Round 5: Self-Portraits closes in

Mio Monasch’s Challenge

Imbue Mio’s deeply personal nature photography tips into an image of your own, for a chance to win a FUJIFILM X-S10 kit!

Creator

Mio Monasch

I got my first camera as a six year old from my grandfather, a reporter and lifetime sailor. He took me sailing, to see the Orcas in the San Juan Islands. After an afternoon spent screaming with delight at the sight of each dorsal fin, I discovered that I had forgotten to put film in the camera. Off to a good start.

Returning to Seattle after 10 years in Colorado, I began to reconnect with wilderness and as I did, I quickly felt inspired to pick up a camera and make my best attempts towards documenting the experience.
As an art form, photography is humbling. Daily perspectives and lessons are immense. From seeking details in the ordinary to attempting to understand the fortunes this planet creates, photography creates a challenge that can never be fully accomplished; and to me, this is the true excitement.

I have been fortunate to work with an array of brands and agencies around the world and hope to continue immersing myself in telling stories focused on impact. At the end of the day, my goal is to help anyone reimagine their perspective on this planet; to appreciate any single element of their day with newfound wonder.

Fujifilm as a company has profoundly changed my ability to create. From the moment I picked up my first X-T2, I felt like technology was no longer between me and the experience in front of me. Whether delighting in the lightweight options of the X-Series for long overnight backcountry trips, or constantly being blown away by the unmatchable quality of the GFX series, these cameras have enabled a process that I didn’t believe to be possible in the camera space.

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Want to get a copy of Mio’s key style points to print out or read offline? Open it here

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For Mio Monasch, nature has been a lifelong passion. From sailing expeditions to camping adventures, his childhood was steeped in the great outdoors. In fact, it was a return to hiking as a young man that sparked his love of image making altogether. Having settled in Seattle, Washington, he remains close to his preferred palette.

He’s discovered countless life lessons in his pursuit of the perfect natural frame, carrying his trusted Fujifilm cameras throughout. Immediately thrilled by his very first X-T2, he found the compact body and intuitive controls stripped away all boundaries between him and his subject. For Mio, enjoying the process is a fundamental part of creating within nature.

Across his eclectic and absorbing work, he leans on three elements more than any other to tell the full story of an environment. Watch Mio’s video above to learn more about his exploration of depth-of-field, love of wildlife, and how living for the experience – not just the end result – can help you walk away with meaningful photographs.

Once you’ve absorbed all his advice, put it into practice and give yourself the chance to win a FUJIFILM X-S10 and XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS WR. Make an image that takes Mio’s wisdom on board, then upload it using the ‘Enter Now’ button below by 11:59PM (EST) on July 31, 2022. You can also download a PDF with a summary of Mio’s advice, which is as follows:

1)     Explore depth-of-field
2)     Include wildlife
3)     Live the moment

Good luck!

Creator

Mio Monasch

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Want to get a copy of Mio’s key style points to print out or read offline? Open it here

Open PDF

This month’s prize

Upload an image that matches Seth’s style, and you could win a FUJIFILM X-S10 body with XF70-300mm Lens! With a powerful spec in a compact 465g body, there’s no better tool for nature photography. Expect rapid and dependable autofocus, high-performance IBIS, and gorgeous colors in-camera. Plus, you can add some moving pictures into your nature repertoire, with professional video features. Finally, XF70-300mm puts all manner of natural wonders within reach.

Read the full Terms and Conditions HERE.