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Making Photography with the Soul

Happy to be featured on Fuji X Passion – Inspirational Photography Magazine

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/125” . ISO 400 – A Midsummer Nights Dream

1. Hi Cristina! It’s a pleasure to have you for this interview. Could you please start by introducing yourself?
I am Cristina Venedict, a Romanian photographer based in Botoşani. Shortly, my work is focused more on fine art and environmental portraits, and I love to say that I make photography with my soul. I was drawn by photography since 2007, and it was like a revelation! It was such a wonderful feeling!

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.6 . 1/125” . ISO 320 – A Midsummer Nights Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.6 . 1/125” . ISO 320 – A Midsummer Nights Dream

 

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.2 . 1/250” . ISO 160 – Broken Wings

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.8 . 1/250” . ISO 20 – Broken Wings

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/250” . ISO 500 – Broken Wings

2. At what point during your journey into the world of photography, did you realise that you wanted to focus on Portraits?
Everything started after my baby was born in 2010, and I discovered portraiture and, implicitly, the camera, eager to learn more about its manual functions. I’ve always been fascinated by people, and I like looking at them, studying their characteristics, their reactions, getting to know their stories. I believe each human being is unique, beautiful and unpredictable! I like to play, I enjoy being a child. I’m quite immature sometimes, but this is who I am!

3. In a highly competitive market, being good at what we do just makes us one more among a vast crowd of other excellent photographers. We need to be original to stand out. Do you agree?
Yes, I think that a photo becomes remarkable when it passes the test of time. Let’s say that it becomes timeless and that moment is not lost in time.

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/500” . ISO 160 – Free Soul

 

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/250” . ISO 800 – Flower Power

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.4 . 1/250” . ISO 320 – Hipnoses of the Sea

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/125” . ISO 320 – In Wonderland

 

4. This spontaneous and original character we can find in your photos has led you to win countless awards. Could you highlight a few of them?
The monk:
 My favourite work in the recent years is a photo taken in a monastery. I was on a trip with the child during kindergarten. In the agitation of the moment, to see a perfect image in front of your eyes, and to do nothing to get it, only being there, fascinated me and still fascinates me. Seeing people being part of the whole universe they live in, that’s what I want to see. It is a strong feeling and difficult to explain.

Nikon D600 . 1/200” . ISO 5000 – The Monk

Solitude: The model in the photo is a young actress, her name is Cezara Munteanu. The picture was taken in my studio in Botosani, Romania, in 2020, a year full of many emotions and inner uncertainties.

Nikon D600 . 1/200” . ISO 1000 – Solitude

5. Frequently photographing outdoors, the background ends up playing a significant role in your photographs. When you arrive at a location where you will be holding a portrait session, observing your surroundings, what are the key elements you look for in a good background?
I like the portraits photographed by me to be pictorial. Harmony between colour, model, pose, and clothing.

Inspiration is very important. Also, the composition elements, the model, the music, and the final touch, that being the photo processing.

Fuji X-T3 . Lensbaby Sol 45 . 1/125” . ISO 800 – Hypnotic Light

Fuji X-T3 . Lensbaby Obscura . 1/15” . ISO 3200 – Hypnotic Light

 

Fuji X-T3 . Lensbaby Obscura . 1/15” . ISO 4000 – Nostalgic Town

6. Could you describe your current camera setup and the reasons why you chose Fuji for the type of work you do?
I have the X-T3 and X-T4 cameras and will try the new GFX 50S II soon. I chose Fuji because I tested an X-T2, and it was love at first touch.

Fuji X-T3 . Lensbaby Obscura . 1/125” . ISO 1000 – Nostalgic Town

Fuji X-T3 . Lensbaby Obscura . 1/125” . ISO 1600 – Nostalgic Town

 

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/4.5 . 1/125” . ISO 800 – No Future Without a Past

7. As a person who embraces those small imperfections that give character to a photograph, Lensbaby lenses are a perfect match for your work. How did this symbiosis start, and among these unique lenses, which is your favourite so far?
I was always amazed by dreamy images. When I started with photography, I wasn’t fully satisfied with the lenses on the market. I couldn’t create my desired images. Searching for new lenses, I stumbled upon Lensbaby. It was love at first sight!

