Thank you Steve. Lovey video. I shoot in digital and I love my camera. When I shoot in street I might sit in a location for several minutes and think about my composition before I bring the viewfinder to my eye. I like the excitement of capturing a scene on the run but i enjoy photography much more when I can take a photo when I’m relaxed.
I used to carry a Pentax 67 with a 55mm F4 lens and a Slik 88 tripod with a Linhof ball head. Trix and Portra 400 film. I had a Nikon D40 with a 18 70 lens with me as well. A great holiday /hiking kit. Mostly in Cornwall. The 20x16 inch enlargements are stunning, especially the sunrise over the sea ones taken at Treen. Great memories. I use a Kiev 6c 6x6 slr with a 90mm 2.8 Vega lens. My digital favourite carry is my Fujifilm X10. An amazing little camera. I still use the Slik 88 tripod with the sturdy Linhof ball head.
Steve I’ve only watched two of your videos, both this morning. Really enjoyed them as they show me a different part of the world than my own here in Southern Arizona. Keep sharing as it inspires me to want to travel more.
Very meditative film, enjoyed it. I’m sure I’ve done that walk but it’s been so many years since I was in Snowdonia I can’t remember. Must get back up there while my legs are still working!
Love your work, the hiking, the images, the talk about gear. I too like to travel light. Because of surgery I am limited to short walks and minimal gear. Reduced my gear to a small Fugi digital with a marvelous short zoom. Take black and white maco shots. There’s an entirely new world in the tiny.
Im liking your channel more and more. A bit jealous of the vistas you have so close to you. Great way to stay in shape while doing what you love. Thanks for sharing. Nice to see someone still doing analog and passionate about it.
Excellent. And I agree - as I get older, lighter, and simpler, is better. For too long I have complicated my photography with tons of expensive and complicated gear, and I now realise with the sageness of age that most of it was actually just getting in the way. Cutting your equipment carry drastically is liberating, not restricting!
Hi Steve, nice video, I love the atmosphere of the welsh mountains. It's funny, because, when you said you "travel light", for me, you are downright loaded! I made a "photo-hiking" yesterday, and, I took my Olympus mju II in my pocket, a bottle of water, and... that's it...
The other burden is vlogging equipment Olivier and the need to record numerous clips to record the video. The checklist before each trip is quite long 😕. PS - I’d love a Mju II.
A great trip and some stunning images as always. I’ve just come back from a trip to the north west of Ireland near Donegal. Being in my 50’s now I have ditched the dslrs for the much lighter Sony A6300”s and Fujifilm XT1. Carrying lighter kit doesn’t zap your enthusiasm and therefore we can get better images. Jam butties. Part of my diet as a boy. I will have to give them a try again. Banana sandwiches were my thing during my wedding days. Now you’ve got me thinking about using my old EOS 1 film camera with a 24-200 zoom. Id have to buy the zoom though. I used to shoot compressed landscapes a lot in the film days. I look forward to your next video Steve. Thanks.
Thanks Simon, like you I’m looking for ways to make photography more enjoyable and less painful. The much maligned superzoom is the ideal tool for walks where you don’t want to keep switching lenses and for faster black and white films any quality dropoff is often obscured with grain. Hope you manage to get out with the EOS 1 at some point in the future.
Thank you for another great and inspiring video Steve - you are a brilliant photographer and I enjoy your tips and thoughts on the process very much ☺️
Very enjoyable video. I worked in that area for five years and know what the light is like early in the morning. Interesting spot where you did your piece to camera. The grain in the stone and the colour of that lichen was incredible.
Thoroughly enjoyable Steve. I feel your pain when it comes to balancing the weight with the need for the right gear and also quick access on hikes. I’ll take away a few ideas from this, cheers 👍👍
Absolutely loved this video loved your lightweight approach to this and all your videos are absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your photographic knowledge and the beautiful amazing places you go.
