Fujifilm Film Simulation | FUJI X WEEKLY

Sell That Sh*t & Buy A Fuji — An Interview with Gerardo Celasco

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the wonderful photography of Gerardo Celasco! Although you might not have seen his pictures before, there’s a decent chance that you’ve seen Gerardo. He’s a model-turned-actor (among other things, including internationally competing show jumping horse rider, accomplished volleyball player, and financial expert) who does photography as a hobby. He has a lot of talent, and whatever he does he does very well—photography included.

Although he was born in Miami, Gerardo grew up in El Salvador. He later moved to Texas and studied at Southern Methodist University. His home base is now in California, but he frequently travels internationally, and of course brings a camera along—a Fujifilm camera—to capture the moments.

Gerardo is perhaps best known for playing Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the NBC drama Passions from 2006-2007. He also played Carlos Peña in Moneyball, Mark Kovac in two episodes of Bones, Xavier Castillo during Season 5 and 6 of How To Get Away With Murder, Ty Salazar in Next, and Dr. Nick Vega in a recent episode of Good Sam, among other things.

In the coming-soon-to-Netflix series Devil in Ohio Gerardo plays Detective Lopez. We’ll get more into this in a moment, but below you’ll find the trailer, which you should definitely take a moment to watch right now.

Fuji X Weekly: Hey, Gerardo! I’m truly honored for this opportunity to interview you! Let’s begin at the very beginning: where did your early interests in photography come from? Were cameras and pictures a big part of your childhood?

Gerardo Celasco: We didn’t grow up taking a lot of photos in my family and we didn’t have lots of cameras around when my siblings and I were growing up. My dad was an engineer and my mom worked in sales and retail for a shoe company in El Salvador. To this day, we still don’t take many photos when we’re together. When we’re on a trip we always say, “We have to take more group photos!” And since I always have a camera on me, I’m always the one taking the photos so I’m rarely in the pictures.

Fuji X Weekly: How did you get started in photography?

Gerardo Celasco: I got started in photography pretty early on, but not necessarily behind the camera. When I was in high school I was asked to be the model for a campaign in El Salvador. Roberto Aguilar was the most sought out photographer in El Salvador. No one was doing what he was doing, and I got to be in front of his camera several times—it was my first time being in front of the camera. We became really close friends, and I learned so much from watching him work. He moved to Europe and became a professor in France for a few years, and is now living in London. Roberto was my first influence in photography, but I can also say he was my first influence in “performing” as well. I never went to drama school. I have a degree in Finance from Southern Methodist University—a life in entertainment wasn’t really in the cards for me growing up in El Salvador and the son of entrepreneurs.

Fuji X Weekly: What made you pursue photography further, take it more seriously?

Gerardo Celasco: This image [above] is my first one that shocked me when I saw it imported into my computer. I believe I shot it with a Leica D-Lux 4. There was no plan—it was on auto—and I got that “bokeh” everyone talks about. I didn’t know how that happened or how to recreate it, so that inspired me to really learn about the art form. I decided to enroll into a UCLA extension course for Photography, and did that for a few months. That’s where I learned about aperture and depth of field and things like that.

Fuji X Weekly: What was your most memorable photography experience?

Gerardo Celasco: I think that first image I shot that shocked me is the most memorable. It’s what inspired all of my other images. I still love the photo so much. It’s very raw, very real. I can feel so much when I see it. It was shot in El Salvador in La Libertad near the beach. It was sticky and damp. The two women were working and cooking on open fire in that heat. Maybe it’s because I was there, but I feel all of that every time I see the image.

Fuji X Weekly: What was your first camera?

Gerardo Celasco: My first camera was one of the really small Canon PowerShots. It was a matte silver. I carried that thing everywhere—way before we had cameras in our cellular phones. The list goes on from there: Canon 20D, Leica D-Lux 4, Canon 5D Mark II, Fujifilm X100T, Sony a7, Fuji X-T2, Fuji X-Pro3—that is the trajectory into mirrorless, but more importantly how I found Fuji. I also shoot film with a Canon AE-1 Program, and my everyday—always with me—Olympus Mju II, which always sparks a conversation or a laugh when I pull it out.

Fuji X Weekly: What made you buy your first Fujifilm camera? What do you shoot with now?

Gerardo Celasco: A trip to Morocco with my 5D led me to give up on my entire Canon photography gear. It was so heavy, and was very distracting. You couldn’t really get away with shooting discretely with a camera that size. At the time my good friend, cinematographer and camera/steadicam operator Eduardo Fierro, was a Fuji shooter. His exact words when I complained about my Canon were “Vendé esa mierda y compráte la Fuji” (which means: sell that shit and buy a Fuji!). So that’s what I did, and the X100T was my first Fuji. I now shoot with the X-Pro3, paired with a Fuji 27mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, or 16-55 f/2.8.

Fuji X Weekly: What is your favorite aspect of Fujifilm cameras?

Gerardo Celasco: What I love most about the Fuji lineup—other than the obvious size and price—is the menu and the film simulations. The user interface is great and easy to get around. But for me, the film simulations are what really sets it apart from anything else. I don’t do any post editing on my images (because I haven’t learned Capture One or Photoshop), and I shoot everything JPEG (mainly because I don’t know what to do with a RAW file, and have never felt the need for it). Fuji X Weekly is my go to App for Film Simulation Recipes. Funnily enough, I believe that is how we met: I sent you a DM on Instagram, praising all of your Film Simulation Recipes and the RitchieCam App on the iPhone.

Fuji X Weekly: That’s right! I definitely remember that day—it was a nice surprise, and a bit of a shock. By the way, which Film Simulation Recipes do you like best?

Gerardo Celasco: My favorite film simulations are Portra 400, Portra 800, and the Ilford black-and-white ones. I honestly like the output of the Fuji Portra recipes more than the images I get with my film camera using real Portra 400 film—and it’s also cheaper.

Fuji X Weekly: What do you photograph most now?

