4x5 Photography - Make the Most of Grey Skies

[@justininfrance]

The Lake District must be one of the most over-photographed locations in the world, personally I would avoid it like the plague, but I have to say these are beautiful images.

[@SteveONions]

It certainly is but it is hard not to be drawn to the place as it just makes you feel so good being there.

[@willrogers3702]

Wow. 7:25 is simply stunning. The black and white result is great, but in colour from your video camera, it just makes me want to go back to the lakes even more!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Will.

[@georginagarrett5969]

Hi Steve Great video. Ive battled with large format and umbrellas in the wind the years and the only make that have stood up to the test have been Blunt. Well worth the money and much better than ones costing twice the price. Believe me, Ive tried them.

[@SteveONions]

Them Paul, I’ll give them a look.

[@ArguelloFlores]

it looks so easy... once you do it with all the practice and experience. Very motivating video, thank you for sharing it.

[@kowanut1]

Excellent tip about using a polarizer for tonal saturation of wet surfaces on grey days. Thanks!

[@GaetanCormier]

Ahhhh! Nothing like a Sunday morning watching your new episode with a nice cup of coffee! RIP umbrella... Good work as always Steve!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Gaetan.

[@fairwayfrank]

The best way to start a Sunday morning - another wonderful post. The panoramic image is nice, but my favorite was the Portra. The muted colors on a muted day make for a great combo. Cheers.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Frank, I also think the Portra image captures the mood of the day convincingly.

[@barrystreet2046]

Film is much different than digital, and you do it well

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Barry.

[@kevinumbel8383]

The last image on the Portra is stunning. Color, composition, orientation. Bravo.

[@andrewhulson4000]

Another great video Steve. You are so lucky to have the Lakes near by to pop out for the day. I can’t complain really, living on the South coast 👍😊

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Andrew, I’m roughly equally distance to Snowdonia too so I’ve no excuse poor images.

[@louiluigi]

I really enjoy your videos! I used to only go out and shoot in postcard weather, but you made me appreciate those rainy sunday mornings.

[@SteveONions]

It’s not so much fun shooting in poor weather but the result are usually a lot better than when the sun is out.

[@Paul9]

Great stuff Steve, you are honestly a master of composition. I've come to realise the benefits of overcast days from starting to print my work more as seeing how much more fine detail you can pull out of an image.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul. Working in subdued light is is a lot easier than under open skies and the results hold their appeal longer than more dramatic lighting.

[@101jumpit]

That photograph of Blea Tarn and the Pikes is absolutrely outstanding :) as are the others too (Y)

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@MrPc11111]

Really enjoying your vlogs, Steve. If youre still looking for an umbrella, then check out the the Fulton Stormshield umbrella. Ive waste money and lost a few to the North sea, but this one is very good. Will be celebrating its 2nd year soon 😊

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul, I’ll have a look at that one.

[@danieldegennaro5606]

Your work reminds me of nineteenth century illustrations made to entice people into the countryside. Beautiful results. Refined and precise techniques.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Daniel, that is very kind of you to say so.

[@acidsnow5915]

man you always make me want to try 4x5 photography! thanks for sharing all this beautiful content with us! really enjoyed watching this

[@andrewmahon4290]

Again, the B&W (The Pikes from Blea Tarn) was the pick of the bunch for me. Excellent 👍🏻

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Andrew, I was very pleased how that shot turned out.

[@CraigPrentisPhoto]

Another excellent vlog, Steve. Loved all the shots and especially the last one of Blea Tarn and the Pikes. Really good to see you using the 300mm and cropping in for tighter shots. Well done for hanging in there with the brolly at the end!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Craig. Without the long lens it would have been hard to get a decent image. The camera was bouncing around in the wind though with so much bellows extension so I'm glad I had the umbrella.

[@wonderland6457]

so far so good, very good idea for umbrella!

[@whitecurtis225]

Watching you work or should I say "make art" is so relaxing takes away stress ! Thanks for another great one .

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Curtis.

[@tonyb2760]

Love that image at 9:41. Thanks for sharing

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tony.

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

I was just about to ask about the brolly clip lol great mood in the sky

[@timscanlanphotography]

Hi Steve. Another excellent video. Watching as the rain continues to fall here in South Wales, so no play today. Really glad you shared the link for the brolly clamp (it's already sold out on Amazon !). Think I'm going to need it !! Many thanks for sharing.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tim. I think the same clamp can be found on eBay from time to time.

[@ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s]

Beautiful photos. Adverse weather conditions are my favourite.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jon.

[@stefaanverlinde9726]

Thanks Steve.

