Old Vegas with an Old Fujifilm

Let's go explore downtown Las Vegas at 4:40am. That's a good idea, right?
Camera used: no links exist, lol. It's old.
All images are edited raw using the Provia color profile. Highlights were reduced to control the overexposure of the neon. The vibrance was boosted a bit for flavor.
Filmed on:
bhpho.to/3PgEQxd
and
bhpho.to/46v14Cf
First time here? Hi, I'm Omar Gonzalez, a professional portrait and event photographer in the NYC/NJ area. On this channel, we talk cameras, lenses, and techniques to improve our photography.
My business:
www.omargonzalezphotography.com
Social Follow/Contact me
Instagram: ogonzilla
ogonzilla
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#fujifilm

[@Lee35355]

I love that not every video needs to be 30+ minutes long. Fantastic little glimpse into early morning Vegas! Great photos, too!

[@RevHengSure]

Really enjoyed this brief photo stroll essay that combines love for an aging but entirely useful piece of photographic gear with excellent stills and video clips of an urban landscape that few folks will experience, combined with your affectionate commentary. To my mind, this is the best use of cameras and the internet - - citizen journalism - - preserving a slice of Americana using tools that we can afford, and adding Omar's artistic vision. Your stroll along the no-man's-land of a New Jersey roadway was another example of this contemporary American genre: urban grunge photography. More of this, please!

[@cotswoldphotographers]

Really enjoyable and a very good reminder that we really don’t need shiny and new a majority of time 😀

[@4WHEELBIKER]

I’m still rockin’ my X-E2 as well. Luv it !

[@kellyeasler]

Love, love, love this! Really love all those old signs! Thank you!!

[@blueridge8992]

V for Vegas, V for Velvia. That’s how I remember the best film simulation for neon signs!

[@matthieuzglurg6015]

The X-Trans II cameras are such weird little guys. Fujifilm hit a home run with the X-Trans 1 sensor, then decided to do something completely different with their second generation when it comes to color science, it's a lot warmer and renders greens and reds differently. It really has a look to it. Then they never did that again, they got right back to the X-Trans 1 colors with the X-Trans III (not quite there yet but close), then went the sterile way (like Sony does, clean files without much personality) with the X-Trans IV and newer. We'll never see something like the X-Trans II again and it makes it that much harder to get rid of any of those cameras. I've had an X-T1 for a few years, it's a wonderful camera. I thought I'd sell it the moment I got an X100S (which has the same X-Trans II sensor) and then... I couldn't do it ! It's still on my shelf and the X100S just made me use the X-T1 just that little more :D (PS : when I speak about color science and rendering I speak about the RAW files only. X-Trans IV RAW files are very sterile but thankfully they have kept the very bright, organic and vivid rendition in their JPEGs simulations)

[@johnstinchcombe1811]

Totally agree with your observations re colour science and rendering. The X-E2 certainly punches above its weight from an image quality and overall aesthetic pov!

[@Boogie.702]

I’m from Vegas and love photographing Downtown LV more than the South end honestly

[@antonhei2443]

Fun video! I still use my X-E2 with the 18mm F2 for just walking down the street and taking a few shots before making a coffee stop 😊📷

[@traceybartlam7737]

Sounds perfect

[@el0blaino]

Great pictures - and video! Clear, colorful, lively images of interesting subjects. The shots at the El Cortez Hotel, especially at the end of the video, really looked good to me - all that closing montage did, honestly.

[@QuicknStraight]

X-E1, X-E2, X-E2s were all great cameras and still produce great images.

[@alanjedwards]

Still have my XE2 thanks to you. 18mm F2 (slow!!!) and the plastic 35mm F2. A fun little camera for still subjects 😅

[@abchappell01]

That was a very well done video presentation of historic Las Vegas neon entertainment! 😊

[@SaxonSuccess]

You make this photography thing look so easy... Thanks, Omar!!

[@WestonWoodfin]

I love my X-E2. The thing just has such a special quality about it. The colors are always just so lovely.

[@RyanTroy]

Great video! I wish it lasted longer lol. It was nice finally getting to meet you! Hopefully next year you come out again and we can hang out!

[@johnstinchcombe1811]

Hi Omar, I really enjoyed your video. I’ve attended over 15 conferences in Las Vegas and only got glimpses of the old, somewhat grungy parts of town and so, many thanks for sharing. Also, as a X-E2 owner, I’m pleased to see other fans of this old-but-great tech. I really enjoy using that camera - perfectly weighted and with excellent manual controls. Keep up the great work and enjoy Las Vegas!

[@Yassqueen3000]

Oh nice I lived around there for a while, it's interesting to see how other people view what others see on a daily basis. Great colors and compositions, I've been watching your vids here and there for years now and it's nice to see how your style has grown!

[@SaxonSuccess]

Yes, exactly that!!

