Fujifilm X Summit Global 2021 - My Thoughts

Is anyone else getting really tired of online only events? Ya, me too… Anyways, Fujifilm held their 2021 X Summit today and if you’re tuned into the requisite rumour sites there weren’t any big surprises. Let’s talk X series first.

Expanding on the recent 18mm f/1.4, Fujifilm have added 23mm and 33mm focal lengths to their fast prime lineup. The 23mm is interesting to me, but I have genuine mixed emotions about the 33. The 35mm f/1.4 is one of the original X series lenses and has been a personal favourite of mine for years. Yes, it’s slow to focus. Yes, it’s noisey, but there’s something very special about the way it renders. I’m glad Fujifilm decided against a version 2 of the 35. I’ll reserve judgement until I get my hands on the 33.

Now for the big stuff. Let’s not mince words, the original GFX50S was UGLY. Like, maybe one of the ugliest cameras I’ve ever seen. Ugly looks aside, my time with the original GFX camera was short, but informative. It was big, slow, expensive, and did I mention ugly? But the raw files, oh my god the raw files. All was forgiven when I saw those sweet sweet 50mp files in Lightroom. Then the 50R came out. WAY better looking with the same files. The 100 took things to a whole new level, and the 100S showed what the 50S could have looked like. Well, that’s exactly what the 50Sii is, a 100S body with a 50S sensor.

Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. It looks great. It has IBIS, better AF (according to Fujifilm), and new film simulations. It has the same X Processor 4 as the original 50S which Fujifilm says they have overclocked for better performance.

There’s also a new “entry level” kit lens available, a 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6. Seeing as the 50Sii is significantly cheaper than the original 50S this new lens will be a nice body/lens combo for anyone wanting to get into the GFX system.

That brings me to the elephant in the room, price. At $3999usd body only and $4499 with the kit lens the GFX50Sii seems like one heck of a bargain for a medium format digital camera. That is… until you start comparing it to some full frame cameras like the Sony A7Riv or the Nikon Z7II. Both cost less and will run circles around the GFX50Sii in almost every measurable way. But that’s not really the point. There is something about the look from these medium format sensors that full frame can’t quite match, and for less than the price of the original 50S body you can now get that medium format goodness for close to full frame money.

In the end it depends on what you think is important. Is the extra cost justified compared to flagship full frame cameras? Maybe, but until the 50Sii has the speed of the 100 and 100S, it’s a very tough choice.

Scott.

Alta Bistro - An Old Friend Seen Through New Eyes

Some of you have been on this journey with me for a long time. A little over 10 years now if my math is right. What started as a food blog turned into a food and alcohol blog which turned into a passion for photography which fueled a turn towards film making. It’s been been a wild ride that’s seen some huge pendulum swings, the biggest being my sobriety.

As the world slowly emerges from a global pandemic and my partner and I being fully vaccinated, we took our first trip in nearly a year. A quick drive up the Sea To Sky Highway found us in Whistler for 4 days. Whistler is home to Alta Bistro, a restaurant I frequented during my food blogging days as a patron, occasional cocktail competition judge, and as a friend. I hadn’t been back since a gave up booze. Would I still put Alta Bistro up on a pedestal without the benefit of alcohol tinted glasses? In short, hell yes.

Mocktails FTW - The “Splash” - Fresh grapefruit juice, vanilla bean syrup, Royal Ginger Beer.

Alta Bistro is known for their wine list, and it’s still mighty impressive, as is their cocktail menu. Luckily for me they have a few non alcoholic options available, and the Splash, pictured above, was simple but very good. If it I could change anything about it I’d lean harder into the spice of the ginger beer and infuse the vanilla bean syrup with jalapeno or habanero, but that’s a minor thing that might not be to everyone’s taste.

Everyone loves focaccia.

The menu is broken up into 5 parts. Bistro snacks, small plates, large plates, add ons and sides, and desserts. We ordered the organic sourdough focaccia from the bistro snacks section. The bread was fresh, warm, and flavorful with a light brushing of olive oil. It came with a cannellini bean, preserved lemon, and roasted garlic puree with harissa oil and dukkah. It was rich and flavourful while not being heavy. The dukkah and harissa gave a subtle mediterranean kick. Very simple but executed perfectly, a theme that would continue throughout the meal.

