Shooting 4x5 Film in Snowdonia - My Favourite Trip Yet

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In this video I’m back in North Wales in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area, to explore and photograph some new subjects, including an incredible abandoned slate quarry, shooting 4x5 film with the Horseman 45FA. I create some of my favourite images yet and also reflect on one important lesson I was reminded of.
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►GEAR USED/MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO (*these are affiliate links):
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Ilford HP5+ 4x5 Film: ebay.us/sv6xZE
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Videos on this channel are filmed using the Fuji X-H2s: bhpho.to/3UEjFVs
►FILM PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR (*these are affiliate links):
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[@SatanSupimpa]

The appropriate content for the rainy afternoon I'm experiencing right now.

[@michaelbennettphoto]

I feel like I repeat myself quite often when I leave comments on your videos, but I really enjoyed this one Kyle. First off, the images were amazing. I can't understate how amazed I was while looking at all of them. And second off, the editing & pacing of the video was amazing. The story that was presented and the process shown to make the images was spectacular. I'm alwas left feeling inspired to go out and shoot after I watch your videos so I thank you for that. Amazing work as always!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate that. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one!

[@Dylanwade_]

the frame the gentleman going up the hill with the arrow of where you went had me chuckling! Great work as always. very fun video.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, glad you enjoyed, Dylan!

[@WillemVerb]

Such a beautiful video Kyle, very excited to see more of this series.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I appreciate that, man. Thank you.

[@carbonejack]

Incredible subject matter.

[@kristianskurtveit8520]

This has to be one of my favourite videos from you so far! Love the mood and the slow process of composing these images :)

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you! Glad to hear you enjoyed this one. :)

[@jonashuck]

The shots you got here are amazing. I really like your composition. And the 4x5 black and white is a perfect fit for those landscapes.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Jonas!

[@ryejack]

I'm enjoying these videos where you walk us through your process, thoughts and then we get to see how the photos turned out. Love the images you got in this outing! Thanks for sharing!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed, Ryan. Cheers!

[@jw48335]

You should collaborate on a project with Steve O'Nions. He's In that general area and I bet he'd be willing to point out some of his favorite locations. Another great installment sir!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Jeremy. Been meaning to reach out to Steve.

[@ryandavies2634]

Hi Kyle. As a Welshman, we'd appreciate it if you could start calling Snowdonia 'Eryri', and the main mountain itself 'Yr Wyddfa' as opposed to Snowdon. The local council recently passed that the area be referred to by its original Welsh name, and not the name given by our colonisers. It's by no means law of course, but from a cultural view it would be appreciated.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Ryan. Thanks for the reminder. :) Something that I've seen talked about recently when I've been researching these areas.

[@BryanBirks]

The landscapes out there are unreal. Such good vantage points. I’ve been toying with the idea of trading in my 180mm for a 90mm or 105mm…getting a wide look like these would be a nice change of pace. Really digging the portrait you got as well! Also, how do you like using the reflex viewer? Another piece of gear I always wondered about. Looks like it would help a lot in terms of composition.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, man! Yeah, the 105 has been really nice. In the past, I was always 135/150mm, as I'm a big fan of that range of field of view with other formats. But I've found the 105 to be surprisingly nice, and the lens I've been using the most. As for the reflex viewer, absolutely love it. For me, it makes composing way easier, and also quicker at times.

[@ZedExGaming]

Panorama? 😂😂

[@ThePhotoDept]

the 105 fuji ive had my eye on is gorgeous. less than $300!

[@peterzuehlke]

the 100 mm length works nicely with 6x9 backs too as a normal.

[@RobbieMaynardCreates]

I love that you kept that encounter with the hiker in the video and explaining that you were just talking to the camera. It seems more commonplace now to have strangers recording themselves but its always a funny interaction when you try to explain it.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, yeah, always a bit awkward. Just out here basically talking to myself!

[@Film.Stories]

Incredible images Kyle; really looking forward to "Slate City" as a whole finished project!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@brianmccutcheon3205]

Well done, great images. I once hiked up a mountain, 11 kilometers up and back, got set up to take a photo , no memory cards in camera or bag. I beat myself up all the way down.