[@passcomcompass2623]

Quickly becoming my favorite channel. Thanks for making these, very enjoyable to watch!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Marvin.

[@robertjones769]

thanks for a very enjoyable video Steve. My favourite image was the very last one - fantastic composition to have spotted. Many thanks for your time and effort.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robert.

[@jbairdexp]

Always a pleasure watching you work Steve. :-) I also have a Hoage clamp for an umbrella but yours look likes it better suited for the purpose. Might pick one of those when they are back in stock. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Julian. I was surprised how well it worked but it does need a very calm day.

[@jbairdexp]

I even managed to take long exposures on the coast with an umbrella attached, so amazing things can be done in the right conditions! lol

[@SteveONions]

As long as it works it doesn’t matter how unlikely a solution it is. Results are what counts.

[@jbairdexp]

Well said Steve :-)

[@bkspicture]

I would prefer a b&w film with a orange or maybe even a red filter for weather like this. Still very nice shots and keep snapping!!

[@SteveONions]

Fair point, I just love making the most of the colour we get at this time of the year before plunging back into Winter with mono film.

[@jamesattenborough2597]

another lovely production Steve. And wonderful images

[@nw10photography]

Great video as always. Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@buyaport]

Very nice! Excellent demonstration what weather can do for photography.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@thevalleywalker]

It's been chucking it down in South Wales for the last 3 days - with wind - so must say you have more determination to go out and get the shot than I. Sat here with a nice cuppa viewing this. :) Do you find the paramo warm, I have the trousers and as comfortable as they are find they are too warm. Loved the muted images, your compositions are always a pleasure to view. It must be time for you to revisit Delamere Forest surely? (hint)..lol TFS

[@SteveONions]

Hi Alan. The Paramo is excellent and quite light too. It never feels too warm and I don't mind using it on cooler days in early Autumn.

[@MrAquabug]

Fantastic as usual, I always enjoy your video's!

[@Canadiansasquatchbrewery]

Great stuff as always! Thank you for sharing! Cheers!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@eltinjones4542]

Some great images there Steve 👌

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Eltin.

[@Leffe49]

Beautiful Images from a great location.

[@robdavey2005]

Fantastic vlog as usual Steve😊 although I shoot digital I love your approach to your photography with film, you can’t spray and pray as DSLR user might to get a good image, which is something I like, my photography with my DSLR has improved due to videos like yours. Slowing down with my image capture, shooting less HDR’s and endeavouring to get the image right in the camera and being subtle with my editing in LR has improved my Photography no end, far better than my film shooting way back when........... I still have an old Canon 35mm film camera that I’m tempted to fill with film and go out and shoot, keep the excellent content coming Steve😊😊😊😊

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Rob. I've found it so hard to slow down when shooting digital and make far too many variations on the same shot. The cost of film is always in my mind not to mention the hassle of scanning the resulting images.

[@amosk24]

For those looking for the tips for shooting landscapes in dull light: crop in to exclude the sky, and choose film that compliments the contrast and colors of the scene. Did I miss anything?

[@2logj]

Epic landscape and Epic photography. The first one with a tree was like a painting .I call it Paintography. I liked the brolli camp.Is it available in Amazon?

[@SteveONions]

Thank you. I cannot recall what make the clamp is but I did get it on Amazon a few years ago.

[@cillyede]

Very good!

[@andychattaway5620]

Great video Steve and lovely photography too. But the brolly clamps are sold out 😞

[@SteveONions]

Worth having a look on eBay too Andy, the clamp seems to be in and out of stock a fair bit.

[@TheMrTomlo]

Thanks for the inspiration, this video has persuaded me to finally put to use my intrepid mk 3 that I impulse bought from a pawn shop last year (with 105mm nikon and excellent tripod, for £300). Could I ask how you get your colour film developed, and also some tips on transporting the slides? Is there a special box that you use? Will be putting the money I set aside for an olympus pro 12-100mm towards developing gear and a film scanner :)

[@SteveONions]

You got an excellent deal on the Intrepid and lens combination, what a great start. I used to develop my own colour negatives and slides but at present I send them off. For large format in the UK I would use Peak Imaging who are very good indeed. In terms of pouches for your film holders there are some excellent ones on eBay that take up to 4 holders at once and are relatively inexpensive.

[@c.augustin]

I'm very glad that I stumbled upon your channel - and in my opinion, your channel is absolutely underrated. But perhaps it is one of those odd KZbin channels that only appeal to connoisseurs … ;-) Oh, and BTW: this B&W shot you've cropped to a panorama format is gorgeous! (Weather here in Germany is still sunny, but I don't complain, because I like blue sky; some clouds would be nice, though! ;-))

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Christian, I used a split dark slide to make two panoramic shots on a single sheet of 4x5. I hope you get the perfect skies soon 👍

[@c.augustin]

Steve, you did WHAT? How did you ensure that the split dark slide was light-tight an the split (or tight enough to not cause problems)? You should show this in another video, sounds intriguing. I would think that the end result is just stunning (it looks even great on KZbin ;)).

