Post credits: That lady was so interested in what I was doing, she stuck around and just watched me record from a distance. It was BEYOND AWKWARD. And for the record, I would never give up my X100V. I filmed a dang love letter to that camera. ;)
Christopher this one hurt, it brought me back to a time in my life when everything got turned upside down. 27 years ago on February 12, I lost my mother to a massive coronary attack. I was 33 at the time it happened, and my life changed in an instant without warning. There is nothing I can say now, or could have been said to me then, and then there is everything else that you manage to hold on to that is touched by that single event. It gives you honest soul searching clarity. Wishing you, your Mom, and your whole family all the blessings of being together, peace and health.
Clarhett, that's truly so hard to hear. I'm sorry. And here we are, almost to the day too. Thanks so much for sharing. Events like this really do put a lot of things into perspective. In the beginning of all of this, I really had no idea what was going to happen, and in moments like that, you hope for the best, but begin to brace yourself for the worst. I'm very grateful to have been supported by the absolute wizard of a surgeon that we had. Thanks so much for the wishes, and for watching. Take care. 💕✌️
In 15 minutes, you brought me to laughter, then to tears, and finally to a smile. I relate so much to your story! I also feel utterly compelled to create when hard times hit. When my mom was in hospital, I even forgot I had a very capable camera (by that time, an X-Pro2). Almost all the photos were taken on my phone, and every time I see them, I remember how strong we are. Keep creating, friend. Your images turned out beautiful.
Thank you, Thays! It's crazy how images can invoke such memories. I wasn't too crazy about half of the images haha, but I had fun using something new in an unfamiliar place, nonetheless. And that was enough to get me through that. :) Always appreciate you. 🙏
Watching this video in 2024 because I just love my X100V but boy, you are an amazing artist. Your storytelling is captivating and very well done. Thanks for your work and for sharing. Best wishes from Germany.
10/10... Man, this is so beautiful, I can't wait to the next one, the cinematography, your directing, editing, everything amazing you got it, this kind of content that makes me love cinema, filmmaking, photography things like that made with love, best wishes Chris!!!
Really enjoyed this😊 The noble phone photography is definitely overlooked. I recently started using my iPhone and Lightroom mobile to create photos. Thanks for sharing ❤
Another video that pulls at the heartstrings, Christopher. I remember when we were messaging, I was having my own hospital visits that I was trying to grapple with at the same time. I travelled back home by plane last minute, and it felt like the longest weekend of the year for me despite it only being a few days of visiting. As things settled down throughout these past few months, events from the past still linger in my family's mind, and in my own. My thoughts are with you, your family, and especially your mom. Just from that smile in that photo, she's looking strong! I'm glad you found a healthy way to cope with the situation. There's a lot to say about a camera and the kind of lifestyle (from sensibilities to philosophies) it fosters. For me, it gets me outside, whether it be out in nature, or taking a stroll on the streets. I get to see the world, have new experiences, meet people, and eternalize those memories. What's more is that it helps me remember everyday experiences that would otherwise blend into normalcy. Both my camera and phone facilitate these moments. To think otherwise is a reservation made for those who have yet to understand what making images can do for us. Mabuhay, bro! Keep at it--looking forward to the next. 🙂
First of all, I’m praying for your mom and your family. Secondly, looks like the algorithm actually did something good. This video was phenomenal, phenomenal in every sense of the word. This is what UA-cam should be. It was also incredibly inspiring for me to open up about my life and show a little bit more, because it’s scary to put it all out there. Congratulations on an amazing piece of work, I was happy to subscribe.
Thanks so much, Walid. And thank you for reaching out on Twitter as well. I think platforms like this are strongest when we can all connect on common ground. It's easy to get caught up in the specs and gear, but at the end of the day, we're all human and just want to share pieces of ourselves to anyone who is willing to look. So honesty and transparency go a long way, in my opinion. Cheers, friend! Much love, and love what you do!
I watched this one after your love letter to the x100v and was caught completely off guard. In a good way. You are so right: uncertainty doesn't have to be scary. It's a hard lesson learned, but in these shaky moments, there's always a shred of light. Be it hope or a new perspective on something you weren't previously into. Sending thoughts of good health to your beautiful mum - the photo of the two of you together is so sweet. Apologies if my comments are a bit too personal, I'm really new to this, but your videos are so engaging, it's hard to watch *without* saying something. Thanks for what you do, and all the best to your family!
I know, for a lot of people, this one hit really close to home. I think it’s something we creatives don’t talk about - about how the lack of fulfillment can feel, especially in hard times. But sometimes you find a spark and inspiration and good things came come from bad times. But thank you for the well wishes! Mom is doing really REALLY well these days, and she’s back to her usual hilarious and sweet self. I’m very grateful. And no apologies necessary! I intentionally make my videos honest and transparent and try to be as vulnerable as possible, because one, I know it creates engagement from those who see themselves in my stories and never had a platform to talk it, and two, because I think it creates better human connection. It’s hard for me to really connect with someone when I know that what I see is fake. Anyways, all that say, keep the comments coming. I appreciate you!
Christopher, this is a triumph. I’m laughing, I’m learning, I’m crying - Thank you for sharing your experience; being so deeply personal takes a lot of courage, I appreciate you being so open and transparent. I am moved, I am inspired. Plus, holy shit, your filming and editing is just gorgeous. You’re so good at this! Please give your Mom my love. She’s always been so good to me. Thinking of you and your whole family.
