 |
| Amtrak northbound on the CSX Railroad mainline in Petersburg, Virginia (click any image to enlarge) |
One of the reasons I enjoy using Fujifilm cameras is because of the film simulations. They go beyond what color profiles are provided by most other camera manufacturers and can provide some unique looks to your images.
The film simulations only are applied in-camera when you record images using the JPEG file setting but if you configure Lightroom Classic (if you use that program) correctly, when you import your raw files into LR, it will automatically apply whatever film simulation you have set in your camera. That said, there are some slight differences in what Adobe has engineered as the various film simulations and what Fujifilm has engineered for in-camera application.
In the past, I've almost always chosen Pro Neg Standard as my default film simulation. To me it most closely mimics the old Kodak Vericolor III negative film, which was primarily designed for portraits and weddings. It was important to have a neutral color palette and retain highlight details in the bride's dress as well as shadow details in the groom's tuxedo. In other words, it was a lower contrast film than the film you bought in the drug or discount store. That film rendered the most realistic color and a bit lower contrast with my landscape photography so highlight and shadow detail was not lost on sunny days. It was my color film of choice when photographing with my Pentax 6X7 medium format cameras.
I've tested but not regularly used most of the Fujifilm film simulations as they haven't appealed to me for the types of photography I practice. But I have used some of them for different effects. Classic Chrome, Nostalgic Negative and Astia come to mind. I was never a big fan of Velvia film and I'm still not a fan of the film simulation.
Sometimes, rarely, I will shoot both raw and JPEG and most of the time, depending upon the final use, I find the JPEG file suffices for posting in this blog or sharing. It is only in extremely difficult situations when JPEGs are stretched beyond their capabilities or I can't edit them the way I want. If that is the case, I'll edit the raw file instead. In most cases, it is because the dynamic range of the scene is greater than the JPEG can record. (Curiously enough, sometimes the JPEG file is better than the raw file. I find that true in the area of sharpening and detail. Sometimes I just can't get the raw file to match the sharpening of the JPEG. Strange. Oh! In Lightroom, of course.) One film simulation I had never used before is Eterna. I just didn't see a use for it. But that has now changed.
I wanted to try Eterna in contrasty situations as it is basically a low contrast JPEG formula. A couple of weeks ago I took my X-T5 to the railroad knowing that some of the trains would be moving directly at me and completely backlit. A good test.
What you see posted here are some of the images I made that day. I am happy to report the Eterna film simulation handled the difficult lighting situation well. All of the images here are from JPEG files. Additionally, I love the color reproduction and the files were easy to edit. I found the shadows as well as the highlights retained a lot of detail.
Now that I've discovered Eterna and how most effectively it can be used, I will dial it in when necessary. Even if I'm shooting raw files, the Eterna film simulation provided by Adobe in Lightroom can give very pleasing and natural looking colors and great results. YMMV.
 |
| Amtrak on the Norfolk Southern Railroad westbound mainline in Waverly, Virginia |
If you want to read a bit more about the various Fujifilm film simulations and how Fujifilm describes them, I’ve linked their explanations here.
I had never before considered Eterna as a viable alternative when considering the various Fujifilm film simulations. This is a good lesson in trying something new, experimenting and utilizing the most appropriate features of your gear.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
All content on this blog is © 2013-2024 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.
Dear Dennis,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post!
As an enthusiastic photographer, I often find myself debating whether the success of a color photograph lies in how accurately it reflects my memory of the scene or how appealing it appears to the viewer. Recently, I've been exploring different Fujifilm film simulations, and the question of what guides my choice has become more relevant than ever.
On one hand, some simulations seem to strive for realism—they aim to recreate the scene as closely as possible to how I remember it. These settings focus on:
Natural color tones and temperature: Reproducing the scene's colors just as they appeared to the naked eye.
Balanced saturation: Not overly vivid, but also not too flat—just enough to make the image feel real.
Tonal range and depth: Ensuring a good balance between highlights, midtones, and shadows, so the image retains a realistic sense of depth.
Sharpness and depth of field: Mimicking the focus and blur of a natural scene, the way our eyes might perceive it.
On the other hand, there are simulations that go beyond the mere reflection of reality, seeking to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the image. Here, the emphasis is on:
Vibrancy and liveliness: Adding a bit more saturation or contrast to make the image pop, catching the viewer's eye with more dynamic colors.
Color contrasts: Using complementary colors to create a more visually striking or dramatic composition.
Tonal harmony: Creating a balanced range of light and shadow that might evoke a specific mood, whether it's soft and serene or bold and intense.
Color distribution: Ensuring that no one color dominates, but instead finding a balance that adds depth and complexity.
There’s also the matter of how color psychology plays into the decision. Colors can evoke emotions, and different simulations often enhance certain hues to invoke feelings of warmth, nostalgia, or serenity. Adjusting saturation levels can change the mood significantly, from bright and joyful to subdued and reflective.
In the end, my choice of film simulation is usually a mix of both realism and aesthetic enhancement. I seek to balance the accurate portrayal of the moment with a touch of creativity that enhances the emotional impact of the photo. As someone who loves both the technical and artistic aspects of photography, I find this decision-making process as fulfilling as capturing the image itself.
I’d be curious to hear how you and other Fujifilm users approach this balance. Do they lean more toward realism, or do they favor simulations that emphasize the artistic effect?
Sincerely, Martin
Martin, thank you for your comment and thoughts. I find them very interesting. I, too, would be interested to hear what other readers prefer in regards to the aesthetics of the various film simulations or camera styles/profiles.
DeleteAs for me, as anyone who has read this blog and looked at my images over the past 11.5 years would know, I prefer mostly natural color, contrast and saturation. That said, there are some images that beg for more contrast and saturation, but in my eyes, not to the point of being unrealistic. I have come to really dislike much of what I see posted these days from ‘landscape’ photographers whose images are so far from realism that if we looked at the same scenes we would not recognize them.
Typically, since buying my first Fujifilm camera in 2013, I have used the Pro Neg Std. Film simulation in-camera as well as for raw images edited in Lightroom Classic. But, that is not to say I haven’t dialed in others depending upon the circumstances, such as some old Americana-type subjects, etc.
In the end, I photograph for myself, edit my images for my vision and if a particular viewer likes it or not, it is what it is. Everyone’s preferences and vision is different and I don’t try to please them, but create art to fulfill my creative needs. ~Dennis