What a nice hike. I suggest that you try the Olympus OMD-EM1 Mark II with the 12-100 f4 pro lens. Small and light kit with superb image quality and 6.5 stops of image stabilization.
What a fabulous episode Steve. Can so relate to the weight issue going into the hills too. This is the 2nd video recently when the Nantlle ridge has featured along with Craig Cwm Silyn & if fitness allows I will be having a look in that area next time I am in Snowdonia. I suppose the beauty of everyone and his dog doing the main peaks is that the surrounding mountains are relatively quiet, that is certainly the case down here in the Brecon Beacons. Wonderful selection of images & I was very interested in the walking sticks that have a monopod thread attached to them - I had an old Leki singtle stick that hd the same but my current ones don't so will check out the ones you have. atb Alan
Thanks Alan. It is become harder and here to find quiet locations wherever you go these days which is partly why i go out so early. The main ridges are far too busy for me but fortunately Snowdonia is a very large area and so many peaks are deserted.
Hi steve, i am currently watching a whole bunch of your videos. I am Giddy at the thought that i may have seen you a few times in wales which is my second home. A lot of your stuff is done in most of the places I've been. Great photos mate. I live and work in Manchester but most weekends i am in my caravan in Abergele North Wales. I saw the sunset you did at Llandullas. I've taken that shot many times. Loving the videos. Stay safe pal.
You were the first vlogger I ever followed and I now look forward to the Sunday vlog from you. This one hasn't disappointed and once again is full of interest and some great photos. Thanks steve.
Awesome video Steve. I’d love to visit the U.K, especially Scotland and Wales. I live in Australia so it would be a once in a lifetime trip. I love the setup with the walking pole/monopod/GoPro mount. Fantastic. Thank you.
Lovely. Thanks a lot for putting this together! Snowdonia seems to be (luckily) underrated, at least outside the UK, and is therefore not overrun. Must visit it again!
I wish I could do the hikes like you did on this video Steve, unfortunately this girl's knees aren't what they used to be. but, I will still try and find ways to get some shots like the ones you shared in this video. I'll have to wait for our Aussie winter to arrive first and that wont be till the middle of the year here. loved some of the shots you got, they're gorgeous.
I’m sure that one day in the not so distant future I’ll not be able to do such walks. These videos are for those times so I can look back with fond memories. I only wish I’d been able to record them when I was young 😢
What a great area for hiking and photos. It's always special when you score it with little or no wind too. I also dropped tons of gear weight 2 years ago. From Nikon FF to the Panasonic GH5 and assorted Panasonic and Leica lenses. If I were to carry all of the gear it's only 7 lbs. That's 16mm - 800mm. Went to a smaller 18-liter pack too. I just carry my camera with the 8 - 18mm lens on it in my hand most times. I use a slightly larger pack if lots of water is needed. My younger days of carrying 50+ lb packs are over. Nice work on the video...
Intrigued to find out what you intend to use in your even lighter trip next time. One small SLR and one prime lens perhaps? My ultimate go-to for this approach is the Pentax ME with the 28mm M series. The simplicity forces you to concentrate on the composition and I always get better results.
Thank you for taking us on such a beautiful walk, possibly the longest you’ve taken us on. I’m not a big one for pushing film, I'm Mr Boxspeed as a rule. I do have a box of Microphen somewhere so I might give it a try though I doubt it’s in date. You got some cracking shots Steve, really very special, and as always a superb video.
Thanks Mark. I could have got away with not pushing the film but that extra stop was nice to have and I like the look it gives on days with a lot of cloud cover. To be honest I also bias heavily towards the shadows so my EI800 might be another persons EI400 😀
Steve, I very much enjoy your photo walk videos. Your landscape photography is stunning. Your composition is wonderful and frankly I’ve attempted some of your techniques, but my execution certainly isn’t anywhere your’s is, but thank you for the video.