Hey Leah! Thanks so much! This one was definitely a monumental effort, but it totally came from the heart and I’m glad it shows and resonated in some way. I will let my mom know you’re thinking of her! She’d be delighted to hear it. She’s doing so SO well now and I’m super proud of her. Much love, Leah!
@@Christopher_Ray It definitely shows and I can’t even tell you how much it resonates with me. I am so happy to know your Mom is doing a lot better. I’m proud of her too! Thanks again for sharing your experience so beautifully ✌️
Oh man. You, sir, are a top tier creator. I appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts and personal experiences with grace while teaching us viewers a few things along the way. You really show the best side of what platforms like UA-cam are capable of, and bring the art back into a sea of “content.”
Thanks so much for the very kind words, James! I think vulnerability and honesty go a long way in this "sea of content," and add so much value that I truthfully don't know that we're used to seeing. We feel a lot of the same things, but to know others do too goes a long way in connecting with people and your audience, which I think is what this should really be about. Much love.✌️
i really wasn't expecting to cry because of a 20-minute video, but here we are. this was a top tier video, thank you for creating content and allowing us to see into your own experience! this one hit very close to home, but i'm so happy you made this video and shared it with the world.
Great video man. Made me think of when I first saw Kathy Ryan's (photo editor of NY Times Magazine and former mentor of mine) book called "Office Romance" all shot on her phone. Gear matters, gear doesn't matter.
Now that X100V ‘social media’ hype is saturated, is really fun how UA-camrs are turning on ‘I’m leaving the X100V’ to attract attention (=$$) Fun and sad at the same time.
Nothing to do with hype, views, or monetization. I don’t post frequently enough for these things to be consistent for me. This was simply a personal story that’s uniquely my own. Still own it. Still love it more than any other camera I own. ✌️
Totally agree with you Antonio. It seems to be all about attracting views. Seems. This video, for instance, is not that much about the X100V specifically, but it's made and posted in ways to make it seem like it is.
I have done a compel trail runs at this. Once I shot phone only for a summer, the other time I shot phone only for my first trip to Thailand. You can get images that are fine. In great light you can even get something good. I would always rather have a Ricoh GRIII or something instead. The optical quality is just never going to be there, because the hard ceiling is the physics of light.
For sure, I would rather have my X100V. It’s never going to replace cameras for me, but I wasn’t really approaching this from a technical aspect, so much as I was from an inspiration aspect during a hard time where I couldn’t use my X100V. The fact that phones have the ability to do these things at all is what enticed me, but I didn’t expect it to exceed beyond the capabilities of what a typical camera can do.
I wish you the best, and I hope that your mom get better fast 😉 Your personal touch in this story, was amazing. You are a extraordinary storyteller, creative and sensitive. Your message captivate me since the first minute, and I felt each part of your message. Don't give up, the sky it's the limit 😁🫶🏻 Hug from Portugal 😉
For about 3 years before I bought myself a "real camera" (which I love BTW), I shot with my Pixel 2XL. One thing I noticed when I first began shooting with my camera was that my composition with the phone was much better. Why? Well, basically with the new camera I was all caught up in settings and not paying as much attention to composition. To prove it I set the camera to aperture priority one day and took some shots. Of course, they were much better. I think using a phone is a great way to practice good composition. Just can't forget about it!! I'm just starting to think about doing more video and will be using my phone. Shooting video with a camera is so overwhelming to me in terms of all of the settings and the post processing that is necessary. Plus, similarly to photo composition the phone will let me focus on the content rather than the settings. Thanks for an inspiring message here! Love the clips of Roman, Faizal, and a few others BTW! Have a great weekend.
Thanks for sharing, Charlie! You're so right -- it's so much easier to focus on the "what" rather than the "how" when you're using a simple device like the phone. Aside from a few stock videos, all the footage from the hospital scenes were shot on my phone. Regular camera footage is a lot, between exposing for LOG, color grading, frame rates, blah blah. I love it, but I also recognize how much work it is too! Thanks for watching! (And yup -- big fan of the Fuji crew haha)
@@Christopher_Ray Ha! "The Fuji Crew"! My "real camera" is a Fuji X-T3. Just love it. I bought it barely used about two years ago with the 18-55 and some other goodies. It was the performance for price that hooked me. Funny thing is that the last camera I had before it was my Ricoh X-RP from 1984. Because of that, the dials made it easy to slide into the new camera. My video stuff will be mostly hiking content and some exploration stuff like old structures. Again, thanks for a nice insight into using the phone. Now, I need to learn about video!! 🙂
@@charliejg That’s a great one! I film everything on the X-T4, and even though the X-T5 is available, I’m still very happy with it! Hey, the learning and the practice will come with time - just get out there and make stuff! Cheers :)
Wow. Amazing. Your imagery, motion, words and heartfelt story was just so engrossing. I hope all gets OK with you and your family but seriously, what a talent. Thank you so much for sharing
Tim, thank you so much! She's doing so incredibly well and looks amazing. I'm actually the one sick in bed right now, so she's calling me about taking medicine and all that. You know how moms are. That's what they do. :)
That was such a beautiful watch!!! Thank you for sharing this Chris, your work is amazing as always! This was so beautifully shot and edited!! Especially the montage at 5:10 was truly fantastic! Exceptional editing! All in all, some of the best content we have on UA-cam! Love it!
