Photoessay | FUJI X WEEKLY

Crossing the California Desert with Fujifilm X100V + Kodak Tri-X 400

*Welcome to California… Maybe* – Blythe, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

For those keeping up with my move (from Utah to Arizona) and adventure: I’m on the road again. The long story is that we found a home in Arizona, but the moving company can’t deliver our stuff for a couple of weeks. The short story is that we’re off on a new adventure! Among some other stops, we’re enroute to the central California Coast—one of the most beautiful places in the world, in my opinion—while we wait for our furniture and such.

A lot of times I’m the driver on road trips, but as we crossed the Mojave Desert along Interstate 10 in California, I was in the passenger seat. Of course, as a photographer I took full advantage of it, and documented the trek in black-and-white; specifically, I photographed with my Fujifilm X100V using the Kodak Tri-X 400 Film Simulation Recipe. I’ve been using this camera as a monochrome-only model lately.

Shooting out a dirty window at 75 miles-per-hour isn’t ideal; however, in whatever situations that I find myself, I try to do the best I can with what I have. That’s all anyone can do. I’m not always successful, but I thought this series was decent enough to share. I hope that you enjoy!

*Storm in the Mirror* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Driving Backwards* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Objects Are Closer* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Freight Flight* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Dash Cam* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Desert Center 16* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Cars* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Parked Truck* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Fasten Seatbelt & Dead Palms* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Life is a Highway* – Somewhere Along I-10, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Exit 146* – Coachella, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

*Expensive Gas* – Coachella, CA – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400”

Photoessay: 10 Frames of an Old Police Car

Posted on May 29, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Classic Police Car* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

I stumbled across an old police car while in Branson, Missouri. If you’ve never been to Branson (I hadn’t), it’s a quirky tourist town, so finding unusual things—such as a 1950’s Ford police car—parked along a road for seemingly no reason isn’t unusual. I had my Fujifilm X-E4 with the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 lens with me, so I decided to snap a couple of pictures. I used the Fujicolor Natura 1600 Film Simulation Recipe for these images.

To my surprise, the car was unlocked, so I opened the doors and captured some pictures of the inside. One of the windows was broken, and it smelled strongly of mold inside, so I didn’t climb in; instead, I stood outside while reaching inside with the camera. Most of my pictures are of the inside—the outside had a ton of reflections, and I didn’t have a polarizer, so it was extremely difficult to capture the car without capturing myself, too.

I’m not an automotive expert, so I could be completely wrong, but I believe this is a 1957 Ford 300 (if you know, let me know in the comments!). Because Branson is a weird town, it’s possible that this never was an actual police car, but was simply made to look like one. Whatever the case, it’s kind of a shame that it is left the way it is because it’s clearly deteriorating. This would be a great restoration project for someone, but it’s probably not for sale. I’m just glad that I stumbled upon it, and decided to photograph it with my Fujifilm camera.

*Red Light* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Interior & Reflection* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Car Phone* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*CB Mobile Radio* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Car Radio* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Gauges* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*M is for Motorola* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Police Special* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

*Sheriff* – Branson, MO – Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujinon 27mm – “Fujicolor Natura 1600”

Photograph Wherever You Are — Seeing the Extraordinary in the Mundane

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Two Caballeros* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

I had an epiphany today. It’s been building in my mind for several days now, but it was only today that I believe I fully understood it: photograph wherever you are. Whichever place it is that you find yourself, capture it with your camera.

When I was 16-years-old, my family moved to a small unincorporated community in Texas called Culleoka, which is north of Dallas near Lake Lavon. At that time it was in the middle of nowhere—and it still is—but the city has been inching closer and closer, and is now at its doorstep. I finished high school while there and enrolled in college. I studied photography for two years before leaving home—and Texas—at 19. That was a long time ago; however, my parents still live in the same house in Culleoka.

I bring up all of this because I realized that, despite learning photography while I lived there, and despite all of the times that I’ve visited over the years, I’ve never photographed Culleoka. I never thought this place was photographically interesting. I always traveled elsewhere with my camera, whether it was McKinney, Plano, Dallas, or any number of other towns in the region. I never photographed where I lived.

*Courtesy Dock Closed* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

Visiting my parents now, for some reason—maybe because I’m older—I find Culleoka to be a much more interesting place. Yes, there’s still not much to see. If you blinked while driving through you’d miss it. There’s a gas station. A Dollar General, which is a fairly new addition. An auto body shop. A fireworks stand. A couple of churches. Maybe a couple hundred people live in Culleoka, many in mobile homes. There’s access to Lake Lavon at the far edge.

I regret now not photographing where I was, because there’s actually a lot of opportunity, if only I had had an open mind. I didn’t see it before. I just thought it was a boring place. Those “other places” were much more fascinating. I had to drive somewhere else to capture interesting pictures. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you believe that wherever it is you are isn’t worth your camera’s attention, and because you see it day in and day out it is difficult to view it with fresh eyes.