Gerardo Celasco: I like shooting life, but I don’t like calling it “street photography.” I don’t have a style, and I honestly don’t know what I’m doing most of the time. I just shoot when I’m inspired. And I shoot what seems interesting to me at that moment. But I never have a plan. I just simply shoot, and share my images. I don’t like the pressure of someone asking me to photograph something or an event—I get so much satisfaction in just showing up with a camera and capturing beautiful moments when I haven’t been asked to, and then sharing those moments.

Fuji X Weekly: Who are your photographic influences?

Gerardo Celasco: I don’t have a list of photographers that have influenced me—I can probably only name a handful of them—but it’s not like I’m trying to do what they did. Vivian Maier, Ansel Adams, Garry Winograd, Henri Cartier-Bresson—those names comes to mind without me cheating and looking at my bookshelf.

Fuji X Weekly: How has your acting career influenced your photography?

Gerardo Celasco: Most people think that being an actor influenced my photography, but what it did was enhance it. Photography (in front or behind the camera), was my first step to becoming an actor—I’ve always felt that photography led me to my acting career. Being on set has made me more comfortable in front of the camera but at the same time it inspires me to want to shoot more. I’m always chatting up the cinematographer or the camera operators when I am on a set—mostly I’m just asking lots of questions about composition and lighting. Those men and women know so much, and I just try to learn and soak up as much as they are willing to share. Their work is what inspires me today.

Fuji X Weekly: Tell me about your upcoming Netflix series, Devil in Ohio.

Gerardo Celasco: Ah. Devil in Ohio! I feel like you and your wife have been patiently waiting for that. I think I was shooting that when I found RitchieCam and we started talking, only to find out you were the same person behind Fuji X Weekly! We’re only a couple weeks away from the premiere day. It will air on Netflix on September 2, and all 8 episodes will be available.

The show is based on a book by the same name written by Daria Polatin. Daria is also the showrunner for the show. The story was inspired by true events, which always makes it more interesting. I would describe it as a family drama meets a suspense/thriller. It has elements of both. Emily Deschanel (who I worked with many years ago on the final episodes of Bones), plays Suzanne Mathis, a Psychiatrist who is caring for an underage girl who has turned up at hospital clearly in distress. No one comes looking for the girl, so Suzanne decides to take her into her home until they can find a family for her. Doesn’t take long to realize that the girl has escaped from a cult, putting the family and their relationships in danger. I play Detective Alex Lopez, who is a transplant from big city Chicago. He’s a fish out of water, and by-the-book, but also has no idea what he’s dealing with by taking on this case. We had a great group of actors, great directors, and an incredible crew. I hope people find it and enjoy it!

Fuji X Weekly: Gerardo, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to allow me to interview you—it’s been such a pleasure!

Gerardo Celasco: I’d just like to say thank you for including me in this. I’m a big fan of Fuji X Weekly, and for you to ask me to be a part of it is really cool.

Check out Gerardo Celasco on Instagram (Here and Here)—give him a follow plus “heart” some of his pictures. Mark your calendars now, and be sure to binge-watch Devil in Ohio on September 2nd!

Check out more of Gerardo’s photography below:

The photographs in this article are © Gerardo Celasco.

Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: Kodak Max 800

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Ice Cold Pepsi* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Max 800”

This Film Simulation Recipe is modeled after some prints I found in a box that I thought looked interesting. I didn’t initially know what film had been used, but after locating the negatives I discovered it was something called Kodak GT 800-3, and I had no idea what that was. After much sleuthing, I found out it was Kodak Max Zoom 800, also known as Max 800. The film was shot in 2006 (I believe by my wife), and it was the third and final iteration of the emulsion (this version was introduced in 2000). Max Zoom 800 was replaced in 2006 by the similar Max Versatility Plus 800 (which was around for five or six years before its discontinuation).

Kodak made Max 800 film for point-and-shoot and disposable cameras—specifically, they marketed it for point-and-shot cameras with a zoom lens, which exaggerated camera shake. It was a cheap high-ISO consumer color negative film intended for the novice. It had a large latitude for underexposure and (especially) overexposure, but color reproduction was a little different (some have said “bland” or “weird”) when compared to other Kodak films. Kodak intended the film to be printed on Ektacolor Edge paper, but my samples were printed on Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper (which certainly affects the aesthetic)—this recipe is modeled after my samples.

*Winter Greenhouse* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Max 800”

This Kodak Max 800 recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. Because it uses the Classic Negative film simulation and Clarity, it is not compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30, unfortunately. For those with the X-H2s, it’s my understanding that this recipe is completely compatible and renders near identically, but I have not tested it to know for certain. Those with newer GFX cameras can use it, too, although it will render a little differently.

Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +1
Color: -1
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -4
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: 7300K, -5 Red & -2 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Kodak Max 800” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

*Frozen Ponds at a Bird Refuge* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Winter Gate* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Open Gate* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Icy Marshland* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*What Remains of Summer* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Winter Water* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Frozen Marsh Pond* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Nature Trail* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Green Truck* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Santa’s Sled* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Neighborhood Path in Winter* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Trail Closed* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*No Shooting Past the Fence* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Pallets* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Inside Abandoned Shed* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Walking Tunnel* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Farm in the City* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Barnes & Noble Window* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Building Top in Last Light* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Buildings & Palms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Backyard Garden Trumpets* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Illuminated Desert Shrub* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Fujifilm X-Trans IV FXW App Patron Early-Access Film Simulation Recipe: Vintage Print

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Bell Tower* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Vintage Print”

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is that you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. In fact, many Early-Access Recipes have been publicly published on this blog and the App, so now everyone can use them! Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!

This recipe began when my wife suggested that I should try to emulate a certain look that she found. I wasn’t successful, but in my efforts I discovered these settings, which I thought looked interesting nonetheless. They remind me of vintage color prints—not from any specific film or process, but just my “memory color” (as Fujifilm puts it) of some old prints that I’ve seen in the past. It has almost a classic magazine quality to it, or even a bit of a post-card resemblance. Whatever it may or may not look like, it definitely has a vintage-like look that some of you might really appreciate.

All of these pictures were captured using manual vintage lenses, including—actually, mostly—a Helios 44-2. I also used a 5% CineBloom or 10% CineBloom filter with around half of them. I did this to help achieve an analog aesthetic. The use of vintage glass and diffusion filters aren’t required for this recipe, but you are certainly welcome to do so if you want—I think they help a little to take the digital edge off of the pictures.