Thanks, JT! I actually saved that section to edit last for a few reasons, but mainly because I knew it was going to give me the most trouble to get it right visually and timing-wise. So stoked you enjoyed!
The ITALIAN SPIDER-MAN AND THE SUNNY SIXTEEN scenes got me laughing and then the ER scene hit me… and to top all the things, the beautiful ending. What a roller coaster of emotions. This is a masterpiece of short film. Thank you for sharing, your videos make me happy every time.
Dang dude!! His was awesome!! Everything from your filming & editing to your content and message!! I loved it!! Such a great message and I hope your mom is still doing well!!
Because I always find solace in the Grateful Dead: “If you get confused, listen to the music play”. Always a good reminder that no matter the challenges we face, to not lose sight of what’s important and enjoy each moment the best we can. ⚡️miss you dude!
Wow bro so many emotions! this was an awesome way of translating your journey through these tough times but more than anything i am so happy mom is doing much better! Keep up the amazing work!
Oh wow, I think this is now one of my favorite videos on youtube!! Even tho it was super heavy and I wish all the best for your mom man, she looks super strong on that photo! The storytelling and the cinematography is really high quality oh wow!!! Makes me so glad that I got a X-T4 after I watched your video on that :) Such a fantastic film, I am heavily inspired! Greetings from Kiel, Germany. I am looking forward to more stuff :)
Wow, thank you so much! She is doing so well, and yup - she’s super strong. Glad to inspire! Even though the X-T4 isn’t the new thing anymore, I still love it so much. I appreciate you! 🙏
Cameras like the X100V is pretty pointless to me. iPhones are getting close to have a primary 1 inch sensor (currently 0.78”), with 48 MP and much faster and better processing, plus 3x lenses attached permanently. What’s the point of a X100V? There’s still a place for mirrorless interchangeable for sport, low light, shallow depth and field, and super zooming, but these mid-range cameras like the X100V are becoming much more fashionable accessories than practical cameras. I’ll bring a big Sony A1 setup with me and my phone, or more likely just my phone.
Great video. Thanks for the emotional roller coaster. I personally can’t use a phone, not because they aren’t capable, but because for me photography is more than the final image. It’s the feel of the camera, the weight, the turn of the lens and the sound of the shutter. The whole experience all the way to the final image is what I love. On a side note: Have you really only had this channel for a year and only a handful of videos?
Thanks, Jason. I totally get that -- I'm honestly the same way. For me, that's the entire appeal of film photography; the process of it all, the feel of it all, the act of making something. I think for me, this was a special case. It wasn't about the process for me here, but rather, just finding something to lean on during a hard time that didn't turn out to be half as bad as I anticipated. And yes! I started up the channel...last March, I think? So a little under a year? Why do you ask?
@@Christopher_Ray I ask because you have a lot of subscribers already. I suppose it’s do to fact that you have great skills with filmmaking, so obviously you have experience with that before UA-cam. So congrats on your success. I’ve had my channel for just 1 year and I’m at only 409 subs. I need to work on more story telling. However I have zero experience and I’m just trying to learn along the way.
I have a long background in writing, production, editing, etc., but I think that's just the icing on top of good storytelling. Just as you said, I attribute a lot of my growth to relatable storytelling. It's a rare thing in this unique camera space we're in, which is so completely oversaturated with specs, gear talk, and reviews. I truthfully have little interest in ANY of that. I use these tools, but they are merely just that for me -- tools. What matters to me is how it plays a role in my life, how it can unlock passion for others, and what it means to be a human with artistic sensibilities. I think approaching it from that angle brings an honesty and a transparency that is void of that "paid sponsorship" feel and comes across as genuine, which inherently allows your audience to feel like themselves too, and for those who seek honesty and a companion in their passion to find it. That's basically a wordy way of me saying that I just make things that feel true to myself and hope others can connect with it. It's definitely a grind, but I'm in no rush; I'm just enjoying the ride. :)
@@Christopher_Ray that’s awesome. Thank you for sharing that. When I set out to do my channel, I didn’t want to be like everyone else as well. I found myself falling into that trap of normal and I’m not happy about it. I need to push myself harder and not be in a hurry to get a video out each week, but make each one special. I’m also a writer and a creative person, I just need to push myself to put that in front of a lens.
I love that, man. Do it. I constantly beat myself up about not being "consistent" with my videos because you always hear that that's a sure way to growth, but for me, if the quality itself isn't consistent with my "brand," I'm just creating quantity, and I don't know if that's what I want. Again, trying to stay true to the type of films/videos I want to make and identify myself with, even though I'm sure there's pros and cons to both approaches. You got this, dude. ✌️
It's all good, she's doing great! And I completely agree as well -- I MUCH prefer shooting with a camera, and I'll never get rid of them. This was just a particularly difficult time where I was forced to be somewhere they weren't allowed, and needed to rely on what I had, and discovered it wasn't all that bad. :P
Man! this video is soooooooo good bro! all the best to your mum. this video just was recommending to me. it's really, really great. storytelling, sound, colors, image quality just everything. keep going. inspires me to keep going too :)
I know this was a video about the smartphone cameras but the minute I heard “Double Bypass…” the CVCU nurse in me kept scrubbing to find out how his mom is.
