Exploring Mountain Passes and Fall Colors | Colorado Large Format Photography - Ep1

Driving some of the highest mountain trails in the San Juan mountains -
Every fall season when the colors start to arrive I've felt that I should be getting out earlier to take more advantage of the season, and this year I made good on that with a trip to the San Juan mountains of Colorado. A new 4x5 large format camera makes it's debut in this video on a beautiful mountain vista scene along one of Colorado's most scenic and gorgeous byways.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:26 Arriving in Colorado
02:02 4wd Trail Adventures
03:19 Panoramic Mountain Shot
04:31 Wheelin' Down the Mountain
06:35 Mountain Telephoto Roadside Shot
06:48 Setting Up The 4x5
10:51 Light Table Review
11:29 Completed 4x5 Image
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[@BobOgden1]

Mother nature keeps throwing these outrageous colours, what a vista. Superb shot again

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Bob! She sure does. Colorado was an absolutely beautiful showing this year!

[@3enCooper]

I recently got back into photography, as an enthusiast, and I've been watching a load of KZbin channels to both educate and inspire me. For the largest part what I've found is lots of videos claiming to be able to teach you the "one trick to make your photos amazing" (which inevitably boils down to taking a very average photo and making it unrealistic in Lightroom). Your videos are so refreshing (educational in ways but not preachy, just doing your thing and explaining your thinking) and your photos are both amazing and honest. Thank you.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Ben, that's incredibly kind. I guess that's the sort of videos that perform well these days, and I suppose my channel would probably get a boost if I did the same but I don't know any good tricks, haha. Thanks so much for watching, knowing people enjoy them is by far the thing that makes it all worthwhile.

[@danncorbit3623]

I liked the red mountain best. All the images were nice.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Dann!

[@valdezapg]

Very enjoyable video footage of POV driving through the mountains, the drone shots and regular video of the beautiful scenery. Thanks for putting the effort in.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@carlitodcreative]

This might be the best photography channel out there!! Very insightful. Thanks Chris!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Carlos, those are mighty kind words!

[@patrickguilfoyle8884]

Damn those are some gnarly roads man!!! I would not want to meet another vehicle on those roads...Awesome scenery , footage. WOW! GREAT FINAL IMAGE!! Well done.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Patrick, that's really kind of you to say! It does get a little sketchy passing vehicles at times, there was one case where I probably could have reached the other guy's steering wheel if I tried, haha.

[@carbonejack]

What a great video. Four wheel drive road trippin' in the mountains of Colorado in fall. Doesn't get much better than that. I've been on some of those trails. Some are pretty gnarly. The color in those mountains in the fall is spectacular. Beautiful photo. Love your videos.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Jack! It certainly does not get better than that, I admit I was kicking myself a bit for taking so long to plan a trip to that area. I can already see a return trip happening..

[@russdavisphoto]

Nice shot and beautiful new camera! Looking forward to the rest of this series and your Zion videos.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Russ! Hope you're well. Zion is coming up soon!

[@bruceharvey6428]

That's a really nicely composed and exposed photo, Chris, well done indeed.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks as always Bruce!

[@andrewsimpson5436]

Yip that works! Looks like a great area but you wouldn't want to sleep walk at the house on the edge!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew, haha definitely not!

[@andrewfindlayphoto]

Great video loved the road sequence. I hoped the cliff road was one way wouldn't like to pass someone on that. Beautiful colourful mountain photo. Looking forward to seeing more EPIC shots 😁

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew! The parts with switchbacks near the cliff house were indeed one way, thankfully haha!

[@haimtoeg]

Always enjoy your videos - superb drone footage this time too,

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you so much!

[@studiomarand]

Stunning

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you!

[@nelsbondephoto]

Amazing work Chris!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Nels!

[@rogernuffer]

I've got to get back to Colorado. Have been there exploring in the high mountains for 20 years and it's long Overdue.

[@ChrisDarnell]

I hear ya Roger, I've been living half a state away for nearly that long and I'm just now exploring that area, ha!

[@jaydigshistory36]

Awesome as always

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Jay!

[@thomasfarley2688]

We don't have roads like that in the U.K! Would hate to meet any oncoming traffic. Amazing scenery, video and image as well. Look forward to the next instalment.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Thomas! Haha yeah there's some parts that can be a bit of a dance to pass oncoming vehicles, but fortunately some of the worst parts are oneway only

[@lewisday2239]

Great video as always Chris!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Lewis!

[@surfff]

Haha, I said "whoa new camera" out loud and then you mentioned about having a new camera in the video immediately after!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Haha perfect timing then!

