Large Format Landscape Photography in Death Valley, Winter 2023: Episode 5

[@fubband]

A lovely watch, Ben, so refreshing to watch a video dedicated to the process without the need for filler images; kudos to you, not many would be as honest as you

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much Martin!

[@VanMierl0]

Hi Ben , what a beautiful open location. Great to see that there are pieces of our world as beautiful as this one. Indeed you are right sometimes it is nice to walk around without your camera and first enjoy what you integrate and experience for the next time you go there again. Thank you for sharing this, have a nice day. Best Regards Martin

[@BenHorne]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it Matijn! Sometimes it's nice just to wander around and see what all you can find. There's so much beauty all around us.

[@peterfritzphoto]

I always love your opening scene, Ben - so evocative. I hope your arse is okay after that slide!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Peter! Thankfully it was just a minor spill. Between the hard ground on an incline and the round rocks, it was bound to happen at some point.

[@brianmckeever5280]

There's the joke for Death Valley at least: "The bighorn sheep droppings have hit the alluvial fan!" Great composition in the opening scenes with the moon setting. Fun to watch. I look forward to the crunching footsteps on the weekends!

[@milkismurder]

🤣

[@BenHorne]

Haha!! Love it! Thanks Brian!

[@wildbillgreen]

That “Do Not Enter” sign is some epic Sergio Leone stuff. Volumes could be written about that few seconds of video. Masterful ❤❤❤

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Bill!!

[@andrewsimpson5436]

I don't think there's another photographer who can make such an interesting and engrossing vlog without a glimpse of a camera or having a photo to show! Thoroughly enjoyable, gets over the fact just being there and being at one with the surroundings are what it's all about or at least a big part of it. A nice view while loading film too!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Andrew! There was a wonderful display of clouds that morning, but it was also quite windy and I didn't have a specific subject in mind, so I took that as an opportunity to enjoy the view while loading film. It's one of the many lessons that large format has taught me through the years. These days when I'm not actively shooting are among my favorite days in the field. I feel like a kid in a candy store wandering around and exploring. These days are also a bit of an investment in future work. By spending time exploring without the pressure to take any photos, I can come up with a plan of what to photograph when I return. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@johnfowler9253]

Great voice and story teller good job. Nice❤

[@BenHorne]

Thanks John!

[@jaytayag810]

The canyon looks great! The little spill on the hike back was pretty funny. Sorry to laugh at your expense. 😛

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Jay, and I'm glad you enjoyed the bit near the end of the video. :-) Everything was obviously just fine, but I had some fun with it in editing, and if you're gonna take a tumble, it might as well be while the camera is rolling. Although I do return to this canyon later in the trip, there is still so much to explore there and I look forward to spending more time there on my return visit.

[@mitchellmysliwiecphotography]

Looking forward to what you bring home from that canyon. The peace and satisfaction you talked about shines through the video. Thanks for sharing

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Mitch! I was hoping to return to DV this season to spend more time exploring that canyon, but that will have to wait until next year. It felt so pristine and sacred to be there. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@Flyers8810]

After a busy week I always love watching your videos with a glass of wine, it is so relaxing. Also as a Vegas resident and amateur photographer I enjoy trying to figure out the areas you visit based on the landscape lol. It's hard but fun. Thanks again.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Jason! There are certainly enough clues in there to figure out where I am most of the time. :-) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@DesertOryx]

Wow that intro man. Many youtubers use external professional videographers for their videos, who then shake the camera a little bit, hold it angular and film you from different angles - hooray! This was like a tarantino movie start :O (I hope one can understand my english..:p)

[@BenHorne]

Thanks! The Rode Stereo Videomic X that I use is a champ in the wind, so on that particular morning with the wind and the sound of the metal sign, I knew a long clip of that sign would be in order. I love starting the videos with a black screen and just sound, so that was a perfect fit. Thanks for watching!

[@BryanDorr]

Fascinating canyons, Ben. Despite using Google Earth for pre-scouting, the landscape is changing rapidly on a dime. Hope you're okay on that slip. Thanks for sharing, Ben.

[@BenHorne]

It sure does change quite a bit! It's fascinating to review Google Earth again after I return so that I can match my in-the-field experience with what I see on the screen. After doing that, I often find other interesting areas nearby that catch my attention to explore next time. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Bryan!

[@kenblair2538]

Great video, Ben. Looking forward to the images. Thanks, KB

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Ken!

[@SD_Alias]

The pitch black screen at the beginning and the clanging noise made it very exciting. I didn't expect the prohibition sign then ;) Are you normally not allowed to go there? Great colours and moods of this alien landscape… Thanks for showing!

[@BenHorne]

I enjoy starting the videos with a black screen and just the sound that morning, and when I heard the sign clanking that morning, I knew it would be perfect for what I had in mind. That sign is along a one-way road, so it's in reference only to not driving the wrong way on that road. It does look in the video as though it's pertaining to the greater wilderness area beyond, but it's just for that road.

