Overcomplicating my urban photography

It's about time I got out and shot more urban locations so in this video Robin and I return to one of our favourite cities, Liverpool.
I did take a bit too much equipment though, not for the first time, yet managed a few frames that I really like.
Equipment Used
Nikon F100
50mm Nikkor f/1.8 af-d
85mm Nikkor f/1.8 af-d
135mm f/3.5 Nikkor ai
Ilford XP2 Super
No filters
Also carried, but not used, Tamron 45mm VC SP f/1.8, 24mm f/2.8 Nikkor af-d, Olympus 35 RC, Velbon monopod.
Preview App
Mark II Artists Viewfinder (iOS only on the App Store)
Vlogging Equipment
GoPro Hero 10 and Rode Smart Lav
iPhone 12Pro
Incidental Music (Epidemic sound)
Killing time
Etsy Shop
steveonionspho...
Contact Details
Email: [e-mail] Twitter: Steve_ONions / steve_onions Instagram: steveonions1 / steveonions1
KZbin: / @steveonions

[@DeeB1345]

I keep coming back to the series of urban photography videos. I appreciate the insights that you give. It really helps me see things in my small town photo walks. Like I know my Intentions and what I want to shoot, but the explanation of how to see the the composition with depth of field, shadows/light, and subject location nuances has taken my photos to the next level. Your eye doesn’t have those features in most scenes. The camera is truly reality bending. Thanks Mr. Steve O’Nikons for being my virtual, one-way tutor.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, that’s very kind 😊

[@autisticlife]

I like the Reading Room photograph. You might like the photographs of Alison Benbow on Flickr, now Alison Connor. She has thousands of photgraphs of Liverpool.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks for the recommendation Richard, I’ll checkout Alison’s feed.

[@hramakrishnaiah413]

Lovely images...

[@nigeldawson5960]

The honesty of this channel is much appreciated.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you Nigel.

[@robg3545]

Interesting thoughts there Steve. Agree about the pain in carrying primes although for me I dont mind the weight so much, its more the embuggerance of swapping lenses in the open. It doesnt address the weight issue but wonder if carrying a pocketable wide angle compact camera might be an option when you cant be bothered changing to a wider prime?

[@JHurrenPhotography]

That's my solution: multiple camera bodies. I use Fuji X and I have a long lens or telezoom on my bigger XT3, a compact wide on my XE4. I do something similar with film cameras, except on the wide end I'll use a rangefinder camera and long end requires an SLR.

[@JHurrenPhotography]

More on my back, less in my hand.

[@SteveONions]

Embuggerance, that’s got to be my word of the day 😀

[@ruudmaas2480]

Some beautiful compositions. Hope to see more of your street photography. I limit myself only to one or two primes. A 50mm or a 75 mm full frame equivalent field of view. Most of the time I only use the '50 mm field of view'.

[@SteveONions]

I’m also a standard/short tele fan Ruud, I can leave the wideangles at home most times.

[@IzzyLeicanut]

That is a lot of lunch for two. I usually carry a small kit with me - the 28/50/90. All primes. That pretty much covers all that I need. My most used is the 28 and 50. Yep, keeping it simple is key. Take care

[@SteveONions]

I’m less of a wideangle shooter myself and could get by with a 35/85 combination quite easily (and likely will next time).

[@DizinEire]

Whats not to like a wander around Liverpool with a camera😁 Guilty as charged with carrying too much kit. As you say, too much can be a hinderance as much as a help. Some cracking images Steve.😁 Cheers Diz

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Diz, I’m hoping my next city trip will involve fewer lenses.

[@philmtx3fr]

Hi Steve what an eye you have to detect small details that can bring to wonderful shots !!! I am admirative and a little jealous of your talent. Like you I like prime lenses but don t liked to change lenses so now or I take only one focal or 2 but on two different bodies… when my back can support it. Anyway keep on feeding us with these kinds of videos which are very interesting by first showing us the environment around the subject and then you composition for it. It s quite useful to present it like this.