How do you view a highly familiar location with fresh eyes? For me, I think it was just being away for a few years. Actually, I saw some interesting sunlight on the gas station, and a lightbulb went off in my mind. I was reminded of Wim Winders book Written in the West, which inspired me to photograph Culleoka using my Fujifilm X-E4 programmed with the Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe. Some ideas are to envision yourself as a tourist experiencing the place for the first time, simply keeping a photographic eye out for interesting light, or reading photography books where some pictures are similar to your current location.

*W.S.C.* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

Just because you believe that where you are is uninteresting, doesn’t mean there aren’t things worth photographing. You have to keep a constant eye out. Maybe you need to view it through a fresh perspective. Perhaps you just need to get out with your camera on a regular basis and keep at it until you finally “see it” as some new inspiration hits you—I think just getting out with your camera is the best advice that I have.

Don’t be like me and fail to photograph where you are. Just because you don’t think it is worthwhile doesn’t mean that it’s not worthwhile—with a fresh perspective, you’re likely to find things that actually are interesting, things you maybe passed by hundreds of times and it never caught your attention. You have a great opportunity, and perhaps an interesting series of pictures will emerge from it.

It’s an easy trap to think that you have to go someplace else in order to capture interesting pictures. I certainly believed that for awhile, even though I used to say that the job of a photographer is to find the extraordinary in the mundane. I didn’t always practice what I preached—I assumed that where I was wasn’t interesting enough—but my statement was correct: it’s my job to find what others overlook in the places I find myself, and create compelling pictures with my camera. I hope that I’ve accomplished that this time around.

Some of the pictures that I captured in Colleoka, Texas, over the last few days:

*Abandoned Houses* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

*Boaters Warning* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

*Man at Lake Lavon* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

*Abandoned Shack* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

*Red Taco Trailer* – Culleoka, TX – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodachrome 64”

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Photoessay: Fujifilm X-Pro3 + 18mm f/1.4 + AgfaChrome RS 100 Recipe = A Photowalk To Remember

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Ritchie Roesch

*Rental boats at Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

Thomas Schwab, who has helped create (and downright created) a number of film simulation recipes on this website, recently went on a 12-mile photowalk through the Black Forest in the beautiful German mountainside between Hinterzarten and Lake Schluchsee. The weather was “Octobering” (as Thomas put it), which means that it was overcast and rainy. Thomas carried his Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera with the new Fujinon 18mm f/1.4 lens attached—both are weather-sealed, so a great combination for the conditions. He used the AgfaChrome RS 100 film simulation recipe, which Thomas said is “the best for color photography on rainy days.” He “seasoned to taste” the recipe with Sharpening set to 0 (instead of -2) and Grain Weak (instead of Strong). He used ISO 640 for all of the images.

The adventure began with a train ride to Hinterzarten, then a hike down the Emil-Thoma-Weg trail. After visiting Lake Mathisleweiher, Thomas trekked through Bärental (Bear Valley)—thankfully he didn’t encounter any bears—all the way to Lake Schluchsee, passing Lake Windgfällweiher and a small unnamed lake on the way. The adventure ended with a train ride back home. This really was a photowalk to remember, through some incredible rural scenery!

The pictures in this article were captured by Thomas Schwab while on his mountainside adventure. They aren’t in chronological order, but they do tell a story. Thank you, Thomas, for allowing me to share your wonderful photographs on Fuji X Weekly! Please follow Thomas on Instagram if you don’t already, and leave a kind note to him in the comments to let him know you appreciate his pictures!

*Through Bärental. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Houses in Hinterzarten. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Traces of forest work. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Stone steps in Bear Valley. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Big equipment in Bear Valley. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Between* *Bärental and Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Small nameless lake. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Little leaves. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Raindrops on leaves*. *Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Bee on thistle flower. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Leaf captured with large aperture. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Water droplets, at Lake Mathisleweiher. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Small blossoms at Lake Mathisleweiher. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Pine branch at Lake Mathisleweiher. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Umbrella at Lake Mathisleweiher. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*At Lake Mathisleweiher. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Boat at Schluchsee village. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Lake Schluchsee beach. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Lake Schluchsee from the village. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Blue boats on Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Boat dock at Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Dock on Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Glass bottle at Lake Schluchsee. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Old hotel in Hinterzarten. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Passing train*. *Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

*Train stop at Himmelreich Station. Photo by Thomas Schwab.*

The Journey is the Destination, Part 3: Lodging Locations

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Ritchie Roesch

*Campground* – Montrose, CO – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – “Kodachrome II” – 7/25/2018

Part 1: Getting Gas Part 2: Time to Eat

I love road trips! Given the choice to drive or fly, I’ll pick drive every time. Unfortunately, when I’m trying to get somewhere by car, I’m often trying to get there, wherever “there” is, and I don’t spend enough time enjoying the in-between. Ralph Waldo Emerson famously stated, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” Dan Eldon shortened it to, “The journey is the destination.” What makes a road trip special is not where you’re going, but the experiences along the way.

This photoessay series is entitled The Journey is the Destination, and includes pictures of those in-between places. Each article in this series will have a different theme. This one is called Lodging Locations, and it features photographs captured at sleep stops while on some adventure somewhere. I’m usually pretty eager to photograph when on road trips, so even moments of rest get the attention of my camera lens.

