Photography | FUJI X WEEKLY

AI is Helpful and Harmful to Photography

I watched a Casey Neistat video yesterday about AI, and it made me wonder how this technology will be helpful and harmful for photography. AI is not going away. Photography isn’t going away, either—at least not anytime soon. What kind of impact will AI have on it? How do we move forward?

Let’s start with the harmful. Below are some quick thoughts on why AI is bad for photography:

Devaluation of human craft. AI images lack human story, skill, and effort, yet still compete with actual photos, diminishing appreciation for what is real. Art requires human effort; fake art is faux-art.
Job displacement. Photographers, photo editors, and even models will—and have already begun to—lose work as AI tools and generative systems become cheaper alternatives to paying people to create real pictures.
Authenticity issues. AI blurs the line between real and artificial, contributing to a distrust in images. Oftentimes, our first thought is: is this AI?
Loss of style. As computers take over what once was individual choices, everyone’s photos will start to look alike. There will be fewer and fewer new aesthetics.
Ethical & copyright concerns. AI has been trained on real works by real people without their consent or compensation. Cases currently being hashed out in courts are likely to determine that companies illegally trained their AI models, but the damage has already been done, and the little guys—that’s you and me—will not get even a penny for it, while Disney and other large companies will get large settlements.
Fundamentals skipped. When cameras and software can do everything for you, technical skills and creativity will become less important and less prevalent.
Cultural & artistic dilution. Photography’s value as a historical and artistic medium will erode when infinite machine-created images overshadow real human moments. AI will increase the total number of consumable images available by leaps and bounds, and non-AI images will be more easily lost in the massive pile of AI slop.
Energy consumption. AI takes a lot of power and resources. By 2030, it’s expected that up to 9% of all electricity generated in the U.S. will go to power AI. That’s shocking!

Now, let’s look at the positive. Below are some quick thoughts on why AI is good for photography:

Powerful tools. AI can be used to remove distractions by handling tedious tasks, freeing photographers to focus on other things. A very smart friend of mine told me once, “I’m not afraid of losing my job to AI; I’m afraid of losing my job to someone who’s better at AI than I am.”
More proficiency. AI can help you do more. What once took a team of people can be done with just one or two.
Accessibility. Photography has never been more approachable for beginners, those less experienced, those without expensive gear, and those lacking technical knowledge. And it’s only going to get easier and easier. Literally, anyone and everyone can be (and is already) a photographer.
Authenticity revolution. As AI images and AI altered photographs become more and more common, the natural response will be a yearning for what’s real. Authenticity will become even more valuable. Unedited digital photos and film photography have been gaining popularity, a trend that will continue to grow and grow as a pushback against AI.

My view is that AI is largely bad, but it can be good. It certainly can’t be ignored. So how do we navigate such treacherous waters? I don’t use AI often, but I use it sometimes. Like with most things, moderation is key. Use AI wisely, and not for everything. Let me share some recent examples of how I used AI.

The most obvious is the image at the top, which isn’t particularly good. It illustrates the topic of this article well enough, though. I was able to generate it in a few seconds with just a few words typed out. A few months back I used AI to animate a small section of my YouTube video to help tell a story. Those are pedestrian uses of the technology, and not anything to get excited over.

*Pool Remnant* – Rodanthe, NC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodak Tri-X 400 Recipe

Where it really came in handy for me is back at the start of summer. I found a deal on an RV rental. This particular unit needed to be relocated from Miami to Boston, and it needed to get there in two weeks. Anyone willing to do it would get 75% off the rental cost. Driving up the East Coast in an RV is something that my wife and I had talked about doing for a few years, but it just wasn’t practical. Suddenly, this discount was available and we happened to have a hole in our calendar, so it was like fate. Even the airline tickets were surprisingly affordable to Miami and from Boston, especially considering that it was a last-minute purchase. The only problem is that we barely had time to pack, let alone plan an entire trip up the Atlantic coast. So I used AI to plan it for me.

I told it when and where I was starting and ending, and let it choose the whole route, including where to park the RV at night. I made some RV park reservations (AI even provided the websites and phone numbers for that), and soon we were on our flight to Miami. While not perfect, AI did a better job at planning the trip than I could have, and it did it in seconds, where it would have taken me hours and hours. I was surprised and impressed. I would definitely do that again.

In fact, I did do it again, but on a much smaller scale. I visited the Great Smoky Mountains for the first time a few weeks ago, specifically for fall color photography. I wasn’t sure where I should take my camera and what time of day might be best for those locations, so I had AI do that research for me. It was tremendously helpful, and saved me probably an hour or two of research.

*Golden Appalachian Light* – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Amber Recipe

When I’m creating new Film Simulation Recipes and I’m researching films stocks, I have used AI to help with the investigation. While AI is great for research, it isn’t always right. Sometimes it gives a wrong answer. Sometimes, if you ask it the same question twice, you’ll get two very different answers. These instances of inaccuracy and inconsistency does call into question if AI is trustworthy at all. It seems to be moderately trustworthy, and requires double-checking its responses for anything remotely important.

Different AI models are better at various tasks than others, but none of them are good at creating Film Simulation Recipes—at least not yet. Initially, AI was quite terrible at this, often giving nonexistent or nonsensical settings. It’s better now, but still quite mediocre. It doesn’t have a good grasp on what the practical consequences are of camera setting adjustments. If you ask it to create the exact same look more than once, you’re sure to get two notably divergent answers. As someone once told me: AI will often give a better answer than a complete novice, but rarely a better answer than an expert. You can see the progress over the last couple of years, and I’m sure there will be continued improvements, but we’re not there yet when it comes to Fujifilm Recipes.

I think that navigating AI requires using it. If you are not at least somewhat comfortable with the technology and proficient at it, you might (as my friend worries) lose your job to someone who is better at it than you are. But moderation is still the key. Use it when it might actually be helpful. Don’t use it for everything. In fact, using it for everything might be to your detriment.

Some recent studies suggest that over-dependence on AI can reduce critical thinking skills, memory, and creativity. It might also make you lazier and feel less motivated. A quick Google search reveals headlines like AI Is Making You Dumber, Yet Another Study Finds that AI is Making Us Dumb, Science Shows AI is Probably Making You Dumber, Studies Prove It: AI Makes Us Dumb, and so many more. The key seems to be how you use it, and clearly less is more.

AI can be a powerful tool, and using it affectively can be a great benefit. It can save you a lot of time and increase productivity. It can help open some doors that might otherwise be impractical to open. But there’s also a negative side to it, and overusing it can have negative side effects on your mental health. It seems tricky to navigate. I think, though, that the technology will become more integrated and more seamless, and soon we’ll be using AI without even realizing it. Perhaps, in a few years, things will get sorted out, and it won’t be such a treacherous path. In the meantime, consider moderation as the safest route through this tricky time—not ignoring AI entirely, and not using it for everything, either.

What I did last Weekend — Photowalk & Portrait Lighting Class

Posted on April 7 by Ritchie Roesch

*Photographing Phoenix* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Nostalgic Film

This last weekend, Nuzira, an up-and-coming camera store in Scottsdale, Arizona, that’s Fujifilm-centric, hosted two awesome events. First, on Friday, I co-lead a photowalk in downtown Arizona with Christopher Berry, Ryan Faer, Darin Watkins, and Lucas White (of Nuzira). Then, on Saturday, Christopher held a portrait lighting class at the camera store. Both were so great! Thank you, Nuzira, for making these happen, and I’m honored to have been a part of it.

