Appreciating the Bigger Picture

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Photo © Dinesh Boaz

5 minute read

Appreciating the Bigger Picture

Aerial photographer, Dinesh Boaz, takes to the skies above New York City with FUJIFILM X-S10, FUJINON XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR and XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR to tell a story of hope in the middle of a crisis

When telling a story, sometimes it pays to take a step back and look at the situation in a broader context. Doing so can completely change the way it makes your audience feel. The details that once seemed important fade away and the focus instead shifts to the bigger picture. In this case, that is a picture of hope: the story of one of the world’s greatest cities overcoming one of the world’s greatest crises.

Photographer and videographer, Dinesh Boaz, built his reputation making aerial images of New York City, so when he was given X-S10 in these challenging times, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. “I was like, I’ve got to go over New York,” Dinesh tells us. “It’s this beautiful place that’s getting beat up this year and there’s been all this sadness. I thought why not get up in the air and go capture how amazing it is?

“When you see it from that view you can forget for a moment that there’s a deadly disease down there and buildings that are empty and businesses closing and people struggling,” he continues.

Dinesh goes on to explain how seeing the city like that gave him the hope he needed during such a tragedy. “Getting this moment over the city was, in a way, very transformative for me. I was like, you know what, we’re going to be okay, we’re going to get through this thing. It’s going to take a long time, but this virus cannot take away what is New York, who I am, and who all these people are.”

FUJIFILM Creator Dinesh Boaz uses X-S10 to make aerial photographs above New York City. Image of Central Park at dusk

Photo © Dinesh Boaz | FUJIFILM X-S10 camera and XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, 1/160 sec at F7.1, ISO 500

As a New Yorker himself, Dinesh has a strong emotional bond with the area featured in this project, but even when he photographs a place he has never been to before, he believes framing it from the air not only provides a unique perspective, but creates a unique connection.

“There’s a million photos on Instagram of every place I’ve been to,” says Dinesh, “but I’m looking to try to tell that story from my own lens and my own view, and I think there’s something special about seeing it from the air.

“So many different elements of the natural world fall into play when making photographs, such as the light, the wind, the rain, and when you go up, they become multiplied because they all have an effect on whether it’s safe to fly,” he continues. “So, I really like that I’m working with the elements constantly and I appreciate that connection with a place a camera can give me.”

FUJIFILM Creator Dinesh Boaz uses X-S10 to make aerial photographs above New York City.

Photo © Dinesh Boaz | FUJIFILM X-S10 camera and XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, 1/160 sec at F13, ISO 800

For such a unique style of photography, Dinesh requires a certain type of camera. “When getting into a helicopter, you want less things to think about, so in a camera I want fast focus, I want good depth of color, and I want good features in terms of basic camera functions,” says Dinesh.

He tells us that FUJIFILM X-S10 with FUJINON XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR and XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR was a great setup, especially using the Velvia Film Simulation mode. Velvia is a digital emulation of the famous FUJICHROME Velvia analog photographic film – renowned for delivering vibrant images with lots of impact.

When this was combined with X-S10’s five-axis in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS), excellent low-light capabilities, and comfortable ergonomics, it made for great results.

“In a lot of cases, I have the pilot circle and then try to get directly over a location, so there’s a lot of movement to deal with, but X-S10 was very stable in those conditions,” Dinesh explains. “I was able to get the shutter speeds down pretty low, to the point where I didn’t feel like I had to compensate too much to try and keep the images crisp. I was using AF-C and wide/tracking mode and really had no issues, everything stayed super stable and sharp.”

FUJIFILM Creator Dinesh Boaz uses X-S10 to make aerial photographs above New York City.

Photo © Dinesh Boaz | FUJIFILM X-S10 camera and XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR lens, 1/160 sec at F4, ISO 800

Dinesh goes on to talk about one of his favorite images from the set and how Velvia helped him achieve it. “There’s an image where the sun’s hitting the East River and Velvia has definitely played a part in giving it this tone that I probably can’t create on my own. So, I think there’s something special that happens with that simulation,” he reveals, “it gives me beautiful color and contrast, straight out of camera.”

When this visual beauty combined with X-S10’s 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, it left Dinesh very impressed, even as an avid user of the larger format GFX system. “Working with Velvia, I was getting the color I’m used to on GFX 100. X-S10 was spot-on in terms of color and quality,” says Dinesh.

FUJIFILM Creator Dinesh Boaz uses X-S10 to make aerial photographs above New York City. Image of the East River reflection the orange colours of the sunset

Photo © Dinesh Boaz | FUJIFILM X-S10 camera and XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR lens, 1/160 sec at F14, ISO 500

With such impressive results, Dinesh tells us he is continuing to use X-S10 alongside his GFX 100 as a second camera. Being both portable and powerful, X-S10 is easy to carry with you, wherever you go to ensure you never miss a moment.

“I think it’s a beautiful camera. It’s easy to use, it’s fast, and it’s lightweight. You don’t realize how powerful it is until you really start shooting,” he says. “I see myself traveling with X-S10 alongside GFX 100.

“It’s a great camera for anyone, from professionals to people who are just getting serious about their photography and want to take it up to that next stage. I can’t wait to see how my images look, online and in print.”

FUJIFILM X-S10 is coming soon to your nearest FUJIFILM Authorized Dealer. Learn more and read the full specifications here.

Find out more about Dinesh’s creative process in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video on his project over New York City!

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Featured Photographer

Dinesh Boaz

Dinesh Boaz creates a dynamic juxtaposition between the natural landscape and our involvement in it. Dinesh explores the world beneath him via helicopters to achieve a ‘top’ down view.

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