*Suburban Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Vintage Print”

This “Vintage Print” Early-Access Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. Those with the X-H2s and newer GFX cameras can use it, too (results may vary, though). If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now on the Fuji X Weekly App! If you don’t have the App, download it for free today.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Vintage Print” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

*Big Storm Looming in the Background* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Lake, House* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Jon Is Happy* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Labyrinth Church* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Saguaro & Dust* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Twin Saguaros* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Saguaro as Seen Through a Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Teddy Bear Cholla* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Desert Spikes* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Desert Barrel* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Trumpets Down* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Bright Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

Happy Motoring: Abandoned Exxon — Route 66 — Santa Rosa, NM — Fujifilm X-E4 + Kodak Portra 400 v2

Posted on August 19, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Happy Motoring!* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

Back in May, while on a lengthy roadtrip, I stopped in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, for the night. A small town along historic Route 66, Santa Rosa pretty much exists to provide food, fuel, and beds for travelers passing east-and-west through The Land of Enchantment. Like a lot of old Route 66 towns, Santa Rosa has seen better days—there are many abandoned buildings along the highway, and some others that appear to not be far from their inevitable fate of abandonment.

Santa Rosa might be best known for a scene in The Grapes of Wrath, where Tom Joad watches a freight train cross a bridge over the Pecos River. Scars from The Great Depression are still visible if you look hard enough. The biggest tourist attraction is the Blue Hole, a natural swimming pond fed by a vast underground water system. While visiting Santa Rosa, I was asked by locals a couple of times, “Are you here for the Blue Hole?” I guess it’s a big deal, but I didn’t make time to see it.

I did make time to photograph a few of the abandoned buildings. One was an old Exxon gas station. This particular service station offered two grades of gas, two stalls for vehicle maintenance, and two restrooms. You could buy maps or a soda from a vending machine. Inside was an old Dairy Queen sign that I do not believe originated from this particular gas station, but probably another building elsewhere in town, perhaps owned by the same person.

*Evening Charge* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

In an empty grass-filled lot next to the gas station I found some old playground equipment. There may have been a campground or RV park there at one time, but the playground is the only thing left. I suppose on hot summer nights, the ghosts who still use the teeter-totter can get a coke from the abandoned Exxon next door.

Exploring and photographing places like this is both fascinating and frightening. It’s like a large time capsule that broke open years before being discovered, now filled with retro nostalgia and haunting decay. You don’t know what you’ll find—what’s hiding behind a corner—and even if there isn’t any danger, it’s still not safe. Going into abandoned buildings is never safe. I do believe that it’s important to photograph these places for several reasons: they’re always changing (due to nature and vandals) and will eventually be completely gone, they offer a glimpse into a previous time that’s long gone and fading from our memories, and to document the way societies deals with unwanted junk from broken lives and broken dreams. As Troy Paiva put it, these places are “steeped in Wabi-Sabi feelings of accepting loss and finding beauty and nobility in decay.”

The sun was low while I was there, preparing to set behind the western horizon—I had about 30 minutes of wonderful “golden hour” light to work with. I used my Fujifilm X-E4 with a Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 lens attached to it to capture these images. The Film Simulation Recipe that I used for these photographs was Kodak Portra 400 v2, which is one of my favorites—the Kodak-like colors and tones are just so lovely—an excellent option for this particular scene and light.

*Ring* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Unleaded Regular* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Zero Gallons Available* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Gas & Games* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Rusty Hoop* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Dark Lights* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Ice Cold Coke* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Fan Belts* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Someone Left The Lights On* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Toolbox* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Still Being Repaired* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Exxon Pumps* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*DQ Sandwich* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Exxon* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Nickel & Dimed* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Application Information* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Atlas Tires Book* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Sandia Peak* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

*Time Stands Still* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

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Fujifilm X100V (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: Fujicolor Analog

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Cotton On* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – “Fujicolor Analog”

I was asked to recreate the look of a certain photographer, and I noticed that a lot of their photographs had a Classic Negative aesthetic, so I thought it would be easy to mimic. It turns out that this person shoots a lot of film, including (but not limited to) Fujicolor C200 and various Superia emulsions, as well as digital (but not Fujifilm, as far as I can tell), using RNI and perhaps some other filters or presets. Nothing said what each picture had been captured with, so it became difficult to recreate. After a little frustration, I decided to select only pictures with a certain aesthetic to attempt to emulate—I believe they might have been captured on a Superia emulsion, but they might not have been—they might not even be film! I think I was able to create a pretty close facsimile to this person’s aesthetic… at least one of the many various (but still somewhat similar) looks that this photographer has.

One film can have many different looks, depending on how it was shot, developed, and printed or scanned. I do believe this “Fujicolor Analog” recipe mimics the aesthetic of a Fujifilm color negative film, but which exact film, and how handled, is uncertain. What is certain is that this is a very nice recipe that some of you will love! This Film Simulation Recipe was a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe; however, a different recipe has replaced it, and so now it’s available to everyone!

*Noble Fir* – Kaysville, UT – Fujifilm X100V

Because this recipe uses Classic Negative, Color Chrome FX Blue, and Clarity, it is only compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras (and likely the X-H2s, too, although I have not tested it). I believe those with newer GFX cameras can also use it, although it will likely render slightly different. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30 or older cameras.

Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1
Shadow: 0
Color: -3
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: 0
Clarity: -3
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Strong
White Balance: 6900K, -5 Red & +5 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Fujicolor Analog” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V & Fujifilm X-E4 cameras:

*Main St Market* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Backlit Bougainvillea Flower* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Cloud Behind Trees* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Pine Trunk* – Kaysville, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Burly Ladder* – Kaysville, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Red Lights* – Kaysville, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Utah Reeds* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Pine in the Sky* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Withering Blooms* – Orem, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Peaks Above The Gap* – Orem, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Stop Spreading Germs* – Draper, UT – Fujifilm X100V

*Pharmacy Lift* – Centerville, UT – Fujifilm X100V

Find this film simulation recipes and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) FXW App Patron Early-Access Film Simulation Recipe: Eterna Bleach Bypass

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Evening on Main* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These early-access recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. In fact, many early-access recipes have already been publicly published on this blog and the App, so now everyone can use them. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!