[@tudorevans9306]

Gorgeous images as always, slate in the rain with a hint of sun you can't beat it.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks for that, Michael! Really glad to hear that you enjoyed this one. 🙂

[@thomasbarrett3906]

Very much looking forward to seeing where Slate City goes. Those Pentax nighttime shots are awesome - and that final 4x5 shot is just gorgeous. The fact the slate pieces are almost the exact same size as the houses/even larger really makes it for me. Fantastic production quality too!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Tom! Glad you enjoyed this one.

[@Tom-Humble]

Slate city. Love it.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Tom!

[@glidej]

oh wow, you can really tell this project is clicking for you in the video. i'm happy to see that. thanks for sharing!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Jacob!

[@TomNorthenscold]

This new project is exciting. Such beautiful work.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Tom. I'm excited to see where it goes.

[@andrewlunn]

Quality - great to meet you in London today

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Andrew!

[@jeg569]

My favourite was the zoomed in view of the 2 buildings with tye truck bed.

[@ChrisBoultonPhotography]

Beautiful work Kyle. Your videos make me feel so relaxed. I was at that same location jin 2020 just after the first lock-down to shoot a footwear campaign. I love the derelict houses and the slate-festooned landscape. Unfortunately we spent too long shooting and it got dark very quickly - we lost our way back to the car and ended up on the edge of an escarpment huddled behind a rock at 2am in the morning! Luckily our eyes adjusted to the dark and we spotted a route back down to safety. A big lesson learnt, felt so stupid afterwards. Never mess with mother nature.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Oh damn, that would be quite the situation. Definitely gotta be careful when you're out there. Weather can change quickly!

[@Foxglove963]

Find direction and orientation in space. Carry a compass!

[@silaspippitt4815]

I studied abroad in Wales, and love the country. Snowdonia is still on my wish list, and hope to travel there soon. Thanks for sharing your travels and photography!

[@owenwilliams9582]

Cheers Kyle, love the quarries myself, next time you up here, give us a shout and i'll buy you a coffee.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Owen!

[@ianssight2785]

Your ramble through the Rhododendron's was so reminiscent of childhood holidays following my fathers intepretation of a OS map

[@KyleMcDougall]

That'll be me with my kids when they're older, for sure. 😂

[@YOUAREMYKIN]

Nice one Kyle. And the photos of the second day are so mesmerising. They’re eerie, yet warm, nostalgic 👌✨

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Aaron-sz8po]

My father took me hiking there when he had leave from the army it's a very special place for a lot of people I'd love to shoot it one day

[@orfeasdaktylas9712]

The photos are looking real nice , looking forward to see what you do with this project.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I appreciate that. Thank you.

[@relaxwithme3266]

You are an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing. Heading out for a shoot at golden hour with my very first roll of Fuji 400H 120. I will try and keep some of your tips in mind.

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙌 Have fun!

[@markivkovic7235]

There’s the slogan for the Kyle merch. “Shooting the sheet with Kyle” Love these slower ones, allowing the images and scene to morph and form through the days.❤

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, thanks, Mark!

[@SALV057]

one of the best things I have been doing these days in terms of photography is watching your videos which give me inspiration and the courage I needed. Thank you

[@KyleMcDougall]

Really happy to hear that. Glad you've been enjoying them.

[@medwynroberts]

Worked in that mine in the mid 90s. A mix of memories there. Looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Really cool to hear that. It's a fascinating place.

[@ThepPixel]

I live and grew up on Anglesey literally a few miles from Snowdonia, I feel immensely blessed to be a photographer in such a beautiful area, glad you like it mate 😁

[@Prashant.Khapane]

Nice one, Kyle. Also my favourite part of the UK. Have done a few 4x5 outings there.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. Such an amazing area!

[@philipculbertson55]

The last scene was awesome. Very Ansel Adams'ish. The lights coming on reminded me of his "Moonrise Hernandez" image where sunlight was illuminating the crosses in the graveyard. I really enjoy your work. .

