Complete Fujifilm GFX 50S Review – Most Affordable Mirrorless Medium Format Camera – UPDATE MAY 2018

EXTENSIVE UPDATE MAY 2018

This Fujifilm GFX 50S review is the most extensive and complete review of this camera to date (continuously updated with everything new in the GFX world), also covering shooting long exposure, which hasn’t been covered before with this camera. The GFX is the most affordable mirrorless medium format camera – Fujifilm GFX 50S body Adorama Store – and, according to many, the best in its category. It is a practical camera, that packs the highest quality in a much smaller format than a traditional medium format, thanks to being mirrorless and well designed. I am working with this camera for a few months and I can say I am overly pleased with the results and the image quality I can get with it. In this review I will show you why this is the best piece of gear to invest in, if you want for your images the highest quality and detail, the highest dynamic range together with the well-known magic feel of the medium format. All this while still not breaking the bank. Also, you will be able to understand what medium format is and how it works.

Since this is important for the objectivity of any review, I want to mention that I am not Continue reading →

FIRECREST 16 STOPS FORMATT-HITECH ND FILTER FULL REVIEW 2018 UPDATE

Firecrest 16 Stops Formatt-Hitech ND Filter – Circular and Rectangular filters

In this review, I will talk about the hugely popular Firecrest 16 Stops Formatt-Hitech ND Filter (IRND 4.8), the most “neutral” neutral density filter in the world. The new Firecrest 16 offers 16 ND stops in one filter, this is what 16 stands for. This neutral density filter is not only the most neutral in the world, but, in its circular version, it is also the slimmest stackable ND filter in the world, only 5.5mm thin.

UPDATE 2018

More recently Formatt Hitech has also launched a 10-stop Firecrest ND filter and a 13-stop Firecrest ND filter, whose characteristics are similar to the Firecrest 16 Stops Formatt-Hitech ND Filter we are reviewing now, so you can consider this review covering the 10-stop and 13-stop filers too. Also, the Formatt-Hitech neutral density filter line has extended from 1-stop up to 24-stop ND filters, which is more than you will ever need in terms of long exposure.

You can find more things about the Firecrest filters and many other subjects related to black and white fine art photography (composition in black and white photography, vision, black and white processing tutorials), in the book From Basics to Fine Art – Black and White Photography, by me and Joel Tjintjelaar, where we both talk about these filters extensively together with reviewing the most important other filters on the market and generally the equipment you need for creating long exposure and black and white fine art architectural photography, and even going beyond architectural photography. We were the first who talked publicly about the Firecrest filters (in the book) even before they were Continue reading →

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December 9, 2017 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

Long Exposure Photography with Medium Format – Fujifilm GFX 50S – Extensive Review

Immaterial Intricacy – Brooklyn Bridge, New York – © Julia Anna Gospodarou 2017

Long exposure photography with medium format is a subject that hasn’t been covered extensively so far. My goal in this article is to fill this gap and provide more information about how you can create the best long exposure images when shooting with a medium format camera. The camera I am using to analyze long exposure photography with medium format in this review is the new Fujifilm GFX 50S.

I am working with this camera for a few months already and recently I have made a complete Fujifilm GFX 50S review that you can find on my website. It is the most extensive Fujifilm GFX 50S review available at this moment and if you are interested in this camera I would recommend you to start by reading the main review and then continue here.

Before starting with this review let me tell you that for even more information and tricks & tips about long exposure photography, you can read my Long Exposure Photography Extensive Tutorial that I have published some time after this review, where you can find all the details about this technique in a complete guide.

INTRODUCTION

LONG EXPOSURE WITH MEDIUM FORMAT AND HIGH-RESOLUTION CAMERAS – WHAT IS THE STATUS QUO

In a few words, I have to say I am extremely pleased with the results I get when shooting with the GFX, both stills and long exposure. Contrary to my initial fears about shooting Continue reading →

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November 6, 2017 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

BEST GEAR AND PHOTOGRAPHY DEALS

Here you can find my recommendations for the best tools you can use to create fine art black and white photography, long exposure and architecture photography, and above all, what I am calling (en)Visionography™, a new way of creating photography, and the best gear and photography deals, plus the best discounts you can find for these tools.

I consider these tools the best and I use them in my photography, from capturing the RAW file till creating the final fine art image. They helped me win tens of awards in international photography competitions and acquire worldwide recognition. They can help you too.

Use the codes listed with each product to get it discounted by clicking on the link in each product image and providing the discount code at checkout.

