film simulation challenge

Random Recipe Challenge: 10 Frames with LomoChrome Metropolis

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

The Fuji X Weekly App has a brand-new feature that’s super fun: Random Recipe! When you tap the criss-crossed arrows at the top-right, the App will randomly select a Film Simulation Recipe for you.

If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron and you have various Filters selected (such as Filter by Camera, Filter by Film Simulation, Filter by B&W, etc.), the Random Recipe selector will only choose from the list of filtered recipes, so you can have it select from what is compatible with your camera. In my case, I chose “Filter by X-E4” prior to tapping the Random Recipe selector, so only the recipes compatible with the X-E4 were considered.

Here’s a fun way to use this new feature: the Random Recipe Challenge! The rules are 1) use the App to select a Random Recipe for you⁠—whatever it selects you have to use (if you are not a Patron and the App chooses a non-compatible recipe, you can try again until it lands on a recipe that is compatible with your camera)⁠—and 2) shoot with this recipe for 24 or 36 frames (your choice), like it’s a roll of film, before changing recipes. If you post to Instagram, use the hashtag #fxwrandomrecipechallenge. I hope that you have a lot of fun with the Random Recipe Challenge, and I can’t wait to see what you capture!

When I tapped the Random Recipe icon, the App chose for me the LomoChrome Metropils Film Simulation Recipe. I shot 36 frames with this recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4 with a Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 lens attached to it. Below are my favorite 10 pictures of the 36 frames. Enjoy!

*Lather* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Malnatis Pizzeria* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Cheese ‘n Stuff* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Local* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Umbrella* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Empty Hummingbird Feeder* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Daylight Bulb* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Tree Leaves* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Spraying Water* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

*Palm Tree Top* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & Vivitar 135mm

Find the LomoChrome Metropolis Film Simulation Recipe and over 200 others on the Fuji X Weekly App! Don’t have the App? Download it for free today! Become a Patron to unlock the best App experience.

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Film Simulation Challenge –Roll 4: Classic Negative (with Ree Drummond)

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Back in August I introduced the Film Simulation Challenge, which is where you pick one film simulation recipe and shoot either 24 or 36 frames before changing settings. It’s kind of like loading your camera with a roll of film, and you are stuck with whatever film you loaded until that roll is completely exposed. This challenge is the digital equivalent of that analog issue. I thought it would be a fun experiment to encourage photographic vision while sharing the joy of Fujifilm X cameras.

The “film” that I loaded into my Fujifilm X-T30 was a 36 exposure “roll” of my new “Classic Negative” film simulation recipe. This recipe is the closest that I could come to matching the new film simulation of the same name that’s on the X-Pro3, but I have to admit, it’s not a complete match. The Classic Negative film simulation changes depending on the light and how you expose it, which is different than the other film simulations. I don’t think it’s possible to create an exact match, but hopefully my “Classic Negative” recipe is at least in the general ballpark. Or, if it isn’t, I hope that some of you appreciate it nonetheless.

My wife, Amanda, is a big fan of Ree Drummond (also known as The Pioneer Woman). She’s a famous blogger, author and television personality best known for her cooking recipes. She has a store, restaurant and bakery in Oklahoma, which my wife and I visited two summers ago. Ree has a new cookbook, and she’s been traveling the country doing book signings. Amanda insisted that we go so that we could meet her, and so we did! We stood in line for almost an hour in order to have a thirty second conversation with her. It was a very quick meet-and-greet that seemed like it was over before it even began. What you might not know is that Ree’s a pretty good photographer, and I was able to suggest that she create a photojournal book of her ranch that features her black-and-white photographs. She replied that she needs to get the pictures off her SD Card first.

I made 36 exposures using my “Classic Negative” film simulation, and most were of this event, especially while waiting in line. The lighting inside the bookstore was terrible, with some crazy mixed artificial lights, and this recipe wasn’t a good choice for it. I did reprocess in-camera the RAW image of Ree Drummond, and I’ve included that at the bottom of this article. I used a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens for these pictures. I hope that you enjoy!

Frame 1: Pink Sleeve – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 2: Sunset 218 – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 3: Changing Nature – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 5: Sweetaly Gelato – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 7: King of Books – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 8: Waiting For The Bus – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 9: 15th Street – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 15: Brick Chimney – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 18: A Roof – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 19: Waiting In The Waning Sun – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 22: Rick – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 24: No Trucks – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 26: Salt Lake Neighborhood – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 28: Ree Drummond – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 30: Open – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 31: Happy Amanda – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 32: Bank On It – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Frame 33: Brews – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Classic Negative”

Reprocess of frame 28:

Ree Drummond – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – PRO Neg. Hi

Film Simulation Challenge – Roll 3: Eterna

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

For this third installment of the Film Simulation Challenge, where I use the same settings for 24 or 36 exposures, similar to shooting a roll of film, I chose my Eterna film simulation recipe. This particular recipe isn’t meant to mimic the look of any real film, but nonetheless it has a color negative aesthetic. I “loaded” this “film” into my Fujifilm X-T30, and exposed 36 frames. Sometimes I had a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens attached to the front of the camera, and sometimes I had a Fujinon 90mm f/2. Both of these lenses are fantastic. I like the way this Eterna recipe looks, and I think Eterna in general is under appreciated. Only a few cameras have this film simulation, so perhaps that’s why it’s not discussed as much as it deserves, but I think it’s great, and I was glad to use it here.