The shot around 14:20 is my favorite shot of this trip! A rather compact 28-200 zoom - I have no idea what they have done lately to pump of the volume and weight of lenses, especially for mirrorless full-frame cameras. And I'm curious what lighter and cheaper outfit you might come up with next …
I know what you mean about current lens trends Christian. Just at the point where digital technology delivers outstanding quality in smaller sensors (and bodies) they focus al their efforts on huge lenses that few people really need. What happened to all those wonderfully compact primes from a few decades back, I don’t recall any significant optical defects with them?
@@SteveONions Well, many of the monster lenses are technically better than their predecessors - mostly at open apertures or slightly stopped down. What seems to be missing are good lenses with less extreme qualities; at least quality control seems to be lacking for these lenses, especially with Sony and Zeiss E-Mount lenses, but I stumbled upon a bad zoom lens from Olympus too (the small "pancake" zoom 14-42 mm - very unreliable results from fine to bad, but mostly bad).
I’ve yet to find a bad M43 lens and appreciate that I can use most either wide open or just one stop down. Coupled with the excellent depth of field this makes them perfect for hikes without a tripod. I am not a fan of the super sharp and contrasty modern lenses for most landscapes and prefer the tessar designs that are more gentle and considerably lighter.
@@SteveONions Older lens designs (not only the Tessar-type 4 lens in 3 groups one) were normally much simpler than modern ones, and that's one factor why they were smaller. I'm somewhere "in the middle" when it comes to that: I see the benefits of modern lens designs (sharpness up into the corners even when only moderately stopped down, good micro contrast), but they are sometimes a bit "soulless" too. Perhaps this is why I like shooting with some old folding cameras (I've settled mainly on the 6x6 Agfa Super Isolette with its 4 lens/3 groups normal lens) - I have to use what I've got with the camera, and results are mostly what I was looking for in the first place … ;-)
I used an Isolette III for many years with the 75mm Solinar and it remains my favourite lens to this day. I actually like the corner drop off as the transition is so smooth it compliments many square compositions. I used it 95% of the time with B&W. My current folders are a 6x9 Zeus’s Ercona (tessar) and Voigtlander Perkeo 1 with 3 element Cooke triplet.
Excellent Video Steve! What an extraordinary hike, and you are right. Less gear is more practical. Like the way you hang the camera on the backpack. So its true, less gear makes a lightweight photographer a happy photographer.
Great video and some very nice shots Steve , I quite often go out locally and just shoot handheld with one lens these days it Means I can just nip out when I havnt got much time without the encumbrance of a big bag , tripod and range of lenses , it’s very liberating and I’m more likely to take of the cuff images which I probably wouldn’t have bothered with if I’d had to take the rucksack off get the gear out and set up a tripod , it’s the way to go when your legs aren’t what they used to be !
I’ve missed countless shots through not wanting to take the bag off Andrew. I don’t mind a lot of gear if I know what I’m going to shoot and there’s no walking involved but mountain are hard enough as they are.
Don't forget your wonderful micro 4/3 camera! As you know, many landscape photographers use them and make great prints too like you showed in your other video.
Lovely vid as always Steve. on your next trip you said you would try to take some thing even lighter. How about a holga or lubitel 166 and a few rolls of film? paul
You don't have to go Lomo to save weight. I would imagine something like old folder camera or fixed lens rangefinder. Could be also compact SLR a la Pentax MX/ME Super with 40mm pancake :)
Lovely images Steve. Travelling light is the only way when you are out on the hills especially when you are 65 and totally unfit like I am. God I love my Oly m4/3 gear and carbon tripod. By the way sir, what is that gadget you have that fastens the camera to your shoulder strap ? I think I need one.
Thanks Stuart, I also like my (ever growing) M43 equipment for the lack of weight and flexibility it brings. The clip is made by Peak Designs and attached to most bag straps, the camera uses the supplied lightweight Arca compatible plate - very efficient.
Mountains. Oh, to have mountains close by. The tallest 'mountain' we have in Oklahoma is the Black Mesa at 1,516 m. Lots & lots of rolling hills, but no mountains. sigh.
