Ricoh GRIII Recipe 2025 | This JPEG Recipe Made Me Stop Shooting RAW | New Video 2025 | Matt Southam

Summary

In this video, the creator explores achieving a filmic, cinematic look with the pocket-sized Ricoh GR3, emphasizing photography as a friction-free, enjoyable hobby. While smartphones capture sharp, digital images, the goal here is natural, moody tones reminiscent of classic film. The video details a custom 'Cuban Negative' recipe for the GR3, adjusting saturation, hue, contrast, shadows, sharpness, and white balance to create soft, warm mid-tones with slightly cool shadows. The creator demonstrates how these settings enhance skin tones and urban scenes, allowing photographers to produce beautiful, ready-to-share images straight out of the camera without extensive post-processing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Photography should remove friction—quick shooting and minimal post-processing is ideal for hobbies and casual photography.
• 😀 The Ricoh GR3 is a pocket-sized camera that allows capturing high-quality photos quickly and conveniently.
• 😀 Smartphones can take great photos but often have a digital look; the GR3 can achieve a more natural, filmic aesthetic.
• 😀 Popular existing recipes like Reggie’s Color Negative are excellent for daily shooting, but custom recipes allow for personal style.
• 😀 The speaker aimed for a less saturated, moodier, and more cinematic look, inspired by Fujifilm's classic Cuban negative.
• 😀 Key camera settings for the custom 'Cuban negative' look include: Saturation +2, Hue -1, Contrast +2, Highlights -2, Shadows deepened, Sharpness reduced, Shading -2, Clarity -2.
• 😀 Negative film mode on the GR3 provides a neutral, flexible base for creating filmic looks.
• 😀 White balance is set to Auto with M2 B2 correction to achieve warm mid-tones and slightly cool shadows, preserving natural skin tones.
• 😀 The recipe emphasizes composition and capturing the right elements; in-camera look enhances perception but does not fix poor photos.
• 😀 Experimentation is encouraged—photographers should adjust settings based on lighting conditions and personal style preferences.
• 😀 This approach allows photographers to produce straight-out-of-camera images that feel cinematic without extensive editing.
• 😀 The process demonstrates that achieving a professional, filmic look is possible on a small, pocket-friendly camera, not just with RAW or large DSLRs.

Q & A

Why did the speaker choose the Ricoh GR3 over shooting RAW on a larger camera?

The speaker values portability and ease of use, emphasizing that photography should be low-friction. The GR3 fits in a pocket and allows quick shooting without extensive post-processing.

What is the main goal of the speaker's custom camera recipe?

The goal is to create a filmic, natural, and slightly moody look straight out of the camera, reminiscent of Fujifilm's Cuban Negative style, without needing extensive editing.

How does the speaker compare smartphone photography to the Ricoh GR3?

While smartphones can take technically good photos, they often have a digital look. The Ricoh GR3 allows a softer, more cinematic aesthetic that captures mood and atmosphere.

What role do camera recipes play according to the speaker?

Camera recipes are used to adjust color, tone, and overall mood of images. They enhance the visual style but do not replace good composition and photographic technique.

Which base image control does the speaker use for their recipe, and why?

They use 'Negative Film' as the base because it provides a flexible, neutral foundation that avoids oversaturation and oversharpening, allowing for custom looks.

What are the key settings for saturation, hue, and contrast in the speaker's recipe?

Saturation: +2 for warm tones; Hue: -1 for a slight magenta shift to refine skin tones; Contrast: +2 to add depth and punch.

Why does the speaker reduce sharpness and clarity in the recipe?

Reducing sharpness and clarity softens the image, prevents a digital look, and gives a more natural, filmic feel, especially for skin tones.

What is the purpose of shading adjustment in this recipe?

Shading is set to -2 to add subtle vignetting, creating a classic film look and enhancing mood in the photograph.

How does the speaker handle white balance for their recipe?

They use auto white balance with an M2B2 correction to achieve warm midtones and slightly cool shadows, mimicking the classic Cuban color style of Fuji film.

Does the speaker claim their recipe is the 'best'?

No, they emphasize that photography style is subjective. Their recipe is a personal preference, and they encourage others to experiment and adjust settings to suit their own style.

What types of photography does the speaker primarily focus on with this recipe?

The speaker focuses on street photography, travel photography, and family or casual daily shots where capturing mood and atmosphere quickly is important.

Why does the speaker recommend experimenting with exposure compensation?

Because lighting conditions vary, adjusting EV compensation helps maintain proper exposure in bright, overcast, or indoor/outdoor scenes, ensuring the desired filmic effect.