Embracing the Elements: Fujifilm x Beatrice Chronicles a Photographer’s Journey
In the world of photography, what meets the eye is often just the tip of the iceberg. Behind every captivating image lies a story of dedication, perseverance, and adaptation. Unlike the studio shoots, you don’t have the luxury to control your light, you are at the mercy of nature, and she does not always play nice. Which brings me to our adventure at The Bic Park located at the Bas-Saint Laurent. But first, who am I?
My name is Beatrice, I’m half Vietnamese and Thai from Quebec. I gave up the finance world in 2017 to follow my passion for conscious travel and people’s stories, little did I know that this will lead me to create Wild to Balance Studio and explore this world to capture images and tell stories for a positive impact.
As a dedicated full-time filmmaker and photographer specializing in the documentary and environmental subjects, it’s crucial for me to possess versatile lenses and compact gear to ensure that my workflow remains enjoyable, efficient, and high quality. Accompanied with two friends, we venture in the park chasing sunrise, sunsets, and good conversation to show you the possibilities of this new lens.
Besides amidst numbed fingers, gusts of 36km/h winds, the challenge of getting a car unstuck from the snow, and not having the best weather for photography, we certainly embraced the true essence of a shifting winter and had an exhilarating adventure filled with laughter, camaraderie, and fun.
My favourite part about outdoor photography is that nothing really goes as planned as we must adapt to an unpredictable weather especially at locations like The Bic or on a peak of a mountains. Despite rising before dawn and lingering until after dark, this year’s climate change left the ice nearly nonexistent and the sky predominantly gray during the prime hours for optimal lighting throughout our stay. Despite that, there is a certain thrill to the unknown and chasing spontaneity because when nature finally rewards you, everything was worth it.
During this journey, as hope appeared to fade, our final sunrise morning presented us with perfect conditions. In that fleeting moment, the biting cold and the trials of our prior efforts dissolved into feelings of joy and tranquility.
For most of the adventure, I kept the XF16-50mm on my body and the first thing that immediately caught my attention was the additional 2mm offered by the lens, which truly proves its worth in landscape photography. Compared to the previous standard 18mm, this extra range opens a world of possibilities, allowing the capture of intricate foreground details and expansive horizons in a single shot – a real game-changer.
As someone that often venture into remote places for my work, one of the most crucial considerations for multi-day hiking trips is the weight of your gear and having a lens that is versatile is on top of the list.
As I continue to explore the world through my lens, I’m reminded that the true essence of photography lies not just in the images captured, but in the stories, they evoke and the journeys they encapsulate. I hope these images inspire you to get outdoors!