[@SteveMcClanahan]

I love to photography that part of Vegas but you are right - it's gritty!

[@bastian.michel]

You are so likable.

[@jbtubman]

Nice to see you taking pictures for the pure personal joy of it. Great choice of subject matter. How was the conference? Any plans for a video about it?

[@gordgallagher1650]

Omar, I love your photos of the old motels. Reminds me of my childhood. Something magical about them, their history and the stories they could tell. Certainly more interesting to photograph than shiny new chrome towers. Gord

[@rick-deckard]

John branch called tourist 😂

[@traceybartlam7737]

Such a photogenic place!

[@manekinder]

Great colors! I'm kinda getting tired seeing all those X100VI shots that all use the classic neg film sim.

[@photographyforthefofit]

Fun video. Love the colors in the photos and video as well.

[@MehdiMahjoubi]

@2:51 i am 45, i can't blame coffee anymore, but you do Omar :D I also adjust EVF Diopter every month... hhhhhhhh

[@bigheadtaco]

Dude, I was there too, but was busy. We should have hung out. We did a photowalk in the old part of Vegas, but at night.

[@ogonzilla]

Oh no! I bet you saw more risque stuff! lol

[@crimlarksSteve]

Nice video Omar. Downtown Vegas has such a cool vibe, and the X-E2 is a perfect choice for getting great snaps.

[@cbimage]

Cool video, Omar, thanks. I'd like to have been up at 0400 in that weather, with that light. Except that Las Vegas fills me with horror :-)

[@boblab8097]

Lovely video! Made my day. And the music is a perfect match to the content. I was never a big fan of Vegas. Turns out I was just in the wrong part of town.

[@elcano091]

Was nice meeting you. Love the videos, keep it up.

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

Beautiful images, thanks for getting up early for us !!

[@Argolich]

Ahh...the XE2! Another awesome Fuji camera that is nigh on impossible to find for sale anywhere! ;-). A fun video! Vegas is a fun place to shoot and you found the right pre-dawn to avoid the crowds.

[@alonzowigfall190]

I love WPPI. My first visit to Vega's was to attend it. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!

[@JoeLopez]

I love these! What a beautiful place to shoot. The vintage architecture and signage!

[@nancycutler5561]

You should do a photo book of old Vegas. I would buy it.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

This was a fun time! Great seeing you last week!

[@ogonzilla]

Same!!

[@thomasfransson]

Those places! Thanks for sharing Omar

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you Omar!

[@lucannon]

Stunning Photographs!

[@BenvonMomenteDeinerGeschichte]

Damned, I ❤ your videos! They always bringt me in such a good mood, thx for that and greetz from germany 🤗

[@snappy8k]

What white balance did you use? Minimum shutter speed depends on a focal length, so if you use 27mm it means you can get a decently sharp photo with at least 1/30th.

[@jaspervos4345]

What a location! Really jealous, as my country (NL) is too organized to have those quirky areas

[@puertoricoapie]

Omar, Hello from Arecibo, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

[@bunmeng007]

Hey Omar. Plz have more of this kind of video

[@JamieFurlong]

I've been spending quite a bit of time with my XE2S lately (I mainly shoot full-frame). It's a joy to use. If nothing else it's proof that you don't need to spend $$$ on the latest gear (you know which camera I'm talking about) cos I picked mine up for $300. Think of all that cash saved to buy lots of lovely glass!

[@mountkeen8701]

I still use my X-E2s and 27mm f2.8. A great combo. You got some great shots

[@brianode11]

Nice! Love my XE2 & 27 2.8

[@snarkyguy]

This was pretty cool.

[@GamerNxUSN]

I have the X-E3 and the 27mm. Great combo

[@VinceWatches]

No need of MKVI to achieve great pics, I use very often X100 original and X10 with pleasure for street photography. Excellent video.

[@fustigate314159]

@3:21 The last time I was in Vegas was over four years ago. I swear that neon was burnt out/broken then, too, and spelled "WE HOT"!

[@lukasbenjamin_]

Cool video Omar!

[@a.m.2368]

Great video!

[@frank1022]

Great pictures with a great little 📷 camera, with the 27mm pancake lens a fantastic combo! It's my NOIR street photography camera for a reason!! Enjoying your images of the old style hotel signs and their quirky colors 👍🏻

[@KingFiercer_zip]

A historical Voigtlander might be perfect for this camera

[@cmdredstrakerofshado1159]

Omar please it's Lost Wages 🤣😉. Glad to see 👀 your still having fun and good results with Fuji film Cameras. Unfortunately for me Fuji sad legendary lack of manufacturing quality control bit me bad with a nightmare experience with a XT 20. With less than 1000 shutter activations, the shutter button went bad and i had a horrible experience with Fuji's mafia ran warranty center in NJ 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻. They sent me "refurbished" XT20 that was a even bigger pile of 💩💩💩💩than my original XT20. I was going to get a XT4 as a upgrade but totally lost faith in Fuji after the XT20 debacle. I sold my XT20 four lenses and flash to MPB when the came to US for good money + some gift money and bought a like new Sony a6600 and some lenses and loving the new system. Glad your having a good time in Lost Wages and with you fuji film Cameras 😉

[@Boxelder1]

Thanks!

