Japan + X100V
Over the past few weeks, my wife and I spent time visiting Japan. We explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima during our stay, spending the majority of our time taking photos and immersing ourselves in the island.
This was my second trip, bringing only my X100V along with me. All the photos you see were captured in-camera as .jpgs using the native 23mm lens. At the end of the trip, I purchased the WCL-X100 II Wide Conversion Lens and used it only for the last photo featuring us.
Below, I've listed the Fuji recipes I used (created by Fuji X Weekly & Øyvind Nordhagen), along with links to the custom ones I created myself. I experimented with a mix of retro, modern, and black & white depending on the scene. One of the aspects I love about the Fuji system is the flexibility to switch between different looks and let your environment influence your choices.
Shooting in-camera .jpgs appeals to me as it mimics film, encouraging me to spend more time composing the shot with the desired look in mind. I did perform minor touch-ups in Lightroom, including spot removals, straightening, cropping, and slight exposure adjustments.
The in-camera digital zoom remains one of my favorite features. It allows me to frame and crop an image in real-time. I'm considering purchasing the TCL-X100 II so I can use the digital zoom at around 85mm in the future. Unfortunately, during my time in Japan, I could only find a silver version, which didn't quite match my black X100V.
As mentioned earlier, I purchased the WCL and got it at a great price. I do have a slight concern about adding these lenses to my kit, as it might clutter my mind when shooting, making me think about the lens choice rather than the subject in front of me. One issue I had was feeling a bit claustrophobic with the native lens at times, and I believe a wider lens would have been helpful in some tight environments.
Japan is an incredible, vast, and beautiful country. The locals take immense pride in their work and were always friendly and helpful to us. The best way to describe the country is like a well-oiled machine that runs at a high standard every second of the day. Despite the high population density, we never felt overwhelmed or stuck; everything just flows smoothly, and everyone plays their part. The culture is deeply rooted in history yet has an overarching sense of being ahead of its time. Among the four cities we visited, Kyoto holds a special place. I highly recommend visiting this amazing city and booking a few more nights than you initially think you need.
Kudos to my incredible wife for planning the majority of this trip. She has been in love with Japanese culture for some time and researched every detail meticulously.
Film Receipts Use: MOD, 1981 Kodak, Kodak Classic, 533, Fuji Color and BKW.
Gear: Fuji x100v
Programs: Lightroom Classic
Custom Fujifilm Recipes