Seared albacore tuna.

We ordered two dishes from the large plates section to share, the first being seared albacore tuna with tempura broccolini, creme fraiche, burnt onion, gastrique, fingerling potatoes, radish, and jalapeno. Again, a simple dish with high quality ingredients that play off each other in a way that elevates this dish beyond its individual parts. The tuna was seared perfectly, the radish and jalapeno adding some welcomed subtle heat .

Pesto Potato Gnocchi.

Our second large plate was pesto potato gnocchi with arugula, pesto, braised onion cream, hazelnut parm, black salsify, and pickled cippolinis. This is one of those dishes that makes me think that I, a devout meat lover, could become a vegetarian and never look back. The gnocchi was tender and delicate without being mushy. I try to avoid the word perfect for anything but this dish as as close to it as I’ve had in ages. The textures and flavors all working in harmony to once again elevate a simple dish into the stratosphear.

Affogato.

For dessert we each ordered an affogato. What’s better than espresso and ice cream? Not much. It comes with coconut ice cream and lavender infused brandy. Obviously I skipped the brandy. What can you say about an affogato? The coconut ice cream was a welcome twist, and as someone who usually despises coconut (it’s a texture thing} it was a great choice here.

Alta Bistro, this isn’t a review, it’s a love letter. To a truly great restaurant, to old friends and new beginnings. It’s good to be home.

Scott.

AltaBistro.com

On Accountability

I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to listen to Brobriety and to reach out to tell me how much you enjoyed what we were doing. It truly meant the world to me to be able to be open and honest about sobriety, mental health, and vulnerability. As of this week I will not be continuing with that project and I wish Derek all the best in whatever path he chooses to take it going forward. We may not have been the biggest or best podcast in the world, but I will miss chatting with folks who are making a difference and helping others.

It’s on that last point that I’d like to focus, making a difference and helping others. If you choose to put yourself, your “online persona” out into the world as someone who is a positive force for change. As someone who supports men trying to break the shackles of toxic masculinity. As someone who is there to lift people up and support them through the excruciating journey of sobriety, then you need to own it. You need to be that person in every aspect of your life. Honestly, it’s something I struggle with daily, but I’m learning.

January 2nd 2021 was my 5 year sober anniversary. I felt a wave of love as people fell over themselves to congratulate me. 5 years is no joke, but it’s just the beginning. The things I’ve learned since my 4 year anniversary have been overwhelming, humbling, and eclipse the sum of everything I’d learned in my first 4 sober years.

There are a few things that helped me grow this year but one thing in particular stands out. Therapy. Therapy has opened my eyes to the shocking amount of denial I was still living in. Therapy allowed me to be honest with another human being in a way I’d never experienced before, and in turn I was honest with myself for the first time in my life. The stigma around men needing emotional and mental health support is very real, but it’s changing, slowly. Men being open and vulnerable should be normal.

What shouldn’t be normal is the casual misogyny I see every day. Men, your micro aggressions, your little jokes, your outright gaslighting to save face when you fuck up? That’s unacceptable, full stop. I’m not immune to it. I have, and will, make mistakes, but I own it, and I’m sure as hell not going to let it slide by when I see it from people I know. Own your missteps. Don’t run and hide. Surround yourself with people who hold you accountable. Apologize. MEAN IT.

The Sobriety lane of social media is a strange place. It’s full of accounts that seem to exist to repost what little original thought and content is actually being produced. It’s full of overwhelming positivity, which is great and very needed, but it’s not an accurate look at what sobriety is. That’s something I want to look at more in the future

So what’s next? I don’t know yet. I have some ideas and I really want to continue the work I was doing with the podcast. The messages I’ve received have been life changing, and I don’t use that phrase lightly. I’m going to focus on what’s important for a little bit before I jump into any new projects. Spend time with my family. Pet my dogs. Drink coffee.

Be well, I’ll see you all very soon.

Scott.

