My Love Affair with the Fujifilm X100VI in Newtown, Sydney

 And on the seventh day of my Fujifilm X100VI review camera loan, I took the train to Newtown to catch up with a friend. The light was so good, I decided to see just what I could get by simply walking the Station to City Road section of King Street. This is also the best known section of a street that I have been tramping along one way or another for nearly 40 years, so I know it pretty well. Newtown is always changing, but one thing that does not change so much, is the shape of the skyline where the terrace-houses, shops and the late Victorian Office buildings meet the sky. These days the flaking paint has mostly given way to recently applied fields of heritage colours, though some reminders of less affluent times remain. I made my first shot while still sipping coffee at a café beside the station, of historic roofs framed by the recent station access upgrade. Then I continued by shooting the landmark intersection where King Street branches off into Enmore Road. I've shot the streetscape here many times but I don't think I've ever come away with a stronger selection of pictures than I did on the 23/04/2024 with the X100VI - was it the field of view from the 23mm lens (35mm full frame equivalent) - maybe. I've never made such clean shots of the station frontage or of the beautiful triangular building on King & Wilson St. I set the camera to PROVIA which in my experience is the most natural for rendering a true, blue Australian sky. I set both the shadow and highlight adjustments via the Q menu to -1, and kept the ISO as low as I could at 125. 

Newtown Station, heritage roofline framed by awnings and canopies - Fujifilm X100VI in Newtown

I was not aiming for 'street photography' I was looking at the architecture and how well the 40 meg sensor and new lens of the X100VI would render the architecture, the streets facades. I have straightened and applied some perspective correction to most of these pictures - because when you tilt a wide angle lens up, lines converge and that does not make for the best kind of architectural shot - when not shooting for dramatic effect. I also made several multi image shots, hand held, stitched in post, the first, the Gothic inspired Newtown Uniting Church which has always presented a challenge to shoot. Can't get back, buses, people, trucks, a nightmare. Yet with the X100VI, I seem to have pulled it off (and I will get rid of that duplicate man too, later...). 

I mostly used the eyepiece EVF though for a few of the shots where people can wander in and out of frame I did try working with the optical viewfinder with BOTH eyes open - which only works for me with the optical finder - which is why having one is so great. Enough of the talk - stitched pictures will be noted in their respective descriptions - most shots were made at f7.1 or f8 or f9. I will speak to the handling and features of the camera in successive posts. N.B. Click images to view at 2000 pixels on the long side. Mouse over pictures for additional information.

King Street, Enmore Road intersection looking towards Enmore. Fujifilm X100VI in Newtown

Newtown railway station - Overhead booking office and station concourse (1892)

The iconic triangular building at 312-314 King Street, Newtown

The 1890s Queen Anne style Newtown Post Office on King Street, designed by government architect W L Vernon - above and below.

Newtown Methodist Church 1859 now The Newtown Mission Uniting Church. Image made from 9 stitched frames.

Something old, something new, and a happy, winking robot face... Look at that great light!

Opposite Church Street which is where the light is coming from - Federation Freestyle architecture - Bring back the decorative elements, I love it!

W Thompson - Victorian Free Gothic Architecture + Chorizo Chasers

Coburra Chambers - Victorian Freestyle (1880s)

Former, former... former Burland Community Hall - Inter War Stripped Classical (Art Deco (ish)) building has seen many changes.

Clem's - feeding Newtown since 1982 - was pointed out to me as a great chicken shop on my arrival in Sydney in 1986.

Stitched image from 3 frames - the Marcus Clark building, an example of commercial Federation architecture with landmark octagonal tower with a pressed metal roof.

Upper story facades of 188 to 178A the Newtown Hotel on King St, Newtown NSW

Newtown Hotel on King St, Newtown NSW

W N Bull Funerals, King Street Newtown

160 King Street, Federation Free Classical Style circa 1900 - displaying the same paint job above the awning as when I moved to Sydney in 1986!

Blocked colours & urban forms on Missenden Rd at the corner of King Street Newtown.