The photowalk was awesome! I didn’t count, but my estimated guess is that about 35 people came out, give or take a few. It was a great group, with a lot of interesting conversations. Because of the First Friday Art Walk, it was very busy downtown, and unfortunately—due to the crowds—the group got separated at times; however, I think everyone had a good time, and I’d certainly call it a success. These type of community building events are so important, where face-to-face conversations can be had and friendships can be formed, so I hope to see more of these in the future.

My 11-year-old son, Joshua, came along. This was his first photowalk, and he seemed to enjoy the experience. I let him use my Fujifilm X70. I brought a Fujifilm X100VI, and used a TCL-X100 teleconverter lens for most of the pictures. While I like the 23mm (35mm-equivalent) focal length, I prefer the 50mm-equivalent focal-length just a little more. I want to give a special thanks to everyone who came out—it’s because of you that these events happen.

Above: Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak Portra 400 v2, Kodak Tri-X 400, and Film Dial Recipes

*Christopher Berry Teaching* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

On Saturday morning, Christopher Berry taught a portrait lighting class at the Nuzira store. He’s a talented photographer from Tucson who is insanely skilled at studio lighting. More than 25 years ago I learned studio lighting in college, but that was ages ago, and I don’t remember much—needless to say, I was very rusty. This refresher was long overdue for me, and I’m so glad that Nuzira brought Chris up to teach it. This is something that I’d pay money for, but it was completely free!

The class was great because everyone got some one-on-one hands-on opportunities. It wasn’t just teaching theories, but putting it to practice. While I don’t have much of an interest in portrait photography personally, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of lighting, which is kind of a critical aspect of photography. Thanks, Chris, for all the great information and advice! I learned a lot.

Besides that, I got to see the new Fujifilm GFX100RF and Instax Wide Evo in-person. And there were donuts, too. It was well worth the drive across town. If Nuzira does something like this again, I certainly hope that I can make it, or be a part of it in some way.

Above: Fujifilm GFX100S II & Fujinon 80mm f/1.7 – Film Dial Recipes (the portraits were with the Reala Ace film simulation)

I’d really like to see more photography events happen—not just in Phoenix, but across the country. We can all learn from each other, and in-person connections are, unfortunately, lacking in our modern society. Camera stores, clubs, and manufacturers can help to facilitate events. This shouldn’t be a one-time thing—it would be great to see more photowalks and classes pop up all over the place. I hope they do. And if there is one in your area, definitely make an effort to attend.

Travel Adventure: Charleston, South Carolina — Part 1, Days 1 & 2

Posted on March 31 by Ritchie Roesch

*Storage Sunset* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – The Rockwell – Day 1

My kids had their spring break last week, and Amanda and I had decided to travel somewhere with the family while they were off from school. Although we had wanted to do a trip, we hadn’t made a decision regarding where we were going to go until a few weeks ago. The destination was a last minute decision. We had a few different places in mind, but something was holding us back from choosing one of them.

We didn’t throw darts at a map to decide, but a month ago we were not thinking South Carolina at all. Charleston just kind of came up out of nowhere in our consciousness near the beginning of March. Amanda had wanted to visit South Carolina ever since she did a report on the state in elementary school many years ago, but we never talked about going except for “maybe someday” types of comments. I didn’t know much at all about Charleston or South Carolina personally, but as I looked into it a couple of weeks before spring break, I was really intrigued by what I saw—we all were intrigued, I think, not just me. So we purchased some airline tickets, and less than two weeks later we were at 35,000 feet over El Paso en route to Charleston.

Even though spring break was from March 15th through the 23rd, we had some prior plans, so we couldn’t go exactly over the kids’ time off, and had to modify it a little. Thankfully, the schooling is flexible, and there were no issues with that aspect. As a bonus, flights were cheaper leaving Wednesday and returning Tuesday. It all just seemed to work out really well.

I wasn’t intending to write a travel series for this trip. Even when I got back home, my mind was on other things (such as completing and publishing the Universal Negative Recipe set). Now that nearly a week has gone by since returning back to Arizona, and I’ve had some time to sit on it, I decided that I should share our journey, in case some of you are also considering a trip to Charleston. Or maybe—like me—this city is not on your radar; however, you might just become intrigued as you learn more.

Day 1 — Wednesday, March 19th

*Playing at the Playground* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Cinematic Film

We were very busy the days before the trip. All four kids were in The Sound of Music stage performance for the City of Goodyear. Johanna was Gretl von Trapp, while Joshua was Kurt. Joy was a nun and Jonathan was an Austrian. Some family had traveled from out-of-state to see it, and we were hosting until the day before our departure. We hurriedly completed last-minute errands and packed our bags. We got to bed around midnight. Then the alarm sounded at 2:45 am. It was time to get up so we could make our 6 am flight. Yikes!

This day is kind of a blur. We made it to the airport and through security without any issues, but we were definitely dragging. Once on the plane, we all tried to sleep, and I think we all did. We landed in Houston a few hours later, and changed planes. The connecting flight was in a different terminal, but aside from a lot of walking, it was pretty easy. We were still dragging, though. The flight from Houston to Charleston was fine, and we all tried to sleep a little more. This was a lot easier when I was in my 20’s.

We arrived in South Carolina, got our bags and rental car, and headed to our AirBnB, which was in North Charleston. The house was nice, but it’s proximity to Park Circle (a trendy neighborhood) was overstated on the listing, and maybe that’s why it was more affordable than the others in the area. Anyway, we made ourselves at home, maybe even took a short nap, and then it was dinnertime. At this point, the only thing we had eaten all day were the airplane snacks and some trail mix and granola bars we had brought with us.

After dinner, it was nearing sunset, so we found the park that is at the center of Park Circle, and let the kids run around and play for 30 minutes or so. There was a very nice and extensive playground for them to explore, and I can understand why it’s desirable for those with children to be near this location. I had grabbed my Fujifilm X-E4 with the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 pancake before leaving the house. It’s such an easy camera to carry around, which makes it perfect for travel. I didn’t do much photography on this day, though. As the sun was disappearing, we were getting bit up by no-see-ums, so we called it good, and headed back to our AirBnB for the night.

*Red Pole* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – RedScale

*Tube Slide Abstract* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – RedScale

*Geometric* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodak Tri-X 400

*Palm & Oak* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Redscale

Day 2 — Thursday, March 20th

*Above the Fence* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2

Due to the lack of sleep the day before, we decided to not set any alarms and just get rest—have an easy morning. So we slept in. And we were not yet used to the three-hour time difference, so by the time we got going for the day, the day was nearly half over. I suppose this was a recovery day of sorts.

While it was partly sunny in the late-morning and early-afternoon, it soon turned thick overcast and then poured rain for several hours, clearing out just after sunset. We explored Summerville a little, but the rain kept us mostly indoors. We had seen the forecast, so we didn’t make many plans for this day, figuring it best to wait until the weather was better to accomplish our agenda.

