Landscape photography - mixing medium format and 35mm film

[@jeetgan4671]

You are always such an inspiration to go shooting. Thank you.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jeet.

[@justmythought7658]

I like the waterfall images and the single tree at 2:49 is my favourite in this video.

[@davidpresnell1734]

I'm a long time viewer and admirer of your work. You have influenced my photography a great deal. I live in Florida where we sadly lack mountains. I recently modified a golf bag cart to carry one of two bags one for small and medium format and one for 4x5. Due to my 71 year old age this has freed me to wander further afield in search of image joy! Since I'm retired I have time to visit sites more than once and do. Please keep up your magnificent efforts and inspire me to be a better photographer. David

[@SteveONions]

Thank you for the kind words David and good to see you making the most of what you have locally. I wish I could carry more equipment to a lot of the places I want to shoot but I’d be totally exhausted by the time I arrived!

[@JM603]

Love your videos and your channel. Great content, thanks for posting.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@simonbarnes7124]

Just as well you don’t like the blue skies as we don’t get many of them here. Some beautiful photographs there Steve. I love the skies just after a storm.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Simon, we were very lucky with the weather and I’d happily settle for conditions like that every time.

[@jcjacques]

Un grand plaisir comme toujours. Merci ! Jc & Delphine, french fan’s club

[@SteveONions]

Merci Beaucoup 😊

[@gvader666]

Mr O'Nions as usual, great video. Thanks for the inspirations.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Lukasz.

[@carls.2649]

Always enjoy these trips and the resulting images, especially now as I watch from the sweltering heat of the southwestern US.

[@SteveONions]

It’s very rarely sweltering here Carl, we’d settle for warmish 😀

[@Narsuitus]

Thanks for the nice video and nice images. When I choose to shoot landscapes with 35mm and 120 equipment, I prefer to use cameras with the same image aspect ratio. Therefore, I normally use a 6x9cm Fuji rangefinder with a 65mm wide-angle lens (28mm equivalent) and a 35mm camera with a 28mm lens. Both cameras have lenses with similar angle-of-views and produce images with a 3:2 aspect ratio. I tend to use the 35mm camera as a scout camera for finding the perfect location for setting up the medium format camera.

[@SteveONions]

Very true, I also take the same aspect ratio if possible, Holga and 6x6 pinhole, 35mm and 6x9 folder etc.

[@dalkapur]

Hang on. The waterfall images are lovely! Wonderful tones with the images of the tree below the ridgeline and the evening light on the mountains in the distance. That was a good day's shooting, Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Richard. I’m still not keen on those waterfall shots but I do like the later ones on the mountains.

[@kieranpicken3696]

Some lovely images I would have on my wall in a second!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Kieran.

[@RomulSpiel]

Как всегда, отличное видео. Оно вдохновляет на творческую работу. Спасибо, Steve!

[@jlaw8882]

Great field trip Steve, thanks. Now that you have done the waterfall shot you need to do a follow up shot with sheep in it. Slippery slope indeed!

[@SteveONions]

Always plenty of sheep in my videos 😀

[@jlaw8882]

@@SteveONions Less sheep, more pinhole Steve!!! Thanks for all the great content.

[@roywilkinson9879]

Just a superb, as always, educational journey, Steve! Thanks.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Roy.

[@AliasJimWirth]

Another excellent video! You covered a lot in thirteen minutes. Thanks, Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks James.

[@tonyb2760]

That is some impressive work. Some times I think a lot of people just don;t see the artistry in good black and white work, and especially landscape images which is not an easy thing to accomplish. I am a big fan of you film work. Thanks for sharing

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tony, it’s hard to focus on mono at times, especially at each end of the day when colour is so tempting.

[@LarryManiccia]

The 6x6 shot at 9:40 is stunning Steve. Love it!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Larry.

[@ML-rm3vk]

Brilliant like always thanks.

