Landscape Photography - Engage Brain!

[@DenisBphoto]

Everyone’s different and that’s photography… and i so agree with that!

[@terryschmidbauer1964]

I’ve been watching your videos for a couple of months now and I’ve been finding them greatly inspiring. I really love that your videos are about the art of photography and not solely about the gear. Im so inspired I’m going for a walk in my local mountains here in central Arizona. It gets hot really early in the morning so I will be at the trailhead at sunrise. I’m truly amazed at the volume of videos you’ve created over the years. I have a lot of catching up to do so need to stop all this typing.

[@SteveONions]

I’m glad you enjoy the videos Terry, it’s fun to capture the experience of being out in the hills so I can enjoy the trip all over again. I also like getting an early start but mainly to avoid the crowds, I get far more from the day if I have the place to myself.

[@davidwalsh566]

The golfer Gary Player once said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get". That maxim applies to most skills that involve an element of chance, as you show in your photography Steve. Having a plan while staying flexible enough to take advantage of serendipity is probably the optimal approach. Some lovely images here.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks David. Of course I acknowledge that there's an element of luck involved in landscape photography but planning for multiple eventualities usually rules out a complete fail.

[@thenutter2003]

great video there steve always enjoy them.

[@jasongold6751]

Great video! Great photos! Bravo!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you very much Jason.

[@manmadewilderness]

Great video, Steve. The Insta360 clips are a crazy, fun viewpoint. Wish I'd had one of those for our walk along the SW Coast Path back in May. Some dramatic views along there!

[@SteveONions]

The 360 camera does allow for some interesting views, I just wish the footage was a little easier to edit but it’s still worth it.

[@RobinWhalley]

Great video Steve. I felt like I was there. The video shot with the 360 camera on the ridge was brilliant and I love the shots you got.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robin, I do like the hill walks with the addition of the 360 footage.

[@utekopka7920]

Thank you very much for this great video Steve! Stunning pictures! 👏👏👏 My favorite is the very last one but the other ones are really beautiful too. For the infrared filter I would recommend a UURIG rapid filter ring that allows to simply flip the infrared filter open, frame the picture and then close it again. It is even great when the camera is on the tripod because I can avoid fiddling with the filter after framing the picture. I have two versions, the 49mm diameter that works like a charm and the 77mm which is challenging to attach to my 20mm Flektogon.

[@SteveONions]

That does sound like a very flexible filter setup 👍

[@AliasJimWirth]

Another fine outing, Steve. You got a few nice images to share and had the personal enjoyment of being in that lovely location. That is the next real effort I have got to make to begin to see improvement in my images. The conditions. I have found interesting local places to photograph, but have not made the effort to go to them when the conditions are best. You drove this home for me today. Many thanks.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks James, the weather really does dictate the results and it isn’t worth fighting against the light. I used to go out with unrealistic expectations but now I’m visualising the images that are possible given the conditions.

[@AliasJimWirth]

@@SteveONions That is a method worth adopting, myself, Steve. I'll try it.

[@grahambell1959]

Your printing skills are excellent, Steve - so important to know how to make the best of a good neg.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Graham. These pictures are negative scans processed in Lightroom, I’d love to do darkroom versions but I don’t have a setup at the moment.

[@pdp11]

I wait for the weekend to watch these videos, to take it slow over a cup of tea!

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoy them 🙂

[@northof-62]

Clouds / fog banks across mountains near the summits make them seem higher than when clear I've noticed. Thx for sharing!

[@SteveONions]

Yes they are!

[@jacob.munkhammar]

Beautiful images!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@philipculbertson55]

Very nice Steve.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Lovely shots again Steve, really loved the gran you got in some of the shots , those foreground flowers set the shots off nicely

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Christine.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Quality content as always Steve some lovely drama in there. I’m an infrared nut this last year or so had my xpro 2 modified to shoot 850nm it’s hard to put the bugger down 📷

[@SteveONions]

It is addictive Paul, everything looks great!

[@joerg_koeln]

Very lovely pictures - thanks a lot. It is always a pleasure to watch your video clips.

[@SteveONions]

Many thanks!

[@michael195b]

Great pictures.

[@VillageWoodworker]

Thanks again for sharing your journey. I really like Rollei Infrared, but because of the issue of "invisibility" when the filter is attached, I now only shoot it in 120 with a TLR. I can still focus and compose with the filter attached. Makes life so much easier. You did get some great shots this time out though. Good job. Tom

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tom, an SLR really isn’t suitable for IR but I’d always wanted to give it a try!

[@robinfereday6562]

wonderful images as always from a master photographer loved the walk

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robin.