One challenge with this particular article is that it includes hotels, campgrounds, family houses, and AirBnBs. With such diverse sleeping arrangements, it’s difficult to create a consistent set (not to mention that I used many different film simulation recipes to capture these over several years). Each of the images in the post were captured while at a lodging location of some sort. I don’t like this set as much as the first two, but nonetheless I hope that you find some enjoyment or inspiration from it.

Color:

*Daisies at the Dock* – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Agfa Vista 100” – 7/8/2020

*Boy, Fishing* – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Agfa Vista 100” – 7/8/2020

*Hebgen Lakeshore* – West Yellowstone, MT – Fujifilm X100F – “Classic Chrome” – 9/17/2017

*Playground at the Edge of Nowhere* – Island Park, ID – Fujifilm X100V – “The Rockwell” – 7/2/2020

*Putting Practice* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – “Color Negative 400” – 3/11/2021

*Yellow House & Blue Sky* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “Kodak Portra 400 v2” – 3/9/2021

*Pigeons Over A Roof* – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Kodachrome 64” – 11/23/2019

*Metal Pool Flowers* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – “Creamy Color” – 3/11/2021

*Campfire* – Custer City, SD – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – “Dramatic Classic Chrome” (I think) – 5/14/2018

*Lakeshore & Dock* – Flathead Lake, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Portra 400 v2” – 10/11/2020

*String of Lightbulbs* – Flathead Lake, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Portra 400 v2” – 10/12/2020

*Hanging Light Bulb* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – “LomoChrome Metropolis” – 3/11/2021

B&W:

*Open* – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Tri-X 400” – 7/7/2020

*299 RV Park* – Coalville, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Acros” – 6/21/2019

*Redrum* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X100F – “Acros” – 3/14/2018

*Curtain Abstract* – Mesquite, NV – Fujifilm X100V – “Acros Push-Process” – 12/21/2017

The Journey Is The Destination, Part 1: Getting Gas

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Ritchie Roesch

*Truck Stop* – Bowie, TX – Fujifilm X100F – Cross-Process – 7/29/2018

With that in mind, I’ve started a new photoessay series entitled The Journey is the Destination, which will include pictures of those in-between places. Each article in this series will have a different theme. This first one is called Getting Gas, and it features photographs captured at gas station stops while on some adventure somewhere. I’m usually pretty eager to photograph when on road trips, so even quick pitstops get the attention of my camera lens.

Most of these pictures were captured in small towns. You’ll see a lot of trucks. If I had started out with this series in mind, I probably would have approached it a little differently. Still, when placed together, these otherwise unrelated images tell a story. I hope that you enjoy!

Color

*Sinclair* – Edgemont, SD – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Dramatic Classic Chrome – 5/14/2018

*Motorcycle Mart* – Burlington, CO – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Kodachrome II – 8/8/2018

*Tough Times* – Gunnison, CO – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Kodachrome II – 7/26/2018

*Phillips 66* – Malad City, ID – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100 – 7/2/2020

*Car May Roll* – Malad City, ID – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100 – 7/2/2020

*Swift Gas* – Green River, UT – Fujifilm X100F – “Eterna” – 2/27/2018

*Cold Gas* – Cedar City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Classic Chrome (I think) – 11/25/2019

*Gas & Wind* – Kamas, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Fujicolor Superia 800 – 3/8/2021

*No Parking Allowed* – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30 – Kodachrome 64 – 11/20/2019

*Always Moving Ahead* – Rawlins, WY – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Vintage Agfacolor – 5/18/2018

B&W

*Fuel Stop* – Idaho Falls, ID – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Tri-X 400 – 7/12/2020

*Ex Lover* – Amarillo, TX – Fujifilm X100F – Agfa Scala – 7/29/2018

*Terrible Ford* – Boulder City, NV – Fujifilm X-T30 – Agfa APX 400 – 11/25/2019

*Trucks, Stopped* – Rawlins, WY – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Acros Push-Process – 5/18/2018

*Unleaded Sky* – Orin, WY – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Acros Push-Process – 5/17/2018

*Sunny Sinclair* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X100F – Agfa Scala – 7/28/2018

*Semi & Dinosaur* – Santa Rosa, NM – Fujifilm X100F – Agfa Scala – 7/28/2018

Part 2: Time to Eat Part 3: Lodging Locations

Monument Valley – A Monumental Landscape

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Ritchie Roesch

Evening at Monument Valley – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm

I just got back from Monument Valley, which sits on the border between Arizona and Utah on Navajo land near Four Corners. Situated on the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley features large rock formations and red desert sand. It’s a lonely place; there are only a few very small towns scattered nearby. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, it attracts many tourists from across the world. Monument Valley is the iconic American West landscape, and it is nothing short of stunning!

You’ve seen Monument Valley before, even if you didn’t know what you were looking at. Certainly you’ve seen pictures of it in calendars and magazines and on social media. Many different movies have had scenes filmed in Monument Valley. Forest Gump concluded his cross country run there. Marty McFly went back in time to the old west in Monument Valley. Clark Griswold drove his car off the road at this place. Many “westerns” were filmed in Monument Valley, including a few starring John Wayne. In many ways Monument Valley still looks and feels like the rugged and wild American West, so it’s easy to understand Hollywood’s draw to this location.

