Thanks to a generous donation I was able to complete a major overhaul of my gear. The X100F remains my daily camera. The GFX system with the GF 45mm F2.8 lens and GF 110 F2.0 is now the key gear for my Renatus Project as well as other projects which require such visual machinery.
Having said that, I recently took out the brand new GFX on the streets of Vancouver. I didn’t have to wait long before I was poked with “street photography with medium format?!” Don’t get me wrong – it is a perfectly valid question!
Then I realized my photographic philosophy could be summed up in two words – WHY NOT?! When I started in landscape/travel photography and wanted to do street work, some of my friends warned me that such drastic changes in genre would get me in trouble. It was the WHY NOT?! rationale that allowed me to move on to a new way of seeing. Then, as I was shooting street photography, I started to create monumental negative spaces, blowing up highlights, using geometry as my frame or even a subject. All these decisions were scary and strange on occasion but they all led me to exciting new visual places. Indeed, WHY NOT?! has always guarded me from nullity and boredom.
So, by the time I head out with the GFX on the streets of Vancouver WHY NOT?! is already at the back of my mind to fight off those accusations of “You don’t shoot the street with medium format.” Of course you do – if you want to. I always say that any argument in photography comes down to the visuals you produce. So please let me leave you with exactly that.
On another subject last week I had the privilege of being on two amazing podcasts. As always, Ibarionex Perello asked a superb and fascinating set of questions on his The Candid Frame show.
A few days later I was a guest on PPN Network and had a great discussion with Marco Larousse about the hugely important topic of inspiration.
Please make sure to support these informative and thought-challenging podcasts.
Here is some imagery taken on the “Streets of Vancouver” with the GFX & GF 45mm lens.
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Greeting Olaf:
I love x-pro2 as my everywhere to go camera. Used one, so as lenses, it gives me freedom with weight, traditional setting wheels, suberb primes (also used), now even flashes, and above all without the fear of losing something very top, as my Nikon gear. So I abuse them and I love doing it, With x-pro2 I go stomach on tfloor, resting hidden on a corner’s wall, on the strange snow in my smal city, smiling and fearing on the face of street people, ladnscapes on tripod, shoot 4k video of my kids with a external micro…
What gives you GFX that can compensate that?
You know, I’m thinking in the new rangefinder low – cost GFX50R, but the lenses…
Thanks in advance and best regards
It’s the results that matter. Enjoy what you do with whatever you are using. No need to limit yourself. Have a great weekend.
Thank you so much David!