I got in a little photography, but not much. I used my Fujifilm GFX100S II with a Fujinon 80mm f/1.7 lens and my Fujifilm X-T4 ES (infrared) with a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens around the house before the sun disappeared behind the clouds. After dinner, I grabbed a couple of snaps with my Fujifilm X-E4 and 27mm. Two days in, and the number of photographs I had created thus far could be counted on my fingers. I was a bit disappointed by that, but we were still early into the trip, and hadn’t really seen anything yet—the fun stuff was still upcoming.

*Dried Plant Decor* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Fujicolor Film

*Watch for the Wasp* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

*Tree, House* – North Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome V2

*Alligators & Snakes* – Summerville, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues

*Sunset through Bare Branches* – Summerville, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Velvia Film

Part 2

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm GFX100S II:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon 27mm f/2.8:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

52 Weeks of Photography: Week 8

Posted on February 19 by Ritchie Roesch

*Lonely Table* – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Upcoming Recipe

Week 7

This is a one-year photo-a-day project called 52 Weeks of Photography. Even though it is a year-long undertaking, I’m taking it one week at a time, because it’s a little easier to manage many small blocks than one large chunk. This is the eighth week, so the eighth set of seven images.

The reason why I’m doing this 365 Day project is because I noticed some gaps in-between my images last year. I didn’t pick up my cameras daily. On several occasions, four or five days passed by without a single picture created. Twice in 2024, I skipped a whole week. I want to rectify this, and get back into the habit of daily photography. I also want to elevate the quality of my craft in 2025, and am hoping that this will help.

*GFX100S II & 30mm* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 & 90mm f/2 – Reggie’s Portra

The plan is to capture a year’s worth of notable images, either personally or artistically. Ansel Adams famously stated, “Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” It’s important to keep expectations realistic, but I’m also trying to avoid thoughtless snapshots just to fulfill the day’s requirement. I want to push myself to be better, and hopefully that will happen. Not every photo will be great—in fact, most won’t—but I hope they are all at least decent enough to be shared without embarrassment.

I wasn’t especially productive or unproductive this week. There are a handful of photographs that I really like, and a fair number of mediocre ones. I do feel that grabbing a camera and making pictures daily is becoming more natural—I believe the habit is setting in; however, I do need to press myself to be more creative on some days.

Below are the eighth set of seven pictures from this 52 Weeks of Photography project.

Tuesday, February 11th, 2025

*Cat Under Arch* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Upcoming Recipe

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

*Night Owl* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II & 30mm f/3.5 – Kodak Tri-X 400

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

*Leaf on a Wet Windshield* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Upcoming Recipe

Friday, February 14th, 2025

*Seat Stripes* – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Upcoming Recipe

Saturday, February 15th, 2025

*Light on a Dark Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & 27mm f/2.8 – RedScale

Sunday, February 16th, 2025

*Handle Shadows* – Glendale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Upcoming Recipe

Monday, February 17th, 2025

*Nature & Structure* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – RedScale

Week 9

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm GFX100S II:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon GF 30mm f/3.5:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon 27mm f/2.8:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex
Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira

Limitations Improve Art: The Creative Power of Constraints

Posted on January 31 by Ritchie Roesch

*Round Window* – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Tri-X 400

There’s been a lot of talk lately on the subject of limitations. Can a camera with fewer features actually make you a better photographer? Does the restraint of straight-out-of-camera photography force you to consider more deeply your creative choices? Were the autofocus woes of 2024 actually a blessing in disguise for some because they used that opportunity to learn new techniques and better anticipate the decisive moment? It seems counterintuitive, but can limitations actually improve your photography?

Many artists, including photographers, have discovered that constraints—whether intentional or unintentional—can actually improve creativity and technical skills. Composer Igor Stravinsky famously stated, “The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself of the chains that shackle the spirit.” Simply put, less is more.

*Red Yucca in the White Sand* – White Sands NP, NM – Fujifilm X-T4 ES – Aerochrome v2

Photography, like any other art form, thrives on creative problem-solving. When you limit your tools, you’re forced to think outside-the-box. For example, if you self-imposed the limitation of using just one prime lens for an entire month, you’d quickly learn how to frame shots differently, how to move to get the best composition, and how to make the most of the gear you have. Instead of endlessly swapping lenses (or constantly zooming in-and-out), you’d refine your eye.

Film Simulation Recipes are an excellent example of how restrictions can fuel creativity. In order to choose the most appropriate Recipe for your style and the specific situation, you may have to consider more deeply the colors and light of the scene in front of you. This might help improve both your vision and execution.

*11th Avenue* – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – SantaColor

Another benefit of limitations is technical improvement. When you take away some of your tools—perhaps some features that you’ve convinced yourself you need—it forces you to master the fundamentals. Let’s say you decide to shoot fully manual for a week. It might be frustrating for the first few days, but then your ability to judge exposure, your understanding of the exposure-triangle, and your manual-focus skills will skyrocket.

The same applies to using a single film simulation for a project. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how color and tonality interact. You’ll learn when Classic Chrome’s Kodak-like palette works best, or when Velvia’s vibrant colors are more appropriate. The more experience you have with film simulations and Recipes, the better you will be at getting the most out of them.

*Flowers & Fruit* – Austin, TX – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor Blue

Pablo Picasso once said, “If you have five elements available, use only four. If you have four elements, use only three.” Working within a framework forces us to be more deliberate, more thoughtful, and ultimately more innovative. This is where creativity lives. Orson Wells put it this way: “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.”

If you want to push your photography further, try setting some limits. Use only one camera and one lens for a month. Or shoot only black and white for a week. Stick to a single Film Simulation Recipe for an entire project. Maybe try an older, less capable camera for awhile. Or disable a feature that you often rely on, like auto-ISO or IBIS. If a certain limitation is forced on you—you didn’t choose it—don’t fret; instead, let it propel you to greater heights. You might be surprised at just how much you grow as a photographer. In the end, art isn’t about having the most or best tools—it’s about how well you use the ones you have. Limitations aren’t roadblocks; they’re opportunities, stepping stones to mastery. Constraints aren’t just a path to creativity, they are the path.

52 Weeks of Photography: Week 5

Posted on January 29 by Ritchie Roesch

*Visit Palms* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II & 80mm f/1.7 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

Week 4

*Toilet Trash* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 ES & 35mm f/2 – Upcoming Recipe

I had three especially productive days this week, and four not-so-productive ones. On two of the days, I barely met the minimum obligation, and nearly chalked them up as losses; however, I decided that there was one photo on each day that was just good enough to share, so by the skin-of-my-teeth I made it. I have built into this project two days that I can miss, just knowing that life happens, and it would have been a shame to have used both of them on week five, especially since I didn’t have a good excuse. Thankfully, I didn’t have to, but I do need to be a bit more careful and purposeful moving forward.

Below are the fifth set of seven pictures from this 52 Weeks of Photography project.

