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"The Decisive Moment"   Fuji X-T2 + XF23mm f2   

"Through the spyhole" 
Fuji X-T2 + XF16mm f1.4 R WR
Don't forget to visit my sites:    Instagram: jose_carpin_photographer Website: www.josecarpin.com    [/url]

Tololoche,  Rincon de gayabitos, Mexico by Claude, on Flickr
 

"All inside the frame" Varanasi, India   Fuji X-T2 + XF23mm f2 R WR   Come check out my site: www.josecarpin.com    Please, add me on instagram: jose_carpin_photographer  

say cheese by Franky2step, on Flickr
 

X-Pro2 + Mitakon 35mm mkII @ f/0.95
 

Another eyes session 1 by Pascal van Gerven, on Flickr
 

Eyes session 1 by Pascal van Gerven, on Flickr

T2 + 56
 
DSCF9345 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

"Into the darkness"
 
Agra Fort, India, 2016
Fuji X-T1 + XF16mm f1.4 R WR
 
Follow me on Instagram: jose_carpin_photographer
 

Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon 56/1.2
 
DSCF5927 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

"Holy cow!"
 
Equipment: Fuji X-T1 + XF16mm f1.4 R WR
 
Follow me:
 
Instagram: jose_carpin_photographer
Website: www.josecarpin.com
 

Confignon Geneva  Switzerland
 
X pro 1 with summicron-m F2 50 mm

XE2 / 18-55 mm

T2 + 56
 
DSCF7003 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

I think it's worth it to share my experience with the process of digitize black & white negatives using the X-Pro2. If some peoples were thinking about it, it will be faster to make it work! First you need the following :
X-Pro2 A good Macro lens (I use a Micro-Nikkor 55mm/2.8, exceptionnal lens for reproduction work) An extension tube (if your lens don't go to a 1:1 ratio) A lightbox (I use an old X-Ray lightbox!) A reproduction bench (I made one by myself, cheap but effective) A remote to avoid camera vibrations during exposure A can of compressed air for negatives cleaning A way to keep negatives in place and flat (I use a negative carrier from an old enlarger) An old 50mm. Used as a magnifier for choosing the good negatives from the bad ones. After testing, it appears that only Macro lenses can do that task with excellent results. I tried RAW as I always shoot RAW but I got artifact pattern. The JPEG processor correct the pattern perfectly.
 

 

 
Here are the settings I use on the X-Pro2:
JPEG ISO200 Auto speed +1 exposure correction F8 Manual focus (after a good adjustment, it stay at the right focusing distance) Drive = single Electronic shutter NR -4 Sharpening -4 Shadow details -1 Highlights details -1 Simple B&W custom setting Few months ago I asked my local lab to scan few negatives for an exhibition. They used a Nikon Coolscan 5000ED. I wasn't sure that the results were as good as the negatives were but at the time I had no way to have comparatives. Now that I have that set-up, I compare the scans from the lab to my «scans» made with the X-Pro2 and mines aren't just better, they are A LOT better! Much more tonalities. During the firsts experimentations, I search the web and found that when well done, this method give amazing results and I can confirm that. The only better way to digitize is using a drum scan, an impossible solution for my thousands of B&W negatives from 20 years of analog photography.
 
When the «scans» are done, I transfer the pictures on computer, Using Photoshop batch process, I invert the negatives. After that I import the positives in Lightroom. The rest is similar processing as with digital pictures.
 
Until now I have 1200 scans completed so I really can confirm that this method work! Hoping that it can simplified the process for others tempted by this solution for «scanning» B&W negatives.
 
As exemple, here is a picture I first shoot 20 years ago using a Leica M4-P with a summilux 35mm on Tri-X film
 

 

La Dame de Feu / Jamye La Luna - Branle-Bas d'Hochelaga
 
La Dame de Feu / Jamye La Luna - Branle-Bas d'Hochelaga by David Wong, on Flickr

The Pride of Life by Adam Bonn, on Flickr
 
X-Pro2 and XF23/F1.4
 
She seemed so flattered to be photographed!

X-E2 + 23f2

T2 + 23
 
DSCF9516 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon 56/1.2
 
DSCF5522 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr
 
DSCF5504 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr
 
DSCF5477 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon 23/1.4
 
DSCF6790 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

T2 + 56
 
DSCF6718 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

Hi folks,
 
The sunrise did not reach its highest point yet. It was 5:45 AM in the morning and I was already inside the photo hide, where I was waiting for the raptors to come down. I looked up to the dark blue sky and saw a big venue of vultures coming down. Soon, Griffon vultures and Black vultures arrived and start fighting for carrion. The Crepuscular rays didn’t cover the land yet and the dark vulture shapes were dancing in the darkness.
 
Behind the rocks a red fox appeared timidly, observing the vultures and looking for some carrion to catch. As soon as I saw the fox, all my interest was instantly focused on him. Watching a wildlife documentary is probably the closest experience to being hidden inside of a photo hide while wild animals are behaving in their own habitat.
 
You can continue reading my new article in the following link: Scavengers shooting session with the XF100-400mm
 
Don't forget to follow my work on my site: www.josecarpin.com
 
I would like to show you some of the best pictures of the article. Please, read it and leave a comment.
 
Thank you!
 
Fujifilm XT-1 + XF16mm f1.4 – ISO400 f5.6 1/12seg
 

 
Fujifilm XT-1 + f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR– ISO200 100mm f5.6 1/9seg
 

 
Griffon vulture – Fujifilm XT-1 + f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR– ISO400 400mm f5.6 1/180seg
 

 
Red Fox – Fujifilm XT-1 + f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR– ISO800 400mm f5.6 1/30seg
 

 
Red kite – Fujifilm XT-1 + f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR– ISO1600 372.6mm f5.6 1/2000seg
 

 
Black kite – Fujifilm XT-1 + f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR– ISO400 400mm f5.6 1/300seg
 

T2 + Helios 40-2
 
DSCF6847 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr
 
DSCF4360 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

T2 + 56
 
DSCF6621 by Kirill Sokolov, on Flickr

Few shots from todays early morning.
 
Sunrise @Viru Bog, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T2 + 18/2
 
Sunrise @Viru Bog, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T2 + 50-140/2,8
 
Sunrise @Viru Bog, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T2 + 14/2,8
 
Sunrise @Viru Bog, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T2 + 50-140/2,8
 
Sunrise @Viru Bog, Estonia by Hendrik Osula, on Flickr
 
X-T2 + 35/1,4
 
All photos edited with Aurora HDR 2017 and LR CC.