Woodland photography in Summer

[@cdl0]

It is evident from this video that although botany may not be one of Steve O'Nion's strengths, photography is were he excels.

[@SteveONions]

Fair point, I'm a bit weak on my plants 😀

[@sjacobson005]

Steve is a master photographer. He can find an interesting image anywhere!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@ducgerard2361]

For two years i follow your Channel. A great channel. I Enjoy your lessons of composition And light metering with your Large and medium format camera. I enjoy to discover Uk country side Too. And at the same time i can Improve my english because i m French!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Duc, your English is just fine!

[@withadogthroughlife903]

Дорогой Стеве, снова рад увидеть тебя с Броникой. Спасибо за видео и береги себя!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, that camera needs the exercise!

[@johnmartin8526]

Very enjoyable episode Steve 👍👍👍

[@ZOMBIELUIS666]

You're so patient and willing to take your time and find composition. I feel like I am always rush in order to finish a roll or I feel like I wasted an outing. Thank you for your videos .

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome 😊

[@Blue_Newt_01]

Simply lovely…

[@SteveONions]

Many thanks!

[@markhesse2928]

Steve, I think you may have missed a cool shot of that burl-covered tree behind you near the end of your video at about 10:52.😀

[@SteveONions]

I'm always doing that Mark, whilst editing the video I see all sorts of opportunities.

[@lensman5762]

Loved the one at 6:50, Steve. I am glad you mentioned that you didn't use a filter. It is not always necessary, and at times it can also ruin a photograph by producing empty shadows. After 45 years of photography, I am learning to be more judicious in the use of filters. Thanks for posting the video.

[@SteveONions]

I'm exactly the same and I've come to the conclusion that a yellow or yellow/green is all I need to 90% of my shots. Interestingly I came across a pretty similar conclusion in Ansel Adams book on the negative.

[@michael195b]

Just discovered the channel and started back into film after a 30 year hiatus. Great content and advice, thanks

[@SteveONions]

Awesome! Thank you Michael.

[@jhenline7813]

I’ve said it before, but your compositional skills are excellent Steve. I’m a sucker for square format in mono. Especially liked the foliage close up with tree trunk.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it, it was a short but pleasant trip.

[@jasongold6751]

Great video once again. Highly informative..

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jason.

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Useful stuff as ever Steve.😀

[@SteveONions]

Thanks 👍

[@AliasJimWirth]

I always enjoy your content, Steve, and I never fail to come away with new and useful tips and information. Thanks for posting.

[@SteveONions]

You're welcome James.

[@johnmarriott9166]

Excellent work Steve, lovely details. Your last comment about dog walkers rubbish is apt, my local woods are festooned with those little black bags of poo, not the details we appreciate LOL!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks John. The next video features a lot more rubbish sadly 🙁

[@henkpeter1755]

Nice images Steve, I liked the jump to square and B/W format when you explained your last composition. Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Henk, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@DizinEire]

Morning Steve. Woodland venues wouldn't be my favourite unless I have a Macro lens with me. Probably due to working in them. However, the square format seems to really suit and hold everything in. Might be tempted to air the 330 off! Do like the dead tree @10.14. 😁 Cheers, Diz

[@SteveONions]

I find woodland very hard Diz and often walk around for ages before spotting something worth shooting. I persevere because I have woods so close to me, if I didn't I'd probably shoot them a lot less frequently.

[@stephenmason5682]

Another classic Steve, very enjoyable! Have you ever created a video covering the merits and costs of both traditional silver halide photography with digital? The cost of Inks etc., for digital is quite expensive, but so is B&W film? Keep up your great work!

[@SteveONions]

That's a very good question Stephen and one I've turned over in my head for many years. The answer is 'it depends' which I realise is a total cop out but there are just too many variables to come up with a simple answer. The scenarios range from a casual shooter who makes a few print a year to someone who is out all the time and producing a lot of work from a lot of frames. Before I crossed over to digital in 2012 I believed that the film/darkroom approach was more expensive but my subsequent experience made me question this. Whilst I was able to make excellent prints on the first attempt using a digital workflow (after spending a lot of money on equipment and doing a lot of testing) I did find the running costs quite high. Genuine inks are very expensive as is top quality paper but if making a few copies from a lot of frames it is very efficient. On the other hand the darkroom process is a lot harder to master and uses a fair bit of paper/chemicals to get a good result but the equipment costs virtually nothing once purchased and materials are surprisingly good value. So there's your answer Stephen, 'it depends' !!!!!

