Does this lens have a glow? The Fujifilm XF35mm F1.4

Recently I photographed my teenage daughter Colbie to help build her modelling portfolio. I organised with one of my clients the use of their lovely business interior and coordinated with my girl a simple colour palette to compliment the environment we would use for the imagery.

I use both Fujifilm GFX and the Fujifilm X systems, but decided to roll with the X system and a combination of the XF 35mm 1.4 and XF 50 - 140mm 2.8 lenses.

The first scene we worked used a fabulous hanging chair for Colbie to lounge in. I used the XF 35mm here at f1.8 as the chair was ever so slightly rocking and wanted a faster shutter speed to keep subject sharpness.

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f1.8, Classic Chrome.

So I’m looking at these images on the back of my camera and thinking this looks really nice, but right at this moment I wasn’t thinking about any special ‘glow’ quality. The next scene within the space was the back wall with a georgeous reclining couch, lovely palm pot plant, and coffee table stump. Colbie did a great job with her pose, and the images on the back of the camera looked fab to me, but I still wasn’t getting a ‘glow’ vibe.

Fufifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f2, Classic Chrome.

The next shot is based on a yoga pose, and out of habit I had the 35mm at f2, as that’s where I usually set the aperture, again not really thinking of any special glow exhibited by the image here, as this is more of a pulled back environmental image.

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f2. Classic Chrome.

But then as I took more tightly cropped images, here is where I started to notice a lovely softness to my daughters skin, dare I say it, a hint of a glow. The first image is in Classic Chrome, so a little desaturated, but in the following 2 images I used the ProNeg-Hi simulation and the warmer skin tones I think exude a bit of a glow.

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f1.8

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f1.8, Pro-Neg Hi

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f2, Pro-Neg Hi

So right about now, you are either agreeing with me or laughing at me, as you can or can’t see a glow… You know what, you might be right and I might just be fooling myself. However, let’s finish off the shoot.

Next I stood Colbie up and took out the XF 50-140mm f2.8. Shooting wide open I took a series of images, again they look great, but looking at them now, I don’t think they have the same ‘glow.’

Fujifilm XF 50-140mm, @ f2.8, Classic Chrome

Fujifilm XF 50-140mm @f2.8, Classic Chrome

Back with the 35mm on the camera I took some waist high up shots, but from this sort of distance I didn’t really see anything other than good natural light on my subject.

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f1.8, Classic Chrome

In the next image I threw back on the XF 50-140mm and now looking at this image of my daughter, am I seeing a glow on the XF 50-140mm lens? Maybe it’s just the lovely natural light we are using. Now I’m confused, everything is starting to glow.

Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f2.8 @3.2, Classic Chrome

This time we moved locations to a space right next to this room, it allowed all the natural light from this space to filter in from a large side window above. Using the XF 35mm I utilised the lovely couch for a picture with Colbie.

Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 @ f2, Classic Chrome

Fujifilm XF 50-140mm @ f2.8, Classic Chrome

One last photo above using the XF 50-140mm. I look back on these images and are completely undecided on whether I am just seeing things or there is really a glow to this lens, either way, the Fujifilm XF 35mm 1.4 is a gem for stationery subject photography, and will always have a place in my tool bag.

Photographer: Trev Hil - Model: Colbie Hil. - Location: Well + Being, Dunedin.

The Henley Cheese factory though Autumn and Winter

I have been taking images of the Henley Cheese Factory for a good few months now. Every time I visit there is something new to appreciate. It’s like saying hello to an old friend and enjoying a new and engaging story about their life. In this update I want to highlight 3 images.

This is an image I took around 5am in the morning when it was still dark. The night sky was clear and the moon was beaming bright over the landscape. Apart from the background light trails of cars on State Highway 1, the image has the appearence of a bright sunny day.

Henley Cheese Factory by moonlight.

In this next image a thick shroud of fog envelopes the factory. The calmness of this scene with its glass like reflection was very relaxing. When you take the time to slow down and connect with an environment like this it can be really rewarding.

Henley Cheese factory in fog.

The image below was taken during a morning sunrise. The grass is covered in a rather biting frost. On chilly days like this I look forward to grabbing a coffee afterwards.

A frosty morning at the Henley Cheese Factory

Infrared Black and White.

When I started this ‘study’ of the Henley Cheese Factory I wasn’t sure how the journey would evolve. Currently I am consistently photographing the building from about the same perspective. I could change it up, but I find there is comfort in familiarity of form and composition, so for now, I’ll just keep on keeping on. Thanks for stopping by and reading this small blog.

Photographing The Milford Track

The Milford track is the most popular of all New Zealand’s great walks. A four day hike through pristine rain forest in the heart of Fiordland. I was excited about the adventure and potential for photo opportunities. About a month earlier I had bought a new camera, the Fujifilm GFX50sii with the bundled GF 35-70mm zoom lens, and decided to take the combo on the walk with me. My bush walk adventures have taught me not to expect the moon from the images I take. As landscape photographers know, good light on subjects is rare and generally requires repeat visits to specific locations to get a good shot, with multi day hikes, you are never in one place long, except at the hut/camp locations. This hike deep into the lush rainforest of Fiordland, was a journey into the unknown. I decided to leave my tripod at home and handhold all my shots.

DAY 1. Access to the Milford track is via a ferry from Te Anau Downs. The boat has a top deck so you get a great view of the huge granite mountains you will be walking under in the rain forest. My choice of lens was equivalent to 28-55mm on a full frame camera, so just a standard view. I would have loved a 70-200mm type lens for a tighter crop, but I made do with the old Fujifilm X-pan crop mode built into the camera. Not ideal, but still got an image.