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 800 – No Future Without a Past

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/4.0 . 1/125” . ISO 640 – No Future Without a Past

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/4.0 . 1/125” . ISO 640 – No Future Without a Past

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/3.2 . 1/125” . ISO 800 – No Future Without a Past

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/4.0 . 1/125” . ISO 1000 – No Future Without a Past

I love Lensbaby lenses. They help and simplify my editing work a lot. I like to use Lensbaby, even though they are manual lenses. Because of the manual focus, you don’t have to press click very often, but you do have to find the perfect moment to shoot.

As for the focal length, 60 mm (Twist60) fits me best.

Nikon D600 . Lensbaby Twist 60 . 1/200” . ISO 1250 – The Circus Mood

8. A considerable part of the mood we can find in your portraits is also due to your post-processing work. What software did you choose, and what are the most used tools?
I start by processing the raw file in Camera Raw and then in Photoshop. When I’m in Photoshop, post-processing depends on my mood.

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/125” . ISO 400 – Solitude

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/4000” . ISO 200 – Symphony of Poppies

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/250” . ISO 250 – Symphony of Poppies

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.2 . 1/250” . ISO 250 – Symphony of Poppies

9. This took us entirely by surprise, but several of the portraits we can find in your portfolio were shot with a mobile phone, with results sometimes indistinguishable from those taken with a dedicated camera. What model do you currently use, and how has it become an integral part of your working tools?
I use the Xiaomi 11T PRO. At first, I was challenged about how I could handle taking pictures with a mobile phone. But more recently, I photographed an entire session with just the phone, and I can say that it was a delight for me.

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/125” . ISO 500 – The Impossible Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/125” . ISO 500 – The Impossible Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/125” . ISO 500 – The Impossible Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 400 – The Impossible Dream

I like the format 3:4 and the wide lens, it makes it easier for you to get into the subject’s soul and find more creative angles. I like that I can take photos in Raw format and be able to edit them later, just as I do with a professional camera.

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.0 . 1/125” . ISO 500 – The Impossible Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/2.8 . 1/125” . ISO 400 – The Impossible Dream

Fuji X-T3 . Fuji XF56mmF1.2 . F/1.4 . 1/125” . ISO 320 – The Impossible Dream

 

10. Do these photographs follow precisely the same workflow as Fuji’s, through the computer, or is any editing work also carried out on the mobile phone itself?
I use the same settings and functions as a professional device. I’m glad it has the Raw function because I use the same workflow as with Fuji.

Nikon D600 . Lensbaby Twist 60 . 1/200” . ISO 100 – A secret story

Nikon D600 . Lensbaby Twist 60 . 1/200” . ISO 1600 – My Little Yellow Dream

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/50” . ISO 221

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/200” . ISO 500

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/100” . ISO 108

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/100” . ISO 212

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/125” . ISO 200

Xiaomi 11T Pro . @5.96 . F/1.8 . 1/80” . ISO 400 – Magic Beauty

Xiaomi Mi11 . @6.83 . F/1.9 . 1/200” . ISO 400

 

Xiaomi 11T Pro . @5.96 . F/1.8 . 1/160” . ISO 500 – Magic Beauty

Xiaomi 11T Pro . @5.96 . F/1.8 . 1/160” . ISO 1000 – Magic Beauty

Xiaomi 11T Pro . @5.96 . F/1.8 . 1/100” . ISO 640 – Magic Beauty

Xiaomi 11T Pro . @5.96 . F/1.8 . 1/160” . ISO 500 – Magic Beauty

Making Photography with the Soul – Interview with Cristina Venedict

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