Tuesday, January 21st, 2025

*Red Tree Trunk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 & 90mm f/2 – Provia Summer

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025

*Bougainvillea Blossom Bunches* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II & 80mm f/1.7 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

*Light, Color, Texture* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 ES & 35mm f/2 – Upcoming Recipe

Friday, January 24th, 2025

*Orange Desert* – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 ES & 35mm f/2 – Upcoming Recipe

Saturday, January 25th, 2025

*Balloons* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II & 80mm f/1.7 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

Sunday, January 26th, 2025

*Amphibious Vehicle Ramp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II & 80mm f/1.7 – Nostalgic Film

Monday, January 27th, 2025

*Leaf Pile* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 + 27mm f/2.8 – Pacific Blues

Week 6

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm GFX100S II:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon 27mm f/2.8:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex
Fujinon 35mm f/2 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujinon 35mm f/2 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujinon 90mm f/2:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

New Year, New Project: 52 Weeks of Photography — Part 1, Introduction & 1st Week

Posted on January 1, 2025 by Ritchie Roesch

*Young Yucca* – White Sands NP, NM – Fujifilm GFX100S II + 80mm f/1.7 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

It’s officially 2025! Happy New Year’s Day, everyone!

I started a new 365 Day photo project, which I’m calling 52 Weeks of Photography, back on Christmas Eve. This article is simply the introduction of the project, and the first set of seven images. I’m pretty excited to do this, and hope you appreciate following along on this journey.

This isn’t the first time that I’ve done a 365 Day photo project—I did one from August 2018 through August 2019. I developed the habit of picking up a camera daily, and my photography improved from start to finish. Also, I captured some photographs that I wouldn’t have otherwise, a few of which I was quite happy with. There is definitely a benefit to doing this type of thing. Professional athletes and musicians practice daily, so why shouldn’t photographers?

The reason why I’m doing this now is because I noticed gaps in-between my images. I haven’t been picking up my cameras daily. On several occasions, four or five days have gone by without a single picture created. Twice in 2024, a whole week passed. I want to rectify this, and get back into the habit of daily photography. I also want to elevate the quality of my craft in 2025, and am hoping this will help with that.

*Full Service* – Idalou, TX – Fujifilm X-T5 + 56mm f/1.2 – Superia Negative

I’ve set some ground rules for myself. I’m taking things one week at a time. That’s a little easier mentally than looking at it as one whole year chunk. If I mess up on a week, I’ll simply extend the project by a week; however, I’m also giving myself two grace days. I’d actually like to finish this on Christmas Day, which is 367 days from the start. If I miss two days, that’s perfectly ok. If I miss three to seven days, this project will be extended by one week. I think it’s good to build-in some breathing room, because life happens.

My hope is to capture a year’s worth of notable images, either personally or artistically. Ansel Adams famously stated, “Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” It’s important to keep expectations realistic, but I’m also trying to avoid thoughtless snapshots just to fulfill the day’s requirement. I want to push myself to be better, and hopefully that will happen. Not every photo will be great—in fact, most won’t—but I hope they are all at least decent enough to be shared without embarrassment.

Below are the first set of seven pictures from this 52 Weeks of Photography project.

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024

*Christmas Candle* – Haslet, TX – Fujifilm X100VI – Superia Negative

Wednesday, December 25th, 2024

*Fox & Jo* – Flower Mound, TX – Fujifilm X-T5 + 56mm f/1.2 – Reggie’s Portra

Thursday, December 26th, 2024

*Santa Display* – Princeton, TX – Fujifilm X-T5 + 56mm f/1.2 – Kodak Portra 400 v2

Friday, December 27th, 2024

*West Texas Sunset* – Idalou, TX – Fujifilm X-T5 + 56mm f/1.2 – Superia Negative

Saturday, December 28th, 2024

*Red Yucca in the White Sand* – White Sands NP, NM – Fujifilm X-T4 ES + 35mm f/2 – Aerochrome v2

Sunday, December 29th, 2024

*Fire, Truck* – Lordburg, NM – Fujifilm GFX100S II + 80mm f/1.7 – 1970’s Summer

Monday, December 30th, 2024

*Cactus Pads* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100S II + 80mm f/1.7 – Superia Negative

Week 2

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm GFX100S II:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon GF 80mm f/1.7:
Amazon, B&H, Wex
Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 R WR:
Amazon, B&H, Wex, Nuzira

Ann Arbor & Philadelphia are Quickly Approaching!

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Rainbows over Philly* – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor Film Recipe

On November 9th—in less than two weeks—I will be co-leading a free photowalk in downtown Ann Arbor with Fujifilm X-Photographer Bryan Minear, who is incredibly talented. If you are unfamiliar with Bryan, check out this short video (click here). It’s a true honor to collaborate with him on this photowalk. We’re partnering with PROCAM and Fujifilm, too—it’s definitely a group effort to pull this off!

For those who live in Ann Arbor, Michigan—as well as the surrounding areas—be sure to join us. Detroit is right there. Toledo and Lansing aren’t too far. Grand Rapids, Cleveland, and Fort Wayne are a pretty far drive, but some people have traveled longer distances than that for the other photowalks—if it’s not too far for you, I’d love to meet you in person. If you think that you can join us, you will need to sign up (click here to register), but it’s quick and easy to do, and best of all FREE!

We will meet somewhere in downtown Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 9th, at 10 AM. The exact meetup spot is TBD, but we will email it out to everyone who signs up once it has been finalized. Afterwards, we will head over to PROCAM for some refreshments. It’s going to be a great time!

*Doggles* – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X-T50 – Nostalgic Americana Recipe

One week later—on November 16th—I will co-lead a photowalk in Philadelphia with Allan Ali, who is a local legend. We teamed up for a photowalk back in August, and it was truly great! This photowalk through the historic and beautiful Old City is in conjunction with Unique Photo as a part of their two day Camera Show. Even if you don’t join the photowalk, at least come to the Camera Show, because it will be completely worthwhile (and while you’re there, you might as well come along on the photowalk 😀).

If you are in Philadelphia or even as far as New York City, I hope you can join us. This one is from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM, and will include a short classroom presentation. The cost is $10 per person (but you get it back with a $10 token for in-store purchases), and you must preregister (click here). Space is limited, so if you want to come, don’t procrastinate—for August, it filled up rather quickly, and I’m sure this one will, too.

I’m looking forward to seeing some of you in Ann Arbor and Philadelphia very soon!

Upcoming Photowalks in Ann Arbor and Philadelphia!!

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

There are two upcoming photowalks in November that I’m excited to announce: Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Be sure to mark your calendars now!

First up is Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 9th, with Fujifilm X-Photographer Bryan Minear. Bryan is incredibly talented, and it will be a true honor to co-lead a photowalk with him. I guarantee that you’ve seen his work before (even if you are not sure that you have, you probably have—and if you haven’t, you are missing out). I met Bryan in New York in May, and he’s just a really great person. We’re partnering with PROCAM for this free photowalk, and Fujifilm is involved, too. Some of the details are still being worked out, but for those in Michigan, know that this is happening, so be on the lookout for more information, which I will share with you just as soon as I can. This is one that you don’t want to miss!

