Here is a set of in-camera jpegs from the Fuji X-Pro2 shot in various lighting conditions including natural light as requested by some Prophotonut readers. These shots of model Claire Rammelkamp were taken on a 1:1 shoot training session at the fabulous Eastington Park in Gloucestershire.
01. I was working with my client on achieving optimum image quality with a shallow depth of field. We discussed focus position, depth of field choice and how the mood of the picture changed with aperture choice. I used a reflector outside the building to reflect the dull January sky onto Claire. My client shot the same scene with a Nikon 810 and 85mm f/1.4 lens using a monopod and I shot with the 56mm f/1.2 lens and again I used a monopod. Exposure was 1/125th second at f/1.6 at ISO 400.
02. Both of these pictures of Claire Rammelkamp were shot with the fabulous XF 35mm f/1.4 at f/1.4 for 1/125th second and ISO 640 Lighting decisions were being made without any lights being used. I used the ‘cloudy day’ white balance setting because we were working with reflected cloudy day light. My client shot with the superb Sigma Art series 50mm f/1.4 on his Nikon 810 and it was clear to see that the Fuji was more than holding it’s own when we compared the fine detail on playback.
03. I used the 56mm lens at 1/125th second at f/1.8 and using ISO 640 for this trilogy. I still used my monopod as I like to shoot with the shutter speed set to the inverse of about 4x the focal length on the X-Pro2 if I’m working hand held. Lighting was from a single Lupo 650 dual colour spotlight with the Alto Scattergel.
04. In a bid to explore the upper limits of exposure with jpeg only shooting on the Fuji X-Pro2 I really gave this shot some exposure. I set the scene for a summer day by using a Lupo 650 Spotlight as a backlight simulating the sun coming through a roof light. 35mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4 and a shutter speed of 1/60th second on a monopod using ISO 500. I trim my exposures using the ISO and the handy lift and twist adjustment on the Fuji X-Pro2 is a wonderful change from the menu access on the X-Pro1.
05. Next it was time for the big guns. I shot hand held at 1/60th of a second using the XF 50-140mm lens at the 140mm setting. I used the optical image stabilisation and shot hand held wide open at f/2.8. I used the 140mm setting because I was running out of curtain in the background and I didn’t want to shoot off. Claire is lit by the light from one window. All the other curtains were closed in the room.
06. This is nearly real sunlight. It broke through the cloud just as it was setting but soon disappeared so I rigged a Lupo 650 dual colour light to take over and set it to 3200K to capture this trilogy of shots. Top and left: XF 50-140 at 140mm and f/2.8 for 1/60th second and ISO 500. Bottom right: XF 35mm at f/1.4 for 1/60th second at ISO 200 on a monopod. I love the hair look that my star make up and hair artist Vicki Waghorn gave Claire.
07. We couldn’t leave Eastington Park without doing some shots with the wonderful staircase. Lit with a Lupo 650 dual colour set to 3200K to match the Chandelier.
Claire Rammelkamp was supremely patient with us as we concentrated on camera skills, shooting technique and realising the potential of the lenses and cameras.
If you would like to sharpen your shooting skills let me work with you on a 1:1 basis. All the details and prices are here.
My Fuji X-Pro2 review and sample images is here.
Please feel free to comment below.
Nice warm skin tones. What film simulation were you using?
Hi RR, I used Pro Neg S. The warmth was from low angle winter sunlight/ sunset.
Thanks, Damien.
Thanks for your response. Gorgeous shots, btw, I’ve rarely seen Pro Neg S so warm and saturated. It’s all in the light I guess.
I remember reading once that you prefer Pro Neg S for its neutrality, so you can judge the exposure for the RAW better. Do you ever use any other of the colour fim simulations, and if yes, when?
Hi RR,
I use Acros G and Pro Neg S most of the time and when I’m looking for punchy pictures I occasionally use Velvia. I’m not a fan of Classic Chrome.
Cheers, Damien.
Nice set of images, Xpro2 looks like it will be a winner.
Great work Damien, so sharp with beautiful skin tones!
Hi Damian – amazing shots.
Can’t believe that these are incamera JPEGs – this is really superb quality.
As I am a Nikon guy (I own both D750 and D810) I would be very interested to see a comparison between the Fuji pics you took and the D810 pics from your 1:1 client. Might be not be possible for you to do because I guess your client did all shots in RAW (NEF) which I would do shooting this gorgeous model …. but especially the no-flash pictures are worth a comprehensive comparison … this is breathtaking quality !!!
Krgds JED
The results look fantastic through the lens range.
Having just bought the XT-1, I would like to know your opinions on the comparison taking the same shots using the same lens range.
I am interested to read the comparison reviews but cannot see me moving on from the XT-1 for the foreseeable future unless of course the new model comes with a free supply of a good Bordeaux
Wow, Damien! These are lovely! I almost don’t want to wait for the X-T2, but I guess I’ll have to… Nice to see you working with Claire again! The color of her eyes just pop right out of the photo!