I went on a trip for a friends wedding. One day before we left from the hotel, I stood there for a second. My friend says let’s go, what’s up? I said I’m debating if I wanna carry my camera all day today. He says, can’t you just use your phone? I said 😐 yeah, you right. And left the bulky camera behind lol 🤦🏻
First, all the best to your mom, she'll be okay. But DO take this opportunity to show and tell her your love. I lost my mom in '21 so I can somehow relate. 2nd, amazing video and storytelling as usual (your X100V love letter vid nudged me further to get one). 3rd, still on the fence about phone photography. While I've taken a lot of good photos with my Galaxy S21, I was turned off when I saw computational artifacts (i.e. fake bokeh) in one of the supposedly RAW photos. I need to trust in a phone that truly takes RAW images. Maybe I need to switch to an iPhone?
Hey Gerald! Thanks so much, man. I really appreciate that. I see her every week and definitely don’t talk the time for granted. I’m so sorry for your loss, man. I can only imagine; it’s hard to prepare yourself for something like that. But she’s actually doing really great. I’m the one who’s sick at the moment, so she’s checking in on ME - typical mom stuff. 😂 And I’m convinced the devices take great images, excluding mine LOL. I definitely don’t use any of the “fun” settings like “Portrait” or “Cinematic” mode, as I find those tend to do a lot those computational things you mentioned and I don’t really want them getting in the way of the image. But while playing with RAW, I did find that the flexibility of those files are outstanding in Lightroom, and the file sizes were massive! As others have mentioned, the experience has a lot to do with it too. Not much can replace the feeling of a great camera in your hands. But for an everyday device that takes really decent images, I’m convinced that phones can really do the trick as a great companion, though I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where it “replaces” my cameras.
Post credits: That lady was so interested in what I was doing, she stuck around and just watched me record from a distance. It was BEYOND AWKWARD.
And for the record, I would never give up my X100V. I filmed a dang love letter to that camera. ;)
Christopher this one hurt, it brought me back to a time in my life when everything got turned upside down. 27 years ago on February 12, I lost my mother to a massive coronary attack. I was 33 at the time it happened, and my life changed in an instant without warning. There is nothing I can say now, or could have been said to me then, and then there is everything else that you manage to hold on to that is touched by that single event. It gives you honest soul searching clarity. Wishing you, your Mom, and your whole family all the blessings of being together, peace and health.
Clarhett, that's truly so hard to hear. I'm sorry. And here we are, almost to the day too. Thanks so much for sharing.
Events like this really do put a lot of things into perspective. In the beginning of all of this, I really had no idea what was going to happen, and in moments like that, you hope for the best, but begin to brace yourself for the worst. I'm very grateful to have been supported by the absolute wizard of a surgeon that we had.
Thanks so much for the wishes, and for watching. Take care. 💕✌️
Damn, I clicked on a camera video, didn't expect to be watching a movie and being brought to tears. Hats off to you.
In 15 minutes, you brought me to laughter, then to tears, and finally to a smile. I relate so much to your story! I also feel utterly compelled to create when hard times hit. When my mom was in hospital, I even forgot I had a very capable camera (by that time, an X-Pro2). Almost all the photos were taken on my phone, and every time I see them, I remember how strong we are. Keep creating, friend. Your images turned out beautiful.
Thank you, Thays! It's crazy how images can invoke such memories. I wasn't too crazy about half of the images haha, but I had fun using something new in an unfamiliar place, nonetheless. And that was enough to get me through that. :)
Always appreciate you. 🙏
How tell a story is unmatched. I’m glad your Mother is well first and foremost. Secondly- amazing video and story telling.
Thanks so much! I appreciate that!
Watching this video in 2024 because I just love my X100V but boy, you are an amazing artist. Your storytelling is captivating and very well done. Thanks for your work and for sharing.
Best wishes from Germany.
10/10... Man, this is so beautiful, I can't wait to the next one, the cinematography, your directing, editing, everything amazing you got it, this kind of content that makes me love cinema, filmmaking, photography things like that made with love, best wishes Chris!!!
Thanks, man. Very kind words, and I'm so glad you enjoyed!
Really enjoyed this😊 The noble phone photography is definitely overlooked. I recently started using my iPhone and Lightroom mobile to create photos. Thanks for sharing ❤
Another video that pulls at the heartstrings, Christopher. I remember when we were messaging, I was having my own hospital visits that I was trying to grapple with at the same time. I travelled back home by plane last minute, and it felt like the longest weekend of the year for me despite it only being a few days of visiting. As things settled down throughout these past few months, events from the past still linger in my family's mind, and in my own. My thoughts are with you, your family, and especially your mom. Just from that smile in that photo, she's looking strong!
I'm glad you found a healthy way to cope with the situation. There's a lot to say about a camera and the kind of lifestyle (from sensibilities to philosophies) it fosters. For me, it gets me outside, whether it be out in nature, or taking a stroll on the streets. I get to see the world, have new experiences, meet people, and eternalize those memories. What's more is that it helps me remember everyday experiences that would otherwise blend into normalcy. Both my camera and phone facilitate these moments. To think otherwise is a reservation made for those who have yet to understand what making images can do for us.
