GFX100RF: Street Photography x Casey Cavanaugh
Casey Cavanaugh applies his cinematic eye to Tokyo’s streets with FUJIFILM GFX100RF
For photographer and cinematographer Casey Cavanaugh, life’s greatest creative opportunities can be found at the intersection of independently ordinary details. Dark, industrial city infrastructure serves as the canvas for much of his work.
“The way my images are shown, often in combination with video and music, it all comes together. The specific things I choose to photograph, when combined into that body of work, have this through line of atmosphere,” Casey begins.
“I consider myself a bit of a worldbuilder. One of the things I like best from movies is the worlds they create. It’s not real life. I love the whole idea of creating every aspect of something – a set of images, curated over time in a specific way, can bring about a new world.”
For his latest exercise in image creation, Casey threw himself into Tokyo’s urban sprawl with FUJIFILM GFX100RF in hand. The camera pairs GFX System’s renowned 102-megapixel large format sensor with a compact, classic, rangefinder-style design complete with a 28mm equivalent in 35mm format. It’s an exceptional combination.
For Casey – a true lover of a pure imaging process – GFX100RF’s most beneficial features were those that allowed him to create with freedom.
“The fact that aspect ratios are a central feature of this camera is awesome, and it’s something only Fujifilm would do,” Casey says, noting GFX100RF’s dedicated Aspect Ratio dial. Popular cropped perspectives can be set at a single touch.
“It’s this unique new way of interacting with your camera and experiencing image making. Seeing the image while you’re making it is so important – as close to the final product as possible.
“I gravitate towards the 65:24 crop because it lets me see the world in a cinematic aspect ratio. And it completely changes the way you create. You don’t have to imagine how it will turn out after editing, which is so impactful to the process.”
The same can be said for GFX100RF’s iconic Film Simulations, which were pivotal to Casey’s creative worldbuilding. While exceptionally detailed 16-bit RAWs were available, he found himself gravitating towards straight-out-of-camera images.
“There were a couple of looks I fell into. I absolutely loved CLASSIC CHROME for daytime scenes, with the Color Chrome FX Blue. The way it reproduces certain colors, especially blue, is incredibly pleasing – and it works well with added grain in-camera. It was the perfect look for bringing out the feeling of the Shinjuku and Shibuya streets,” the photographer explains.
“For any kinds of scene lit with fluorescent lights or other artificial sources, I gravitate towards a more tungsten color balance. REALA ACE was another Film Simulation I absolutely loved for that, and I could add a custom white balance.
“Between the aspect ratios and look adjustments, I could essentially get the images I would be editing in post anyway – but done totally in-camera. Again, the ability to see close-to-finished images, or often the actual final look, absolutely changes the way you create.”
As Casey explored sights previously unseen, he began to reflect on the unwavering nature of his particular photographic passions.
“The joy of finding these hidden nooks and crannies in Tokyo is the sense of adventure. The buildings are so dense and there are always interesting little things you can happen upon. It’s such an enjoyable challenge that it’s worth the risk of never knowing what you’ll get.”
But there’s only one thing that facilitates such photographic exploration: considered design. GFX100RF weighs just 735g (1.62lb), making for a comfortable all-day carry.
This is Casey’s most lasting impression – no surprise, considering the boundless potential such a small body contains.
“The size and weight of this camera allow me to create in a way other cameras don’t,” he concludes. “It’s incredibly freeing, and removes any doubt around being able to lift this camera to my eye and get the photo I want. The fact it’s large format is just incredible.
“Plus, I love the way it looks. I often say that having a cool camera will make you a better photographer because, if you’re inspired by the tool itself, you’ll use it more. GFX100RF does inspire me to pick it up and use it, which is the ultimate quality of a camera.”
