Bob Poole Puts the Fujifilm GFX100 II in the Path of Elephants — and It Delivers Cinematic Magic

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While working on his latest elephant documentary, Emmy Award–winning cinematographer Bob Poole decided to bring an unexpected camera into his setup: the Fujifilm GFX100 II. Not as a main cinema camera — that role was covered by the ARRI Alexa 35 paired with the massive Fujinon Duvo HK 25–1000mm f/2.8–5 — but as a creative tool to capture something different.

The goal was simple: get unusual, ultra-high-quality shots from extremely low angles.

To make that happen, Poole and his team built an elephant-proof cage and placed the GFX100 II directly on the ground — right on paths regularly used by elephants — to capture perspectives that would be impossible with traditional cinema rigs.

Naturally, this should have been a disaster.

After all, if he had asked internet forum experts, they would have confidently explained that the GFX100 II is “not a real video camera” and that creating meaningful cinematic footage with it would be basically impossible.

Luckily, Bob Poole didn’t ask the forums.

And somehow — against all odds and comment sections — the GFX100 II ended up delivering stunning, cinematic footage that blends seamlessly with high-end cinema cameras.

Here’s what Poole had to say about working with the GFX100 II:

  • GFX100II has been instrumental in this film project, giving us angles we would have never been able to achieve with larger cameras
  • We made an Elephant proof cage and dropped the GFX100II on a path the Elephants use
  • when the Elephant pops in front of the camera, all the detail is there on that large sensor, all that information, I think it’s going to blow people away
  • the idea was always to have massive wide angle shots that show the landscape from a perspective you otherwise you would not see
  • GFX100II came into play because the wide angle stuff coming out of these lenses in this amazing camera were seamless
  • the image has the same beautiful soft rolloff of the Arri Alexa 35, shallow DOF, super sharp, beautiful bokeh
  • the image is fantastic
  • GFX100II also really valuable for timelapse, counting on that large sense to be able to oversample and then be able to work within the frame which has given our post production so much flexibility, because we can move within the frame we’ve created
  • GFX100II stills are amazing. We have got so many beautiful images

Well done, Bob — and well done Fujifilm for giving creators tools that don’t just improve image quality, but actually expand what’s creatively possible, opening new ways to work, experiment, and tell stories with more freedom and flexibility.

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Italian Dream: A Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipe Worth Rediscovering

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A few months ago, I shared a major Fujifilm colors image roundup that included several film simulation recipes. Among them was a particularly beautiful one called “Italian Dream,” created by Film Simulation Group member Dean (Instagram).

It’s such a lovely recipe that I feel it got a bit lost within the larger roundup. For that reason, I wanted to give it the attention it deserves by dedicating a standalone article to it.

And it seems the timing is right: the recipe is now starting to gain traction, with fellow Fujifilm X shooters already using it for their own images—like Gamey, who shared some great examples.

I know most of us are currently deep in winter mode. Still, there’s something refreshing about already thinking of summer—and imagining how this film simulation recipe could shine during brighter, warmer days ☀️

Image Gallery & Settings

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Aiarty Image Enhancer Updated: DNG/TIFF Export, AI Eraser & Color Restoration (Holiday Deal Ending)

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Aiarty Image Enhancer Updated: DNG/TIFF Export, AI Eraser & Color Restoration (Holiday Deal Ending)

Aiarty Image Enhancer just received a few practical updates. It now includes professional-grade TIFF/DNG export, improved color restoration, and a beta AI Eraser—all processed fully offline.

No cloud uploads, no subscriptions. Whether you’re cleaning up high-ISO noise, restoring older archives, or preparing images for large-format print, Aiarty Image Enhancer handles the processing locally while keeping textures and colors natural.

Update & Licensing (Deal Ends Jan 31)

Existing users get these updates for free. For those looking to add a powerful utility to their kit, the holiday promotion is active through January 31:

  • Lifetime License: $79 (49% off, one-time payment, includes all future updates)
  • Extra Discount: Use coupon code NYSPECIAL for $5 off
  • Check out the Holiday Offer here

Professional Perspective: Handling Large Files

Wildlife photographer Bill Maynard has been testing the software for noise reduction and deblurring.

“As a wildlife photographer, I rely on tools that enhance my images while staying true to the natural beauty of my subjects. Aiarty Image Enhancer excels in this regard.”

For large images, he recommends:

“Go to Settings → Aiarty Image Enhancer → Max Tile Size, and set it to Auto. This gives the best results for large images.”

See his test with Aiarty Image Enhancer >

What’s New in the Latest Version

  1. TIFF & DNG Export for Pro Workflows You can now export enhanced images as TIFF or DNG, preserving higher bit depth. This ensures a seamless handoff to Capture One or Lightroom for final grading. The update also includes explicit DPI options optimized for everything from web use to fine-art/large-format printing.
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Fujinon Full Frame 75mm F1.4 and 56mm F1.4 Patents Spotted

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AI Generated rendering based on technical sketches of the patents

A couple of new lens patents have now been spotted by the Japanese website asobinet.

  • 51mmF1.4
  • 54mmF1.4
  • 56mmF1.2
  • 74mmF1.4

Interestingly the lenses seem to be designed for Full Frame rather than APS-C or GFX.

It’s not the first time that a full frame lens patents surfaced. We already spotted the 40mmF2.

Patent Details

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TTArtisan AF 35mm F1.8 Ⅱ Orange-Pop Limited Edition Launched

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The TTArtisan AF 35mm F1.8 Ⅱ orange-pop limited edition can now be purchased at TTArtisan here.

It’s not the first time TTArtisan gives a fresh paint to one of its lenses.

We remember the TTArtisan 27mmF2.8 in “Polar White” as well as “Twilight Flame”

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