Monument Valley was on my photographic bucket list for a long time. I’ve wanted to visit and capture the iconic landscape for many years. I’d seen the black-and-white prints by Ansel Adams and the color pictures in Arizona Highways magazine that showcased this incredible landscape, which made me want to experience it for myself. I had to make my own images. I needed to get to Monument Valley. Honestly, though, I didn’t realize its exact location until recently. I knew it was in northern Arizona somewhere. Or maybe southern Utah. As it turns out, most of it is in far northeastern Arizona, and a little of it sits in far southeastern Utah, but all of it belongs to the Navajo Nation.

Butte Between two Boulders – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

I was only able to stay in Monument Valley for one day. I had one day to capture the pictures that I wanted, or at least as many of them as I could. I planned the trip carefully, doing much research ahead of time so that I would know what to expect. It paid off because I believe I made the most of my short time there. I didn’t come away with every picture that I had hoped for, but I came away with a good group, and that means I had a good day. I’ll have to return, hopefully soon, for the rest.

Something that struck me about Monument Valley is how quiet and peaceful it was. You can set your own pace and take things slow. The wide open spaces allowed for moments of true serenity. You can find yourself alone. Monument Valley is sacred land to the Navajo, and you can feel that while there, permeating from the stone and sand. My visit was during the off season, and I’m sure the atmosphere during the summer months can be quite different.

All of the Navajo people that I met and spoke with were exceedingly friendly and helpful. They seemed quite proud of this place, eager to share its beauty with the world. One lady, who was selling jewelry along a dirt road, was happy to tell me about her favorite photograph, which had been on the cover of Arizona Highways, that featured a nearby tree, which has since died because it was struck by lightning. I felt like I was an invited guest, and the Navajo people were happy to have me there.

Mitchell Mesa – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 & Fujinon 35mm

But I could sense another side. This is private land. Among the rock formations are little houses. There are ranches scattered throughout Monument Valley. Visitors are allowed in only very specific places, which are clearly marked, unless you have an official guide. At one stop I overheard a guide telling his group that he was not allowed to take people to one particular spot because the occupant of a nearby house “doesn’t like white people.” I can certainly understand that past hurts might still sting. The Navajo haven’t always been treated well by America. This is their home. This is their sacred land where their ancestors lived and died. They don’t have to allow anyone in. They could keep Monument Valley to themselves, and not welcome visitors. I’m sure there are some who would prefer that. I was a stranger in a strange land. I was the outsider. Gratefully, I was welcomed in and treated kindly.

From what I could tell from my short visit, the Navajo way of life is slower, simpler, quieter, and more free than my own. There are no Walmarts or McDonalds or Starbucks within 100 miles, probably further than that. I didn’t see any signs of commercialism and consumerism. I’m sure life in the dry desert can be difficult, but to the Navajo it is worth dealing with those difficulties in order to live life their way; to be who they are. Their culture is preserved by living out their traditions.

The photographs in this article were captured with a Fujifilm X-T30 and Fujifilm X-T1. The lenses I used were a Fujinon 35mm f/2, Fujinon 100-400mm and Rokinon 12mm f/2. On the X-T30 I used my Velvia (except color +4), Kodachrome 64, Dramatic Monochrome and Agfa Scala film simulation recipes, and on the X-T1 I used Velvia and Monochrome. The challenge when visiting a place like Monument Valley is creating something unique when it’s been photographed from every angle imaginable. That’s an extraordinarily difficult task, but not completely impossible. While most of my pictures have been done before by others, I think a few of them are fairly unique; at least I’ve never seen one identical. I hope that you enjoy them!

B&W:

Monument Valley – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Mittens in Monochrome – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 & Fujinon 35mm

Mitchell Mesa in Monochrome – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Reflection on a Dirt Road – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Navajo Flag – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm

Four Flags – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 100-400mm

Shrub on the Edge of the Wash – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm

Rocks & Mitten – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Color:

Forest Gump Was Here – Monument Valley, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 100-400mm

Highway Through The Hole – Monument Valley, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 100-400mm

Dying Tree in the Red Desert – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Yucca – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Red Ripples – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm

Puddle In The Sand – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Evening Mittens – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 & Fujinon 35mm

Last Light on the Mittens – Monument Valley, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 & Fujinon 35mm

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Project: Farmington Bay, Part 2

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Ritchie Roesch

Farmington Bay Lake – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Part 1

My project this year is to photograph the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Farmington, Utah. My goal is visit this place with a camera at least once per month throughout 2020, but hopefully more often than that. I especially want to make it to Farmington Bay when there’s some interesting weather or a chance of great light. This was my second visit.

The Farmington Bay is a wetland along the Great Salt Lake, where freshwater meets saltwater. There are creeks and small lakes and lots of tall grass. It’s a popular spot for bird-watching. Farmington Bay is massive, and I’ve only explored maybe 10% of it at most, but probably not even that much. There’s a road that takes you fairly deep into the wetland, but the rest is accessible only by foot or bike or boat.

