Well it's finally here...my first ever blog!!!
It might be a good time to point out a couple of things right from the start;
I'm not going to get involved in the technical details of any camera equipment I might talk about, I'm not qualified to do so I'll steer well clear of that one.
And also I apologise right now for any spelling mistakes or bad grammar that may appear in this or any upcoming blogs.
I have just invested in a new camera system, the Fuji X series.
After many months of reading, studying, soul searching and basically just trying to convince myself I needed to invest in such a beautiful looking camera system I decided to go for it and bought the Fuji XT1 with the 56mm 1.2 and the 10-24mm zoom along with Fuji's new X100T.
Picking up the Fuji XT1 for the first time reminded me of my Olympus OM2 a fabulous camera that started me off on the photography road many years ago. TheXT1 is small and compact with lots of dials so all your adjustments can be made from looking at the camera as opposed to delving into the hidden menus of the modern breed of DSLR's.
It got me thinking of the fun and excitement I used to have taking my camera everywhere with me, taking photographs sending off my Kodachrome 64 and waiting for the postman to deliver my results a couple of weeks later. It was long and laborious but it was exciting.
Fast forward a couple of decades and my cameras have grown so much that I now need a case with wheels to transport it and all the accessories a professional photographer needs to carry out his day to day job.
Now I'm not knocking my Nikon system it has served me well over the years and I have no intention of getting rid of it in the near future but the last thing I want to do is hump all that equipment around with me when I'm taking photographs for pleasure so the way I've got around this problem is by....
not taking any photographs for pleasure!!!
Isn't that sad.
Hence the need for a smaller system but when I started my research I discovered more and more professionals where moving over to the mirrorless system completely leaving their DSLR's in the corner never to be used again or trading them in for a new kit half the price and half the weight and size.
The thought of being able to carry the equivalent amount of kit in a small Billingham was and is very appealing so my investment was not just based on a camera that would help me rediscover photography for pleasure but was made with it eventually phasing out my DSLR system.
I was heavily influenced by the work and thoughts of
Kevin Mullins http://www.kevinmullinsphotography.co.uk/
and
Damien Lovegrove http://www.lovegrovephotography.com/
both X series ambassadors and also
Damian McGillicuddy http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/
who is the the Olympus ambassador.
All three of these professionals are excellent in their field and their work is stunning and all produced on small compact mirrorless cameras.
Whether we like it or not the camera is shrinking and with our obsession of the selfie this process is quickening leaving the camera manufacturers fighting over their share of the market with Fuji, in my opinion, leading the way.
Anyway enough of me rambling on please have a look at a few of my images from my first few trips out with the two Fuji's...as you may notice I've also rediscovered my love of black and white photography.....
Fuji X100T Anthony Gormley's Iron Men
Fuji XT1 Formby Point
Fuji X100T Birkdale Sandhills
Fuji XT1 Southport Pier
Fuji X100T Sefton Church
We all make excuses in life and mine was most probably one of the most feeble of all but what ever kit you've got pick it up get out and rediscover your love of photography...
I have.