Interview | FUJI X WEEKLY

On Learning & Teaching — An Interview with Tim Duncan of Second Stage Garage

*Photo by Tim Duncan — Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 27mm f/2.8*

Are you somewhat new to photography? Not really sure what you’re doing with your camera? Are you intimidated by social media, especially short form video like TikTok and Reels? Do you like cars? Fast cars? Do you appreciate conversations with interesting people? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, this interview is for you, and you’re going to want to keep reading!

Those who refurbish rusty Toyota Corollas into fast racing cars likely have heard of Tim Duncan and know of his garage, Second Stage. Perhaps you’ve seen him on TikTok or Instagram, where some of his videos have been watched by millions. Otherwise, let me introduce you: Tim Duncan is an up-and-coming photographer from Adelaide, South Australia. He has a thirst for learning, and isn’t afraid to try (and fail, and try again). He also has a passion for teaching. Oh, and he’s creative. All of it comes together in this article, where Tim and I discuss all sorts of things, including Fujifilm cameras and Film Simulation Recipes.

FXW: How did you get started turning rusty Corollas into track cars? Where did your passion for cars, mechanics, and racing come from?

Tim Duncan: The very beginning would have been my cousin taking me to drag racing when I was 14, then I watched the movie Gone in 60 Seconds at the cinema—after that I was pretty much hooked on all things cars.

The passion comes from what cars can teach. Everyday I am looking for ways to learn something new, and with cars it really is never-ending.

When I was younger I was obsessed with all things muscle car. My first project car was a Chrysler Valiant Charger with a 265 CI straight six engine—I bought that when I was 17 and spent years trying to fix it up. During this time I learned that I actually really enjoy driving cars on tight twisty roads. Where I live in South Australia we actually have some amazing driving roads right near the city in the Adelaide Hills. So I wanted a new project car that was great around a corner, but I was still so attached to muscle cars. Then I discovered that Toyota made a factory engine that came with a supercharger: the 4AGZE! A friend was selling a shell of an AE86 and all it needed was a supercharged 1.6L engine, so I bought that and never looked back. The rusty Corollas are really the end point of what I enjoy about cars

*The Panel Van — Photo by Tim Duncan — Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 27mm f/2.8*

FWX: Tell me about your Corolla panel van project. How did you get started with that, what’s your current progress, and what’s the goal?

Tim Duncan: It’s actually a silly story where the idea came from. My friends all had drift cars and they were trying to encourage me to build one, too. My good mate, Ash, did this terrible “Photoshop” picture of me sideways in a Corolla panel van. Life happened and I never built any drift car, but for some reason that stupid silly photo always stuck with me. Then years later a shell popped up for sale for $150 and it was just a perfect time for me to start a big project, to build the drift car that never happened. Never underestimate the power of a meme! The end goal is to have a reliable easy-to-maintain-and-run drift car for having fun with my family and friends.

Current progress: I have mounted a 3800cc GM v6 from a Holden Commodore, then a stronger diff from a R31 skyline. Full custom suspension for extra lock in the front and 4 link equal length rear. A complete weld-in roll cage and mounted fixed back seats for safety. The next step is to get the exhaust finished—I got a little carried away trying to make a 6-1 exhaust that collects behind the motor.

FXW: Tell me about your passion for teaching—where did that begin? What is your teaching outlet?

Tim Duncan: It’s just something that has always come very natural to me, but only recently I have realized it’s a core value of mine. I was saying before I love to learn, and the old saying is you don’t truly understand something until you can explain it clearly to someone else. So I guess my love for learning works together with the love of teaching others.

I basically have two outlets: I like to make short form videos for TikTok and Instagram and now YouTube Shorts, and a lot of my content is teaching trade skills and basics about cars; my other outlet, which is really important to me, is my nephews coming to my workshop to help build the drift van. We try to do a session once a week where they come to the workshop—if I can teach them some basic skills and work ethics for when they head out into the real world, that would make me very happy.

FXW: You’ve had some success with short form video. What advice would you give to someone interested in making short form videos but are not really sure where to start or are maybe too insecure to try?

Tim Duncan: You have to make videos about something you are passionate about, and you need to be yourself. What makes it work is being authentic. If you are trying to follow trends or just make videos purely to get views, there is no way you can sustain that. I can already hear the response, “Thanks for the super vague cliché answer, Tim—this does not help me!” (ha ha). So here’s some practical advice: the most important thing is to focus on your hook at the start of a video—you literally have 0.5 to maybe 1.5 seconds to grab someone’s attention, and if you can’t do that they’re going to keep scrolling. It’s very hard to hold someone’s attention. I started out forcing myself to only make 15 seconds videos—think back to Vine where you only had seven seconds to get across a point. Short form video is definitely hot right now, but don’t get fooled into thinking that this is easy.

*Painting by Tim’s Grandfather, Thomas Allen Duncan*

FXW: Your grandfather was an accomplished painter. Tell me about him. What impact did he have on your life?

