Landscape photography without the saturation

[@tonysleung]

horses, sheep, dramatic weather... perfect! 😊

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Tony.

[@BR-uz9nj]

The image with the horse grazing in the foreground was my favorite of the set. Nicely done!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@nigeldawson5960]

Morning walk with a camera, great scenery, yeah, good way to start the day. Thanks again.

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome Nigel.

[@chromagraphphotoart]

Thought provoking as ever Steve.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

That infra red 16x9 mountain shot is spectacular 😊

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Christine.

[@lawrencesmith9214]

Wow Steve, those images along the Ogwen Valley to Tryfan are truly beautiful, no wonder you were pleased with them 👍👍👍

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Lawrence, not often I’m really pleased with a set of images 🙂

[@carls.2649]

Wonderful images. Gorgeous country. I'm jealous.

[@SteveONions]

Many thanks!

[@AliasJimWirth]

You surely did get some nice images on this outing. I enjoyed it all; the video, the walk, the talk. Thank you for posting and sharing.

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome as ever James. All the best Steve.

[@patternsinsand]

10:25 that photo is stunning.

[@distagon6052]

Speaking of iconic images, England lost it's Sycamore Gap Tree recently. So heinous. Thanks for sharing Steve.

[@SteveONions]

So sad about our favourite tree, I hope it doesn’t start a trend.

[@Henry30065]

Stunning views and beautiful photographs. Well done Steve. Alun

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Alun.

[@georgefrench1907]

The image at 13:47 gets my vote of the one I’d like to have on my wall.👍

[@PhutureproofUK]

Very beautiful couple of colour landscapes there. Certainly wall worthy I would say.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@andrewsmethers9652]

The best of your recent videos as far as I am concerned. Some lovely shots and not over processed into glaring "fine art" prints. The location makes me quite homesick but from what I read you were lucky not to meet hordes of people. Once again, thanks for the tour of once favourite haunts.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it Andrew, I must revisit when the weather permits better views from the ridge.

[@pumper325]

fantastic. love the straightforward, honest and truly enjoyable approach. cheers.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 🙂

[@nevillewatkins4997]

Those water colour shots are gorgeous Steve. Worth the admission price alone. 😃

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Neville 🙂

[@jamesdecross1035]

11:20 Agree. I love that oil-painting quality you achieve with the second scan.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks James

[@photog1529]

Ektar 100 has its place, but for certain scenes you just can't beat the look of Portra 400.

[@minisla]

The grain makes the images. Lovely really nice colour images. Might change my mind on colour.

[@SteveONions]

I also like the grain, feels more like the actual day than a super clean image.

[@DizinEire]

The Ogwen valley has to be my favourite part of North Wales. I am bringing a small group of Irish photographers over in March, to see for themselves. Great vlog and wander Steve 😁 Cheers Diz

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Diz. I used to walk and photograph there a lot more but it has got very busy in recent years. This was a midweek trip so much quieter thankfully.

[@stevenwhite921]

The Portra images looked fantastic Steve...

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Steven, more to come soon 👍

[@robingrant8082]

Really enjoyed this "outing" Steve. Thanks for making these excellent videos. Kind regards Robin

[@SteveONions]

You’re welcome Robin.

[@carbonejack]

Great images and wonderful scenery. I like the Portra 400 images, especially the one with the wild horse.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 👍

[@petermaddern6653]

Brilliant video and superb images Steve.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you Peter.

[@stevebarnett5048]

Epic photographs Steve

[@jefferyargentine4453]

What a joy. I'm 79 and still enjoy going up more than down. I tell friends that I have never hurt myself falling uphill. I really appreciate your forays into color film. Those images are beautiful. When I can buy one, I will. But I'm afraid you have made me a slave to B&W. Doesn't matter. When I am done with this all too routine paean to your wanders, I will order some Portra 400. I am so delighted to have been rescued from the pixel-peaking that defined my relationship with digital photography. I think it is inevitable that old people will look backward for inspiration. As I always close, thank you.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Jeffery. There’s no doubt that any digital camera can deliver a sharper, cleaner image but there’s so much more to photography than that.

