In this blog I will share some of my photography highlights from 2024. Instead of the usual self serving recap nonsense though, I will share the behind the scenes from each shot. I hope this will help you understand the photos more and more importantly learn from them.

Valencia - 10/01/2024

The first photo was taken in the old town of Valencia. It was actually the first photo of the whole trip whilst I was still carrying all my bags. I arrived a little early and the hotel room wasn’t ready, so I resorted to doing laps around the old town with my two bags. This is why I always have one camera ready at all times, as you never know when you will see something. Even though I spent a month in Valencia, this was my favourite and best shot from the trip. It took me a few attempts and around 20-30 minutes of waiting to get the desired subject. I like this image because not only is the light coming from the side, but also there is colour contrast between the subject, architecture, and sky. Having ample natural contrast also helps.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 33mm f1.4 | f2.8 | 1/480 | ISO160*

Shibuya - 12/04/2024

The second keeper didn’t come till nearly 3 months later in Tokyo. In Shibuya, there is a pretty famous grill with a very greasy window. The window adds texture; the blue lighting on the metal pans looks really nice, and from time to time, you will even see the chef going for it with the flames. I’ve walked past this spot countless times, and only once did I see flames. Luckily, I had my camera on me. I like the slightly out-of-focus bike in the foreground as it creates a bit more depth. This is a chaotic scene, but luckily, the flame is so strong that it commands your attention.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 23mm f1.4 | f1.4 | 1/200 | ISO800*

Shibuya Sky - 16/04/2024

Merely a few days after the previous shot, I got what is my favourite photo from 2024. This was taken in Shibuya Sky, a public viewing platform in Tokyo. On a side note, having visited many viewpoints, this was my favourite. In Shibuya Sky, you have two levels: a top outdoor level and an indoor one. On that evening, the wind picked up just as we arrived, and everyone was asked to leave the outdoor bit. When I got indoors, I was faced with a huge issue. The reflections from the glass were horrific. Not only was the glass reflecting the giant TV screens behind, but it also distorted everything outside. To add to the issue, I only had the telephoto lens on me as I assumed I would be shooting outdoors. Having done a few laps of the platform, I couldn’t see anything worthwhile. Then, as I was standing watching Tokyo Tower, I saw a giant orange ball go past on the screen. I then noticed that whenever someone walked behind me, they would get silhouetted in that reflection. Straight away, I had this shot in mind, and having the telephoto lens allowed me to get this with the compression. It took a very long time and a lot of photos, but in the end, I got it.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 90mm f2 | f2 | 1/170 | ISO6400*

Nakano - 11/05/2024

Fast forward one month, and we’re exploring Nakano, a small foodie neighbourhood in Tokyo. Because the area was so small, I ended up doing laps of the same streets and walked past this bun shop at least 3 times. Because there was steam, nothing caught my eye. On the 4th lap, they must have been preparing a fresh batch because the steam was pouring out. I found a nice composition and waited for someone to walk in or out of the steam. A few minutes later, this lady turned up to buy some, and the steam covered her upper body, whilst her legs remained visible. I love photos where people’s faces are hidden or not very clear, so this was right up my street. Although I did try a B&W edit, the colour contrast of the cool interior and warm exterior helped this photo out, I feel.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 23mm f2 | f1.4 | 1/550 | ISO640*

Barbican - 08/06/2024

We are now back home in London, and this was not long after I returned from Japan. I just received my X100VI and wanted to give it a proper go. The first sunny day, and I was out shooting. After what was a very fruitless and bland day of photography, I decided to pop into the Barbican. As I was walking around, I saw this lady waiting for her friend. What caught my eye was the long shadow and natural contrast of the scene. Luckily, she wasn’t moving around too much, so I had plenty of time to get the composition right. At first, I was a bit annoyed by the lamp post on the right, but in hindsight, I think it helps balance the image. Without it, there would be a giant empty space, which would feel odd.