One week later is Philadelphia on Saturday, November 16th, at Unique Photo as a part of their two day Camera Show. Just like the August photowalk in Philadelphia, this one will be co-led by myself and Allan Ali, who is a local legend. It was so great to work with him, and I’m looking forward to doing it again next month (hopefully this time it doesn’t poor rain on us 🤣). If you are in Philadelphia or even as far as New York City, I hope you can join us. This one is from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM, and will include a short classroom presentation. The cost is $10 per person, and you must preregister (click here). Space is limited, so if you want to come, don’t procrastinate—for August, it filled up rather quickly, and I’m sure this one will, too. The last photowalk that Allan and I did with Unique Photo in Philadelphia was just incredible, so I’m stoked that we can do it again real soon.

Hopefully there will be a little more to announce in the near future. Be sure to check in now and then so you don’t miss out. For those in Michigan and Pennsylvania, I hope to see you in-person real soon!

Join me at the NAB Show in New York City!!

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 + Pushed Analog Recipe*

Hey, everyone! I will be at the NAB Show in New York City on October 9th and 10th, leading three photowalks. These photowalks will be small groups, meaning that there will be tons of opportunity for one-on-one conversations. This is a teaching photowalk—I’m there to help you—so bring whatever questions you might have, and I’ll make it as informative and educational as I can. The photowalks will take place in the vicinity of the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Midtown West Manhattan.

Fujifilm will be offering “an immersive journey into the world of photography and videography.” As a part of this, there will be 24 photowalks hosted by a variety of extraordinarily talented creators. Seriously, I would love to attend all of these photowalks myself—this is a don’t-miss opportunity!

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 + Cinematic Film Recipe*

I will be leading three photowalks: October 9th at 10:30 AM, October 9th at 2:00 PM, and October 10th at 11:00 AM. The theme of my photowalks are Straight Out of Camera Photography—we’re going to “put the legendary Fujifilm colors to the test and learn to craft polished images in-camera to streamline your process.” Basically, we’re going to use various Film Simulation Recipes to photograph New York City. Bring your favorite Fujifilm camera; also, this will be an opportunity to get hands-on with some of the latest X-series gear, so bring a spare SD card.

The themes of the other photowalks are Video Visuals, Camera-to-Cloud, Film Simulations, Couples Portraiture, Street Photography, and Social Reels. These photowalks are free; however, you must preregister for the photowalk that you want to attend, and also be registered for NAB. While NAB is not free, if you follow this link (click here), you can get free registration! Those of you who live in the NYC area will want to come for certain. Spaces are very limited, so don’t procrastinate—sign up today!

I hope to see you in New York City in October!

It’s Been Awhile… Still on the Road — It’s going great!

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Frank* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50 & Fujinon 27mm – Kodak Tri-X 400 Recipe

I’ve been on the road almost all of August. I’ve traveled from the west coast to the east coast, and stopped at a few places in-between. It’s been an epic three weeks of travel, and I’m not home yet.

Because I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to publish anything on Fuji X Weekly (until today …briefly, anyway), answer your comments, or respond to your emails. I will get to them as soon as I have the opportunity—I apologize for the delay, and appreciate your patience.

I have so much content to share! I have many various articles and photographs to post, and I hate that I can’t just type it all out right now. Once I’m back home, I will busily get it all ready for publication. Expect most of it to be published throughout September.

Today, while I have a quick opportunity, I wanted to briefly shoutout both the Nashville and Philadelphia photowalks. These were the last two on the tour. It was so great to meet you all in your hometowns, and it was an honor to photograph with you. Those two photowalks, which were just two days apart, were such a great way to conclude the series.

41 people showed up for the Nashville photowalk. It was in the middle of the week, which I think made it a little more difficult for people attend. I’m so thankful to everyone who did make it out. There was a bit of a mixup in the meetup location, which delayed the start. Once we began… Broadway is such a busy road! I had never been to Nashville, and I had no clue that the there would be gobs and gobs of people on the sidewalks. Because of this, there were a ton of photo opportunities everywhere (literally every spot you looked), but also it was impossible to stay together as a group, and difficult to have conversations. Still, it seemed like everyone had a great time. A special thanks to Gabe Wasylko for co-leading the photowalk, to Fujifilm for all the behind-the-scenes work to make it happen, and The Pixel Connection for all your help and support!

Here are a few photos that I captured on the Nashville photowalk:

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 27mm +* *Velvia Film Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 27mm + Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T4 ES + Fujinon 35mm f/2 + upcoming IR Recipe*

The Philadelphia photowalk was great… but we also got soaked. I counted 49 people, who came out despite the forecasted rain (apparently it’s not always sunny in Philadelphia…). I gave a short presentation on film simulations and Film Simulation Recipes, then we headed out with our cameras to tour the historic Old City district. As we were making our way back the sky broke open and it just poured. It didn’t last long, but those without weather-sealed gear (myself included) got to test out if the rain would really ruin our cameras. The X-T50 I had made it through unscathed. Anyway, thank you to all those who braved the weather to come along—it was so great to meet you! Also, a special thanks to Allan Ali for co-leading the photwalk, to Fujifilm for all the behind-the-scenes work, and Unique Photo for hosting!

Here are a few photos that I captured at the Philadelphia photowalk:

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 27mm + Pacific Blues Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 27mm + Nostalgic Americana Recipe*

Denver was Amazing – San Diego is Next!!

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

The Film Simulation Summer Photowalk this past Saturday in Denver was a huge success! We had a ton of fun. The weather was perfect and the vibe was great. It was so wonderful to meet everyone!

The turnout was just incredible—almost everyone who signed up showed up, which is nearly unheard of for free photowalks (a 50%-60% turnout is more typical). Despite the lead time being so short—it was officially announced just days before the event—there were between 60 and 65 photographers that came out. The furthest away someone traveled for this photowalk was Italy(!!). I was blown away by the turnout, but I was even more impressed with the kindness and spirit of those who came—you all are awesome people!

It wasn’t without a hitch. A police officer approached us before we even began, and with an aggressive voice wanted to know what we were doing. I told him that we were just there for photography, and he was satisfied with that answer. Apparently someone (not from our group) had set off an alarm, and he was investigating that. He moved along and all was good, but for a moment I wondered if the photowalk was going to end before even beginning. There were a couple of other small issues that we had to work through. Overall, though, it just went really well. If the next three photowalks are only half as good as this one was, they will all be great!

Speaking of the next three photowalks:

San Diego is only four days way! We’re meeting on August 9th at 2 PM at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. It’s 70% full, but there’s still some space available for anyone who wishes to join us.

Nashville is on August 15th. Pixel Connection is having a popup event from 4-7 PM, and our photowalk follows that at 7:15 PM at the Cumberland Park Amphitheater. There’s still plenty of space available. If you know anyone in Tennessee or the surrounding area who might be interested in attending, please help spread the word.

Philadelphia is on August 17th at Unique Photo at 4:15 PM. This photowalk is 100% fully booked!!!

Click here for more information and to register for San Diego or Nashville. I cannot wait to meet you all in person. This is going to be epic!

I didn’t get to do a whole lot of photography at the Denver photowalk (I was too busy chatting, which was great!), but below are some of my pictures, all camera-made JPEGs captured on a Fujifilm X-T50 & Fujinon 16-50mm lens:

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 16-50mm lens + upcoming Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 16-50mm lens + Superia Negative Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 16-50mm lens + Nostalgic Americana Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 16-50mm lens + Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 16-50mm lens + Kodak Tri-X 400 Recipe*

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T50 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in charcoal:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

Free Fuji X Weekly Photowalks Coming Soon!

