A 23mm f2 Story pt.1
The lens with a sentimental story…
The Fujifilm 23mm F2 was my first prime lens for the Fujifilm system, it was my introduction into the world of primes and my introduction into how something so small could be so brilliant.
I remember unpacking the lens, and thinking “Why does this look so diddy and why does it look like a toy?” I went out and took a few shots and was mesmerised by it straight away. I was blown away by how great this field of view was and I was pleased with how all my images were turning out.
After a few months of testing it out around the local area, I was able to take it on its first trip, to Italy it went! Sardinia to be more precise.
I remember the feeling of taking the camera and my first prime on holiday. I had been learning about street photography, watching countless videos, reading up on it and then I got to Italy.
I was so scared to take photos of people! It felt so foreign and I was so nervous. So I ended up not taking photos of many people as I just didn’t,
Know what I was doing
Petrified of being shouted at by the Italian folk :)
Have any expectation of what I wanted to take photos of
So I really just tried to capture a bit of everything that I saw. I look back at these photos with fondness as this was the first real time with this camera that I started to really think about trying to capture my story. For a lot of the trip I used the Kodachrome 64 film simulation as I was all about the simulations back then and I was really happy with what I captured.
When I came back to England I spent the next few months practicing and decided that I wanted to start my Instagram page. Because obviously, I now had world class images that I could share for the world to see and become an InstaFamous Photographer! I set up, if any of you remember -RoamingRy..
I was going to roam this planet and capture the best photos anyone had seen!..Or so I thought…
In these few months I became obsessed with street photography and watched every single video on YouTube about street photography plus started delving into documentaries about famous photographers as well.
In the midst of this, a few months prior, a little life insight…My estranged auntie from across the sea(America) got in contact with me. Quick backstory - I am half Chilean, half English and never met my Chilean family before - So I was so happy to finally get in contact with long lost blood relatives. Me and my auntie and her kids all started chatting and we decided that it was time to meet.
This led me to visiting not only one of my favourite cities of all time but to finally meet with a long lost family. This city just turned out to be the Mecca of street photography New York City.
