Photography close to home.

I do enjoy my trips into the mountains of Wales and the Lake District but often I am happy just to walk the local lanes and explore the smaller scenes that all of us have access to.
Equipment Used
Bronica SQA-i
Ilford XP2 Super
Velbon 655 tripod with Manfrotto MG460 head
Preview App
Mark II Artists Viewfinder (iOS only on the App Store)
Vlogging Equipment
GoPro Hero 10 and Rode Wireless Go II
Music (Epidemic sound)
Tidal flow
Etsy Shop
steveonionsphoto.etsy.com
Contact Details
Email: [e-mail] Twitter: Steve_ONions / steve_onions Instagram: steveonions1 / steveonions1
KZbin: / @steveonions

[@Sosinvestimenti]

Black and white Photography is about details, gray scales, and contrasts between areas in light and shadow. Every subject, even the one that seems the most trivial to a hurried or careless glance becomes interesting and fascinating when looked at with the right eyes. Steve is a master at capturing these details and conveying them to those fortunate enough to be able to follow him in his beautiful videos. Thank you Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you Edoardo 😊

[@chromagraphphotoart]

As ever Steve, you are the voice of Reason. When I go on to YT, I am bombarded with videos from photographers in places like Namibia, Greenland, Patagonia and Antartica. and I could go too! (IF I could afford the £5-10k they are charging) That would essentially be my entire life savings, so not worth the risk. As I am also constrained by health issues, my longer trips which in my case would be Bodmin Moor, or Dartmoor are rarely possible. So a backyard approach makes lots of sense for me with both Rural and Urban locations close by. I am lucky in that respect and I guess some people don't have those choices, but I suspect most people have something on their doorstep. It also helps if you have a project on the go and mine is called 'Mundane Places'

[@SteveONions]

At least with local landscapes and the simpler scenes it’s unlikely that anyone else has ever shot them seriously and you’ll almost never see another video of them on KZbin 🙂

[@rickhauser9698]

I knew it. I just knew it 😂😂Why you are so cool and such a great photographer ❤❤. Motorcycle rider,,,,,,,,You inspire me in so many ways

[@SteveONions]

Thank you so much 😀

[@buyaport]

Thanks a lot for sharing your photo walk. Lazy as I am I love to use my bicycle to explore my surroundings...

[@impressionsoflight9263]

“You’d be amazed at how small the demand is for pictures of trees” - Fred Astaire to Audrey Hepburn. Excellent Steve 👍🏻

[@SteveONions]

How true 😊

[@simonbarnes7124]

I like the way to 2 trees roots merged into one. Great images.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Simon, I should revisit and shoot this one closer to.

[@WintherKl]

I love taking pictures from around where I live, this video was a beauty.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@Larpy1933]

Those photos you showed are wonderful. Thanks. I enjoyed the video and experiencing you at work in the woods. Best of luck to you.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Larry.

[@GregCarrick]

Lovely

[@tonysleung]

that last photo of elephant foot came out surprisingly nice 👍👍👍

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tony.

[@AliasJimWirth]

I like the last tree image best. All were interesting. I can't believe that green color on the trees, Steve, especially the one you hi-lighted. Thanks for the metering tips and walk through's.

[@oudviola]

Could be an unusual chance to use a green filter!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks James, I really should have grabbed a colour frame of that last one.

[@anja5758]

Nice set of photographs. Thanks for sharing!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Anja.

[@jasongold6751]

I don't need a long trip to special destination! Last year, M and I headed due south via Amsterdam to South Africa! Family event! We narrowed our trips, to few, to be fun! I looked at one camera yesterday. Digital. Olympus early model. Great colours and has grain (OK noise!). It really is look of film! Starting to make selection for printing! Going close, my way of life! Bravo.

[@SteveONions]

Sounds great Jason, my original EM5 Mk1 also had a film look to the images.

[@paradiseburns2600]

Lovely video, perfect flow and love your images

[@SteveONions]

Many thanks!

[@kenblair2538]

Another great production, Steve . Yep, close to home is always good place to start. Thanks. KB

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Ken.

[@nickfanzo]

Love the tree trunk photo. You’re lucky you have a horizon where you are. We don’t have any horizon in Connecticut. It’s just a ton of trees up in your face and crowded woods. Nothing in the distance. It becomes very crowded visually when you don’t have a horizon

[@SteveONions]

I’ve never though about that Nicholas, we take the horizon for granted.

[@im_filmdude]

Some good prints coming...Nice work!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks 👍

[@Ulrauko1980]

Great video. I wish I had hills and forest locally

[@SteveONions]

We do have a big variety of landscapes to shoot over here Pavel.

[@Giles29]

I always have a lot of fun photographing close to home too. No sheep around here though.

[@SteveONions]

I miss the sheep 🐑🐑🐑🐑

[@RomulSpiel]

Steve, thanks for video.

