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A true workhorse: testing Fujifilm’s new standard zoom
Photojournalist Stefan Finger brings the FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR II out on assignment, creating stunning images in the woods of the Rhineland at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands – and a frequent collaborator with Fujifilm. version of the fixed-aperture standard zoom was developed. Retaining the versatility and use a camera, because I know what pictures are able to do in terms of creating feelings, helping people think about things they haven’t
While seemingly anachronistic, Finger found that horse logging is, in fact, fulfilling an increasingly important role in maintaining the woods of the Rhineland. “I thought it was a job no one does anymore, but I found out it’s actually very important for the environment. When big machines go into the forest, they ruin other trees and the ground – it’s not good for the woodland at all. This way of getting wood to places where machines can then pick it up is much better for the forest. With climate change, it’s important to also tell positive stories of what we can achieve.” Finger typically depends on prime lenses for his photojournalism –
“MY IDEA OF photography is to get not only a picture of a person, but something that tells a story about them. I always try to search for unusual stories,” begins Stefan Finger, a photojournalist based in Düsseldorf and Hanover. Finger’s work often explores social topics and challenging issues, with previous projects covering the effects of sex tourism in the Philippines and a community that lives on a dump site. “Those stories won’t earn you money, but they are close to my heart,” he remarks. “That’s why I
reliability of its predecessor but with increased resolving power, improved macro capabilities, enhanced AF and a refreshed iris design, the new lens offers a general uplift in its imaging performance. “I said that I’d need a lens like that for a story with a lot of movement, but where I couldn’t move all the time,” recalls Finger. “I’d heard about this horse logger and thought it might be a good story, so I began researching it.”
“Fujifilm called me and said, ‘We have a version two of the FUJINON XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR’,” Finger explains. “They asked me: ‘What would you do with such a lens’?” Prime performance The original XF16-55mmF2.8 has been a mainstay for professional Fujifilm users since its 2015 release. However, in response to quicker autofocus and larger sensors in the X Series line-up, an upgraded
thought about before – maybe even changing a mindset. That’s my aim for my photography.” They may not have brought him riches, but his stories have certainly turned some heads. Finger has been nominated for CNN Journalist of the Year, shortlisted for the Alfred Fried Award and is a former winner of the Unicef Photo of the Year Award. Alongside this, he’s a professor of photography and communications
46 Photography News | Issue 120
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