The art of translating the nostalgic essence of film into digital photography has gained momentum, bridging the gap between analog textures and the precision of modern technology. Are presets and recipes a shortcut to this nostalgia, or do they stifle creativity?
Coming to you from e6 | Craig Roberts, this informative video sheds light on the concept of Fujifilm recipes and their role in achieving film-like aesthetics in digital images. Roberts, a seasoned Fuji user, unpacks the idea behind film simulations designed to emulate the look of classic film stocks through color tones, contrast, and grain. While these simulations primarily affect JPEGs in-camera, the flexibility to apply these profiles to raw files in post-processing offers photographers a streamlined path to a desired aesthetic without the need for extensive editing. Roberts' insights into his personal preferences and practices underline the importance of these tools for photographers aiming to mirror the distinct qualities of film in their digital captures, highlighting a bridge between past and present photographic techniques.
However, Roberts also expresses a critical perspective on the reliance on film simulations for creative expression. He advocates for the authenticity and unique experience of shooting with actual film cameras to achieve genuine film aesthetics. By drawing parallels to the vinyl versus digital music debate, he emphasizes the irreplaceable tactile and experiential aspects of analog mediums. His stance challenges photographers to pursue originality in their work, both in composition and processing, rather than settling for preset looks that could homogenize their creative output. This discussion prompts photographers to reflect on their motivations for integrating film simulations into their workflow and encourages a more intentional approach to combining analog warmth with digital convenience. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Roberts.
Jpeg recipes are great. Film recipes are nonsense.
I have yet to see one that isn't just slapping a cloudy white balance and a mist filter on for greasy muddy images and calling it a legacy film name regardless of colour pallette or tone.
The amount of Ektar recipes I see that are just the same muted brown-green as everything else has got to be satire at this point. Has anyone even bothered to Google some examples shot on these films before starting a recipe? 😂
I'm sure to get plenty of hate for what I'm about to say, but f**k it. I think it all boils down to the individual photographer. Being a Fujifilm shooter myself, I've always found film recipes to be super gimmicky and a lazy way to achieve mediocre results. Even in most of the Fujifilm forums, those who rely solely on in-camera processing... post the most average looking pictures. "See the Fujifilm X-T5 forum for reference." For those with actual photography and editing skills who shoot in RAW, the results are far superior. Of course their are different types of people with different mindsets and needs, so I can kind of understand why they would want to use film recipes:
(1) Some prefer the simplicity and convenience of a streamlined workflow over ultimate image quality. (2) There's also times when capturing the moment is more important than creating the perfect image. (3) Shooting with film recipes is also good for beginning photographers. It gives them a starting point to learn the bare basics of Fujifilm cameras and cultivates their passion for photography. (4) Film recipes are good for the lazy person with a camera. Those who aren't really interested in learning the core principals of photography. They are still able to get some reasonably good looking shots without doing any real work. (5) Lastly, film recipes are great for those photographers accustomed to shooting with film. You can achieve nearly the same look, but with a more usable format, on a camera that is vastly superior to older film cameras. Plus you can easily duplicate the same look across most of Fujifilm's cameras by remembering your recipes settings.
To sum things up: Different strokes for different folks....
Fuji X-T5 Forum>>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/3832507976761003
I've been shooting Fuji cameras since before the X line existed. In all that time I have never used film sims. I shoot raw and make my own color decisions.
There's nothing wrong with film sims per se. To me it is the equivalent of taking your can of film to the 1-hour photo lab for processing. Something else I rarely ever did. I processed my own film or took it to a commercial lab where I specified the processing to be done.
Are film sims a gimmick? Sure. In the same way every other feature of a camera like auto focus and auto exposure are gimmicks. I use those gimmicks all the time.