[@jackmckone8416]

I am so glad that photographer and gear are ok after that "whoops!". Great editing, by the way. It seems that you do a good job of balancing the taking of your work seriously, but not yourself too much. Usually educational. Frequently inspirational. And always enjoyable.

[@johnfowler9253]

Yes what a klutz? 😮

[@BenHorne]

Thanks as always Jack! It's not often I take a spill while the camera is rolling, so I certainly had some fun with that one. After making sure my wrist was functional, the first thing I did was go check the video camera to make sure I was still in frame. :-)

[@tompetersphotography]

Great story Ben, like someone said below you are a great storyteller and you keep us all engaged

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much Tom!

[@b_wtangible_moments]

Appreciate all your work, very inspiring, I've been following you for awhile here on youtube. Amazing location's, sceneries, sounds in your videos. I find them very therapeutic and relaxing to watch.Your like the Bob Ross of Photography. Happy Shooting. 🍻

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much!! I find that sound is incredibly important, and love the way my stereo mic handles the wind and everything else. And if you haven't yet watched the videos with good headphones, give it a try sometime. That's how I edit the videos, and it's even more immersive than with speakers. Thanks for watching and for commenting!

[@robertwhitemoto]

having read most of the other comments here they pretty much echo the same feeling I have Ben... Thanks for taking me along on this photo-less day.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Robert! That's very much the honest experience in the field, and truth be told, the non-photo days are often my favorite days. There's something so very relaxing about simply exploring without the pressure to take photos.

[@davemenard5089]

Ben, I had to stop watching about halfway through because I started thinking about your process of creating an actual physical piece of art (a sheet of film) and documenting it in this format. I’ve been hearing the footsteps of the AI beast a lot lately and got totally distracted from this beautiful mini-movie you made. Wondering if what you’re doing will be the only real form of photography which remains. I loved the beginning, I felt I was witnessing a lone explorer on a distant world searching for something new or perhaps lost over time. I hope this isn’t a foreshadowing of photography’s future. Now I can restart the video and enjoy. Thanks for sharing your experiences out there.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Dave, and I will say that when it comes to AI, I believe it's in our human nature to value most what we work the hardest for. And although there will be those who embrace AI to produce work, I suspect much of that work will be for short term gain at the expense of long term growth. It's both the thought process behind the work as well as the physical work itself that hold meaning, and when either or both of those are stripped away, the result is hollow at best. It will be interesting to see how our perception of all of this changes with time, but I suspect those who actually put in the effort and create meaningful work will always come out ahead in the long run.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

ouch!! I hope all you hurt was your pride!!? anyway, thanks for teasing us! can't wait to see what you came up with. that S-curve scene looks promising :-)

[@BenHorne]

Thankfully it was just a minor spill thanks to the hard-packed ground and a round rock in just the wrong place. I'm just glad there weren't any cactus around. :-)

[@IsabelCurdes_photos]

Can't wait to see what compositions you found in that canyon, it looks amazing. I really enjoyed this video even if you didn't make a single image. I think it is because I know those walks and they are inspirational and I think we need them to actually 'see'.

[@BenHorne]

Thank you as always Isabel! These are the days I enjoy most on my trips when I can just explore and take everything in without the pressure of taking a photo. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@CraigNiesenPhotography]

Exploration is all part of the process. Those that do not seek will never find. The canyon is fascinating and reminds me of some scenes from a movie released in 1977😉. That you for sharing. Peace and Safe Travels.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Craig! There is so much joy indeed in exploring. There is so much to find out there!

[@markbray3038]

See you " Next Time " Ben.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Mark!

[@rbr6852]

Beautiful morning!

[@BenHorne]

It sure was! Thanks for watching!

[@Prashant.Khapane]

lovely to watch your day even without a camera. Hope the fall wasn't so bad. :)

[@BenHorne]

Thank you as always Prashant!

[@zwsplac]

It's interesting to me that even though you don't have any photographs specifically from this day, the B roll compositions are enjoyable enough in themselves that it makes for a satisfying viewing experience.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Ken! The days when I'm exploring are honestly the most enjoyable for me on these trips. When it comes to photography videos on KZbin, people often watch because they want to see a mind-blowing portfolio grade photo, but that only builds unrealistic expectations for the actual experience in the field. Many days are spent wandering and observing, and that's where I find so much joy. If a person is only interested in the final result, they probably don't have what it takes to be a photographer.

[@zwsplac]

@@BenHorne And that is a huge part of why I enjoy your channel! The biggest growth I made in my photography was lowering my expectations. Can't shoot something that isn't there. Now I'm able to enjoy my photographs for what they are and make useful critiques and adjustments rather than being disappointed for what they aren't and not bothering to make improvement because all I need is a great sunset and then I'm set.

