Chris Round 'Evidence' at ARTHERE Exhibition Space.

I had attended the opening of Sandy Edwards new ARTHERE Exhibition Space in early September - its great to have a new dedicated photography space headed up by such an experienced curator; and I was keen to give the galley some exposure here on Street Fashion Sydney but was yet to make it happen. Then I saw the flyer for 'Evidence' and being a fan of Urban Landscape photography I thought this show would be a good opportunity to give ARTHERE and Photography a bit of a plug at the same time and hopefully grab some Street Fashion shots as well.

 Having seen the picture on the invite I was looking forward to seeing this show in the flesh, what the prints would be like and what sort of scale they had been made at. Make no mistake, seeing work on-line is fine but it is not anything like seeing full scale prints, and the skill involved in getting the pictures out of the camera and onto a wall is very very different to posting some shots up on the web and the prints in this show are beautiful.

Chris Round's photography exhibition of depopulated landscapes urban, rural and industrial have both a clarity and a quietness to them that one would not expect considering the nature of the subjects. A sculptural children's park with slides and wind blown pennants but no children's voices. Red and white speed boats moored in a green pasture, not a drop of water in sight. Alfresco dining, tables and chairs on a breakwater but no diners; and what I am starting to see now, Chris's colour palette, the red the green and the soft blue grey of another overcast sky.  One of my friends quipped that Chris had imported "English" lighting for the shot of the slides;  I asked him if he had ever tried to photograph stainless steel outside in the middle of the day! It was actually quite a surprise for me to see that these shots had been made all around the world and Chris had brought his own visual sensibility to the composition and the light for each and every landscape no-matter-where-in-the-world his camera took him.

 'Evidence' at ARTHERE Project Space until the 22nd of november 2012, links below.

www.roundtheplace.com/
www.arthere.com.au/

Portraits and Street Fashion shot 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.

Shooting Street Fashion Sydney with the Fujifilm X-Pro1

Shooting Street Fashion Sydney (SFS) is all about getting the image as quickly and efficiently as possible. Its about getting a great portrait, a great shot, often in as little as three or four frames. There's not much room for error or messing about with equipment; your attention is on the subject who you don't really know and who out of kindness and courtesy (and maybe knows the blog) is now allowing you to photograph them. You want to respect that kindness with a clean sharp shot that stands out as much as the person you are photographing.  And while I had been doing pretty well with my little point & shoot and on occasion with a DSLR I could see that if I wanted to keep SFS up with the fashion blogging pack it was time for a camera upgrade. Thanks to Fujifilm Australia SFS is now shooting with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and this is the story, a review if you like as to what this camera is like to use in the galleries, in the street and in the studio too.

The first thing everyone notices about the X-Pro1 is its great retro styling. It's a Rangefinder style camera where you can use the offset eyepiece as either an optical or video viewfinder or you can use the LCD screen on the back as you would with a point and shoot. The camera has all the old school knobs and dials, shutter speed on the top of the body, F-Stops on the lens barrel along with a silky smooth and responsive manual focus ring. The body and lenses are a minimalist shiny black on metal and these distinctive good looks are a real advantage when it comes to catching someone's attention when I ask them if I can take their portrait.

While the X-Pro1 has the options of Aperture/Shutter priority or Programme, set with the red A on the Speed and Aperture Dial I like having the traditional layout of apertures on the lens not on a command dial and the same goes for the shutter speed knob on the body. This is a camera that you work with like a traditional film camera and for me that has had positive results in having me think more photographically about what I am doing when I make my shots.

The process of thinking more photographically about your shots flows through to Fujifilm's focusing system. Most importantly and impressively the focusing of the X-Pro1 is bang-on accurate. And as of the 2.0 firmware update for the body and the lenses, auto-focus (and manual) is quick and responsive and while admittedly not being blindingly fast it is highly unlikely you will miss a shot - and the shot will be in focus. That's the sort of thing that builds a lot of photographer confidence when using a camera and the Fuji has it in spades. Fujifilm have also done something with the focusing system that at first seems quite unusual. Unlike most cameras you do not have full time control over moving the focus points. On the X-Pro1 you must first push the focus point button to activate the 49 points at which time you use the 4 way pad to position the point where you want it - at the same time you may resize the focus point for finer focus control. Repressing the button or tapping the shutter release returns you to shooting mode. While this approach may seem a bit counter intuitive, the up side of this is more time concentrating on composing the image and less time fiddling with the focus points, by deciding before-hand where the important point of focus should be and then, getting on with the shot. If it was not for changing back to manual focus with an after-market screen in my DSLR I am not sure I would have quite gotten this approach. But I think the designers at Fujifilm have thought long and hard about how to make a digital camera that delivers a less electronic and more traditional photographic experience for the photographer, along with the manual dials and optical viewfinder, this is how they have done it.