Tim Duncan: He had such a huge impact on my life! I have fond memories of him trying to teach me how to draw and paint, how to play chess. When I was 12 he handed me a welder and taught me how to do my first welds. He always talked so passionately about being a tradesmen—he made being a boilermaker sound so exciting and interesting, that’s all I wanted to be when I grew up. I ended up being a maintenance fitter instead, but I have always loved fabricating with metal as much as I can. He loved my Nanny so much and wanted nothing more than to provide and give her the best life possible—I believe he did that. On top of all of this he was always painting. My whole life I had his paintings hanging up around my house. He tried his best to get me started, but it just never clicked—yet I feel the concepts he was trying to teach me has certainly shaped how I see the world. He showed me how an artist sees the world, that an old building or a tree or a small boat on a shore can be beautiful. Painting is definitely not my thing; taking photos is my artistic outlet, and I owe most of that to my Grandad.

FXW: How did you get started in photography? What was your first camera? Why Fujifilm?

Tim Duncan: I would definitely call myself an amateur/hobbyist, but I would say I am only just now getting started. Growing up I had a few point and shoots, and I would borrow my Dad’s Canon DSLR, but my first real camera is the one I’m using now: a Fujifilm X-T30 with a 27mm f/2.8 lens. I was wanting to get a “real” camera for a little while and was looking at a few options. To be honest I was searching for a better way to record audio for YouTube videos and wanted a mirrorless camera that I could plug a mic into. For some reason I was always attracted to the Fuji cameras—for me, they’re like Nintendo. While you have Playstation and Xbox trying to be the biggest, best, and fastest with spec sheets (just look how powerful we are!), Nintendo is making console and game experiences that are fun and with way more character—that’s my Fuji camera. I get loads of comments asking, “Is that an old film camera?” It has dials that I love adjusting, it’s nice to look at, and I just really love using it.

When I got the X-T30, I decided to start taking a few photos with it to get the hang of the camera, then I’d start filming with it. But I just found myself really enjoying taking photos, and I fell in love with photography!

FXW: Do you use Film Simulation Recipes? If so, which ones do you use?

Tim Duncan: The film simulations were a huge selling point when looking for a camera. I first used one I found on YouTube called Muted, and I also tried his B&W settings—for the life of me I can’t remember the channel. Those were the two main ones that I had been using, but recently I tried the Nostalgic Print recipe (modified for the X-T30) from the Fuji X Weekly App and instantly loved it, and I can see this becoming a regular. I also had a crack with the Kodak Vision3 250D recipe and can see why it’s a favorite! After watching the film The Batman, I attempted to make my own recipe, but I’m not sure I really know what I’m doing (ha ha), so I definitely appreciate the Fujifilm camera community making recipes available. I’m very grateful for everyone who posts up their recipes on YouTube and explain how to set the camera up—it’s extremely helpful, especially for someone just starting out.

FXW: What are your photographic interests? Describe your method for learning photography.

Tim Duncan: I feel like I’m only just really getting started, so up until now I have been sticking with the basics, focusing mainly on my compositions—placing interesting things in the right spots. I also set my camera to B&W for a good few months to learn about lighting and to understand contrast better. So I’m just trying lots of different things, and making many mistakes, to see what I like—for instance, I discovered that I’m not really interested in landscapes, but I love street photography.

I also have zero interest in sitting down and editing photos. Everything I shared today is straight from my camera—I like the challenge of trying to get it right when I take the photo. I love that, on the Fuji, I can see exactly what I’m taking because the screen and viewfinder match the film simulation settings. I do my best to get the framing correct, exposure, etc., and take the photo. That’s it! That’s the photo, and if it’s good, it’s good; if it’s bad, it’s bad. I’d really like to encourage everyone to get out there and make as many mistakes as possible, and don’t be afraid to learn from them.

Thank you, Tim, for your willingness and openness to do this interview, and for all of your time!

Find (and follow) Tim Duncan on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

The photographs in this article are © Tim Duncan

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.

Breathing Fresh Air into Your Photography with Fujifilm — An Interview with Matt Giesow of VAST Media

Posted on August 13, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

I wanted to follow-up my interview with Troy Paiva (click here to read it), which wasn’t directly related to Fujifilm cameras and Film Simulation Recipes (although it was highly relatable), with something directly connected to the topics that are typically found on the Fuji X Weekly blog. Just as I was contemplating who I was going to interview and what the exact subject might be, I received a message from Matt Giesow of VAST Media, a photo and video production company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I have been running my production company for nearly five years now,” Matt told me, “and picking up a Fuji has been a breath of fresh air.” He stated that using Film Simulation Recipes on his camera allowed him to deliver some images immediately to the client, and that his JPEG workflow is “so nice.”

His words echoed in my head for the rest of that day. I felt similarly when I first started in Fujifilm: it was like a breath of fresh air—cool, crisp, mountain air. That was before I had even discovered the great JPEG output of the cameras, and before I had begun to make recipes. It must be even more refreshing nowadays, with so many resources available—such as Fuji X Weekly. It’s an honor to help others also experience that “fresh air” that Fujifilm cameras can provide. I knew that I wanted the next interview to be with Matt, so the following morning I asked if he’d be willing. Thankfully, he was very enthusiastic, and we were able to accomplish it rather quickly. So, without any further delay, here’s my interview with Matt Giesow!

