EXIT LOVES: RICOH GR III HDF

Posted on 2026-02-26

The Ricoh GR III HDF is an excellent refinement of an already respected compact camera, offering a thoughtful balance of technical precision and creative expression. Building on the strong foundation of the GR III, the HDF variant introduces a distinctive feature that enhances the camera’s appeal without compromising its core identity.

At the heart of the GR III HDF is a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor paired with Ricoh’s proven 28mm f/2.8 GR lens. This combination continues to deliver outstanding image quality for a camera of this size. Files are sharp and detailed across the frame, with impressive dynamic range and well-controlled noise performance at higher ISO settings. Colour reproduction is natural and consistent, while Ricoh’s JPEG processing remains among the best in class, offering nuanced tonal transitions and strong contrast straight out of camera.

The defining feature of this model is the Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF), a built-in, switchable physical filter designed to soften bright highlights and reduce harsh contrast. When activated, the HDF produces a subtle glow in high-contrast areas, lending images a cinematic, atmospheric quality reminiscent of classic diffusion filters used in film photography. Importantly, the effect is applied with restraint: fine detail is largely preserved, and images retain the crispness expected from the GR series. The ability to toggle the filter on demand makes it a practical creative tool rather than a fixed stylistic constraint.

In terms of handling, the GR III HDF maintains the series’ reputation for speed and efficiency. The camera powers on quickly, autofocus performance is responsive for general and street photography, and Ricoh’s Snap Focus system remains a standout feature for capturing decisive moments. The control layout is clean and highly customizable, allowing photographers to tailor the camera to their shooting style. The touchscreen interface is responsive and intuitive, supporting quick adjustments in fast-moving situations.

Portability remains one of the GR III HDF’s greatest strengths. The camera is genuinely pocketable, encouraging everyday carry and spontaneous shooting. This ease of access is central to its appeal, particularly for street, documentary, and travel photographers who value discretion and immediacy.

Overall, the Ricoh GR III HDF is a highly accomplished compact camera that succeeds by staying focused on what matters most: image quality, handling, and creative flexibility. The addition of the Highlight Diffusion Filter adds a subtle but meaningful dimension to the shooting experience, making the camera not only a reliable tool but also an expressive one. For photographers seeking a discreet, high-quality compact with a distinctive creative edge, the GR III HDF stands out as one of the most beautiful options available today.

Words – Lo Harley

ricohgr.eu

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ANTHONY FRIEDKIN – EX POST FACTO

Posted on 2026-02-23

Working exclusively in full-frame black-and-white, Friedkin has spent more than five decades using the camera as a tool of personal discovery, embedding himself within the worlds he photographs. A native of Los Angeles, Friedkin began photographing as a child and was printing his own work in the darkroom by age eleven. That early immersion established a lifelong devotion to the photographic object as something made, handled, and resolved by craft and creative intentions.

The exhibition brings together selections from several of Friedkin’s most significant photographic essays. Across the gathered series (as well as in an iconic eponymous portfolio), the city of Los Angeles itself remains a generative force—neither just a backdrop nor the hometown for our hero, but an organizing condition for an entire art practice. LA has the power to structure how bodies move, how desire circulates, how the landscape asserts itself as a protagonist with a taste for secrets and paradoxes, and how joyful living and risky business blur endlessly together.

Opposite – Stage 27, Universal Studios, Hollywood, CA, 1978

Exhibition runs through to March 7th, 2026

Von Lintel Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave, Unit A7
Los Angeles
CA 90404

www.vonlintel.com

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ALAN GAYNOR – OUR CITY

Posted on 2026-02-23

The Cityscapes series featured in Our City portrays skyscrapers as layered compositions of concrete, steel, and glass. Stripped of human figures, the photographs transform the urban landscape into an almost abstract orchestration of form and rhythm. From towering facades to reflections in glass surfaces, Gaynor’s images emphasize the interplay of scale, line, and light, revealing architectural nuances often overlooked in daily life. Drone-assisted perspectives, high-angle shots, and street-level views converge to create panoramas that are at once intimate and expansive.

Gaynor’s architectural background, including the founding of his firm in 1974, underpins his photographic approach. His work demonstrates a mastery of analog and digital techniques, delivering exceptional detail and tonal range in both black-and-white and color. Minimal manipulation ensures that each image retains clarity and objectivity, while compositional choices elevate the cityscape into a visual symphony, echoing Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s notion of architecture as “frozen music.” These photographs unfold like ambient scores, harmonizing rhythm, repetition, and scale into a contemplative visual experience.

Opposite – Reflection of the Lipstick Bad, 1996

Exhibition runs through to March 7th, 2026

Viridian Artists
548 West 28th Street, Suite 632
New York
NY 10001

www.viridianartists.com

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