The Nantlle ridge is very much a hidden gem, rarely do you see many people up there. I've done it twice from West to East and vice versa. Sadly both occasions were in very bad weather. Did you get a bus back to your starting point? I always hated doing A-B routes because of that ! Great images with minimal kit, always a joy.
Hi Alan. I’ve never done the end to end traverse but tackled it from both directions and looped back. On this trip I dropped down to the Beddgelert forest just before Craig Cwm Silyn but it was a bit of a slog and nowhere near as enjoyable as being up on the tops.
Well I think you got a few very nice images. I am going up Snowdon from the Watkin Oath in a few weeks so I’ll take your advice on taking less. See your rocking the Hulk Hogan face hair haha.
Loved the video Steve and 'Lightening the Load' was real 'Click bait' for me as it's something I have to do asap. Beautiful images and the one at 12:30 is my favourite 👌
Great vlog as always - funny enough, I decided some weeks ago to rather invest in my fitness instead of more gear ;-) so this vlog was the perfect confirmation that it is the right decision. Thanks for sharing!
Getting fit is definitely the way to go Isabel and I need to make more effort in this respect. There’s only so much equipment you can jettison so being healthier must always be the priority.
That was great. I do think more photographers on here should engage with the issue of weight. I'm going to the Dolomites soon, and I'm 64: in good health, but seriously not keen on heaving too much stuff up the trails. But I do want to get those shots! Thanks again - btw, I think you do some really good B roll - unlike some I could mention, you don't overdo it and it all contributes to the narrative. Well done.
Hi Steve, great vlog with some lovely images, have you considered filtering your water when in the mountains? I have been filtering water for a couple of years and could save you a couple of extra kilos, more so confidently if you plan in a water source.
Excellent. Really pleasing ridge walk - I'm jealous! Maybe, after the hip replacemenmt I'll be able to get back up into the hills myself. Even so, equipment weight will be a concern. My guess for the sequel: 35mm body, nifty fifty, L bracket, tripod. I'm holding my breath here... What time did you have to set out to get to this part of the world in time for sunrise?
Thanks David and I hope you are able to get out again in the near future. In terms of timing I needed to get up at 3am to arrive at the start of the walk by 04:45 which was just before sunrise. Everything is so easy at that time of the day, the drive there, parking and the empty trail - perfect.
Couldn’t agree more Steve. Ever since ditching the tripod, taking too many lenses and getting myself mountain fit my photography has improved no end. I go higher, further and for longer and the opportunities just open up 👍🏻
Lovely images Steve and thoroughly enjoyed the video. I have been thinking a lot about reducing the weight of my pack when in the mountains. I took a little canon m50 along to try some video but ended up using handheld all day which was liberating, my full frame camera stayed in the bag, so it got me thinking about just taking that in the future. Also I have been taking a water filter and just 1ltr when I know there is a source on my route which saves a chunk of weight. Seems to work(not had the shits yet) 😆 Cheers, Paul.
Thanks Paul, I’ve not thought about a water filter before and many of my walks have plenty of fast running streams. The water can make up a significant amount of the weight and I often like to drink a lot early on to keep me hydrated and lower the burden. I need a lot less on the descent but a few years ago I got lost on a remote walk in Summer and was seriously dehydrated at the end so I always err on the side of caution now.
Steve O'Nions It was a case of dehydration that prompted me to get a filter and no longer have that water anxiety when out. The MSR trailshot is good, about £40 as you can drink directly from it or refill a hydration pouch/bottle. Something nice about a drink from a fresh stream too.
Thanks Paul, I’m often confronted with streams on my walks and with water at 1kg per litre it soon adds up. I’d probably always take 1l just in case during the Summer but in Winter I could get away with half of that.
Enjoyed this video a great deal thank you for sharing it: I shoot film and digital but love film more, B&W develop it myself don’t fully understand a lot of what you were saying there about developing extra stops etc: Thank you again for sharing
It is funny that several minutes before watching at your video, I was wondering about how to use one of my marching poles as a monopode. So, when I saw that you already have solved that issue, I got really interested. So, how did you fix the quick release tripod plate to your pole? I don't get to figure out how to do so.