I am constantly updating this page with new discount codes and products, to reflect the latest news and the state-of-the-art and most efficient available software and gear, so be sure you subscribe to my website and keep coming back often to get the latest gear and software news and discounts.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT

FORMATT-HITECH ND FILTERS & EQUIPMENT – 10% OFF – CODE: JULIA10

GET IT NOW

ANY Formatt-Hitech product – filters, holders etc. discount 10% OFF – CODE “JULIA10”

These are the neutral density ND filters and accessories I am working with to create my long exposure photography and you can see the great results in my many award-winning images. Formatt-Hitech was the first to create truly neutral ND filters back in 2014 , the Firecrest line, the first to create an "anti light-leak" holder, and they keep innovating with the new Firecrest ULTRA ND filters.. This is why I work with this brand. It gives me the best results. Get 10% OFF discount for any Format-Hitech product - ND filters, ND grads, polarizing filters, holders, accessories from the link above with code "JULIA10"

SOFTWARE DEALS

(FOR GEAR SCROLL DOWN) Continue reading →

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December 29, 2016 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

FREE FINE ART DXO PRESET SERIES DARK CITY (EXTENDED 2018 EDITION)

Houston TX, Chevron Ring -Dark City Soft Blur - DxO Preset Series Dark City

Houston TX Chevron Ring – Image created exclusively with Dark City Soft Blur Preset

FREE PRESETS

This is the new FREE extended 2018 version of the original fine art DxO Preset Series Dark City, created by Julia Anna Gospodarou.

Some of you may be familiar with the images featured here and with the first edition of my Dark City DxO presets. Μany fine art photographers have been already using for a while the original version of these presets and they created outstanding fine art photography with them. I am using them myself extensively in my work. Continue reading →

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November 24, 2016 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

BLACK FRIDAY 2016 OFFERS… and WHY I DO NOT BELIEVE IN QUICK FIXES

FOREWORD

(BLACK FRIDAY DISCOUNTS BELOW)

Before I start with the practical things, I want to say that I am so proud of all my students and the people who read this blog and react to my ideas. I had the occasion in many circumstances to understand how you think even if I don’t know everyone personally. But I can understand from simple things the depth of your artistic soul and how much you all have to say, and I am moved. Continue reading →

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November 26, 2015 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

TOPAZ LABS BW EFFECTS 2 FULL REVIEW – UPDATE 2018

Topaz Labs BW Effects 2 Full Review, an in-depth review of what I consider the best black and white converter on the market

2018 UPDATE

This is an updated and enriched version of the very popular Topaz Labs BW Effects 2 Full Review, I first wrote when Topaz BW Effects 2 was launched. It is a complete evaluation of my main black and white converter and the plugin I use the most in my work, together with other Topaz Labs plugins, as Topaz DeNoise (the best denoiser I have ever worked with), Topaz Detail (a great sharpener), Topaz Clarity (an addition to Topaz Detail I use when I need more clarity and punch in the image), Topaz ReMask (the best mask and selection creator that can save you hours of editing in Photoshop).

I consider Topaz collection the most advanced and complete set of plugins on the market today and I use many of the plugins it comprises when working on my photographs. Especially now that many of these plugins can be found in Topaz Studio too, with AI technology incorporated, there is no limit to what you can do with Topaz.

NOTE:

I make a demo on how to use Topaz BW Effects 2 at my workshops, together with a walk through my entire black and white processing workflow Photography Drawing™, to show how I process the award-winning images that brought me the highest distinctions, like Photographer of the Year IPA International Photography Awards. As you can imagine, this is one of my most popular courses.

I am working with the Topaz Labs Collection and especially the BW Effects 2 plugin for a few years already and the experience was always great. The Topaz software helps me a great deal in creating my fine art black and white photography and it simplifies a lot the workflow I’m using. I couldn’t take it out of my workflow without making my life much harder. Since I have such a good experience with the Topaz Labs software, and the BW Effects especially, I’d like to share with you my impressions updated now after working with the plugin for some years already. Besides my impressions, since this collection is really worth it, I will also share a discount code for 15% off for any Topaz plugin or the entire collection. How to get it? Continue reading →

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May 11, 2015 by Julia Anna Gospodarou

HOW TO CREATE BLACK AND WHITE FINE ART ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY – DXO LIVE WEBINAR

The extended DxO Webinar “Explore Architectural Photography with Julia Anna Gospodarou”, where I show how to create black and white fine art architectural photography

I presented this webinar live recently in my quality as DxO Image Master and being invited by DxO to talk about what I love most: Black and white fine art architecture.

The 1000 available spots for the webinar were sold out in just a few days and the attendance was maximum.

Now the webinar is featured on the Tutorials page of DxO where other great photographers share their knowledge too. The video can now be watched directly on YouTube.

The feedback I received after the webinar was overwhelming, thank you all for the fantastic support and good words.

If you couldn’t attend the live event, you can watch the most important parts of the 2 hours webinar in an hour and ten minutes long version made by DxO. The webinar can be watched also on the official Tutorial DxO Page. I’m showing how to use DxO OpticsPro, DxO ViewPoint and DxO FilmPack to create compelling black and white photographs, architectural but not only. The principles can apply to any kind of fine art photography. Continue reading →