{"id":65509,"date":"2022-11-15T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T05:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujifilmnxtc.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=xstories&#038;p=4210357"},"modified":"2024-05-02T00:04:11","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T15:04:11","slug":"chasing-shadows","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/stories\/chasing-shadows\/","title":{"rendered":"X-T5 x Rinzi Ruiz -Chasing Shadows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"embed-responsive\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gUe5VWNfshg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h5>Infused with noirish customs, Rinzi Ruiz\u2019s LA portraits highlight lonesome flecks of moody seclusion. In many ways, they\u2019re somber reminders of lockdown life<\/h5>\n<p>Borrowing from the gloomy patina of Renaissance paintings, a dramatic contrast of light and darkness (or chiaroscuro, as it would become known) defined the so-called \u2018film noirs\u2019 of post-war America. Personifying an era with slanted angles and exaggerated shadows, the genre established a harsh look, typifying the fallout of wide-reaching conflict and widespread disillusionment.<\/p>\n<p>Following the fallout of COVID-19, such sentiments have \u2013 perhaps inevitably \u2013 begun to permeate public consciousness once more. Traversing the effects of the last two years is something we\u2019re all contending with, and in many ways, the language of noir couldn\u2019t be more suited to this watershed moment.<\/p>\n<p>Working with X-T5, Rinzi Ruiz recently embarked on his own creative excursions, adopting such vernacular. Known for his arresting black &amp; white street snaps, the birthplace of the \u2018dark film\u2019 provided ample creative encouragement, and an ideal backdrop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it comes to making images, I just love the way the light falls out here. The slightest alterations can produce the most amazing results.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-1.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-1.jpg\" alt=\"Man on LA street in triangle of sunlight\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF56mmF1.2 R WR, 1\/800 sec at F8, ISO 160<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cI think it\u2019s subconscious. It connects to the mentality I was experiencing. In this instance, the photos speak to that solitude, particularly within the context of the pandemic,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>For most of his schedule, Rinzi works alone, seldom employing assistants or aides. At present, he also acts as primary caregiver for his aging father, balancing familial commitments with the pressures of an intensive career.<\/p>\n<p>The demands may prove challenging, but Rinzi has learnt to lean into his photography, using it as a therapeutic tool for externalizing emotion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-2.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-2.jpg\" alt=\"Lone man sitting on outdoor steps\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, 1\/500 sec at F8, ISO 160<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cI try to get everything out, so it doesn\u2019t fester inside,\u201d he explains. \u201cI think that\u2019s important \u2013 to let go of those parts of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The darkness is self-evident. Dwarfed by sparse concrete structures, subjects are silhouetted in lonely pockets of dimness, frozen in hurried postures and contemplative poses.<\/p>\n<p>Like the drunken gumshoes of dusky urban fables, Rinzi\u2019s unknown subjects could be read as projections of the current zeitgeist \u2013 faceless avatars that exemplify what we all felt during lockdown. In another way, they also represent intimate reflections of the creator\u2019s headspace, first-hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI timed all these shots very deliberately. Balancing several aspects of my life at once meant I was somewhat rushed and frantic. Maybe that\u2019s why I chose to showcase haste.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Drawing on DeCarava, Metzker and Kert\u00e9sz, Rinzi\u2019s black &amp; white stylings epitomize his initial fascination with the medium \u2013 the simplicity of shadow and contrast making for poignant, uncomplicated snapshots of raw city life.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-3.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-3.jpg\" alt=\"LA buildings in light and shadow\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF50mmF2 R WR, 1\/2500 sec at F5.6, ISO 320<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cBlack &amp; white creates depth and separation. The light illuminates what you want people to look at, and the shadows hide everything else \u2013 the distractions,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I first started out, I didn\u2019t have an electronic viewfinder to see the way I wanted to, so I experimented.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEventually, I realized certain techniques would facilitate my aims. At 1\/500 sec, I could freeze motion \u2013 ISO 200 helped with the LA light. It was an arduous process of trial and error, but I still use both those tricks today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A long-time Fujifilm champion, Rinzi started out with the X100, before eventually switching over to X-Ts. Five models later, he\u2019s keen to express the ways in which the camera has developed in tandem with his abilities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-4.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-4.jpg\" alt=\"Silhouette of man on LA street, seen from balcony\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF56mmF1.2 R WR, 1\/3200 sec at F5.6, ISO 160<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cX-T5 is the perfect refinement of everything that\u2019s come before. I like to think of myself in the same way!