TAKE TEN: Deon Harris

Looking at Deon Harris’s work, it’s clear that he loves photography, capturing life through a number of genres. We asked him to pick only one (hint: he couldn’t) and what’s always in his camera bag (hint: everything), plus we run through this photographic bucket list.

You seem to photograph several genres, including landscape, wildlife, portraits and travel. If you had to pick one to stick with, which would it be and why?

It would be very difficult to choose only one as I enjoy them all. But maybe because there is no human influence in landscapes and wildlife, it would probably be one of them.

What lenses are your favourites for the genres mentioned?

Regarding wildlife, the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 is my favourite and it’s awesome, also with the 1.4x converter at close distances for small birds. For landscapes my go to is the Fujinon XF10-24mmF4, I just wish it was a little sharper on the edges. Then for portraits I do almost everything with the XF56mmF1.2, and finally, I just love the XF23mmF1.4 for travel – it’s a brilliant lens.

How much time do you spend editing? What software do you use?

I try to edit as little as possible and mainly use Lightroom when I do, where I also catalogue my work.

What is the one thing you started doing/learnt that helped improve your photography the most?

Understanding light and painting with light.

What is always in your camera bag?

All the gear I own, however, I will always pack a smaller bag for a trip or event. There are several Fujinon lenses in there, the X-H2S and I will be adding the X-S20 soon.

Why did you switch to Fujifilm and what camera is your favourite?

I switched to Fujifilm from a well-known brand’s full frame because of the form factor, size, the crisp images on all the lenses and the colour, but initially for the ergonomics. I kept some of the old gear just in case I made a mistake, but two years later it was just collecting dust, so I got rid of it. I have never looked back and I’m happy with my Fujifilm gear.

Tell us more about your photography bucket list?

One will be realised in September when we leave for an overland wildlife trip through Zimbabwe, visiting all the parks and ending up in Gonarezhou a month later. As for the rest, I would like to walk the Drakensberg for a week or two just for landscapes, travel through Namibia, and visit both Vietnam and Eastern Europe.

Find more of Deon’s work here:

https://www.instagram.com/nikonsyncro/