Exploring Emotion Through Three New Fujifilm Recipes
Photography has always been about more than capturing what’s in front of me. It’s about translating how a moment feels. With every shift in light or change in texture, there is an opportunity to shape mood, memory, and emotion. For this new Fujifilm project, I wanted to explore how three distinct recipes could express those ideas through texture, reflection, and motion, three visual languages that define how I see the world. Each recipe was created using the FUJIFILM X-E5, developed through experimentation in and around Sydney. From the calm energy of the ocean to the surreal quality of mirrors and the pulse of the city in motion, this series became an exploration of how light and feeling can coexist within a frame.
FS RECIPE: Ocean Textures
This recipe draws its inspiration directly from the ocean, focusing on its textures, tones, and ever-changing moods. I capture the unique character that sunrise, midday light, and the golden hues of sunset each bring to Bondi Beach.
The goal was to create something that feels timeless, soft in contrast to maintain calm, but rich in colour to reflect the depth and vibrancy of the sea. I subtly increase grain and texture to bring out the organic qualities of the images, giving them a presence that feels moody, natural, and almost painting-like.
To bring this look to life, I use the FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR, which offers both compression and beautiful detail. It lets me lean into the intricate patterns found in water, sand, and rock, while isolating subjects in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.
This recipe became about stillness within motion, finding quiet moments in a place that is never truly still. Photography at its best is about slowing down, observing light, and noticing how the smallest details can define an entire mood.
FILM SIMULATION:CLASSIC CHROME
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR:N/A
GRAIN EFFECT:STRONG, LARGE
COLOR CHROME EFFECT:WEAK
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE:WEAK
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT:OFF
WHITE BALANCE:AUTO/ R 3, B-3
DYNAMIC RANGE:DR100
D RANGE PRIORITY:OFF
TONE CURVE:H -2, S +1
COLOR:+4
SHARPNESS:-2
HIGH ISO NR:-4
CLARITY:0
FS RECIPE: Reflections
The second recipe explores reflection, both literal and emotional. I built this concept around mirrors, using them as a central motif to create scenes that feel surreal and dreamlike.
By placing mirrors in unexpected locations, I am able to reframe reality, whether that is reflecting the open sky, drawing out hidden emotions from a subject, or playing with partial concealment by having a subject half-hidden behind a mirror’s edge. Each setup challenges perception, creating visuals that feel both fragmented and whole.
For this look, I leant into colder tones, keeping the contrast balanced and the grain subtle to give the images a cinematic, slightly otherworldly feel. I want the images to exist somewhere between reality and a dream, a little moody with a high-fashion feel.
Using the FUJINON XF50mmF1.0 R WR, a lens that has been a long-time favourite for creative projects. The wide aperture introduces soft separation and dreamy depth that perfectly complements the reflective compositions. Together, the lens and recipe blur the line between what is real and imagined, inviting the viewer to pause and interpret what they see.
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FILM SIMULATION:PRO Neg. Hi
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR:N/A
GRAIN EFFECT:WEAK, SMALL
COLOR CHROME EFFECT:WEAK
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE:STRONG
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT:WEAK
WHITE BALANCE:AUTO/ R -3, B 3
DYNAMIC RANGE:DR100
D RANGE PRIORITY:OFF
TONE CURVE:H -1.5, S +0.5
COLOR:+1
SHARPNESS:-2
HIGH ISO NR:-4
CLARITY:0
FS RECIPE: Motion Blur
The third recipe focuses on movement, turning fleeting moments into frames that feel more like expressive paintings than static photographs. By embracing motion blur, I wanted to capture images full of colour, rhythm, and atmosphere, moments that feel alive.
Taking on a classic street photography approach, moving through Sydney’s busy city streets as well as the quieter natural spaces nearby. Each frame becomes an experiment in balance, finding harmony between chaos and calm.
This look leans into a nostalgic aesthetic, with warm undertones, vivid colour, and heavy film grain. There is a softness and dreamy clarity that makes each image feel like a memory you are not sure actually happened.
For this recipe, I use the FUJINON XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR paired with an ND filter to keep the aperture wide open while experimenting with slower shutter speeds. This setup lets me maintain depth and softness while allowing movement to take over. The unpredictability becomes part of the process, and that is what makes it exciting.
Shooting motion blur pushes me to let go of control. You cannot always predict how each frame will turn out, but that is the beauty of it. The results feel more emotional than technical and remind me that imperfection is often what gives an image its soul.
FILM SIMULATION:ASTIA
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR:N/A
GRAIN EFFECT:STRONG, LARGE
COLOR CHROME EFFECT:STRONG
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE:STRONG
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT:OFF
WHITE BALANCE:AUTO/ R 2, B -4
DYNAMIC RANGE:DR100
D RANGE PRIORITY:OFF
TONE CURVE:H -2, S +2
COLOR:+3
SHARPNESS:0
HIGH ISO NR:-4
CLARITY:0
Connecting the Three
Each of these recipes represents a different way of seeing, from the calmness of the ocean to the introspection of reflection, to the energy of motion. Together, they form a visual conversation about light, emotion, and presence.
Working with Fujifilm’s Film Simulations gives me the freedom to craft these looks in-camera. Every adjustment, from contrast to tone to grain, becomes part of the storytelling. It is a process that makes me more intentional and connected to what I am shooting.
In the end, these recipes are not just about colour profiles or technical settings. They are about translating emotion through texture and tone, about finding new ways to see familiar places.
