Drifting – A Dreamy Black & White Fujifilm Recipe
I’ve always been drawn to moments that feel like they’re slipping through your fingers, soft, slow, and almost surreal. That’s what Drifting is about. It’s a black and white film recipe I created to let you capture that fleeting magic, straight out of camera, no editing needed. It’s grainy in all the right ways, soft where it matters, and carries a ton of mood with very little effort.
I shoot this with the Fujifilm X100VI, and it’s built around the Acros film simulation (probably the most underrated simulation when paired with a mist filter and shot slow). The 1/4 mist filter plays a huge role here. It lifts the highlights, gives bloom to any light source, and takes the edge off sharpness without losing detail. The result? Dreamy, cinematic, almost haunting in the best way.
I tend to shoot Drifting at 1/60 or slower, slower shutter speeds give it that smeared-light feeling, especially if there’s motion in frame or a bit of camera shake. It thrives in quiet, reflective environments: empty streets at dusk, soft window light, foggy mornings.
The Look
What you get with Drifting is a nostalgic monochrome look with a dreamy softness that still retains texture. It’s contrasty but never harsh, and the shadows feel rich without being crushed. Think photojournalism meets dreamscape.
Gear & Settings
Camera: Fujifilm X100VI
Filter: 1/4 Mist Filter (Tiffen or K&F work great)
Aperture: f/2
Shutter Speed: 1/60 or slower
ISO Range: 125–800
Film Recipe: DRIFTING
Base Simulation: Acros
Grain Effect: Large, Strong
Color Chrome Effect: Off
White Balance: 5500K
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +3
Sharpness: +2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
Color Chrome FX: Off
Best Used For:
Moody street photography
Window-lit portraits
Misty or foggy weather
Low-light interiors
Cinematic storytelling sequences
If you try out Drifting, I’d love to see what you capture with it. Tag me @clicks_with_alex or use the hashtag #clickswithalex so I can check it out. The idea behind this recipe was to bring softness into scenes without losing emotion — a bit like how a memory fades at the edges but still feels vivid at the center.
Let things blur a little. Let the light bleed. Let it drift.