[@lensman5762]

Unbelievable, Lake District without a million humans crowding the scenery. My favourite shot was the one @ 8:19. In the early 2000s, I bought some B&W F-Pro BW filters for my Hasselblad and large format cameras, 67mm I believe. A few weeks ago I wanted to get a 77mm medium yellow. It is a good job I was sat firmly in the armchair as I looked up the price. Thank you for an entertaining video.

[@SteveONions]

I know what you mean about filter costs now, I was looking for some in 67mm and was shocked. I could have got the genuine Hasselblad ones for less back in 2011.

[@lensman5762]

@@SteveONions Yes, I believe it. Those Hasselblad filters were actually manufactured by B&W, I believe.

[@modelrailroadgermany]

Hello Steve, greetings from Germany. I always love your foto trips, when my nightshift is over to come down. Your speak, your style of analog photography, I love it.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy the videos 😊

[@marcp.1752]

Great 35mm Waterfall shot! Always a pleasure to see your landscape photography videos and pictures, Steve ! keep it going.

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Marc 👍

[@marcp.1752]

@@SteveONions Greetings Steve, have a great Sunday. You're being so gifted with these lovely Landscapes into the UK.

[@danbuchman7497]

A beautiful location, a good friend to share it with and photography. It doesn’t get any better. The lighting there seems very dramatic and really illustrates how to photograph light rather than a scene.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Dan, it was perfect weather and even after 8 hours up there I wasn’t at all bored.

[@ArguelloFlores]

Steve, You took quite a few shots compared with your previous videos. Still, very enjoyable and inspirational video, nice work. Thank you for sharing it.

[@leslumieres1237]

Love your photography!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Lee 🙂

[@GeoffT650]

Great video Steve, really liked your images.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you Geoff. 😊

[@azfactor7875]

I compliment you on your ability to alternate between the square and 35mm format and still have great composition. I find that such a challenge. If I start shooting with square format, I soon visualize that way and settle into a kind of groove. Trying to imagine what the same scene might look like in 3:2 results in much floundering about. And the opposite is true, as well.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Bob. It’s easier on trips where the landscape is really varied such as in this instance. On more ‘static’ shoots such as my local forest I’d never take two cameras.

[@azfactor7875]

That makes sense. I suspect that when you approach a landscape with two different formats, it's as though you're taking unique images, especially if the focal length is dissimilar. Trying to work closer to your subject requires seeing it in a very specific way. I'm thinking of your recent trip to the local woods where you were working with that tree and the footbridge and the time you took trying to nail the composition. Switching between aspect ratios would likely result only in frustration.

[@DizinEire]

Now some of our restrictions are easing a little, took a trip out to CoDonegal. I took the 5x4, but would of liked to of took my FE 2 as well in hind sight. Do like the Trees on the Skyline, the belter is at 6.11 😁 Cracking vlog Steve Cheers Diz

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Diz. I’d find it hard to use just 4x5 unless I was very familiar with the location.

[@oldfilmguy9413]

Really interesting video on several fronts. Some truly beautiful and dramatic images, but also very interesting commentary. I really appreciate your discussion of the advantages of each format, and it was interesting to see shots in both formats for comparison. Cheers!

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it Robert, more multi- format stuff coming soon 😊

[@BackFocus11]

Great video.....Love this channel..

[@shrubrocketeer]

Another great, insightful video, Steve. Thank you.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you’re liked it Rob.

[@jhenline7813]

That was great Steve. Like some of your Holme Fell images very much.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@eugenekutz7626]

Fantastic shots! Location and whether were gorgeous. Such an inspiration to go out and shooting! Look forward to watch new episode!☺️☺️☺️

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Eugene.

[@robinbottrell771]

Brilliant compositions as always!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robin.

[@devroombagchus7460]

Thanks! Great video and informative. What I don't understand is the English aversion to sunny skies.You are certainly not the only one on KZbin. Is this a remnant of the past with your smoggy towns? Yes, an ominous or gray sky can convey a lot of mood, but for me it should not be the standard. I come from tropical high altitudes, where gray/black skies were occasional, so that might explain a lot. Yet, I found that Belgian, Dutch and Danish photographers usually don't share the English fear of harsh light.And they live in a similar climate. Famous Dutch painters as Van Gogh and Mondria(a)n started with dark works, and later they saw the light. It was those works that made them famous.

