Q&A with Chris Upton

I had the pleasure of being interviewed recently by Photography News, here is an excerpt from that session.

Let’s start at the beginning. Can you briefly say who you are and what’s your day job please

I am a professional photographer, based in Nottinghamshire, specialising in Travel, Landscape and Social Documentary photography. I’m an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and proud to be a Fujifilm X-Series Photographer.

You are known for your landscape and travel photography, how did you start out?

My love of photography started in my teens when I used the camera to record walking and climbing trips to the Peak District and Lake District. As my knowledge developed and results improved, I walked less and photographed more. Joining a camera club and the shift to digital was a pivotal moment in my photographic journey.

You're a Fujifilm X-photographer so we can safely assume you use Fujifilm camera kit. So, what do you take out with you when you go shooting?

I use a variety of cameras including the XT3, XH1 and the tiny XE3 which I use with the wonderful f2 prime lenses.

My workhorse lens is the Fujifilm XF16-55 f2.8, equivalent to a 24-70 full frame. My other “red badge” lens is the Fujifilm XF 50-140 f2.8. These lenses are so good with their fast apertures, robust build, weather resistance and stunning image quality. The excellent XF10-24 makes up the “holy trinity” of lenses that I normally work with.

What appealed to you about the Fujifilm X-system in the first instance?

I loved the compact style and retro design, the lighter weight and build quality. But it’s the intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes these cameras such a joy to use with all the main features and controls available on the outside of the camera without the need to dive into menu’s. Ultimately though it’s the wonderful image quality with the almost filmic feel that just makes me want to take pictures.

Our readers will be keen to know about your camera set-up? So, for example, which exposure mode, focus setting, ISO speed and so on do you use?

This varies depending on whether I’m shooting using a tripod or hand holding. With a tripod, I’ll use the native ISO for best file quality, and use either aperture priority mode or manual. I use multi metering 95% of the time otherwise it’s spot metering and single point AF or manual using the focus peaking with my highlights set to red. For handholding, it’s auto ISO so I can select the appropriate shutter speed to capture movement and aperture to give me the required depth of field, safe in the knowledge that the ISO will take care of the rest of the exposure.

You primarily use Fujifilm X-series cameras and of course they are capable of excellent image quality, but is shooting with Fujifilm GFX medium-format cameras an option you’ve considered?

I’ve used both the GFX50S and 50R, they handle really well and the image quality is stunning and I have considered switching from my X system. However, choice of gear is based on a number of factors including the way you shoot. The X System offers me image quality to produce large prints, the range of lenses that I need and is relatively small, portable and light which is very important for my travel photography. A tough one perhaps and I’m not saying never but just not at the moment.

A Desert Island discs-type question, if you had to pick only one camera/lens combination, what would you choose and why?

That vote goes to the XH1 and XF16-55 f2.8 as these two work together superbly. The lens with its versatile 24-83mm full frame equivalent focal length, has a fast f2.8 aperture throughout the focal range, is weather resistant, robust and delivers superb image quality. Although not image stabilised, when paired with the XH1 with its 5 axis, 5.5 stops IBIS I can now hand hold down to ¼ second. The XH1 has a comfortable and practical grip which balances really well with the XF16-55, it’s very well built, and features a beautiful quiet, soft shutter.

What’s your favourite photograph from your own archive and why?

It’s an image I took at Zabriskie Point, Death Valley. I was there just after dawn and was shooting the patterns and folds in the rocks when a group of walkers appeared on a ridge. Some continued their walk into the valley leaving these two to give the image some scale and context. I composed to exclude the sky and the valley to give the impression of an unending landscape, took four shots and they were gone too. It was a magical moment in an awesome environment that I’ll never forget, which I guess sums up photography perfectly.

Which photographer inspires you most?

This is really difficult as I shoot different genres and different styles. Charlie Waite was an early inspiration, I love his natural style and sublime compositions. Elia Locardi, Richard Bernabe, David Noton and Steve McCurry are among my favourite travel photographers whilst Art Wolfe’s images combine the best of nature and travel with fine art. I just think it’s important to open your eyes to the world out there and draw inspiration from as many sources as possible.

A lot of landscape photographers shoot very early and/or very late on the day so I guess you’re similar. What do you get up to in the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky, or do you find things to shoot despite the harsh light?

Yes definitely, I prefer to shoot at either end of the day but that doesn’t mean you can’t photograph in the middle of the day depending on the season and weather conditions. In the autumn and winter the sun never rises too high so you can get beautiful low raking light throughout the day. Overcast lighting is excellent for woodland and streams but if it’s really bright and harsh I would use some time to scout new locations or have a rest before going out for golden hour and sunset.

Are you a big user of camera filters? If so, which is the one you use most?

Filters are an important part of my kit though my use of them has changed over the past year or so. A Polarising filter is invaluable because you can’t replicate it’s results in post processing. I love my Neutral Density filters to bring some creativity to my images through slowing the shutter speed but I use Neutral Density Graduated filters a lot less than I used to. Whilst there’s a lot to be said for the convenience of getting it right in camera I find that bracketing and blending in post processing can get me more pleasing and better images.

What one location/country do you aspire to go to but haven't managed yet?

I’d love to visit Vietnam. It has such a rich history and culture, the architecture and natural beauty look fabulous but I like nothing more than getting in amongst the people experiencing and recording daily life in the streets, markets and homes.

Do you have a final tip for our readers on how they can improve their own photography?

Very simply get to know your camera and shoot more. Most people typically don’t use all the functions on their cameras either because they didn’t know they were there or don’t understand them. Now is a great time to sit down with your camera and the manual and go through all those features until changing the main controls and settings becomes second nature. It’s only by shooting pictures, assessing them and correcting the mistakes that your pictures will improve and you’ll become a better photographer.