet to share on the Fuji X Weekly blog, but you’ve probably seen a few of them in other articles. Some of the pictures are from early autumn when the weather was still warm and the leaves only beginning to change colors. Others are from late fall when the temperatures dipped cold and the scene turned drab. Still others were captured during the height of vibrant colors, which unfortunately didn’t last very long, yet long enough for me to get a few exposures made.
Autumn & Winter – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
One thing that’s great about where I live is the view. The Wasatch Mountains loom over our house, and are clearly visible from the back windows and throughout the yard. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because the mountains behind our house become dotted with the vibrant colors of the season. That’s how it is right now. The view doesn’t get old, and I feel fortunate to live where I do.
A few days ago a storm rolled through and dusted the top of the mountain with snow and ice. The contrast between the autumn trees and winter weather was intriguing and beautiful. It seemed much too early for these two seasons to meet, but there it was on display for those willing to take a moment to look. It caught my attention, and I proceeded to capture it with my camera.
Despite the front-row seat from my yard, the white mountain peaks were actually a good distance away, and required a long telephoto lens to bring the scene close enough to photograph. Attached to my Fujifilm X-T30 was a Fujinon 50-230mm zoom lens, which is my longest telephoto option. Actually, this lens belongs to my wife, Amanda, but she graciously let me borrow it. I photographed all the pictures in this article from my yard using this camera and lens combination, along with my Velvia film simulation recipe. I hope that you enjoy these pictures of when fall meet winter a few days ago.
Frosted Hill – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Veiled Mountain – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Vibrant White – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Winter Kissed Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Mountainside Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Frosted Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Peeking Peak – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Lifting Autumn Sky – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
