Behind the Lens
Life isn’t meant to be lived on the highway. I’m Luke Reynolds, and I believe the best stories, the highest level of craft and life’s greatest moments are found when you slow down and take the scenic route.
I grew up in New Brunswick. After over a decade away working as a chef, building a life as a husband and becoming a father of two great boys, I’m shifting gears and moving from one chapter to the next. This change has taught me to appreciate a slower, more intentional pace. By looking back to some of the ways of old, I’ve learned to value traditional techniques, which is exactly why I began my photography journey on film. I’m drawn to things that require patience, intricate restoration, crafted design and above all, an attention to detail.
When I’m not behind the lens, you can usually find me tinkering on vintage motorcycles, sourcing the perfect coffee bean, or exploring the quiet corners of New Brunswick with my family.
The road doesn’t end here. Wander through the gallery to see my latest work, or if you have a project in mind, let’s map it out together.
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Chasing light down the backroads
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Every image on the Scenic Route is an intentional choice. I choose to slow down, bypass modern automation, and embrace the raw character of vintage gear. From the mechanical click of the shutter to the final chemistry in the lab, the process dictates the style. Here is the exact toolkit and community that brings this vision to life.
The Hybrid Approach
The best of both worlds. My workflow is completely hybrid, splitting time between modern digital precision and the raw soul of film. Whether I’m loading a fresh roll of 35mm into my vintage Fujica ST801 or utilizing the electronic agility of the Fujifilm X-T3, the focus remains entirely on the art of manual creation.
The Art of Zone Focusing
Predicting the moment before it happens. Instead of chasing a focus ring in real-time, zone focusing lets me lock in a fixed depth of field based on distance. It turns the camera into an intuitive tool, ready to capture scenes the second they unfold.
Optex 28mm f/2.8
A versatile storytelling wide angle that delivers a classic documentary feel with gentle micro contrast and a beautiful, organic rendering of highlights.
Soligor 135mm f/3.5
This compressed portrait prime isolates subjects beautifully, offering exceptional center sharpness paired with a smooth, organic fall off for dramatic, cinematic detail.
Vintage Glass (The M42 System)
Character over clinical perfection. By utilizing a physical adapter, I run my vintage M42 screw mount lenses directly on my digital setup. This allows historic glass to live a double life across both platforms, delivering an organic micro contrast that modern lenses cannot replicate.
The Province's Best Scans
A physical craft requires a trusted hand. The analog journey doesn't end when the shutter clicks. I trust my lab team, Timur and Angelina, of NG Photography to handle the chemistry. They deliver some of the absolute best film scans in eastern Canada.
My Go To Glass
Soligor 35mm f/2.8
Built with legendary Komine precision, this prime delivers a punchy, high-contrast image with a beautiful, natural perspective and a smooth, classic bokeh roll-off.
The X-Series Workhorse
Balancing vintage soul with modern agility. When a shoot demands speed and low light reliability, I rely on classic, rugged Fujifilm bodies. The physical manual dials keep my settings at my fingertips, bridging the gap between analog and digital.
Embracing Imperfection
Finding art in optical flaws. Instead of digitally correcting lens flares, soft edges, or chromatic aberrations, I welcome them. I use these natural quirks as framing elements to inject raw emotion into the frame.
Meyer-Optik Görlitz 50mm f/2.8
A true vintage icon celebrated for its painterly, artistic bokeh and unique, wide-open rendering that gives short portraits a deeply atmospheric, dreamlike quality.
Kenlock 85-210mm f/4.5
A reach-anywhere tele-zoom that trades sterile, modern perfection for heavy compression, rich colour rendering, and unmistakable vintage character across its entire focal range.