REALA ACE FS RECIPE x Simon Kim

My photography is rooted in the belief of carrying a camera every day. Not for special occasions, not for dramatic scenes, but for the quiet in between moments that make up most of life.

Living in Vancouver, light and colour are often limited. muted skies, muted streets, concrete surfaces. Because of that, I’ve learned to appreciate light and colour more, not less. When they appear, even subtly, they matter. Soft, diffused light has become something I pay attention to instinctively, not because it is impressive, but because oftentimes it is rare.

Fujifilm cameras enabled that way of seeing for me. The experience of slowing down, framing deliberately, and committing to a moment trained my attention toward what already exists, rather than what needs to be chased. “CLOCKWISE ACE” came out of that habit.

Why I Built This FS Recipe

I created “CLOCKWISE ACE” to support how I actually photograph. I wanted a FS RECIPE that stays close to reality while allowing everyday scenes to feel considered and intentional. I chose REALA ACE as the base because it already carried a sense of balance and restraint. It felt neutral without being flat, and calm without feeling detached. Rather than reshaping it into something else, I treated it as a foundation that could be gently refined.

The goal was never to impose a look. It was to let light, colour, and texture behave naturally, especially in environments where nothing is exaggerated.

Shaping “CLOCKWISE ACE”

The adjustments I made to REALA ACE were minimal and deliberate. Highlights were toned down and shadows lifted to soften overall contrast. This allows tones to transition more gently and keeps images from feeling tense or overly defined. Colour was restrained slightly so it remains present without overwhelming the frame.

Because of this softer contrast, I normally compose my images about one third to two thirds of a stop brighter. That exposure approach works with the FS RECIPE, allowing mid tones and subtle colour to settle naturally while preserving detail across the image.

“CLOCKWISE ACE” is not about adding character. It is about removing friction between what I see and how it is rendered.

Finding Attention in the Everyday

I enjoy creating images that catch attention immediately. What makes them noticeable, however, is not spectacle, but where they come from.

Most of the images I make are crafted by noticing small things in everyday life. A shift in light. A colour relationship. A moment that would normally pass without being acknowledged. They stand out because they exist within the mundane, not outside of it. Soft, diffused light plays a big role in that. It allows details to surface quietly and colours to relate to each other honestly. “CLOCKWISE ACE” supports this by staying responsive rather than dominant, present without overpowering the scene.

A FS Recipe for Daily Carry

“CLOCKWISE ACE” was built for daily use. soft days, window light, streets walked without a destination, interiors lived in rather than styled.

It reflects how I approach photography as a whole. Carrying a camera. Noticing what is already there. Appreciating light and colour precisely because they are not guaranteed.

By staying close to REALA ACE and adjusting only what was necessary, this FS RECIPE became a tool that supports attention rather than replacing it. When the simulation fades into the background, what remains is the everyday scene, held carefully in soft light.

FILM SIMULATION: REALA ACE
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR: N/A
GRAIN EFFECT: STRONG, SMALL
COLOR CHROME EFFECT: STRONG
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE: WEAK
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT: OFF
WHITE BALANCE: 5500K, R 0, B -1
DYNAMIC RANGE: DR400
D RANGE PRIORITY: OFF
TONE CURVE: H -1, S -1
COLOR: -1
SHARPNESS: -1
HIGH ISO NR: 0
CLARITY: 0