Photographing straw bales in France with a 60-year-old camera

[@DrakeN-ow1im]

As a once-upon-a-time user of Mamiya C330 cameras with a variety of lenses, I admit that the longer ones do get a bit 'nose heavy' but not as bad as the SLR RB67 with similar focal lenghth glass. The advantage of the bellows construction made them a better option for photographing close into the light than any of the SLR cameras, but they were a bit delicate as a consequence and had to be treated with a little more care. Shutter accuracy and lens sharpness were superbe.

[@aynsleycooper365]

Enjoyable. I enjoyed the C330f when I owned one, this takes me back to those times.

[@mountainsunsets]

Thanks for a great video. Sure miss my C330 from my distant past.

[@prabhakarrao4922]

Greetings from New Zealand. Great work.

[@elsvanopstal]

Greetings back from France! :)

[@chrishinkelmann1293]

The photo of the hay bales and tree is really good. I have this exact same camera, but was lucky that it came with a handle

[@patternsinsand]

Great mood setter for a Sunday morning. Thanks for the beautiful cinematic video.

[@peterallen2904]

Lovely video. Two reasons, one, I lived in France for eight years and had hay bales like that on my land. Two, I see a twin lens reflex for many years, also an RZ67. Those were the days, shooting black and white and not seeing the results until the time in the dark room. I must admit, I use digital now, though.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you for your comment! Cool to read you lived here as well and shot with similar cameras. :)

[@joerg_koeln]

Inspiring video, thank you very much.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you!

[@aliogoi3187]

Dreamy and hazy. Great capture of the mood.

[@dps6198]

I had a TLR camera a few years ago. It worked wonderfully for a couple of years. The the shutter release broke. Everyone wanted more than twice what I paid for to to make the repairs. I sadly traded it away.

[@jonvincentmusic]

I wouldn’t have liked to have been a NASA astronaut with one of those things strapped to the front of my suit.

[@natepicker436]

Excellent! You got a new subscriber!

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! :)

[@andreasbracke1997]

I have gotten a pentakon six medium format camera to use in addition to my mamiya. This guy is heavy… but now I can try to use my mf-lenses a proper way. I love the quiet style of your Video, Els! Have a nice week!

[@dylanhill1640]

I enjoyed your video! Thanks for sharing you passion for photography. The Mamiya C33 is a great camera.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! Yes it’s awesome. 🙂

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

Indeed

[@cous261]

Great shots Els as looks like Gregory was having some fun with the hay bales till someone got on to him. But many great shots as I guess you were getting some great shots of Gregory for his calendar in the coming year. Hee Hee oops might have give his secret away. lol Nah Els might have something to say about that idea. Looks like you guys had a great day and time. Be safe and blessed...Steve

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks Steve, I will have to have a talk with him about that calendar. ;) Best regards to you from France :)

[@jasongold6751]

My old studio and location camera! With a few lenses, a wide strap for camera, I did wonderful work. I'm not a tripod guy, but that box, is heavy! The images were great! Bravo!

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! Great to see a fellow Mamiya shooter around here! :) And yes, its weight is its biggest downside for me. :)

[@Bob-Horse]

Your photos look good, I love black and white photography. Not sure what TLR camera you used but it looks in very good condition. If you were able to share it, I would like to know your process from start to finish, including the use of a light meter, when using such a camera please. 🙏🏻

[@elsvanopstal]

It's a Mamiya C33, and I will definitely make a video about all that sometime! :)

[@andrewwilkin1923]

Hi Els, my favourite TLR. Great compositions using the square format.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! 🙂

[@stephenjones6902]

I love these shots Els great pictures.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! 😊

[@EarlofGray]

Hi Els, first time watching your video and really enjoyed it. Loved your compositions with the ‘straw’ bales! Going to subscribe and watch your other videos now. Thank you.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you for your kind words (and for subscribing, ofcourse!) :)

[@jancusters2450]

Really good pictures. Like black& white! Lovely video. Greetings from the Netherlands...

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! Greetings back from France :)

[@redruth-iq8uo]

I always love hay bales. They remind me of large ice age mammals on migration. Especially at dusk.

[@elsvanopstal]

Yes they are so inspiring 🙂

[@jplum7708]

That's a perfect description. I love them too. Something about the way I feel connected to the land when I see them. Reminds me of growing up on a farm. When we would mow the fields, bale the hay and my dad let me drive the tractor as soon as I could reach the pedals. I recently got a c330 and the picture quality is amazing.

[@certs743]

Great video and some lovely photographs. I have an old C2 with the 80mm and 65mm lenses. I should really take it out more. But yeah, heavy.

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you! And yes, you should! 😉

[@1973sonvis]

Great shots! And great footage! And great forage too! 😊👍🏻

[@elsvanopstal]

Haha thank you! :)

[@tedphillips2951]

Love the portraits!

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks! :)

[@KonstantinVampertsis]

Nice video and photos!

[@elsvanopstal]

Thank you!

[@chrisloomis1489]

Portraits are great.

[@crazymankelly]

Get in closer to the hay bales and fill the frame. Great shots with your sixty year old rollerflex camera

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks!

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

Stro, tarwestro om precies te zijn, geen hooi 😉 Mooie foto's en die balen zijn altijd een mooi onderwerp.

[@elsvanopstal]

Dankjewel! Strobalen dus, heb het aangepast. 😄

[@dierktopp4780]

you should try filters for B&W like red or orange good luck

[@user-ve3gh5xg9q]

Hello El😺za. Warm regards to you both🌹

[@anta40]

Some interesting images. Is the lens a 135mm... or 180mm?

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks! It is the 135mm. :)

[@StarrysLostandFound]

very nice

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks :)

[@chrisloomis1489]

Ahh .. Mamiya : my bad.

[@elsvanopstal]

Hahaha 😁

[@barclayjb]

Nice video. I have the same camera. Are you using the 180mm?

[@elsvanopstal]

Thanks! Gotta love the c33. 😊 This was with the 135mm, I also use the 80mm a lot. 🙂

[@chrisloomis1489]

A woman with a ROLLEI : I will enjoy this ❤❤❤ all the other video's are about EUROPE being over - run and dying , losing their " culture " , that created Rollei and Leica. Well let's go photograph a little before we all vanish . Allah Akbar !!! 😇

[@DrakeN-ow1im]

Rollei?? Mamiya!! The lenses on this series are outstanding.

[@Autorange888]

You need filters to emphasize the sky, which is always over exposed in your pics.