guest post by Stephane Domingues (being30yo.com)
Introduction
My name is Stephane Domingues from Paris (France) and I have been reading your blog for years and, today, I hope I can contribute to it! I would like to share with you a project on which I am currently working on with my Fujifilm X-T1: “Being 30 years old in the world”: Is it the same thing to be a 30 YO in France, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Peru or Australia?
In June 2014, my wife (Anne Hangouet, 30yo) and I (Stephane Domingues, 30yo) started, a 14 months round the world trip throughout the 5 continents.
Idea behind the project
Travelling around the world has always been one of my dreams… but I did not want to just travel… I needed a purpose… I think that the 30s are a very important age in my society (France) and I wanted to know how people, that are around my age, live across the world.
Our purpose is to decode what being a 30 year-old in different countries in the world means. Trying to understand common and specific features of one single generation around the world.
What are the similarities in our generation? How do nationality, culture, living environment… Define our own identity? How do we live as a 30-YO? What is everyday life made of? What are our values? How do we analyze our past?
What are the major striking events in our lives and in our societies? What vision do we have of the future? What are our hopes and our fears?
And to reach that purpose, we meet random human beings… aged between 29 and 35 years old and share a slice of their life…
Every portrait is made of 2 sections:
– Interview that includes topics such as Past, Future, Striking Events, 30’s
– Photographs: Portraits, Everyday life, Home, Eating, Important Objects,, Favorite spot, Work…
Here is the link to my website and all the portraits published so far: being30yo.com
And here is an example of a portrait.
Why switch to Fuji
I used to have a Nikon D300s, but I wanted to change it for 2 main reasons :
1) Weight and size
2) Too “impressive” for people, not as intimate I would say
So I looked at the options… I did not want to compromise on quality of pics and lenses…
I contemplated 3 options : Fuji, Olympus, and Sony.
Sony was ruled out pretty quickly because they don’t have enough lenses…
Choice was harder with Oly…
But here are the 3 main reasons why I choose the Fujifilm X-T1 (with 18-55mm, 23mm, 56mm and 55-200mm)
1) Quality of lenses and focal lengths were perfect for my project : I really enjoy the 56mm and the 23mm, fast and sharp
2) IQ
3) I have always worked with 2/3 format and don’t really like 4/3
I have to admit that I am more than satisfied with this amazing camera and these amazing lenses!
Don’t hesitate to contact me for any question using the contact form on my website, being30yo.com.
Regards,
Stéphane
16 Responses
amazing project, thanks for sharing.
Brilliant idea, nicely executed. Love your site too.
I had no doubts that you, as a passionate traveller, you would have appreciated this project 😉
love your shots & video from your travels !
Thanks, appreciate it. I am just constantly amazed how creative people are and bit jealous I haven’t though about something like this first LOL. Good on Stephane.
Very nice idea for a project. My fiancé and I are both 30 – feel free to pay us a visit! 😉
I’ll stand in the queue for the project 😉
Dammit kids, you make me feel old 🙂
It depends on how you count! This year I’ll celebrate my 30th birthday for the 14th time 🙂
“Being perpetually 30 years old”, great theme for a project! 🙂
Brillaint Project, I will be following to see how it all comes together.
V.
Nice project 🙂
Sorry, but these photo’s are really bad………….. JOKING,!!
They great! and all the best on your journey, I did one about 6yrs ago and it really is something unique and special that I think everyone should do at least once.
Happy photoing!
On a different note, it appears that the organic sensor is nearly ready, as Panasonic is apparently going to introduce a new camera at NAB 2015 with dynamic range greater than the D810, which is not possible for m43 with a typical CMOS sensor. Thus, the long wait for the X-Pro 2 is likely for the organic sensor, which makes sense and is in line with what Fuji claimed – they were waiting for a breakthrough in technology to release it
If so, the X-Pro 2 and future X-Series cameras will render the current full frame offerings unnecessary unless you need even shallower depth of field.
For the m43 Panasonic camera, they are claiming 16 EV of dynamic range and clean files up to ISO 12000. Thus, for APS-C, the performance will be even better. The only question mark is resolution – will Fuji use the X-Trans colour filter.
I hope this is true, as it will result in a huge increase in image quality for the next generation X-Series cameras. With Fuji’s beautiful, high-quality lenses and camera designs, the X-Series cameras will be fantastic.
Yes, a very different note…
Why don’t you greet your co-workers in the Fuji marketing department from us. We’d all appreciate that organic sensor and Fuji should know that by now. No need for advertising, GAS is on it’s way 😉
No, I am not in marketing, and I have no relations with Fuji…I am just a X-Pro 1 user who is looking forward to the X-Pro 2.
Well the pictures are nice and everything, but did you not shoot any 30 year-old brick walls or test charts? And could you please provide a few 100% crops? Thanks!
On a more serious note: very nice pictures. It looks like you really engaged with most of your subjects which is the key to good portraits. And I like how you stick to one framing and processing style but still manage to make the images look individual.
Keep it going, will follow you on FB.