I captured these photographs using my Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujinon 35mm f/2. I used my Velvia and Monochrome recipes, plus a couple of experimental settings, but mostly Velvia. Farmington Bay is both beautiful and lonely. There are great expanses and fantastic views. I feel like I stumbled across a great treasure when I found this place. I look forward to returning with my camera in hand.

B&W

Dike Road – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Dirt Road – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Gate – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Wasatch From Farmington Bay – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Cloud Reflection – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Ice in the Water – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Shore Post – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Color

Cattails On The Shore – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Red Door – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Tree in January – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Red Gate – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Red Cloth on Fence – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Greenland – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Green & White – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Eye of the Beholder – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Drain – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Wetland Grass – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Wetland – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Wetland Lake – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Bridge to Nowhere – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Eagle on Bridge – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Road Along The Water – Farmington Bay, UT – Fujifilm X-T1

Photoessay: Autumn 2019

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Ritchie Roesch

Mountain Autumn – Big Mountain Pass, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm

Fall might be my favorite season, but it’s always too short. Summer often overstays its welcome. Winter usually comes too quickly. Autumn gets squeezed in the middle. You have to be quick, because it’s fleeting. It comes and goes so quickly! If you don’t take time to see and experience it, you’ll flat out miss it, and you’ll have to wait another year for fall to return.

Autumn is the season of change. The weather changes. The colors of the leaves change. The food we eat and coffee we drink change (if you want them to). There’s beauty in change, and uncertainty. It ends cold and gloomy as winter budges in, but before it does autumn puts on a spectacular show. Autumn can be breathtakingly beautiful!

Apple Harvest – Logan, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm

The photographs in this post were captured during the 2019 fall season. Many of them I’ve yet to share on the Fuji X Weekly blog, but you’ve probably seen a few of them in other articles. Some of the pictures are from early autumn when the weather was still warm and the leaves only beginning to change colors. Others are from late fall when the temperatures dipped cold and the scene turned drab. Still others were captured during the height of vibrant colors, which unfortunately didn’t last very long, yet long enough for me to get a few exposures made.

I used a Fujifilm X-T30, which is a great all-around camera, for all of these pictures. A number of different lenses were attached to it, depending on the image. I used a Fujinon 35mm, a Fujinon 90mm, a Fujinon 50-230mm, a Rokinon 12mm, an Industar 69, and an Asahi Super-Takumar 135mm. There’s a number of different film simulation recipes that I used, including Velvia, Kodacolor, Eterna, “Classic Negative” and possibly another one, I’m not certain. I hope that you enjoy!

Leaves of Autumn – Riverdale, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Bent Trunk – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Icy Leaf – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Industar 69

Changing Nature – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Tree Star – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm

Autumn Sun At Ogden Station – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Rokinon 12mm

Drab Autumn Drive – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Flowing Creek – Bountiful, Utah – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Flowing Fall – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Asahi Super-Takumar 135mm

Gradations of Color – Big Mountain Pass, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm

Change Begins – Big Mountain Pass, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm

Winter Kissed Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 50-230mm

Mountainside Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 50-230mm

Photoessay: Passing Through Nevada, Part 2: Monochrome

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Terrible Ford – Boulder City, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Part 1: Color

I’ve passed through Nevada many times, often only stopping for gas or lunch. It never seems to be my destination. I’m headed somewhere else, and I have to go through the Silver State to get to where I’m going. While I have stayed longer than a few hours, most of the time I’m through Nevada so quickly that it’s easy to forget that I was ever there. The photographs in this article were captured during those times where I just passed through, and didn’t stay. In fact, many of them were captured from inside my car. I hope that you enjoy this set!

Plaza Hound – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

I-15 Overpass – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X100F

Chance of Rain – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Abstract Roof Lines – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Empty Hoppers – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Palm Shadow – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X100F

Photoessay: November Arizona, Part 2: Monochrome

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

North Mountain Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Part 1: Color

Many years ago, Ansel Adams photographed the Arizona desert in black-and-white. Many people might be unaware that he was a regular contributor to Arizona Highways magazine back in the day. Adams’ photographs of the desert have been an inspiration to me even before I captured a single exposure in Arizona. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not trying to compare myself with the legend. What I am saying is that Arizona and black-and-white photography go together like peanut butter and jelly. There’s something timeless about it that just makes me feel good on the inside. It brings me back to those classic pictures by Ansel Adams that I carefully studied back in the early years of my own picture-making. As colorful as Arizona can be, to me it looks best in black-and-white.

Downtown Phoenix From North Mountain – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Saguaro In The City – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Monochrome Desert Hill – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Hillside Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Lookout Mountain – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Cactus Sun – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Morning In The Desert – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Arizona Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Saguaro Couple – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Rushing New River – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Photoessay: Passing Through Nevada, Part 1: Color

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Nevada Motel – Boulder City, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

No Parking Allowed – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

God Knows If You’re Prepared – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Review-Journal – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Sky Obscured By Structure – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Red Cranes – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Crappy Odds – Las Vegas, NV – Fujifilm X-T30

Part 2: Monochrome

Photoessay: November Arizona, Part 1: Color

Posted on December 7, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

River & Rays – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

I love Arizona! It is perhaps the most beautiful state in America. Some might disagree with that sentiment, thinking that the desert is dull and brown, but I find it to be a colorful and diverse landscape. Others might consider California, Colorado or my current home state of Utah, or perhaps another state like Maine, Alaska, Hawaii, etc., to be more majestic, and they are each certainly majestic, but to me Arizona is at the top of the list, and my heart belongs there.

