2020s

High ISO and film simulations

The film simulations on Fuji digital cameras can be fun β€”Β they feel less like cheesy filters and more like carefully crafted color science, from a company with a lot of film experience.

Funnily enough, when I do shoot with actual film I tend to go with Kodak. I figure if I want Fujifilm-brand film, I have the film simulations on the X-Pro2 to work with πŸ˜„.

This one is using the B&W Acros simulation. Cranked the ISO up to 5000 to get some nice grain, which seems ironic since Acros is a low-speed ISO 100 film known for its smoothness.

πŸ“ Downtown San Francisco
πŸ“· Fujifilm X-Pro2; 35mm @ f/1.4, 1/400s

Boats

I think I’ve taken a photo from this spot tens of times now. There are always boats, but the conditions out on the bay, the clouds, the reflections, etc. are a little different each time.

I remember the first time I was in San Francisco: I got off the Caltrain, someone asked me for directions (I always get asked for directions, especially when I’m traveling and don’t know the way around either), walked down to Philz for a coffee, and then walked along the water, behind the ball park, to this very spot.

Now, walking to this spot and back is my quick 30-minute outdoor walk when I want to get some air, and of course check on the light and the reflections and add to the collection of photos.

πŸ“ South Beach Marina, San Francisco
πŸ“· Yashica T3
🎞 Kodak Ektar 100

Lakeside sitting

Another one from the archives: March 2018.

An early chair photo and perhaps even the precursor to the #chairsofSF Instagram hashtag.

No water in the lake that day, but that makes for a much more interesting walk!

I was trying out a third-party ultra wide-angle 12mm lens. It flared like crazy and the stopped down aperture really highlighted all the sensor dust spots, but the colors that came out were amazing.

πŸ“ Lake Lagunita, Stanford
πŸ“· Fujifilm X-E2s; 7artisans 12mm

Grenadier Pond

Going back through the archives: this photo is from October 2010.

I remember wanting to get a compact camera with a “big” sensor β€”Β most compact point and shoots had 1 ⁄ 2.33" size sensors and the S90 had a 1 ⁄ 1.7" (that’s a fraction, so bigger number on the bottom is a smaller sensor).

Anyway, this was sunset by Grenadier Pond in High Park back in Toronto. This was one of the first photos that started the trend of walks, golden hour, and patiently waiting for the light and the clouds to be just so.

πŸ“ Grenadier Pond, Toronto
πŸ“· Canon Powershot S90 @ f/5.0, 1/500s

California Street

Just another “stand in the middle of the street” shot.

I like the compression from the longer focal length here. I should go a few blocks further back with a bigger telephoto and see what happens.

πŸ“ Looking down California St at Stockton St, San Francisco
πŸ“· Leica 90mm @ f/8, 1/125s
🎞 Kodak Pro Image 100