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Golden Architecture* – San Diego, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86 Recipe

Join me on a free Film Simulation Summer Photowalk!

I’ll be in four different cities—Denver, San Diego, Nashville, and Philadelphia—in August, which means these will come up fast. The photowalks will be jointly hosted by myself and another photographer, as well as a local camera store, and is sponsored by Fujifilm. It takes a lot of collaboration for these to happen, but I think that only makes them better.

This isn’t the official announcement. I’m hoping that I can give you all of the details by the end of the week; however, August is right around the corner, and I want to start getting the word out so that those who may wish to attend have a chance to make plans. Look for the official announcement by this coming weekend, or maybe early next week at the latest. I’ll spread the word as best as I can on social media once everything has been set, but definitely check back if you haven’t seen anything by early next week.

Above: Some pictures from a recent photowalk that I cohosted in Scottsdale, Arizona.

For now, just know that I’ll be in Denver, San Diego, Nashville, and Philadelphia soon. Denver will be on Saturday, August 3rd (time and location TBD). San Diego is tentatively scheduled for August 9th (time and location TBD). Nashville and Philadelphia will be shortly thereafter. Again, once I have all of the details finalized, I’ll let you know. Hopefully this is enough information that those in Denver and San Diego can begin making initial plans to attend, and those in Nashville and Philadelphia can begin looking forward to it.

We’re going to have so much fun! It will be an opportunity to meet fellow Fujifilm photographers, try out X and GFX gear, learn more about Fujifilm’s Film Simulations, put Recipes to work, and more. You won’t want to miss it!

The best part for me will be meeting you all. If you live in or near any of these four cities, I hope that you’ll be able to join us. I look forward to chatting and photographing with you in person in August!

Fujifilm Photowalk was a Success!

Posted on May 7, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

Captured on RitchieCam.

Yesterday’s Fuji X Weekly + Nuzira collaborative Fujifilm photowalk in Scottsdale, Arizona, was a huge success! Altogether, 16 people showed up, including myself and Lucas White of Nuzira. It was a great group of photographers, and I think everyone had a good time. Most were local to the Phoenix metro area, but three came from Ohio and one from South Dakota—they were in the area, and it just happened to work out that they could attend. It was such an honor to co-lead everyone through Old Town Scottsdale!

The weather cooperated wonderfully, but it didn’t initially seem like it was going to. May is typically a hot month—the average high temperature right now is 90° Fahrenheit; however, a cool-front passed through shortly before the photowalk, which kept it at a more reasonable 82° at the start, and 77° by the end. Because of the frontal system, the wind howled most of the day, and clouds covered the sky. Just as the photowalk was about to begin, the wind calmed and the clouds cleared, revealing endless blue. Really, it couldn’t have been better.

Most people had an X100-series camera, ranging from an X100T to the new X100VI. The other cameras I saw were an X-T100, X-T20, X-E4, X-S10, X-S20, X-Pro3, and X-T5. The camera I brought was my X100VI, which is perfect for walk-around photography. Lucas had a bag full of gear, which he graciously let anyone try out if they wanted. Fujifilm provided some stickers and pins to give away, and Sigma provided multi-use tools (screwdriver/wrench/bottle-opener, etc., combo) with their logo.

The Film Simulation Recipes that I used for the photowalk were Kodak Portra 400 v2, Kodachrome 64, Kodak Tri-X 400, and two upcoming Recipes that have not yet been published, one based on Nostalgic Neg. and the other on Reala Ace. As we were walking around, I was stopped by someone who recognized that I had a Fujifilm camera, but seemed only vaguely familiar. “I’ve heard about those,” he stated. “Can I see some of the pictures?” So I showed him the images I had just captured on the photowalk. “It’s just like the Reels!” He took note of the camera name, said “thanks” and walked away.

It was great to meet everyone who attended, and have some face-to-face conversations about Fujifilm gear, Film Simulation Recipes, and photography. Every time I looked around, I noticed that those in attendance were talking with each other; it was great to help facilitate community. Fujifilm cameras and Recipes seem to bring people together.

I want to give a big “thank you” to those who came out and joined us! I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to meet up, chat, and photograph. I hope to see everyone again sometime in the future!

Fujifilm X-Pro2 — The camera that got away (again)

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

Back in 2018, I briefly owned a Fujifilm X-Pro2. I loved that camera! It was so much fun, and the perfect compliment to my Fujifilm X100F. To this day it remains my absolute favorite interchangeable-lens model by Fujifilm that I’ve ever purchased. Unfortunately, I had to sell it.

You see, I didn’t have a lot of money back then to spend on (what was at the time) my hobby. I’m sure that many of you can relate. I found a good deal on a used X-Pro2, but I really couldn’t afford it. Using PayPal credit, I was able to hold onto the camera for about six months, but when the interest came due, I had to let it go. I had high hopes that I could find a way to keep it, but it just didn’t work out. The day that I mailed the X-Pro2 off to its new owner was a sad one (although I’m sure it was quite happy for them). I’ve thought about that camera—and the summer of 2018 when I briefly owned it—many times since. I’ve often wondered if I’d like it just as much today as I did then.

Thankfully, the kind folks at MPB, who are fans of Fuji X Weekly and Film Simulation Recipes, provided me with the opportunity to find out. MPB is the sponsor of this article—this is the first ever sponsored post on this website, by the way—and they loaned me a Fujifilm X-Pro2 to try out for two weeks. For those who don’t know, MPB is an online platform where you can buy, sell, or trade used photo and video gear. “At MPB, there’s something for everyone who wants to try something new, hone their skills, or pursue their passion—and it won’t cost the earth.” If you’re in the market for used camera gear, be sure to check out their website—you can learn more about MPB here. Thank you, MPB, for making this article possible!

Fujifilm released the X-Pro2 eight years ago, in 2016. It’s a rangefinder-styled 24mp APS-C mirrorless camera with a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder. The X-Pro2, which resembles a classic film camera, is rock-solid, and feels like it could last forever, even if you tossed it around a little. In my opinion, the X-Pro series is one of the most beautifully designed camera lines of all time. The X-Pro2 was an instant classic when it was newly released, and will continue to be for many years to come.

I chose the specific Fujifilm X-Pro2 that I wanted to borrow from the MPB website the same as if I were buying it. When the box arrived in the mail, the camera was exactly as the website described. The camera functioned like it was brand-new; the body had a few minor signs of wear, which I was well aware of due to the gear-specific ‘cosmetic condition’ rating displayed on the platform. There were no surprises, and I got precisely what I was expecting to get. Did I mention that the X-Pro2 is a beautiful camera?

When I had the X-Pro2 back in 2018, I brought it along with me on some epic roadtrips. It went with me to the Black Hills in South Dakota. It traveled with me through Colorado and New Mexico, including The Great Sand Dunes and Taos. I have many great memories associated with the X-Pro2. Was how I felt more about those adventures than the camera itself? Or was the camera truly that great?