[@stephenmason5682]

@@SteveONions cheers, a great set of thoughts.. S

[@IzzyLeicanut]

Thanks Steve. Lovely intimate landscapes. I always have a problem with those. Focussed too much on wide vistas etc. Have to retrain my eye. Take care

[@SteveONions]

I definitely prefer to work with longer focal lengths in the forest, it's quite rare that I break out the wideangle.

[@alfredanheier4779]

Very enjoyable. The first tree trunk image is my favourite, the last image doesn't do it for me though, too much going on. The second image has a much stronger composition, in my opinion.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alfred.

[@calliekoch3043]

Steve, this woodland environment is exactly the type of environment I shoot in most often so I appreciate your detailed and thoughtful examination of how to compose a photo of it. I rarely put so much time and consideration into my shots of this nature as you did here and it makes me want to slow down and give each shot more focus. I also don't usually do environments like this in black and white as you did and I find very intriguing. Might have to try that out. Thank you for a great video.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Callie. It's a struggle to find suitable subjects at times and I tell myself to stop looking for bigger views, the close ups generally work better. I also find woodlands work best when I exclude as much of the sky as possible, having a bright area cutting into the top half can be very distracting.

[@georgefrench1907]

Beautiful results.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks George.

[@wochenendedestodes9015]

Nice...

[@azfactor7875]

A fine outing and a good job of seeing the trees for the forest. Reducing a field of view like that can be great for honing compositional skills. While staying up in Puget Sound, I frequently took walks along the shore where I shot nothing but the driftwood.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Bob, it's a good idea to focus in on a specific subject and work it.

[@Jeroenk1975]

I watched this video yesterday, and tried to apply some thinking patterns today… now waiting for the results. I don’t have a spotmeter, but with the app i can select a part of the scene, hope it wil work too. Thanks for those great vids!

[@SteveONions]

You don't really need a spotmeter Jeroen (but it helps!). I often rely on a phone app and as long as I meter carefully, excluding the sky, the images come out fine.

[@CymruRJW]

Hi Steve, I think you let the midges get to you, it's a hard task to find compositions in in that environment, but you persevered where a lot of us would have packed up and found a coffee and flapjack establishment. Last time I shot film was with the revered Nikon F4s, wish I had kept it, so far ahead of its time.

[@SteveONions]

It is a tricky place to shoot Ron and I find myself returning to a handful of small scenes time and time again. About 98% of the forest is very bland and uniform, it's those little gems that make it worthwhile.

[@raybeaumont7670]

Simple plod round the local forest - can't beat it Steve. One of my 'relax outings' with the camera. It all looks the same, yet there's always something that catches the eye and makes an interesting composition. I was just contemplating chucking a roll of RollieRetro in the old F2 Photomic but the light is flatter than a pancake so I'll save the film and go digital instead. All the best my friend.

[@SteveONions]

Hope you had a good outing Ray, I do light flat light at times but it rarely inspires me to get up and go out!

[@andersblomster]

Nothing like some square format inspiration from you. Enjoyed it as always. Now, if you would exuse me I have to go out and shoot some 6x6.

[@SteveONions]

Have fun Anders 😊

[@oldfilmguy9413]

Excellent images and, as usual, but not mentioned nearly enough, technical mastery in printing. As so often happens, the smallest elements make all the difference. Cheers!

[@SteveONions]

Good point 😀

[@jimnorman3653]

Why XP2, Steve? I've never had much success with chromogenic black & white films and much prefer Acros, TMax, Delta, etc which I process in Pyrocat MC in a Job. Do you see a benefit to a black and white film processed in C-41? Very enjoyable video. I especially enjoy when you discuss your rationale for different aspects.

[@SteveONions]

I've always liked the C-41 mono films Jim, they print so easily in the darkroom and scanning with ICE is a joy. It's a good choice for 35mm landscapes too as the highlights are a lot smoother than traditional films (not so nice in the shadows though).