Mabuhay, bro! Keep at it--looking forward to the next. 🙂
The production value of this video is worth more than the subject matter, the x100v.. really great stuff!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed. :)
First of all, I’m praying for your mom and your family. Secondly, looks like the algorithm actually did something good. This video was phenomenal, phenomenal in every sense of the word. This is what UA-cam should be. It was also incredibly inspiring for me to open up about my life and show a little bit more, because it’s scary to put it all out there. Congratulations on an amazing piece of work, I was happy to subscribe.
Thanks so much, Walid. And thank you for reaching out on Twitter as well. I think platforms like this are strongest when we can all connect on common ground. It's easy to get caught up in the specs and gear, but at the end of the day, we're all human and just want to share pieces of ourselves to anyone who is willing to look. So honesty and transparency go a long way, in my opinion.
Cheers, friend! Much love, and love what you do!
Honestly one of THE best videos I‘ve ever seen. Truly amazing! best wishes to your mom
Very high praise, thank you so much! She's doing very well! She's recovered so beautifully, and I'm very grateful. Thank you! 🙏
Thank you for you showing your vulnerability. Absolutely loved it and felt it in my chest several times. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I watched this one after your love letter to the x100v and was caught completely off guard. In a good way. You are so right: uncertainty doesn't have to be scary. It's a hard lesson learned, but in these shaky moments, there's always a shred of light. Be it hope or a new perspective on something you weren't previously into. Sending thoughts of good health to your beautiful mum - the photo of the two of you together is so sweet. Apologies if my comments are a bit too personal, I'm really new to this, but your videos are so engaging, it's hard to watch *without* saying something. Thanks for what you do, and all the best to your family!
I know, for a lot of people, this one hit really close to home. I think it’s something we creatives don’t talk about - about how the lack of fulfillment can feel, especially in hard times. But sometimes you find a spark and inspiration and good things came come from bad times. But thank you for the well wishes! Mom is doing really REALLY well these days, and she’s back to her usual hilarious and sweet self. I’m very grateful. And no apologies necessary! I intentionally make my videos honest and transparent and try to be as vulnerable as possible, because one, I know it creates engagement from those who see themselves in my stories and never had a platform to talk it, and two, because I think it creates better human connection. It’s hard for me to really connect with someone when I know that what I see is fake. Anyways, all that say, keep the comments coming. I appreciate you!
This really hit my heart heavy! i lost my grandma almost one year ago. Im so incredibly glad you made this! much love to you and your family ❤
I’m so sorry to hear that, man. But I’m glad you were able to connect with it!
Thanks so much for watching. Much love, dude! 🙏✌️
You, my friend, deserve a sub! Excited to watch more.
I appreciate you! Thanks for watching!
The post credits moment was so sweet. Loved everything about this, well done ♥️
Thank you, Chenelle! She was a very sweet woman! Thanks for watching. I miss your face!
@@Christopher_Ray of course!! Thank you for sharing with us. I miss yours!!! 😭🥹
Christopher, this is a triumph. I’m laughing, I’m learning, I’m crying - Thank you for sharing your experience; being so deeply personal takes a lot of courage, I appreciate you being so open and transparent. I am moved, I am inspired. Plus, holy shit, your filming and editing is just gorgeous. You’re so good at this!
Please give your Mom my love. She’s always been so good to me. Thinking of you and your whole family.
Hey Leah! Thanks so much! This one was definitely a monumental effort, but it totally came from the heart and I’m glad it shows and resonated in some way. I will let my mom know you’re thinking of her! She’d be delighted to hear it. She’s doing so SO well now and I’m super proud of her. Much love, Leah!
@@Christopher_Ray It definitely shows and I can’t even tell you how much it resonates with me. I am so happy to know your Mom is doing a lot better. I’m proud of her too! Thanks again for sharing your experience so beautifully ✌️
You’re a natural storyteller
Thanks, man!
Oh man. You, sir, are a top tier creator. I appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts and personal experiences with grace while teaching us viewers a few things along the way. You really show the best side of what platforms like UA-cam are capable of, and bring the art back into a sea of “content.”
Thanks so much for the very kind words, James! I think vulnerability and honesty go a long way in this "sea of content," and add so much value that I truthfully don't know that we're used to seeing. We feel a lot of the same things, but to know others do too goes a long way in connecting with people and your audience, which I think is what this should really be about.
Much love.✌️
i really wasn't expecting to cry because of a 20-minute video, but here we are. this was a top tier video, thank you for creating content and allowing us to see into your own experience! this one hit very close to home, but i'm so happy you made this video and shared it with the world.
I really appreciate that! I’m glad parts of this resonated with you. Thanks for watching!
Great video man. Made me think of when I first saw Kathy Ryan's (photo editor of NY Times Magazine and former mentor of mine) book called "Office Romance" all shot on her phone. Gear matters, gear doesn't matter.
Now that X100V ‘social media’ hype is saturated, is really fun how UA-camrs are turning on ‘I’m leaving the X100V’ to attract attention (=$$) Fun and sad at the same time.
Nothing to do with hype, views, or monetization. I don’t post frequently enough for these things to be consistent for me. This was simply a personal story that’s uniquely my own.
Still own it. Still love it more than any other camera I own. ✌️
Totally agree with you Antonio. It seems to be all about attracting views. Seems. This video, for instance, is not that much about the X100V specifically, but it's made and posted in ways to make it seem like it is.
I have done a compel trail runs at this. Once I shot phone only for a summer, the other time I shot phone only for my first trip to Thailand.