[@SteveONions]

You may have hit on something there Robert. A lot of my inspiration comes from earlier British photographers like Bill Brandt and more recently Don McCullin. The gritty look is something synonymous with our industrial heritage and I admit to be drawn to it. Thanks for commenting, you’ve given me food for thought.

[@ManricoA]

Great video, as usual. And great inspiration. Thanks

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@lichtmaler]

lovely outcome!

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Klaus.

[@jamesdecross1035]

Very informative format - the over-dubbed commentary. And, "Dramatic Greys"; is that the new phrase of 2021?

[@SteveONions]

It’s hard to get excited about sunrise and sunset colours when shooting mono James, I just enjoy the moment and make sure it comes out well on the video 🙂

[@RichardMaguire110]

Thank you a enjoyable, informative and interesting video.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it Richard 👍

[@johnmarriott9166]

Enjoyed the video very much Steve, your comments and views are so useful. Agree about filters, why put your money into good glass and then fit a filter that lets it down.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks John. Some plastic/resin filters are fine but others are just awful and noticeably affect image quality.

[@johnmarriott9166]

@@SteveONions which would you recommend Steve?

[@SteveONions]

I’d go for Cokin in the coloured ones John.

[@thevalleywalker]

Well Steve, that 1st couple of mins you really sounded like a crump - all I have been shooting are cascades n waterfalls of late, but I enjoy it. To be honest that waterfall you passed though is not something I I would have shot myself, some look ok but photographically are not great to shoot, that looked just the case to me. As much as I like drama in the skies I would personally under most conditions have blue skies and fluffy cloud over blank blue skies (my own personal dislike) Glad that conditions picked up for you and you appeared to enjoy the rest of your days shooting - as ever I enjoy your images. Looking forward to seeing the video about the bag and the insert - surprised to see you lugging the bronica up a hill after previous mentions of not taking heavy gear on treks - the odd occasion though would be ok I am sure. atb Alan

[@SteveONions]

Yes, that 4 mile plod at the start for very little return was disappointing Alan, I’ll. it be doing it again. I took the Bronica after realising how much better it was for locations like Holme Fell, last Autumn up there with the 35mm only was a mistake.

[@paololarocca7684]

great photos from this trip, well done!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paolo.

[@photog1529]

Hi Steve. Great video as always. Do you happen to have a link you can share for the camera insert?

[@GJones-zx5nr]

Dito

[@SteveONions]

Here you go Waterproof Shockproof Partition Padded Camera Bags SLR DSLR Insert Protection Case With Top Handle and Adjustable shoulder strap For DSLR Shot lens Or Flash Light (Blue) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A9RIYVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ZN3CEZX0F8AGR9Z1282Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@northof-62]

Like all your images. I would try a 4x5 on that lovely small lake.

[@SteveONions]

That’s not a bad idea Lars, it’s sheltered enough too.

[@rmehta54]

Excellent images you have captured. Someday talk about what you do in post processing. Do you print yourself? What care do you take for printing? In the case of film, do you process it yourself?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Rahul. I have a few videos showing the developing and printing processes.

[@Topsyrm]

Hi Steve, great vid again. What is that clip you have holding your 35mm on the strap of your bag? Does it also fit on to the Arca type tripod head? I'm struggling at the moment to find a convenient way to have a ready to shoot camera available whilst hiking with bigger kit in the backpack.

[@SteveONions]

It’s the Peak Designs clip, fits a standard Arca head too 👍

[@wojtekscibor]

thanks for sharing! the shots at 8:20 are my favorites :)

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Wojtek.

[@Paul020]

What if you substituted the 6x6 for 5x4 ? Sheet film and with a roll film back perhaps 6x9 or 6x12 ?

