Going back to my Favourite Focal length.
The Versatility of the 35mm.
Throughout the past year, my photography has predominantly revolved around the use of two cameras: the Q2 with its 28mm lens and the X100v, equipped with a 35mm lens.
My experience has been split roughly 80/20 between these two, with the X100v being my go-to for casual, fun shoots, and the Q2 serving as my companion for more intensive, dedicated street photography sessions.
The 28mm focal length is undeniably one of the most enjoyable lenses to shoot with.
Last year was a great time for my photography, and while the focal length may not have been a critical factor, my experiences with the 28mm lens were overwhelmingly positive.
Rimini, Italy | 35mm
However, this leads to an intriguing question: why opt for a 35mm lens for my M body camera?
The difference between 28mm and 35mm might not seem significant, but it subtly alters my approach and technique.
Essentially, it's a only matter of taking one step forward or backward in terms of composition.
With a 28mm lens, there's an inherent need to get closer to the subject to create a more impactful frame. This doesn't always hold true, but there's a noticeable difference in how elements within the frame interact due to the distance.
Often, I found myself cropping images to achieve the desired composition, effectively ending up with what a 35mm lens would have captured from the start.
So, why not just use a 35mm?
London | 28mm
Using a 35mm lens demands slightly more deliberate composition than a 28mm.
The latter led me towards a more spontaneous, less calculated shooting style.
Transitioning to an M system with a 35mm lens naturally encourages a slower, more thoughtful approach to photography.
An additional observation about the 28mm lens, particularly with the Q2 (which felt more like a 26mm), is the minor distortion at the edges of the frame. This is a common characteristic of wide lenses.
Not necessarily detrimental, but noticeable.
In contrast, images taken with a 35mm lens tend to have straighter lines and a more squared appearance, facilitating symmetrical and tidier compositions.
London | 35mm
While I switch between my preferences for the 28mm and 35mm lenses, I recognise that the difference isn't monumental. Eventually, I plan to reintegrate a 28mm lens into my kit for that quality of life option.
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This Authentic Streets 2.0 is the second edition of the series including 7 unique Lightroom presets.
These edits have been created mostly with street photography in mind. Each of these presets will provide a subtle but unique style that I have created over the months prior to this release. I have used these on a lot of my street photography to soften that digital look and create something a little warmer and more film like. All 7 of these presets will be useful for different situations depending on the colour and light in your original file. My personal favourites from this pack are Vintage and Nostalgia.
The presets included in this pack:
Lifted
Authentic
Monochrome
Contrast
Vintage
Nostalgia
Cinema
Inside the pack you will find both Lightroom Desktop (XMP) and Lightroom Mobile (DNG) Preset Files
Quick tips for using these presets* I don’t believe any presets are a 1 click and fix solution so use these as starting points for you to develop the edit further if needed. Since I’ve been using these presets the main few things I like to tweak is my white balance and exposure. Depending on your cameras raw files you will need to adjust accordingly. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch via info@mikechudley.com - Thanks!
This Authentic Streets preset pack contains 7 unique Lightroom presets.
This preset pack contains a range of Lightroom presets made up of edits I have been playing around with that will give you a film vibe while others will be much more subtle. These edits are designed to create you a good starting point and base level for you to then further develop your photos. I don’t believe in a 1 click and done style of editing so when you’ve applied the preset, feel free to tweak and change as you see fit.
The presets you will get:
Authentic Light
Authentic Scene
Authentic Analog
Authentic City
Authentic Sky
Authentic Colour
Authentic People
Inside the pack you will find both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Mobile Preset Files
Thank you!