GF20-35mm: Cityscape x Daisuke Fujimura

Impressions on the GF20-35mm

As a photographer who mainly shoots urban landscapes, I often struggle with the positioning of my subjects in the field. There are various restrictions in cities, and there are times when I must compromise even when I am almost there! This is especially the case in architectural photography, which requires exquisite balance and composition. It was indescribably humiliating to compromise on the size of the photo by going wider and wider.

It has been 5 years since I started to use the GFX. I used every GFX cameras, including GFX 50S、GFX 50R、GFX100、GFX100S、and GFX50S II.

Why am I so fascinated by them?

That’s because it has the honey-sweet allure of the large format. However, such a fascinating body is useless without the “eye” in the form of a lens. After five years of waiting, I took the long-awaited “eye” with me and headed out to shoot. Then, using the wide-angle zoom for the first time on the GFX, I challenged myself to shoot in a location where the positioning was difficult.

The view from the airplane window always fascinates my traveler’s mind. I wonder what kind of human drama lies in the cityscape below us.
Arriving to Nagasaki.

Near Nagasaki Airport, there is a glass beach made from waste glass. Very beautiful. Grains of about 2~3 mm in diameter were bathed in sunlight and shined in numerous shades of colors.
When I took a close-up photo at the minimum shooting range, the blur of the glass in the background was also beautiful.

Nagasaki is one of the most scenic areas in Japan. In particular, Tatoubi of Kujuku-ku-shima. Islands seen from the observatory are like treasures scattered from a jewel box. I attached an 82mm diameter filter and used an ND filter for long exposure photography.

It is reassuring to know that filters can be attached. When you want to use slow shutter speeds in the daytime, ND filters are indispensable. This is a narrow water channel, and whirlpools occasionally appear when there is a large difference in tidal range, however, I was able to capture a heart-shaped whirlpool in this photo. I positioned myself by moving my tripod in increments of several centimeters to get the right position. The zoom lens is a powerful ally in this kind of situation.

The head of the Peace Park, which is visited by many tourists. The so-called “local cats” are well accustomed to people and do not seem to run away at all when approached. This is a close-up shot, which is possible only with a wide-angle zoom lens that is compact and highly mobile. You can see how clearly each strand of fur has been resolved.

Famous as the first stone bridge in Japan to be designated as a national important cultural property, Isahaya’s Megane Bridge has a dignified appearance and provides an unforgettable sense of history.

The bowl-shaped landscape with a sense of depth and the presence of hills that can be overlooked at pleasant angles are characteristics of Nagasaki. There are several viewing & photographing points around the bay, but these are my two favorites. The undulating hills, which are said to have reduced the power and damage of the atomic bomb explosion, are now world-renowned as one of the best places to view the city at night.

A city of streetcars, which are now rarely seen. The highlights of the glowing train tracks are beautiful. Halation and ghosting can be a problem when shooting night scenes, but the GF20-35mm has absolutely no such concerns. There is almost no distortion, so it is also convenient for architectural photography.

When returning from Nagasaki, I shot a night scene in Yokohama, also a port city. The clear rendering brings out the full appeal of the GFX. The role of the lens is to bring together these features in a comprehensive manner: high resolution, deep tones, and beautiful colors. The GF20-35mm is a lens that brings out the best of the GFX100S.

The strength of the GFX is enhanced overall by the quality of the lenses. The GF20-35mm will be one of the top major lenses for the GFX. You will understand its superiority once you use it. My advice to all GFX users. This lens will improve the quality of your work in almost all genres. I am convinced that it is an absolute must-have lens.