Tuesday, September 16, 2014

My switch from Canon to Fuji

Let me tell you a story, around this time last year my friends and I took a trip to northeast Brasil (where my family is from), I had all these grand ideas of the images I'd create and all the different gear I'd need take with me. So I loaded up my camera backpack with everything I could think of, two camera bodies with battery grips, 6 lenses, a speedlight, tripod, gopro etc. I had all this expensive and heavy gear that I took as my carry on while I traveled. During my 2 1/2 months in the country I didn't use any of that gear... Yup that's right, for 9 weeks that backpack full of camera gear sat in my grandmas house. I did however take a lot of photos, not with my fancy Canon equipment, but with my iphone and my gopro, why? Because those two were the most convenient and didn't attract much attention, after all northeast Brasil isn't the safest place ever, and I wasn't wanting to get robbed of all my expensive gear. So after I arrived back in Portland, I realized something, having a bunch of cool gear is pointless unless you use it and you can't use it if it's not with you and my gear wasn't with me because it was too cumbersome and attracted thieves. So the next month I decided to sell all the camera gear I owned and start from scratch. After researching and testing out a bunch of cameras I stumbled upon the fuji x100s, I had heard about this camera, but blew it off cause I thought it was just one of those trendy "hipster" cameras that girls bought because they look cool. Man was I wrong, legends like David Hobby, Zach Arias and even my all time fav Joey L, were using this camera, so I had to read up about it. After taking into consideration the draw backs this camera had, it did meet the requirements I had for my "travel camera". It was light, small, inconspicuous, had amazing high ISO performance and stunning image quality, after a lot of back and forth I finally pulled the trigger and ordered my first Non Canon camera, the Fujifilm x100s!



(I went with the new black version cause I figured it would stand out that much less, plus it looks a little less "trendy" haha) 

First off this camera has some draw backs, the fixed focal length and the poor video features were two things I wasn't comfortable with, but I new I could work around them. The first month I decided to shoot with the camera as much as I could, I shot everything I used to shoot, skateboarding, landscapes, portraits etc. I quickly learned the 35mm focal length and knew how I would frame my shots after only a couple minutes at the location. The leaf shutter is one thing that I love about this camera I can hand hold my camera at slow shutter speeds and sync flashes at faster speeds than any of my DSLR shooter friends! All in all this camera is amazing, it's not for everyone but for me it's a perfect fit, it's goes everywhere with me whether I'm climbing a mountain or taking senior photos this camera makes me love what I do and doesn't slow me down! 

Find me on Instagram! @nigelbarros



Wednesday, September 3, 2014

My ever growing bucket list!




Recently I lost my original bucket list, so I've tried to remember all the things I wanted to do. Here are some that I remembered and I'll undoubtedly be adding more and more as time goes by! 

- Learn to speak 3 different languages fluently

- Take a helicopter ride through the Columbia river gorge

- Watch the sunset from the top of a skyscraper in New York City 

- Star gaze in the back of a pick up truck full of pillows 

- Swim with dolphins 

- Go to Ireland (drink in an Irish pub) 

- Train hop for a few weeks (anywhere)

- Visit the Amazon (hold a sloth)

- Backpack in Patagonia 

- Travel to Iceland, hike, explore and learn to pronounce some Icelandic phrases

-  Ride an elephant 

- Cliff jump in Hawaii 

- See the 7 wonders of Oregon

- Skate Kona 

- Skate through New York 

- Try real sushi in Japan 

- Take aerial photo/videos 

- Photograph dangerous predators 

- See pulpit rock

- Meet/shoot with Joey L

- Road trip across the country with friends

- Visit Machu Picchu

- Hang glide in Rio 

- Visit the South Georgia islands

- Backpack Europe 

- Visit New Zealand (find Weta workshop and meet Richard Taylor) 

- Free climb to the top of a city bridge 

- Camp in the Mojave desert 

- See the northern lights

- Go to the Great Wall of China

- Explore Switzerland 

- Go on a giant rope swing 

- Swim in water caves in Brazil 

- Travel by horseback for several days (anywhere) 

- Learn how to back or front flip (no trampoline) 

- Photograph a riot or protest





Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Why traveling is good for you

If you're over 18, able bodied, not currently in college, have a job (and or money) and you have a desire to travel, then my question is, whats holding you back? There are so many things in life that seem really "important" but in the grand scope of your life, are so insignificant. Jobs and money come and go, friends will "grow up" and get boring, school doesn't guarantee anything and fame/recognition is frivolous! But, if  9-5 jobs, mini vans, white picket fences, coffee dates and Superbowl parties are really what you're into then, more power to you! I've only been to a handful of different states and countries, and even though my traveling experience is somewhat less than those who I look up and aspire to, I can tell you this I WOULDN'T TRADE MY ADVENTURES AND EXPERIENCES FOR ANYTHING! When I talk of traveling, I mean actually indulging yourself in another culture, not just being a tourist and seeing a new part of the world. You'll be surprised how much your outlook on life will change when you see life through the eyes of someone who  has so much joy having so much less. And the people who have more, and look down on you like a second rate citizen, you'll understand how it must feel when the less fortunate look at you. Getting out of this red, white and blue comfort zone will humble you and change the way you live your life. I wont lie its a lot harder than just sitting in front of your computer and re-blogging "wanderlust" tags on Tumblr, but if you seriously have wanderlust in your bones, the only one stopping you...... is you!