You can get images that are fine. In great light you can even get something good. I would always rather have a Ricoh GRIII or something instead. The optical quality is just never going to be there, because the hard ceiling is the physics of light.
For sure, I would rather have my X100V. It’s never going to replace cameras for me, but I wasn’t really approaching this from a technical aspect, so much as I was from an inspiration aspect during a hard time where I couldn’t use my X100V. The fact that phones have the ability to do these things at all is what enticed me, but I didn’t expect it to exceed beyond the capabilities of what a typical camera can do.
Can't get the right words, just saying I enjoyed it so damn much and keep my fingers crossed for you for your mom. Amazing work, Ray!
Thanks so much, man! Mom is doing great!
such a great story teller ! speedy recovery to your mum , and you take care now
🙏🙏🙏
This is freaking GREAT dude. Love the film. Inspiring. Moving. All in a short about camera phones. Great job dude. Pray moms is all good!
Douglas, I appreciate you! Mom is doing great!
I just wanna say that your UA-cam videos (or I might call them films) are a work of art on their own. Wow!
I appreciate you! ✌️
I wish you the best, and I hope that your mom get better fast 😉
Your personal touch in this story, was amazing. You are a extraordinary storyteller, creative and sensitive. Your message captivate me since the first minute, and I felt each part of your message. Don't give up, the sky it's the limit 😁🫶🏻
Hug from Portugal 😉
I’m so humbled. Thank you, Ben. Mom is doing super well and looks better everyday. Much love from Virginia, USA!
@@Christopher_Ray that's great news, I'm glad to know about your mom 🙂
I was on an X100V videos binge, and I’m so glad I found you as a creator. Incredible stuff man, keep it up, it’ll be better than okay. Much love!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Willson! Much love to you!
For about 3 years before I bought myself a "real camera" (which I love BTW), I shot with my Pixel 2XL. One thing I noticed when I first began shooting with my camera was that my composition with the phone was much better. Why? Well, basically with the new camera I was all caught up in settings and not paying as much attention to composition. To prove it I set the camera to aperture priority one day and took some shots. Of course, they were much better. I think using a phone is a great way to practice good composition. Just can't forget about it!! I'm just starting to think about doing more video and will be using my phone. Shooting video with a camera is so overwhelming to me in terms of all of the settings and the post processing that is necessary. Plus, similarly to photo composition the phone will let me focus on the content rather than the settings. Thanks for an inspiring message here! Love the clips of Roman, Faizal, and a few others BTW! Have a great weekend.
Thanks for sharing, Charlie! You're so right -- it's so much easier to focus on the "what" rather than the "how" when you're using a simple device like the phone. Aside from a few stock videos, all the footage from the hospital scenes were shot on my phone.
Regular camera footage is a lot, between exposing for LOG, color grading, frame rates, blah blah. I love it, but I also recognize how much work it is too!
Thanks for watching! (And yup -- big fan of the Fuji crew haha)
@@Christopher_Ray Ha! "The Fuji Crew"! My "real camera" is a Fuji X-T3. Just love it. I bought it barely used about two years ago with the 18-55 and some other goodies. It was the performance for price that hooked me. Funny thing is that the last camera I had before it was my Ricoh X-RP from 1984. Because of that, the dials made it easy to slide into the new camera. My video stuff will be mostly hiking content and some exploration stuff like old structures. Again, thanks for a nice insight into using the phone. Now, I need to learn about video!! 🙂
@@charliejg That’s a great one! I film everything on the X-T4, and even though the X-T5 is available, I’m still very happy with it! Hey, the learning and the practice will come with time - just get out there and make stuff! Cheers :)
I felt this❤ You are truly an amazing storyteller. The embodiment of not being limited by gear.
Thanks so much for watching, Jerry! I appreciate the kind words!
Wow. Amazing. Your imagery, motion, words and heartfelt story was just so engrossing. I hope all gets OK with you and your family but seriously, what a talent. Thank you so much for sharing
I really appreciate that, Shane. Mom is recovering so well, and I couldn’t be happier. ✌️💕
This is beautiful work Chris. Best wishes to you and your lovely Mum.
Tim, thank you so much! She's doing so incredibly well and looks amazing. I'm actually the one sick in bed right now, so she's calling me about taking medicine and all that. You know how moms are. That's what they do. :)
That was such a beautiful watch!!! Thank you for sharing this Chris, your work is amazing as always! This was so beautifully shot and edited!! Especially the montage at 5:10 was truly fantastic! Exceptional editing! All in all, some of the best content we have on UA-cam! Love it!
Thanks, JT! I actually saved that section to edit last for a few reasons, but mainly because I knew it was going to give me the most trouble to get it right visually and timing-wise. So stoked you enjoyed!
Probably one of the best content creators on UA-cam in my opinion. Keep up the great work!
I’m just one among many! But thank you so much, that means a lot!
Man the vibes are insane, I feel so inspired watching this 🔥. Im feelin the emotions
Appreciate you, brother! 🙏🙏
The ITALIAN SPIDER-MAN AND THE SUNNY SIXTEEN scenes got me laughing and then the ER scene hit me… and to top all the things, the beautiful ending. What a roller coaster of emotions. This is a masterpiece of short film. Thank you for sharing, your videos make me happy every time.
ITALIAN SPIDER-MAN IS EVERYTHING hahahaha
Thanks so much, Alfonso. Very kind words. I appreciate you, bro.