[@SteveONions]

I do like the two body approach, it’s much easier than swapping lenses all the time.

[@c.augustin]

Swapping lenses gets even more awkward with screw-mount lenses! Even though I do have a decent selection (25, 35 or 50, 90, and sometimes 135 mm in the bag), I mostly stay with 35 or 50 mm - depending on which lens I had on when leaving the house. Having to swap finders together with lenses (when out with my Leica IIIf) does not make it easier … 😁

[@SteveONions]

That makes me feel much better about using bayonet mount SLR’s Christian 🙂

[@Phil_f8andbethere]

Loved the crane reflection and the triangles shot on the cathedral. Sometimes too much choice stifles creativity and tends towards missing shots. I guess 2 F100s with a 50mm and 85mm would be one solution?

[@SteveONions]

I like those two focal lengths but would probably go with F80 bodies to keep the size and weight down 👍

[@bernardkelly235]

A welcome respite from all that hill climbing. And some very nicely crafted photos. (I do wish you'd attempted one of Pilgrims Progress, though.) Did you consider carrying two bodies, each with its own lens?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Bernard. I’ve done the two bodies approach before and it can work well, especially if the cameras are quite compact models like the FG.

[@jasongold6751]

Some nice finds and captures! I hate making choices with gear! Mostly use one lens, the 50mm. If candids and heavier and denser crowds, the 35mm. Color almost always, now digital. The cost! Good ideas and thoughts!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jason, definitely fewer lenses (and burgers) next time 🙂

[@Paws2Explore]

Steve this was a very timely launch as I am off to Liverpool myself for a few days, you captured some stunning shots and have given me food for thought. I currently just walk around with a 50mm but am currently contemplating a 28mm. Thank for taking your time to make another fab video.

[@SteveONions]

Hope you have a great trip to Liverpool, there’s no end of things to shoot.

[@hmuz8388]

sound coming only from left speaker

[@SteveONions]

Fixed on upcoming videos 👍

[@paololarocca7684]

I like the photos, especially the love lane one….have you considered using 2 prime lenses attached to 2 different bodies ? This is what I am doing right now, although I can’t help bringing along at least another one or two lenses in the bag….

[@SteveONions]

I’ve done that a couple of times Paolo, it just means using smaller bodies but it’s certainly easier than lens swapping.

[@carbonejack]

I like it when you roam around the city. Gives me some perspective on the UK from the USA. Wonderful images.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Jack.

[@RobinWhalley]

Nice video Steve and you got some good shots. I particularly like the Picton Library Reading Room. But how on earth did you eat both of those burgers and a bowl of noodles for lunch? Hopefully we will get more of these trips in soon.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robin. I’m sure that lunch slowed me down afterwards, I kept wanting to sit down 🙂

[@lensman5762]

Some very clever compositions , Steve. You do pick out detail very well. These days, I seem to lean more towards digital. I have not fallen out of love with film, but the expense of shooting film, particularly in colour is a major factor in my decision. I apply the same principles to shooting digital as I do to film. That shot of the door in China Town would have looked glorious in Kodachrome, RIP. Now I have to hit the M60 Another fantastic day at work becons. Take care.

[@SteveONions]

I’m largely digital for colour now, film is silly money and unobtainable. Much prefer film for mono though.

[@TL-xw6fh]

I seem to be more successful with my street photography when I restrict myself to one prime lens only. Even a zoom lens gets too distracting as I cannot focus on composition. Thanks for showing us some facets of Liverpool. I need to pay that city a visit sometime this year!

[@SteveONions]

I’m glad you liked it and yes, one lens is a breath of fresh air and very liberating.

[@stuartbaines2843]

Manikin shot was very good 👍 Over thinking never works

[@rickhauser9698]

Thank you Steve. Your information is very helpful and your videos always cheer 😊me up,

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Rick, I try to be cheerful ☺️

[@JoaquinTrigueros-w8u]

I love the reading room photograph!