[@SteveONions]

It worked really well Christian, I did a clip explaining it for the video but that shot didn’t come out very well so I’ll have to cover it on a future vlog.

[@deansherry4155]

How come the image at 7:50 is black and white when it says it was shot on Velvia 100? Did you make it b/w in post or did you use a different film instead? And also for that photo I’m guessing you cropped away the top and bottom to get the panorama because 4x5 definitely doesn’t look like that without it being cropped.

[@SteveONions]

I just converted it to B&W and applied a crop 🙂

[@philipculbertson55]

Beautiful images Steve. I am curious about the pano. How do you do that with film? Is it still multiple shots later scanned into lightroom and stitched?

[@SteveONions]

Hi Philip. I masked off half of the film sheet using a cut down dark slide so I could make two panoramic images on one sheet of film. I could have just cropped down from the full 4x5 sheet but that would have wasted a lot of film, I managed to get two different images for the same price.

[@joshc237]

Hey Steve, amazing video as always! wondering if your still shooting the 8x10 or is 5x4 the preferred size after shooting both?

[@SteveONions]

Hi Josh. I would do more with the 8x10 but don't have the money for colour film and I have limited lens options. I'll keep if for local shoots when the weather is suited to B&W work such as the forest in Winter and some of the coastal locations.

[@mathiasskog363]

Interesting vlog as usual!! One question, what ground glass do you use on your Intrepid 4x5? It looks very bright! Is it the original or have you replaced it? Keep up your good work!

[@SteveONions]

Hi Mathias. I often fix a cheap fresnel over the ground glass to help even out the light. This one is just cheap flexible plastic model from eBay. It isn’t really necessary with the 300mm f/9 but essential with the 90mm f/8.

[@BigBloke_LittleBoat]

Lovely Steve! I’m just getting into 5x4 and wondered why loupe you would recommend using?

[@SteveONions]

Hi Joe. I use one I bought years ago but cannot remember who makes it sadly. If the magnification if too strong you end up just looking at the pattern of the ground glass whereas too low and you cannot fine focus. I use a pair of +2 reading glasses to get rough focus as my eyes don’t close focus so well but a x4 or x6 loupe should be enough for fine focus.

[@Morongobill]

@@SteveONions Would either of those loupes work on the back lcd screen on a digital slr using live view? Thanks for another great video!/

[@SteveONions]

They probably would William, I’ll have a go this week.

[@bluemanstudios3749]

Great video😂, what Bronica medium format camera do you use?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks, it's the SQAi.

[@steveh1273]

Haoge clamp is no longer available! Drat! Can you give us a tutorial on how you meter for your color film, I assume with a spot meter, and determine your exposure? Do you use box rated ISO?

[@SteveONions]

I actually have a metering video on my list of ‘to do’ vlogs Steve, just need to find the right location. I usually make on exposure at the rated ISO and for negative materials a +1. If the conditions are tricky to meter I might also make a +2 to ensure adequate shadow detail. For slide films I either take another frame at the rated ISO or anything up to +1.

[@steveh1273]

I assume +1, means plus one stop, or half the rated ISO for negative film. Thanks and looking forward to that video,.

[@SteveONions]

That’s right Steve

[@macmacoytot]

i thought only up to 200mm lens can be used with intrepid 4x5?

[@SteveONions]

300mm can be used with a standard board but you won’t be able to focus closer than about 9 feet.

[@kiwicit0]

I really enjoyed this vlog Steve. Primarily because the right colour shots were outstanding (and quite my style @michaelcowengallery on instagram.) Secondly, because I’m goin to the lakes this Wednesday-Sunday. If you are in the area, pop me a message on instagram and we’ll have a coffee or shoot some images. Best, Mike

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Mike. Sadly I won't be back in the Lakers until December at the latest when all the colour has gone :(

[@kiwicit0]

Steve O'Nions :o( next time!

[@midiplaybox3453]

Umbrella and camera on the same tripod is a bad idea. Very little wind is enough to make picture blur.

[@SteveONions]

Pin sharp result though, without the umbrella I would have not been able to take the shot.

[@midiplaybox3453]

It is all right, but i think about another one tripod only for umbrella, just in case of wind. By the way, it is very pleasant to watch your videos. Best regards.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, I think I’d struggle with another tripod, I already carry 2 on every trip.