In an ongoing passion project, travel creator Kyler Steele documents the East Coast’s vibrant beach towns through stills and video
It won’t take long for anyone to discover that Kyler Steele’s heart belongs to the United States’ East Coast. There’s genuine magnetism in his fondly spoken anecdotes and creative journey, which took him out west and back again, but it’s his artwork that reveals the region’s characterful charm most of all.
Between trips, Kyler shares an intimate look at coastal towns close to his native New Jersey, through a mix of photos and vlog-style videos. In the most recent leg of his project, the usual challenges of mixed-media creation were set aside thanks to FUJIFILM X-M5 mirrorless digital camera.
“Growing up, we didn’t go on a lot of family vacations and because of that I never had a desire to travel after high school. The moment I finally went away somewhere, I realized how good travel is for your growth as a person,” Kyler recalls fondly.
“From there, I had a will to remember everything – even when I wasn’t away on a trip. When I looked at photos, I saw how it could tap into strong memories. So, that’s what I wanted to do. I started making sure I was taking everything in at the time, but also that I had a key to unlock those memories later.”
Quickly, Kyler’s interest expanded. He discovered that, through imagery, he could move people to take more interest in any place, near or far. It was possible not only to remember, but curate memories and preempt people’s visits.
“There’s a big difference between video content and photography,” the creator explains. “A photo is a single frame of time, which lets a viewer interpret what’s happening now, before, and after. Video content is direct, and you can really push a story, which makes it perfect for showing someone a new area in a more realistic way.
“Because they’re so different, I believe it’s hard to do both well. It’s like they require different parts of the brain. Usually, I have to flick a switch in my head and tell myself ‘today I’m content creating because I want to accomplish a goal’ or ‘today I’m only making photos because I want to achieve something else’.”
Then he laid hands on X-M5, a camera unlike any other he’d owned.
“The first thing that’s incredibly important is the size of X-M5,” Kyler notes, referencing the camera’s 355g (12.5oz) weight and compact 111.9mm (4.4-inch) length. “When you explore an area like this, often people aren’t used to seeing a camera. Having such a small setup almost puts you in the same boat as other tourists, which people are more willing to accept, meaning they’ll show you their real lifestyle.
“But the great thing with X-M5 is that it’s a perfectly powerful camera. Although it might not look intimidating to people, you can still create professional photos and videos.
“I started out bringing a bigger camera with me and I’d leave it in my car thinking, if the situation needed it, I’d go get it. But that moment didn’t come because X-M5 was giving me everything I needed.”
Within Kyler’s stills photography, it’s apparent at a glance that visual aesthetic is a top priority. With its simplest setup applied, X-M5 strips back highly technical operation, leaving creatives to focus on the moment – and the look and feel of images.
“I love Film Simulation modes for a lot of reasons,” Kyler continues. “A big thing for me is viewing a beautiful image in real time. I’ve used other cameras in the past where what I see in the viewfinder and LCD just never inspired me.
“I do edit some of my images – and X-M5 gives me the choice to make heavy edits if I want – but if I can’t see something even close to the final look at the time, often I won’t even press the shutter. So, I love that you can craft that look in camera with Film Simulation modes and extra visual adjustments.
“I usually use CLASSIC CHROME because it gives the blues a nice teal cast. Then, I’ll shift the white balance a little towards the warmer tones, and lower the contrast and clarity. It all creates the final film-like look I want.”
To make in-camera looks more accessible than ever, X-M5 features a Film Simulation mode dial, giving immediate access to up to 20 looks. Even for Kyler – an experienced artist – it was a welcome development.
“I enjoyed the dial because it made me use other Film Simulation modes more. I’m a creature of habit, but just by turning one dial I’d discover that there were even better options for certain moments.”
Further revelations came when Kyler began his video content creation. His usual technical demands were met perfectly, but he discovered new ways to work smarter, not harder, for specific needs like social media. Even X-M5’s physical design continued to offer pleasant surprises.
“When I’m making a full video for YouTube, I want the highest quality I can get,” he states. “I was recording 4K at 60p, and using 4:2:2 10-bit so I could color grade my footage. F-Log2 was great for that as well because I could throw on the Fujifilm LUT and work on top of that.
“On the other side, I’m trying to break the habit of doing more than I need. When I was filming clips for social media, Vlog Mode let me pick all the most essential settings off a single screen, and the 9:16 short movie mode was perfect. A lot of people prefer working like that all the time, but it forced me personally to cut loose and enjoy the process more, knowing I’d have a video ready to upload.”
Transfer and upload are effortless with FUJIFILM XApp. Once a recording is made, it can be sent to a Smartphone camera roll with a tap, ready for instant sharing. And ease of use doesn’t end there.
“Often, I hand the camera off to whoever I’m with so I can be on screen, but those people aren’t always other creators. Using X-M5, I can set up a composition for them, flip the screen to where they can see it easily, and “But that ability is huge in a lot of situations.
“You can move and use the screen even with a microphone mounted and plugged in, which isn’t always a guarantee with a lot of cameras. Naturally, always being able to see your picture is good.
“On top of that, the LCD is bright enough for me to see, and the standard ports are there. Again, a lot of content creation cameras I’ve used in the past don’t have the right headphone and microphone jacks, or other connections I need.”
In many ways, the content Kyler has created with X-M5 speaks for itself, but in no sense will it be a one-off experience. After such a joyful process and exceptional results, he’s certain it’ll be a go-to anytime, anywhere.
“It’s the first camera I’m going to grab to explore,” he effuses. “It allows me to scout effectively, move quickly, and have all the potential I need without carrying anything more than my small sling bag. It’s literally shorter than my smartphone.
“This will allow me to see the final vision from the moment I arrive in a place. It’ll get me there, deliver the inspiration, and I know it’ll always stay to the end of the process. Even if I ever want to use another camera for something specific, there’s zero downside to keeping X-M5 with me.
“That’s a great thing to be able to say about a camera: ‘why not bring it?’”
