Hiking in the Rain with the Fujifilm X100VI + Black Mist Filters
I checked the forecast the night before, perfect hiking weather. Clear skies, cool temperatures, a perfect early spring day for a hike. But when I stepped outside the next morning, reality had other plans. Grey skies, steady rain, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I was waterproof, and more importantly, so was my Fujifilm X100VI. hahaha. Plus it’s nice to get out of the city for a little bit. I always feel so refreshed after spending time in nature. So my buddy and I set out for a hiking adventure.
There’s something about shooting in the rain that instantly changes the mood of a scene. The forest feels quieter, heavier, almost cinematic by default. For this hike, I kept things light and simple. I brought the X100VI along with the Fujifilm TCL-X100 II for tighter compositions and the Fujifilm WCL-X100 II for wider environmental shots. This combo turns the X100VI into a surprisingly versatile little system without losing that compact, everyday-carry feel.
Recently, Walkingway reached out and sent over their MRC Black Mist filters, so I figured this rainy hike would be a fun real world test situation. On a grey rainy day like today the filters should add a little atmosphere and glow to the shots. I mounted the MRC Black Mist 1/8 on the TCL-X100 II to keep things subtle and controlled. a 1/8th filter usually just takes the digital edge off images and makes them feel a little more organic with just a gentle bloom in the highlights. On the WCL-X100 II, I went heavier with the MRC Black Mist 1/2, really pushing that dreamy, hazy look to emphasize the foggy, rain-soaked environment. I was hoping the ½ strength filter made things look foggy even if there was no fog.
To tie it all together, I set my X100VI to PRO Neg Hi, which gave me a slightly contrasty but still natural base, perfect for letting the diffusion effects stand out without overwhelming the image. The result? The grey day stopped being a limitation and started becoming a creative tool. Well at least that’s the hope.
So far, my first impressions are genuinely positive. These filters add character without completely destroying sharpness, something that’s harder to get right than most people think. Towards the end of the hike a little real fog rolled in and I’m sure the 1/2 filter helped make it look dencer. That said, I’m going to keep playing with these filters in different lighting situations before I make a final review. Stay tuned to the blog and YouTube channel for more on the Walkingway Black Mist filters.