[@SteveONions]

I could have taken the 4x5 and 6x12 back Paul but I wouldn’t have been able to react to some of those scenes quickly enough. The large format gear really suits static compositions that are well known to me in advance.

[@Paul020]

@@SteveONions my thinking was from a weight standpoint. MF kit vs intrepid. Yes, LF slower than MF. However, for a situation that is quickly changing 35 mm I would think would be the only choice. Perhaps if the MF was already set up and ready to go. But then if the LF was set up and ready to go... I am playing devil's advocate here, everyone has a method of working that suits them best. Cheers

[@simonbarnes7124]

Does Robin shoot film like yourself Steve or is he a digital shooter only? That 28-200mm lens seems to work very well for you especially for picking out zoomed in compositions.

[@SteveONions]

Robin has quite a bit of film gear Simon but doesn’t shoot with it very often. I’m particularly jealous of his Xpan with all three lenses (especially that 30mm) 🙂

[@raybeaumont7670]

Cheers Steve. I've often carried two cameras to give me a choice of film but I can't ever recall carrying the two different formats. My usual train of thought = is it an explore day? - Carry 35mm or is it a quality day? Carry 6x7. Thanks for another interesting vlog. Best wishes. Hwyl.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Ray, I prefer to use one format but find that I miss the odd shot when I haven’t got the 35mm.

[@georgefrench1907]

Nice shots, but given your shooting style maybe one of Fuji’s medium-format digital cameras would be worth considering as a replacement for the D80.

[@SteveONions]

I’m not sure medium format digital is for me George, my F80 is a basic but very capable film camera and I do like a bit of grain in my prints.

[@GJones-zx5nr]

Fascinating insights thanks

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome 🙂

[@joturchetphotography1968]

Such a stunning place to spend some time doing what you love. Beautiful images, particularly at 8:20. For some reason I haven't personally found the love for HP5 but here - superb, and inspiring! I often take my Bronica SQA and Olympus OM2n 35 out together. Just wondered what make/model insert you are using for the Bronica - I could certainly do with that for my Osprey?

[@SteveONions]

I do like HP5+ but it can look a bit course for some landscape subjects - XP2 is much smoother. The insert can be found here Waterproof Shockproof Partition Padded Camera Bags SLR DSLR Insert Protection Case With Top Handle and Adjustable shoulder strap For DSLR Shot lens Or Flash Light (Blue) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A9RIYVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ZN3CEZX0F8AGR9Z1282Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@joturchetphotography1968]

@@SteveONions that's brilliant, thank you for the link Steve. I shall certainly give XP2 a go. I've not used it before.

[@stuartbaines2843]

Yew tree tarn was drained several years ago to remove silt? In the process the bottom seal was disturbed and it has leaked since then. I think the dam wall may have been worked on as well?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Stuart. It looked pretty sad. 🙁

[@protestagain]

As you said, you don't like to take photos of waterfalls. But there is something really challenging, it is vertical 6x17. Think I have seen couple of those who are really good. That's my challenge, but I have only a 6x12 Horseman back, and I have some idees how to make a good vertical picture. 6x12 is much easier than the 6x17.

[@SteveONions]

I’d love 617 but I’m also stuck at 612 with the Horseman back. Doesn’t take much of a crop to bring it to 3:1 though.

[@jamesvdm]

Would a slow 35mm film ever match the grain of a fast (say 400) medium format film?

[@SteveONions]

That’s a good question James. Technically yes but the tonality of the bigger film is usually better and and defects in the smaller format are really exposed with bigger enlargements. You have to be spot on with 35mm whereas 120 (and more so large format) is much more forgiving.

[@davidellinsworth22]

Enjoyed that video Steve. Nice images. Just wondered if you'd recommend XP2 for landscapes for 35mm, given its very fine grain (I learned from a previous video of yours, never actually used it myself) or is it not contrasty enough?