[@BarwickGreen]

Portra 400 is good for subtle. I shot some on Harris & Lewis one November, it was perfect for the subtle beach tones

[@simonbarnes7124]

As mainly a colour film shooter, I was so pleased to see this video Steve. What wonderful photos that last batch were. The painterly effect, the grain and subtle muted tones were just a joy to see. I love b& w of course, but you really chose so well with your film choice. I find myself moving more and more away from digital and more to film these days. Today I was printing mounted slides from 1964 the year I was born and the colours were wonderful. Thanks so much Steve for this wonderful video and photographs. Truly inspiring for any photographer looking to shoot film.

[@SteveONions]

I was very pleased with the results I got Simon and will definitely spend some more time with these softer colour films. I also enjoy scanning old slides and negatives, also as far back as 1964 when I came along 😊

[@MarkRomine]

Really nice images Steve! Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Mark.

[@RandyPollock]

Always enjoy the IR images....great day of photography

[@SteveONions]

Cheers Randy, always worth dropping the IR camera into the bag.

[@izzyleicanut9190]

Breathtaking images. What an engaging landscape. I would have been tempted to spend a night there. As always - your images are food for the soul . Thanks and take care

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@lensman5762]

Your favourite of the day is also mine, Steve. Compositionally it is superb, and the colour, both versions, do the scene and the mood of the photograph justice. Thank you.

[@paulatterby7507]

I wholly agree, a stunning photograph. Treat for the eyes.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you, I could tell at the time that the conditions were just right and I did rattle off at least 10 shots in that area.

[@jasongold6751]

The weather never be taken for granted! great images! The color good. I prefer your Infra Red images on Canon G9?. Bravo.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Jason.

[@nicokremers7150]

What an exciting country you live in! Regards from the Netherlands.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you.

[@robg3545]

Some of your best shots for a long while for me Steve. Those IR shots were amazing and beautiful ones of Tryfan with the peak just breaking the skyline.

[@SteveONions]

Thank you 😊

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

I guessed right with the film!

[@SteveONions]

😊

[@somegeezer]

Loving the wide aspect, wide lens view you've gone for here. Very cinematic. Fav photo is the wild horse. and absolutely spot on about the painted look of that film at times. I definitely should give it a go.

[@SteveONions]

The conditions were just right at that point, a slight haze softened the mountains and lowered the contrast in the sky.

[@cdl0]

Steve is very, very lucky that he did not upset the faeries by going the wrong way around the mountain for this walk. My favourite picture from the set is the one @4:43.

[@SteveONions]

😀

[@thomasfarley2688]

Smashing video again. The weather on the Carneddau can be brutal at times! Enjoyed it so much I've ordered a print from your Etsy shop.

[@SteveONions]

Much appreciated, I rarely offer colour prints but I thought these had something special about them. I have shot similar scenes with Porta 160 recently and been very happy with those results too.

[@thomasfarley2688]

Print arrived yesterday. Thank you for the surprise as well. The print itself is gorgeous!@@SteveONions

[@paulevans1047]

great trip and images Steve

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Paul 🙂

[@kzr83]

Fantastic stuff, as ever, Steve. I know you prefer B&W but I've always loved you colour style too. Muted, pastel-ey, wonderful!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you. I think of these scenes as B&W with a little colour added, very similar look to both.

[@tomholden2510]

Lovely work as always Steve

[@SteveONions]

Many thanks!

[@PeterJenkins-lr8tz]

Thanks Steve - your work is inspiring!

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Peter 🙂

[@stevej4847]

Another great video and fantastic images Steve. I'm not surprised you're pleased with your images, I'd have been over the moon with them. You're lucky to live in such a wonderful location. I always look forward to your KZbin videos, keep up the great work.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Steve, I doubt anyone could ever exhaust the possibilities in the Snowdonia national park.