@@Christopher_Ray SPIDER SPIDER SPIDER SPIDERRRRR
Dang dude!! His was awesome!! Everything from your filming & editing to your content and message!! I loved it!!
Such a great message and I hope your mom is still doing well!!
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed. Mom is doing so well! She's such a badass.
A beautiful and inspiring video Chris! Nothing but good vibes to you and the fam bam!
I appreciate you, Eric! Family is doing great, and mom looks amazing!
man, I really appreciate your work. It is really inspiring and joybringing and also helps me during harder times. Thank YOU
Thank YOU for watching, Sebastian. Glad you could find something to connect with.
Thank you for this film. Apart from the great storytelling, the music selection just hits right. Keep creating, mate! Love your videos!
Thanks for watching and the kind words, Toro! And I certainly will. 🫡
Because I always find solace in the Grateful Dead: “If you get confused, listen to the music play”.
Always a good reminder that no matter the challenges we face, to not lose sight of what’s important and enjoy each moment the best we can. ⚡️miss you dude!
Ahhh, well said! Thanks, man! Miss you too! Lauren said you’re loving the new job, and HAPPY, and I’m stoked to hear that!
Your story telling is one of the best on UA-cam. Incredible ❤
I really appreciate that, that’s so kind! Thanks so much for watching. 🙏
Wow bro so many emotions! this was an awesome way of translating your journey through these tough times but more than anything i am so happy mom is doing much better! Keep up the amazing work!
no hablo ingles ;)
Thanks bro. Love you, dude!
Fantastic, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this with us, I wish the best to your mom and you spend great times together, which is the most important, trust me
Thanks so much. It really is time you can never get back. Thank you for watching :)
Fantastic video. Great work
Thanks for watching, Eric. 🙏
Great video mate, wish you and your family all the best and looking forwards to see your next video!
Thanks so much, dude! 🙏
Oh wow, I think this is now one of my favorite videos on youtube!! Even tho it was super heavy and I wish all the best for your mom man, she looks super strong on that photo! The storytelling and the cinematography is really high quality oh wow!!! Makes me so glad that I got a X-T4 after I watched your video on that :) Such a fantastic film, I am heavily inspired!
Greetings from Kiel, Germany. I am looking forward to more stuff :)
Wow, thank you so much! She is doing so well, and yup - she’s super strong.
Glad to inspire! Even though the X-T4 isn’t the new thing anymore, I still love it so much.
I appreciate you! 🙏
The quality of this video was just amazing 🤩 Glad your mom is okay 😊
Glad you enjoyed! And thank you -- she's doing great!
another amazing video, youre one of the best storytellers on here, godspeed
Thanks so much, Tay! Hope all is well with you! 🙏
Glad I watched this video😊. Thanks.
Me too :)
Great content as always! It was so sweet and really puts life into a perspective. Hope your mum gets better soon ❤️
Thank you so much - she’s doing great and I couldn’t be more grateful. 🙏
Cameras like the X100V is pretty pointless to me. iPhones are getting close to have a primary 1 inch sensor (currently 0.78”), with 48 MP and much faster and better processing, plus 3x lenses attached permanently. What’s the point of a X100V? There’s still a place for mirrorless interchangeable for sport, low light, shallow depth and field, and super zooming, but these mid-range cameras like the X100V are becoming much more fashionable accessories than practical cameras. I’ll bring a big Sony A1 setup with me and my phone, or more likely just my phone.
Great video. Thanks for the emotional roller coaster. I personally can’t use a phone, not because they aren’t capable, but because for me photography is more than the final image. It’s the feel of the camera, the weight, the turn of the lens and the sound of the shutter. The whole experience all the way to the final image is what I love.
On a side note: Have you really only had this channel for a year and only a handful of videos?
Thanks, Jason. I totally get that -- I'm honestly the same way. For me, that's the entire appeal of film photography; the process of it all, the feel of it all, the act of making something.
I think for me, this was a special case. It wasn't about the process for me here, but rather, just finding something to lean on during a hard time that didn't turn out to be half as bad as I anticipated.
And yes! I started up the channel...last March, I think? So a little under a year? Why do you ask?
@@Christopher_Ray I ask because you have a lot of subscribers already. I suppose it’s do to fact that you have great skills with filmmaking, so obviously you have experience with that before UA-cam. So congrats on your success. I’ve had my channel for just 1 year and I’m at only 409 subs. I need to work on more story telling. However I have zero experience and I’m just trying to learn along the way.
I have a long background in writing, production, editing, etc., but I think that's just the icing on top of good storytelling. Just as you said, I attribute a lot of my growth to relatable storytelling. It's a rare thing in this unique camera space we're in, which is so completely oversaturated with specs, gear talk, and reviews.
I truthfully have little interest in ANY of that. I use these tools, but they are merely just that for me -- tools. What matters to me is how it plays a role in my life, how it can unlock passion for others, and what it means to be a human with artistic sensibilities. I think approaching it from that angle brings an honesty and a transparency that is void of that "paid sponsorship" feel and comes across as genuine, which inherently allows your audience to feel like themselves too, and for those who seek honesty and a companion in their passion to find it.
