Film simulation recipe for a striking look with bold colour, deep shadows and unforgettable style.

There are many Fujifilm film recipes that mimic creamy film looks, but sometimes you want to experiment and push yourself with a film recipe that goes beyond the basics. Controversy is exactly that recipe. The name has two origins. The first is contre jour, shooting directly into bright light, which is where this film recipe absolutely excels. The second is Jealousy, an app-only recipe with similar bold characteristics but a distinctly greener cast. Controversy takes Jealousy’s spirit and shifts it warmer, richer and more versatile.

Built on Classic Negative, Controversy takes you away from the safely of nautral settings into a much deeper place. Highlights are lifted to +3 and shadows deepened to match, creating drama and real impact in high-contrast scenes. Point this at the sun during golden hour, into backlit foliage or against a sunset sky, and the results are striking.

There is an interesting flip side to all this. The same boosted tone curve that loves bright light also transforms gloomy conditions. On a grey, overcast day or in dark woodland, Controversy adds drama and impact where there might otherwise be none. Focus on details (like raindrops on the end of a leaf) and Controversy will transform a flat scene into something bold and atmospheric. The warm white balance shift makes colour rich, whatever the weather.

This is an experimental film recipe, and one that can be more challenging to master. It is not suited to every scene, but if you feeling adventurous, or just want to play with something more extreme, set to JPEG and see what drama you can capture, straight out of camera.

Controversy Film Recipe Settings

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Controversy Film Recipe: Sample Photos

Community Photos

Photos taken with the Controversy film recipe by members of the Film Recipes community.

Photos by Alex Tenhave

Photos by Sabrina Magnusson

Photos by David Forsdike

Photos by Tommy Tomoski

Photos by Marcio F A Pereira

Photos by Nizam Sutimin

Photos by Sacha Maillot

Using the Controversy Film Recipe

Each film simulation recipe has its own character and style. These features mean recipes are more suited to certain situations, or when seeking a particular look. Here are the categories that Controversy has been tagged with.