Annex Photo: Concept by Fujifilm

When I was in Toronto for the launch of the brand new Fujifilm X-T3, I decided to make a video featuring a unique concept store. Fujifilm collaborated with a local photoshop called The Annex and decided to make it a retail showcase for Instax and print products. The concept was based on Fujifilm's global Wonder Photo Shop, but the Canadian concept is considered a hybrid since Fujifilm collaborated with an existing business. If you love analogue photography, if you want to print your images, even if it comes from your smartphone, this is a fun place to hang out. I noticed a lot of the customers didn't just come in and pick up their photos and then leave. They spent time looking at their images, ordering more or different prints, or transforming their existing images into photo books or other physical print products. Hopefully Fujifilm will expand this concept to Vancouver, and perhaps other global cities.

Huge Unboxing: Fujifilm XF200mm F/2 R LM OIS WR

What on earth am I doing with such a huge lens? Well, Fujifilm asked me if I wanted one new-in-box (they know I love opening boxes), and I said yes. Please enjoy the video and let me know what you think I should do with it, now that I have it unboxed. In the past I use to own the Minolta 300mm f/2.8, and I only used it for shooting sports. I currently don't shoot sports, so what else is there to do with a monster lens like this? Please help me....

Fujifilm X-T3: First Impressions Video

Hello my fellow photographers and videographers. Long time no post. I've been busy on various projects, but I'm never too busy to review the latest and greatest from Fujifilm. I was invited to a media event in Toronto, and I flew out to test and play with the new Fujifilm X-T3. Is it a worthy update to the much loved X-T2? Can it compete with the X-H1 for video sans IBIS? Please watch my latest first impressions video. Thanks for watching guys and happy shooting!

BHT

Fujifilm X-T100: First Look

Fujifilm has finally made a camera that I've been asking for all along (well almost), an ILC camera with a front facing articulating screen. No I don't care about taking selfies or group shots, I care about shooting video. Not only can I vlog with ease (the tally light on the X-H1 is nice but the camera is a brick), but I can shoot my YouTube videos with ease. Here's what Fujifilm says about the new camera:

Retro styled, portable in size and built around a powerful 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the FUJIFILM X-T100 mirrorless digital camera is the ideal companion for creative everyday photography. Packed full of high spec features such as an advanced hybrid autofocus system that’s able to keep pace with even the most active subjects, a speedy 6fps continuous- shooting mode, high-resolution electronic viewfinder and intuitive swivelling touchscreen, it brings professional image making into everyone’s grasp. Boasting an ‘always on’ Bluetooth connection, 

the X-T100 connects seamlessly with your smart devices via an built-in Wi-Fi connection to instantly transfer your images . Also featuring 4K recording and the option to capture footage in HD at 100fps for super- slow-motion movies. 

The Analogue Photography Series: Film is Still Alive

I was on my flight to Osaka when I got the email from Telus StoryHive. I was approved for funding to film episode 1 of my documentary series on analogue photography! I quickly forwarded the email to my collaborator Ryan from Arcade Original, and then I went dark for 12 hours (no wifi on my economy ticket). Once I got to Osaka, I had to wait 3 long weeks before I could head back to Vancouver and start shooting with Ryan, although I had lots of time for pre-production. My goal was to feature Vancouver photographers, but also make a connection to my next favourite city for photography, Hong Kong. It's been 3 months since we began filming, and now the documentary is up on Telus StoryHive's YouTube channel. Please visit their website to view and vote for our project. You can vote once a day for the next 5 days. If we get enough votes, we are approved to finish our series with two more episodes. I have much more to share with you about this project, but please enjoy the documentary for now. Thanks for all your support:

https://www.storyhive.com/project/show/id/3006

Street Photography in Hong Kong: Analogue Edition

Minolta 9xi with 35mm f/1.4. Film Ferrania Alpha P30

On my latest trip to Hong Kong I decided to shoot film... lots of it. The motivation? Because of my Analogue Photography Series documentary for StoryHive. Since my project was all about film photography, I knew I had to live and breath the film culture, and it's not hard to do so in a city like Hong Kong. Although film prices are similar here as it is in the rest of the world (although there's no sales tax), the availability of used film cameras rivals Tokyo, and accessibility/pricing of photo labs seems more like 1998 and not 2018. $6 USD to develop and scan a roll of 135-36 film is not difficult to find here. Same day black and white develop and scan? No problem. Moreover, if you love to shoot film, Hong Kong should be your next analogue photography destination, hands down.

