Recently, I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the year’s most popular and highly regarded cameras—the Fuji X100VI. Coming from a background in 35mm film and 120mm film photography (which I still shoot), alongside my Sony A1 and Sony A7RIV, the new Fuji X100VI seamlessly fits into my repertoire of cameras, serving as an ideal everyday companion.
This isn’t an article about tech specs—we all know them and understand why this camera has one of the biggest backorders in recent history. Instead, this is an inspirational piece. You see, the Fuji X100VI has sparked a renewed passion in me. A passion for photographing the beauty in everyday moments. It has not only replaced those times when I would reach for my iPhone for social media stories or BTS. Additionally, it has ignited a deeper excitement in me to focus on the small moments. It encourages me to pause and consider fresh perspectives—things I might typically notice but not necessarily capture. The Fuji X100VI has inspired me to return to my roots of documenting day-to-day life in a way that I don’t often do in my professional photography career.
So, this is a love letter, of sorts, to the Fuji X100VI and how it has helped me rekindle the feelings I had when I was a teenager, holding my first camera, and to all the little moments each day that add up to a big life.
All Photo by Melissa Field
Rediscovering Everyday Moments
For the better part of the last decade, I’ve been teaching the concept of mindful, slow art in photography. This philosophy emphasizes being present in the moment, slowing down, and immersing oneself in the total creative process. However, even with this approach, I sometimes find myself slipping into a creative lull—a phase that occurs more frequently than most people (myself included) want to admit.
When this happens, I like to challenge myself with self-imposed rules to get out of the lull. These are simple yet effective constraints, such as “shoot only with X focal length for one week.” These little challenges help to reinspire my creative ideas, pushing me to explore the “why” behind each shot and to discover unique angles in places and spaces I’ve seen countless times before.
This is where the Fuji X100VI comes into play. As a lover of fixed focal lengths, I appreciate the necessity of physically moving around to adjust my view of a scene or subject – a fixed lens forces you to engage more dynamically with your environment. The Fuji X100VI’s 35mm equivalent focal length, thanks to its fixed 23mm lens, has brought me immense joy in photographing everyday life.
The simple pleasure of framing mundane scenes, like the morning light hitting otherwise bland subjects, capturing the way the wind dances through the flowers in my in-laws’ garden, or having the camera slung around my shoulder on a walk through the forest with my husband and dog. The hybrid nature of the Fuji X100VI enables me to document life’s fleeting moments in both still and motion assets. It allows me to share the simplicity and beauty of the world around me. Rediscovering this, in turn, fuels my creativity and reminds me to have fun.
Never Leave Home Without It
When I leave the house, it’s never a question of whether I should bring the Fuji—it’s already part of my mental checklist: “phone, keys, wallet… Fuji”. Its compact and sleek design makes it incredibly easy to carry everywhere. Furthermore, as a female photographer with small hands, the Fuji X100VI feels particularly well-suited to my daily needs. It even fits in my purse or sling bag! The experience of holding it is reminiscent of my beloved Leica M10P, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a nod to the origins of my film photography.
Yet, beyond aesthetics, the size of the Fuji X100VI makes it a less intimidating camera all around. In the few short weeks I’ve had it, I have noticed that it allows for more authentic and carefree interactions. Whether capturing portraits or candid scenes. I find that the camera’s unobtrusiveness either leads it to go unnoticed and/or helps people feel at ease. In turn, this leads to more genuine moments captured. Its silent shutter and impressive autofocus accuracy make it an ideal companion for capturing without disrupting the natural flow state.
Ways of Seeing
Traditionally speaking, I love editing. To me, editing is the art of developing the mood or scene captured in-camera. That is to say, the storytelling is emphasized through the process of editing. However, using this camera as an everyday tool, especially with its Film Simulation mode, allows me to see the final output directly in-camera. I find this process has shifting my mindset. Turning everyday scenes into something artistic and expressive. Unexpectedly impressive as a self-proclaimed ‘perfectionist.’
This approach has helped me create a visual diary of daily moments, embracing imperfections and rediscovering my joy of photography. Sharing these moments instantly feels exciting again! While the Fuji X100VI won’t replace my professional tools or workflow—and I’ll always be passionate about editing and film photography—it has inspired me to embrace two distinct mindsets. The Fuji represents a playful, less perfect approach. At the same time, my Sony cameras are the reliable, workhorse tools of my craft and profession. The freedom to navigate both mindsets simultaneously fuels my creativity.
Final Thoughts
In a digital world where we’re overloaded with visual stimuli, it’s easy to become indifferent to the beauty and gift of everyday life that is unfolding daily all around us each moment. To me, the Fuji X100VI has quickly become a tool for experimentation— simply speaking, it has freed me from technical distractions and allowed me to focus entirely on the art of seeing. Further reminding me of the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around me and to find beauty in the everyday.
I hope that in this piece, you can feel the inspiration and are encouraged to explore your creativity as well—stepping outside your comfort zone of what you “normally shoot” and allowing yourself to think with a fresh perspective, using the Fuji X100VI as a catalyst for creativity. Allowing it to be more than just a camera; it’s an extension of your unique creative vision, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me (and you) next.
