{"id":64182,"date":"2021-10-13T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T05:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujifilmnxtc.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=xstories&#038;p=4194244"},"modified":"2024-05-02T01:04:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T16:04:04","slug":"new-freedoms","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/stories\/new-freedoms\/","title":{"rendered":"New Freedoms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><h5>Combining the ultimate in portability, affordability, and power, street specialist Brandon Ruffin finds new freedom in the form of GFX50S II<\/h5>\n<p>Before we had the freedom to draw with light, as far back as history can delve, we drew on the walls. And so it was for street specialist Brandon Ruffin. \u201cA lot of my street photography has been inspired by a love of hip-hop,\u201d he explains. \u201cBut a huge part of my artistic upbringing was graffiti. I was in a paint crew as a kid, and while today it\u2019s more culturally acceptable, people back then were still getting into fights or going to jail over it. What graffiti meant to me was the freedom to create and express myself in ways that could surprise, impress, or educate people \u2013 and it became the same with photography.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhether it\u2019s graffiti or photography, as well as the art you put out there, it\u2019s also about where and how you made it,\u201d Brandon continues. \u201cThat combination gives you the chance to stop people in their tracks and have them ask \u2018how did you create that composition?\u2019 or \u2018where did you find that scene?\u2019 It\u2019s still an urge that fuels what I do, and in street photography it means spending hours in the city \u2013 waiting and watching \u2013 taking your chances when all the elements align. To do that, you need to be agile and responsive, and so does your camera.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp_flexbox col2\">\n<li><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-3.jpg?width=581&#038;height=871\" alt=\"Man standing at diner counter in dark shadows\" width=\"581\" height=\"871\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/li>\n<li><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-2.jpg?width=581&#038;height=871\" alt=\"Barber shop with rays of light from window\" width=\"581\" height=\"871\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><p>\u201cI first found that combination with Fujifilm\u2019s X Series,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd then with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/products\/cameras\/gfx100s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GFX100S<\/a>. But with the new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/products\/cameras\/gfx50s-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GFX50S II<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/products\/lenses\/gf35-70mmf45-56-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR<\/a>, I think it\u2019s taken the idea of freedom and quality in street photography to a whole new place. I still love GFX100S,\u201d he admits, \u201cbut the ultimate resolution of that camera means I tend to use it as a very deliberate tool. At 51.4 megapixels, GFX50S II still produces masses of detail, but the files are more manageable for my street photography, where I can make a lot of images in a single day. It\u2019s more of an everyday option, but one that still brings all the advantages of Fujifilm\u2019s larger format sensor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While its resolution is different, GFX50S II provides the same outstanding color fidelity and dynamic range as its big brother. It\u2019s something Brandon made great use of in his time with the new camera, formulating a project around high-contrast lighting. \u201cI deliberately composed these images where strong light was cutting through the scene,\u201d he says. \u201cIt silhouetted the subject, or isolated them against the shadow, much as we\u2019ve all been isolated in lockdown. With a regular camera, I\u2019d be concerned about capturing all the highlight and shadow detail in those conditions, but with the G Format sensor, there was no need. It performed perfectly, just as I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Creating a cohesive theme through the color images in the set, and mixing in striking black &amp; white compositions, Brandon also made use of GFX50S II\u2019s Film Simulation modes, which he adapted to his own ends in camera. \u201cIn street photography, everyone finds their particular spice, and I like to use Film Simulations like Classic Chrome to give a timeless feel. Straight out of the camera, those JPEG files are so impressive and adaptable,\u201d he continues. \u201cWhile I \u2013 like many photographers \u2013 often work with RAW processing in mind, I felt a lot freer to simply create and not think so much about the tools and techniques involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1125\" class=\"wp-image-64185\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg\" alt=\"Person in colorful clothes standing in shadow with diamond light ray ahead\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg?width=1500 1500w, https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg?width=300&amp;height=225 300w, https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg?width=1024&amp;height=768 1024w, https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-13.jpg?width=768&amp;height=576 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2021 \u00a9 Brandon Ruffin | FUJIFILM GFX50S II camera and GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR, 1\/800 sec at F5.6, ISO 125<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>A lot of that freedom also came down to GFX50S II\u2019s size, weight, and handling. \u201cIt was super responsive,\u201d he explains, \u201cjust the same as GFX100S. It switches on fast, so I was ready to react in a heartbeat \u2013 and its controls and layout are completely intuitive. The form factor is also great, like a smaller DSLR, but with the benefit of an EVF, so you can see what\u2019s happening in an exposure with complete accuracy. That keeps you very locked in to the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While larger format cameras have an historical reputation for being slow, Brandon says GFX50S II bucked that trend. \u201cIt had all the speed I needed. You\u2019ve got fast AF and all the benefits of in-body image stabilization, too. The contrast AF isn\u2019t as quick as GFX100S\u2019s hybrid system, but the camera\u2019s new processor accelerates it massively over the previous model. And, of course, it also has Face\/Eye Detection AF, which is vital for my portraits. That sharpness is always improved by IBIS \u2013 and though people often think of stabilization as something only used in making pictures at very slow shutter speeds, for me it\u2019s just as important at 1\/200 sec or 1\/500 sec, because it ensures the greatest clarity from the sensor.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp_flexbox col3\">\n<li><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-003.jpg?width=581&#038;height=871\" alt=\"Woman in corner of shadowy diner next to USA flag\" width=\"581\" height=\"871\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/li>\n<li><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-5.jpg?width=581&#038;height=871\" alt=\"Silhouette of man standing at the end of a shadowy alleyway\" width=\"581\" height=\"871\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/li>\n<li><img data-preload-after-window-load=\"preload\" data-preload-delay=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/GLOBAL-BRANDON-RUFFIN-GF35-70MM-7.jpg?width=581&#038;height=871\" alt=\"Restaurant table in dark shadows and rays of light\" width=\"581\" height=\"871\"  data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><p>Using the new GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR, along with GFX50S II, was another way in which Brandon was taken back to his early forays in street photography. \u201cWhen I started out, I often used a 24-70mm zoom \u2013 and this new model gave me similar versatility, with a 28-55mm equivalent, but in a very compact package, like the size of a prime. Just like the body, it\u2019s very manageable, which is perfect for street photography. Because it\u2019s collapsible, you don\u2019t feel as though you\u2019re walking around with big, ostentatious equipment, making it easier to blend in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a street session, you don\u2019t want to be changing lenses all the time, either\u201d he says. \u201cThat slows you down or takes you out of the moment. In contrast, GF35-70mmF4.5-5.6 WR range helped me react faster, while also adding texture to the stories I was documenting. And if I couldn\u2019t get closer to a subject physically and wanted more reach, I could just crop a little to push further into the scene, thanks to the quality of the lens and sensor resolution. I did that several times and still got really sharp, crisp, and detailed images.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Summing up his time with GFX50S II, it\u2019s clear that Brandon felt motivated to create by the new camera. \u201cI made most of the images around LA and Oakland,\u201d he explains. \u201cLike any classic street camera, it\u2019s small, light, and powerful, and doesn\u2019t hold you back. Because whether you\u2019re making street candids, street portraits, or street landscapes, the necessity is to walk around and see what&#8217;s out there. The more you do it, the more likely you\u2019ll find something beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive\"><iframe width=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jKR2C8ix7Ek\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Combining the ultimate in portability, affordability, and power, street specialist Brandon Ruffin finds new freedom in the form of GFX50S II Before we had the freedom to draw with light, as far back as history can delve, we drew on the walls. And so it was for street specialist Brandon Ruffin. \u201cA lot of my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":64183,"template":"","category":[2084,1006,1202,3113,10953,1937,10218,1055,13039,3701,320,565,13041,3554],"post_tag":[],"b2b-solutions":[],"class_list":["post-64182","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-be-inspired","category-cameras","category-category","category-g-mount","category-gf35-70mmf45-56-wr","category-gfx-series","category-gfx50s-ii","category-lenses","category-mirrorless-digital-cameras","category-gfx-series-mirrorless","category-products","category-stories","category-zoom-lenses","category-g-mount-zoom"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"fujifilm_category_label":"GFX50S II","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-14 19:31:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/64182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category?post=64182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_tag?post=64182"},{"taxonomy":"b2b-solutions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/el-gr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/b2b-solutions?post=64182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}