[@david.robertson.photography]

Whether I am using digital or film I take one camera body and one prime. The only exception is if I am travelling away for more than a day. Truth is too many options tax my brain too much these day! 😁

[@SteveONions]

I’ve got so many options I could shoot a different setup every day of the month and still have stuff left unused 😖

[@GJones-zx5nr]

👏👏👏

[@alfredanheier4779]

You might not realise this, but this is an excellent way to sightsee Liverpool from across the pond. Looks like an interesting place. Don't do much urban landscape myself as I'm not a city dweller, but I thought the conventional wisdom is to use the "natural" focal length closest to eye sight, i.e. 50mm for 35, 80mm for 6x6, for the most part?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alfred. I do like a gentle wideangle and modest telephoto, seems to cover most situations.

[@richardhale9664]

It's very easy to fall into the trap of carrying too much gear especially when it comes to lenses. I have done it many times myself and still fall into it. So I must be a bit stupid in this regard! I try (and stress the word try) and limit myself to just two and to keep it as simple as possible in an urban setting, when I am usually with SWMBO who expresses frustration as I pfaff around swapping lenses, I keep it to a standard prime (40 to 55mm) or short telephoto (75 to 85mm) on one camera and take a pocketable compact camera as a wide angle option. TBH when I review my images the vast majority end up being taken with a standard lens apart from a few interior shots. So I could certainly get away with carrying just a camera with a standard lens attached or my Olympus 35RC most of the time.

[@SteveONions]

I’m also a big fan of standard focal lengths Richard, the larger the format the more I tend to favour them. I also like the RC’s 42mm lens, almost perfect.

[@selzzaW]

I usually like to just carry a 24mm and a 50mm when doing urban photography. Those lenses either work or don't, but they also don't limit me, and they're small and pocketable.

[@SteveONions]

Nice choice Robert, I am less of a wideangle man myself but definitely two lenses.

[@goldspike1]

Your video was recommended to me by Robin. I enjoyed it very much. I love how critical you are in what you shoot and then what you except. Most would except what you deem unacceptable ! Cheers

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnburrow4124]

Excellent video! Loved Liverpool. Question: do you meter your urban work the same as your landscape work?

[@SteveONions]

Hi John. I nearly always rely on the inbuilt metering for urban photography (and 35mm in general). If I take an old meter less camera I just take a reading with an app on the iPhone.

[@jcollins1305]

Love your eye Steve! Wish you had the pic of the antiques shop, but oh well. I’m an urban photographer myself, so I love your choices. As for gear, I’ll carry one digital with a prime lens, and my rolleiflex.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jonathan. I often take just one lens too but I do like the 35/85 combination.

[@liveinaweorg]

I enjoy when you go 'Urban Warrior' Steve 😁 I work in Manchester so there's always opportunities at lunchtime. I bring one camera and one lens usually.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Morris, one lens often works well for me too, especially on fixed lens compacts.

[@mohammadvarzideh780]

Hello Steve. Interesting video with lovely shots . 35 to 50 mm is my go to urban photography and an ultra wide-angle lens for some special shots but in digital . I limited My film photography in portrait and landscape because of the price Regards.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Mohammad. I’ve largely moved away from colour film due to the cost issue, I also find digital does this very well.

[@nigellee7892]

Thanks for the video Steve … it takes me back a few years to when I used to walk around some of the interesting backstreets of Birmingham. I’m personally usually drawn to the graphic quality of more wide-angle shots so I’d often just have my Nikon FM2 coupled with a 24mm lens round my neck and maybe have a 50mm lens in a pocket as well. There was one point in the video where you seemed to focus your attention on some ‘double yellow lines’ and the cracked paving slabs which looked like a very promising composition to me and which I thought you were gonna shoot. I’ve never actually been to the great city of Liverpool but it certainly looks as if it warrants a visit from a photographic point of view.