Tattoo shopfront painted in horizontal stripes of rainbow colours.

No, I didn't see the man until he spoke to me!

ROWDA Ya-Habibi restaurant 23/04/2024

Have you ever played that game walking along King St Newtown (or anywhere else for that matter). What used to be there? We were playing it back in 1986 when I moved there from Brisbane, and I would not know where to even begin now. But there is still the façade of the ROWDA Ya-Habibi restaurant. In 86 we lived (nearly opposite) in a Fitzroy lane warehouse, and a Falafel roll was always affordable! As I was snapping the neon for prosperity a man said to me - the man in the bottom right of the frame above 'you're just in time, it will be gone very soon'. So I decided to stand in the middle of the road for a better shot - what a great, Newtown place that was. I felt very pleased to be doing this project on that very day.

Gould's Books - James Castle & Sons - Art Metal Workers (1889) - 2 horizontal stitched frames.

J Palmer Buildings - Victorian Filigree Style (1886) Iron lace on veranda and parapet.

1880s Shopfronts, shop below, residence above, 8 - 12 King St Newtown

Institute Building (circa 1883) Sydney University, City Road. Stitched image from 4 frames.

Redfern Station 2 variations on the post processing - one is was rendered sharper in Post/Photoshop - but will it even show online? Is sharper better, or even accurate?

Redfern Station - Uni Students 1

Redfern Station ,Uni Students, and terracotta ridge capping against a blue Australian sky.

Redfern Station, completing my walk. The Belfry with helmet dome and weather vane is the same, as in exactly the same, as the one surmounted on Newtown station - I never realised 'that' until now!

Shot with the new Fujifilm X100 VI - special thanks to to Fujifilm PR at Campaign Lab. I've was pretty busy with the camera for the two week review period. Stay Tuned, more and varied posts on the X100 VI to come.

Telling Stories in Pictures all over..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Riding the Buses - Pinks in Layers and Hues - City Road Newtown.

Flora again; this time riding the 426 into the city or there about. No we are not stalking each other but we were both on our way to see some art shows. Lots of pinks mixed with white and smidgeon of green and blue. "Oh Flora that's a great outfit, let me grab a shot right here on the bus"! And perfect late afternoon light filtering in through the windows as the bus rolled down City Road.

Flora - http://streetfashionsydney.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/its-all-about-colours-coordinated.html
Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 

Cool Kids, Christmas Fashion Colours - Newtown.

What can you do when you see two lovely and I must say rather stylish friends at an art opening? You ask their Mums if you may take their portrait for Street Fashion Sydney! So these two young friends were at the A-M Gallery in Wilson Street Newtown (just down the street from my old warehouse studio/loft) for the end-of-year group show 'Taking Stock'. Lots of great work from very talented local artists; drop by and take a look; its just down the road from Carriage Works where I was also heading to for the Raffles College Grad show, but more on that in a later post.

And this is my very first Kids fashion post, one almost wonders if there were phone calls with "what are you wearing tonight" the two outfits look so good together.  A big thanks to the girls and thanks Mums for making this shot possible.

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.

A-M Gallery

White Skull on Black on Black - Newtown

White skull print on black singlet, black jeans black sunnies, black shoes, bangles, handbag and platinum blonde so pure, I clipped my highlights even shooting in open shade. What you might call a perfectly styled look for the New Newtown; still edgy but classy too. Love it!

Photographed with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.

Bowler Hat & Black Vans - Australia St Newtown.

Not to mention a fawn aran knit cardigan for a sunny but cooler Sydney spring afternoon. A great Newtown look in black with a splash of colour and loving Laura's charm bracelet and ring.

Lots coming up this week on Street Fashion Sydney, 'Like' my Facebook page here or use the Google Connect box to stay in touch.

Shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1

Lennox St Studios Art Fair Newtown.. 2012

I used to live just around the corner from these artists studios housed in the 1920's Saint Josephs boys school building, and while I have been aware of the Annual art fair; well until last night I had never been in the building. There are Painters, Sculptors, Print Makers. Work and works in many styles and prices.. And while the opening last night was a highly enjoyable affair somewhat fueled by the rather tasty Fox Creek Wines, I favoured the Red Barron Shirazzzz!
Moving through the artists studios and seeing the different personal work spaces and the art and the materials used to make the art; it took me right back to my first 'studio show' just before I started at the QCA in Brisbane, we won't say when. I was also reminded of the highly tactile nature of making art - is completely hands on - and was reminded yet again, that this tactile nature of making your art is something that has been pretty much removed from the photographic process. It's not just a sentimental feeling, it's having a big impact on the way people/photographers make photos now, I'm not saying its good or bad but it is very different.

Enough with the reminiscing though; the show; the art fair continues all weekend at the Lennox St Studios, 111 Lennox St Newtown Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 November, 10am – 5pm.

See my artists portraits made over the weekend here.

http://www.lennoxstreetstudios.com.au/news.html

Photographed with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.

Newtown Style - Pink iPhone - American College Blend

Seeing as its going to be a lovely warm day in Sydney today I had better fess up and admit I took this shot a few weeks ago, worked it up and.. having lots of other material to work on - forgot to post it! Never mind, better late than never. This is fabulous American college style meets South Newton Post-Punk. I spotted this lovely young woman taking a shot of a full and beautiful rainbow with her PINK iPhone; while I was cycling between art shows on a Saturday afternoon. I jumped off the bike, said hello, pulled out the
XPro-1, snapped a few quick frames, and never though to take the rainbow too! Next time, I promise. Love the hair, love the layering and love the black Docs with fluro green laces; its all so on trend colour wise, Fantastic! If only I came across such great Street Style in Sydney every day and in such a perfect location.

Cigdem Aydemir - Burqa Clad Rickshaw...

I first met 'Ciggie' back in 2007 when I shot her COFA graduate pieces, Dressing the Void which was also one of my earliest blog posts. loved this performance piece, thanks for more great thought provoking art Ciggie!


Contested Territory 11 - 28 August 2011 Curated by Luisa Velasco, At The Vanishing Point Newtown Sydney.

Style, You Got it or you Ain't!

Style, yes you've got it or you haven't; and this is cool & laid back style personified. Of course great style is always personal and there are quite a few style quotes about, Fashion being for those without a sense of style... Fashionistas beware!



And so it was while I was playing pool last Saturday at the Carlisle Hotel in Newtown when I spotted this guy with his fabulous man bag phone holster. No problem checking his style he was playing pool on the other table. The whole ensemble is great, just check that vest out too. Speaking of fashion; it seems shooting pool is way way out-of-fashion these days as its now super easy to get a table even on open-table free-pool nights. Which suits me fine; my game needs all the practice I can get, seems my youth was not quite as miss-spent as it should have been.

Medium : Vinyl - Hardware/Plump Galleries Enmore

What a difference 24 hours and a move to The West makes; well the inner west of the very-in Newtown/Enmore stretch-the area we never thought could manage to be cool! 'Medium : Vinyl' takes Street Fashion Sydney from Camilla's BoHo Chic you-can-buy to BoHo-Land proper and an exhibition split across Enmore Road and two exhibition spaces; Plump Space & Hardware Gallery. And although I have attended shows at Hardware before it was my first visit to Plump, though being a bit of a westie I have seen a few openings taking place as I cycled my way home.

Hardware has the saleable art and there are some great pieces I loved, a 50's dress made from 45s; still unsold when I left, a large Binary piece [0001 100 000] that sort of thing cut from, yes, records. And 'Stop Play Pause' tape deck controls on Vinyl; a double homage to analogue that was so clever and sleek I bought it myself!

Plump had the 'Art Happening' happening and the records stuck to the wall; was that an obscure Phil Spector 'Wall of Sound' reference...













www.hardwaregallery.com.au/

And considering everything 'West is Left' or at least used to be 'back-in-the-day' I will leave this post with a video of Australia's very talented Robyn Archer who's Hans Eisler/Bertolt Brecht recordings dominated my turntable in the 80s...



On till 11-06-2011, Enjoy!