I recently swapped from high grade Sony gear to shooting Fujifilm. The numerous technical reasons (film simulations, weight, size, budget) weighed in on my decision. Many of my photographer friends thought I had gone mad. The keystone to my decision though was community. Fuji has provided me a solid online community.
I still yearn for a more physical connection here in Jacksonville, Florida. A place where creatives can bounce off each other and converse.
Enters RadX and Space 42.
Space 42 is in a dilapidated industrial part of town. The gallery itself is housed in a warehouse, covered in years of character and wear. I pull right to the entrance because of the fear of my bike being easily picked up and taken. A group of strangers are met with welcoming introductions and provide a reassurance I was fine where I had parked.
RadX Magazine had assembled numerous artists, singers, photographers into one space. This is the friendliest place of creatives I’ve witnessed the past few years. My next few hours are filled with friendly interactions with some people I can truly vibe with. The exact energy and community I’ve been searching for is here.
My XPro3 broke immediately after buying one, so I shot the entire event with my small X-T20 and 35 1.4. The warehouse was barely lit besides the harsh lights against the wall to showcase the art. My entire documentation is more abstract, filled with mysterious silhouettes.
Any hesitations I had from swapping to Fuji have dissipated after this event. The system works just fine for the kind of lowlight work I perform. More importantly, shooting is way more fun and interactive than it had been shooting Sony. Sony cameras work hard, and they handle everything for you. I just always felt more separated from the event than in it though.
Below are the links to the artists I met that are being showcased. Also, check out RadX and Space 42’s websites. Especially if you’re located in NE Florida and Jacksonville.
