Why Medium Format? — A Blog Series by Catharina Ahlén

By

Introduction As a landscape photographer working primarily in Scandinavia’s raw, remote, and often unpredictable conditions, I’ve always been chasing a very specific feeling in my images: depth, subtlety, and stillness. When I switched to the Fujifilm GFX system, something clicked—not just technically, but emotionally. This blog series is for those of you wondering: Why medium format? Is it just about megapixels, or is there something more?

Over the next several posts, I’ll walk you through real-world examples from my workflow and field experience, explaining not only the what but also the why behind each decision.

Part 1: Beyond Megapixels — The Tonal Depth I Didn’t Know I Was Missing

In this first post, I’ll show side-by-side examples of a winter forest scene shot both on a full-frame system and on my GFX 100S. It’s not just about sharpness—it’s about tonal transitions in snow, the way the shadows roll off, and the subtle gradients in overcast skies.

I’ll break down:

  • Why 16-bit files matter in real-world editing
  • How I avoid banding in subtle light situations
  • Why I now expose differently with GFX than I did with full-frame

This isn’t about brand worship. It’s about what medium format actually gives me in the field, in the cold, when there’s no second chance.

Part 2: Composing Slower, Seeing More — How Medium Format Changed My Shooting Pace

There’s a different mindset that comes with shooting medium format. It’s not made for burst rates or fast-paced action. It’s a camera that wants you to slow down—and that’s exactly what makes it a better storytelling tool for my kind of work.

Topics:

  • How the GFX’s bulk is actually a creative advantage
  • My tripod ritual and composition method
  • How fewer but better exposures have improved my portfolio

Part 3: Printing With Purpose — Why GFX Makes Me Think About the Wall

Most images today are made for the scroll. But I photograph for the print. In this post, I’ll show a full behind-the-scenes of how I prepare a GFX shot for printing on museum-grade fine art paper.

Covered:

  • File resolution vs. actual print impact
  • Soft proofing in Capture One and Photoshop
  • Paper choices and why they matter for medium format output
  • Close-up shots of my prints under a loupe

Part 4: Nordic Light and the Subtlety of Color

Scandinavian landscapes aren’t saturated. They whisper. And that whisper gets lost with aggressive sensors or contrast-heavy profiles. I’ll explain how GFX handles subtlety and how I profile my color grading to retain that soft Nordic mood.

Highlights:

  • Using Film Simulations (especially Classic Neg and Eterna) as a starting point
  • A case study: autumn marshlands at dusk
  • Split-toning and how GFX files let me push color nuance further

Part 5: The Intangible — Why Medium Format Feels Different

There’s a subjective element I can’t quite explain technically—but I’ll try. Medium format photography slows me down, deepens my connection to the subject, and creates a contemplative space between me and the landscape.

Closing thoughts:

  • On being a woman in a gear-heavy field
  • How intentionality became more important than quantity
  • Why medium format isn’t for everyone—but it’s exactly right for me

Stay tuned as each post goes live over the coming weeks. You can subscribe to my newsletter for updates, fine-art print releases, and field notes from upcoming expeditions.

Similar Posts