Being receptive to photographic opportunities.

Sometimes you have one of those photo outings where everything just feels right and the weather behaves itself. On this run up to Llyn Dywarchen in Eryri (Snowdonia) the skies were steadfastly grey but this just added to the calmness and gentle light that is so suited to black and white film photography.
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 Smart Lav
iPhone 14 Pro
Etsy Shop
steveonionsphoto.etsy.com
Contact Details
Email: [e-mail] Twitter: Steve_ONions / steve_onions Instagram: steveonions1 / steveonions1
KZbin: / @steveonions

[@harrydeyong441]

A real photographer doing real photography. No hype, no BS. No "This lens is fractionally better than that lens". Marvellous.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Harry 😊

[@lensman5762]

It is always a pleasure watching you work a scene, Steve. So different to the other You Tubers. I thank you.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@thomaspopple2291]

Always rejoice when you put out a new vid. Appreciate you putting these out and really appreciate the inspiration. Cheers.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Thomas, so glad that you enjoy the videos 👍

[@stevebarnett5048]

Top content Steve. I was taught to dodge and burn back in the 1970’s, and you are a great educator for people who say ‘I never do any post processing’ (darkroom or digital). How about a video on how to look at negatives and make decisions about realising the potential?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Steve. That’s a good idea for a video, I suppose I take it for granted that when reviewing a negative the choices are obvious (but they weren’t always).

[@danncorbit3623]

I liked the second image with the hilltop in the cloud best.

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Dann.

[@trevorbrooks813]

What a great feeling it is when you have a satisfying day out in the hills; smashing vid. I do love the sounds the Broni makes...

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Trevor. I keep a keen ear to the Bronica when shooting to make sure all the little clicks and clacks sound right, I can instantly recognise when they start playing up!

[@user-no3vf8el7n]

Thank you for another great video. I've learned a lot from your descriptions of the process you go through before taking an image. Excellent content.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Carlos.

[@izzyleicanut9190]

Lovely Black and Whites again , thank you. A discipline that I’ve realised from your walk abouts - it is equally important to know what not to photograph. Thanks

[@SteveONions]

Definitely Izzy, I walk past far more possible shots than I care to think of.

[@azfactor7875]

Very nice work in less than ideal lighting conditions. I like your idea for a series of land based flotsam and smaller compositions. When you step away from the drama of full-on landscape shots, you have opportunities to discover the beauty of the intimate..

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Bob. Once we let go of the big scenes we’re presented with countless opportunities to make our own unique images.

[@jhenline7813]

Oh that tree, so photogenic, but I also like the idea of more intimate images. Subjects we don’t really notice, and square format is perfect for them.

[@SteveONions]

I do find the 1:1 aspect ration perfect for the smaller scenes, the longer formats are very hard to compose effectively.

[@RichB-js8ct]

Great images and video Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Rich.

[@tgchism]

Always enjoy your perspective and shots! I also like going back to locations I've shot before. You knee know what you're going to find with weather and lighting changes. Even seasonal.

[@SteveONions]

Very true, it means a lot less hunting around whilst familiarising oneself with a location.

[@AliasJimWirth]

Pretty area to shoot around. Thank you for the commentary as you lead into the shots. I do learn from this and appreciate it, Steve.

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome as always James.

[@ritchiesedeyn5330]

Great video once again. Thank you for all your hard work making these videos

[@SteveONions]

My pleasure Ritchie, I’m glad you enjoy them.

[@sjacobson005]

Wonderful video.

[@jasongold6751]

Wonderful! Using the square at first difficult! Later with practice, a very love shape. A super learning video! I prefer the ord. waist level finder. I like the flip view and I have no penta-prism, for my Rollei! Bravo!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jason, I’ll admit I took to 1:1 like a duck to water when I first got a Yashicamat back in the 80’s.

[@tribesman1594]

I enjoy your analysis of the resulting images and, in particular, you are not averse to a bit of self-criticism occasionally. Your honesty is admirable. (From a D850 shooter).

[@SteveONions]

Thank you - nobody’s perfect 😀

[@impressionsoflight9263]

🤔 A limited edition book where the pages are actual prints. Autographed of course. 👍🏻

[@SteveONions]

That would be a very limited run indeed!

[@FreezerKing]

I've been taking a lot of pictures of trees and branches, too, usually with flash and the trees being in front of regular street scenes. Trees are kind of like furniture you don't use much, they're just kind of there and you need to think about them to really remember them

[@SteveONions]

I’d be lost without trees to be honest, and they are never the same twice.

[@FreezerKing]

@@SteveONions You CAN see the forest for the trees!

[@bluzizalright]

An inspired photographic outing for sure!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@davidpresnell1734]

I own a RB67 with several backs. You've finally got me to use the square format backs I own. I was a 6x7 man before seeing your compositions. I'm finally looking at images I never considered before! Thanks for expanding my horizons!

[@SteveONions]

Glad you’re enjoying the 6x6 format David. You are lucky that with your RB you never have to reorientate the camera even when shooting 6x7.

[@thenutter2003]

really like the photo of the branch and moss wool some thing i see on my walks a lot but never taking a photo of. but will next time i think they would be good as you say in a small book.

