Back in 2008 I decided to have a crack at studio photography. Figuring I’d more than likely continue with my efforts I invested in a modest setup (Paul C Buff) of a couple of strobes, softbox etc. including a roll of marine vinyl as a backdrop. This photo of a friend, taken in his dining room was one of a series for a self published book called The Hidden Self. Robin, being an actor was able to vary his look and pose with small movements and posture changes. This was ideal for someone starting out with portraiture. The final prints for the book were not in colour but warm toned B&W.
Fuji GFX 100S w/Tilt Shift adapter
If you need an adapter for your Fuji GFX to accommodate third party lenses it might be worth considering a tilt shift version. Yes, they are more expensive than a straight adapter but add significant versatility. Due to some health considerations I wasn’t able to do a proper test as I would’ve liked. So, these shots are handheld. The adapter is a Fotodiox Pro TLT ROKR - Tilt/Shift Lens Mount Adapter Compatible with Pentax 6x7 (P67, PK67) Mount since that is the lens I used. More specifically, the Pentax 6X7 55mm f4 lens.
v2 in different light
The first shot was taken from a balcony on the 5th floor of the front building shown in the image below. Maybe not the most necessary angle to take advantage of the TS adapter. The below shot shows a more obvious need for keeping lines straight. I’ll be looking for some more obvious applications in the next couple of months together with a tripod for twilight shots.
Leaning gum
Can’t quite remember where this gum tree was. Nice conditions though - slightly cloudy so not extreme contrast in the middle of the day. There were quite a few angles on this but I think this angle showed the most. Below, a country shack from the same trip both BxW and colour for comparison. Probably close to the Victorian border.
Rare sight
I’ve only seen this northern end of Bronte beach like this once. Eaten away by storm surf, a shallow waterfall appeared changing the entire look of this section. The B&W shows up the textures and details nicely.
Water patterns in sand
Death of a blast furnace
Not sure whether the local council has removed the remains. This was one of the blast furnaces that had full production in the early 1900s. Shortly after these photos were taken, the whole area was fenced off with no close access. As you can see it has been reclaimed by nature to a large extent, making for interesting subject matter. The last photo is a reverse shot of the final slag pulled from the furnace. The blast furnace is located adjacent to the town of Lithgow, NSW.
