NDA
The busy month of August continued, and seemed to bring with it a significant amount of trips to the land of Wales, with two visits there in as many weeks. Like London before, I had my Fuji X100V with me, as well as the DJI Mavic Pro II, and the 7D MKII with the Sigma 150-600mm lens along for the ride with me.
WALES PT.1
After my earlier posts about looking to downsize my gear for when I travel, I was of course going against my own advice on the first trip to Wales, and was walking to ‘4 waterfalls’, deep in the Brecon Beacons carrying the aforementioned equipment all on my back with me.
Sgwd yr Eira waterfall
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Sgwd yr Eira waterfall
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
After flying the drone over the valley to capture one of the waterfalls, nestled in the trees, I descended into the valley to walk along the river, keen to use the ND filter inbuilt into the x100v.
Cairn Stones
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Jumping in
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Yellow Wagtail
Camera - Canon 7D MK II
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM
After getting a couple of pretty bang average images of a yellow wagtail, following it for a while as it flitted around feeding, a dipper flashed across my eyeline and down the river. I immediately gave up on the wagtail to pursue the dipper with the 7D MK II and Sigma 150-600mm in tow.
Dipper
Camera - Canon 7D MK II
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM
I finally managed to catch up with it as it bobbed along in the fast flowing river, fishing just under the surface for insect larvae. I really struggled to get a useable image due to the bird constantly diving under the water with its back to me in, stopping only briefly before jumping back into the water to continue fishing. The weight of the camera and lens also contributed to many of the shots not quite catching focus which was really frustrating. in the end I only got two pretty average images but better than nothing I guess. Next time I will use my tripod for hopefully a lot more useable and clean images.
Dipper
Camera - Canon 7D MK II
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM
The time came to finally use the in-built 4 stop ND filter that the FujiFilm X100V has incorporated into the fixed lens. This gave me the opportunity to hopefully slow the shutter speed down enough in full sunlight to slow the water down and create the classic waterfall image.
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn Waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn Waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn Waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn Waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic monochrome
River
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sgwd y Pannwr waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V - 4 stop ND filter activated
Film Simulation - Classic negative
The filter did not disappoint and was so much easier to use than the usual screw on filters or Lee filter system that I had previously employed to make the same sort of image.
Sgwd Clun-Gwyn Waterfall
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
WALES PT.2
Scared of Water
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Welsh Coast
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Cause for confusion
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Paddle Boarding
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
We took a trip to Rhossili to see the famous sunflowers and walk along the gower peninsula, giving me the chance to fly the drone and get some more coastal images along the way.
Sunflowers
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Sunflower on barbed wire
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Taking flight
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Patterns
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Coastal Patterns
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Coastal Patterns
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Coastal Patterns
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Drone coast
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Welsh Coastline
Camera - DJI Mavic pro II
Watch station
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Rhossili Coast
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Rhossili Coast
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
LONDON
After a bit of nature time in Wales, it was back to the concrete jungle that is London for a long weekend in the capital. The perfect opportunity to get some photo walks in with the Barbican centre the first area to feel the wrath of the X100V.
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic Monochrome
Barbican lights
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican centre
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative - converted to B&W
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
People - Barbican Estate
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
The whole of the Barbican is a photographers wet dream, with amazing architecture at every turn. There is even a fantastic conservatory housing over 2000 species of plant to explore, so of course I was running around like a newborn child, wide eyed and over stimulated at all the opportunities around me.
Barbican Conservatory
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Conservatory
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Conservatory
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Flower
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican Conservatory
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Chair
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Barbican bollards
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
After leaving the photographers wet dream that is the Barbican centre and its surrounding estate, I continued walking around London for the remainder of the afternoon and into the night.
Dog on chalk
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Eyes
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Pub
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Reflections
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Vintage bus seats
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Vintage Red London Bus
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
After exploring some new places during the day, the evening was a more familiar sight with the neon nights of Soho. The live view on the X100V was particularly useful for this kind of street photography as I am able to easily view the back screen, and then adjust my settings quick and easily to capture the neon city street lights.
Neon Shop - soho
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Photobooth fun
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative - Converted to B&W
Neon tiger - Covent garden
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Neon soho
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Shepard Fairey - neon art
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
After noticing some shepard fairey (Obey Giant) artwork on oxford street, I decided to camp out in front of them and use the fishing technique to wait for interesting silhouettes of people passing by.
Shepard Fairey - neon art
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Shepard Fairey - neon art
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Finally another end of blog wedding congratulations to these two absolute babes, who I had the privilege of photographing their big day.
Bride & Groom
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Bride
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic Monochrome
Bride & Groom
Camera - FujiFilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic negative
Again I was able to shoot the whole day on the X100V with some really fantastic results.
I can’t convey enough superlatives to explain how much this camera has changed the game for me over the summer. To put it into some sort of context, I took my full frame Canon 5DMK III with my L series 35mm F1/4 to the wedding, it didn’t leave my bag….
FIN