I needed higher quality shots in low light and if you have already read reviews of the X-Pro1 you will already know APS-C 16M X-Trans CMOS Sensor is awesome! I like to keep the ISO as low as possible but even with the fast Fujinon prime lenses, sometimes you need to turn the ISO dial up, the Neuw Denim shot above was made at 3200 iso with the XF18mmF2 R at F2 1/35th of a second with no loss of clarity and great detail thorough the blacks. The sensors ability to render clean smooth shadow detail has been something of a revelation to me and its something that holds well after you move up from base ISO.

This portrait of Charlotte was made at 400iso in late afternoon light with the XF35mmF1.4 R, F 2.5 at 1/500th. Our bicycle commuter below at 1000 iso, XF18mmF2 R F2.8 1/60th.

Having a camera like the X-Pro1 has been firing up all sorts of photographic desires in me and encouraging all sorts of photography; all three prime lenses delivering superb image quality rewarding a wide range of uses. I have been shooting clouds and urban landscapes on and off for years, cloud detail is tricky to capture but again the Fuji nails it; though this is one subject where switching to manual focus is the way to go. Red sky, XF60mmF2.4 R Macro F9 at 1/250th 400iso.

Urban landscape morning light, XF35mmF1.4 R F 9 at 1/500th 200iso.

In line with the X-Pro1 & Fujifilm's film background (and Fujifilm are still making film) the camera has a selection of film emulation modes. I have tried a few of them and have settled on mostly using the standard setting, hello! And also the PRO Neg Hi. For white balance I have tended to setting Daylight in daylight and relying on the very good Auto white balance setting for most other situations like mixed or tungsten light when shooting indoors. One of the reasons I keep the settings simple is that I usually prefer to make adjustments in RAW and finish all my shots in Photoshop. It's certainly not that the X-Pro1 does not make great JPEGS, they are about the best I have ever seen; but I know from experience that customising the final image always delivers my own final look and feel. But of course the X-Trans sensors unique design which has allowed Fujifilm to do away with the Low Pass filter to capture full pixel depth detail means that you can't use just any RAW processing software, and at the moment it would seem that the best RAW converter is the software provided with the camera from Silkypix.

The Silkypix software is very powerful and has the best highlight recovery/control I have come across period, and as you would expect can deliver an even crisper more detailed file, however... While Silkypix respects the camera white balance and exposure; from there on in you are on your own, the settings don't provide a seamless match for the in-camera film emulation and shadow - highlight control and saturation that you see with your camera JPEG. While sometimes this is a blessing as you work toward a superior file; it can also be hugely frustrating. Fortunately the JPEG output from the XPro-1 is so detailed, when I have been beaten by Silkypix I have simply worked-up the JPEG instead. In fact simply working on the JPEG when I go down that path has always been so successful that I am leaning toward only working with the JPEG files; but the RAW habit is hard to break so I am hoping that Fujifilm and Silkypix bring out an updated version of the software that is fully integrated with the X-Pro1 in-camera settings.

Belinda in the Studio XF35mmF1.4 R 250th  F2 800iso

Pink Rose Bud XF60mmF2.4 R Macro 125th  F5.6 200iso

So how do I feel about using the Fujifilm X-Pro1? I love its quality and the cameras feel in the hand;  the compact size and lighter weight over a DSLR and that there is no compromise in image quality. The camera looks great, yes looks are important, and I have found it's portability and the way it allows me to produce beautiful pictures has rekindled my love affair with photography and that is not something I was expecting to experience. If you love photography and the tactile aspect of working with the shutter speeds and F Stops, the X-Pro1 is a camera that returns control to the hands and the eye of the photographer. In an age of increasingly generic digital photography, that's something both quite rare and special indeed.

Miss Earth Australia contestants  XF35mmF1.4 R 125th  F2 1000iso

Lexi Land 'Street Fashion'  XF18mmF2 R F2.8 1/30th 500iso

My kit,

Fujifilm X-Pro1 body

XF18mmF2 R Lens

XF35mmF1.4 R Lens

XF60mmF2.4 R Macro Lens

EF-X20 TTL Auto Flash

Custom "Quick Shot" Leather Case.

The first Street Fashion Sydney X-Pro1 post here, Tenmoregirls Wearable Art

Larger images, Urban & Portrait in my X-Pro1 set on Flickr includes camera/lens details.

