It’s no secret that I gravitated toward Fujifilm years ago for their cameras’ soulfulness and colors. The practical part of me also craved the ease of travel with a smaller system — the X system — when working outside my studio, so that was often the setup in my bag. However, when traveling to Iceland in 2017, I decided to bring along my X and GFX system — my poor shoulders, I know.
But this was Iceland. The rugged landscapes, stunning architecture, dreamy color palette — I couldn’t help myself. Bringing the medium format camera that week proved to be worthwhile (as is usually the case).
The photo:
This photo came together like most of my favorite images: unplanned and minutes before moving onto the next spot. I was on a commissioned shoot for a local company and we were driving between locations. I had been shooting with the GFX 50S all morning, despite the gloomy conditions. Finally, the clouds broke and the light became dreamy and soft.
“To me, there is nothing more satisfying than being able to look at a frame and be transported back to that scene.”
During my first visit to Iceland, I saw several horses but was never close enough to capture anything meaningful. That morning, they were lingering right by the road and I remember frantically asking our driver if we could stop for a moment with them.
The lens:
I hopped out, not giving my camera or lens setup any thought — so eager to get something before the horses ran off. As I walked over, I realized I had my widest lens on the GFX, and the horses were already pulling back from my overzealous visit. I snapped a couple of shots, unsatisfied. Running back to the car, I thought I had lost my chance for sure, but grabbed the Fujifilm FUJINON GF 110mm F/2 R WR LM Lens and hurried back.
To my delight, the horses had moved in a bit closer, and not just to me, but to each other. With the portrait lens, I was finally able to capture the motion and detail without overwhelming my new friends. I remember eventually putting the camera down and just watching their curious faces, playful snuggles, and silly hair blow through the wind.
This photo was immediately a personal favorite. Not just because of the lovely conditions and subject, but it captured the feeling of that moment. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than being able to look at a frame and be transported back to that scene.