*Fujifilm X100VI | 23mm f2 | f6 | 1/340 | ISO500*

Soho NYC - 25/06/2024

The next trip was to New York, as it’s even 5 years since I visited in the summer. Having previously visited in the winter twice, I found summer to be much better for photography and just being there. This was taken a few days into the trip, which made me chill out a little. Typically, I can get anxious if I get nothing decent in the first few days of a trip. I was doing loops in Soho waiting for my mate when I spotted this giant yellow truck parked up. I am drawn to colour, so I had to go closer and investigate. I knew I wanted to get a silhouette; however, I included the red cabin and some foreground to give the image a few more elements rather than just a silhouette and a yellow background. I waited for around 5 minutes to get a subject I was happy with.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 35mm | f4 | 1/200 | ISO800*

Downtown NYC - 01/07/2024

This photo was taken on a day where I really couldn’t be bothered to go out and shoot. I can’t describe how close I was to staying in and chilling in a café all day. Most of that day was fruitless, and for a good portion of it, I was reminding myself that I should have stayed in. Instead of heading back, I decided to go downtown, and I am so glad I did. I walked past this red cube at the right time regarding the light. Initially, I was going for a different shot and was waiting for the kids to leave. Just as they were leaving, one of them ran up and jumped. Right place, right time.

*Fujifilm XT5 | 27mm f2.8 | f11 | 1/200 | ISO500*

Chefchaouen - 08/09/2024

After New York, I had a bit of a dry spell. Although I got some great shots that I love and will act as amazing memories, none of them were 5-star worthy (in my opinion). This changed in Chefchaouen, where I got two. My girlfriend and I were spending 3 weeks driving across the whole of Morocco, and Chefchaouen was a must-stop for one night. We were getting lost in the backstreets when we stumbled into this lady and the cat. There wasn’t much thought; it was a simple yet great moment. As much as I love primes, this is where having a good zoom was a lifesaver.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 18mm | f4 | 1/750 | ISO640*

Chefchaouen - 09/09/2024

The second photo came from the following day as we were heading back to the hotel. There was a small square with a slither of light hitting it. Because it was the quieter part of town, we didn’t see a single person. Out of nowhere, I heard shouting, and as I turned around, I saw these kids on the bike hurtling towards me. I knew they would go through that light; however, I didn’t have time to think or compose. Luckily, my camera was switched on already, and I quickly pointed it up and blindly took the shot. I didn’t even know if the focus point was in the right place, if the exposure was right, or anything. Basically, it was a gamble photo, and it paid off.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 18mm | f4 | 1/900 | ISO640*

Fes - 12/09/2024

The next stop on the Morocco tour was Fes. This is the one place we wish we had an extra day or two in. I found Fes to be the most interesting and captivating city. Without a doubt, I preferred it to Marrakech as it felt more authentic and less touristy. Fes is also where I walked away with the most keepers in one day of photography. Funny enough, most of my best shots were taken on one street within 30 minutes of each other. It goes to show how random and unpredictable photography can be. The first photo was taken just outside a grilled chicken spot (which was delicious). What caught my eye was the smoke billowing out of the grill and the strong September light piercing right through it. I think I worked this scene for over 30 minutes and ended up with many amazing shots. Of course, I walked away smelling like grilled chicken, so if you’re a strict vegan, perhaps you wouldn’t last as long as I did there. As people were walking up and down, they were getting nicely silhouetted, and I simply waited for the right combination to get the shot.

What I like about this one is that there is one person on the far left out of focus, a person in the middle on the right, and another one right at the back. This creates multiple layers, which is something I try to get in many of my shots.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 38mm | f2.8 | 1/1250 | ISO160*

From time to time to time, you will have kids running through the very same street, and I wanted to get the feeling of that chaos. I dropped the shutter speed and waited. It took a few attempts to get the exact shutter speed and type of motion blur, but in the end, I got what I wanted.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 20mm | f13 | 1/10 | ISO160*

