Photographing Amongst the Bristlecone Pines | Large Format Photography

Great Basin Bristlecones are amongst the oldest known standalone trees on the planet -
In this video I spend a long weekend chasing gnarly trees and vistas in the rugged mountains of California with my large format 4x5 camera and a few rolls of medium format 120.
Marshall's social media:
Instagram - MarshallEvansPhoto
Vero - MarshallEvansPhoto
Redwoods video talking about film holder numbering: • Exploring Redwoods on ...
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:13 Scouting for a first composition
02:27 Setting up shot number 1
03:47 Marshall's GFX 100S
04:36 Light table review image 1
05:08 Finished image 1
05:28 Do your chores
06:24 Setting up composition 2
09:58 Light table review image 2
10:24 Finished image 2
11:14 Setting up composition 3
13:50 Bird in the shot
15:28 Light table review image 3 and 4
16:35 Finished images 3 and 4
17:39 Shooting digital at sunset
18:43 Shooting the Bronica 6x6
20:55 Bronica light table review
21:57 Finished Bronica images
22:49 The fun way home
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[@lohikarhu734]

The intense smell of the sap coming from the pine cones is unforgettable... Strange how the parking lot empties out, just as the alpen glow and evening blue begin...

[@nelsbondephoto]

Always look forward to your videos. Don't produce as many as other channels but, well worth the wait. Everytime I watch one of your videos it's a good reminder to slow down, and appreciate the scenery. Thanks Chris!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Nels! Hopefully I'll get a little more on the regular over time, the work/life balance is just a little off currently. Thanks for the kind complements!

[@owen.seldman]

i remember watching this video maybe 9 months ago and I loved it. I've been looking for it ever since, and I finally found it!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you! I hope the videos become easier to find!

[@jimwlouavl]

I like the intimate shots and think they go well together as a group.

[@mebikerace]

Great video buddy. It was so great to scout around with you over the weekend. The Circle Tree with bird…love it! Thanks for the IG plug. Looking forward to another adventure.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks man! Likewise and lets get out again soon!

[@BobOgden1]

Excellent triptych and you are almost able to feel the textures of the wood in the closeups. Well done

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Bob!

[@berthaduniverse]

Pretty much what I was going to say. Triptychs abound in the Whites... Love that area.

[@brianhigginsphoto]

Beautiful, Beautiful! So nice - I had to say it twice!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Haha, thanks and thanks Brian!

[@sdkgodeacs]

Great work all around. Love the close up tree and darker red & polarized shot of the pine.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you!

[@MattWeddis]

You definitely came away with a great set of images for a short trip. Another fine video Chris.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Matt!

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Fantastic photographs and video, sharp,clear,texture,great details, superb work!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you so much!

[@thomaspopple2291]

Very enjoyable video with some fantastic captures. Thank you for the work you do to provide us with great content and inspiration.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Thomas, and as always thanks for watching!

[@danncorbit3623]

Nice images. My favorites were the circle tree with the bird, the living bristlecone, the orange monster claw and the last image with the hole.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Dann! Orange monster claw.. haha might have to name it that 😆

[@customerbf]

Love the color close up of the Bristlecone trunks. Of the B&W the one with red filter stands out the interplay of the shadow and branches brings life and motion - like the tree is dancing with the clouds. Really nice.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Bryan!

[@LordFaultier]

Really enjoyed this video Chris! Great work on those pines~

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Tyler!

[@brianweight9087]

Love the close ups Chris

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Brian!

[@carbonejack]

Great video. Love those trees.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Jack!

[@kit441]

Nice work, Chris. Love the black and white images, as always. The colour images are absolutely stunning and I'd be very proud if hanging on my wall. Myself and a friend of mine hit Dartmoor National Park, two weeks ago, about an hour's drive from my house, and hiked to a place called Great Staple Tor, to make some images, I was using my Fuji GW690 with Delta 100, and my friend used his Fuji GX617 using colour film. He came over to show me the results printed on Aluminium. I was blown away by the Aluminium image, as it reminded me of having some of my landscapes printed on Cibachrome back in the day. I don't know if you have ever used the process for any of your images, but it'll enhance your already fantastic photos. Just a thought 😊. Looking forward to seeing your next video. Keep up the good work mate 👍.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Kit! I appreciate the suggestion, I’ll definitely have to check out the aluminum thing. I’ve heard that they look fantastic and I’ve seen a few places around me that offer them. This last year I was supposed to start printing again, but perhaps this coming year it will actually happen, ha!

