Finding Soul at the Heart of it All

4 minute read

Finding Soul at the Heart of it All

Ben Chrisman talks about his unique style of wedding photography and explains why FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR is the lens he has been waiting for

“My main intention when photographing a wedding is not to make it look perfect, but to make it look real, with a soul to it. I want to dig a little bit more,” says Ben, a photojournalist with years of experience, who has always craved the excitement of being immersed in the story.

“I’m more interested in other people than myself, so wanting to be in the middle of it all is second nature,” he continues.

Ben likes to achieve this by using prime lenses to force himself to move. He believes that zooms can make a photographer less likely to get involved with events they are documenting. Prime lenses, on the other hand – especially wide-angle primes – leave no choice but to chase the perfect image.

“I carry four FUJIFILM camera bodies on me, each fitted with a prime lens, which is more than most people,” he smiles.

Indeed, many photographers might carry two camera bodies at most, some even just one, but Ben’s choice is very prescribed. “I knew I didn’t want to be a traditional wedding photographer, so I made lens choices to make sure I wasn’t. When you give someone a zoom, it’s very easy to be lazy. You can just rack in and rack out, you don’t move, you stop thinking – I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to force myself to get close, so I chose lenses that forced me to do that,” he reveals.

Ben carries XF18mmF2 R, XF23mmF1.4 R, XF35mmF1.4 R and XF56mmF1.2 R. And, although many wedding photographers like the option of a longer focal length, he prefers the unique perspective you can achieve when getting in closer. “XF23mm with its 35mm equivalent focal length is like a workhorse – it’s very documentary, it shows exactly what it is. Whereas with XF18mm’s 28mm equivalent, you have to get closer, so it forces you to tell a story,” he explains.

It’s for this reason that Ben was so happy to hear about XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR. Being a photographer who mostly creates at ultra-wide apertures, his XF18mmF2 didn’t necessarily get maximum use. But now there is an option with an F1.4 setting, he is excited about the opportunities it presents.

“Having an F1.4 version is everything to me, because I photograph at F1.4 for almost every picture. And the cool thing about Fujifilm is that if you use F1.4, you know it’s going to be dead sharp,” he tells us.

Ben has been using XF18mmF1.4 to document his everyday experiences, illustrating the versatility of a lens offering such high performance. XF18mmF1.4’s high-quality optics offer outstanding resolution, with edge-to-edge clarity, even wide open. Its autofocus is driven by a linear motor for near-silent precision, and the aperture ring provides absolute control. All of this comes in a highly portable package to create a lens that is perfect for carrying anywhere.

“In the short time I’ve had the lens, I’ve made images of weddings, the birthday party of a friend’s one-year-old, my daughter running around. Basically, anything that got in my way, I was trying to make a picture of, trying to push the lens to the extreme to show people what it can do,” says Ben.

However, for Ben, photography is so much more than just camera specifications and images. For him, it’s all about soul. “When I pick up my FUJIFILM cameras, I want to take pictures. I feel like a photographer again, instead of just holding a computer with a lens on it,” he explains.

“I feel like there are two different types of photographer: the process photographer and the results photographer,” he continues. “The results photographer just wants to get the best results and doesn’t care about the act. Whereas the process photographer enjoys the method of making the images.

“I’m a process photographer. I like being behind the camera way more than being in front of the computer, so my FUJIFILM is a process camera to me.”

It’s for this reason that when Ben combines XF18mmF1.4 with his X-Pro3, he is in his element. The lens forces him to get closer, and the camera – with its hidden LCD touchscreen and hybrid viewfinder – allows a more considered approach. Perfect for everything from special everyday moments, to professional wedding projects.

“I’m really happy I now have something that has the F1.4 aperture, but is still small enough to carry around every day,” he concludes. “It allows me to get messy a little bit – and I like to get messy in my photography.”

Watch our exclusive, behind-the-scenes video and discover how Ben used XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR to create these awesome images!

FUJINON XF18mmF1.4 R LM WR is coming soon to your nearest FUJIFILM Authorized Dealer. Learn more and read the full specifications here.


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