10 Years of X Mount: April Theme

One of my favorite features on Fujifilm cameras is the ability to change what your image looks like in camera before any form of editing is involved. This is achieved through film simulations that are based off of, you guessed it, Fujifilm’s actual film stocks. This months theme is about what your favorite film simulation is. Since my switch to the X Mount system in 2019, there is one simulation that I have been drawn to more than the rest, and that is the Monochrome film simulation.

Using a ‘recipe’ created by FujiXWeekly (which, if you haven't seen any of his recipes for simulations yet, I highly recommend it since this is where I found my love of the Monochrome Simulation), these are some of the images I have taken with the recipe, “Dramatic Monochrome”.

Without any real reason, I have been drawn towards a black and white look to my photos. I know that a lot of photographers get ‘hate’ because of the rich tones and contrast, but to me, I suppose I’ve enjoyed it because it gives a classy feeling to it. Whenever I print these out it feels right to me. Don’t get me wrong - I still love color photos too. There’s just always been something about what I can achieve with certain monochrome shots that I don’t think I’d be able to do in color. For example, take in this shot of Cinematographer Daniel Grisak.

This is one of my favorite images. Catching Daniel looking down at his phone at just the right time created this bizarre look to him that blends the blacks of the tripod and his shirt to make it appear as if the camera is his head. Daniel being the wonderful cinematographer that he is, practically has the head of a camera with how he uses it to show how he views the world through a lens. I feel like this is obvious by looking at the photo, but it was a right place at the right time kind of shot that I did not have to instruct Daniel how to pose. It came naturally, which is, again, what I love so much about this shot.

Monochrome allows for some abstract looking shots, which I love to create when I can. It’s not something you see everyday and I would love to find ways to create more images just like this.

Until next month (which I realize is tomorrow),

Ryan Stach