Exhale

There are things in life, things that you have no say in, that weigh heavily on your soul. You may not realize how heavy these things are until they’re gone. November 7th 2020 saw something that had been weighing heavily upon me, upon all of us, end. Donald Trump lost. He’s done. He’s out. Well, he’s kicking and screaming that he’s been wronged but what else would we expect from him. It doesn’t matter, he lost, and it wasn’t close. Biden beat him by a far wider margin than he beat Clinton.

Scott Graham - 2020

But Scott, you’re Canadian. Why would you care about Trump? Well friend, like it or not what happens in America has consequences for the rest of the world. Canada sits snuggled up along their northern border and as such is greatly influenced by America. During Trump’s reign we saw, as did the rest of the world, a rise in racism, zelophobia, toxic masculinity, and the rise of the “Alt Right” which are more commonly known as Nazis. Trump fanned these flame, embraced them, and used them as a weapon. The tip of their spear has broken. Yes, the far right is still a big problem, but they have been dealt a serious blow.

Scott Graham - 2020

November 7th felt like the biggest exhale I’ve ever had. I wasn’t expecting it to affect me as much as it did. When the world needed a win, it got one. Is everything going to be perfect now? Not a chance, but I’m hopeful. There is so much work to do, and it starts with us. It starts with white men realizing that they have been the recipients of a disproportionate and unearned amount of control and importance over the last century or ten.

I’m going to let this feeling of relief wash over me, and them I’m going to keep moving forward.

Let’s move forward, together.

Scott.

Why Me. Why Now.

I’ve been sober since January 2nd 2016. It blows my mind to think about how long that is. It’s also kind of depressing as I think about how quickly time is passing. Enjoy being young, life picks up speed at a terrifying rate.

My sobriety was just something in the background for over 4 years. I didn’t really talk about it. That all changed this year, but why? One reason is Big Daddy Rona, a global pandemic has a special way of pushing people to consume more substances that will help them escape reality. I figured if people see a guy like me, their former drinking buddy, living a good life “on the natch” maybe they could too.

Then there’s everyone who has reached out to me about their own struggles with addiction. Hearing your stories, sharing your pain with me, it tears me apart to know how many of you are suffering in silence. If sharing my story and being open to hear yours can help just one person, then all the discomfort of sharing some very personal, embarrassing things about myself with the world is worth it.

Do I worry if sharing so openly will come back to haunt me? Ya, I do, but that’s something I’m willing to face if it comes my way. I did some messed up stuff when I was drinking, so anything I do or say now doesn’t even come close. If someone has a problem with any of it, that’s on them. This is my story, and helping people is what I've been called to do.

Why now? Because it’s time. This is who I am, and I’m so damn proud of what I’ve overcome to get here.

Want to talk? Shoot me an email wflbcscott@gmail.com

Scott.

If Not Now, When?

Choosing to end something. Choosing to change your path. Choosing yourself.

Photo - Scott Graham

When I was a young boy I dreamed of the future. What would I be. Where would I live. What would being an adult be like? As I progressed through adolescence I started to let go of those childhood thoughts. I started to care more about what other people thought of me than what I thought of myself. Toxic masculinity and social pressures stole the dreams I had and replaced them with feelings of inadequacy. I played sports, I got in fights, I skipped school. I did all the things boys becoming men do to be cool.

Then my 19th birthday came around. In Canada 19 is the legal drinking age, and my dad couldn’t wait to take me for my first beer. Like most kids I’d drank before it was legal for me to do so, but buying their son a beer is something a lot of dads look forward to.

Photo - Scott Graham

Men are taught that drinking is manly. Being able to drink a lot is something we’re taught to be proud of. A “real man” can handle his liquor. In reality most men use alcohol to numb them from their own feelings of inadequacy. They drink, they shoot guns, they’re loud, overconfident, they drive fast, sometimes drunk, and it’s all for show. Puffing your chest out and stomping around trying to be the alpha male, I can confidently say that men you see acting this way are cripplingly unsure of themselves. Not all, sure, but most.