[@JanneRanta]

Difficult to say without seeing the orginal but what I've seen there can be similar edge markings if the film surface makes contact with something during development. Like it is loose on the holder and/or is contacting the tank or another frame.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yeah, I'm starting to think that's what happened.

[@jnrickards]

Yup, I push through "trails" too, LoL

[@jtpettersen378]

Well, your no Thomas Heaton! 😂 He famously can’t speak to the camera when people pass by. Your both great! 👍🏼

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, thanks!

[@antnguyen]

@9:18 been there. so many times. I feel ya.

[@KyleMcDougall]

😅

[@paulmorgan6860]

Nice work Kyle.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Paul!

[@monkeysausageclub]

Another couple of places of interest in North Wales, both on Anglesey, the old brick works, which isn't that big but very industrial and Parys mountain in autumn when the heather is out. The colour of the heather mixed with the rocks from the old quarry can look Alien.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Very cool. I'll keep those in mind!

[@sevsuk2011]

Was hoping that this would become a project of yours. THe intieresting comment at the beginning of the video is you hope to get one keeper. I try too much to get a couple of images and sometimes put too much pressure on myself. great video Kyle.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed. And yeah, I like the idea of aiming for one image. :)

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! Good to see some green warmer weather colours in your video! Keep up the good work!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Sina.

[@genegoranov5865]

Truly inexhaustible photographic location!

[@MikeChudley]

Really enjoyed the Kyle, great video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Mike!

[@gregwardecke]

I continue to appreciate you sharing things that don’t always follow the script. You give me courage to try. I want to photograph a lone forgotten weathered barn in central Washington state. It’s going to be an eight hour commitment from Seattle for one subject. It might be great or it might suck. But you have shown that if you don’t make the trip, hike through the mud, put the film in the camera and take the photograph you won’t know. As always thanks for sharing your time in making the video. Really enjoyed your photographs. Enjoy your holidays!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Greg! Really happy to hear that the videos motivate you to get out there. Some of my favourite images and experiences have come from the trips with the most uncertainty.

[@harrymackenzie4194]

Loved this style of vlog, showing the not so glamorous bits in between was cool to see. Keep on Kyle!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Harry!

[@Robadobba]

Your first trip to the quarry inspired a trip of my own to Dinorwig this past summer. such an amazing place especially exploring the quarry and surrounding areas. Made brilliant memories with friends even with my RB67 breaking my back the entire trip. You've done a mega job capturing the landscapes out there man. Can't wait to see the finished product!

[@KyleMcDougall]

That's awesome to hear, Robert! Dinorwic is such a cool place.

[@Necroblob]

What an awesome video. I'm glad you included the bit where you went down the wrong path and did the outro before you'd taken the final shot. Had me laughing after a tough day of work!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, glad you enjoyed. Figured it was fitting to keep all that in there. Part of the process!

[@Wileyinthestreets]

Amazing video as always

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank, you!

[@nickliveseyphotographingth5050]

Hi Kyle, I believe we walked past each other in Cwmorthin so it's a great coincidence that this video popped up on my feed!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Hey Nick! Yes, definitely. You were with another fella, right? Funny this showed up on your feed.

[@nickliveseyphotographingth5050]

@@KyleMcDougall I was indeed. I'm glad you had an enjoyable trip :)

[@GirdHerd]

I like the tight composition that you are showing at 14:45 in your video better than your final image.

[@harleyjaffar]

Fantastic video, great images, my favourite was the one with the two cars parked up at a gate.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Harley! Glad you enjoyed.

[@Adam-pm1cy]

Love the video and the photos, great to see another 4x5-video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Adam!

[@xiao2022]

Love to see more of the quarry photos!

[@slothsarecool]

Wish it was easier to get out there without a car, looks nice!

[@SteffenMiethke]

So beautiful and serene in that Quarry! Amazing video as always👍🏻

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dannychun924]

Wow another great video! Love the story telling - thank you for sharing. I hope you publish this project 😊

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Danny! Definitely have a few years of work with this one. But the goal will be to eventually publish it.