Hi Pedro. The poles I used in that video have a handy threaded attachment that takes a quick release plate, very useful. My better poles do not have this feature which is a shame 🙁
I love your interpretation of the BWs. I think your one of the few guys who see stuff in BW BEFORE you shoot and convert it as the colour doent work. Love the BW post treatment also! Well done Regards E (NZ)
I sold all my dslr gear and bought a mirrorless camera and a 24-70/4 and a sharp 50mm prime. Mayby i'll add a 85mm prime later. As a tripod i use a joby 3f. Nice lightweight setup. If your gear stops you from Going outside then get rid of it.
Loved the violins 😀. A nice hike with a bit of photography rather than hiking encumbered by photography. Amazing views!
Thanks Paul.
That's why I switched from Nikon FF to Olympus 3 years ago, and it has greatly improved my enjoyment and my productivity!
Thank you Steve. Lovey video. I shoot in digital and I love my camera. When I shoot in street I might sit in a location for several minutes and think about my composition before I bring the viewfinder to my eye. I like the excitement of capturing a scene on the run but i enjoy photography much more when I can take a photo when I’m relaxed.
I know that feeling Anthony, I do enjoy watching a scene before taking a shot before moving onto something else.
I used to carry a Pentax 67 with a 55mm F4 lens and a Slik 88 tripod with a Linhof ball head. Trix and Portra 400 film.
I had a Nikon D40 with a 18 70 lens with me as well.
A great holiday /hiking kit.
Mostly in Cornwall.
The 20x16 inch enlargements are stunning, especially the sunrise over the sea ones taken at Treen.
Great memories.
I use a Kiev 6c 6x6 slr with a 90mm 2.8 Vega lens.
My digital favourite carry is my Fujifilm X10. An amazing little camera. I still use the Slik 88 tripod with the sturdy Linhof ball head.
I really liked the shots where you got the sheep in. Really added a little something extra to the landscape. Great video as always! Thanks!
Thanks Richard.
Excellent pictures as always. Low weight is really the key for a joyful walk.
Thanks Jörg.
Steve I’ve only watched two of your videos, both this morning. Really enjoyed them as they show me a different part of the world than my own here in Southern Arizona. Keep sharing as it inspires me to want to travel more.
Thanks Hugh, I am glad you liked them.
Very meditative film, enjoyed it. I’m sure I’ve done that walk but it’s been so many years since I was in Snowdonia I can’t remember. Must get back up there while my legs are still working!
Excellent, as always. Good to see your lightweight set up and your nifty little trekking pole with the quick release.
Thanks Craig.
Steve, Thanks for sharing your good work. I'm entranced by the time-lapse cloud videos [yet again].
Thanks Larry.
Some of your best shots. Very impressive. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you
Beautiful Country! Very nice captures and Love the Nikon n80/f80 nice and light. Thanks for sharing!
Love your work, the hiking, the images, the talk about gear. I too like to travel light. Because of surgery I am limited to short walks and minimal gear. Reduced my gear to a small Fugi digital with a marvelous short zoom. Take black and white maco shots. There’s an entirely new world in the tiny.
I agree Jack and want to spend more time locally exploring the less obvious scenes and vistas 👍
beautiful, I really enjoy the music and the pictures. Well done
Thanks John.
Im liking your channel more and more. A bit jealous of the vistas you have so close to you. Great way to stay in shape while doing what you love. Thanks for sharing. Nice to see someone still doing analog and passionate about it.
Thanks Daniel. I’ve been unable to get out for months because of the restrictions but I’m hoping 2021 will eventually allow more freedom.
Stellar photos and advice, as always, Steve.