[@stevebarnett5048]

Another superb video Steve. I can’t help but think you should do a photographers weather forecast each day covering Cheshire, North Wales, Merseyside, and the Peaks because whenever I make a plan based on a forecast it never works. Also love the subtle IR but it is tricky with an SLR so for me that’s either a rangefinder camera or a tripod situation, or my IR converted Panasonic GF1.

[@SteveONions]

The weather is always the biggest hurdle for me Steve, I've been quite fortunate lately and found the forecasts quite accurate but it's still a gamble each time. The SLR isn't suitable at all for IR work but I just had to try it 😀

[@oldfilmguy9413]

Very nice images, especially with the deep red filter. The infrared was excellent as well, nothing quite like it when they turn out well! Cheers!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robert.

[@izzyleicanut9190]

Lovely images especially the train shots- adds a fair bit of nostalgia. Curious, what dictates whether you bring along the digital vs the holga vs Bronica. I'm sure weight is a factor. But your F80, the Bronica etc are not much different in weight. Cheers

[@SteveONions]

Interesting question. The Nikon comes in at roughly 1 kg with the 28-300 zoom while the Bronica with 80mm lens and waist level finder is 1.5kg. The SLR body shape makes it extremely easy to carry on the Peak Designs clip and the weight is very well distributed. The Bronica is a very awkward shape and requires some form of bag to carry effectively and also needs a light meter. If I was to settle for the single lens Bronica, the 80mm I would be better served with a small 120 folder like the Voigtlander Perkeo II.

[@jhenline7813]

You got some really beautiful images there Steve. I nearly always use an IR filter and carry a tripod, but will try a red filter and leave the tripod at home. Like you, I very often find myself using portrait orientation for landscapes. That’s the beauty of square format isn’t it, as you don’t have a choice.

[@SteveONions]

I really used to love Kodaks HIE and the way it worked with the red filter, no need for the R72.

[@jhenline7813]

@@SteveONions I never used the Kodak. Almost always use Rollei Superpan which is 200 iso. I can’t tell the difference between Rollei IR (400) and the Superpan. I find Superpan produces good results without a filter, quite contrasty and inclined to portray foliage pale in sunlight. But I’m sure you know all that already Steve! Anyway I look forward to trying a red filter.

[@thevalleywalker]

What great scenery and conditions Steve... as ever you pull out some corking images and your planning you mentioned works well. Have you done a video for the other channel? Very enjoyable watch. atb Al

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alan, I'll edit the companion video in the next week and get it uploaded.

[@lensman5762]

These are beautiful photographs, Steve but I wonder why you don't use your beautiful Konica Pearl? That is what I am going to do next time, a single camera with a fixed lens, HP5 Plus pushed to 1600 or even Tri-X, all mounted on my ultra light Velbon that weights less than a killo. No more bloody heavy F5, F100, F3 or Canon EF.

[@SteveONions]

Yes, a TLR, rangefinder etc are better for IR work but none of mine have fast enough lenses to allow decent handheld shooting. Interestingly I've just sold the Pearl as it was not getting any use.

[@azfactor7875]

Your success with these pictures shows the value of good pre-planning. Knowing what the clouds and light would be like allowed you to make effective film and filter choices. I thought the IR film worked quite well with the red filter. Out of curiosity, did you consider bringing a tripod to help out with the IR filter shots?

[@SteveONions]

I have occasionally carried a tripod but I find it cumbersome and interrupts the flow on a long walk. I prefer to use a digital IR camera most of the time as I also get a full preview of how well the scene works before shooting.

[@aerialfilm1]

I’m watching in low res on slow airplane internet. After eleven days of Chinese internet regulation I’m giddy for this even at dial-up speed 😂.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks goodness for KZbin crushing the quality so much it even works on a plane!

[@mikeharris4226]

Some make their own luck with planning and experience

[@postgarodegoogle2389]

infrared film = puting the red dot as a central point during the focusing part of the process.... ! maybe that's why you had some blurry pictures.... ? and not bc of the wind ?

[@SteveONions]

I never actually adjust focus with the Rollei film, with wideangle lenses and small apertures the slight shift is compensated for. So the shots here did suffer from shake, everything was equally soft 🙂

[@Paul020]

Steve, what size are your prints ?

[@SteveONions]

The images are scans from the negatives, typically made using a 20mp Micro 4/3 camera which allows for an A3 print with ease.

[@nelsonuretabrant3194]

mire con atencion tu video y amo tus fotografias eres muy profesional crees que podrias enviarme a mi correo una de tus lindas fotografias en blanco y negro para tener colgada en mi sala ? saludos desde chile.