Photography makes your experience complete
I grew up in a small town at the edge of the Black Forest in southern Germany, where I spent most of my time as a kid strolling through the woods, building forts, and throwing stones in the creek. My family didn’t do big overseas vacations; most of the time, we went to the mountains of the Alps. As a kid, I didn’t really understand why my parents always wanted to go there. Most of my friends went to warm countries with beaches, while I had to go hiking. Years later, I realized my parents were right; the nature, landscapes, and mountain culture we have in the Alps are incredible, and I return there at least once a year.
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/500″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/4.0 . 1/1000″ . ISO 200
Even though I was fascinated by cameras as a kid, I didn’t really find my way into photography. The first camera I owned was an analog point-and-shoot camera from the drugstore that was in the design of a German cartoon figure. Later, I won a crappy digital camera in a raffle. I liked photography but didn’t understand how to take good pictures or what to do with them. In school, I went to the Photo and Video club but left after my first project and a fight with the teacher about the rules of photo and videography. I still remember his words: ‘It’s just not good if you don’t follow the rules!’ Now that I have worked for years as a full-time filmmaker and photographer, I can say he was wrong.
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/4000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/2000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/100″ . ISO 500
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 500
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/4000″ . ISO 200
After school, I decided to go for a work and travel year to Canada. I was excited to see the wide world, and Canada seemed to be a good start since I imagined it to be like the Alps but a bit bigger. I just didn’t realize HOW MUCH bigger. I fell in love with this giant country and being outdoors. From my first paycheck there as a janitor, I bought a camera. I realized that when you’re traveling, there are so many new experiences that you won’t be able to remember – yet they are worth remembering. Also, it’s easier to share these experiences with other people if you can show them pictures. A lot of people say that you won’t be able to fully enjoy and experience something if you have a camera in front of your face. For me, this turned out to be the best way to experience something – I’m excited when I’m somewhere nice and the light is good, I’m grateful later when I edit those pictures because it takes me right back to these moments, and I’m happy to share a story using a selection of these pictures with other people. I tried to travel and “fully” experience moments without a camera – it doesn’t work for me. All I can think about is, ‘Man, I wish I had a camera to capture this!’
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/200″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/125″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/2000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/800″ . ISO 200
Back from Canada, I studied journalism for TV, Radio, and Internet. That’s where I really got into photography. After university, I started working as a camera operator and cutter. Even though most of my work today is commercial, I love shooting documentaries. Being able to dive into a story and capture it is so much fun. I think that’s why in my photography, I focus more on having a ‘whole story,’ a set of pictures of real moments, instead of THE one amazing shot at the end of the day. For that, the Fuji X-Pro2 is my favorite camera. I was hooked the first time I had it in my hands. The look and feel of an analog camera make it easy and effective to use. I applied my editing style to the film simulations, so I can already see (more or less) how the pictures are going to look like when they are edited. This might sound like a small benefit, but it’s actually a big one: If the pictures look “edited” already in the camera, I get more excited and take more and better pictures. I also have the feeling that since it is a small camera with an analog charm, people are not “afraid” of it and act more natural. And it feels very natural to use it too. No matter if I’m exploring giant cities like Tokyo, backyards in Venezuela, bikepacking in the Black Forest, hiking in the Alps, or just a casual night in a bar with friends – it just blends in anywhere. I shoot most of my pictures with the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 – it is super small and lightweight, and I prefer a bit wider lenses because I think you are more ‘within’ the scene instead of watching it from a distance.
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/2000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.8 . 1/200″ . ISO 6400
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/250″ . ISO 200
I don’t see photography only as a hobby or profession itself; it is the best addition to any hobby, travel, or just cool thing that you do. For me, documenting when I travel (or be out in nature) and sharing these stories afterwards is a big part of the whole journey. Photography makes the experience complete. I know that today, social media and especially Instagram are so full of crap, and a lot of photographers told me they don’t enjoy posting stuff there anymore because they feel like people don’t pay much attention to it, especially if you don’t have many followers. I still want to encourage you: Take your camera with you (yes, I know phones take good pictures too, but it’s just not the same if you look into your phone or have a real camera in your hand) and take time to take pictures, give them your look (edit them or just use the simulations that are in Fuji cameras), and share your story with other people. It doesn’t matter if you post them for your 50 or 50,000 followers or you just print them and bring them to your grandparents – people will be interested and appreciate it.
In the end, that’s what it is all about – do your thing and share it with other people.
My latest YouTube video:
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Sigma 56mmF1.4 . F/1.4 . 1/400″ . ISO 800
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/500″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/1000″ . ISO 3200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.5 . 1/125″ . ISO 1600
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/1.8 . 1/1000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/500″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/2000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/1000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/8000″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/250″ . ISO 200
RIGHT: Fuji X-Pro2 . Fuji XF18mmF2 . F/2.0 . 1/250″ . ISO 400
“My name is David Becker, I’m a Germany-based Photo- and Video creator.
I studied journalism for TV, Radio and Web at the University of Applied Science and the University of Music in Karlsruhe.
