A Case for Fujifilm Film Simulations
GFX100s / GF45-100mm F4 :: ISO100 3.2s @ f20
This post is going to date me while solidifying my Gen X existence in life…
Back in art school digital photography was something you only heard about. Rumors of newspaper stringers and large product studios using these mystical cameras for either super low-resolution work (newspaper) or high-resolution inanimate objects like a Nike Air Jordan. We were all still shooting film, so much film I’m pretty sure my lab fees were higher than my actual tuition.
When shooting that much film, you tested A LOT. We bought film in production batches, tested rolls to figure out the exact ISO in combination with your local lab and stored the rest in the freezer. You knew how colors and tonality would react for each brand and type of film. You also knew your lab people by name and requested which machine your film be run through, because the developing process would change it all.
Its because of this workflow that I’m such a huge fan of Fujifilm’s film simulations. I much prefer to choose a film stock based on its color and tonality rendering vs having a limitless color and tonality palette when working in programs such as Photoshop or Lightroom. I’m a firm believer that creativity needs constraints to work within, whether it be technology limitations, budgets, time, weather or color palettes.
Fujifilm’s film simulations are only a part of the puzzle. With the introduction of the GFX system, medium format has quickly become both accessible and portable for the first time since, well…. Film. These large sensor cameras now give us accurate color reproduction, smooth color gradations and an increase in tonality. Something that full frame sensors just can’t quite match.
Combine the advantages of the GFX system with Fujifilm’s film simulations and you get a true film photography experience in a digital package. This is a huge reason of my migration to the Fujifilm eco system in my professional work, I finally have something that lets me work how I like to while giving me the speed, flexibility and ease of digital.
WHY RAW?
I know a lot of Fujifilm purists are going to disagree this; The common trend is to shoot JPG so that your film simulation is baked into your image (un changeable). However, I view post processing and RAW Developers like film labs. An essential piece to puzzle, albeit far more control and predictability.
Shooting in RAW and using Capture One still allows me to choose my film simulations but also allows me to fine tune exposure, white balance, etc. Things that are critical in the commercial photography industry. It also makes zero sense (in my opinion) to shoot anything else other than RAW as your throwing away all this information like shadow and highlight details that you just spent $7k on when buying a medium format camera.
Depending on your subject, scene or even film simulation the results can vary from minor to major. Here is a great example where at first glance the difference is slight. As we dive in, you’ll notice the skin tones are slightly less saturated on Pro Neg Hi, the shadows a tad bit more open, and the greens render a little different. To me, this is much better place to start photographically and is my usual goto for most of my work.
You might like something completely different though and the topic of color can be very subjective. It's not only important to know what you like, but also shape your vision as a photographer. The only way to do this is through trial and error or testing. As my photography professors used to say with every question I had, TEST, I implore you to shoot in RAW and test what film simulations you like the best.
A word on efficiency
If you're working in a controlled environment like a studio, or maybe as a food blogger, creating an efficiency in your workflow can leave you more time for creating. Shooting in RAW+JPG with a film simulaiton could give you images already post processed and ready for publishing on your blog in JPG form while having a RAW as a backup for those just incase moments. Think about all that time spent in Capture One or Lightroom adjusting your photographs to look good, no longer needed since you have your exposure, white balance and film simulation locked in. Again, test ideas like this out to see if it might work for you.
