The X-Pro1: Camera or Coincidence?

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately, specifically about images I’ve shot that not only do I like, other people like them too!

Let’s be honest, it’s great when other people like your stuff, it’s not the be all and end all of course, but still… it’s a nice enough feeling.

I think the least important attention that our images get is the attention derived from social media. The digital plaudits of strangers is a fairly empty acquisition, people you don’t know, who’s work you’ve never seen like one, (just the one mind) of your pictures. It’s better than a group of strangers not liking your work, but still… In my opinion it’s something that one should find merely pleasant and flattering, rather than any deep endearment of one’s photographical shizzle

But it is pleasing when it happens, there’s no denying it!

A lot of the images I’ve been recollecting about have been images that had been popular (within context) on my flickr stream.

Not long after I reacquired the X-Pro1 I remember that I still took a lot of X-T1 shots and without fail these shots would get more positive attention on Flickr. I started a post about it on one of the Fuji X Forums.

The consensus of opinion was that because the X-T1 was the newer camera then people were more likely to use that as a search term and look at pictures taken with it!

But then a funny thing happened…

On Flickr, my X-Pro1 shots keep receiving increasing amounts of attention!

I’ve been on Flickr 8 years, and suddenly my X-Pro1 album was getting a fair few views!

The period that my shots started getting additional attention was also the time I really started falling for the X-Pro1

I wonder if this validates my belief that the best camera is the one you love to use the most, that somehow because I was delighted to be using my X-Pro1, so enjoying the way I was using it to take pictures, that this passion was somehow captured in with the shot?

Do you think that holds any logic?

If you really enjoy using a tool, then you’ll enjoy the work you do with that tool.

I think there might be some truth to that… It feels intrinsically possible!!

So, that’s the question I posed in the title…

Camera or coincidence?

Is it just a coincidence that my shots started getting a lot more attention online, after I truly fell for my camera? Or can it be that there’s some mileage in the belief that having equipment with which you feel emotively attached, means you work harder to get better pictures?

Perhaps a little of both, no?

But I certainly like the idea, the idea that we can gain an edge in our output, by being happy and content with what we shoot with.

Of course the pale nirvana of Flickr is being accepted on to their ‘Explore’ page of the daily top 500 rated shots.

Something I’d never managed until this year! So far the X-Pro1 has got me ‘explored’ 3 times in the past 3 months (but never once in the previous 7.5 years!)

Being explored is of course nothing meaningful or special, but again I see that pattern, the pattern of me using a camera I really enjoy seems to produce the best work.

That’s not to say that you all should go and buy X-Pro1s and love them, but I think that the wider take away here is that being contented with your kit can produce stronger work.

I’m not sure that the X-Pro1 got me into Flickr explore (or print and competition results either!) but even if it was all a big coincidence….. I’m pleased to have a camera that I feel content with, and I hope you do too!

Here’s the 3 shots that were explored and how the X-Pro1 helped me get them!

For this one, the fast nature of the XF35 and the subtle and discrete form of the X-Pro1 helped me get this shot! I’m pleased that it’s a ‘street’ genre of shot, I’ve put a lot of effort into street this year, so it’s good to get some positive attention

I dug this shot out because I was testing some new RAW PP software. The organic look and colours to this shot are, to my eye, very, very Fuji X.

Another street scene, another score for the X-Pro1 being discrete! I thought there would be a shot with the woman, the dog and the skateboarder. I had to follow them around for a bit, pre focus and chose my moment using the OVF. I’m pleased with how this came out.

So… That’s not to say a X-Pro1 will reinvigorate your photography, but using a camera that you love just might!

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The X-Pro Series Content: Referenced and All In One Place

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