If you look at our neighbours in America and the man they’ve elected to lead them, you see how toxic masculinity can propel an incompetent buffoon in to a position of immense power. Toxic masculinity tells men that this person is what they can aspire to be. Loud, brash, uncensored, racist, sexist, answerable to no one. Under all the bluster is a shell of a man who uses intimidation and anger to overcome his own self doubt.

Photo - The Guardian

What does this have to do with anything? Everything.

Toxic masculinity is one of the biggest threats to modern society. Systemic racism, climate science denial, mistrust of educated experts, substance abuse, domestic violence, and so much more can be traced back to toxic masculinity.

Photo - Scott Graham

What can we do about it? First, call it out when you see it. Men are programmed by everything around them to think they are superior. Even if their life is in complete disarray they are taught that being a man (especially a white man) means that their struggles are someone else’s fault.

Second, if you’re a man who’s reading this and your first instinct is to brush it aside as bullshit, think about that reaction. Everything you’ve been taught will tell you that I’m wrong, but you have to unlearn what you have learned.

Being vulnerable. Showing emotion. Living free of masculine expectations. The dreams of my childhood are coming back to me, and for the first time I feel like I can achieve them. Maybe not in the same way I thought as a child, but the future feels like an empty notebook waiting for me to fill the pages with my story.

It’s never too late to change your path. It’s never too late to break free from the chains of toxic masculinity. When you love yourself for who you are, not for who you think you’re supposed to be, your life can truly begin.

If not now, when?

Scott.

Musings of a Sober Photographer

It's hard to quantify how much photography has aided my sobriety. On a very basic level it has given me something to fill the time I used to spend drinking. But if I step back I can see that it's so much more than that.

2 weeks after I gave up drinking in 2016 I received my first “PR review” camera from a major camera brand. I didn't have a YouTube channel. I didn't have hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, but they took a chance on me. That little bit of faith meant more than they will ever know. Fujifilm Canada, thank you. But that was just the beginning.

2016 was a year of firsts. Looking back I realize these firsts wouldn't have happened if I was still drinking. I sold my first photo. I took a 4000km road trip through Western Canada. I photographed my first live music event. I attended and photographed my first Formula 1 race. I photographed Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Justin and Sophie Trudeau (although I was up above them in a secured location which wasn't great…) And I started my YouTube channel.

Maybe some of these things would've happened if I was still drinking, but not all of them, and I wouldn't have enjoyed any of them.

The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal was particularly special. I took my dad with me. It was the first time we'd really spent any real time together, just the two of us. We ate poutine and Montreal smoked meat. We walked all over Montreal. It was incredible, and something I remember with a clarity that didn't exist for me before 2016. Before giving up alcohol.

Digging through my photos from 2016 is a real trip. I DID SO MANY THINGS. It's clear to me now that I was replacing the time I spent drinking with whatever I could find. Every weekend I was somewhere new. Seattle, Victoria (3 times), Green Lake, Montreal, Gates Lake, Kamloops, Jasper, Edmonton, Drumheller, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise. And that's just the trips. Every weekend I was at a park, a wildlife sanctuary, an aquarium, a concert, a sporting event. How?! It seems crazy now.

I realize I was a pretty terrible photographer back then. I still feel that way about my current photos, but I have learned a lot.

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, and it's the only one I need these days. Except for coffee. So much coffee. Sobriety without therapy and the means to fill your spare time with another activity is a recipe for failure. Give yourself the tools to succeed.

Scott.

On Sobriety, Therapy, and Starting Over

I’ve been staring at this blank page for 15 minutes waiting for inspiration. Sometimes just STARTING is all it takes. 1734 days ago I gave up drinking. 1734 days ago I didn’t know I was giving up drinking for good. 1734 days ago my life began again.

The last one

That Caesar was my last drink. At the time I had intended to stay dry for a month, dry January. Today is October 1st, the start of “Sober October” and a damn fine day to talk about what being sober for nearly 5 years has been like.

Hello, is it me you’re looking for?

If I’m being honest the first 4 years weren’t great. They were much better than the years I spent drinking but I had no direction, no support, and there were many times I felt alone, afraid of relapsing, and suicidal. Being a “man” means showing weakness is unacceptable. Crying, being afraid or sad, talking about your feelings, if you’re a man these things are discouraged or openly mocked. Self medicating because crying or asking for help isn’t manly is far too common. Toxic masculinity is a huge issue facing modern society and it needs to go.