I was challenged by Thomas Schwab to create a Film Simulation Recipe that mimics the aesthetic of the picture in the background of Dan Bailey’s YouTube video discussing the Eterna Bleach Bypass film simulation. There were some challenges, including limited samples (which were viewed on a YouTube video), and the fact that I now live in Arizona and not Utah (no access to majestic snow-capped mountain scenes), but I do believe that I got in the ballpark. This is essentially a “black-and-white” recipe for color photography—capable of producing dramatic near-monochrome images.

*Pacific Photographer* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

Because this “Eterna Bleach Bypass” recipe uses the Eterna Bleach Bypass film simulation, it is only compatible with those cameras that have it, which are the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II. I do believe that this recipe is fully compatible with X-Trans V (currently the X-H2s), but I have not tested it yet to know for certain. Those with newer GFX cameras can also use it, although it will likely render slightly different.

If you are a Fuji X Weekly Patron, this recipe is available to you right now on the App!

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Eterna Bleach Bypass” on my Fujifilm X-E4:

*Suburban Roof Abstract* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Climbing a Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Wall Details* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Bougainvillea & Building Storm* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Clouds Above Mesa* – St. George, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Crashing Wave Along Coast* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Backyard Garden Sunbeams* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Garden Trumpet* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Little Bug* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Saguaro Fingers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Boardwalking* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

Fujifilm X-Trans III + X-T3/X-T30 Film Simulation Recipe: Melancholy Blue

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Pops of Pink* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Melancholy Blue”

For this Film Simulation Recipe I wanted to combine the beautiful blues of the new Pacific Blues recipe with the dark moodiness of the Vintage Agfacolor recipe. The result is a slightly melancholic aesthetic that can also produce dramatic results in certain circumstances. It’s great for daylight photography—delivering interesting (yet quite dissimilar) results in both overcast and bright sunlight conditions, including Low Key photography—and it also seems like a good option for some artificial light situations. Despite its versatility, it’s not a recipe that everyone will love; however, I know that a few of you will really appreciate it.

Unless your camera is an X-Pro3 or newer, you cannot save a white balance shift with your C1-C7 custom presets; however, your camera will remember one shift per white balance type, so if each C1-C7 recipe uses a different white balance type, you won’t have to remember to change the shift when you change recipes. There aren’t very many recipes that use the Incandescent White Balance, but now you have another recipe option if you are using this method.

*Enlightened Nature* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Melancholy Blue”

This “Melancholy Blue” Film Simulation Recipe is intended for Fujifilm X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3 and X-T30. I used it on my Fujifilm X-H1 and X-T30, and it did well on both. For newer X-Trans IV cameras, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, Clarity to 0, and Grain size to… either Small or Large, you’ll have to decide which you prefer.

Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +3
Shadow: -1
Color: -2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -1
Grain Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect: Off/NA
White Balance: Incandescent, +4 Red & -9 Blue
ISO: Auto up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to -1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Melancholy Blue” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujifilm X-H1 cameras:

*Prickly Fruit* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Yellow on Top* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Dark Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Lights Along A Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

*Backyard Blooms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Backlit Trumpets* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Twin Blooms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

*Climbing Trumpets* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

*Bougainvillea Branch* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Block Wall Shadow* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Does Not Stop* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Roof Lines* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

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Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: Pacific Blues

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Coastal Blooms* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Pacific Blues”

Sometimes—like “Arizona Analog“—Film Simulation Recipes come together quickly, and sometimes—like this recipe—they don’t. This particular recipe has been in the works for over a year! I’ve made several attempts, and I finally feel satisfied that it is right—or at least as “right” as I’m going to get it. But what is it?

I’ve had a few requests to mimic the aesthetic of Lucy Laucht‘s Spirit of Summer series, particularly the Positano Blues photographs. Lucy is most known for shooting with Leica cameras—both film and digital—but she also uses others, and I wasn’t sure what she employed for this project. Recently I discovered that Positano Blues was shot on film, but (as far as I’ve found) she doesn’t discuss which film. I did find a reference (not related to this specific project) that mentioned she has used Kodak Gold and Kodak Portra, and that she digitally edits the film scans to some degree. She mentions using VSCO with her digital images, and I wonder if she also utilizes it with her film, too. When I first saw the pictures in this series, I thought it had a Classic Negative vibe—a film simulation that emulates Fujicolor Superia film. Lucy’s pictures are warmer than Superia typically is, but so much depends on how a film is shot, developed, scanned, etc., on how exactly it looks, and she certainly could have used warming filter. No matter the film and process used by Lucy, there’s a certain “look” to the Positano Blues photographs that is recognizable and beautiful—no wonder why people want to emulate it!

*Coast Blue* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Pacific Blues”

While Lucy Laucht’s pictures have a recognizable aesthetic, there are subtle differences between the images. Once you study them closely, you realize that some are warmer and some are cooler. Colors are rendered slightly different in some pictures. In past attempts, I felt like I’d get it “right” for one picture but “wrong” for others; however, with this final attempt, I feel like it’s possible to get close to the “look” of most of the Positano Blues photos. I’m very satisfied with how this one turned out, and I know that many of you will appreciate it, too. Obviously it is intended for a summer day at the beach, but it will do well in many different daylight situations. This “Pacific Blues” Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. I assume that it will also work on the X-H2s and newer GFX cameras, but I haven’t tried it to know for sure.

Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +3
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -3
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Strong
White Balance: 5800K, +1 Red & -3 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Pacific Blues” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4:

*Pier Feet* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Water Taxi* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Harford Pier* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Bird & Boats* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Bird ‘Bout To Get Wet* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Ocean Post* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Pacific Plants* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Rocks in the Water* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Central California Coast* – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Grass in the Sand* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Beach Frisbee* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Sax at the Beach* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Surf Rider* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Lone Rider* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Two on the Wave* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Evening Wave* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

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Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: Arizona Analog

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Building Storm Over Desert Ridge* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Arizona Analog”

Inspiration can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and it’s important to be open to it when it comes.

