Reimagining Nostalgia with the Fujifilm X-E5
Some places hold time like a photograph.
When Fujifilm offered the opportunity to collaborate on a creative project for the launch of the X-E5 and FUJINON XF23mm F2.8 R WR, I saw it as an invitation to explore something close to my heart: how nostalgia exists not only in memory, but in places still lived in and loved.
As a long-time Fujifilm user—over ten years behind the lens of their cameras—this was a natural and meaningful partnership. The result was a series that reflects how the past lingers in the present—not as a fixed image, but as an evolving feeling.
This project wasn’t about documenting nostalgia. It was about reframing it.
Instead of treating the past as something frozen, I wanted to show how it continues to live and breathe in modern contexts. The locations I chose each offered a different lens on that idea—settings that felt suspended in time, yet emotionally alive.
Places That Hold Memory
- The Keys Leisure Centre – Retro bowling lanes, arcade lights, and wood-paneled warmth.
- Hotel Jesus – Playful, pastel, and full of ’50s diner charm.
- Metro Auto Photo Booth – Still producing strip prints
- The Parkville Motel – Mid-century minimalism with cinematic symmetry.
- Kombi Van & Holiday home – Vibrant, lived-in, and joyful.
These spaces offered more than aesthetics. They were emotionally charged environments—evoking memory, play, and place in ways that feel both specific and universal.
The Camera That Matched the Vision
The Fujifilm X-E5 felt like an extension of the story I was trying to tell. Its rangefinder-inspired design and tactile dials echoed the vintage feel of the locations, while the internal tech provided the speed, clarity, and versatility of a modern mirrorless system.
Compact and lightweight at just 445 grams, the X-E5 let me move freely. It never felt like a barrier between me and the moment. Its responsive autofocus and intuitive controls allowed for spontaneous shooting—whether it was kids cartwheeling on grass, neon reflections in an arcade, or the quiet intimacy of someone stepping behind a photo booth curtain.
Film Simulations as Emotional Anchors
Fujifilm’s film simulations have long been a part of my workflow. For this project, they helped anchor the mood and deepen the emotional tone of each scene.
- Classic Chrome – Subdued and cinematic; used for The Keys and The Parkville Motel.
- Velvia – Vibrant and nostalgic; perfect for Hotel Jesus and candy-coloured homes.
- Nostalgic Neg – Warm and soft; ideal for the Kombi van and intimate portraits
Each simulation shaped not just colour, but emotion—transforming light into atmosphere.
More Than a Camera
This collaboration wasn’t just about showcasing a new camera. It was about what photography can hold: the feeling of time, the warmth of memory, and the beauty of things that last—quietly, persistently.
The Fujifilm X-E5 became more than a tool. It was a collaborator—nimble, expressive, and deeply aligned with how I see the world.
For those seeking a camera that’s as thoughtful as it is powerful—one that balances classic design with contemporary performance—the X-E5 offers something special.
It doesn’t just capture images. It helps capture time, and everything tangled up in it.