My family and I like to travel to Arizona whenever we can, which is usually once or twice each year. A few weeks ago we visited some family of ours in Phoenix, and of course I brought my Fujifilm X-T30 along, with a Fujinon 35mm f/2 attached to the front. I appreciate this setup for travel because it’s small and lightweight enough to not get in the way, yet can produce some stunning pictures. The film simulations I used were Velvia, Kodachrome 64, and “Classic Negative” (for Quit My Job). This wasn’t a photography trip, but as always I captured a number of pictures. I hope you enjoy!

In It Together – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Gravel Road Above The City – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Desert Above, City Below – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Desert City – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Saguaro Above Phoenix – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Desert Neighborhood – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Lookout Mountain From North Mountain – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Phoenix From North Mountain – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Above The City – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Two Palms – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Palm Tree Bees – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Desert Hill – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Red Barrel Cactus – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Foothills Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Desert Warmth – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

The Desert – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Bright Spikes – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Palo Verde Sun – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Quit My Job – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Lucy – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

New River Trail – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

New River – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Water Under The Bridge – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Falls & Foam – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Pigeons Over A Roof – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Part 2: Monochrome

Photoessay: Monochrome Sun Rays Over Willow Beach, Arizona

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Rays Over Colorado River – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Along U.S. Highway 93, about 12 miles south of the Hoover Dam, there’s a scenic view pullout, which offers tremendous views of desert mountains and canyons and a glimpse of the Colorado River at Willow Beach. This is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It’s easy to drive right on past this spot, as I have done many times before. Those who do stop here are rewarded with an incredible vista. It’s not the Grand Canyon, but it’s like a small glimpse of the Grand Canyon. It’s a quintessential Arizona landscape. Actually, you can see both Arizona and Nevada, as the river marks the boundary between the two states.

When I was at this scenic pullout last week, there was a storm passing through, which provided a dramatic sky with streaking light rays from the peeking sun. It was an amazing sight, yet short lived. I had my Fujifilm X-T30 with me, alternating between a Fujinon 35mm f/2 and a Fujinon 90mm f/2 attached to the front. A more wide-angle lens might have been nice, but these are the two lenses that I had with me. I captured a number of frames, then the great light disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Because I had a camera with me, and I decided to stop, I was able to witness and record this beautiful moment. Many cars zoomed down the highway, perhaps witnessing the scene quickly from behind their windows, or perhaps not noticing it at all, and only a few stopped. I’m thankful that I was one of the few who stopped, and what a great reward I was given for doing so. Sometimes the journey is the destination, especially if you are a photographer.

Light Streaming – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm f/2

Light & Mesa – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm f/2

Shining Down – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm f/2

Pouring Light Over Desert – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm f/2

Dramatic Desert Sky – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Rays Over The Desert – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Rays Over Willow Beach – Lake Mead Nat’l Rec. Area, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Photoessay: Fall Meets Winter

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Autumn & Winter – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

One thing that’s great about where I live is the view. The Wasatch Mountains loom over our house, and are clearly visible from the back windows and throughout the yard. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because the mountains behind our house become dotted with the vibrant colors of the season. That’s how it is right now. The view doesn’t get old, and I feel fortunate to live where I do.

A few days ago a storm rolled through and dusted the top of the mountain with snow and ice. The contrast between the autumn trees and winter weather was intriguing and beautiful. It seemed much too early for these two seasons to meet, but there it was on display for those willing to take a moment to look. It caught my attention, and I proceeded to capture it with my camera.

Despite the front-row seat from my yard, the white mountain peaks were actually a good distance away, and required a long telephoto lens to bring the scene close enough to photograph. Attached to my Fujifilm X-T30 was a Fujinon 50-230mm zoom lens, which is my longest telephoto option. Actually, this lens belongs to my wife, Amanda, but she graciously let me borrow it. I photographed all the pictures in this article from my yard using this camera and lens combination, along with my Velvia film simulation recipe. I hope that you enjoy these pictures of when fall meet winter a few days ago.

Frosted Hill – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Veiled Mountain – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Vibrant White – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Winter Kissed Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Mountainside Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Frosted Autumn – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Peeking Peak – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Lifting Autumn Sky – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30

Photoessay: Suburban B&W

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

You might think that you live in a boring neighborhood. You might think that there’s nothing of interest to photograph where you live. You might think that you have to go somewhere to capture good photographs. This photoessay is intended to debunk that. I live in a boring suburban neighborhood, but I have still made an effort to walk the sidewalks with my camera in hand. This particular collection features some recent black-and-white images that I’ve captured in the neighborhood where I live. In the past I’ve shared many pictures captured in my neighborhood, so these are far from the only ones or even the best ones–they are simply ones that I have not posted on here before. I hope that this article inspires you to get out into your local area with your camera, even if “getting out” is just a short trip around the block.

