I started taking photos in the city around 2018. I suppose I’d taken pictures before when the mood struck, but it was around that time I began going out with the explicit intention of “Today, I will go out to the city and take photos.”
Even back then, I didn’t have a clear framework; I simply walk, observe, and photograph whatever draw me in. Examples include color, shadows, geometry, chance, and serendipity,but it’s not just dramatic moments that hold interest. The beauty of everyday life revealed through the viewfinder, and the humor born from shifting perspectives—these too are subjects of interest. In other words, at the core lies the experience of “encountering interesting moments because I had a camera” and I hope to express these.
The X-E5 I’ve got my hands on this time is a rangefinder style camera that allows to operate the dials with your right hand while looking through the viewfinder. It offers the same kind of familiarity and reassurance as the X100VI. Its compact and lightweight is also important, making it infinitely easier to walk long distances around town looking for opportunities or to carry the camera out every day.
I’m using CLASSIC Neg. for Film Simulation. The image created with the FS RECIPE is “Sunburst”. Literally translated, it means strong sunlight, but it also refers to a type of finish technique seen on instruments like guitars. Typically, the center features a bright color (warm tones), while the outer edges are processed to appear gradually burnt and darkened.
In the FS RECIPE, to bring the overall image closer to a “Sunburst” effect, the WHITE BALANCE is shifted slightly toward warmer tones, with the feeling of toning down the cyan elements from CLASSIC Neg. At the same time, another key point is its color scheme designed to make red, yellow, and orange. I feel this feature really shines in sunny daytime situations with good weather.
The shoot took place in the heart of the city during midsummer. The heat, feeling close to 40°C, enveloped the entire city. I hope you can feel the scorching sun that ears your skin and the clinging humidity through these photos and FS RECIPE.
FILM SIMULATION : CLASSIC Neg.
MONOCHROMATIC COLOR : N/A
GRAIN EFFECT : OFF
COLOR CHROME EFFECT : WEAK
COLOR CHROME FX BLUE : WEAK
SMOOTH SKIN EFFECT : OFF
WHITE BALANCE : AUTO/ R 2, B -3
DYNAMIC RANGE : DR200
D RANGE PRIORITY : OFF
TONE CURVE : H +0.5, S -1.0
COLOR : +1
SHARPNESS : 0
HIGH ISO NR : 0
CLARITY : 0