Besides working as a camera operator and Editor for Qreate Agency, I work on free projects such as The Tree of Life for DER SPIEGEL, Music videos, Documentaries and Photoprojects. Since I finished University, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to work on projects in different countries such as Canada, the USA, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, France, Ireland, Spain…
I strongly believe that in our digitalized world, it is very important to have visual content that is produced fast, aesthetic, tells a story and preferably comes out of one hand in one style.”
Albert Smith
September 3, 2024 @ 4:37 pm
Hello, David. I lived in Friedberg and Baden Baden for some time over 40 years ago, so I’m familiar with your area.
Very nice presentation here. You certainly make a strong argument for the old “one camera, one lens” minimalist approach. I doubt that you’d be more productive if you had the contemplate which gear to use in each situation. If you have one lens, then it is the right lens.
Thanks for sharing your story.
zsa63
September 5, 2024 @ 7:11 am
Check back for a previous post on OCOLOY (One Lens One Year)! Yes, we see much better when we work with one lens!
David
September 5, 2024 @ 7:34 am
Hi Albert, thank you very much! How cool! Baden Baden is very close to me!
zsa63
September 5, 2024 @ 7:08 am
Thank you for this post. It is very important writing, illuminating the essence of photography. And great photos, which at first glance do not look fashionable, not “Ps graphics”. But the more I look at them, the better they are!
David
September 5, 2024 @ 7:36 am
Thanks! ☺️
Dann Walker
September 10, 2024 @ 11:40 am
One camera, one lens is – so incredibly freeing. This has taken me a long lifetime – I’m now 70+ – to learn. Lucky you to have discovered it so early on!!
Going light is the best way at whatever age we are. In life, in photography – in everything. As I’m retired now, I travel around Asia a lot. Like you, when I’m on the road, my XPro2 is my constant companion – ‘tho I must confess I ‘cheat’ a little and often take along my old XE2 as a backup camera.
Here I must confess I own a small arsenal of Fujinons. During a long career as an interior design architect, I never had much money, but a lot of credit, and I made the best of it to buy good photo gear for use when I eventually retire, which I did in 2012. So I now own a 14/2.8, the aforementioned 18/2.0, a 23/1.4 (this was a gift from my partner when I turned 65), a 23/2.0 (much lighter and, I think, the rendition is much better), a 35/2.0, and TWO 18-55 zooms (one I bought with my XE2 in 2020, the other gifted to me by a colleague who was getting out of both Fujis and photography, so my gain, his loss). But when I travel, only two lenses go with me.
So yes, like you I make do with two lenses. An 18-55 (the best zoom I’ve ever owned) is always with me, safely stored in an old Explorer sock in my backpack. On whichever camera I’m using at any time, like you I have the 18/2.0 with an old Nikon 52mm (’28) lens hood, a UV filter – that’s it.
From my long lifetime I’ve learned that if you can’t do it with one lens, you can’t really do it at all. Gearheads do annoy me, I try to not show, it but it rankles. Not envy. Not at all!! I wonder, why so much gear?? Unfortunately, my partner, when we are out and about together, is one such addict. A Nikon DSLR, at least three lenses, other bits and pieces. It’s all too much.
Anyway, I like what you do, visually. Using my ’18 at full aperture or at f/4 never occurred to me. I like the ‘dreamy’ look ‘ of your images. You have an exceptionally good eye and you visualize everything internally before you make a photo.
So yes, shooting at fully open or one stop down, this is a new idea for me to try when I again hit the road next month, to Malaysia, Sarawak and Brunei.
Many thanks to you for having taught this old dog (really Im a cat) some new tricks…
Best from DANN now in Indonesia
Albert Smith
September 10, 2024 @ 5:13 pm
Dann, as someone that shoots wide-open often, the mirrorless Fuji cameras offer an ability to do that in the brightest sunny day without fearing over exposure.
Go into your menu and set the shutter type to the combo “mechanical/electric”. This keeps the shutter mechanical until you max out the top speed of 1/4000th for the X-E2 and 1/8000th for the X-Pro2 and then the camera seamlessly switches over to the electronic shutter allowing a top speed of 1/32000th of a second. I shoot at f/1.4 very often in sunny Florida using this setting for the visual effect on my Fujis so f/2 will be no problem. FWIW, I have the 18mm f/2 and find that close in and wide-open it delivers terrific results… isolation with a wide angle perspective.
This is so much easier than trying to juggle neutral density filters which was required on my (D)SLR cameras with mechanical-only shutters.
Dann Walker
October 7, 2024 @ 1:04 pm
Albert, 1000x thanks for your tip. I have set my two Fujis per your advice. I will be putting on the 18/2.0 and testing it all out this coming weekend, when we go to the south coast of East Java to explore some of the (greatly under visited) beaches down there.
Here in the sunny tropics of Indonesia, overexposure on those bright days can be a BIG problem. A polarizer helps but its ‘side effects’ especially color changes – don’t always appeal to me.
Also I tend to photograph a lot of old architecture with an eye to sell images to book publishers, and inconsistent results during the same shoot means more work for the art directors, so my sales suffer.
Anyway, I hope your good advice will turn out to be useful. Again, many thanks.
Best from DANN still in Indonesia