Frame 2: Can’t See The Forest #1 – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 4: Can’t See The Forest #2 – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 8: Trying To Understand – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 9: Unsure Smile – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 10: Peeking White Clouds – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 12: Cotton Cloud Above The Ridge – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 14: Summer’s Summit – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 15: Old Wheelbarrow Tire – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 16: Red Shed Roofline – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 17: Rose Remains – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 19: Purple Bloom Flower – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 22: Line of Clouds over the Ridge – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 90mm

Frame 25: Junk Trailer – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 26: Eastern Sky – South Weber, Utah – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 27: Outdoor Toilet – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 28: Brothers – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 30: Summer Evening Light On The Wasatch – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 34: Quarrel – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 35: Superhero Juice – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Frame 36: Coffee Beans In A Jar – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Roll 1: Kodachrome 64 Roll 2: Kodacolor

Film Simulation Challenge – Roll 2: Kodacolor

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

My first “roll of film” for the Film Simulation Challenge was Kodachrome 64. For my second “roll of film” I choose my Kodacolor film simulation recipe. I “loaded” the “Kodacolor film” into my Fujifilm X-T30 camera, which had a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens attached to it, and exposed 36 frames. The Film Simulation Challenge is where you capture 24 or 36 exposures using the same settings much like shooting a roll of film. It can be a fun (and educational) experiment to use your digital camera similarly to an analog camera.

Frame 1: Taco – Layton, UT

Frame 3: Sweet Job – South Weber, UT

Frame 6: Smooths – South Weber, UT

Frame 10: Big League – South Weber, UT

Frame 11: Illuminated Top – South Weber, UT

Frame 13: Setting Sun Over Suburban Street – South Weber, UT

Frame 18: Users Own Risk – South Weber, UT

Frame 23: Stop Voting Only One Way – South Weber, UT

Frame 24: Red Stripe – South Weber, UT

Frame 26: Hiding Behind The Tree Branches – Farmington, UT

Frame 28: Colorful Urban Nature – Farmington, UT

Frame 32: Not A Clock – Farmington, UT

Frame 34: Moon Beyond The Maverik – South Weber, UT

Frame 35: Gas At Night – South Weber, UT

Frame 36: Night Pumps – South Weber, UT

Roll 3: Eterna

Film Simulation Challenge – 1st Roll: Kodachrome 64

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Last week I introduced the Film Simulation Challenge, which is where you pick one film simulation recipe and shoot either 24 or 36 frames before changing settings. It’s kind of like loading your camera with a roll of film, and you are stuck with whatever film you loaded until that roll is completely exposed. This challenge is the digital equivalent of that analog issue. I thought it would be a fun experiment to encourage photographic vision while sharing the joy of Fujifilm X cameras.

For my first attempt at the Film Simulation Challenge, I chose my Kodachrome 64 recipe. I “loaded a roll” of “Kodachrome” into my Fujifilm X-T30, which had a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens attached to it, and shot 36 exposures at a park in Layton, Utah. I did this in the late morning, and unsurprisingly the light was quite harsh, which wasn’t the best match for this particular film simulation recipe. But I stuck with it, just like I would have done in the film days. I used quite a few of the middle frames attempting hand-held slow-shutter exposures to blur moving water, making a number of tries, and ending up with a few frames that were sharp and a bunch that weren’t. I didn’t capture any spectacular pictures, but sometimes that happens with a roll of film, too. I will try another day in a different light and hopefully get better results.

Frame 1: Sprinkler Rainbow #1

Frame 2: Sprinkler Rainbow #2

Frame 5: Sun Tree

Frame 6: Grasshopper

Frame 8: Ducks Beyond The Fence

Frame 12: Branch Over River

Frame 25: Water Over Rocks #1

Frame 31: Water Over Rocks #2

Frame 34: Bright Yellow Blooms

Frame 35: Lots of Yellow Blooms

Frame 36: Bright Seagull

Roll 2: Kodacolor

The Film Simulation Challenge

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

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#filmsimulationchallenge

Back in the analog days, I would load film into the camera, and I was stuck with whatever was in the camera until the very last frame was exposed. The most common options were 12, 24 or 36 exposures, and frequently the roll of film that I loaded was either 24 or 36 exposures. Once the film was fully exposed, I could then change to another film if I wanted, or load another roll of the same. What I appreciate about this is that you know what you’re going to get, the strengths and weaknesses of the film, and your photographic vision is tuned into that. You look for picture opportunities that best fit what the film is good at.

With digital photography, it’s easy to make the exposure first and think about the end result later. If you don’t like how it looks one way, it’s simple to change it to another look. You might even post-process one frame to have several different aesthetics and decide later which version you like best. There’s nothing wrong with this technique, but I personally find it better to consider in advance the finished photograph, and do what you can to get as close as you can to that finished picture in-camera.

One way that you can practice this using your Fujifilm X camera is to load it with “film” and force yourself to capture a predetermined number of frames with that film before changing. The film in this case is a film simulation recipe, programming into your camera in advance the one that you want to use. You tell yourself that you’ll capture 24 or 36 exposures with those settings, then, when you’re done with those frames, consider if you want to use another “film” or shoot a second “roll” of the first one. I call this the Film Simulation Challenge.

Back when I shot a lot of film, I would consider three to five good pictures from one roll of film to be average. If I got more than five good pictures from 36 exposures, that was a good day for me. If I had less than three, it wasn’t a good day, unless one of those frames was especially good. The idea with the Film Simulation Challenge is that from each “roll” of “film” that you capture, you share three to five (or more if you had a good day) of your best photos from that roll. Share it on your blog, share it Facebook, share it on Instagram, share it somewhere. You can use the hashtag #filmsimulationchallenge if you’d like. You can link to Fuji X Weekly if you want (you certainly don’t have to), or post a link to it in the comments. The purpose of this is to practice photographic vision in a fun way, while also sharing the joy of shooting with Fujifilm X cameras.

You can consider yourself officially challenged. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do, which films you choose and the pictures that you create. Best of luck in this challenge! I’ll be doing the Film Simulation Challenge, too, and I’ll share the results periodically on this blog.