Home Peek – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 35mm f/2

Shadow Maker – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Suburban Pathway – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Monochrome American Flag – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Asahi Pentax Auto-Takumar 55mm f/2.2

Geo – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Asahi Pentax Auto-Takumar 55mm f/2.2

House Work – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Alaskan Engineer – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Ray Above The Roof – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm

Hill Behind The Homes – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Curious Cow – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

Grey Fence – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 & 35mm

The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, Part 3: Trees

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Part 1 – Water Part 2 – Flowers

Utah is a beautiful state with a diverse environment. There are snow-capped mountain peaks, green forests, extensive lakes, snaking rivers, vast red deserts and pretty much everything in-between. This photoessay series is intended to exhibit that diversity through my photographs, and each part will have a specific theme. This article, which is Part 3 of The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, is about trees.

When a lot of people think of Utah, they think of the red-rock deserts found in the southern part of the state. You might be surprised to learn that approximately 1/3 of Utah is forested. Many of these trees are found in the mountains of the northern region, but even the deserts can be dotted with Pinyon and Juniper. There are a wide range of trees found throughout the state. It shouldn’t be surprising that trees have found their way into my photographs many times, especially in the fall when their leaves turn autumn colors. I’ve noticed that the leaves are already beginning to change this year, so it’s time once again to find some vibrant trees to capture.

Timpanogos September – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F 9/29/2017

Autumn Beginnings – Ogden Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 9/3/2018

Autumn Forest Trail – Fruit Heights, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 10/14/2018

Red Leaves In The Forest – Wasatch Mountain SP, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 10/2/2018

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Fuji Provia 100F'

Vibrant Autumn Forest – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 11/20/2018

Vibrant Forest – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 10/13/2017

Scattering of Red – Fruit Heights, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 9/28/2018

Winter Forest Impression – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 12/27/2018

Night At The Lake – Mirror Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 8/6/2016

Lake In The Uintas – Mirror Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 9/4/2016

Deadwood – Arches NP, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 3/30/2019

Green Tree on Red Cliff – Dead Horse Point SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 3/31/2019

Monte Cristo Snow – Monte Cristo, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 10/16/2016

Winter Saturday Sun – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 2/16/2019

Old Log In Kolob Canyon – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 10/27/2017

Feeling Blue – Canyonlands NP, UT – Fujifilm X-A3 – 2/28/2018

Canyon Pinyon – Canyonlands NP, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 2/28/2018

It’s Not Easy Being Green – Dead Horse Point SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 3/1/2018

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Kodak E 100G'

Yellow Tree Against Red Rock – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 11/20/2018

Sunlight Through The Forest – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 9/13/2018

The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, Part 2: Flowers

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Part 1 – Water Part 3 – Trees

Utah is a beautiful state with a diverse environment. There are snow-capped mountain peaks, green forests, extensive lakes, snaking rivers, vast red deserts and pretty much everything in-between. This photoessay series is intended to exhibit that diversity through my photographs, and each part will have a specific theme. This article, which is Part 2 of The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, is about flowers.

For some people, flower photography is the bread and butter of what they do. I’ve never considered myself a flower photographer, but in the spring and summer when there are beautiful blossoms all around, it’s hard not to find it an interesting subject for the camera. Utah seems like an especially good place to capture the blooming beauty, as there are many lush flower gardens and plentiful wildflowers to choose from, including sometimes one’s own front or backyard.

Flowers:

Vibrant Flowerbed – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 4/29/2019

Little Blooms, Big Blooms – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 4/18/2017

Urban Flowers – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 4/18/2017

Summer Sun Blossoms – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 7/10/2018

At the Edge of the In-Between – South Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 5/28/2017

Dark Rose Blossom – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 6/13/2019

Drops of Water on a Lily – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 7/2/2018

Yellow Tipped Petal Bloom – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 6/22/2018

Beeutiful – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 6/17/2018

Purple Flower Petals – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 5/28/2017

Purple Macro – Heber City, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 10/2/2018

Bloom Purple – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 6/1/2019

Butterfly Bloom – Heber City, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 10/2/2018

Red Tulip – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 5/4/2018

Tulips – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 4/18/2017

Tulip Bloom – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 4/18/2017

Tulips by the Creek – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 4/18/2017

Blossoms By The Pond – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 5/4/2018

Flowers By The Stream – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 5/4/2018

Field of Flowers – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 4/29/2019

Stay tuned for Part 3!

The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, Part 1: Water

Posted on July 5, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Utah is a beautiful state with a diverse environment. There are snow-capped mountain peaks, green forests, extensive lakes, snaking rivers, vast red deserts and pretty much everything in-between. This photoessay series is intended to exhibit that diversity through my photographs, and each part will have a specific theme. This article, which is Part 1 of The Diversity of Utah Landscapes in Color, is about water.

Utah is the second driest state in America based on annual rainfall, but there are massive bodies of water and many miles of rivers. The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake and the sixth largest overall lake in America. Lake Powell, which is on the boarder of Utah and Arizona, is the 23rd largest lake in the country. Utah Lake is the 36th largest lake in America, and Bear Lake is the 47th largest. There are thousands of miles of rivers and streams throughout the state. Despite the lack of rainfall, there’s a surprisingly large amount of water in Utah, and it has been the subject of my photography numerous times.

