Umbra
GFX Challenge Grant Program 2022 Regional Grant Award recipient Elizabeth Moreno illuminates eyesight impairment in Mexico using the country’s bright, barren landscape
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/220 sec at F4, ISO 800
For Elizabeth Moreno, a visual storyteller in Baja California Sur, Mexico, sight is a critical sense through which she expresses herself. She has worked photographing the lives of individuals living in the sierras and coastal areas of her homeland.
Her latest project, Umbra, for which she received the FUJIFILM GFX Challenge Grant Program 2022 Regional Grant Award, shines light upon the darkness of those who risk losing their sight or have already lost it.
Elizabeth begins by telling us about her past, and where she has come from. It’s an impressive tale of documenting the world around her, ensuring that those who may not usually find attention are preserved in a world of photographs.
“I’ve been working in the rural area of the Baja California Peninsula for about ten years now, mainly documenting daily life,” she says from her home in La Paz. “People who live in these very small communities are isolated in the sierras, in the mountains or the desert.”
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/220 sec at F4, ISO 800
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF110mmF2 R LM WR, 1/220 sec at F11, ISO 500
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF110mmF2 R LM WR, 1/220 sec at F11, ISO 500
Elizabeth began to notice an affliction affecting many of the residents in the area during her time working – their eyesight was failing.
“There were a lot of issues with their eyesight, even at a young age. People who are working outdoors most of their lives are exposed to ten times more UV rays than those who work in an office,” she explains. “The higher exposure comes from the sun, and we have some of the sunniest places on Earth.”
While those of us who spend most of our time indoors see extra sunshine as something positive, those subjected to too much can begin to see adverse effects.
“Umbra aims to document this issue in the context of the desert, the weather, and other environmental conditions of people living in the region,” she explains.
As a visual creator and photographer, Elizabeth’s natural inclination was to make photographs. With FUJIFILM GFX100S, she set out to document and bring awareness to the eyesight issues plaguing people living in some of Mexico’s most isolated regions.
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF110mmF2 R LM WR, 1/140 sec at F2.8, ISO 800
Elizabeth reveals the driving force behind her project is not just a passion for photography, but also a passion for people.
“I have a strong social commitment,” she explains. “I really like photographing and being with people. Before I make the photos, there is a lot of time spent creating the proper atmosphere so that they trust me and are comfortable with making a portrait. I don’t feel comfortable arriving at a place and starting to create; I like to go through a longer process of getting to know the people I’m working with.”
For Umbra, half of Elizabeth’s photographs showcase close-up portraits of her subjects. Many of the selected photos only go as far as highlighting the subject’s eyes – an extremely personal view, opening a window into the soul.
Elizabeth explains that such up-close creation was “a bit tricky”, and she didn’t want to “perturb” her subjects during the process. She used GFX100S paired with FUJINON GF110mmF2 R LM WR for these images.
“The depth-of-field was very, very shallow,” she explains. “If I moved one millimeter, it was out of focus. I created it all using a tripod.”
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF110mmF2 R LM WR, 1/140 sec at F2.8, ISO 800
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/400 sec at F8, ISO 400
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/400 sec at F8, ISO 400
When asked if she feels utilizing GFX System helped make her project stand out, Elizabeth smiles, agreeing. “The resolution is just incredible, and the optics are amazing. One of the eye portraits was cropped, one is a crop and enlarge, and they worked well – no clarity was lost.”
Elizabeth’s project places just as much emphasis on the landscapes as the people living within the deserts and mountains therein. Many of these images have been made in black & white – a creative decision that was crucial to Elizabeth.
“I was looking to portray the very bright environment, so was creating at almost midday. Making landscapes at that time was challenging because it’s the worst light, but with GFX100S I was able to document everything – it has so much depth in the shadows. Then, I started experimenting with the shadows, rocks, and trees.
“Trees, to me, represent life here in the desert,” she says. “Black & white has always been part of my photographic language; I keep coming back to it. I think it worked, but I was a little afraid to combine color portraits with black & white landscapes.”
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF45mmF2.8 R WR, 1/640 sec at F11, ISO 400
One photograph showcases a tree stretching toward the heavens, with a light sky and dark ground. While it would be easy to assume Elizabeth has adjusted the shadows or used a masking technique to get such an effect, she informs us that Fujifilm’s Film Simulation modes helped her obtain the precise look she’s seeking.
“I mainly used the ACROS Film Simulation when creating in black & white. For some, I used ACROS+Red to simulate a red filter; for others, I used the standard ACROS. For the color photographs, I used PROVIA to obtain the right look.”
Elizabeth’s familiarity with Film Simulations comes from her experience with FUJIFILM X Series – specifically FUJIFILM X-E4, which she loves.
“When I became a mom, I wanted to have a small camera so I didn’t have to keep carrying my DSLR. I bought X-E4 and liked it. The optics are just amazing. So, I was used to the different settings, and when documenting in black & white, I normally choose ACROS.”
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF45mmF2.8 R WR, 1/640 sec at F11, ISO 400
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/160 sec at F8, ISO 100
Photo 2023 © Elizabeth Moreno | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1/160 sec at F8, ISO 100
Elizabeth concludes by revealing plans to exhibit in the future. Her mission is to share the plight of people suffering from eye conditions in rural areas and, through said actions, find a solution for such an isolated region.
For Umbra, Elizabeth shares the final words: “This is the first step.”
To explore more of Elizabeth’s work, visit her website or Instagram. Learn more about FUJIFILM GFX100S and read the full specifications here.
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