[@danncorbit3623]

Wonderful images, wonderful advice, and as always entertaining. I could not help but notice how pristine your bronica looks. Most of my stuff looks like it was dropped and bounced a few hundred yards down the mountainside. ;-)

[@SteveONions]

It's got a few scuffs Dann but not bad condition overall. I tend to look after things but I'm not too precious about cameras.

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

Not had time to look at KZbin for weeks ,always nice to see your content Every time you say midge I scratch ! How are you developing the XP2 Steve ?

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Austen. I do the XP2 in any old C-41 chemicals I can find, usually in the Jobo CPE-2.

[@malcolmrendle6622]

Interesting that you are using F22 I have avoided that on my Bronica as I understood that by shutting down to minimum there is a risk of defraction, clearly not a problem looking at how sharp your pictures are.

[@SteveONions]

It all depends on the lens and format Malcolm. The 80 and 150 Bronica lenses handle f/22 really well whilst I avoid it on the 50mm.

[@malcolmrendle6622]

@@SteveONions I will give it a go next time that I am out, thanks for the info Steve.

[@Sebastian-ht3el]

Very fine work again, looks so easy when you explain your composition. Thanks for the advice to shoot locally because one gains more time for actual photography. Forest starts just at my door and this year we have almost no mosquitos due to very dry weather in Germany so tomorrow I‘ ll be out for sure, maybe with my Bronica.😉

[@SteveONions]

I'm doing a lot more work locally this year Sebastian as I'm finding it hard to get motivated if I face a long drive there and back. I'm also severely restricted on how long I have to shoot so working close to home maximises the time spent behind the camera.

[@erichstocker8358]

Do you find defraction an issue at f22 for that Bronica lens? I am glad I haven't encountered midges like I see in many U.K originated youtube. I had enough issue with gnat swarms in Parks and they don't bite! Loved that first shot of the log and flowers and foliage. It is a detail shot that came out nice. That XP2 really is a good film. When you say "deep shadow", does that mean you are putting it on zone 3 or even lower?

[@mjmdiver1137]

Diffraction does happen, but he is balancing what is in focus with diffraction. The lens will probably peak for sharpness (in the center) at about f5.6 and in the corners at f8 or so. THen it gradually declines as diffraction becomes more significant. However, he wants the DOF that f22 offers, so it's a compromise.

[@SteveONions]

It will depend a lot on the lens Erich, wideangles suffer most but the very best ones can hold up really well. I find the Bronica 80 PS to perform very well at f/22 and never hesitate to use this aperture, same for the 150mm P and PS. With the 50mm S however I'd never use f/22 since performing a series of tests where the drop off after f/16 was very noticeable.

[@erichstocker4173]

@@SteveONions Thanks exact detail information I was looking for. I guess I should perform tests on my RB67 lenses as well as my Bronica SA ones. I always just keep it at least two down from the max and that has worked. However, I should find out more rigorously what can work and want won't. Just been lazy!

[@jackyleecs]

1:30 any reason why you chose to place the shadows on Zone IV instead of Zone III as commonly advised when metering using zone system? My own experience when taking photos within the vegetation, the contrast of the scene is high so the highlights would easily get overexposed. Do you face similar issues?

[@mjmdiver1137]

Because he wanted more shadow detail and placing at Z-IV ensures that he should have solid shadow detail.

[@SteveONions]

Yes, more shadow detail, a lot easier to print and expand the low values. Highlights are less of an issue with C-41 films so I can largely forget about them.

[@thevalleywalker]

Your local woodland looks a wonderful place for a wander and I can see why you would return often.Some great captures Steve and as ever a very enjoyable watch and listen as you talk us through your thought process when taking an image. Have you a fave genre you like to shoot as we see you doing coastal, street, woodland and of course the big vistas? atb Al

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alan. Overall I prefer the mountains and wide open scenes, largely due to the pleasure of being away from civilisation and getting a lot of good exercise!

[@GWFaust-hi8tm]

Steve, you art inspire me. You have opened for me such a camera as BRONICA. Developer DD-X. I would ask if there is a big difference between Zenzanon PS and S? I'm sure you've dealt with both. THX.