This is me without therapy. Much sad. So gloomy

Being sober is a huge achievement, but it’s true potential comes with therapy and support. Being in therapist supported recovery is sobriety on another level. I started therapy earlier this year, which was difficult to navigate due to Covid-19. I was able to find a therapist through my employer/union benefits program who was able to do sessions over the phone. it took a few tries to find someone I connected with. This is pretty common when looking for a therapist or councilor so don’t give up. Therapy, to me, is guided problem solving. There are a lot of misconceptions about therapy, and I’m in no way qualified to break therapy down into what it is or isn’t or what it should be. My sessions have been an exploration into why I self medicated with alcohol, what my triggers are, things I can do to mitigate those triggers, generational trauma, genetic predisposition, and so much more.

This is me on therapy. Much calm. So chill

Therapy plus Sobriety equals Recovery. It’s math. Ok maybe it’s not that simple, but it’s a pretty solid formula. On top of therapy I’ve started being VERY vocal about sobriety. Before therapy I was ashamed of it, but now it’s this huge super hero cape flapping in the wind behind me everywhere I go. I’m so damn proud of this new life I’ve chosen. Is it perfect? Not even close, but it’s worth it.

Look, a way out!

So, It’s October 1st, the start of Sober October. Are you going to give it a try? If you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time! I’m always down to talk about sobriety with anyone. I want to support you during Sober October, and maybe even longer? That’s up to you. You can email me at wflbcscott@gmail.com, or find me on Instagram and Twitter at @wflbc. I’m not a therapist, but I’ve been there, buried under the crushing weight of addiction with no escape in sight. There is a way out. All you have to do is start.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported me through my ups and downs, you know who you are, and I love every single one of you.

Scott.

Change

Change is inevitable. Creating content is a grind, especially if you’re no longer passionate about the subject matter. I’ve come to a point in my creative journey where what I’m doing no longer excites me. That’s how I know it’s time stop.

Over the past few years I’ve made a bunch of videos about cameras and camera gear, and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it. I had to teach myself film making, editing, sound design, lighting, and a lot of other skills to make the things I make. Am I an expert? Nope. Am I even good at any of those things? Well, I’m better than I was when I started, so I’ll call it a win.

Gear videos are the most popular videos on my channel, by a big margin, so it kind of forced me to stay on that path. I’ve come to a point where the numbers don’t matter to me anymore. This pandemic has shown me that material possessions don’t make me happy. Another camera, another watch, another bag, none of them help me feel better about myself. When I talk about gear it makes people want to buy stuff and I’ve found that there’s rarely a scenario where someone NEEDS to upgrade.

So what now? I want to create content with intention. I want to share how photography helps me cope with life and all of its ups and downs. I want to talk about sobriety, something I’m very passionate about. I want to talk about the benefits of therapy and the benefits of learning to be a better human being through learning about the struggles of others.

I made a short film to kick off this new direction, I hope you like it.

Scott.

A Whole New World - Home Developing Black and White Film

Last week was a pretty big week at WFLBC Headquarters, aka my garage. I home developed my first roll of film. It was a roll of Japan Camera Hunter StreetPan 400 black and white film shot with my Minolta Hi-Matic AF2. A reliable combo which eliminated equipment failure as an excuse for poor results.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

Home developing has been on my to-do list for a few years. I've talked myself out of it many times. I didn’t have the space. I didn’t have the time. A bunch of excuses that didn’t hold water. I was scared. I found the prospect of developing film intimidating. Enter the current global pandemic.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

My local lab, the appropriately named “The Lab” in Vancouver, was running reduced hours with longer turn around times. Their hours and location made visiting nearly impossible.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

Basically it was going to be digital only for the foreseeable future. But wait, it's Leo’s Camera Supply to the rescue. After a quick search for home developing gear I found the Ilford/Paterson film processing starter kit. Everything I needed in one box and Leo’s had 1 in stock. A quick phone call to make sure I could actually buy one as they’re “closed” due to covid-19. Thankfully they had online purchasing and curbside pickup with proper social distancing and sanitation measures in place. Good job guys.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