\u201d he chuckles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe new build fits perfectly in my hands. I love the new shape. Out on the street, you need to be able to concentrate as quickly as possible, and not lose the moment. Here, autofocus is super-fast. Eye, face and object detection are also massively helpful. It works like a charm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his seminal 1972 essay Notes on Film Noir, writer\/director Paul Schrader characterized the genre as having an \u2018almost Freudian\u2019 attachment to water. \u2018Even in Los Angeles, the empty streets are almost always glistening with fresh evening rain,\u2019 he observed.<\/p>\n<p>In a remarkable, low-angle replication of this idea, Rinzi documents early morning puddles with a fantastically reflective illustration. In this instance, the adjustable, pop-out LCD made stunning compositions a much simpler undertaking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat screen is just superb. The whole lot feels more magnified. The LCD allows you to get really low, and still be able to see everything. That benefits your scope.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/products\/lenses\/xf33mmf14-r-lm-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/products\/lenses\/xf50mmf2-r-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XF50mmF2 R WR<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/products\/lenses\/xf56mmf12-r-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XF56mmF1.2 R WR<\/a>, Rinzi\u2019s lens choices are purposeful preferences. Rather than adopting a spacious, expansive canvas, his images fragment carefully chosen facets of the frame, interrogating their happenings in gorgeously clear streaks.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-5.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-5.jpg\" alt=\"LA street reflected in puddle\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, 1\/400 sec at F5.6, ISO 125<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cThis glass is excellent for the street. I adore compression. Longer focal lengths enable me to choose a specific part of the scene to compose with. The 40 megapixels give you so much detail and depth in those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Exposing for highlights, a sizable quantity of these pictures are taken from rooftops and elevated surfaces, allowing for a more extensive assortment of light pockets. In one, the iconic stars of Hollywood Boulevard can be seen in subdued grays, a self-aware nod to customs that inadvertently shaped the appearance of this project.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-6.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-6.jpg\" alt=\"Silhouette of man walking on LA street\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF56mmF1.2 R WR, 1\/640 sec at F16, ISO 160<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cHigher angles give you an entirely new perspective. In LA, it\u2019s rare to see from this standpoint. I\u2019m looking for a space to perch and observe. I think I saw myself in some of these people\u2026 in a sense, they mirrored my energy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They may be unaware of his gaze, but notions of commonality and reflection are key to grasping Rinzi\u2019s profoundly human portraits. Finding solidarity with strangers may have proved unusual in years gone by, but from the outset of this unifying disease, an extraordinary state of affairs brought important messages into sharp focus. One, in particular, weighs on this photographer\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m learning to reach out for help, and not get worn down by what I do. By the same token, I try not to overthink my approach too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI rely on my experiences, and let that dictate where the lens falls. In the end, I go wherever those feelings lead me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-7.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/GLOBAL-RINZI-RUIZ-CHASING-SHADOWS-7.jpg\" alt=\"Distanced figures walking on empty LA sidewalk\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Rinzi Ruiz| FUJIFILM X-T5 and XF50mmF2 R WR, 1\/8000 sec at F2, ISO 320<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Infused with noirish customs, Rinzi Ruiz\u2019s LA portraits highlight lonesome flecks of moody seclusion. In many ways, they\u2019re somber reminders of lockdown life Borrowing from the gloomy patina of Renaissance paintings, a dramatic contrast of light and darkness (or chiaroscuro, as it would become known) defined the so-called \u2018film noirs\u2019 of post-war America. Personifying an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":65510,"template":"","category":[2084,1006,1202,1055,13039,3211,13040,3309,320,3162,1986,565,7180,8307,8111,8356],"post_tag":[],"b2b-solutions":[],"class_list":["post-65509","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-be-inspired","category-cameras","category-category","category-lenses","category-mirrorless-digital-cameras","category-x-series-mirrorless","category-prime-lenses","category-x-mount-prime","category-products","category-x-mount","category-x-series","category-stories","category-x-t5","category-xf33mmf14-r-lm-wr","category-xf50mmf1-r-wr","category-xf56mmf12-r-wr"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-03 19:16:21","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/65509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category?post=65509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_tag?post=65509"},{"taxonomy":"b2b-solutions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/en-ph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/b2b-solutions?post=65509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}