Fes Tanneries - 12/09/2024

Staying in Fes, we have the tanneries. If you’re not sure what that is, that’s where they process and tan leather before it’s ready to be turned into bags, clothes, accessories, and more. Fes is known for this, and there is a big tourist trade to see these tanneries. Be warned that the smell is utterly foul as animal poo is used for parts of this process. It isn’t a pretty sight up close, and it will change your perception of leather, like it did for me. The best view will be from above, and for that, you need to visit one of the many leather goods stores around the tannery. Some will charge you, some will be free with added pressure of buying a wallet or bag. If you want to get different angles, you’d need to visit a few stores. We lasted about 30 minutes before we couldn’t stomach it anymore. Luckily, I managed to get one shot I was very happy with.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 50mm | f6 | 1/300 | ISO160*

Marrakech - 23/09/2024

Marrakech was the final stop of this road trip, and although we spent 4 days there, 3 of those were in bed sick. I only had one full day out, and the whole day didn’t get anything unique or noteworthy. However, towards the end, I was walking through a market when I noticed a pair of hands through a little window. I love little details like this, and the fact that there are contrasting colours and smoke made it for me.

*Fujifilm XH2s | Sigma 18-50 f2.8 | 50mm | f11 | 1/200 | ISO160*

Hanoi - 02/11/2024

The final major trip of 2024 was to Vietnam, and little did I know that it would yield some of my best work from the entire year. This first shot was taken in one of the markets in Hanoi on the very first day. I couldn’t believe it, as usually it takes me a few days to get into it, so this was a huge bonus and a sign of things to come. Originally, I was shooting on a longer lens; however, this specific scene just didn’t work until I changed to something wider. I liked how the buildings were closing in and the strip of light. I then waited for a subject to walk in front of the blue towel, thus creating a small silhouette. While this scene looks calm, it wasn’t; it was just right timing.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 18mm f1.4 | f2 | 1/2700 | ISO160*

No Idea - 06/11/2024

After a week in the chaos of Hanoi, we decided to do a weekend away somewhere more remote. We hired a local guide and set off to the seaside. Along the route, we were driving past various small villages and settlements. At one point, we were driving past some giant factories unlike anything we’ve seen. Turns out they were cement factories but looked like spaceship launchpads. As we were driving past one of them, I spotted a footpath going through pristine farmland all the way to the factory. We pulled up, jumped out, and in the distance, spotted a farmer and cows. I honestly couldn’t make this up because this photo looks 100% staged. The farmer was a bit perplexed why on earth we were so excited to see this scene. While James and Jordan were using a wider lens, I had the telephoto on, so I hanged back and got this shot. The telephoto was a deliberate choice because I wanted the plant to appear grander. Due to the distance in the layers, I had to stop the lens down as I didn’t want to blow out the background.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 90mm f2 | f11 | 1/200 | ISO320*

Nam Dinh - 07/11/2024

The following day, we arrived in Nam Dinh, a small fishing village. It was very early; the sea was rough; however, the local fishermen were already coming back with their catch. Jordan and James were shooting wide, so they literally had to go into the sea to get the shots of the boats coming in and out. I like staying dry; I also like telephoto shots, so I slapped the 90 on and was shooting a long way away from the water. The first shot was of these two boats navigating the rough sea as they were going full steam ahead to the beach. It’s black and white because the scene was already monochromatic. If you’re wondering why the shutter is so high, it’s because the lens was in f2.8 from the previous shot, where I needed more light and forgot to adjust.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 90mm f2 | f2.8 | 1/8000 | ISO160*

Nam Dinh - 07/11/2024

The second shot was taken a few moments later. The boat was already dragged ashore, and the fisherman was cleaning it. I loved his army-style hat, and the green cover framed the photo nicely.

*Fujifilm XH2s | 90mm f2 | f4 | 1/3400 | ISO160*

Long Hai - 21/11/2024

The final keeper was from another fishing village; however, this time all the way south of Saigon. Same story as before: we were out in the morning just as the fishing boats were coming back. The locals would then come out and help pull the boats ashore and begin the process of removing the catch and sorting them out. I came across this couple untangling the net and absolutely loved the scene. The colours, the little clouds, and the overall composition were bang on. All I had to do was point and shoot.