The hardest part of the whole process was loading the film onto the reels inside a dark bag. I should mention that the dark bag isn’t included in the kit but I picked one up on Amazon for a decent price. If you have a light tight room in your house the dark bag isn’t necessary. The chemicals were easy to measure out, the tank was simple to use, and the directions were easy to follow. There’s a great app called Dev It that’s super handy for chemical ratios, timing, and everything else related to the developing process. I’d also watch a couple YouTube videos in advance of your first attempt.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

Did it going completely perfect the first time? Not even close. I had planned on doing 2 rolls at the same time but botched loading the second roll onto the spool so badly I ruined it and gave up. The roll that I developed had some scratches and other blemishes from fumbling around so long inside the dark bag but I’m pleased with the results overall. The scratched shots have an aged look to them that I kind of like but I’d rather not have as many imperfections next time.

JCH StreetPan/Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

If you’ve been considering developing your own film and haven’t pulled the trigger now is the time. If a clumsy moron like me can do it then it can’t be that hard. The Ilford/Paterson starter kit is a great first step for black and white. Maybe I’ll try color next.

Scott.

History Must Remember This

Unprecedented times. Anyone else sick of that phrase? I know I am. Maybe I'm not sick of it. Maybe it makes me uncomfortable. These are unprecedented times, and that's just the way it is.

As a photographer and a filmmaker I have an irrational urge to document everything. Go on a trip? Documented. My dogs are doing something stupid? Documented. Everything around me inevitably gets photographed or filmed and shared with the world.

That's not as easy today as it was just one short month ago. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that shows little sign of slowing down. Stay home! Wash your hands! Don't touch your face! Essential outings only, as infrequently as possible.

So who's telling the stories? Who's documenting what life is like around the world right now? The media? Sadly local papers are dropping like flies due to their ad revenue disappearing almost overnight. TV news? Also no, there's so much going on with the actual pandemic that it's hard to cover anything else. Add politics to the mix and the stories on the ground, regular people like you and me, we get lost in the shuffle.

Last week I grabbed a couple of cameras and some telephoto lenses and headed out to shoot some portraits of people stuck at home. Proper social distancing, personal protective equipment, no stops other than the outside of people's homes. Harmless, but very important.

Important not only for the participants, I'm probably the first person they talked to in weeks, but important historically. Will people remember what this was like in 10 years? Or in 20? 30? Sure, it'll be on Wikipedia or whatever crowdsourced website we use to record history (that's a terrifying thought).

It's things like documentary photography and filmmaking that show what things were like on the streets and in people's homes (or a safe distance from people's homes). In wartime, during economic downturns, famine, documentary photography and filmmaking are vital.

There's been some chatter, especially in Canada, that photographers should avoid doing this type of work. I think that's absolute garbage. Should people be doing hundreds of “porchtrait” sessions over a weekend? Probably not. Should photographers and filmmakers be documenting daily life right now? Yes, 100% yes.

We have a responsibility to record history. We have the tools and the ability to tell the stories that aren't being told. Boarded up cities. Empty streets. People living apart like no other time in modern history. History must remember this. Our children's children need to see what the global pandemic of 2020 looked like through the eyes of real people.

Don't tell me to stop, because I won't.

Scott.

When The World Breaks

It's 5:45am in Yuma, Arizona. The sound of trains and trucks outside the bedroom window is endless. I'm flying home to Vancouver today, 2 days early. When I get there I'll be greeted by a 2 week government mandated quarantine.

Mission Bay, San Diego

I'm here to visit my parents. They spend their winters in Yuma avoiding the damp cold of Vancouver. It was supposed to be a relaxing visit. A quick stop in San Diego. Soak up some Arizona sun. Go to an airshow. None of that is happening now (except San Diego, that was quite nice.)

Lockheed A-12. San Diego Air & Space Museum

The airshow was canceled. The province I lived in declared that anyone returning from the United States should quarantine for 14 days upon their return. Not ideal to say the least but these are strange times.

