AUSTIN MANN

CHASING LIGHT WITH XCD 21

Travel photographer Austin Mann’s philosophy is “chase light,” and that he did, all the way to the beautiful landscapes of Glacier National Park in western Montana. Using the X1D, Austin took the XCD 21mm, Hasselblad’s widest lens ever, to capture just the right perspectives that created a strong sense of the tranquility found within the rugged, mountainous landscape.

Traversing the peaks and valleys of Glacier National Park, Austin was on his feet for days as he searched for unique renditions of light with the X1D. “It’s amazing that you can hike for hours packing the power of this medium format camera on your shoulder and not even think twice about the weight,” says Austin. Playing with light in the dark, Austin took advantage of the X1D’s lowlight long exposure capabilities as he photographed zooming cars, dreamy clouds, and heavenly star-lit skies. Using the simple wireless remote capture controls of iOS app Phocus Mobile to execute long exposures, he could easily change X1D settings and trigger the shutter, minimising camera shake.

The size to performance ratio of the XCD 21mm lens really caught me off guard. This lens is incredibly sharp edge-to-edge and offers an extremely wide perspective yet it’s comparatively small and lighter weight than I expected. It’s definitely a critical addition to the XCD lens line-up.

Nothing else in its class rivals the image quality of the X1D. After I import my images to my computer, I find myself repeatedly zooming in 100% just for fun! The dynamic range is especially helpful in dynamic landscapes with bright skies and dark shadows. I’ve worked with all the mirrorless competitors and can safely say none compare when recovering detail in blown out clouds or dark shadows.

ABOUT AUSTIN MANN

Growing up with a father that was both a photographer and designer, American photographer Austin Mann fell in love with digital imaging already at the young age of eight years old. In 2005, he became fascinated by light and its power over darkness, leading him to the world of photography. Having photographed all over the world, his experience has allowed him to run workshops worldwide, challenging others to use photography and storytelling to build communities and create change. See more of his work here.

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