Personal Best vol.32 | Jeff Carter

26.07.2019

Written by... Jeff Carter

With over 20 years of photographic experience in several fields, including sport, travel, automotive, landscape and photojournalism, Jeff Carter runs MacLean Photographic in Dunbar on Scotland’s east coast and travels the world in search of the next great image to capture.

A user of Fujifilm cameras and film in the 1980s and 1990s, Jeff Carter had no hesitation in purchasing a limited edition X100 when the camera was launched. Adding an X-Pro1 and prime lenses a short time afterwards, Jeff found that the X series allowed him the freedom to explore his creativity with ease and put the joy back into the image making process.

In 2014, Jeff became fully immersed in the X series with the launch of the X-T1 and since then the X-T2, X-Pro2, X100T, along with a selection of Fujinon lenses, has been the backbone of his photographic business.

He also uses the X Series as his primary camera system for stills and video when working as the Media Delegate for the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series and as the Photo Delegate at the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

As well as providing photographic services to commercial clients, MacLean Photographic run Photographic Workshops and Tours for individual or small groups of photographers of all abilities.

A camera is the tool of my trade and the best tool is one that becomes an extension of my creativity, something that I can use without thinking about to capture an image. I have used all different types of cameras over the last 20 years but, for me, the X Series cameras I use are like an extension of my eye and brain.

The X Series cameras I currently use, along with the range of quality XF lenses, are tools that allow me the freedom to be creative and they have also put the joy back into the image making process.

Gears

FUJIFILM X-T3
XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR

Story

Since I started using the X Series in 2012 we have seen some great steps forward by Fujifilm in terms of cameras and lenses but in 2018 a lens arrived that, for me, is the best addition to the system for my work as a sport and wildlife photographer – the FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR.

When coupled with the new X-T3, the 200mmF2 offers superb quality images with an autofocus system that is quick and accurate, two essential ingredients in a fast moving sports environment. It also doubles as a superb portrait lens, either for people or wildlife, with beautiful bokeh that the fast FUJINON prime lenses are renowned for.

Warp Speed

This images was taken during the FIA World Endurance Championship event in Japan, the 6 Hours of Fuji, in October 2018. The subject is the no66 Ford GT of Olivier Pla during Free Practice ahead of the race. With the lens fitted with the matched 1.4x teleconverter to give me a focal length of 280mm, I chose a slow 1/40s shutter speed to give the viewer the impression of speed that the cars were travelling at, around 250kph at this point on the circuit. To be able to handhold and pan a lens of this size at such a slow shutter speed and get a sharp image is testament to the light weight build quality and the superb OIS system built into the lens.

Matteo Cairoli

The XF200mmF2 is also a brilliant portrait lens and this shot of Porsche Junior driver Matteo Cairoli during the post qualifying press conference where the young Italian claimed pole position in the LMGTE Am class is a classic example. The superb OIS kept everything sharp during this handheld shot while the fast F2 aperture allowed me to keep the ISO as low as possible.

Tommy Seymour Try

This image of Scotland Wing Tommy Seymour scoring his third of three tries against Fiji in the first of the three Autumn Rugby Internationals at Murrayfield in Edinburgh clearly demonstrates the huge step forward Fujifilm has taken in providing sports photographers with a camera and lens that meets their needs in every department. With the 200mm fitted with the 1.4x teleconverter, X-T3’s AF followed Seymour as Seymour shrugged off a tackle to dive in over the line.

Fighting Gannets

The 200mm is also a great lens for capturing wildlife. This shots was one of many I took on a visit to Bass Rock in Scotland to photograph the world’s largest Northern Gannet colony for the Scottish Seabird Centre. With 150,000 birds on the small island nesting space is at a premium and gannets will fiercely defend their territory. Shooting with an X-T2 fitted with the 200mm lens and 1.4x converter I captured this interaction between two of the birds.