[@SteveONions]

I’m no so much of a wideangle shooter myself Nigel although I did have a 24mm with me. I did take a couple of frames incorporating those yellow lines but felt they were not up much.

[@tonysleung]

yes, simple clean details is my favorite too. Watching and learning from your choice of compositions and framing, I still need to try tighter cropping myself. Distilled elements, yeah! ... anyways, it's always fun following you on your walks and hikes, and the short lunch and coffee breaks were cool. No beer though? Maybe you don't need the creative boost as much as me, ha!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tony, as a non-drinker I’m not tempted by the numerous pubs I encounter (although good coffee shops are always a temptation).

[@BarwickGreen]

Oh, your intro and many of the shots on the outing have sound the left channel only with a low level buzz on the right! I really love the shop window with the mystery out of focus dog. I totally agree about the amount of gear, some of my best urban work was a business trip to New York, I took a compact camera with a 40mm equivalent lens, nothing else. What you have done is inspired me to go back into the city myself, perhaps with my "new" Ikonta 6x9 folder. You don't get much more minimalist than that.

[@SteveONions]

I’ve sorted out the audio for future videos Rupert, a change of microphone seems to have introduced a single channel stereo recording. A single lens approach is definitely the easiest way to shoot a city, if only I could decide which one to carry!

[@jamesdecross1035]

Hey Steve, I enjoyed this one. Those old painted panels that survive through to today have become known by archaeologists as "ghost signs".

[@SteveONions]

I wish there were more of them James, the faded colours are wonderful.

[@AliasJimWirth]

Interesting outing. I like what you said about getting your "eye in". I don't think about that; it never occurred to me, really. But I think I get it, and see the point and value. Another good tip I can employ. Thanks Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks James, I’m glad you liked it.

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! I would go for some slide film and a 35mm prime lens and walk around that city. I am a colour slide film person and when I can I practice my composition skills so that I frame thing in a good way.

[@SteveONions]

I’ve never been one for slide film in the city Sina, all that harsh contrast would give me kittens!

[@guenin]

I like the image of the pedestrian in front of the pyramid. I think it would look more cliché with a "clean" background. What's distracting to me is the white in front of his face. Is he eating something?

[@SteveONions]

There is definitely something in front of his face, it just doesn’t work for me at all.

[@ivorcomment1526]

Enjoyed the video as usual - what about two cameras - maybe one a small compact to cover say 35mm and an SLR ?

[@SteveONions]

I have tried that before Ivor but sometimes I just want to have the same controls and settings to avoid confusion.

[@johnmarriott9166]

Hi Steve, I enjoyed your work around the Cathedral and your ideas on the compositions you were looking for as you explained your thoughts. I feel that the work you did with the street art was not so strong, I felt it needed to be shown in context rather that isolated so tightly, but that is just my personal thoughts. The tattoo shop was maybe cropped just a little too tightly too, again just me. Totally agree about having too many lenses, but then my Wife says I have too many cameras!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks for the feedback John, I certainly need to hone my urban photography skills after a long layoff.

[@jeremytilford8167]

Swapping lenses is always a challenge - my solution is two bodies with 28mm and 55mm.

[@SteveONions]

A fair point, I’ve done that too but I need to stick to small bodies.