[@dannychun924]

@@KyleMcDougall awesome I can’t wait!!!!!!

[@thomverhoeven7896]

Great images and project Kyle. Cant wait for your current book to arrive but already will promise I would def. pre-order a zine or book about this place!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Thom! Looking forward to this one!

[@Lennymcgra]

Such an amazing area, I’ve been lucky enough to have many visits above and below ground there, so many subjects and never enough time.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Never enough time! I'd love to get underground.

[@markashfordphotography7348]

That location must be shot on film.... I very much liked the photographs you got there. Very well done....

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Mark.

[@ChrisVidouras]

Gorgeous place, gorgeous shots and a gorgeous video. Congrats Kyle!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Chris.

[@thijskennis8757]

Thank you so much for this content Kyle. I love your easy going calm content. It really inspires me to go out and shoot. Keep up the great work!

[@KyleMcDougall]

You're welcome. Happy to hear that!

[@BrennanMartin]

Such great work. Videos and photography, sorry to lose you from the GTA of course, but glad you're killing it in your new home.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Brennan!

[@RewDowns]

I really look forward to these and this one did not disappoint, great video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@maxglaze1196]

Amazing location and even better photos!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Max!

[@wylie_photo]

Looks like you have an awesome project starting here. I love how the 5x4 creates such a feeling of depth in the images and how HP5 creates such wonderful tones. I am just looking at getting my 5x4 out again to both slow down the process and to create images with that clarity and tonality that only large format can do.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Mark! 4x5 is definitely a different way or working. Something that I'm really starting to enjoy.

[@maximvdn]

You got so much self control, i would have shot 20 sheets out there 🤣 photos without the video camera are amazing, maybe worth shooting more without the video for us to watch

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, yeah, probably not a bad thing that I only loaded 4. Helped slow things down!

[@radicaleyemag]

as someone who goes out shooting with a fair amount of gear at times (usually a MF camera, and a camera to capture video + tripod), I can't imagine hiking with large format 😅 props to you sir! I can tell there's a lot of effort going into each video like this. Great video, great images! ✨

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, yeah, I'm getting quite used to hauling a bunch of stuff around. I'm sure you can relate!

[@alexander.starbuck]

About a year late, but such is your content Kyle 😄 evergreen so that we keep coming back to it. Really really thoroughly enjoyed this one. A short question, maybe you can help - where would you focus such a scene? On the truck bed, buildings in the mid ground or all the way to the far background, visible inbetween the buildings? Cheers!

[@j.k5654]

Great Video. I don’t know what causes the issue on the neg at 7:06, but frequency separation in PS will help clean it without a trace. That’s my #1 tool.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, never heard of that. I'll check it out.

[@marshalljvanderhoofphoto]

Really enjoy watching your adventures!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@NunoAlmeidaPhotography]

Beautifuk work, Kyle! Such an amazing landscape as well, unreal!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Nuno!

[@kwmfoto]

Brilliant images as usual, so inspiring!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Keith.

[@mickcookson8009]

Very nice shots there Kyle, its a great place to hone you're 4x5 skills, I too am in that process.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Mick. Been enjoying the process of 4x5. Lot's to learn, but that's part of the fun.

[@mickcookson8009]

@@KyleMcDougall Yes mate I did not realize when I started how much there was to learn, but it does make you a better photographer as it slows you down and makes you think.

[@lensman5762]

Great effort and lovely photographs to show for it. When I was watching the scenery, I thought to myself how a photo made with a sheet of Portra 160 would have looked like?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. I did shoot one sheet of P160 the next day. Have yet to develop it though.

[@nickdeak]

Absolutely beautiful, I’m so jealous

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Nick!

[@elbeatle83]

Such an amazing project. I recently hiked up Snowden for my birthday with a friend. I took my 35mm camera and we weren't so lucky with the light and visibility but I'd love to go back to that area with my medium format camera.

[@dogga6313]

I find your videos very inspiring! Loved this one especially. Great shots dude!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Appreciate that. Cheers!