Hong Kong Workshop: Aikbeng Chia x Bigheadtaco

Singaporean photographer Aikbeng Chia has been hustling it in the photographic world for just a few years, but he has accomplished much. Not only is he prolific photographically, but his ability to attract and collaborate with many brands is impressive.  Samsung, Huawei, Sony, Apple, Fujifilm, HTC, Google, The Guardian, Leica, Facebook, Instagram, Objectifs, DECK Singapore, Invisible Photographer Asia , 24hrs Project, Eyeem and EverydayAsia, just to name a few. When Aikbeng and I first met in Hong Kong last year, we knew we wanted to collaborate on a project, and a workshop was the first thing that came to mind.

The Analogue Photography Series: Film is Still Alive

Leica M-A with 35mm f/1.4 Summilux Asph. CineStill 800T rated at ISO 800.

As many of you know, I am a film photographer. Yes I love all types of photography, but film is where it's at. If money was no object and I could choose to shoot with any camera and any format, I would use the Leica M-A and 35mm Summilux, and shoot with CineStill 800T and Kodak Tri-X for the rest of my life. Ok, maybe I'll have the Ricoh GR-21 as my back-up and shoot Portra 400 once in a while. Don't ask me about my negative storage workflow (I've been working on this for the past 25+ years).

For those of you who follow my YouTube channel, whenever I have the opportunity, I try my best to do film photography projects. I love interviewing film photographers, camera collectors, camera stores, and photo labs. However, these types of videos take more time, effort and cost, making it difficult for me to produce consistent content. Recently a good friend of mine encouraged me to apply for the StoryHive grant by submitting my pitch video, and it was accepted. Based on a voting system, the top 30 projects will get a $10,000 grant to produce their first episode of their web series. I'm hoping for your support by your vote to make my analogue photography project a reality. After the initial grant, there is another opportunity to receive a $50,000 grant to finish the series. This is the true goal for me and my series.

First Impressions: Fujifilm X-E3

September 7th, 2017 6am GMT: The day has finally arrived to announce the release of the brand new X-E3. It's been almost 21 months since the release of the X-Pro2, so it's taken awhile for Fujifilm to upgrade the body, sensor and processor to the latest generation. I have a soft spot for the X-E series since the X-E1 was the very first Fujifilm camera I reviewed way back in 2012. Since then I've always hoped the X-E series would basically be a mini X-Pro2 without the complicated and expensive hybrid viewfinder. I knew Fujifilm would stick to their guns with the rangefinder form factor, so no articulating screen, no vertical control battery grip. The big question was about navigation. Would the engineers choose a joystick (found on the GFX, X-Pro2, X-T2, X100F) or a touch screen (found on the X70 and X-T20).  How about both? Yes, indeed Fujifilm decided to put both a joystick and a touch screen on the X-E3, much like the GFX 50S. There's a lot more to talk about so let's get started with the some of the key upgrades as well as the differences of the new X-E3 versus the X-E2S and its sibling camera the X-T20.

Beers and Cameras in San Diego

I don't know how it happens, but it does. I get to work with really cool brands, even though I don't think I qualify to associated with them in any way. In Vancouver I often get associated with Revolver Coffee, the coolest coffee shop in town (is that the proper term?), even though I don't drink coffee. I do like the atmosphere of coffee shops though, and Revolver has cool hats. Last year Juan from Beers and Cameras invited me to come down to San Diego to celebrate their 1 year anniversary meet-up, and I was totally honoured. The first concern was that I don't drink beer and wondered if that would be a problem. Juan assured me that beer drinking was an option, and that the main reason for the meet-up was to talk about photography and camera gear. That's my type of crowd. I flew down for the event in San Diego last November and I had a great time. I met many photographers of all backgrounds shooting various types of gear and genres of photography. It was refreshing to meet such a diverse crowd of photo enthusiasts. Again, it was about atmosphere, not beers.