I was at the grocery store the other day, waiting in line to checkout, standing right next to the magazine stand. My wife points out the latest issue of Arizona Highways, which I previously subscribed to, but (with my move from Utah) I let the renewal lapse. She says, “Wanna get it?” I shake my head no, then begin to load the groceries onto the belt. I didn’t want to get it because the subscription price for a year is the same price as four issues at the stand, and because I’m pretty busy right now (still unpacking boxes and such) and I might not read it anyway.

“Do you mind getting me an iced coffee?” My wife asked a moment later. Then, pointing at the stuff on the belt, she stated, “I’ve got this.” There’s a Starbucks in the grocery store, and I was happy to jump out of the line and get a couple of coffees. A few minutes later, just as the barista was done with our order, my wife walks up with the basket of bagged groceries. Sitting right on top was the Arizona Highways magazine.

*Old Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Arizona Analog”

When we got home, after unloading the car and putting everything away, I thumbed through the August issue. On page 10 was a photograph by Scott Baxter of a rancher wrangling cattle, which was in a small article called Sierra Bonita Ranch (the picture can be seen if you click the link—click on the picture to see the whole thing—I find it interesting how different it appears on my screen vs in the magazine). I grabbed my Fujifilm X-E4 and threw in some settings that I thought might be close.

I snapped a few photos in the yard, then showed my wife. “Those look good,” she said. “This is where I got the inspiration,” I stated as I showed her Scott’s picture in the magazine. She viewed the picture, then gave me a puzzled look. “We’ve only been home 10 minutes. You made this recipe from that picture?”

“Yes!” I replied with a smile. “Wow,” she said, “that’s really amazing!”

*Suburban Americana* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Arizona Analog”

This recipe isn’t a 100% accurate match to Scott’s picture—it’s pretty close, but not perfect. Not surprising, it’s closer to the printed aesthetic than the digital look, as I hadn’t yet seen it online when I created the recipe. I considered attempting to more closely replicate the aesthetic of the picture, but I really like the look of this recipe—accurate or not—so I decided not to change it. I have no idea what Scott used to capture his picture… apparently he shoots a mix of film and digital.

Thanks to Scott Baxter, Arizona Highways, and my wife’s thoughtful gesture, the inspiration for this recipe came quickly. It was one of the fastest recipes that I’ve ever created. Certainly it’s not for every person or every situation, but I’m sure for some of you in the right situations, you’ll appreciate the aesthetic that this “Arizona Analog” Film Simulation Recipe delivers. It’s compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras—I assume the new X-H2s, too, but I haven’t yet tested it on X-Trans V.

Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1
Shadow: +3
Color: -2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -3
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Weak
White Balance: Daylight, +6 Red & -3 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Arizona Analog” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4:

*Pavillion* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*The New West* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Curved Trellis* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Evening Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Flower Garden Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Real Bloom over Artificial Turf* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Trunk & Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Wall Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Fishhook Barrel Cactus Blossom* – Mesa, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Rocky Hill Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujfilm X-E4

*Desert Cholla* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Dusty Desert* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

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Fujifilm X-Trans I Film Simulation Recipe: Faux Classic Chrome

Posted on July 28, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Bougainvillea Color* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1 – “Faux Classic Chrome”

A little over two years ago I figured out how to replicate default Classic Chrome using the PRO Neg. Std film simulation. I published my findings in a blog post, to hopefully be helpful to those with cameras which don’t have the Classic Chrome film simulations, such as the X-Pro1, X-E1, X100, and X100S. I didn’t make this an official Film Simulation Recipe because it was just emulating Classic Chrome without adjustments (other than Noise Reduction), which I didn’t think was especially exciting; however, I recently found out that this recipe is being used and there’s a desire for it to be included in the Fuji X Weekly App. I’m simply turning those two-year-old settings into an official Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipe.

If you want a recipe that resembles Classic Chrome with DR100, Highlight 0, Shadow 0, Color 0, Sharpness 0, and AWB (without a shift), this recipe is a good facsimile of that. It’s not possible to 100% faithfully mimic Classic Chrome without Classic Chrome, but these settings are pretty close, and as close as you’re likely going to get.

*Laughing at a Joke* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1 – “Faux Classic Chrome”

I created these settings on an X-Trans II camera, but all of these images were captured on my Fujifilm X-Pro1. If you have an X-Trans I or X-Trans II sensor that doesn’t have Classic Chrome but does have PRO Neg. Std, you can use this recipe to approximate default Classic Chrome. The results are pretty decent; it’s a solid all-around recipe that’s good for a variety of subjects and situations.

PRO Neg. Std
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +1 (Medium-Hard)
Shadow: +1 (Medium-Hard)
Color: +1 (Medium-High)
Sharpness: 0 (Standard)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: Auto, 0 Red & -1 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 3200
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Faux Classic Chrome” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-Pro1:

*Midday Palm* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Building, Clouds* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Mostly Sunny Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Garden Trumpets* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Reaching Garden* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

Pergola Roof Design – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Pop of Pink* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Hiding Blooms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Scraggly Bloom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

*Josh Looking at Something* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-Pro1

Find this film simulation recipes and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Fujifilm X-Trans III + X-T3 & X-T30 Film Simulation Recipe: Ektachrome E100GX

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Pink Rose Blossom* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

I wanted to make another recipe that uses the Fluorescent 2 (or “warm white fluorescent”) white balance. Why? Because this is a very underutilized and under appreciated option. I have only four other recipes that use it—Provia 400, Fujicolor Super HG, Super HG Astia, and Fujichrome Sensia 100—and those are all very good recipes. I didn’t have any specific film in mind when I made this, I was simply attempting something that looked good.

After shooting with it awhile, and looking at the pictures, the results looked familiar, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. I started digging through my old pictures, and wasn’t finding anything. Then I stumbled on a few Kodak Ektachrome E100GX frames, and the results were similar.

