In response to a question on Reddit, I’ve decided to start sharing more about my process and the stories behind my photos. On a recent trip, I brought along my Fujifilm X100F and GFX50S II. I’ve been increasingly impressed with Fujifilm’s cameras and their excellent results. As expected, I mainly used the X100F during this trip, only pulling out the GFX50S II for a paid shoot and some portraits with a fisheye lens.
We traveled to Kyoto for a day while staying in Osaka, anticipating some great photo opportunities. I’m sharing this particular shot of a geisha as a reply to the Redditor and because it was one of the last shots I took that day before returning to our Airbnb around 8 PM. We arrived in a geisha district around 7 PM after an amazing dinner, and saw a few geishas finishing work. The area was very dark, making it challenging to get a good shot.
Given the environment and the spontaneous nature of potential shots in low light, I set my camera to a wide aperture (f/2), a reasonable ISO (1600), and a shutter speed of 1/125 to avoid blur. Just as we exited the restricted area (no photos/videos), I spotted a geisha waiting to cross the street and seized the opportunity. I didn’t want to be intrusive, unlike someone nearby who was filming right in front of her, which I found disrespectful. Instead, I opted for an unusual angle that captured the vibrant colors and warm street lights, maintaining my urban style even in a traditional setting. This shot stood out to me, as it was my first successful photo of a geisha.
For editing, I used Capture One and here are the settings I applied:
