Humid Summer’s Day at Henley Beach
There’s something magical about Henley Beach on a humid summer’s day. The sky seems lower, the air thicker, and the energy of the crowd more palpable. This South Australian gem, with its iconic boardwalk and jetty, is a street photographer’s paradise. Armed with my Fuji X-T1 and Lumix LX100, I set out to capture the unique vibe of a summer afternoon where light, atmosphere, and people collided in perfect harmony.
The Setting: A Humid Coastal Summer
Henley Beach is a place where urban life meets nature. The boardwalk, flanked by cafes and local shops, bustles with activity, while the beach itself offers an escape into the natural rhythms of the ocean. On this particular day, the humidity seemed to hang in the air, creating a dreamy, almost surreal atmosphere. The sound of waves gently crashing against the jetty was accompanied by the distant murmur of people enjoying their summer day.
Clouds drifted lazily across the sky, diffusing the sunlight into a soft, golden glow. As I walked along the boardwalk, my two cameras in hand, I was determined to capture the day’s essence — one in color, the other in black and white.
Fuji X-T1 and the 14mm f/2.8: Classic Chrome Dreams
I began the day shooting with my Fuji X-T1, paired with the 14mm f/2.8 lens. The wide angle was perfect for capturing the expansive scenes, from the length of the jetty to the beachgoers lounging in the sand. The Fuji’s Classic Chrome film simulation was my go-to for this shoot. The muted tones, desaturated colors, and slightly cinematic feel gave the images a nostalgic, almost timeless quality — perfect for the hazy, humid day.
The boardwalk was alive with life. Groups of friends sipped iced coffees under the shade of umbrellas, while children zigzagged on scooters, their laughter echoing through the air. One of my favorite shots of the day was of an older couple sitting on a bench, their faces slightly sun-kissed, enjoying the quiet moments of the afternoon. Behind them, the sea stretched out, with the jetty cutting a straight line toward the horizon.
In Classic Chrome, the scene had a gentle, almost filmic quality. The humidity softened the colors, blending the light and shadows in a way that made everything feel slightly dreamlike. I loved how the muted blues of the sky, mixed with the soft golden tones of the sand, created a natural palette that needed little editing.
Switching Gears: The Lumix LX100 in Black & White
While the Fuji X-T1 captured the mood in color, I reached for my Lumix LX100 when I wanted to focus on textures, contrast, and composition. Shooting in black and white allowed me to strip away the distractions of color and focus purely on the interaction of light and shadow, especially in such atmospheric conditions.
On the jetty, the interplay of light was fascinating. The wooden beams cast long shadows on the boardwalk, and the figures of people walking, fishing, or leaning over the railing created striking silhouettes. The LX100’s built-in black and white mode helped emphasize the contrast between the dark jetty and the bright, hazy sky.
Switching between the Fuji X-T1’s Classic Chrome and the Lumix LX100’s black-and-white mode allowed me to capture the day’s essence from two very different perspectives. The Fuji’s color palette conveyed the warmth and nostalgia of a summer day, while the Lumix’s monochrome images honed in on the raw, human elements of the beach environment.
With the X-T1, I captured families playing in the sand, their colorful towels scattered around them like pieces of art, or friends leaning against the boardwalk rails, enjoying a brief moment of respite from the humidity. The subtle colors, slightly muted by Classic Chrome, gave these moments a cinematic, almost vintage feel.
In contrast, the black-and-white shots from the Lumix LX100 told a different story. The focus shifted to lines, shapes, and contrasts. A woman walking her dog, silhouetted against the vast expanse of sea and sky, became a study in movement and form. The jetty itself, with its clean, straight lines, offered endless possibilities for minimalist compositions.
Finding Balance: Light, Mood, and Emotion
Henley Beach on a humid summer’s day is full of contradictions: bright yet hazy, lively yet calm. Balancing both cameras allowed me to explore the duality of the environment. The Fuji X-T1, with its timeless color reproduction, captured the mood and warmth, while the Lumix LX100, shooting in black and white, distilled the scene down to its essential elements of light and shadow.
One of my final images of the day, taken just before I left, was a wide shot of the jetty from the shore. With the X-T1, the muted blues and golds created a serene, peaceful feeling. With the LX100, the same shot, in black and white, was stark and bold, with the jetty cutting a sharp line into the horizon, and the figures on it transformed into abstract shapes.
Conclusion: Two Cameras, One Story
Street photography is about capturing the essence of a place and its people. On this humid day at Henley Beach, I was able to do just that by blending the nostalgic tones of the Fuji X-T1 with the timeless contrasts of the Lumix LX100. Each camera offered its own perspective, but together, they told the full story of a day where the air was thick, the light was soft, and life moved to the rhythm of the sea.
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*Gear Used: Fuji X-T1 with 14mm f/2.8, Lumix LX100 in black-and-white mode*
These images and more are available for licence at www.nickclayton.com.au
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