[@philipculbertson55]

Wonderful episode Chris. I really enjoyed getting to see the expanse there via drone footage. I thought the photo was very nicely done and I think you got all that scene has to offer on the day. I will say some of those roads made me pucker a bit. I assume they were not as sketchy as the video made them appear but I certainly wouldn't want to meet anyone else on some of them.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Philip! There were definitely "pucker" parts on the trails, haha. Fortunately the worst parts were one way traffic only, but some of those switchbacks were 3 or more point turns in my 4Runner 😣

[@Cwbierwirth12]

Thanks for making these videos. I'm at the beginning of getting into large format, and the thing that scares me the most is composition. Watching you and others talk through your composition process gives me aspects to look for in a scene and will give me more confidence when I set up my first couple of scenes and exposures. With the price of large format what it is, I want to ensure I compose the scenes as best as possible and don't waste a sheet of film.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks for watching Charles! I totally understand the composition thing, seems that's often the hardest thing to get right and I certainly still struggle with it myself at times. I also understand the sting of disappointment after spending time and money on a sheet that turns out terrible, but it happens to us all and at some point you'll just have to count those as paid learning opportunities, ha. Like you I tried to learn as much as possible before getting started but eventually you just gotta start exposing some film!

[@AtlantaTerry]

There are inexpensive apps that you can get for cell phones that allow you to preview scenes. The one I use on my Android (Magic Universal ViewFinder) allows me to load in all of my large format lenses. It is quite handy to use when I'm out scouting locations, I can test various lenses from various angles then review them at leasure later. This saves me time when I'm actually out in the field creating the images. Terry Thomas... the photographer Atlanta, Georgia USA

[@MattWeddis]

I also like the image you selected. The like the trees in the foreground better in that one too. Word on the street is that all the best photographers use a Chamonix 45F-2. It was only a matter of time until you got one.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Matt! Haha, definitely only a matter of time.. and a waiting list 😆

[@MattWeddis]

@@ChrisDarnell I had forgotten about the waiting list. In my opinion, it’s worth the wait.

[@brianbeattyphotography]

Great work man! Such a stunning part of the country.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Brian! Sure is. I saw in your latest you've moved to CO? How's it been?

[@brianbeattyphotography]

@@ChrisDarnell It's been awesome man. Where I am is nowhere as scenic as this, but it's much closer than it used to be! I wish I had made a similar trip this fall. Looks like you had a great adventure!

[@Amir-qk7zk]

I can't wait for the 2nd episode! good job man! your channel is my current favorite landscape photography channel!

[@lewisday2239]

Totally agree with that!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Amir, that's really kind and I'm honored!

[@alfredanheier4779]

The shot with the redder mountain top is definitely more interesting. How are you liking the Chamonix vs. the Toyo? It's got to be a lighter outfit. I also have a question on the drone footage: do you have the drone in some automatic follow the leader mode, or how are you controlling that? And those roads... Yikes.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Alfred! Like a lot of things I suppose there's tradeoffs, I miss the geared and lockable adjustments on the Toyo but man the weight is so much more practical, haha. The drone does indeed have a follow mode that I used for these shots, particularly where I needed to make sure I wasn't driving off the edge!

[@motodiaries8204]

You must be thrilled with the lighter more compact camera!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Indeed I am! It's downright reasonable to carry now I'd say, haha!

[@motodiaries8204]

@@ChrisDarnell I was always puzzled by the choice of a monorail camera. Are you pleased technically with the field camera?

[@RandyPollock]

Jealous of the new camera (Intrepid here), nice image to finish off the video.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Randy! I still have an Intrepid myself that I keep in the truck for a backup, nothing wrong with that at all!

[@nelsonm.5044]

Those roads are they one way traffic, because they look quite narrow for traffic coming from the opposite direction especially when you were near a cliff. .... and I preferred the one on the left with the red top

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Nelson! Indeed, the worst parts like the switchbacks near the cliff house are one way only, but most trails are actually open to two way traffic so there can be some shuffling to get past one another

[@AtlantaTerry]

Chris, Welcome to the family of very satisfied Chamonix customers. Isn't the light weight of your new F2 amazing compared to the all metal weight of your old all metal monorail Toyo studio camera? Terry Thomas... the photographer Atlanta, Georgia USA

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Terry, sure is! Unbelievable how light they can make these cameras and still be sturdy and functional. If not for the waiting list I would have made the move earlier!

[@tim31415]

A great photo of the mountain peak, the colors come thru beautifully. The new camera seems awfully small, light and convenient. Whatever happened to suffering for your art? ;-)

[@ChrisDarnell]

Haha, I still have the bag of suffering - AHEM - I mean the Toyo.. it could still make an appearance now and then but you're absolutely right, it seems almost too easy now. 😆Thanks Tim!

[@fairwayfrank]

Didn't know you've got a new camera. Nice. I was going to say I know where you can pick up a nice used Arca Swiss 8x10. Very nice image after some nifty driving.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Frank! Yeah that was a pretty recent addition and I had planned a better introduction but.. that never happened haha. Do I also know where I can pick up a nice Arca 8x10? I knew he was carrying a different pack an awful lot this year..