[@SteveONions]

You are very welcome.

[@colecuster4876]

Steve this video has really inspired me. I live in central Pennsylvania in an area considered a tad dull and far away from everything. I mostly just take photos when I travel. After watching this I feel the need to go out to the woods with some B&W film and my tripod and just walk around and practice photography without having to go on some grand trip. Great shots!

[@SteveONions]

I’m trying harder to work with the ordinary locations Cole, more satisfying if you come away with a good image.

[@davidletz9123]

I enjoyed this video Steve, thanks!

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it David.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Another fine selection mate cheers

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul.

[@raybeaumont7670]

Cheers Steve! My motorbikes were the ideal transport when 'poching about' on the hunt for photos. Alas, doctors' orders have put paid to my bike adventures, but I can still limp about in my local woodlands and trip over the odd tree root. All part of the fun. Take care out there - and enjoy it all.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Ray, no more bike adventures for either of us then 🙂

[@joerg_koeln]

Excellent shots, as usual. Thank you very much.

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome Jörg.

[@sjacobson005]

Wonderful work!

[@ML-rm3vk]

Terrific shots

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@Buzz2646]

Very nice compositions. You've got me thinking about my next camera walk.

[@SteveONions]

Go for it 😀

[@philbraithwaite1316]

I recently parked the car on the outskirts of town and set off on foot. Even if I was cycling (which is my usual mode of transport in a busy seaside town) I just wouldn’t have taken the time plus there’s the fear of it getting nicked. I ended up spending a very enjoyable couple of hours and came home with several nice shots including one keeper.

[@SteveONions]

I always struggle until I ditch the car Phil, can’t keep stopping and starting, it messes with my head.

[@thomashilmersen711]

I love that beautiful British landscape. Not dramatic, but idyllic.

[@SteveONions]

It’s very subtle Thomas.

[@runninblue9415]

Beautifully simple. Well observed 👌

[@SteveONions]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@johnjon1823]

Nice!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks John.

[@danem2215]

The road you walked down looks quite lovely. Can imagine in fall it's beautiful.

[@SteveONions]

It’s not as good as you’d think Dane, the hedgerows obscure most of the views sadly.

[@trailimagesphotography6635]

A very fine walkabout here, Steve. A wonderful collection of images overall. Looking at the area I'm sure one could find a reason for some return visits for similar takes.....😎

[@SteveONions]

Well it is within 30 minutes walk from the house so no real excuses for staying away 🙂

[@seoulrydr]

very nice. ty.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you too!

[@desgardner7169]

I enjoy my travels but I also enjoy taking pictures where I live! Thank you for your points of view on this matter!

[@SteveONions]

My pleasure Des 🙂

[@genegoranov5865]

The first one is remarkable!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Gene 👍

[@liveinaweorg]

Or get back on the motorbike, Steve. Surely you miss riding ;) I pack my Triumph Sport 660 with my photography gear and head out into Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire. When I don't have time I do what you are doing in this video. Your work continues to inspire.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Morris, I think my bike days are behind me though 🙂

[@luisoneillteixeira]

"I've come across exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, and that is something I wasn't looking for" 🙃

[@SteveONions]

😊

[@AdamMatthewsPhotography]

Lovely images! And a very relaxing, enjoyable video. I'm trying to learn how to be a better woodland photographer, since that is by and large what I have more locally...and these compositions were very inspiring.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Adam. Woodland truly is the biggest challenge for me, so hard to isolate subjects and avoid confusion.

[@laurencesmith1490]

There's so much that is close to home, we just have to look for it. The gnarled roots with the barbed wire are a fine example, and perfect in square format. The terrain here in the rain forest of western Washington is a bit more chaotic than your location, but the overall conditions are similar, seeing as we are at about the same latitude. We are having yet another cold Spring this year, but that's actually just fine with me. I SO enjoy your videos and your photographic patience. I am still enjoying looking on the wall to my right and seeing your print of Stile and Berries.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Laurence and I’m glad you like that print, another example of an unexpected find on a rainy day in Autumn 🙂

[@danncorbit3623]

Wonderful images. Still a bit quiet for me to hear from my tablet. I could always go to my desk and make it as loud as I like, though

[@SteveONions]

I’ve got the gain set quite low on my new mic Dan, I’ll see how much I can boost it in post 👍

[@izzyleicanut9190]

I thought it was a fruitful outing today. Very true - we don’t need to travel far and wide for an enjoyable spot of shooting. The tree trunks in BW are lovely .Probably others may prefer the rich colours of the woodlands. The BW images perfectly captured the mood of the tree trunks. Thanks and take care

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@toine1915]

Hi Steve. I wrote to you yesterday and got a reply. And now a video about the square format in black and white. What more can I wish for. Now I also understand what you meant by "just place the subject in the middle". You have added some beautiful photos to your collection. Thank you, friend, for this educational video. Antoine.

