robvisual - photography

After a little defragmentation of my desk at work I found an old USB card reader in a drawer. I remembered that I also own an USB connector for my Samsung Note 3. Most of the time my X100s is always with me. But this camera has no wireless transfer. So I decided to use my time on public transport to edit photos on the fly. And this was the first time I had this clicking noise in my head after I edited my first photo with snapseed on the fly sitting in the train on my way home from work. The results were awesome and it is so much fun to add some contrast and highlights to your photos instead of checking twitter and wasting time without creating something. And don't forget that your phone is also a quick and powerful camera in your pocket always ready to capture great photos. I started to play around and create a visual diary that is more based on a quick and dirty workflow than sitting in front of an illuminated big screen at home trying to master lightroom. I exper...

I just stumbled upon a review of the XPRO2 by Ken Rockwell. He stated that he was not impressed by the performance and color reproduction of this camera. Many people are upset by the contents of this review and I can't understand what the problem is. Mr. Rockwell is free to write his opinion about every camera on the market, even when he is (in your eyes) wrong. I also write about things that annoy me without trying to behave like a fanboy. Come on...it is just a photographic tool. Love it or leave it and buy a different camera. There are plenty of options on the market. Are you satisfied with the resulting photos? Fantastic! Your camera serves your needs. Nothing more to say. Don't take other people's opinions too serious. Just follow your own feelings and take reviews more as a good feature walkthrough or as an inspiration. Here are my personal reasons why I sold my whole Nikon rack for a Fuji: 1. the size - there is no need for further explanations. 2. the glass - ...

I think it is time now to write some lines about what it feels like using the new XPRO2 for two months now. I used the camera a lot and it still feels like a solid piece of photographic gear. There was no software bug or something else bothering me. I also had no problems with heat or other similar quirks, so the camera is doing it´s job without letting me down. The resulting images are a good example how good the new sensor works. The camera produces great natural looking images that have enough detail and latitude for later editing (if you need that, because the in-camera-processing is also great). The WIFI feature is something I still enjoy. In conjunction with snapseed or VSCO you can create stunning images on the fly. The only drop of bitterness is the lower resolution of the images coming from the camera. Why is there no resolution setting to get more details? The faster auto-focus is most of the time accurate and makes the OVF a real joy to use. If you use the 35 or 27...

When I walk the streets I try not to be to mono-fixated and shoot just street photography content. I think it is important to capture everything that might be interesting in front of your eyes. I never follow any guidelines that tell me that I have to shoot photos in black and white only to make them look more like HCB. I just take photos... And then everything makes sense (for me). The surrounding images create a visual story providing more information about time and place. It can also be a diary or a personal notebook. If you limit yourself and always shoot photos with people in it you might loose the whole picture and the precious little details at the same time. Just forget everything you know about photography and be a child again. Just hit the shutter button and capture all the things happening around you. Be foolish and play with your visual tools. Cheers, Nils

When you leave the plane or train in a foreign country to explore people, culture, arts and architecture you become a tourist. Maybe you just want to take a photo of yourself to document that you have visited a certain place or for your friends following you on social media. Tourist come in groups, couples or alone with a huge backpack. What they all have in common is their aim to get some unforgettable memories far away from home. After looking at tourists I started to take photos of them real close to separate them from the place they are standing in to capture their emotions and gestures. The result is a fascinating insight into a world where people act like children in a positive way. They do silly things and climb on statues or take selfies in a sacred place like a church. Look at all the joy on their faces and compare that with the modern world full of hard work and less time we are all living in. (click to see the whole album)

Time passes by and it feels strange to get used to a new gadget so quick. That feeling of excitement is nearly gone and the new camera just another camera. Don't get me wrong. It still feels great to own a high quality product that feels good my hands, but this "wow, something new!" is fading. And the results? The X-PRO2 still does the job and delivers a great image quality, paired with a fast and reliable auto-focus. The ability to download photos via a wireless connection feels great, because you love this feature when you travel (for reviewing photos on your smartphone or tablet when you're back in the hotel) or want to send a photo immediately to someone you just photographed. Nothing new when you already own a X100t or X-T1, but when you mostly worked with an X-PRO1 you will love it! My only concern is the auto ISO handling of this camera. In my first article I was happy to find profiles that allow you to store (only) three different presets that allow you...

This one sentence you will read often on the web in lots of articles. The problem is that I can't follow that rule (and a lot of others). I mix black and white with color and love to change the camera and the focal length like I change my socks every day. ;-) I tried to stick to one format, focal length or whatever, but it doesn't work for me. My eyes are detecting a scene and my brain screams out for a certain look or focal length. I found out that I am not this consistent type of photographer who does a series of photos that all have the same look and feel. It is nearly impossible for me. But if you are a careful reader of this blog you know that there is nothing wrong with you. Don't follow any rules and take everything to serious. Many good tips and thoughts from other photographers can help us getting new inspiration and getting better every day, but you know what's best for you. Just follow your inner voice and do what your love. That is the key to ...