27 Sep An Homage to Luigi Ghirri in Puglia — with the Fujifilm X-S10
Puglia is one of the places I return to in my mind whenever someone asks where I’d love to travel again. I’ve been there twice, and every time the sun, the people, the food, and the slow rhythm of life have pulled me in. Small joys fill every trip — a stranger helping you on the street, an unexpected smile, a slice of focaccia. It’s a way of living you don’t find in big, noisy cities. Here, you forget to rush and start to breathe differently.
When I discovered Luigi Ghirri’s photography, I felt someone had captured exactly how I want to see the world. For a long time, I wanted his book but, back then, I simply couldn’t afford it. So I studied his work online — the simplicity, geometry, pastel tones, the quiet, gentle mood. After my second trip to Puglia in 2023, I thought: why not try to bring some of that spirit into my own photographs?
Why Fujifilm
Although I also own Nikon gear, whenever I want to really live a place and not “produce,” I reach for Fuji. My X-S10 is small; in my large hands it almost looks like a toy. People don’t feel intimidated — they glance or just ignore me completely. Only when I mount the 55-200 does it look “serious.” For Puglia I went with the older 10-24mm. The streets there are narrow, corners intimate, everything calls for space and air. I wanted breathing room in my images, not tight frames like in my “Fragments” project. I wanted calm, serenity, atmosphere.
How I Photographed
I wandered for hours through white villages and shaded alleys, with no shot list, just looking for small gestures that give life to a place: a man lifting an old shop sign, someone cleaning in front of their house, forgotten bicycles leaning on white walls, plants thriving in improvised pots.
In Puglia, I did something I don’t usually do — I photographed only what I liked. I didn’t hunt for leading lines, I didn’t obsess over the rule of thirds, I didn’t chase “perfect” light. Whenever something made me happy or curious, I raised the camera and clicked. It was freeing, and maybe I should do it more often.
Editing Process
To keep a Ghirri-like feel, I started with the Classic Chrome simulation on the Fujifilm X-S10 but softened contrast and saturation. I kept highlights gentle, avoided harsh whites; lowered clarity so walls lost their gritty texture and turned soft, almost painterly. I shifted white balance slightly toward green to tame the strong Mediterranean warmth and get clean pastels. Skin tones stayed natural, shadows airy and alive instead of deep black. Everything was finished in Lightroom on the iPad — simple, thoughtful tweaks until the photos stopped shouting and started quietly telling their story.
What I Learned
This exercise showed me you don’t need ten lenses or the most expensive camera to create something meaningful. Fuji let me stay invisible, move lightly, and photograph with joy. More than anything, it taught me to embrace simplicity and turn limits into a creative frame.
Looking back now, I feel the peace of Puglia in these photos. I think Ghirri would appreciate that — loving places without making noise, just watching carefully.
Quick Guide for Those Who Want to Try
• Gear: Fujifilm X-S10 + XF 10-24mm f/4
• Film Simulation: Classic Chrome as a base
• Editing: softer highlights, low clarity, moderate vibrance, WB slightly toward green, airy shadows
• Approach: slow down, don’t chase spectacular scenes — seek calm and small stories.
