My Top 3 Colour Film Recipes for Vibrant Travel Photography
Using custom film recipes on Fujifilm cameras is one of the most enticing reasons people seek out this brand. They can find a camera that suits their needs, as Fujifilm offers a wide range of diverse and fantastic options, and allows users to refine and create a look directly in-camera using film simulations and recipes. These can be original takes by customizing parameters like colour saturation and contrast to create personalized visual styles that align with artistic vision, or film recipes can also be used to replicate popular film stocks, some of which are now discontinued.
Many photographers desire to replicate classic film stock, as it promotes nostalgic or timeless moods in photographs and can create a cohesive representation of someone’s work.
I used the recipes below with a Fujifilm X-H2. Please note that for two of the recipes, I made minor changes to them purely based on my preferences after prolonged use, and the posted settings are the ones that I used. Those adjustments mainly relate to the clarity setting.
Let’s look at why, in my opinion, these are my current top colour Fujifilm recipes for travel photography.
Victoria Street, Scotland - Kodachrome 1
1. Kodachrome 1
Kodachrome, introduced by Kodak in 1935, was a colour film that revolutionized photography. It was used for many years but was discontinued in 2010. Kodachrome quickly became synonymous with vivid, lifelike colours and exceptional image quality, making it a photographer’s favourite.
What I love most about this Kodachrome recipe, and why it is number one on this list, is how it simulates colour. It has a distinctive palette with rich, saturated colours. The grain effect in this recipe calls for “Strong, Small,” which seems heavy for my liking. I changed it to “Weak, Small,” which works well for travel photography. Another alteration I made with this recipe is with the Clarity setting. Although it recommends using a setting of 1, I opted for a zero setting as any clarity increase slows the in-camera processing time and creates a noticeable lag between captures.
Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +4
Shadow: -2
Colour: +4
High ISO NR: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: 0
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
Colour Chrome Effect Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & -4 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Ciutadella Park, Barcelona - Ultramax 400
2. Ultramax 400
Ultramax 400 is a colour-negative film introduced by Kodak in the early 1990s and has become a favoured choice among photographers due to its versatility, affordability, and reliable performance. Its appeal lies in its ability to deliver natural colour rendition and consistent performance across various lighting scenarios.
I made two alterations to this recipe. The grain effect in this Ultramax 400 recipe is a personal choice, as the setting is high at “Strong, Large.” I found this too much for me. I like grain in photos, especially in street photography, and a small amount is acceptable for my travel photography. Still, the default settings in this recipe took that step a bit too far, and in my opinion, ruined a few of my JPEG photos along the way. So I opted to process the RAW, if I proceeded with them at all. The strong grain does add to the nostalgic nature of Ultramax, but I reduced the effect and adjusted the recipe to have a “Weak, Small” grain setting similar to the Kodachrome recipe. Secondly, I cut the clarity down to zero. The +3 default makes things a bit too crispy for my liking. These are choices I made that you may disagree with, and one you will want to experiment with to see what works for you.
Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +1
Colour: +4
High ISO NR: -4
Sharpness: 0
Clarity: 0
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Colour Chrome Effect: Weak
Colour Chrome Effect Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, +1 Red & -5 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Malaga, Spain - Vibrant Astia Soft
3. Vibrant Astia Soft
Photographer Osan Bigli created Vibrant Astia Soft. This recipe delivers a gentle yet lively colour palette, excelling in diverse lighting scenarios. This one is built on the Astia film simulation; it aspires to create a vivid appearance without strong contrast. This recipe produces images that are soft and richly colored, with slight grain and reduced sharpness and clarity, resulting in a smooth, film-like feel. It performs exceptionally well in diffused light, such as overcast days, preserving colour vibrancy without becoming overly saturated, but also works perfectly in bright sunlight.
The grain effect on this recipe is set to “Strong, Large,” but again, for my liking, I switched it to “Weak, Small.”
Film Simulation: Astia Soft
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +1
Colour: +1
High ISO NR: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -4
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Colour Chrome Effect: Strong
Colour Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, -2 Blue & +2 Red
High ISO NR: -4
ISO: Auto, ISO 500 up to ISO 6400
Conclusion
Custom film recipes on Fujifilm cameras are highly desired due to their ability to refine and create unique looks directly in camera. These recipes allow photographers to replicate classic film stocks and maintain a cohesive representation of their work. I’ve experimented with various custom recipes and found certain ones particularly effective for travel photography.
The Kodachrome 1 recipe, inspired by the iconic Kodak film, excels in simulating vivid, lifelike colours with a distinct grain effect suitable for travel photography. Similarly, the Ultramax 400 recipe offers a natural colour rendition across different lighting scenarios. And finally, Vibrant Astia Soft maintains a pleasing colour vibrance without being too much.
You may be happy with the default settings for these recipes. If not, you can make adjustments to tailor them to individual preferences. The creative possibilities of custom film recipes on Fujifilm cameras are extensive. These are my current top three Fujifilm recipes for travel photography.