[@ogonzilla]

Coffee time. Thank you

[@1BigBucks1]

Prime examples of Googie style

[@philcampbell5827]

Only been to Vegas once, but checking out old Vegas, was certainly a highlight of the trip. Some great pics Omar...love how you've gone old school with your picture taker!!

[@cameraman655]

‘Lost Wages’ was so much more fun when the….cough…cough…”Mob” ran it.😂

[@SIQmai]

Love this. And love old Fujis. The real gems ❤️

[@daymonpearcey8468]

What a cool morning walk. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@daviddeflandre5377]

🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@dan.allen.digital]

There go the used prices on another Fuji camera I've been trying to buy😂

[@x100ed]

Niiiice

[@timrosenthal46]

Nice ... you should hook up with Ted Vieira while you're there, he's a Fuji guy as well.

[@user-cw4bs8ub2b]

Great photo’s, love the colors!

[@TheOldVeganDude]

Omar! Another inspirational direct hit. Well done. Thanks for posting those outstanding photographs.

[@mikecastles]

Sweet but you needed a film camera and some C-41 film to really pull it off.

[@ArmandSalmon]

Enjoyed this format video. Good balance of location video, photos and commentary. 👍🏼

[@irwinseidman5290]

Certainly there is your skill as the photographer but aren't you also demonstrating that the old, out of date, 12y/o cameras can still take pretty good images? Thanks for all of your insight.

[@sbarronmd]

what iso do you feel comfortable with using xe2?

[@irutgers]

Did you try any film simulations??

[@TylerAldrich]

X-trans II is still the best

[@Twcoleman1]

Hotel at Navarre beach

[@fotografi4fun]

Great one Omar. Love my X-E2s as well. Looking forward to some warmer weather soon (up here in Norway) 😊

[@istvann.huszar420]

I don't understand why you shoot in aperture priority along with so many others. What's wrong with setting the shutter speed? Or even both the shutter speed and the aperture, and let the camera choose your ISO? I'm genuinely curious.

[@gobgobcachoo]

lol. Don't overthink it.

[@istvann.huszar420]

Aperture priority seems to be the default among KZbinrs photographing street, and I don’t understand why it’s so popular. For me, depth of field is the fifth consideration after composition, exposure, focus, and the reciprocal rule. Why is aperture so popular, especially with wide-angle lenses?

[@gobgobcachoo]

@@istvann.huszar420 it just is. It's not "the KZbinrs" ... It's most, if not all working pros. There are videos about why. it doesn't really matter. Do what works for you. If you still need to know, Google it.

[@luispacheco9683]

Very nice indeed. Thanks Omar.

[@stepsoflife]

You have a good eye, sir! Superb photos!

[@kbstabs5982]

Really enjoyed this, Omar. Love using older tech myself at the moment. Currently X-T20 with TTArtisan 25mm F2 and also following the grunge. That lens is so good. OK, its manual but that's part of the appeal and costs less than 15% of the price of a Fujinon 23mm f2.

[@EdgarGarcia81]

Great shots!! I saw you at WPPI, but didn't want interrupt you to say Hi. I did tell my wife " oh look, there's Omar!!!" To which she gave me a weird look, because she has no idea who I watch on KZbin lol

[@ogonzilla]

Next time!

[@DanFarrar]

Nice pics Omar!

[@kristianguzman3243]

xtrans 2 colors

[@TungstenOvergaard]

Made in Japan, that worths a lot nowadays!

[@anatolstepanets6855]

Fotos from X-A5 are better, because the Bayer-Sensors are much sharper as the X-Trans sensors! Greetings from Germany!

[@MrRafalEn]

Sharpness is overrated. Every current gear gives plenty sharp images. X-Trans is better as it gives more organic feel to the images, closer to the old analog days when sharpness wasn't the most important thing but art, light, subject and composition were.

[@pifilos]

I literally had to check which year it is but oh well, 2024 and we still read such statements.

[@ofthenearfuture]

But the X-A7 is newer! And better! Why not recommend that instead?! Frankly in the vast majority of cases, especially outside of professional work, sharpness doesn't really matter. And to think it does to Omar, when he is specifically using an old X-E2 and the OG 27 in this case, is kind of hilarious.

[@warrenbutler7747]

Great video...gotta say the images look amazing especially the colours they are beautiful!! 👍🙂