[@erichstocker8358]

You always pick some of the most beautiful interesting places in Wales. I would really love to get to them. However, being from the US and driving in the UK especially when not knowing the roads and directions doesn't give me great confidence. Many of those place would require me to drive. As always I love your shots!!!!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Erich. Our roads are definitely challenging, especially around North Wales and the Lake District - not for the faint hearted!

[@ruudmaas2480]

I like these images. I would like to see that book.

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Ruud.

[@JimNorman-op1cv]

What a photographic opportunity area! I also liked the boathouse when you started your hike.

[@SteveONions]

It is a lovely place to shoot Jim and always quiet.

[@trailimagesphotography6635]

Wonderful outing here on this episode, Steve. I'll go with the last image as my first choice from the trip. Although I alternate between my MF & LF units I do find my MF the best all around in versatility.....😎

[@SteveONions]

I also find 120 a lot easier to work with and not compromised by windy or wet weather to the same extent at 4x5. I wish the Bronica was as light as my 4x5 kit though 🙂

[@trailimagesphotography6635]

@@SteveONions Exactly Steve. My RB67 is much heavier than my Wista DXIII kit.

[@oudviola]

Enjoyable as always, love to hear your thought process on composing an image. My Bronica GS1 50mm wide angle also takes a 95mm filter, I have yellow which was very pricey. Will have to try yellow filter more especially in Newfoundland.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Mark. I usually have the yellow filter with me a last minute swap of the 50mm for the 40mm caught me out.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Lovely work Steve as always. I have the Bronica ETR used to have the ETRsi love those cameras. I was never a fan of square format but since shooting with an Iconta M 6 x 6 I'm a square convert love it cheers

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul. After 1:1 my next favourite aspect ratio is 4:3, always like it on the Mamiya 645 and Micro 4/3 cameras.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

@@SteveONions sounds good mate I'm quite enjoying the challenge of square seems like a totally different mind set.

[@MpenziYako]

Super video Steve. Interesting to note that you find overcast cloudy conditions most suitable for black and white. About to go out and try and get if some shots at midday with a clear blue sky - I think I'll have a look at your blog on summer landscapes first. Thanks again Mark

[@SteveONions]

Midday in summer is very tricky, black and white works very well but colour is a challenge.

[@user-dq5bo8zj6k]

Great job as always. Is that a new Tripod you’re using? I’m looking for a new one for my Bronica. And I really want to find one of those filter hoods. Keep up the great work.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Phil. The tripod is a Velbon carbon fibre model I’ve had for a few years. It’s no lighter than my usual aluminium 655 model but the legs locks are a bit nicer to work with.

[@paulevans1047]

enjoyed this would have been nice to see the before and after image had been worked on

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul. I occasionally show post processing but it’s been covered extensively by most people so I tend to steer clear of it.

[@attrell64]

Now realise the preview app you use is Apple only, so using Magic Film Viewfinder for Android for my SQA. Really starting to love the camera after 1 film.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you found an alternative for Android Paul. I’m sure there are better tools than the one I use but I’ve got used to it I suppose 🙂

[@toine1915]

Excellent video, Steve. I love the area where you are, my friend. Did you process the pictures in the darkroom or in Lightroom? The contrast is awesome and I like the square format. Til the next vlog, Antoine.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Antoine. The location is a small lake called Llyn Dywarchen in North Wales. The images were processed in Lightroom for this video.

[@maicimyoshikinewchannel5511]

Like 673👍👍👍👍👍👍😊

[@flyingo]

Nice. Do you ever use half graduated filters for the contrast boost?

[@SteveONions]

That’s a good question. The answer is ‘occasionally’ although I should consider their use more often.

[@betelgeuse1253]

Hi Steve, do you have a link to information on that hood? I can't seem to find a genuine Bronica lens hood that has that filter slot built in as it appears yours does.

[@SteveONions]

This is the hood I use www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304970215107?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=f942LqqKToG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY It’s well worth getting a copy if you can.

[@stuartmarsden4142]

Lovely video Steve. Thank you

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Stuart.

[@erichstocker8358]

Steve, when you meter for the shadows to maintain some detail, are you placing those shadows on zone 3?? I believe that is the lowest one that maintains any detail in the dark areas. Also, how much range does your experience show you that Xp2 actually has (is it a full 8 stops?).

[@SteveONions]

I’m actually placing deep shadows in zone 4 these days Erich to give even more room for manoeuvre in the post processing stage. If I put them in 3 (as I still do sometimes) there’s little margin for error if my technique is off and I can see this immediately the negative comes out of the dev tank. With the additional exposure I can do what I like with the shadows later and never need to worry about the slightly greater density in the highlights. I’m not sure how much dynamic range XP2 has but due to the gentle shoulder it accepts overexposure very gracefully.

[@erichstocker8358]

@@SteveONions Thanks! I will try doing the same and see whether it works in my flow. It makes a lot of sense and I think it would work in my flow also. Thanks for the detailed response

[@kevinthephotographer9346]

The last image is a cracker

[@thatdeafguyuk]

Oh gosh, if you have a coffee table photobook published count me in.

[@jasongold6751]

Easy to say! I simply cannot add more books.. overflow...

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@genegoranov5865]

I don't believe there's anyone on KZbin who's better at composition. The sensitivity to form is incomparable.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you Gene, that’s very kind of you to say 😊