[@randallstewart175]

Thanks for the video of this subject rich area. I did this trip to the White Mtns around 2000. Twp comments. It doesn't look like it, but you are climbing to a very high altitude as you drive. If I had not had my car fully serviced for this trip, I doubt it would have made it all the way up the mountain. (8 yr old Honda Accord). Also, the road into the area simple goes on until it reaches the top of the mountain. At the top, there is a developed parking lot and a couple of trails, one of which takes about a mile to wrap around the top of the mountain and back to the parking. These trees grow in groves, and this trail passes through one of the largest concentration of trees. Many variations on the theme of ancient tree. Because of the golden color of the wood where the tree has split open (the standard condition) and the intense blue skies at this altitude, for B&W, the G filter (med. orange) is your friend here.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Randall, it certainly is high up there. I had underestimated how the altitude would affect me hiking uphill, that's for sure. Thanks for the tip on the orange filter, I've so far only experimented with the red 25 so I'll keep that in mind as I build out a collection of others!

[@austerepotato3159]

Great style, wonderful images!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks so much!

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Bucket list item for me, although I would like to have seen more living trees and an overview of what to expect there.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Noted, and thank you for the input!

[@patrickguilfoyle8884]

Awesome images of the Bristle cone pines Chris. Well done!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Patrick!

[@bernardkealey6449]

Really love what you’re doing Chris, and especially how you present it. I’ve binged all your LF and am going to delve backwards now. Thanks for posting

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks for watching Bernard!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

Nice one bud! Your friend has great taste in Jeeps

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Brian! As much as I like my 4Runner I gotta admit his Jeep was a pretty sweet ride.. ha!

[@jeffwilliams5653]

Another great video Chris. It looks like you got to experience the joys of driving the "short cut" up Silver Canyon to access the mountains. You didn't mention the altitude where you were photographing - it is 11k+ ft ASL - I'd be out of breath just doing my chores (loading the film holders) and I didn't see you at a disadvantage at all! I think the 6x12 you selected was a great choice and the 6x12 format definitely gives the panoramic feel. I may have to rethink adding a 6x12 to my kit after seeing your results - I have resisted due to the extreme cost vs the 6x9/6x7 backs. Perhaps some 6x12 on RVP 50 is in the future? You might consider trying Pan F for b&W 6x12 in addition to T-Max. Keep up the great work sir!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Jeff! It definitely is high up there, I think we spent most our time at around 11.5k. I hid it well but there were plenty of times I had to admire the scenery for a second while I catch some breath, haha 😆 I totally relate to the cost prohibitiveness of these film backs, it took me a long time to pull the trigger on this one and I needed a strong use case to justify it - that reason is coming up in a future video 😉 I do have some 120 RVP50 in the freezer so some 6x12's on Velvia are definitely a possibility! I'll definitely take a look at Pan F as well, that's on my list of experiments to try on B&W!

[@Shaka1277]

The close-up shots at 10:00 are absolutely wonderful.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you!

[@selzzaW]

I quite like the intimate shots!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Robert!

[@lensman5762]

Awesome photography, Chris. Beautiful tonality and composition that reminded me of some of Ansel Adam's work.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you so much, that's quite the compliment!

[@berthaduniverse]

Did your "Fun Way Down the Mtn" mean Silver Canyon? The brake burner! LOL!

[@ChrisDarnell]

That was one of the fun routes, haha!

[@andrewsimpson5436]

Really like the close up of the Bristlecone trunk, the colours are popping as if it's been oiled. I think the one on the ridge I preferred the one you took at the same time as the bird one, I get the excitement about the bird but it just seems lost in the frame. Maybe It's down to my laptop or maybe just me being grumpy 🤣 Overall a fine set of images and a good few days I'd say.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew! Agreed, I really like that darker sky. I'm probably biased about the bird just because it seemed so unexpected, definitely a small detail but I was just stoked that I got him, haha.

[@stevenmeitner8477]

My personal two favorites are the bristlecones with red filter on tmax and the digital with earth shadow. The darker sky contrast sets off the light upper right limb. The color of the moon shadow is so nice.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Steven! Definitely going to have to shoot with that red filter more often!