FXW: Hi, Matt! Thank you so much for taking time out of your day today to do this interview! Let’s begin at the beginning. Tell me how you got started in photography?

Matt Giesow: Hey, Ritchie! I’m a self-taught photographer, dating back to 2017 from “YouTube University”—that, and being on staff at a pretty creative church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, created a great launching pad into the world of photography and videography.

FXW: What was your first camera?

Matt Giesow: An iPhone 4 and the VSCO app. My first camera purchased to learn photography on was the Canon 80D.

FXW: What were your early photographic interests?

Matt Giesow: I remember when instagram first came out, I tried to make my shots look like film using Insta’s built-in filters [laughter]. Today and I’m still interested in photographing people, places, and things with a nostalgic vintage look.

FXW: What are your current photographic interests? What do you shoot just for fun?

Matt Giesow: I enjoy street photography. Exploring cities—both ones I know and ones that I’ve not yet been to—and finding hidden gems to capture. I also enjoy photographing my family (I’m a proud dad), documenting all of our memories.

FXW: Tell me about your production company. How did you get started with that?

Matt Giesow: VAST Media started about four years ago with a desire for me to create what could exist. We primarily focus within architecture and the real estate market. I have grown the business from a solo entrepreneur to a full team and a full service company now. It’s been amazing to be a part of it from day one—with the vision of the company—to now continuing to work within the company and have several people alongside me helping to move it forward.

FXW: What services do you provide?

Matt Giesow: VAST provides real estate listing marketing, brand advertising, and full-scale video production for anyone—from a business owner to a real estate agent to major organizations—that need to share their brand and story.

FXW: What else would you like people to know about VAST Media?

Matt Giesow: What I want people to know is that VAST Media is more than a single person with a camera. From the moment it launched, my goal was to make it not about me but about we. Often people get stuck relying on one solo creative. I wanted to create a brand that, no matter who showed up from my team, was consistent, and the brand was apparent—it’s all under one umbrella, and the product was not contingent upon a single person.

FXW: What made you pick up a Fujifilm camera?

Matt Giesow: Shooting with Sony cameras throughout most of my professional career, I always wondered about owning a Fuji. This last year I began to experiment with 35mm film photography. I realized very quickly that I love the process of shooting film, but I always want my images right away [laughter]. I found the solution to my problem on the Fuji X Weekly website, where I discovered Film Simulation Recipes. I began to see what shooters like me were doing to scratch that itch. I headed to eBay and quickly found an overpriced Fujifilm X100V and went for it. The X100V is my first and only Fujifilm camera at the moment.

FXW: What do you like most about it?

Matt Giesow: It’s been a dream to shoot with! So small—it’s a daily carry. I find myself pulling the car off numerous times throughout the day to get out and snap something that, in the past, I would have used my iPhone to capture. I love shooting straight out of camera with the film simulations baked in. It’s totally changed the way I shoot! Enjoying the process now, something that only 35mm film had given me before.

FXW: Which Film Simulation Recipes do you like best and why?

Matt Giesow: Classic Negative is my go-to recipe in most scenarios for color. It fits the vibe and style that for years I tried to edit my Sony photos to look like. It’s perfect for street photography, travel—the reds are just gorgeous! Reggie’s Portra and Kodak Gold 200 are some other big favorites. For black-and-white, Ilford XP2 Super 400 is my go-to for darker, punchier pictures, and Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is my favorite for slightly softer, less contrasty black and white photos.

FXW: How has using Fujifilm cameras impacted your professional photography and your personal photography?

Matt Giesow: Honestly, picking up a FujiFilm camera has been a breath of fresh air. Over the years I’ve invested a great deal in filling our gear lockers at VAST Media, but I’ve never had a personal connection with a camera quite like I do with my X100V. For me, shooting with a fixed focal length, and working so hard to nail the perfect shot in-camera is causing me to sharpen areas of my craft that I didn’t even realize were dull. This in turn has kindled a new passion for photography that makes me feel like I did back in the beginning. The X100V doesn’t replace my ”professional” arsenal, but it’s a happy addition to every set I am on. The ability to take incredible behind-the-scenes photos on-set straight out of camera and deliver something right to the client’s hands before leaving is something very new—and I love it!

FXW: In wrapping this up, is there anything else you’d like to say?

Matt Giesow: A big “thank you” to you, Ritchie, for Fuji X Weekly! The Fuji community is just a different breed—friendly, helpful, and encouraging. It’s so great.

FXW: Thanks again, Matt, for allowing me to interview you!

Matt Giesow: Cheers!

Please visit VAST Media’s website, VAST Media’s Instagram, and Matt Giesow’s Instagram! Be sure to give him a follow, and tap the heart on some of his pictures.

All of the photographs in this article are © Matt Giesow, who captured them using his Fujifilm X100V and various Film Simulation Recipes.