Ektachrome E100GX was a color transparency film made by Kodak from 2001-2009, and is what replaced E100SW. It was known for vibrant saturation, a warm color cast, and fine grain. It wasn’t quite as warm, vibrant, or sharp as E100SW, but overall very similar, yet with finer grain. Some people thought it was better than E100SW, some people thought it was worse. I liked E100SW a bit better, but E100GX was still a good film, particularly if you wanted something warm, colorful, and contrasty, but not overly so.

*Intelligent Children* – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Ektachrome E100GX”

This recipe is compatible with Fujifilm X-Trans III, X-T3 and X-T30 cameras. For those with newer X-Trans IV cameras, to use this recipe simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, Clarity to 0, and Grain size to Small.

Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +2
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Grain Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect: Off/NA
White Balance: Fluorescent 2, -1 Red & -6 Blue
ISO: Auto up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Ektachrome E100GX” film simulation recipe on my Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujifilm X-H1 cameras:

*Yellow Glow of Iowa* – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Sunlight Reflected on Window* – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Dark Red Tree & Partly Cloudy Sky* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Dead Leaves in a Dry Drinking Fountain* – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Small Waterfall* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Forest Graffiti* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Growing Out of the Side* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Two Boys Going Down a Trail* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Autumn Trunks* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Ektachrome E100GX”

*Backlit Yellow Leaf* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Rose in the Garden* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Bright Bloom* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 –

*Rose Clump* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Wagon Duty* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Pines in Autumn* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Reflection in the River* – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

*Warm Pink Blooms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Bougainvillea Pink* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Little Orange Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

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New Fujifilm X-Trans III (+X-T3 & X-T30) Film Simulation Recipe: Xpro

Posted on July 26, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Suburban Abstract* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Xpro”

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. In fact, many Early-Access Recipes have already been publicly published on this Blog and the App, so now everyone can use them. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!

This “Xpro” Film Simulation Recipe came about after some experiments with white balance and shifts. It went through several iterations before I settled on these settings. The results remind me of cross-processed Fujichrome Sensia or perhaps Elite Chrome. Cross processing film (also called Xpro) is developing it in chemistry that it wasn’t intended to be developed in, most commonly color slide film (E6) in color negative film (C41) chemistry. Different films can give different results. I have several other cross-process inspired Film Simulation Recipes (here, here, here, and here); this one is simply a little different aesthetic.

*Storm* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – “Xpro”

If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, this “Xpro” Film Simulation Recipe is available to you right now on the App! Don’t have the App? Download it for free today! Become a Patron to unlock the best App experience and gain early access to this and other recipes.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Xpro” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-H1:

*Cactus Hotels* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Barrel Cactus* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Secret Garden Gate* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Don’t, This Way* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Light Bulb* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Closed Window* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Pigeon Pipe* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Pergola in the Rain* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Arizona Architecture* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Hanging Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Dark Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

*Light Pink with Green* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1

Creative Collective 023: Comparing Kodak Color Recipes

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Great American Fish* – Morro Bay, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2”

I thought it would be interesting to compare Kodak-inspired Film Simulation Recipes on my Fujifilm X-E4. So I pulled out my phone, opened the Fuji X Weekly App, and selected Filter by Sensor (choosing both X-Trans III & X-Trans IV) and Filter by Color. Then I used the Search feature to find all of the recipes with “Koda” in the name—I didn’t search for “Kodak” because Kodachrome would have been excluded. The App displayed 36 recipes. Some recipes, like Reggie’s Portra, Old Ektachrome, and Elite Chrome 200, didn’t show up because “Koda” isn’t found anywhere in the recipe title, despite the Kodak-inspired aesthetic, so I had to search those out separately. Then I reprocessed an exposure (captured in Morro Bay, California) on my X-E4 with all of these recipes.

Let’s take a look at how these 41 Kodak-inspired Film Simulation Recipes compare to each other!

Note: This article was a part of the Creative Collective, but now it’s available to everyone.

A little note about the methodology before we dive in. Not all of the recipes are 100% compatible with the X-E4. Those recipes intended for X-Trans III and the X-T3 & X-T30 cameras need some modifications in order to be used on newer X-Trans IV cameras. For those recipes that don’t call for Color Chrome Effect and/or Color Chrome FX Blue, I set those to Off. For those recipes that don’t call for Clarity, I set that to 0. For those recipes that don’t call for a certain Grain size (Small or Large), I did this: if the recipe required Weak Grain I set the size to Small, and if it required Strong, I set the size to Large—the only exception that I made was Stephen Shore Kodacolor because it’s supposed to be based on medium-format film, so I set Grain to Strong Small (and not Strong Large). This might not have been the best way to deal with Grain size, but it’s what I did. For those recipes that call for DR-Auto, I chose DR200 because I believe that’s what the camera would have chose in this instance.

There are two recipes that I didn’t use for this project. The original Kodak Portra 400 recipe requires a difficult Custom White Balance, which I don’t have set in my X-E4, so I didn’t use it. The Portra-Style recipe uses D-Range Priority, and I couldn’t reprocess the file to that recipe because I didn’t capture it using D-Range Priority—the option is greyed out. So those two recipes weren’t used in this article. Including the Bright Summer recipe was maybe a stretch, as it wasn’t based on a Kodak stock, but instead based off of a look that’s loosely based on a Kodak stock.

Because there are so many recipes to compare, I have divided them into different six groups. There’s Kodachrome, Portra, Kodacolor, Other Kodak Negative, Other Kodak Slide, and Other Kodak. Let’s dive in!

Kodachrome

*Kodachrome II (X-Trans III + X-T3 & X-T30)*

Portra

Kodacolor

Other Kodak Negative

*Kodak Ultramax (X-Trans III + X-T3 & X-T30)*

Other Kodak Slide

Other Kodak

I hope that there are a few recipes in this article that jumped out at you as ones you want to try. Perhaps the way a certain recipe rendered this scene is particularly interesting to you. If so, let me know in the comments! It’s really fascinating that so many different looks—some only very subtly different and some quite drastically divergent—can be produced straight-out-of-camera, mostly using the Classic Chrome film simulation.

Which of these recipes is a current favorite of yours? Kodachrome 64? Kodak Portra 400? I’d love to know that, too!

Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: Pure Negative

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Gold Coast* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Pure Negative”

This “Pure Negative” Film Simulation Recipe was created by Thomas Schwab, who has made several recipes published on this website, including Superia Xtra 400, Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled, Urban Vintage Chrome, Kodachrome II, Kodak Portra 800 v2, Kodak Brilliance, Classic Monochrome, B&W Superia, and Monochrome Kodachrome. Thomas has also collaborated on other recipes, playing an important role in getting them right, including Kodak Portra 800, Kodak Ektar 100, Kodachrome 1, Kodak Portra 400, and Kodak T-Max 400. I’m sure I’ve missed a few, and for that I apologize.

Thomas told me that this “Pure Negative” recipe is basically a modification of his X-Trans I Kodachrome II recipe for use on X-Trans IV cameras. Because X-Trans I doesn’t have Classic Chrome, Thomas used the PRO Neg. Std film simulation to emulate a Kodachrome aesthetic as best as possible, and his recipe does a good job of that for the X-Pro1 and X-E1 cameras. There are already several excellent Kodachrome options for X-Trans IV; this recipe isn’t intended to replicate Kodachrome, but instead produce good natural-looking results—perhaps there is a little unintentional Kodachrome 25 resemblance, too. Thank you, Thomas, for creating this recipe and allowing me to share it on Fuji X Weekly!

*Cactus Scar* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Pure Negative”

This Film Simulation Recipe is a great general-purpose option. It’s very versatile, delivering excellent results in a variety of situations. The only modification that I made to Thomas’ recipe is Dynamic Range: he prefers DR-Auto, but I set it to DR200. That’s not a big change, as DR-Auto chooses DR200 whenever there is bright highlights in the frame. Select whichever you prefer—either DR-Auto or DR200 is fine. For the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30 cameras, ignore Grain size and use a 5% CineBloom in lieu of Clarity (or just ignore Clarity)—the results will be similar. For X-Trans III, you’ll additionally have to ignore Color Chrome Effect, since your camera doesn’t have it. This recipe should be fully compatible with the new X-H2s, although I have not tested it to know for certain.

PRO Neg. Std
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +2
Color: -4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: +1
Clarity: -2
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: Auto, +1 Red & -2 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Pure Negative” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4:

*Bougainvillea Branch* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*One Blossom Remains* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Prickly Pear* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Arching Palms* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

*Veiled Wasatch* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-E4

*Pismo* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Brad’s* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Turbulent Waters* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Wave Rider* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Surfer* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Standing on Water* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Golden Ocean* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

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Find this film simulation recipes and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

New Fujifilm X-Trans II FXW App Patron Early-Access Film Simulation Recipe: Provia Negative

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Empty Baseball Field* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Provia Negative”

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. In fact, many Early-Access Recipes have already been publicly published on this Blog and the App, so now everyone can use them. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!

I didn’t model this recipe after any film or process. My first thought was this: how can I make a recipe that’s helpful. Let me back this up a minute. Unless your camera is an X-Pro3 or newer, you cannot save a white balance shift with your C1-C7 custom presets; however, your camera will remember one shift per white balance type, so if each C1-C7 recipe uses a different white balance type, you won’t have to remember to change the shift when you change recipes. For X-Trans II, there are recipes that use Auto, Daylight (which Fujifilm calls “Fine” for some reason), Kelvin, and Shade, so I thought it would be helpful to create a recipe that calls for a different white balance type that I haven’t yet used.

*Indoor Tree* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Provia Negative”

After some playing around, I created a Film Simulation Recipe that I was quite happy with. It reminds me a little of Fujichrome Provia 100F slide film, but less vibrant, and a tad less contrasty, too, but still kind of similar; however, I think the tonality is more similar to negative film than reversal film. That’s why I call this recipe Provia Negative. This recipe has a slight cool color cast, with white leaning towards blue. I was able to get good results in several different light situations.

If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now on the App! Don’t have the App? Download it for free today! Become a Patron to unlock the best App experience and gain early access to this recipe.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Provia Negative” Film Simulation on my Fujifilm X-T1:

*Two Magenta Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*One Bloom Remains* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Pink & Green* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Pop of Warmth* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Pink Flower Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Pink Flower Blossom 2* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Bougainvillea Pink* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Backlit Flowers & Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Basketball in the Grass* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Go Supply* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Hobby Lobby* – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Square on Block Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1 (X-Trans II) Film Simulation Recipe: Color Negative Film

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Yellow* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Color Negative Film”

One of my favorite X-Trans I Film Simulation Recipes is Color Negative Film, which has a white balance shift inspired by my Fujicolor 100 Industrial recipe. This recipe, which was a Patron Early-Access Recipe on the Fuji X Weekly App but is now available to everyone, is an adaptation of the X-Trans I recipe for X-Trans II. It doesn’t mimic any specific film, but just has a more generic film aesthetic. It’s not an exact match to the X-Trans I recipe, but it’s pretty close.

This “Color Negative Film” recipe is a great allrounder for daylight situations. My Fujifilm X-T1 was boxed away for over two months as I moved, and when I unboxed it last week this recipe is the one that I programmed and used first. It’s a recipe that I know many of you will love, too. If you have an X-Trans II camera, give this one a try!

*No Swimming* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T1 – “Color Negative Film”

Provia
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +2 (Hard)
Shadow: +2 (Hard)
Color: -2 (Low)
Sharpness: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: 3200K, +8 Red & -8 Blue
ISO: Auto up to ISO 3200
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this “Color Negative Film” film simulation recipe on my Fujifilm X-T1:

*Sunlit Leaves* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Green Leaves* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1 – Photo by Jon Roesch

*Early Autumn* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Forest Trail* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*One Dead Leaf* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Backlit Autumn Leaves* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Autumn Flare* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Changing Leaves in the Woods* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Yellow Shrub* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Trail to the Trees* – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Water Logged* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1 – Photo by Jon Roesch

*Little Purple Blooms* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Reeds of Summer* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

*Magenta Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Trumpet Flower* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Pride of Barbados* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

*Jon by a Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

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Viewer’s Images from SOOC Season 02 Episode 05!