As I was removing the X-Pro2 from the box, many of those memories came flooding back. It was a great joy to hold it once again. This time, I wouldn’t be able to take it on any roadtrips. Would I feel the same without some travel experiences to go along with the camera? I wondered what I would think about the X-Pro2 all these years later—would it hold up to the test of time?

Back in 2018, I mostly used three lenses with the X-Pro2: Fujinon 60mm f/2.4, Fujinon 16mm f/1.4, and Meike 35mm f/1.7. Of those three, the only one that I still own is the Meike, so I used it extensively during the two weeks that I had the X-Pro2. I also tried a Helios 44-2, Pentax-110 50mm f/2.8, and 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95. Each of those four lenses have unique characteristics and strengths. The X-Pro2 is especially fun to pair with vintage and manual lenses, and I very much enjoyed that approach with it.

I shoot JPEGs, and rarely edit my pictures (aside from some cropping/straightening). I found that this approach works very well for me. The photographs in this article are all camera-made JPEGs that are not post-processed. The Film Simulation Recipes that I used with the camera six years ago were mainly Kodachrome II, Dramatic Classic Chrome, Vintage Agfacolor, Acros, Acros Push Process, and Agfa Scala. A few of those pictures remain personal favorites to this day.

Above: My Fujifilm X-Pro2 photos from 2018.

For this project, the seven Recipes that I programmed into the C1-C7 Custom Presets on the X-Pro2 were Kodachrome II, Kodak Gold 200, Kodacolor, Classic Kodak, Color Negative, Provia Slide, and Acros. The Kodachrome II and Acros Recipes require the same White Balance type but different White Balance Shifts, so I used the Kodachrome II shift with the Acros Recipe; however, towards the end of the project I replaced Kodachrome II with Analog Monochrome, and switched the Acros WB Shift to be correct for that Recipe. You cannot program a WB Shift into the X-Pro2’s C1-C7 presets (like you can with newer Fujifilm models), but if each Recipe uses a different WB type (or share the same WB type and WB Shift), you don’t have to remember to adjust the WB Shift when changing Custom Presets, and you get a better user experience.

When reviewing the pictures after I returned the camera, I discovered that the Film Simulation Recipes I had used the most were Provia Slide, Acros, Kodak Gold 200, Kodachrome II, and Kodacolor (in that order). Provia Slide is a brand-new Recipe that I created on the X-Pro2, and it wouldn’t exist if MPB hadn’t loaned me the camera, and is a very positive side effect of their sponsorship. I’m quite happy with how several of these images turned out, even if I only had the local sights to capture.

Using Film Simulation Recipes on the Fujifilm X-Pro2 provides a film-like shooting experience and output, especially when combined with vintage or manual lenses. It’s an analog approach with the convenience of digital. Since the pictures don’t need to be edited, you can download them straight from the camera using WiFi and immediately share them—or send them off to be printed—right from your phone. That can save you a lot of time and hassle, while making the process more enjoyable and authentic.

Above: My Fujifilm X-Pro2 photos from 2024.

It was once again heartbreaking to mail off the Fujifilm X-Pro2. I very much wanted to keep it. The camera is just as great in 2024 as it was in 2018. I can’t help but think that 20 years from now the X-Pro2 will be sought after for the photographic experience and picture aesthetic that it provides. There aren’t very many digital cameras you can say that about. I feel like in today’s age where new camera models are constantly being released, and photographers just have to have the latest-and-greatest, it’s easy to overlook legendary cameras like the X-Pro2. And I do very much mean that the Fujifilm X-Pro2 is legendary—those who own it already know it, and those who don’t haven’t yet discovered it.

If you want to buy a Fujifilm X-Pro2, MPB has a number of them in stock right now. Or, if you prefer other Fujifilm cameras, they have many to choose from. If you have some gear to sell or trade in, they’ll give you a free (and non-binding) quote.

Will I buy a Fujifilm X-Pro2, this time to keep? I’d love to and I hope to, but I already own way too many cameras, so I’d first need to part ways with at least a couple that I rarely use. The X-Pro2 is extremely tempting. I don’t have an answer one way or the other yet, but the X-Pro2 is one that I certainly wish that I had.

Up next in this series:
Is the Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 23mm f/2 a good alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI?

Free Fujifilm Photowalk is THIS Sunday!!

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Fujifilm X100VI — Kodak Tri-X 400 Film Simulation Recipe* *— Scottsdale, AZ*

Grab your Fujifilm camera and join myself and Lucas White of Nuzira THIS Sunday, May 5th, for a free photowalk in Scottsdale, Arizona! Meet us at the Arizona Canal South Bridge promenade near the Pinball Wizard Public Art display at 5:30 PM. Explore the blending of modern cosmopolitan with off-beat western heritage through pictures. There will be the potential for street/urban, architecture, automobile, and landscape photography. It will be an opportunity to meet fellow Fujifilm photographers, and to chat about Fujifilm gear, film simulations, and Film Simulation Recipes. We’re going to have lots of fun!

If you think you might attend, please RSVP by May 3rd (click here). If you are in the area, I really hope to meet you there!

Free Fujifilm Photowalk on May 5th (+ all the details)

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

Come join Ritchie Roesch of Fuji X Weekly and Lucas White of Nuzira on Sunday, May 5th, for an epic photowalk around Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona! Bring your Fujifilm gear to the Arizona Canal South Bridge promenade near the Pinball Wizard Public Art display at 5:30 PM. Explore the blending of modern cosmopolitan with off-beat western heritage through pictures. There will be the potential for street/urban, architecture, automobile, and landscape photography. It will be an opportunity to meet fellow Fujifilm photographers, and to chat about Fujifilm gear, film simulations, and Film Simulation Recipes. We’re going to have lots of fun!

Please RSVP by May 3rd so that we know how many are coming. Click here for more details and to RSVP. If you’re in the area, I hope to see you on May 5th from 5:30 to 7 PM for this Fujifilm-centric event! This photowalk is free, and family-friendly.

Free Fuji X Weekly Photowalk in Scottsdale

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

Join me on a free Fujifilm-centric photowalk on Sunday, May 5th, in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, at 5:30 PM. Explore the blending of modern cosmopolitan with off-beat western heritage through pictures. There will be the potential for street/urban, architecture, automobile, and landscape photography. It will be an opportunity to meet fellow Fujifilm photographers, and to chat about Fujifilm gear, film simulations, and Film Simulation Recipes.

Mark your calendars now! More details coming soon, so stay tuned.

What Would you Want from a Fuji X Weekly Event?

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

I need your help!

I hope to organize a Fuji X Weekly meet-and-greet type event in the Phoenix, Arizona, area sometime later this year. While I’ve been to a few photography gatherings before, I’ve never hosted one. What I’d like to know is what you’d expect or hope for from a Fuji X Weekly meet-and-greet.

Obviously, it could be really simple. Come say hi, as I’d love to meet you. Let’s shake hands and talk gear informally. This would be the most simple to put together, but maybe the least exciting to attend?

It could be more convention-like, with booths from local camera stores and photography-related businesses. There could be presentations or workshops, and perhaps even guest speakers. A small expo would be a heck-of-a-lot more complex to organize, and would likely require an entrance fee to offset the costs. I doubt there would be enough interest to justify anything like this, but maybe this is what people would most want?