[@jasonfromshropshire]

Fantastic, atmospheric images, Steve. My favourite walk in Snowdonia, especially under 'proper' mountain weather. 😊

[@SteveONions]

Thank you. It is a great circuit and having the opportunity to shorten or extend it by choosing the exit point off the ridge is a real bonus.

[@ironmonkey1512]

Portra is great for unsaturated look. You had me on needles waiting for you to reveal your film.

[@SteveONions]

I could have got away with any of the 400 speed films on the day but I do like Portra’s colours.

[@jensarne5773]

Inspiring. Thanks!

[@SteveONions]

My pleasure!

[@azfactor7875]

What a great outing that had a little bit of everything. And that image at 11:05 is just stunning. As you said, very painterly. It looks as though it was an illustration plate in a novel or an example from the Hudson River School. The slight mist in the air makes it that much better.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Bob, the colours were good straight out of camera and needed very little adjustment.

[@azfactor7875]

Always a gift when you get one like that.

[@stephenroberts7828]

Inspiring thnx Steve

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Stephen.

[@oudviola]

Thanks Steve, some lovely images and interesting comments as always. I guessed maybe Kodak Gold, I'm not that familiar with all the color films available in 35mm so didn't think of Portra. Some of the color images are beautiful indeed, although can't beat IR for drama. I agree the IR shot with the tree is not the best of those, maybe partly the balance because it's off to the side but stands out so much it seems like it should be the subject. Some of the IR shots look like snow in winter! A request, can you discuss sometime about options for pure analogue color printing? It's so easy to manipulate digitized images, these days I barely use color film (except for the stereo slide positives), since I'm scanning them and printing from a digital version anyway. With black and white there are so many ways to play with the image with the film, developer, and darkroom printing, but color development is so standardized that the only options are film stock choice. What can one do in a completely analogue setting? Cheers from Montreal!

[@SteveONions]

Thank you. I haven’t done analogue colour printing for 30 years and to be honest it was a real pain. There was very little control over the final result unless you invested a tremendous amount of time and effort. I did get some decent RA4 prints that have stood up well over the years but they cannot compare to a digital scan and inkjet output.

[@impressionsoflight9263]

Beautiful scenery, Beautiful images! It’s been a lot of years since I’ve shot Portra and I seem to remember 160 had even a little more muted colours than 400, but that could be just my memory playing tricks:). Take care Steve

[@SteveONions]

You’re right, the 160 is the most muted of the range, 400 is reasonably punchy if shot at EI 400.

[@raybeaumont7670]

Cheers Steve - many thanks. Your circuit of the Ogwen Valley and Carneddau brought back many happy memories - and your photos are an inspiration as always. I used to like the results from Vericolor S for colour prints but today I'd probably settle on Fuji Provia for scanning. Please keep 'em coming.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you enjoyed it Ray.

[@danncorbit3623]

Cliché or not, the number one image was lovely. I like the stile in the second shot, because we don't have them anymore here in the US (they were much more common 50 years ago). I liked both the color and infrared images of the layered mountains. I recently bought an infrared converted Canon 5D Mark II and I do enjoy the images. It's not the same as film infrared, because I think the grain adds significantly to the mood for film. The image with the white horse was to die for. The mountain shot that followed was also fantastic. Your favorite was a nice, dreamy look. I think that the subtle color image makes it inviting. Thanks again for a nice photography lesson.

[@SteveONions]

Glad you liked it Dann. We have a lot of excellent countryside and national parks over here, the National Trust and other volunteer groups do a good job of managing the wild spaces and access isn’t usually a problem.

[@alangauld6079]

Great images. I'm not a fan of IR but the colour shots were excellent.

[@SteveONions]

Thanks Alan.