[@IanTurner78]

ben - you are brilliant at what you do - my favourite photographer - but honestly, you don't have to show clips of you walking away from the static camera, i just feel bad you have to walk back to pick it up, and start the trek in the scorching sun again

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Ian! Here's another way to look at it. Stopping to record some video is actually taking a break from hiking. I eat a snack, drink some water, and enjoy the view while setting up the video camera. 🙂

[@berthaduniverse]

Nice opening shot with the sign...

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Paul! It was clanging away in the wind across the road, so I figured I might as well work it into the video. Otherwise people would wonder what the metal sound was in the background.

[@mattdelcomyn8012]

Hey Ben. Can you tell us what handheld vid cam and mic system you’re using? They (and you) make very nice content! Thank you! 😊

[@BenHorne]

Hi Matt! I use a Sony A7s2 with a Voigtländer 21mm f/1.4 and a Rode Stereo Videomic X. The lens is manual-focus-only which actually makes things much easier because it has an infinity hard stop for focusing in low light, and I just set it to 2 feet when focusing on my face which is the perfect distance. No focusing hunting ever.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Hi Ben, do you have any recommendations for a photographers notebook/journal? Thanks! And on a side note, I just bought an Intrepid 8x10 mark III and I am loving the process. I've shot a fair bit of 4x5, but never 8x10. It's totally insane and totally addicting. Where have I heard that before?

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Edward! So glad to hear you're enjoying the Intrepid! It sure is a wonderful process! When selecting a journal, my top priority was finding one with a lay-flat binding style to make it easier to write and also to scan the entries. After a quick search on Amazon, I went with northbooks. I don't have much experience with other journals to see how these compare, but I've been very satisfied with it and it checks all the boxes of what I need.

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

@@BenHorne Excellent recommendation on the Northbooks, exactly what I was looking for, Thanks!

[@TheKetchupPacket]

Geez heart stopped when I saw you starting to slip. Glad it was nothing serious

[@BenHorne]

Yeah, thankfully it was just a minor spill, though I certainly had some fun with it in editing.

[@karlgustafson179]

The opening --with the sign-- made me think of Breaking Bad!

[@BenHorne]

Haha! I totally see that. Thanks Karl!

[@nevadaxtube]

Are you sure it was "absolutely beautiful?"

[@BenHorne]

Sure was! :-)

[@davidsuess7623]

Curious why you did not try to get that setting moon at the beginning of the video, and the background when you were loading film looked pretty nice as well. Just another landscape photographer second guessing…

[@BenHorne]

Hi David! It was extremely windy that morning, and I didn't have a specific foreground in mind to make use of the moon, so I just took time to enjoy it. Also, it's a bit deceptive because my A7s2 has extremely good low light ability, but it was quite dark, and when it's that dark, you can't see the image on the ground glass to establish focus or a composition. The clouds that morning were a surprise and didn't follow the usual pattern for Death Valley. A rather unassuming band of clouds hugging the mountains before sunrise, but as the sun rose, they developed rapidly and filled the sky beautifully. That's when I had already dedicated to loading film so rather than scrambling around trying to find some way to photograph them, I just enjoyed the show.

[@DannyFyffe]

Did this video finally show us where you got hurt? It seemed like a pretty bad fall. The landscape is something from the moon or mars it appears. The next video should be revealing.

[@BenHorne]

Thankfully it was just a minor spill and I didn't get hurt on that one. It was the same wrist that I banged up on my trip to Zion last fall, but had already recovered just fine. Thanks for watching and commenting Danny!

[@DannyFyffe]

@@BenHorne Glad to hear you did not get reinjured. Looking forward to your next series.

[@MsValerie1000]

12 minutes of walking! I understand you process but very boring!

[@richardbeasley9084]

To each their own. I enjoyed the video. Can't please everyone all of the time, or likely anytime.

[@MsValerie1000]

LOL. Understand I love your photography but watching walking...Not so much.

[@BenHorne]

@@MsValerie1000 Honestly, that's the best part of the process, and something that's so easily missed by people who are new to photography. The canyon glow I photographed in Episode 2 was the result of me scouting a similar canyon last year, and based on everything I learned on this particular day, I know it will result in some portfolio shots in the years to come.

[@MsValerie1000]

@@BenHorne Ben, I am sorry for being rude. I enjoy your channel and your videos. I also hike those same locations that you do and I do walk many miles to get the shot. Not large Format but Medium Format. I enjoy when you pull out your camera and later the images which are quite beautiful. I guess I was disappointed.

[@SD_Alias]

I enjoyed those 12 minutes. It reminds me of some walks where the impressions are so varied and wonderful that I didn't get to take any photos and rather enjoyed the moment. Perhabs only when you feel rushed in life and always expect something to happen because otherwise you think you are wasting time, you can find it boring.