[@swansong007]

Lots of food for thought here. What a super place to do street photography. I totally agree that to many lenses can destroy a work flow. 2 lenses are enough has you rightly said. Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thanks

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@bcegerton]

Coming from East Manchester in Miles Platting, Ancoats not so Hipster neighbour, the areas around New Islington Marina were my playground as a young child. Even though we left Miles Platting in around 1977/78 when I was 5/6 years old I still went to Primary School there as my Mum worked on the road we had moved from so I still spent a lot of time in the area after school too. The mills which are now offices and apartments were still working mills then but as the years went by it became more and more run down, when the regeneration started it was great to see they kept what they could rather than just demolish it all, I still spend a lot of time there now as a Street Photographer though it’s been a while due to suffering with Plantar Fasciitis for a month or so, I’ve started shooting film and it just so happens there’s a great independent lab, just on the edge of the area. I love walking the back streets of Manchester and seeing the remnants of what the buildings were used as originally, the hoists that still stick out of the high walls where the cloth would be lifted up into the milll with the recesses in the walls where the lift used to be

[@SteveONions]

I’ve shot a fair bit around Manchester Brian and also spent some time working at Newton Heath rail depot back in the 80’s.

[@bcegerton]

@@SteveONions Know Newton Heath well, my uncle worked on the railways if I remember correctly, I was only young but he lived not too far from Newton Heath over in Higher Blackley up Rochdale Road

[@nevillewatkins4997]

Liverpool is a city I don't really know at all. Certainly some good material there though.

[@SteveONions]

No end of material Neville and a very friendly place.

[@MakersTeleMark]

Really enjoyed seeing this side of your photography.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@TheGyroBarqusShow]

If that's a cathedral, I don't wonder why religion fell in the UK.

[@SteveONions]

😊

[@davidpresnell1734]

If take the boy out of the country he still makes strong images!!

[@SteveONions]

☺️

[@seoulrydr]

seems you've committed a prime (time) crime. sentence reduced, out on bail.

[@SteveONions]

Groan ☺️

[@thenutter2003]

great video really enjoy watching them and the info on the film

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@SilntObsvr]

The most lenses I've carried at once for 35 mm is three -- a fast fifty, a 35, and (usually) a 135. Occasionally I've included a 1.5x or 2x teleconverter (sometimes these are better than just cropping in the darkroom; sometimes they aren't). Even less frequently, I've used a longer lens -- a 400 on my M42, or more recently a 500 mm mirror lens on my Nikkormat -- but I haven't carried those any further than the back garden. I've got a slightly bigger selection loaded in my RB67 pack; that has the 50 (with optional 0.45x filter), 90, and 180, plus a 2x teleconverter; giving me (with filter or teleconverter) effectively a 23, 41, 72, 100, and 360 (I've got a 150 soft focus that's not included, and my 127 is waiting for me to spare the money to get the shutter gone through; haven't got the 140 macro yet and probably won't ever have the 250 or 360, nor the 100-200 zoom). I haven't taken that set anywhere yet, but I'll probably decide I've got a couple kilos too many lenses before I carry it far. Maybe if I leave the prism viewfinder home...

[@SteveONions]

I’m always juggling different outfits and doubt I’ll ever be totally satisfied. The closest I’ve come is the 50,80,150 combination in 6x6.

[@SilntObsvr]

@@SteveONions For my RB67, the 50, 90, 180 is as close as I can get. There's a 65 (which I don't have yet), but for wide I like the 50 a lot (even though there's considerable opinion that the 65 performs better -- lateral color errors in the 50, they say -- and it would still give me a 29 with the 0.45x filter). I seriously doubt anyone could see the difference between the 50 and 65 unless you make huge prints or crop a tiny frame out of the corners of the 6x7. I'll get a 65 eventually, most likely, and decide which I like better, but it'll be after I get the shutter fixed in my 127, which I'm sure I'd use more.

[@danem2215]

Reminds me of when I went to DC with my entire Bronica setup, an SRT with 3 primes, and my digital. Think it took me an hour before I wanted to die of back pain.

[@SteveONions]

I’ve done the same Dane, halfway up a mountain and that ‘manageable’ weight somehow doubled itself!

[@danem2215]

I've been training myself to only carry gear on my person. My winter coat has 6 pockets. Lenses fit in the bigger ones; the rest can fit filters or prisms, film backs etc. Thinking of getting one of those photographer's vests for summer, but I'm sure I'll look like a dork.