San Diego from Balboa Park

So today I take 3 flights over 10+ hours to get home. It's a financial hit that is hard to swallow but I need to be at home incase my family needs me. I realize I won't actually be with them when I get there due to the quarantine but the importance of being close by is something that can't be measured.

Mission Bay, San Diego

It seems like the world is just starting to realize what COVID-19 really is. The UCSF Biohub Panel on COVID-19 released the most comprehensive analysis I've seen on what this virus is capable of. I'll add the link and I encourage you to read it but a warning, it's very grim.

https://www.linkedin.com/content-guest/article/notes-from-ucsf-expert-panel-march-10-dr-jordan-shlain-m-d-/

The 2 most eye opening items, at least to me, are the estimed 1.5 million deaths in the United States over the next 12-18 months and that false negative results from testing are almost impossible to estimate.

The next year is going to look very different. Our day to day lives are going to change drastically. The everyday freedoms we take for granted will be restricted. There will be some who think this is all overkill. They're wrong.

If social distancing and self quarantine works there will be many who argue it wasn't needed at all. If it is successful infection rates will drop but if infection rates drop those on a certain side of the political spectrum will say “look, the virus was a hoax, most people didn't get it.”

This is the reality of our current political climate. COVID-19 doesn't care who you voted for.

Friends, I don't know what the future looks like. I don't know if I'll get sick. I don't know if you'll get sick. What I do know is you will know someone who gets sick. You may even know someone who dies. You will definitely know some who knows someone who died. The Spanish flu is good benchmark for degrees of seperation.

I want to say that whatever happens I'm greatful to be able to share small parts of my life and my art with you. I wish you all the best as we navigate this new normal.

Be well, wash your hands, and good luck.

Scott.

Why I'm Done Reviewing New Cameras

There seems to be a new camera announced every day. Fujifilm, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Leica, SO MANY CAMERAS.

My channel started as a camera review channel. I love cameras. I love them almost as much as I love taking pictures. But I’m at a point where nothing that's being announced is exciting to me. As someone who reviews primarily Fuji gear, the X-Pro3, X-T200, XC35mm f/2, and the soon to be released X-T4 and X-T40 just aren’t doing it for me.

Some other brands have some interesting options but there’s nothing that makes me want to reach out to them to get my hands on any of it.

Why?

My primary cameras are the Fuji X-T30 and X-T20. Between the 2 of them they fulfill all of my needs as a content creator. I own a bunch of other bodies, an X-Pro1, an X-T1, an X-A1 and an X-A10. I have an original X100, a Sony A390, a Canon EOS M5, and a boatload of film cameras. Honestly, it’s too many but whatever. Some people collect stamps, I collect cameras.

Let’s talk about some of the older gear. The X100 and A390 still take amazing photos. The raw files are gorgeous. The auto-focus is totally usable on both of them despite their age. For video? Hahahaha, no... The Sony doesn’t even have video.

I picked up the X-T1 for a very good price because I wanted a body with weather sealing. The X-T20 and 30 are incredible all around cameras. They do everything I need effortlessly. The M5 was supposed to be a flip but I kept it because its great for vlogging. Not to mention my GoPro Gero 7 Black, that thing has gotten WAY more use than I thought it would. As a travel video camera it’s very underrated.

The thing about the latest cameras is sure, they have some pretty big improvements, but cameras are at a point where those improvements are only beneficial if you have the equipment to take advantage of them. The files, both photo and video, are so huge that anything but a top of the line computer struggle to handle them.

Then there’s how people consume media. If I look at my YouTube analytics The vast majority of you are watching on smartphones. When you start talking about photos, a 2-3 megapixel file is more than enough for a mobile screen. I think for editing and enlarging purposes anything above 12mp is fine, 16-25 is just about perfect. 40? 50? 100?? unless you’re shooting for billboards, or some other huge format, that much resolution is completely useless. This is the part where someone brings up cropping. You can crop a 16mp photo, trust me, it’s fine.