[@SteveONions]

I haven't noticed a difference in real use to be honest. They say the coatings on the PS lenses are better but I have no issues with the earlier ones. Some of the PS models are quite a bit bigger, I much prefer the 150mm S due to the smaller size and weight.

[@GWFaust-hi8tm]

@@SteveONions Thanks a lot for your answer. Your authoritative opinion means a lot to me. There really is a difference between 50 S and 50 PS.

[@AlfredoDoricchi]

Hello, great video as usual. May I ask you what filters are you using on your ZB SQ-A? Thanks, AD

[@SteveONions]

I usually use the Cokin P size Alfredo, the 85mm square system works for most lenses except the 40mm and 50mm PS.

[@AlfredoDoricchi]

@@SteveONions Thanks a lot for your answer, Steve. I asked because the Gobe ND filters I use on my Leica M10 leave a ugly dark triangle in the left corner, sometimes. Cheers, AD

[@Steaphany]

At the 3 minute 45 second point in the video, there is a tree behind you with the number 13 on it Why is that tree numbered ?

[@SteveONions]

Not sure to be honest, it is a highly managed woodland so it may be marked for removal in the future (the whole area is being returned to a wetland to encourage wildlife).

[@andrewbroekhuijsen6770]

Killer stuff, I always enjoy watching your channel. How are you liking the Bronica? I have no real reason or need for a 6x6 SLR, but I've been wanting a Bronica SQ of some variety for years now. Should have bought one in 2017 when a full kit was $300, now the same kit is more like $700.

[@SteveONions]

I do like the Bronica Andrew, I was lucky enough to pick mine up at the start of 2015 when they were still very cheap, not so now unfortunately.

[@stephen_mcateer]

Do you go out early to avoid other people bothering you Steve?

[@SteveONions]

Absolutely Stephen (and the light is better too)

[@jw48335]

Hey Steve - have you ever shot the 50-100mm PS lens? I have now put half a dozen rolls through the 45-90mm PE and I am shocked that it actually outperforms the 50 mm PE prime, especially at infinity and F8+. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised since I have observed to the wide-angle lenses are the weak point in the system. I expect the PE version of the zoom is the same as the PS version but has a different focal length due to a slightly different flange distance. It also almost matches the image quality for my 75 mm PE at F8 and above. Filters are a pita (95mm) and the lens weighs more than a small car, but it is just so funny having a medium format zoom that I think I'm going to keep it:) Hand-holding it with the speed grip and WLF makes for a hilarious walk around town combo too.

[@SteveONions]

I've never tried zooms on the Bronica Jeremy but I did have one for my Mamiya 645. I loved the performance but it was heavier than three primes and lacked any real way of zone focussing accurately.

[@jw48335]

@@SteveONions The 45-90 is quite the beastie, and does weigh in at slightly over the weight of the 50+75 combined. It does have nice markings for zone though, the focus ring is actually smoother than my primes, and with the Rick Oleson screen in my ETRSI it is really easy to focus. I have also tested it with my tilt shift adapter on my EOS R digital body to confirm that it is indeed sharper than the 50 mm prime. It has been entertaining in that regard - I now have a zoom tilt shift lens for my digital body:)

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! :)

[@SteveONions]

Thanks! 😄

[@larrylindell1027]

Thanks for the video. I always look forward to them. I’m looking to purchase a square format medium format film camera. Were there reasons other than cost that you chose the Bronica over Hasselblad?

[@SteveONions]

Hi Larry. Cost is a big reason but in all honesty the two systems are very closely matched in terms of capability. I covered the whole subject in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobYmWyGf7ekoKM

[@larrylindell1027]

Thanks. That video was help.

[@MpenziYako]

Would love to see how dark the negatives are. I am definitely under exposing, as my ferns and the like would be Zone V and look dab, where as, I think yours are up in the sixth and sevens and look much nicer. Many thanks for doing these so helpful and entertaining. Mark

[@SteveONions]

Definitely give it a bit more exposure 👍

[@ivorcomment1526]

Great video again ( there aren’t any “weeds” in a woodland ! )

[@SteveONions]

Very true Ivor 😀

[@daniellablake3345]

ρяσмσѕм 🙏

[@jimbob2861]

No sheep 🐏🐑?

[@SteveONions]

Just wait until the next video!