As this year comes to an end it is our turn to look back.
Although 2014 was a year of transformation, search and renewal, this year could best be described as full-steam ahead. Our way of seeing has evolved and become more demanding. The general appeal of pretty, attractive, colourful and easy has gradually been replaced by unique, creative, emotional, difficult and simplified ways of seeing. As a result, 2015 was a year when the fruit of our 2014 detour ripened and we regained control on our route to seeing.
Fortunately, we are not alone on this journey. You used your valuable time to visit our pages, view our imagery and read our essays. What a privilege! We are especially thankful for your commentary and for sharing your stories and experiences. We read them all and enjoyed every contact.
There are so many people to thank for your generous support that it is impossible to name everyone. Thank you all. You know whom we are talking about.
As we did last year, it is time to choose our favourite images of the year and here they are:
Lone Horse, Fuji X100S
Forgotten Bay, X100S
Apocalypse III, X-T1 & XF 14mm F2.8
The Hidden Bridge, X100S
The Camper, X-T1 & XF 50-140mm F2.8
Window to a Sacred Forest, X100S
The Majestic Tetons, X-T1 & XF 50-140mm F2.8
Sailing Away to Love, Fuji X100S
Lost in a Forgotten Land, X-T1 & XF 56mm F1.2
Genesis, X-T1 & XF 50-140mm F2.8
The Window, X-T1 & XF 14mm F2.8
Drifting Poles, X-T1 & XF 56mm F1.2
Olympic Paradise, X100S
The Road Less Travelled, X-T1 & XF 50-140mm F2.8
The Anatomy of the Land, X-T1 & XF 50-140mm F2.8
A few thoughts: it is very telling that most of the images are black and white. Indeed, removing the distraction of colour and focusing on essentials delivers powerful visuals. Six of our fifteen favourite photos were taken with the X100S. Nine images were taken in random, lesser-known locations, from the road, while travelling. Once again, the less-travelled path continues to inspire and provoke our way of seeing.
Camera of the year: this must be the Fuji X-100S/T since most of our favourite imagery was taken with this camera. It continues to be our favourite camera ever. Always with us, one and only one. Enough said!
Lens of the year: this one is controversial – even for us. As proponents of prime lenses, we have chosen a huge, heavy, uncomfortable XF 50-140 F2.8 zoom lens. But there is more! This lens doesn’t even have a permanent spot in our photo bag. What gives? While on the road the lens was a valuable tool to frame a picture when we were forced to shoot from the road (quite often the area is private property). It is tack sharp and its stabilization system is the best we have ever experienced (we shoot mostly from the hand!). The XF 50-140 F2.8 has also been very useful in our few commercial jobs this year. It’s a great, specialized tool.
Plans for 2016: we will continue pushing our own boundaries of seeing and venturing outside our comfort zones. This will be a year when multiple long-term projects will see the light of day. Stay tuned for more details.
In 2016, we plan to explore some amazing locations – places not necessarily on the tourist track. Our initial hit list is ready. And believe me, some places are less travelled but spectacular!
We hope that in 2016 you will stay with us on this journey to reach ways of seeing.
2015 © Kasia & Olaf Sztaba Photography. All rights reserved.
As usual you guys do not disappoint! Love your looking back posts and with all the great imagery you two share throughout the year I can’t imagine how long and difficult it must be to narrow it down to just 15 photos for the whole year! I just added a fuji x100T to my Fuji X-T1 kit and I love seeing how you guys use this little camera in a “non-street photography” style to create beautiful photographs, very refreshing! Not that there is anything wrong with street photography, but living in a very rural area of the North Eastern corner of Minnesota makes street photography challenging and so I tend to gravitate towards more of a landscape feel! Thanks again for a great year and I look forward to seeing your adventures in 2016!
David,
We appreciate your note. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Olaf & Kasia
Absolutely beautiful photography, I’ve book marked this page so i can return and look through them again. I found you by searching for photographers who use Fuji cameras on Google.
Simon,
Thank you for your kind note and for letting us know how you found our blog.
All the best,
Olaf
Kasia and Olaf It has been (and still is of course!!!) our pleasure and privelage to follow you two on this journey you are on. These images here are extraordinary and I along with so many others really are inspired by your work, both photos and writing. Keep it up!!
Paul,
We really appreciate your kind comment.
All the best in 2016.
Olaf & Kasia
I have enjoyed following your travels, stories and how you see our world. I will follow in 2016 and hope you enjoy it tothe fullest.
Monte,
Thank you so much. It is great to have you here.
Olaf
Wonderful, amazing photography! I have visited places with you through your photography, places I would now like to see with my own eyes. Your work is truly inspiring….keep creating this magic!
Madeleine,
You are always so kind. We miss you.
Olaf
I hope those 2016 plans include instructional workshops that you lead. I have learned a lot and have been inspired by your writings and photographs in these pages and would greatly value the opportunity to learn much more from seeing and hearing you two in person!
Bob,
Yes, workshops are in our plans. We will keep you updated. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Olaf
More awesome work!
Thanks!
Olaf
I have enjoyed following your journeys over this past year. As I read each post, I am encouraged to see the beauty that is all around us and appreciate what we see, even in what we often might think is simple and mundane. It is wonderful to have tools like our Fuji cameras to capture these moments.
Well said! Thank you so much.
Olaf
I have enjoyed the ride in 2015 with you two! Thanks for the inspiration; especially so as a new Fuji shooter. And a native of WA, now living in CA, it is always fun to see the PNW through your eyes. Looking forward to 2016.
Thank you for being with us.
Olaf
I have enjoyed following your photographic journey and look forward to seeing how it evolves in 2016!
It is always great to hear from you.
Olaf
Georgeus Pics. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Colombia.
Harold.
Harold,
It is great to hear from you.
All the best,
Olaf
Thanks for all of your hard work documenting your thoughts and images. A great year for you. I feel like the general mood amongst image makers is shifting. There is a strong undercurrent of shooters who are returning to images based on emotion, story, contrast texture and the like other than simply making pretty images. There will always be a place for pretty but I hope more of the viewing public come to appreciate the story. I like the direction you guys are seeing.
I look forward to your 2016.
Thank you so much.
Olaf
Thank you for sharing and please allow me to encourage you to continue this tradition
Charles,
Hopefully, next year we will be able to do the same…and not to disappoint.
Thank you for your note.
Olaf