A third option is a group photowalk. Let’s not just talk gear, but use our gear. Let’s meet up somewhere and take pictures, perhaps in an urban setting, or some place that’s especially good for photography. If the location is ideal, it could be all in one place, and no need to drive around (other than to the event).

I’m sure there are many other ideas, and I’d love to hear them. Even if you would never come to Phoenix because it is too far away, I’d still greatly appreciate your feedback. I want to make this event special for those who can attend (and, who knows, maybe it will be the first of many?), but I’m unsure what direction it should go. Perhaps one of these ideas resonates with you, or none of them, or some aspect about one is intriguing but another aspect is not. Leave me a comment with your ideas and opinions!

Also, how likely would you attend this event, for those who live near the area? Let me know that, too, with a comment. I really look forward to hearing your input!

I don’t know yet when this meet-and-greet will happen (or even for certain that it will, although I really hope it will). Most likely it will be either in the spring or fall, but preferably in the spring. As soon as I have more concrete answers, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, your input is much needed, and will help me out tremendously. Thank you!

I’m a Fujifilm Fanboy (…but my opinions should still be valid)

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

I enrolled in Photography 101 in college 12 years before Fujifilm introduced the original X100. I say this because I’m often accused of being a Fujifilm fanboy, which is meant to be a put-down to insinuate that my opinions are too biased to be trusted. But should I be so easily dismissed just because I really like Fujifilm cameras?

First, I am a proud Fujifilm fanboy, but that should not automatically invalidate my opinions; instead, it should only point towards my perspective. My photography journey began with full-manual film cameras by Canon and Pentax. Two years prior to the release of the X100, I first dabbled in digital photography. I owned cameras by Pentax, Samsung (remember when they made APS-C mirrorless cameras?), Sigma, Nikon, and Sony. Then, in 2016, I purchased a four-year-old Fujifilm X-E1, and my world changed. I found what I had been looking for ever since first trying digital. In an instant I became a Fujifilm fanboy, and my appreciation of Fujifilm brand cameras has only grown stronger since.

But, that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in other brands. I have two Ricoh GR cameras, for example. I also own a Nikon Zfc, although I rarely use it. I tried out a Canon EOS 5DS R a couple of years ago. More recently, I had the opportunity to use a Sony A7 IV fairly extensively. I have nothing against Canikony brands, but the more I use them, the more I’m convinced that they’re not for me.

Vocalizing my displeasure with brands that don’t have “film” in the name, and simultaneously stating why I love one particular brand, has caused some to suggest that my opinions are invalid. To be clear: my opinions are nothing more than my opinions, and they stem from my perspective. I was a long-time film photographer who exclusively used full-manual cameras for over a decade, was constantly frustrated with the digital models I used until I found Fujifilm, and I discovered along the way that I dislike editing RAW files—I much prefer camera-made JPEGs, as long as the camera can make those look good. That’s my perspective, and it is something that you may or may not relate to. If you cannot relate to it, then take my opinions with a grain of salt because they’re likely to be different from yours; however, that doesn’t mean that they’re invalid opinions.

I got heavily criticized when I stated that Nikon’s venture into retro-styled cameras fell short. Nikon didn’t have the courage to do what they should have done, and made compromises instead. From my perspective that much is clear, but I understand that if your perspective is different from mine you might have divergent conclusions, which is great—the world would be a boring place if we all thought exactly alike. For someone like me, the Fujifilm X-T5 beats the Nikon Zf, no question about it; for someone else, the Zf might be declared the winner for one reason or another. With cameras like the Zf and Zfc, I think Nikon has the potential to be great in my eyes, but those models have some significant shortcomings that need to be overcome first.

I was pretty unimpressed by the Canon EOS 5DS R when I used it. Perhaps that’s because I’m spoiled by the advantages of mirrorless, and using a DSLR was like stepping back in time (and not in a good way). While the camera-made JPEGs had nice colors, they were prone to banding and issues like that, the dynamic range and high-ISO performance was kind of disappointing, and the adjustment options were somewhat limiting. Maybe I’d like the newest models better, but not much about the 5DS R made me curious to try.

Not a lot of people know that I used a Sony A7 IV camera somewhat extensively earlier this year. A number of friends and family members suggested that I should try it, plus all sorts of people complained to me that Fujifilm should be more like Sony (and, sadly, Fujifilm seems to be trying…). The opportunity presented itself, so I gave it an honest go. I even thought that if all went well, I might make Sony Recipes. But it didn’t go well. Using Sony cameras—or, at least the A7 IV—is such an uninspiring experience. Yeah, it will get the job done, but nothing about it is exciting to me. Technically great—yes; however, not in a form that makes me want to pick up the camera and shoot. Overall, the JPEG colors were disappointing, except for the “FL” (a.k.a. Film Look) creative look (their version of a film simulation), which actually is pretty darn good. I did like the ability to fade the blacks, and I did think that clipped highlights fall off nicely (as far as digital cameras go), but I did not like the proneness to banding. Sony’s JPEGs just aren’t at the same level as Fujifilm’s, but they definitely have some potential if Sony keeps working at it; however, the camera itself is boring.

But, but, but… autofocus! Fujifilm’s is awful, and Canikony is great! That’s what people say, but I don’t have any issues with Fujifilm’s autofocus, nor did I find any of the Canikony’s I used to be notably superior. Perhaps this is because I started photography with manual focus, and even though autofocus existed, it wasn’t very good back then. It’s improved by leaps and bounds over the years, and is quite reliable nowadays from every brand, including Fujifilm. If you take issue with this, ask yourself this question: why were photographers and cinematographers back then with inferior gear able to do so much more than you today with superior equipment? The answer, of course, is that the problem is not the gear, and has never been. But, you know, it’s easier to blame the gear than to learn new skills that don’t require the gear to be super amazingly great in order to get your desired results. And that’s how I would summarize this point: Fujifilm’s autofocus is amazingly great, and Canikony’s is, perhaps, super amazingly great. Those who put it down are ignoring the fact that it is still amazingly great.

This article concludes similarly to how it began: I love Fujifilm cameras! The X100V is my favorite, followed by the X-E4, then the X-T5, which I’ve been shooting with for a year now. Those three cameras are the ones that, by far, I use the most. I also enjoy shooting with my Ricoh GR III. And I use my iPhone often for casual shooting. That’s what works for me, which very well might be different from what works for you, and that’s perfectly ok. All of us have different experiences that give is divergent perspectives. If your perspective is similar to mine, you likely will appreciate my opinions, but if not, you probably will disagree. I’m a Fujifilm fanboy—perhaps one of the biggest that there is—but I’m not strictly a Fujifilm photographer, as I have a long history using all sorts of different brands, including the ones that I criticize sometimes. Heck, I’m even critical of Fujifilm occasionally—including in this very article—but Fujifilm is, by far, my favorite camera brand of them all.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X100V in black: Amazon   B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X100V in silver: Amazon B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in black:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-E4 in black: Amazon   B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-E4 in silver:  Amazon B&H  Moment
Ricoh GR III:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Ricoh GR IIIx:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Nikon Zfc: Amazon   B&H
Nikon Zf: Amazon   B&H
Sony A7 IV: Amazon B&H