[@ledheavy26]

The shot with the horse was my favorite. I have to say Im more partial to portra 800 myself, but its hard to go wrong with 400 as well. That little Canon g15 sure can deliver the goods though.

[@SteveONions]

I also like the 800 version, especially in urban settings, surprisingly saturated for such a fast film.

[@FreezerKing]

I use Portra 400 for basically everything, it's super versatile and easy to work with. I use flash a lot and it just eats up light, no trouble.

[@c.augustin]

I first thought Portra 800 because of the heavy grain - but I normally shoot MF and or overexpose the Portra stocks (which leads to a less grainy image). Some really, really beautiful color shots there! This area is really marvelous for landscape photography.

[@SteveONions]

The higher level of grain is largely due to the scanning process with the Panasonic G9. I find digital camera scans a bit more harsh than a traditional device like the Epson or Minolta 5400.

[@c.augustin]

@@SteveONions Have you tried to use the pixel-shift hi-res mode of the G9 (80 MP like with a 20 MP Olympus camera, if I'm not mistaken)? I found that scanning with 20 MP makes the grain more pronounced, while the 80 MP scans work quite nicely. Perhaps dialing down the sharpening/detail enhancement might also be a factor.

[@keithfoster3831]

Nice to see you’ve not used photoshop Narnia !

[@SteveONions]

😀

[@mamiyapress]

When are you going to do a video on that Minolta Scanner?

[@SteveONions]

I’m unlikely to ever make one to be honest, the digital camera option is not only faster but also allows for 120 and larger formats. Sad to say that unless someone comes out with a modern scanner then I’m largely done with them.

[@chrisloomis1489]

Steve ; wonderful , I take infrared SONY A72 along with me in the DOMKE bag in the car's boot ... I have so much film to develop it is going to be in the 1,500.00 range. I must buy a processing tank to use loading in a tent or dark bag. The film selections are very good , the mountains brood hauntingly , with the span of color , and yes the pastel indeed the images look much like IMPRESSIONISTS of the last century of FRANCE ... I am reading about my favorite artists , and learning now. Steve ; have you ever carried up any TLR cameras on your jaunts ? I now have 2 M Leica's , and then 2 TLR's that are classic ROLLEI , I should hope to see some images from the haunting ruins of the quarries .. Mm I love film ... yeah. Christopher.

[@SteveONions]

I try to keep on top of my film developing, if I have too many rolls it becomes quite daunting. I’ve taken the Minolta Autocord on a mountain hike a couple of years ago but it wasn’t very easy to use in that sort of location.

[@GWFaust-hi8tm]

Steve, have you tried Kodak Gold 120 film?

[@SteveONions]

Good timing, just shot a roll last week 🙂 (vlog to follow).

[@grahamhutton3129]

Hi Steve. What colour film were you using:)

[@RickMahoney2013]

I don’t think he ever sat that is what I was wondering.

[@peterlambert3260]

He did say towards the end that he was using Portra 400 👍

[@SteveONions]

Good old Portra 400 😊

[@fandyus4125]

10:49 Looks like something from LotR

[@SteveONions]

😀

[@borderlands6606]

As a rule I desaturate digital colour landscape images, and way more than the Landscape camera defaults. A little noise doesn't bother me either. I avoid punchy landscapes at all costs.

[@SteveONions]

Absolutely, it’s often forgotten that the sliders in Lightroom move left as well as right 😊

[@erichstocker8358]

It is a gorgeous area. However, you seem to have a talent for picking very windy days. However, maybe that is just a side effect of being in Wales!

[@SteveONions]

It has been very windy this year, that said it’s a whole different climate once you get above about 2000 feet.

[@jimgraves4197]

Snowdonia has it's own climate that hardly ever corresponds with the forecast!

[@SteveONions]

Very true Jim, even with the most promising forecast I still have my fingers crossed every time 😀

[@nicokremers7150]

What an exciting country you live in! Regards from the Netherlands.