[@SteveONions]

I’d definitely recommend XP2 for landscapes David as the the ability to hold bright skies makes subsequent printing much easier. It is also much finer grained than equivalent ‘conventional’ films.

[@davidellinsworth22]

@@SteveONions thanks very much 👍

[@alanbooth8120]

Really nice photos i find BW photography quite difficult But you really have an eye for BW

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alan 👍

[@CalumetVideo]

Nothing like a Bronica SQ series. Some complain about the square. If I need landscape format, I can crop to 645 and make great prints. I rarely print anything larger than 16x20. Others will argue go with the 645, I say that limits me from the square. Then some say get 6x7 and I find that most 6x7 offerings are just too heavy. Anything larger than 6x6, hmm, I can just shoot with my 4x5 large format camera.

[@SteveONions]

I concur, a liked 645 but having to change orientation drive me mad. Anything above 6x6 also gets big and heavy very quickly, my 4x5 outfit being light and compact.

[@musicsoundgear]

I really enjoy your videos - I have a question - probably a real novice question. If you shoot color film, and print/convert them or digitally edit them in Black and White, is there a difference than using just B&W film? I would think that the colors would just convert to shades of grey that would be similar. Again, I really learn a lot from your channel. Thanks

[@SteveONions]

If you shoot colour film you will have a lot of control to adjust the image later in Lightroom. It can make very good black and white images this way but I prefer true B&W so I can make prints in the darkroom.

[@musicsoundgear]

@@SteveONions Thanks for the reply. I was asking, because I had some color film and I was wondering, if you can print B&W from a color negative.

[@kit441]

Nice one Steve. Always very entertaining. Looking forward to your next one. Just one question... That multi format viewing app you use, what is it? I can't find anything like it in playstore?

[@eamonhickey]

I asked Steve the same question many videos ago. He was using Mark II Artist's Viewfinder then, I'm fairly certain. It looks great, but it's iOS only. Are you using Android? I've searched high and low for something comparable for Android, and everything I've tried has at least one major drawback. Very frustrating. The one I have not tried is Artemis Pro, which is on the Play Store in beta. I've held off because it's $30, and I see a few reasons to doubt it will do what I want (for one thing, it's aimed squarely at video and cinema, not still photographers). But I hold out hope for that one. I may try it someday.

[@SteveONions]

Yes, IOS only I’m afraid but there must be an Android equivalent.

[@johngskewes]

Hi Steve - another interesting vlog - someday I must go and see your landscape for myself. Stunning. Q: what developer are you using for the HP5? Thank you!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks John. On this occasion I used HC-110 diluted 1:63.

[@johngskewes]

@@SteveONions Thank you - I'm still trying to get results I love from HP5...I really appreciate your channel and videos. Thank you.

[@luismartins3262]

Tried shooting different film formats at the same time several times and I always came back with mediocre images. For me it had to be either 35mm or medium format, but not both. Nice images but I am a high contrast kinda guy, so to me they looked a bit flat. But that is a personal choice.

[@SteveONions]

I’ve often struggled with more than one format too Luis and only do it on occasions where I know I need something the other format cannot provide.

[@vedostuu]

Steve, when are you going to publish a book?

[@SteveONions]

Not sure if I ever will to be honest, I’d need to stick to one style for long enough to get a decent set of images 🙂

[@flavioserci6046]

I just can't love 35mm. My prints always look washed out and it is very difficult to focus precisely. Autofocus is also not as accurate as you might think. I honestly prefer digital when I want something small and light.

[@SteveONions]

I can't agree with you there Flavio, I love 35mm and also find autofocus a godsend when working handheld.

[@hachewie]

I think your waterfall images were pretty nice. As was the first tree image on the 35mm. I liked that one a lot.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@michaelandrews4403]

This is unusual... Steve O'Nions does a photo trip commentary sounding like he couldn't give a f**k.

[@SteveONions]

Hey, that 4 mile slog at the start of the day for a handful of mediocre pictures would annoy anyone 😀😀