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome 😊

[@lensman5762]

Relaxed video Steve, as I like it. Great results too. Loved the shot of the tree with the barbed wire. I can not recommend staying local enough. I have taken a day off from the pressures of work today, and I may take the tram to Manchester. Lousy cloudy weather again, but what the heck, this is Manchester.

[@SteveONions]

Hope you got some good urban shots of Manchester - rain is compulsory and just adds to the atmosphere!

[@lensman5762]

@@SteveONions Indeed. I ended up in Carrington and along the Bridgewater Canal. I suddenly remembered that Manchester on a Monday is not the most camera friendly place.

[@azfactor7875]

Very productive outing for you. Loved the first shot of the roots and barbed wire. I often feel that coming across a scene like that is a gift. And perhaps a bit guilty about how easy of a shot it can be.

[@Wolfcubware]

Same, most of my best shots have been spontaneous like that. Just takes a good eye to capture scenes properly!

[@SteveONions]

Never feel guilty grabbing the low hanging fruit Bob 😀

[@azfactor7875]

Perhaps it's not so much guilt as it is a measure of uncertainty as to its artistic merit. Good art requires effort, right? At least that is what runs through my head. This past Sunday we were walking the dog in the neighborhood and I happened to glance up to see the sun nicely positioned behind a palm tree. I grabbed quick shot with my phone and then forgot about it. Yesterday I looked at the image and felt pleasantly surprised by its potential, assuming cropping and editing. The phrase "better lucky than good" came to mind. That being said, I generally don't ignore that low hanging fruit, especially if it's ripe and has nice lighting.

[@robhosailor]

Beautiful surroundings and great photos!♥ I almost exclusively shoot near my home - within a few miles of it. The edge of the Kampinos Forest (National Park) or the vicinity of Lake Dziekanowskie and the bank of the Vistula River. Another time, the area where my mother lives and I was born, which is the very center of Warsaw. I rarely go anywhere else... This later can be found on my channel and blog. Regards

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Robert. It’s inevitable that we become the most familiar with local landscapes and it’s likely to result in the best images.

[@mikehalsall8026]

Thanks Steve another good video. You could always get another motorbike and get some of that early freedom back.

[@ronwhite8503]

A little trail bike is great for pottering around country lanes; I tend to use mine rather than hoon around on my larger bikes here in Cumbria.

[@SteveONions]

Very true!

[@149jimbo]

Another excellent video. I recognise this area but I can't work out quite where that last two shots were taken. Any clues, please?

[@SteveONions]

It’s a small place called Utkinton (and surrounding woods).

[@smitty112877]

Hello Steve, excellent video as always. Quick question: I know that you are a frequent user of XP2 Super, a film I also love and use a lot. I noticed that FP4 has a similar "characteristic curve" as XP2 Super, particularly with regard to the "shoulder" of the curve (highlight control). Have you, in your experience, noticed the similar highlight retention and ease of darkroom printing characteristics with FP4 as with XP2 Super?

[@SteveONions]

Hi Matthew. I haven’t used FP4+ nearly as much as XP2 Super so I’d hesitate to give a full answer. That said, providing the exposure and development are appropriate for the lighting the traditional film definitely performs well in the darkroom. With XP2 however there’s far less to go wrong and even heavily overexposed or contrasty images print quite easily in the darkroom. It’s really appreciated when using old cameras or ones with fixed shutter speeds and apertures.

[@walkingmanvideo9455]

Its funny how we lose interest in our local areas. I am a believer that one man's trash is another man's treasure. A great example was in a video I was watching last week from another youtuber where they were in New York city and they couldn't find any inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just in the video b-roll I worked out a few compositions had I been there. I live in a barren rural area and my friends who live on the coast say I am lucky to be around agricultural subjects and wide vista landscapes and yet these subjects don't interest me anymore. On the flip side, my friends on the coast are no longer interested in coastal scenes. I was away this weekend on a 6 hour drive to Melbourne, one of Australia's major cities. I had a wonderful time, bringing home many keepers in my sd-card. So Yes, there is always room for photography close to home, but sometimes............travel is a necessity in order to re-gain the creative attitude and enrich the love for photography or even art in general.

[@SteveONions]

I also get those feelings, visiting a new location really wakes up my imagination and I often get a lot of good images 👍

[@valdezapg]

The tree trunk looked to me like it was darker than middle gray, if shooting transparency it would matter, but for negative film probably not. Also in this and some other videos you sometimes mention that one scene or other could look good in color, but seem not to have another back (or roll) with color film with you.

[@SteveONions]

The video never shows the scene the way it appears in real life sadly so it’s not possible to draw too many conclusions from it. I can shoot colour in one of my many 120 backs but I think I’d rather revisit and shoot it again, probably with digital.