Check out the complete X-Pro1 specs and download the PDF brochure here.

Street Fashion Sydney is sponsored by Fujifilm Australia; the views and opinions expressed in this review are solely those of Kent Johnson of Street Fashion Sydney.

 Nuew Demim Launch XF18mmF2 R F2 1/20th 1250iso

As a final note; the camera comes with beautiful high quality packaging. Again the attention to detail is amazing right down to the plastic widgets to help you fit the leather strap. Here's a video of the guys at Fujifilm unpacking the body and lens.

Art Never Sleeps - While fashion takes a Nanna Nap!

Yes while the art galleries and artists of Sydney are hard at work making and showing art; my inbox has been strangely void of invitations to fashion events save for an invite to a 'socks' launch I sadly failed to attend last Thursday. (sorry guys next time I promise). All the while my gallery list just keeps on listing more and more shows every week; sure its not all work by the same artist but if you think of the much vaunted 'new turnovers-of-range' à la Zara; ART and Galleries are turning around and 'dropping' new Art even faster! Try thinking of the gallery as the Brand, Art as the Range.. So all this art activity VS not-so-much fashion activity has had me thinking about the nature of both these pursuits, and not just in terms of how you market yourself but also in terms of creative output and work put in - how you go about it. And last night a close friend and working/exhibiting/professional artist brought up the hoary old question (in a perfectly nice way) of the gulf between the amateur who would be a professional and the Artist who is; and the difference that does involve.

Of course, as you would,  I am putting this downturn in fashion's largesse of event and party to a downturn in trade and perhaps minding a pre-decimal currency penny while waiting for the customers to 'drop' (and-spend) like a new range 'drops' (perhaps with below average look-books shot by well meaning amateurs not the professional who could... to save a penny) or so they say - and maybe we will have a little launch party when the next range really does 'drop'. Which also brings me to the world-wide-runway-juggernauts known quite simply as brought-to-you-BUY this Brand Fashion Week. Now I love a runway show as much as the next person but I do sometimes think that these big shows have become a bit of a one-stop-marketing-shop, a wonder drug and a fashion panacea that has taken some of the creativity out of the fashion marketing game and gobbled up a large proportion of smaller players budgets. No its not cheap to participate in. Not to mention - and I will, the love of the 'like' button (yes please do like and share this post; ah the sweet irony) and social networking... is this all... So its great to go to art openings and they are happening all-the-time regardless of budgets. And I do know that probably no-one works harder than people in fashion, though many artists work very hard too; but a downturn does not slow down art's parties; though sales may be a little slow; the trade goes on, the celebration continues; now that's something I like - pun intended; something to think about while I await my next fabulous Fashion Event to Drop!

So here's how Art fared last week (tip of the iceberg really), and what people wore, style wise; mouse over for details, gallery and show info links below..

China Heights

Fire Gallery

Plump Gallery

Sexes - Carriage Works

Frasers, CUB development site

Sheffer Gallery

My picture from China Heights...

www.chinaheights.com/ A Study of Hands.
Fire Gallery (Anna Wheeler) 22 Enmore Rd Newtown Sydney - Facebook
Plump Gallery, 240 Enmore Road, Enmore, Sydney - Facebook
Sexes, www.carriageworks.com.au/
http://www.sheffergallery.com/ Gilbert Grace - Luminous
My own little 'luminous landscape' taken from the window at China Heights. Composite Image..

Comments welcome.

All pictures made with the inimitable Fujifilm X-Pro1.

Winters Last Gasp - Spring Coats and Jackets

Well what with all that Snow today in the Blue Mountains yes the cold frozen white stuff not the arty abstract sNO, it was hardly surprising to see the warm jackets and coats hauled out tonight, for a last time; well we hope so! Cold and windy though it was, I cycled over to Mils Gallery at Central to check out Paul Hay's installation of sculptures made from found and modified objects and stuff... and some well placed touches of red paint.  It's a cool show worth checking out while you can. And while I was there I spotted some art student style - the boots - and a lovely spotted 'Blue and Green' Spring dress, lightly layered for the change in the weather. So glad I dropped by as I get to add to my collection of RM Williams Boots in the Art-School-Style which is of course, as a former art student myself, one of my very Fav of Favs! You know you can't buy them like that. You have to wear them in. It all takes time but then that's one thing you learn at Art School, the business of  'process', something a friend in the fashion business was  telling me only the other day that is something they get in Melbourne but not in Sydney! And there are ramifications for that too! But I will save that for a warmer drowsier day.

Go see the show, enjoy Paul's Art.

http://www.milsgallery.com/

Shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1