The hike from the ferry jetty to Clinton hut where you stay the night is only about a couple of hours, if that. The bush on this part of the walk is really pretty, with lots of vibrant sphagnum moss covering the trees. So do stop and take pictures.

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Day 1 and part of 2 is the best opportunity to photograph the Sphagnum moss. As the hike slowly climbs in altitude on day 2 the rainforest environment changes as well, so less of the lush green views, make the most of it on day 1.

Clinton hut is an overnight stop and from the helipad you have one of the hikes best photogenic views. A stunning vista of granite cliffs with rainforest in the foreground. I took off early in the morning, but this could also be a great sunrise photo opportunity.

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This image was taken early evening and captures the mystical vibe of the Milford track with larger trees jutting out of the rainforest cloaked in low hanging cloud, clinging to the ancient granite cliffs.

Day 2. The second day is a long hike of about 18km slowly gaining in altitude. You will eventually walk out of the cover of the rainforest and travel between giant granite cliffs. Finding images here is not as easy as it sounds as the dynamic range between cliffs and sky can be crazy difficult. It started to rain at about lunch time and it didn’t stop for the rest of the day. I managed to get one image from the day I really like. There is a historic avalanche segment of the track where you have to navigate walking over boulders. This grouping of rocks was an obvious foreground, but my camera lens wasn’t wide enough so I took a handheld 2 shot panorama.

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Rain brings waterfalls everywhere on the Milford track.

At the end of day 2 you stay at the new Mintaro Hut, the image below is of the tree outside the balcony of the hut. As you can see it’s raining. Expect lots of rain. I didn’t do much to protect my camera and on day three I was about to find out… i should have. You should definitely look at some sort of rain cover for your camera.

Day 3. The main focus of day 3 is the climb over the Mckinnon Pass. Whether you get a view from the summit is a lottery and on my day I only had fleeting moments when the clouds parted to get some kind of view. I can’t tell you what sort of focal range would suit this location, but a tele-photo lens in the backpack wouldn’t go amiss.

Just below the summit of Mckinnon Pass. While not a great view the low cloud did provide an atmospheric image with the pleasing rock formations and tussock grass.

It was on the descent I came unstuck with my camera. In Fiordland not only is it wet but extremely humid. My camera lens is supposed to be weather resistant, but that didn’t stop an internal element from fogging up. I missed a few shots but luckily after sitting the camera and lens in the warm sun to dry at the problem disappeared, and I took images all of day 4.

Day 4. This is an easy walk, and I took plenty of images. My pick of the day was the image below.

Just a few hundred metres from the end of the 53.5km Milford track I took this image. Probably the wrong time of day but a nice keepsake just the same.

After the end of the Milford track I stayed in Te Anau for the night. My room at the lakeside holiday park was really close to the boat clubs jetty, so it was an easy sunrise location.

Lake Te Anau. Without a tripod I balanced the camera on a concrete wall and took this image.

Photographing the Milford track was a lot of fun, and while I didn’t have the perfect focal range for many images, I still had a great time. If I were to do the trip again I would take longer and wider lens options. Overall the Fujifilm camera did the job, and the image stabilisation worked well. Next walk on my list is the Routeburn track, and I hope to walk shortly in January of 2022.

Scenic walks in Dunedin: Mt Cargill to The Organ Pipes

Getting There:

Mt Cargill is an easy 10 minute drive from the central city. Access is gained via Cowan Rd, be careful to dodge the pot holes on the ungraded road. The starting point of the walk is beside the signal tower and is 676m in elevation. There is a poorly sign-posted parking area just prior to the summit, but I always drive past it and park up under the signal tower.

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View from Mt Cargill out beyond Butters Peak to the Otago Harbour and Otago Peninsula.

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View from start of walk from Mt Cargill to Organ Pipes. Plenty of haze in the air on this warm sunny day in Dunedin.

The walk:

The walking track starts near the signal tower and is easy to follow. Follow the path toward Butters Peak. Butters Peak is an excellent place to stop, but as I was returning the same way I decided to visit it on the way back. Just keep walking past Butters Peak. I have been spending a bit of time in the Catlins recently so have been a bit spoilt with stunning rainforest bush. The bush on this walk is not on the same level, rather more dry and spindly in character. After about 30 minutes walk you will arrive at the Organ Pipes

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The distinctive Organ Pipes of Dunedin.

The Organ Pipes are a fascinating geological feature, and are fun rocks to climb over. Scramble up them and find some good spots to enjoy the view and take a break from the hectic pace of the world.

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Organ Pipes, Dunedin, NZ.

Organ Pipes, Dunedin, NZ.

The walk back is more or less slightly uphill. So, stopping at Butters peak for a breather is highly recommended. The views from Butters Peak are sensational and I rate this location as one of my favourite places in Dunedin.

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View of Blue Skin Bay and Karitane from Butters Peak.

View of Otago Harbour and the Otago Peninsula from Butters Peak.

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View from Butters Peak to the Otago Peninsula.

Butters Peak rock formation.

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View from Butters Peak to Mt Cargill and the signal tower where the walk started.

The walk back to Mt Cargill takes about 20 minutes and is mostly uphill. I just like to think of it as a nice bit of exercise.

Handsome looking steps are part of the last push to reach the summit of Mt Cargill.

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Back to the start again, Mt Cargill signal tower.

The Mt Cargill to Organ Pipe walk is a nice way to spend a couple of hours in Dunedin. Another great day out in Dunedin.