Posted on July 18, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

This video is the viewer submitted photographs from SOOC Season 02 Episode 05. Yes, your pictures! The recipe-of-the-month was Eterna Bleach Bypass. I hope that you enjoyed shooting with it! Thank you to everyone who shared their images, to everyone who participated, and to everyone who tuned in!

For those who don’t know, SOOC is a monthly live video series, with each episode focused on a different Film Simulation Recipe. It is a collaboration between Tame Your Fujifilm (Fujifilm X-Photographer Nathalie Boucry) and Fuji X Weekly (Ritchie Roesch). SOOC is a fun and educational experience where we not only talk about Fujifilm camera settings, but also answer your questions and give tips and tricks. Basically, we’re trying to help you master your Fujifilm camera, with a focus on simplifying your photographic workflow.

If you missed Episode 05 when it was live, you can watch it now (below):

Also, mark your calendars, because the next SOOC broadcast will be on August 11th! We’ll finish our discussion of the Fujicolor Pro 400H recipe, and introduce the next recipe-of-the-month: Vintage Agfacolor!

Shooting with the Fujicolor Pro 400H & Eterna Bleach Bypass Film Simulation Recipes!

Posted on June 30, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

The next SOOC broadcast is in two weeks! I hope that you can join us live on Thursday, July 14th, as we finish our discussion of the Eterna Bleach Bypass Film Simulation Recipe and introduce the next recipe-of-the-month: Fujicolor Pro 400H. The show starts at 10 AM Pacific Time, 1 PM Eastern—don’t forget to tune in 30 minutes early for the PreShow!

Don’t forget to upload your photographs captured with the Eterna Bleach Bypass recipe (click here) by July 12th to be featured in the monthly slideshow. Those who upload a picture are entered into the “lucky draw” for a chance to win a year’s subscription to the Fuji X Weekly App.

Here are some pictures that I captured recently with the Fujicolor Pro 400H Film Simulation Recipe:

*Red Potted Flowers* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Fujicolor Pro 400H”

*Palm Branch over Fence* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Fujicolor Pro 400H”

*No Lifeguard* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Fujicolor Pro 400H”

*Sandy Hill* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Fujicolor Pro 400H”

*Pacific Shore* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Fujicolor Pro 400H”

Here are some pictures that I captured recently with the Eterna Bleach Bypass Film Simulation Recipe:

*Billy Boy* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

*Yellow Car & Blue Van* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

*Over That Way* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

*Boats on the Water* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

*Gas Can* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Eterna Bleach Bypass”

If you missed the last SOOC episode, you can watch it below.

I hope to see you in two weeks!

Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe: SantaColor

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*VW Bus* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “SantaColor”

There’s a brand-new color negative film stock called SantaColor 100, which is actually repurposed Kodak AeroColor 125, an emulsion intended for areal photography. I don’t believe that AeroColor is still produced (although it can still be found if you look hard enough); SantaColor 100 could be an old batch that’s been stored for awhile and is now surplus. This film has a reddish-orange color cast, which (depending on how it was shot, developed, and scanned) can be somewhat subtle or quite pronounced. This Film Simulation Recipe is an attempt to mimic that film; however, I’m not 100% satisfied with how closely it does (or doesn’t) replicate it—I think it can be really close sometimes, and other times not so much. Still, I like how this recipe looks, so I thought I’d share it with you in case some of you like it, too.

Why are special films used for aerial mapping? I tried to find an answer to this, but couldn’t. My suspicion is that atmosphere/haze can obscure “regular” film, and aerial films are made to be less susceptible to that. Another thought is that the temperature at high altitude is cold, so maybe the film has to work well in cold temperatures. Still, another idea is that the angle of the sun is different, so the film needs to be adjusted for that. It could be one, all, or none of those things—if you know the answer, please enlighten me by commenting below!

*Sport Fishing* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – “SantaColor”

This “SantaColor” Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. For those with an X-T3 and X-T30, you will need to ignore Grain size (since your camera doesn’t have that), and use a diffusion filter (such as 10% CineBloom) in lieu of Clarity. For those with an X-H1, you will need to additionally ignore Color Chrome Effect (the results will be just a little different).

Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +4
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -3
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: 5100K, +5 Red & -3 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “SantaColor” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4:

*Last Limelight* – Redlands, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*We Hot* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Fish out of Water* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Agave Garden* – Pasadena, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Plymouth* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Palm & Rooftop* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Rooftop Stairs* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Houses on the Hillside* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Irregular* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Life Ring* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Wishing Posts* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Ball & Blue Boat* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Red Rowboats* – Avila Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Beach-Walking Seagull* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

*Grassy Sand Dune* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4

Find this film simulation recipes and over 200 more on the Fuji X Weekly — Film Recipes App!

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Top 10 Film Simulation Recipes of June 2022

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Open Warning* – Butte, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodachrome 64“

It’s always interesting to see which recipes you are shooting with. I don’t have a good method to quantify just how popular specific Film Simulation Recipes are. The best metric that I have is page-views—the more times a recipe has been viewed on this website, the more popular I assume it is. I can’t say for certain that there’s a direct relationship between page-views and actual use, but it seems reasonable to suspect that such a correlation exists. This list is the most popular Film Simulation Recipes during the month of June 2022 (so far… there are couple of days left in the month…), as determined by how many times the recipe article has been viewed.

No surprise to me, color recipes are more popular than black-and-white. I love monochrome photography, but color is clearly king. Still, I’m happy to see that my favorite black-and-white recipe made this list, even if it was at the bottom. Also not surprising to me, those recipes with the names Kodak, Kodachrome, and Portra are the most popular. Kodak was top-dog of film (probably still is), so it’s logical that those aesthetics are the most desired. What is a surprise to me is that a few “new” recipes made this list. Ones that have been out for awhile are well established, so they tend to get more views than the new-kids-on-the-block. Brand-new recipes are at a disadvantage for these types of lists, yet three recipes published in June—Reggie’s Portra, Low Key, and Bright Kodak—made it into the top-ten. Yea!

Without further delay, here are the Top 10 Film Simulation Recipes of June:

1. Kodachrome 64