[@georgefrench1907]

For one-lens urban film photography, Nikon’s 43-86mm zoom might be worth a try.

[@SteveONions]

Oooh, that old softy 🙂

[@northof-62]

no - lol

[@jw48335]

Another great video Steve! I recently acquired a Konica Genba Kantoku DD. It has a 40mm and 60mm setting - but it is bifocal, not a zoom. It is tack sharp at both settings, and it is waterproof. If occurs to me, such a camera might be a fit for this use case, although the lack of manual control may be an issue. I keep DX stickers on hand so I can dictate / set the ISO and have a bit more control.

[@SteveONions]

That sounds like an interesting camera Jeremy, I just hope I don’t start looking for one on eBay 😊

[@jw48335]

@@SteveONions I'd *hate* to be responsible for inspiring somebody else's G.A.S. - I've got enough of my own😁 Having said that, at least it's not an especially expensive camera. The same camera is available without weather proofing as the Konica MR-640, and those are super cheap.

[@Steaphany]

Your twitter shows the last post was in October of 2020, is your twitter still alive ?

[@Steaphany]

Does your friend have a youtube ?

[@SteveONions]

I no longer use Twitter 🙂

[@SteveONions]

Of course, youtube.com/@RobinWhalley

[@danncorbit3623]

I think the tattoo parlor wanted to be in color. I guess that in some sense, a sack full of primes is a zoom with little gaps you can fill with your feet. Another sort of challenge might be to bring two very different primes like a 28mm and a 200mm. I liked most of your images and felt your analysis of the ones you didn't like was spot on. I think from your running description that the real problem was that having too many primes drained the fun out of it for you. It's very hard to be inspired when you're not having fun and it's very easy to be inspired when you're having a blast.

[@SteveONions]

Definitely colour Dann, Robin got a very striking image of that shop. Part of my issue was also having to record the trip which can be incredibly intrusive in an urban setting. I’m usually OK with a few lenses but add in the video stuff and I’m overloaded 🙁

[@danncorbit3623]

@@SteveONions I never think of the fact that you have to make videos of everythning. It reminds me of the show "Survivor Man" who had to video himself. After a while, he started showing himself walking back to get the camera after a video walk by. He would say something like, "Of course I have to walk back to get the camera"

[@pdp11]

Excellent images as usual, Steve! My favorite was definitely the one with the crane (?) and its shadow. I'm most successful when I bring two Nikon FE/FM/FM3a cameras, each with their own lens, which I carry in the smallest possible non-padded shoulder bag. Of course the temptation to bring more stuff is very strong! Now I feel inspired to go shooting again.

[@SteveONions]

It’s a good approach Aram, I’ve done it before and it’s certainly nicer than swapping lenses.

[@pdp11]

@@SteveONions Of course the zen option is one camera and one lens, but personally I haven't reached that nirvana yet!

[@giklab]

Hey steve - I think you might want to look at your audio, as it's often only or predominantly in the left channel. In this video, recording flips between mono and stereo at 0:58 and then back to left-only at 1:20, for example.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve noticed this just recently and gone back into my unpublished videos and amended the sound channels through Final Cut Pro. Sadly KZbin does not allow for such changes to published content 🙁

[@joerg_koeln]

Excellent pictures as usual. Maybe you need more camera bodies when you plan to leave the house with your prime lenses - then you could mount each prime lens directly onto a body. That's what the professionals did before zoom lenses existed. 😀

[@SteveONions]

Very true Jörg, I could have half a dozen of them ready to go in my bag 🙂

[@SatoSky]

Nooch.

[@SteveONions]

🙂

[@thomaspopple2291]

I have always wondered about why people take pictures of other people's art. I agree it is tempting but in the end it is someone else's art. Always enjoy your vids. Thanks for all you do to provide us with some entertainment and some inspiration.

[@SteveONions]

I’m quite partial to it Thomas although I can see your point 👍