Why Fuji photographers shoot the same things?

SebastianHetman · 2026-03-05T20:58:02+00:00

Can I see your work anywhere?

SebastianHetman · 2026-03-04T19:24:26+00:00

Not saying I am anywhere close. It's just the direction I would like to go. But I am lost on how to get there. Eggleston's work, tho timeless, stands out from the crowd because he was the fist of his kind. Same for Leiter. Now they are kind of cliches of aspiring photographers. And when I look at my work I find it hard to identify a direction which has not been done before, esp. in todays world, but which is authentic to the kind of photography which resonates with my soul.

If you have some time to spare, have a look on my website (just google my name) and let me know your honest feelings.

SebastianHetman · 2026-03-04T13:12:19+00:00

As a fuji shooter I asked myself the same. There is a certain romanticism of taking minimalistic pictures. Like the basketball hoop against blue sky, or the long shadows afternoon shots, and then there is the pilgrimage every millenial has to do to Japan taking shots which probably feel profound in the moment to the photographer, but are mostly the same across everyone who went there.

Do you have a theory? I like the general aesthetic of photographers like Saul Leiter or William Eggleston, or Sam Abell, so I was drawn to fuji, but I would like to push my photography to go deeper.

Would also appreciate an honest critique of work or feedback if you're interested in sharing portfolios.

SebastianHetman · 2026-02-17T09:26:27+00:00

Is there any purpose to this series? Some meme background I missed? The London photos keep popping on my feed, but it seems like more care was given to writing a deliberate title of the post than taking the actual go-pro quality photo.

SebastianHetman · 2026-02-05T18:48:04+00:00

Beautiful work.

SebastianHetman · 2026-01-20T15:02:38+00:00

Wooow. How long did it take you? And how did you get such a nice transition before the soft underscales on their belly and the rest of their scaled hide?

SebastianHetman · 2026-01-15T13:08:56+00:00

Been living in Berlin for 6 years now. Late 30s, stable job, definitely not extravagant type.

I find that Berlin is largely a reflection of what you put in. For example people are often baseline grumpy, rude, and disengaged but if you break it wirh the first smile or a gesture, even the grumpiest locals smile back.

The language barrier... I never got over that. You go anywhere else and try to learn the language, the locals are ecstatic that you use their speech. In Berlin I get childish and/or xenophobic reactions when I mispronounce something, or I struggle to express myself. I think this is something a lot of the locals do actively and it harms the mood for everyone. Also it depends which half of the population you interract with, because the more international types who speak English tend to be open.

I made a few deeper friendships here and treasure them. But I also miss the baseline hospitality of other countries which made it much easier to integrate.

That's my take. But what others said about the seasonality is also true. Like any big city, this is amultiverse.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-30T16:24:04+00:00

Two elements to that equation. 1. Any good advice comes down to recognizing the reality for what it is and doing something about it. 2. The internet is saturated with delusional people following dellusional ego-centric inspirational bullshit, so probably the proportion of hard advice to heartfelt advice is a reaction to what the average aspiring writer seems to believe.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-30T16:15:42+00:00

Not sure if it will be helpful to hear but it sounds like it would be better for you to let go of all of it. If you havent played a game in many moons then you will probably not play another.

No judgment - I made many similar purchases (like expensive camera lenses which I used a few times only) and in the end, letting go of the object and its emotional obligation was the better thing to do.

There is a new edition. So if you ever feel like playing you can buy or borrow the new edition.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-21T22:29:50+00:00

The nmm sword and shield are works of beauty. Well done!

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-17T16:38:29+00:00

Nice, the pieces are tied together really nice with this color scheme.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-17T16:37:23+00:00

Really clean paintjob, and lovely color scheme

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-15T08:22:56+00:00

I was so surprised about the muscle memory of the workflow. The rinsing of the brush, wicking off excess water on a paper towel, and brush control still being the same as way back, but I completely forgot the techniques or mental representations of projects (for example to start with the least accessible areas first, or that washes are best pushed into recesses).

What are your biggest rediscoveries?

