I was initially hesitant to move from my Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot camera and upgrade to a more professional grade camera. The reason I decided to first invest in the Nikon was because I knew I wanted to take pictures. I knew I loved capturing images, but I also did not want to take myself too seriously. I knew I was not a professional photographer. I felt that I wanted to maintain the playful spirit taking photos allowed for me, but if I am being honest, was also not sure I deserved an expensive camera just for play. Many years in, I am extremely proud of taking that next step. I found my entry point through the mirrorless Fujifilm X-T100 digital camera.
With just my kit lens, I began to learn and play and play and learn. I went out and tried my hand at capturing more beauty, navigating new challenges as they came up.
One of my first outings with my new camera was to the Asian Lantern Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. As day turned to night and I looked to capture the beautiful lighting of the lanterns, I took my first steps at shooting in Manual and adjusting my settings intentionally. Not knowing much, but just tinkering until I got an image I wanted, I was so excited to see some of the images come together. It hit home for me then, just how much more I could do with this new camera.
Another early outing was one to a farm in Myrtle Beach. Here I continued tinkering in Manual, but once I got the combination I desired, I began trying to decide “what” to capture. This trip became an exercise in framing my subjects and trying to keep them in focus. I loved the texture of what I was able to capture that day.
Early in my Fujifilm exploration, I also decided to try and capture the wonderful fall colors. There is one specific area I had come across and knew it to be magnificent and beautiful. So, I went one early morning to see if I could capture the feeling I felt when seeing these beautiful trees in person. At first, I could not get a true story or depth out of them. I honestly felt frustrated in the process. But I took a deep breath and began to travel deeper into the camera menus for ways to tweak what I was capturing. This is when I found ways to shift the color intensity and balance of things. I also began shooting in Fujifilm’s Vivid mode, and vivid is the perfect way to describe the images I was able to capture. To this day, the images from this one outing are some of my favorites I have ever taken.
These early outings, these first baby steps with my Fujifilm, helped me see the possibilities within this camera. My opportunities for capturing beautiful images expanded. My desire to simply head out with my camera expanded right with it. These trips reinforced just how much more I could learn technically, if I wanted to, so I could master getting the photo I wanted, when I wanted. And it reinforced in me a lesson I will continue to relearn, the necessity of taking my time with myself and my subject.
…and that sometimes, the best part of the process is getting the photo you didn’t know you wanted.
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