FUJIFILM X-E5: Street Photography x Melissa Breyer
Street photographer Melissa Breyer uses FUJIFILM X-E5 to tell a story of New York City’s unique human subjects
“The first memory I have of picking up a camera is when I was in grade school. It was my sister’s film camera, and I started making photos of my friends and stuffed animals,” Melissa Breyer recalls.
“By the time I got to high school, I was using a film camera a lot, and it was very unserious.”
In the years since, however, Melissa’s image making has transformed entirely. Today, it’s a major artistic outlet, an opportunity to explore the fascinating lives of others, and – from an outside perspective – an area of exceptional talent.
“In college, I was invested in painting and drawing. I always assumed I’d be a fine artist, but when I graduated and started selling my paintings, I realized it was not the life for me. I didn’t love what it did to my creative process.
“I was able to start appreciating photography as a fine art form. It’s been a key part of allowing myself a strong creative life, and the ability to make photographs is keeping that creative part of me alive.”
The arrival of FUJIFILM X-E5 presented Melissa with a new creative tool, perfect for her candid approach and expressionist visuals. Through this project, intent, camera, and subject came together beautifully.
“Nothing is literal or straightforward. Not only in how it looks, but in the subject matter,” Melissa says of her photography. “I love the idea of pulling somebody out of this organism that is New York City and showcasing them, giving them a life of their own in my work.
“X-E5 is such a helpful camera to be out with. It’s so discreet, which is important because I never want to disrupt a moment I’m seeing. Some people notice what a beautiful camera it is – but before that, I can whip it out, make a photo, and be done with it.”
Paired with FUJINON XF23mmF2.8 R WR, there are even more benefits than seizing opportunities. It’s a comfortable, effortless combination ideal for street photography and life beyond.
“Adding a pancake lens, like XF23mmF2.8, makes X-E5 a great compact system,” Melissa notes. “It’s perfect for the kind of photos I make.
“The feel, weight, and balance are all conducive to my approach. It’s easy to carry around all day and wear in different ways: in the hand, over the shoulder, or around the neck.”
With its stylish, ergonomic design and rangefinder-style EVF, clear comparisons can be made between X-E5 and the popular FUJIFILM X100VI. But, among the most notable differences is X-E5’s interchangeable-lens nature.
“In many of the compact cameras I’ve had before, you couldn’t change the lens, so that makes X-E5 stand out. It’s a great camera for someone making street photographs, but also incredibly versatile beyond that.
“I really like a rangefinder-style camera. They’re conducive to making photos a little quicker. X-E5 harkens back to cameras I’ve always used, so it’s very comfortable and intuitive,” Melissa continues.
In addition to its off-center EVF and lightweight build, X-E5 features a newly designed Film Simulation dial – set behind a window within a premium, machined aluminum top-plate.
“A dedicated dial gives you this whole array of Film Simulations at the flick of a finger, which is remarkable.
“It has three spots for custom Film Simulations,” Melissa explains. “I made some, including a wonderful one based on MONOCHROME with deep, dark shadows through curve and contrast settings.
“It’s a game changer, being able to flip through in-camera looks without having to go into the menu. Thanks to this, I was using different Film Simulations all the time.”
If much of this artist’s work revolves around depicting moments with intention, it’s no surprise that an intentional camera and lens were a perfect fit. This not only comes down to physical design, but internal technology too.
“X-E5’s 40-megapixel resolution is beneficial for my work because I often like to crop, to help isolate subjects. I feel confident I can do that with such high resolution,” Melissa says.
“Cropping in-camera, using the digital teleconverter, did help me compose certain images. I found it great, especially in more visually chaotic environments. I also loved the different options for framing those images, with a line, semi-transparent, or black surrounding.
“I specifically love the semi-transparent view because you can frame the photo and still see what’s happening on the periphery, like when somebody’s walking into the frame, then get ready to press the shutter at the exact right moment.
“Any camera shake is dealt with better because of in-body image stabilization,” Melissa continues. “It allows for smoother, faster image making – especially at night. That’s something I appreciate.
“I found myself relying almost exclusively on autofocus. It’s an exceptionally good autofocus system, which I felt confident using. It would catch what I needed quickly, and there’s a lot of flexibility to customize. I could set it for the exact way I use it.”
Melissa’s feelings towards X-E5, and its place in her uniquely artful approach, are clear.
“For me it’s a perfect street photography camera,” she concludes.