That's basically a wordy way of me saying that I just make things that feel true to myself and hope others can connect with it. It's definitely a grind, but I'm in no rush; I'm just enjoying the ride. :)
@@Christopher_Ray that’s awesome. Thank you for sharing that. When I set out to do my channel, I didn’t want to be like everyone else as well. I found myself falling into that trap of normal and I’m not happy about it. I need to push myself harder and not be in a hurry to get a video out each week, but make each one special. I’m also a writer and a creative person, I just need to push myself to put that in front of a lens.
I love that, man. Do it. I constantly beat myself up about not being "consistent" with my videos because you always hear that that's a sure way to growth, but for me, if the quality itself isn't consistent with my "brand," I'm just creating quantity, and I don't know if that's what I want. Again, trying to stay true to the type of films/videos I want to make and identify myself with, even though I'm sure there's pros and cons to both approaches.
You got this, dude. ✌️
This was so great chris, truly inspiring forreal. Keep it up with the content!
Marcelly, thanks my guy!
Great video and overall storytelling. I wish your mom and your family all the best.
Thanks, Bo! It was a tough holiday, but the family is doing super well! 🙏
Sorry about your mom. Awesome story and definitely agree 💯 but there’s just something magical about using a camera at times
It's all good, she's doing great! And I completely agree as well -- I MUCH prefer shooting with a camera, and I'll never get rid of them. This was just a particularly difficult time where I was forced to be somewhere they weren't allowed, and needed to rely on what I had, and discovered it wasn't all that bad. :P
Amazing work 🔥
I appreciate you!
Man I love your videos.
Appreciate you, man! 🙏
Wow, such a nice video. You have a new follower :)
Only one word - WoW!
Thank you! 🙏
Man! this video is soooooooo good bro!
all the best to your mum. this video just was recommending to me. it's really, really great. storytelling, sound, colors, image quality just everything. keep going.
inspires me to keep going too :)
Thanks so much for watching, Denny! I appreciate you, and thanks for the well wishes to mum - she’s doing great! Happy to inspire, man!
I know this was a video about the smartphone cameras but the minute I heard “Double Bypass…” the CVCU nurse in me kept scrubbing to find out how his mom is.
Haha, I appreciate that, man. Mom is doing really well and is in incredible health!
IT’S FINALLY HERE! STOKED
Enjoy, my dude!
lovely as always Ray!!!
Thank youuuu 🙏
You have yet to try the X90proPlus 😘
Beautiful video, Chris ❤️
Thanks so much, Fiona 🙏
Great video, thank you
I went on a trip for a friends wedding. One day before we left from the hotel, I stood there for a second. My friend says let’s go, what’s up? I said I’m debating if I wanna carry my camera all day today. He says, can’t you just use your phone? I said 😐 yeah, you right. And left the bulky camera behind lol 🤦🏻
Great video. ❤
Thanks! 🙏
gr8 work!
Damn this hit hard, great video!
Thanks, Cory!
Amazing video.
Thanks, Ivan!
Reach out to Apple and send them your story. Their marketing team would love this and likely hire you or license it.
Loved it
Thanks!
Hope your mom recuperates soon.
Doron, thanks for the well wishes. I appreciate you. 🙏
First, all the best to your mom, she'll be okay. But DO take this opportunity to show and tell her your love. I lost my mom in '21 so I can somehow relate. 2nd, amazing video and storytelling as usual (your X100V love letter vid nudged me further to get one). 3rd, still on the fence about phone photography. While I've taken a lot of good photos with my Galaxy S21, I was turned off when I saw computational artifacts (i.e. fake bokeh) in one of the supposedly RAW photos. I need to trust in a phone that truly takes RAW images. Maybe I need to switch to an iPhone?
Hey Gerald! Thanks so much, man. I really appreciate that. I see her every week and definitely don’t talk the time for granted. I’m so sorry for your loss, man. I can only imagine; it’s hard to prepare yourself for something like that.
But she’s actually doing really great. I’m the one who’s sick at the moment, so she’s checking in on ME - typical mom stuff. 😂
And I’m convinced the devices take great images, excluding mine LOL. I definitely don’t use any of the “fun” settings like “Portrait” or “Cinematic” mode, as I find those tend to do a lot those computational things you mentioned and I don’t really want them getting in the way of the image. But while playing with RAW, I did find that the flexibility of those files are outstanding in Lightroom, and the file sizes were massive! As others have mentioned, the experience has a lot to do with it too. Not much can replace the feeling of a great camera in your hands. But for an everyday device that takes really decent images, I’m convinced that phones can really do the trick as a great companion, though I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where it “replaces” my cameras.
wow
WHAT A QUALITY! COOL!
Thank youuuu ✌️
🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
which guitar music you put ? i am not able to shazam. please help
The music I used throughout is listed in the credits in the order of appearance.
10/10. No surprise on that though.
Ahhhh man, you're too kind!
⭐
Not sure what I watch. X100v review or a movie 😆 🤣
Selling my Fuji XT4 for Canon R8
LOL okay 😂
But also, if that’s the right tool for the job, go for it!
Why do you want to give up IBIS, joystick, big battery, good EVF and so on?
If you want fullframe, there are much better options than the R8...
@@muttishelfer9122 S5 markii?
@@movielover2172 Yes S5 II f.e. or Canon R6, A7C, Nikon Z5.
@@muttishelfer9122 They are high priced and Z5 and 7c have no internal 10bit video capabilities
Read JOHN 14:6 🙏🏼
❤❤❤❤