Tag: Fujifilm

Serenity in Shades of Gray

Pine Tree Silhouettes
Coastal Pines | Liguria | 2026

There’s something truly special about black and white photography. For me, it’s more than just removing color; it’s about stripping away distractions and getting right to the heart of what makes an image compelling. It’s about reducing the scene to its purest form: composition. Serenity in Shades of Gray.

Take this shot, for instance, captured in the Ligurian Apennines, northwest of Genoa. The moment I saw these majestic trees silhouetted against the misty mountains, I knew it had to be black and white. The layers of hills fading into the distance, the stark outlines of the pines – it all just sings in monochrome.

When I shoot in black and white, the entire process becomes a tranquil enjoyment. It forces me to see shapes, lines, and textures in a different way. The absence of color simplifies everything, allowing the eye to focus solely on the interplay of light and shadow, and the arrangement of elements within the frame. It’s photography reduced to a minimum, and in that simplicity, I find immense satisfaction.

This image, with its quiet strength and layered depth, perfectly embodies that feeling for me. It’s a reminder that sometimes, less truly is more, and that beauty can be found in the most understated of palettes.

What are your thoughts on black and white photography? Do you find it as calming and focused as I do? Let me know in the comments below!

Image taken with a Fuji X-T50 and the Fujinon Super EBC XC 1:2.8-4.8/16-50mm R LM WR. Image specs 1/3200 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 250 and 31mm focal lenght (full frame equivalent). Acros Film Simulation – jpg out of camera.

Have a great Thursday

Marcus

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Nightwalkers

Couple walking side by side through Genoa's Via Pré by night, backlit by an approaching car.
Nightwalkers | Genoa | 2024

There is always something going on in Via Pré, in Genoa’s medieval Centro Storico. In daytime buzzing with live between all those little shops, but also during night. While this street photograph seems very cluttered, I still like it a lot. First of all, Via Pré is normally very cluttered, and then there is a lot going on in the moment I captured that shot around 10:30pm on a sizzling hot August night when walking home with The Significant Other after a nice dinner in the old center. A lot of little stories of the street are told here, each of those nightwalkers going about their daily lives.

Taken with the Fuji X-T2 and the Fujinon XF 1:2.8-4/18-55mm R LM OIS, image specs 1/50 sec @ f/4, ISO 3200 and 40mm focal length (60mm full frame equivalent). Monochrome conversion in Lightroom Classic.

Talking about LCR, I didn’t manage fixing that corrupted catalogue file, so I had to restore from my last June 2nd backup. I lost about two months worth of editing, but as I didn’t photograph much it was overseeable damage. And a good reminder to regularly BACK UP MY DATA. Especially as Lightroom kindly reminds me every week. Only that I typically click that reminder away. Not any more. Promised to myself.

Have a great Wednesday

Marcus

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12

Visual Balance

Lady with a dress walking through Genoa's Centro Storico at night
1/40 sec | F/4 | ISO 3200 | 83mm

Strolling through Genoa’s Centro Storico the other night I took this street photograph with my Fuji X-T2 and the Fujinon XF 1:2.8-4/18-55mm R LM OIS. I like this shot, for the composition, color balance, light, gesture and the story. I tried a monochrome conversion, but stuck with color. You might note, that the neon sign of the little Trattoria is inverted, as it is transparent and shows the “right” side uphill to were likely more potential customers come from when walking down Via San Bernardo towards the port area. So when doing post production in Lightroom Classic, I mirrored the image horizontally, so the sign reads the right way. But with that, I think, the photograph lost its visual balance. Check for yourself after the jump….

Continue reading “Visual Balance” →
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Heart of a Magnolia

Magonila Blossoms
Heart of a Magnolia | Nuremberg | 2024

What does a street photographer do if he hasn’t (for various reasons) time to head into town for street shooting? He grabs his camera, heads out the door for five minutes and takes some ICM photographs of a nearby Magnolia tree that is in full blossom. And capturing the heart of a Magnolia…for a few more images from my quick lunch break photo session click below….

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Genoa from above

Genoa from above - seen from the Terrazza Colmbo on top of the Piacentini Skyscraper
Shining Light | Genoa | 2024

Easter is about color. As my Easter Egg for you, I’ll give you a colorful post this Easter Sunday. Enjoy some views of Genoa from above. Exactly one week ago The Significant Other and I had the chance to visit a Candlelight Concert on top of the Grattacielo Piacentini, the highest skyscraper in town. With the concert (film music by Ennio Morricone) came the opportunity to enjoy the splendid views from “La Superba”, as Genoa is affectionately known. Click below for more views of Genoa from above…

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Waves

Long exposure Ocean Waves
Lido di Camaiore | Italy | 2024

When live gives you lemons…make lemonade. If the sunny weather forecasted for an afternoon spent at Lido di Camaiore in Tuscany turns out to be rather dull, use the bad light for some long exposure photography of the incoming waves. All these shots were taken with 1/8 sec exposure speed, perfect for these kind of images. I didn’t carry any ND filters in my bag, which would have been necessary to reduce the incoming light enough to (combined with closing down the aperture and lowering the ISO) get to 1/8 sec on a bright afternoon. So using the bad and rather dark light as my natural grey filter helped me to play with shapes and textures of the waves….click below for a few more images.

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Back on the Streets

Mable stairs to Genoa's San Lorenzo Cathedral wet from the rain
After the rain | Genoa | 2024

The new year is upon us, and the “Streets of Nuremberg” are back on the streets. Albeit on the streets and in the alleys of Genoa, our Home (South), where The Significant Other, Big Boy and I have spent the first week of 2024. Here are a couple images from my inaugural street photography outing of the new year, taking my vintage Fuji X-M1 for a spin….

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I bought a Fuji

Who would have seen that coming, the Oly fan-boy venturing out in neighbor’s garden. Even I myself never thought I might be exploring another camera system. But it has really happened. I bought a Fuji….

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A weekend in La Superba

The Man and the Lion
Lion’s Gaze | Genoa | 2020

A few days ago, The Significant Other and I headed down to Genoa to spend a weekend in La Suberba, as the ancient Italian Marine Republic at the Ligurian coast is affectionately called. And a good opportunity for some candid street photography…

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