Coming Together to Create Magic

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Photo © Lanna Apisukh

5 minute read

Coming Together To Create Magic

Portrait and documentary photographer Lanna Apisukh uses the FUJIFILM X-E4 and FUJINON XF27mmF2.8 R WR combination to document how New York’s Chinatown community has come together during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I love photographing people,” says Lanna, whose insightful work puts the spotlight on people and their relationship to place, culture, identity, and gender. “I love using the camera to explore the world and meet people. It gives me access to places that I never imagined I’d get to go to or to be in, so it’s a really powerful tool,” she continues.

With a background in gymnastics, Lanna tells us that she is always drawn to people with a particular energy. “I like people that are very active and people that are driven and finding their own path,” she explains. “And I’m drawn to projects where there’s a lot of energy and where there’s a lot of activity, color, and love. I think that’s been a theme throughout my work.

“I love freezing moments in time, helping me to preserve that memory – I guess that’s the practical sense of it,” she adds. “But then, also, I think photography helps me approach people. I love the access that it gives me to my community. At the heart of it, that’s what’s the most compelling.”

Photo © Lanna Apisukh | FUJIFILM X-E4 camera and XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens, 1/180sec at F2.8, ISO 1600

Community was certainly at the heart of her latest project, which documents Chinatown in New York City during the pandemic. Growing up, Lanna would spend most weekends shopping for ingredients in Chinatown in Orlando, Florida with her parents, so this has given the New York district a special significance for her.

“I have such a personal connection to that neighborhood. I go there to do grocery shopping, sometimes getting produce and ingredients that I can’t find at local supermarkets for cooking,” she explains.

“It’s the oldest and the largest Chinatown in the western hemisphere, so there’s usually lots of activity. I thought it would be really interesting to see what it would look like during the pandemic.”

Photo © Lanna Apisukh | FUJIFILM X-E4 camera and XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens, 1/250sec at F2.8, ISO 500

Lanna’s tool for this project was FUJIFILM X-E4, a rangefinder-style, interchangeable lens camera that is as easy to use as a smartphone, but is capable of making professional-quality images. She paired it up with the newly updated XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens for the ideal street kit. “This was the perfect setup for creating this project in Chinatown. The camera is small, lightweight, compact, and I love how user-friendly it is. The lens is great too, because it’s so tiny. Plus, I really like the new aperture ring that they put on,” she enthuses.

As Lanna explored a mid-pandemic Chinatown, she certainly noticed changes. But the biggest thing she took away from the project – and indeed what she hopes her audience will take away – is the resilience of the community. She wants to tell a story of how the community of Chinatown, and the community of New York, has come together in the face of such adversity.

“Things are different,” Lanna tells us. “You can’t dine indoors now, so people have built these little huts outside of their restaurants and everyone’s wearing a mask. There are also less tourists, but the locals are still there. You still see them coming out to sell fruit, vegetables and fresh fish. I thought it was really interesting to capture that. The fact that, even though we’re in this crazy health crisis, we’re still having to move forward.

“It has been fascinating to see how this community has adapted,” she continues. “Although it has been a difficult and challenging time, you still see that hustle in the street and I think that comes naturally with being an immigrant and a New Yorker. You have to be resilient to make it here, even during a health crisis.”

Photo © Lanna Apisukh | FUJIFILM X-E4 camera and XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens, 1/180sec at F2.8, ISO 800

When asked about the X-E4 and XF27mmF2.8 setup, Lanna had nothing but praise for its pro-level 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 back-side illuminated sensor. She also highlighted how XF27mmF2.8 not only provided excellent image quality, but also the perfect angle of view for storytelling.

“X-E4 uses the same sensor as my X-Pro3 and X-T4 cameras, so I could use it for professional work,” she reveals. “To get such high-quality images from this tiny little camera is pretty amazing. I also really love this pancake lens: it is awesome. I usually make images with XF35mmF2 R WR, which is my go-to lens, but the XF27mmF2.8 allows me to tell a bit of a wider story, which was great.”

Lanna was also impressed with both the camera and the lens’ ability to find precision focus in a split second. X-E4 is capable of focusing in just 0.02 sec in light as low as -6EV and benefits from precision Face and Eye Detection, so you can always be sure that your focus is where it matters. Even taking self-portraits is easy with its 180° tilting LCD touchscreen, which, in addition to tap, pinch, and swipe controls for simple operation, makes for perfect composition every time.

Photo © Lanna Apisukh | FUJIFILM X-E4 camera and XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens, 1/180sec at F3.2, ISO 640

For Lanna, all of this unites to create the ideal combination, not just for street, but also travel and everyday photography. “This setup is great for anyone that’s interested in street photography, because of its small, non-intrusive size,” she tells us. “But more generally it’s good for basically anyone who doesn’t want to carry around a clunky DSLR. And you really can get creative by experimenting with the unique Film Simulation modes and Advanced Filters,” she says.

“It’s really great to be able to have it by my side at all times. I’m literally taking it with me everywhere now; on the subway, on the street, on small trips around here.

“It’s solid,” she concludes. “It’s a great setup, and I’ll definitely be continuing to use it.”

FUJIFILM X-E4 and FUJINON XF27mmF2.8 R WR are coming soon to your nearest FUJIFILM Authorized Dealer.

Find out more about the project, the gear, and Lanna’s creative process with this exclusive behind-the-scenes video!

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Featured Photographer

Lanna Apisukh

Lanna Apisukh is a portrait and documentary photographer based in New York City. Her work explores people and their relationship to place, culture and identity.
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