#10YearsOfXMount | Reaching the Mountaintop

When I first picked up a Fujifilm camera, I was hooked. The X Series has accompanied me on my photographic journey ever since.

My name is Pete and I’m a commercial photographer from the New Forest. I love hiking, mountains, getting up very early and being somewhere amazing for sunrise. I might be a little bit crazy – pushing myself mentally and physically, to reach the most remote places possible – but that’s all part of life, right? The process helps me connect with my work. I’m proud to look back on a photograph and remember how much effort I put into making it.

My passion for photography is centred around mountains and how people interact with landscapes. But how did I get to this point? Well, four years ago, I asked for a FUJIFILM X-T1 for Christmas, then bought myself the FUJIFILM XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS lens and headed out at sunrise. I like to think I’ve come a long way since then…

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Growing up, I was extremely outdoorsy – skiing, hiking, even canoeing through river gorges in the south of France with my parents. At 23, I experienced a transformative moment on further family travels. My cousin and I took a road trip around Europe, and I discovered what an incredible photographer he was. I remember seeing his pictures from the Dolomites and Iceland, imagining how much I would love to create some myself. So, I found a camera that was suitably compact and lightweight, and went for it.

My passion for photography was immediate, reigniting my love for the outdoors. I became obsessed with heading out, by myself, to make landscapes. The most dramatic place near me was the Jurassic Coast, so I would head down after work to snap sunset. I’d sleep in my car – barely – then document the sunrise.

Fast forward to the end of summer and I had planned my first-ever photography adventure with two good friends. We booked a 10-day trip to the breathtaking Lofoten Islands, where the dramatic mountains seem to dip their toes into the sea.

The three of us crammed into a van, aptly named Cherry, and went exploring. I had added the FUJIFILM XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS to my kitbag, and managed to get a few images I still love today. Of course, there were plenty of mistakes, too.

After a good year and a half with my trusty X-T1, it was time for an upgrade. The new FUJIFILM X-T3 had just been released, so it was a natural choice. I also updated my lenses, picking up the FUJIFILM XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR and XF23mmF1.4 R. I was starting to take photography more seriously, thinking about making the leap to professional freelance work.

Again, I linked up with my good friend Heikki, Cherry’s owner, but this time we opted for a week-long trip in the Dolomites – a place I’d wanted to revisit. With mesmerising scenery, this mountain range is one of the most spectacular alpine destinations in the world.

We spent six days hiking, and it’s somewhere that makes you appreciate your insignificance, being dwarfed by the landscapes around you.

As well as hiking, we hired climbing equipment to find quieter locations for sunsets. A via ferrata, or iron path, is a route with fixed protection that aids travellers to move safely through the mountains. For those with a strong sense of adventure and a head for heights, they are a superb way of exploring the Dolomites and gaining access to more remote limestone peaks. Our first route up Mount Averau went exactly as planned, giving us an amazing vantage point with no one else in sight.

When I got back to the UK, I set about building my outdoor portfolio and began preparing to go freelance full-time. One of my first big commercial jobs was with legendary outdoor writer Ronald Turnbull on the Jurassic Coast – I couldn’t have been more excited. With my XF16-55mm, XF55-200mm and XF23mm, we headed out for a day of hiking along this magnificent journey, with its airy clifftops and dramatic scenery. The seed was sown. I was committed to the freelance life and my specialisation.

A year of modest professional success followed, and my love for early-morning hikes and wild camping in the mountains remained. I bought a converted van to live in, upgraded to the FUJIFILM X-T4 and headed off to Scotland. This camera was the perfect fit for my lifestyle. It’s lightweight and compact, but also super durable – withstanding all of the conditions I’ve experienced, from freezing hail to desert heat.

Scotland has become a second home. It’s truly wild, with jaw-dropping landscapes around every bend. It also offers a place to roam. The weeks spent exploring the mountain utopia of Torridon were particularly memorable. I also began to find my style, experimenting with a film-like feel to my images.

In nature, I find the greater the effort, the greater the reward. At times, witnessing sunsets, I’ve felt nothing else mattered. Life falls away and I’m left revelling in nature. If my photos even begin to portray some of that emotion, I consider them a success.

Now, in 2022, the X-T4 is my go-to for all commercial photo and video work. It’s the most reliable camera I’ve ever used. The X Series has played such an important part in my development as a photographer, I couldn’t speak more highly of it. It’s seen me through humble beginnings and seasoned professional assignments. More than ever, it keeps me drawn to the exploration of wild mountain environments, so I can tell their stories.