[@tim31415]

Thanks for another interesting video, Chris. I noticed that the dark slide on the Horseman uses a red marker (assumedly in place of black). I've often thought red would be a better choice, more in your face and obvious. Your little dark tent is adorable! It reminded me of the joke about the 12 inch pianist ;-)

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Tim! Haha, had to look that one up but I got a good chuckle out of it 😆

[@tim31415]

@@ChrisDarnell That's sn old joke. Hard to believe you hadn"t heard it. Judt pulled into Kolob Canyon. 👍

[@jimrookphotos]

Hey Chris, it was great to see that someone else actually loves shooting old dead trees to capture the grain, etc. That photo of the standing dead bristlecone was magnificent. As for the long dead tree with the clouds and bird, that red filter shot was fabulous; too bad you didn't get a bird to fly in for that one as well. The pano at the start was well composed as well.You gave me some added inspiration to make a very long drive westward to capture the bristlecones.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks for the compliments Jim! I couldn't believe my luck when that bird landed right where it did, haha. They really are incredible trees to see, I'll probably have to make that trek back up there a few times more myself to do them any real justice

[@d-nd-n5028]

Using a 25 at that altitude results in what John Sexton calls - nuclear skies ;-). One alternative you should consider is that the 25 lightens all the color in the wood. Switching to a green or cyan filter will produce more separation while still keeping the skies dark. YMMV

[@ChrisDarnell]

Nuclear skies.. love it haha! I've yet to play with the other color filters just yet so that is great info, I'll definitely have to look into that. Thank you!

[@comeraczy2483]

Thanks a lot for this fantastic video Chris. I really like the finished closeup at 10:30 - probably my favorite of the series. I believe that if you were going to the west of the 395 you could add a foxtail with its interesting bark hues and wood grain. Not sure if there are any great foxtails that are on trails compatible with large format though. The landscape at 5:10 really capture the mood of that region, particularly with the pronounced grain in the sky and clouds. Shade on the bright bottom right corner would have made it perfect.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thank you! Next time I'm in that area with a view camera I'll have to keep an eye out for foxtails, that would definitely be an interesting subject to work on!

[@andrewfindlayphoto]

Great photos and video. Got a good sense of the White Mountains environment and what it takes to get and photograph there. Did you see any saplings of the Bristlecones, I was wondering if they are still reproducing. You camera gear inventory is expanding. What next 'Wet Collodion 10 x 8' 🤣

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Andrew, I did see some saplings, yes! I've got my hands pretty full already but I can't say I haven't at least been curious about wet plates before.. haha.

[@philipculbertson55]

You owe that bird a bag of seed. He really added a lot to that image IMHO. I also loved the really dark sky in that series when you used the red filter. The shots with the Bronco were also really nicely done. This was an enjoyable video Chris. Very different sort of terrain from Zion or Ranier and nice to be able to compare.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Philip! Haha that bird definitely made my day, I’m still impressed he stayed still for the exposure

[@edwincampos7142]

Great video and photos as always! 🙌🏼 one question, where do you get your sleeves for your films? Especially the 120.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Edwin! For the film that the lab develops for me they sleeve it as part of their process, so it comes back to me that way. But for 120 rolls I develop at home I buy it in rolls from B&H photo

[@petergoodrum1607]

Fabulous standout images you highlight. A thought on a comment you made in the vid bout body of work. If at some point you are going to exhibit your tree close up images as a body of work consider shooting All in landscape or All in portrait. Imho it comes down to showing consistency and adds gravitas at the point of delivery. As a viewer you are not fighting the composition ie a shot in landscape format , next in portrait. You can move seamlessly from one image to the next and enjoy the visual feast without having to grapple with the landscape /portrait format issue.. Just sayin.

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Peter! Great point there on visual flow, and you may be absolutely correct in that regard. In truth I don't feel like the collection is finished yet and by the time it is I expect there may be some culling of images, and that very well might be one of the deciding factors for what makes the cut and what doesn't. Great feedback and thank you!

[@gabrielresendes8277]

Another great video.. thanks. Do you sell your images?

[@ChrisDarnell]

Thanks Gabriel! That's something I'm working towards behind the scenes, not quite ready yet but I'm planning for it to be a major focus in the coming new year

[@arttyree4504]

What kind of exposure meeter are you using?

[@ChrisDarnell]

Hi Art, I’m using the Pentax Digital Spotmeter. It’s a reflective only meter with a 1 degree measurement angle and no incident metering ability. I’ve been really happy with it!

[@Schlitzi]

Schoenes Video!

[@ChrisDarnell]

Danke sehr!