Great Salt Lake Evening – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 12/26/2018

Low Sun Over The Salt Lake – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 3/11/2019

Afterglow – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 3/11/2019

Blue Sunset – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 6/25/2019

Blue Umbrella At The Lake – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 8/2/2016

Salt Lake Water – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 6/25/2019

East Canyon Reservoir – East Canyon SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 6/13/2019

Logs In A Pond – Wasatch-Cache NF, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – 7/18/2018

Waterfall Into The Ogden River – Ogden Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – 7/1/2019

White Duck – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – 11/15/2018

Kids At The Lake – East Canyon SP, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 9/26/2018

Virgin River From Canyon Junction – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm X100F – 11/20/2018

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Agfa Optima 200 Faded'

River Through Zion – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 11/20/2018

Processed with RNI Films. Preset 'Kodak Ektar 100'

Autumn Along The Virgin River – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 11/20/2018

Virgin River In November – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 11/20/2018

Winter Pond & Tree Trunk – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm XF10 – 1/19/2019

Flaming Gorge – Flaming Gorge, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 7/13/2017

Mirrored Mountain – Mirror Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 9/4/2016

Sunset Kayak – Willard Bay SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 6/13/2017

Clouds At Night – Bear Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-E1 – 9/17/2016

Part 2 – Flowers Part 3 – Trees

Antelope Island State Park In B&W

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Ritchie Roesch

Brush Strokes Over The Great Salt Lake – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

The Great Salt Lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River, the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere and the 33rd largest lake in the world. It’s massive! It can seem almost ocean-like, or perhaps more like a large ocean bay, but it is located far from any ocean. One difference between the Great Salt Lake and an ocean is that the lake is much saltier, and brine shrimp are the only thing alive in it. It is one of Utah’s natural wonders!

The largest island in the Great Salt Lake is Antelope Island, which is 15 miles long and five miles wide. The highest point, Frary Peak, is 6,594′, and is often snow-capped in the winter. It’s accessible by road via a causeway. Antelope Island is managed by the Utah State Park system.

Kit Carson and John C. Fremont, who visited Antelope Island in 1845, gave it its name after hunting pronghorn antelope on the island. Daddy Stump and Fielding Garr would build homes on Antelope Island over the next few years. This is a place that people have been coming to for a long time. In fact, there is evidence that native people have spent time on the island since at least the time of Christ.

Antelope Island seems like a world away from the Salt Lake City metro area, even though it is located very close to the city. It looks remote, and it must have been very remote before the road was built and the city grew. Interestingly enough, the oldest non-Native American structure in Utah is located on the island: an adobe ranch house built in 1848. The Fielding Garr Ranch was a working ranch from 1848 to 1981, and now the old ranch is open to the public for self-guided tours.

Wildlife abounds on Antelope Island, including buffalo, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, big horn sheep and many other animals. At one time the bison herd on Antelope Island was the largest in America. There are a huge variety of birds that migrate across the area.

The water is often calm and the reflections can be incredible. There are sandy beaches. There are trails that curve across the rugged landscape. There is a unique beauty to Antelope Island that draws me back. It’s one of my favorite places to photograph. But it’s also disgusting! There’s a certain “rotten egg” smell that can be found near the shores. There are tons and tons of bugs, including biting no-see-ums, brine flies (that cover the shore like a thick cloud), mosquitoes, tons of spiders (venomous and non-venomous), among other things. It’s pretty common to see dead birds. There’s plenty to love and hate about this place. I try to look beyond the gross to see the beauty.

Something interesting that I’ve discovered since moving to the Salt Lake City area almost three years ago is that most people who grew up in Utah don’t visit Antelope Island. Maybe they went on a school field trip as a kid, but they haven’t been back since. The majority of people you find on the island are from out-of-town. The locals who do visit are often those that moved to the area from someplace else. It’s too bad for those who don’t make the short trip to the island, because they’re really missing out!

Antelope Island is incredibly beautiful and tranquil. It is indeed odd, and one has to purposefully look beyond the negative aspects of the place to truly appreciate it. I feel like it is a secret treasure that is easily overlooked, and I feel honored to have found it and photographed it.

Frary Fence – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Coming Storm – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-A3

Island Beach View – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

White Rock Bay Vista – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-A3

Bush In The Crag – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-A3

Clouds Over The Great Salt Lake – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

White Rock Bay – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Land & Lake Layers – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Promontory Peninsula – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Sunlight Falling On The Salty Water – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Light Streaming Over Antelope Island – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Wasatch Mountains From The Causeway – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Frary Peak Reflected – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Deer Statue – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Old Salty Stump – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Frozen Stump – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Ice, Lake & Mountains – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Cracked Earth – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Buffalo Snow – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20

Bison In The Road – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Area Closed For Bison – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

One Buffalo – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-A3

Pulling Hard – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Park Patrol – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

On The Fence – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

State Park Workday – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Waiting Game – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Leather Gloves – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X100F

Circle Hashtag – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Fielding Garr Ranch Fence – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Empty Marina – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Boys Playing In The Great Salt Lake – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-E1

Pollution – Antelope Island SP, UT – Fujifilm X-T20