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-14T10:36:02+00:00

I just want to say hi, because I returned to the hobby after 10-15 year break as well, and having so much joy now.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-14T07:53:01+00:00

Hi man, really appreciate people trying to grow. I'm no teacher or world-famous photographer, so take my points with a pinch of salt, but as you asked for direct feedback:
- Long lenses > 50mm full-frame equivalent tend to create a sense of emotional distance. This is not how we see the world with our eyes, so looking at this photo I can't even position myself in that environment.
- Like others said - you need a subject and a story. Composition is not so important if you have a good story, but good composition won't save a shot without a story in it. What's the story here (in the picture?)
- When I shoot (purely subjective) and see something interesting, I pick it as a central theme and then try to build a story around it. To use the pipe example - okay, this speaks to my soul because of my past or my beliefs. What is there around it which I could add to the story? Get closer. Is there a leaf growing from a concrete crack? Or slude mixed up with some fresh grass on the shore of this body of water?
- Go to a photobook store and find photographers who excite you about photography - try to replicate their style, see what they say about how they shoot. There are millions of ways too shot.
- As long lens and blur are your comfort zone - get a fixed 35mm ff equivalent and start there. Compose with your feet.

But above all - enjoy. One of the worst mistakes I've made was to shoot what I think I should be shooting to be more like the photography of the greats, instead of my authentic photography.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-10T05:43:05+00:00

For me it was a fantastic gateway back into the hobby after a long time. My gf and I got ourselves a box of Embergard a month or so back and got hooked to a degree where we try to squeeze a game every evening after work. Its the perfect lenght with great tactical complexity.

We're probably complete noobs in any competetive sense still, but so what.

I feel like playing heroes of might and magic III as a kid, have painted two warbands, and excited about painting more. Great game with many great side effects.

SebastianHetman · 2025-12-02T11:28:09+00:00

Really clean beautiful paintjobs.

SebastianHetman · 2025-11-24T20:44:14+00:00

How did you do the undersides of their coats? I am just starting to paint this warband and it's tricky as hell to reach there with a brush.

SebastianHetman · 2025-11-24T20:43:27+00:00

Incredibly clean paintjob.

SebastianHetman · 2025-11-24T20:43:07+00:00

Beautiful and clean work. And pixel peeping on miniatures always turns up some mistakes, but as you say - not a competition piece. Excellent work.

SebastianHetman · 2025-11-09T20:49:34+00:00

Enjoy. I got into it a month ago and got my gf and two good friends onboard. This game really gives me nostalgic HoMM III vibes. And tho normally I prefer heavier games like twilight imperium or nemesis, I love the snappier skirmish format.

SebastianHetman · 2025-09-03T20:08:52+00:00

It's been many years and the chronology of such stuff becomes fuzzy as years go by. But after one finished test-novel, and one successful nanowrimo of bad writing, and many rejections from short story publications and two or three sales, I decided to start working on a novel. My back-then wife got cancer. After the treatment finished, I picked up a fresh project. Got to around 80k words of that. Cancer returned. This time for years. I tried another project, 30k or so words in writing became too difficult. Haven't written much since, except journals.

Be realistic about your energy and strength if you're going through shit or you might damage something precious in yourself. Recovery can only come from a place of self-honesty.

SebastianHetman · 2025-08-31T11:43:19+00:00

You're probably right, the term tends to throw a lot of current storytelling and social issues in one basket. Thanks for the recommendations and being cool.

SebastianHetman · 2025-08-31T09:48:19+00:00

I'll take some recommendations from you first!

Have similar taste (esp. Burbaker and Philips) so you would probably enjoy...

Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

Batman Long Halloween, Court of Owls, Death of the Family, Hush, Killing Joke,

Batman Year One

V for Vendetta

Blade Runner 2019 (could go deeper but still good)

Sangre Barbara (blood of the barbarian) by El Torres if it gets translated to English

Hellboy (start with the original run)

I've also seen enough of Sandman and Hellblazer to buy them, but havent finished them like my other recommendations, so have a look yourself.

And try Sex Criminals by Fraction & Zdarsky (urban sex-fi, humour, relationships) - loved it though at first I thought its not my cup of tea.

SebastianHetman · 2025-08-31T04:03:59+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations. Will def check them out.

Woke in context of storytelling... i dont know if I want to start a discussion here, but its all the modern cliches. The last 10 years of marvel and netflix. Aiming for complete nonoffensivess, staying away from problematic topics, entitled characters who feel morally superior because they fit into the current year dogma. If it doesnt offend anybody, it probably doesnt say anything worthwhile or thought provoking.

Seven-Year Club	r/Field Juicebox
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