[@ChannelRejss]

Beautiful results! I love the shot at 20:04 in particular.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks. 🙏

[@mattbray_studio]

good work Kyle, the images from day 2 were next level. look forward to seeing how the project progresses

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Matt!

[@dsv]

all shots look great, and that's cool you had fun with "alternative" route :D

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, yeah, my mind was wandering during that one. Probably thinking of the last image.

[@rogerharrison4316]

Fantastic. I had a trip to Cwmorthin with a 5x4 camera back in the summer. Would love to explore the other quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog. Although next time I'll take a 10x8 - maybe :)

[@KyleMcDougall]

Such an amazing area with endless places to explore.

[@sloemo4024]

Great video, shoot out to the shot you snuck in there at 19:54 which is really phenomenal

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks. 🙏

[@davidxflood]

Beautiful work Kyle, I can also see an angle in the 'Slate City' work from a human geography perspective; how we reshape landscapes in the name of progress and eventually move on when shifts in global prices no longer require those resources.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, David. And yes, that's part of what fascinates me about this area. I plan to photograph the community, people, etc.

[@davidxflood]

@@KyleMcDougall sounds fascinating, I look forward to seeing how it develops.

[@TheMungo54]

Beautiful images, I’m really enjoying this north wales series.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you like them!

[@MacnTeensVisuals]

Beautiful stuff once again Kyle. I think the b&w just works perfectly in that location👌

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks! I always have the initial urge to shoot some colour while in these places, but then find myself just working in B&W. It's what I'll stick with.

[@john3Lee]

Superb work !!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, John.

[@jnrickards]

At this point in the video, 13:43, I'm curious as to how you're going to deal with the flat sky. I like light conditions like this but I don't know how to deal with a flat sky without excluding it altogether. Impatiently waiting for more of this video.

[@stranly]

Try bringing a rachet strap and a ground hook to secure your tripod on windy days.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Interesting idea. Never would have though of that.

[@paulatterby7507]

What I sometimes do is hook a bungee cord to the hook on bottom of center column, stretch it to the ground and put my foot on it.

[@ThePhotoDept]

"this is not a trail" i got a good laugh from that

[@KyleMcDougall]

😁

[@samue1991]

I inherited a Fuji folding medium format camera. First couple rolls I put through it had about a third of each exposure slightly darker than the rest of the frame. Turned out to be light leaks in the bellows, after replacing the bellows it's gone away. Although I don't think that's what's going on with that picture, you exposed it right after taking the dark side out so who knows 🤷

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Sam. Yeah I think this was a developing issue, unfortunately.

[@samue1991]

@@KyleMcDougall the woes of an at home developer, I feel it too!

[@tomdauben]

I've only recently discovered your channel, Kyle. I'm really enjoying it though. Thanks so much for sharing. Particularly cool to see the slate tips of Wales captured, a place I've always loved and felt warranted a good photographic project!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, Tom! I'm excited about the work and absolutely love the landscape in Wales.

[@the6millionpman424]

Oh man! I always enjoy your videos in Wales, I'm no nationalist or even that patriotic a Welshman but you do have a way of making the landscape of my country look beautiful.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I appreciate that! Such a beautiful country.

[@Biggles404]

You're like the Bob Ross of film photography

[@KyleMcDougall]

The biggest compliment I could ever receive.

[@liamivarsson]

the goat. the part where you went into the greenery got me laughing

[@KyleMcDougall]

Haha, yeah, was a bit ridiculous.

[@dennisonbertram4903]

On the film mark: Are you sure the negative was well washed? You could try washing it again to see if that helps.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yep. Tried washing again, with no luck.

[@Daydream2142]

19:53, 20:04 mind blown 👍👍

[@ManLikeMorrison]

I had a lot of issues with markings, but started prewashing my film (one minute continuous agitation in 20 degree water) and I haven't had issues since

[@KyleMcDougall]

Few people have suggested that now. Something I'll have to try.

[@xinyucai9995]

Great video! Could you make a video to introduce how to shoot color in cloudy days, which confuse me for a long time.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for the future.