I’ve always believed that street portraits sit at the intersection of two worlds — the spontaneity of street photography and the intentionality of portraiture. When done well, they capture the rhythm of the street while isolating a subject in crisp, deliberate light. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a setup that bridges those worlds perfectly: the Fujifilm GFX100RF paired with the Godox IT-30 flash, shooting around f/8 with high-speed sync.
Why Street Portraits Matter
Walking several hours a day around Toronto, I see thousands of potential portraits. People framed by architecture, light bouncing between glass towers, a momentary pause at a crosswalk — each instance is a potential story. But street portraits are more than just candid captures; they’re about connection. You’re not just photographing someone in the city — you’re photographing someone as part of the city.
The challenge, of course, is control. Natural light changes by the minute, and urban environments can be harsh, contrasty, and unpredictable. High-speed flash lets me take back a bit of that control without sacrificing spontaneity.
The Gear: Godox IT-30 and GFX100RF
Let’s start with the tools. The Godox IT-30 is a compact, powerful flash that supports high-speed sync (HSS), which allows flash firing beyond the standard 1/125–1/250 second sync limit. That’s critical when you’re outdoors, often shooting in bright conditions where you’d otherwise be forced into smaller apertures or neutral-density filters.
Pair that with the Fujifilm GFX100RF, a medium-format powerhouse that captures massive dynamic range and rich tonality, and you have a combination that lets light feel both precise and natural. At f/8, the GFX’s incredible sensor sharpness and depth rendition give each image dimensionality — the subject isolated but still grounded in their environment.
The Human Element
Every portrait is a collaboration, even on the street. When I approach someone, I’m transparent: I tell them I’m working on a project about light and the city, and I ask if I can make a quick portrait. The flash can feel intimidating, so I always test it first on a nearby surface to show it’s not intrusive.
Once the shot’s set, I take two or three frames quickly — usually within seconds — and thank them. That spontaneity keeps the energy real. The best portraits come from moments where both subject and photographer are relaxed enough to let authenticity through.
Why It Works
Street portraits with high-speed flash combine two forces: control and connection. Control gives you the power to shape light. Connection brings humanity into the frame.
The Godox IT-30 and GFX100RF together let me merge these elements without slowing down. They give me precision without sacrificing pace — which is essential when you walk and shoot every day.
If you see me on the streets of Toronto — flash in one hand, camera in the other — that’s what I’m chasing: stillness inside motion, light inside noise.