4K video? 6K? 8K?? Come on... 85% of you watch video at 1080p or lower. Are you shooting a feature film? If so, great, you need that huge file. Do have have unlimited finances? Cool! Get all that super high spec gear. For the average person, that’s me, 4K is more than enough and in most cases overkill. With 1080 you can use a decent mid-range laptop, smaller memory cards, smaller hard drives. People, save your money.

So... If something comes out that’s earth shatteringly new and different, maybe I’ll have a look. But the gear I have will last me many years. It’s gear that can grow with me as I move forward. If or when 4K becomes the standard I’m good to go, but right now it isn't necessary. The endless forward march of consumerism and marketing does a great job telling you what you have isn’t good enough, but that’s just because they want your money.

As someone who’s fed that fire for a few years now It’s time for me to stop. We’re at a place where there really aren’t “bad” cameras anymore. You can Pick up a used X-T20 with the XF18-55 kit lens pretty cheap, and can add a couple lenses to make a great all around photo/video kits that will be relevant for years to come. Same goes for the Panasonic GH5 or G7, The Sony A7II or A6300, the Canon M5, M50 or SL2. There are so many great cameras that are a couple of years old that’ll save you a ton of money over the latest and greatest gear.

SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Scott.

Victoria Noir

Victoria BC is one of my favourite places. On a recent trip to the Royal City I made a short film called Victoria Noir. It was shot on the night of September 1st 2019 on a Fujifilm X-T20 with a Fujinon XF35mm f/1.4 prime lens. Everything is handheld, shot in 1080 24fps or 60fps using Fujifilm’s Acros film simulation with a simulated red filter.

I hope you like it.

Scott.

Failure

No one fails anymore. At least that’s how it seems. We’re surrounded by status updates, tweets, Instagram selfies, all highly polished to portray success and perfection. The reality is we all fail. We all make mistakes. We all do things that don’t work out that no one ever hears about.

I wanted to to share a story about a recent failure of mine. It may not end up being a complete failure but it certainly isn’t perfection. You be the judge.

Last year I was given a roll of medium format film by Darryl Carey. Those of you who subscribe to my YouTube channel have probably heard me mention him before. He’s a professional photographer, cafe and gallery owner, and YouTuber based in Auckland New Zealand. He challenged me to try something new, medium format film photography.

When I got back to Canada I went about purchasing a medium format camera, a Pentax 645, which promptly sat unused for a year. I was intimidated by this beast of a camera. It turns out it very easy to use and I finally shot Darryl’s roll last week.

When I got it back from the lab it was totally blank. Initially I thought it was camera related. After doing some googling and retracing my steps I realized I most likely put the film in backwards. The film back on a Pentax 645 loads somewhat differently than the 35mm cameras I’m used to. This means I took 15 shots directly on to the backing paper of the film.

I don’t know about you but I’ve never produced an image from backing paper.

Directly after this failure I grabbed 2 rolls of expired film that came with the camera when I bought it. I watched a YouTube video about how to load the film correctly. I’ve shot both rolls and dropped them off at the lab. Will they work? I have no idea. But I know it was most likely my fault that Darryl’s roll was wasted.

Its ok to fail. It’s how we learn. It’s even better to share your failures with other. Maybe it will help them avoid making the mistakes you made. They’ll make their own mistakes, and maybe they’ll share those with you in return.

Scott.

Photography With Classic Lenses

As many of you in the photography community know, Karl Havens passed away suddenly in April. Karl was the co-host of the Classic Lenses Podcast. I wanted to pay tribute to Karl so I decided to review a classic lens on my YouTube channel. I also appeared on a podcast Karl, This one’s for you.

As many of you in the photography community know, Karl Havens passed away suddenly on April 26th. Karl was one of the hosts of the Classic Lenses Podcast. I wanted to pay tribute to Karl in some way as he and his co-hosts have given me so much joy through their work.

Obsessive Personality

I have this thing where I get REALLY into a hobby to the point where it's nearly all consuming. My latest obsession is watches. I've bought 3 or 4 mechanical watches in the last few weeks and have started rehabbing some watches that I'd locked away years ago.

It's to the point where I've purchased watch making/repair tools. Today's project, replace the battery in this old Perry Ellis quartz chronograph.