Technical Notes: Field Testing the Fujifilm GFX100S in the American Southwest

Practical insights and notes gained from the field
What do you bring on a shoot when you only have three days? How do you approach photographing places that have been captured countless times, yet are brand new to you?
For me, it starts with asking questions: What do I want to see? What time should we go there? What do I want to have with me to express what I might see?
Shooting in Sedona’s iconic red rock country, I focused less on recreating familiar shots and more on finding my perspective. I let the camera become a tool for exploration—helping me capture not just what I saw, but how it felt to experience these landscapes for the first time.

Gear Selection and Management
The Lens Lineup
Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5
The workhorse of the trip. Perfect for Sedona’s open vistas and the Grand Canyon’s sprawling expanse. It delivered tack-sharp images that held up even with heavy cropping.  It also delivered wonderful panoramas.

Canon 20mm Tilt-Shift Adapted for the GFX100S
This lens le...