As of July 1st, 2026, I have officially entered part-time retirement. I still keep my hands in a few small business development projects, but this milestone marks a massive shift in my life: it is time to step up my photography game. Honestly, this is the exact moment I’ve been dreaming about for the past ten years.
If you’ve been following my blog, you know my journey has been a long, winding road. I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on about the legends—Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alberto Korda, Elliott Erwitt. Naturally, a Leica rangefinder felt like a distant dream. But once I reached a place where I could actually afford it, I went overboard. At one point, I owned 20 Leica cameras. I lost my way for a while; the gear took over, and the thrill of collecting overshadowed the real chase—capturing the picture.
Everything changed in 2020 when my family built a small seasonal restaurant where we live. To help fund it, I sold nearly all of my camera collection. The feeling that followed wasn’t regret; it was pure relief. Stripping away the excess allowed me to refocus entirely on making art—diving into my second photo career centered on exhibitions, books, and long-term personal projects.
Before long, I felt the urge for a system better suited to how I work today. I needed fast, reliable autofocus, and the astronomical price tags for modern Leica glass simply didn’t make sense for my workflow anymore. That curiosity led me to Fujifilm in 2025. I was immediately drawn to their compact designs, physical controls, and legendary color science. After years of shooting Leica, Hasselblad, Nikon, and countless film bodies, Fujifilm finally gave me what I’d been searching for all along.
To celebrate entering this new chapter of life and gearing up my photo business, I treated myself to a very special tool: a Graphite Grey Fujifilm X-Pro2.
There is something inherently special about the X-Pro series, but the Graphite edition of the X-Pro2 feels like a work of art in its own right. Unlike standard black bodies, Fujifilm applied a complex multi-layer coating process to achieve this metallic, gunmetal-grey finish. It strikes a balance—it’s understated and discreet enough for street and documentary work, yet possesses a refined, tactile quality that reminds you of classic precision mechanical engineering.
Ondrej Vachek – Photographer
For someone rooted in rangefinder history, the X-Pro2 is the perfect bridge between analog soul and modern capability:
The Hybrid Viewfinder: The standout feature remains its optical/electronic hybrid viewfinder. Looking through a true optical window lets you see outside the frame lines, allowing you to anticipate moments before they enter the shot—the ultimate homage to Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment”. With a flick of a switch, it flips into an EVF when you need exact exposure preview or focus peaking.
Ondrej Vachek – Photographer
Tactile Control: Exposure compensation dials, a dedicated shutter speed dial, and an integrated lift-and-turn ISO ring mean every critical parameter is right under your fingers. You adjust settings by feel without taking your eye off the finder or digging into menus.
Ondrej Vachek – Photographer
The X-Trans III Magic: Powered by the 24MP X-Trans III sensor, the image files have a film-like grain structure and rich tonal rendering. Paired with Fujinon glass, the out-of-camera rendering—especially film profiles like Acros and Classic Chrome—gives black-and-white and color files a natural depth that requires very little post-processing.
FUJI X WEEKLY
Built for the Field: Wrapped in a magnesium body with full weather sealing, it feels solid and balanced in hand without weighing down a shoulder bag during long days in the field.
Ondrej Vachek – Photographer
This camera isn’t about chasing the latest spec sheet; it’s about the shooting experience. It gets out of the way and lets you focus on seeing. As I step into this next season of freedom and photography, the X-Pro2 Graphite feels less like a piece of technology and more like a trusted extension of my eyes.
Shark & Palm