Excellent. And I agree - as I get older, lighter, and simpler, is better. For too long I have complicated my photography with tons of expensive and complicated gear, and I now realise with the sageness of age that most of it was actually just getting in the way. Cutting your equipment carry drastically is liberating, not restricting!
I am also coming to the same conclusion Marc but is think I realised it when I was young too, the pressure of advertising won however 😕
The black and white photos were stunning Steve!
Thanks James.
Food for thought there Steve and great shots 👍
Thanks Eltin.
Hi Steve, nice video, I love the atmosphere of the welsh mountains. It's funny, because, when you said you "travel light", for me, you are downright loaded! I made a "photo-hiking" yesterday, and, I took my Olympus mju II in my pocket, a bottle of water, and... that's it...
The other burden is vlogging equipment Olivier and the need to record numerous clips to record the video. The checklist before each trip is quite long 😕. PS - I’d love a Mju II.
Great video. Live the sad violin at 3 min. Lol.
An epic photo trip, great results too, I need a 4x4 mobility scooter.
Great video and images, Steve. I'm looking forward to your next one.
That landscape is beautiful. I'm really jealous.
It is amazing up there, I’m itching to go again and thankfully it is less then 2 hrs drive from home.
I love that 3:20 spot with the self effacing music. Humble.
A great trip and some stunning images as always. I’ve just come back from a trip to the north west of Ireland near Donegal. Being in my 50’s now I have ditched the dslrs for the much lighter Sony A6300”s and Fujifilm XT1. Carrying lighter kit doesn’t zap your enthusiasm and therefore we can get better images. Jam butties. Part of my diet as a boy. I will have to give them a try again. Banana sandwiches were my thing during my wedding days. Now you’ve got me thinking about using my old EOS 1 film camera with a 24-200 zoom. Id have to buy the zoom though. I used to shoot compressed landscapes a lot in the film days. I look forward to your next video Steve. Thanks.
Thanks Simon, like you I’m looking for ways to make photography more enjoyable and less painful. The much maligned superzoom is the ideal tool for walks where you don’t want to keep switching lenses and for faster black and white films any quality dropoff is often obscured with grain.
Hope you manage to get out with the EOS 1 at some point in the future.
Thank you for another great and inspiring video Steve - you are a brilliant photographer and I enjoy your tips and thoughts on the process very much ☺️
Thank you very much Morten.
I must confess I can’t quite quit the tripod and cable release for landscape. God bless carbon fiber and m4/3.
I still like to work from a tripod but I’m less keen on carrying it up a mountain 🙂
Nice vlog as always. The image at 12:23 gives me a strange warm chill. It's like I can feel the warm sunbeam on my skin. :)
Thanks Sandra.
Very enjoyable video. I worked in that area for five years and know what the light is like early in the morning. Interesting spot where you did your piece to camera. The grain in the stone and the colour of that lichen was incredible.
Thanks Neil. I filmed the clip you mention at the obelisk on Mynydd Tal-y mignedd.
Just stunning , Cornwall is gorgeous but we don’t have mountains and views like that
Very true Austen, I love the hills.
Thoroughly enjoyable Steve. I feel your pain when it comes to balancing the weight with the need for the right gear and also quick access on hikes. I’ll take away a few ideas from this, cheers 👍👍
Thanks James.
Brilliant steve great results
Thanks David.
Thankful for yourchannel Steve! Another gem vlog.
Thanks Carlin.
Lots of lovely shots!!
Great video Steve with some truly inspiring images....just wish I was closer to the Lake District. Looking forward to seeing how you can go lighter...
Beautiful Images, Perfect work!
Absolutely loved this video loved your lightweight approach to this and all your videos are absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your photographic knowledge and the beautiful amazing places you go.
Thank you.
What a nice hike. I suggest that you try the Olympus OMD-EM1 Mark II with the 12-100 f4 pro lens. Small and light kit with superb image quality and 6.5 stops of image stabilization.
Very true. I have a similar setup with the Panasonic G9 and 14-140 lens.
What a fabulous episode Steve. Can so relate to the weight issue going into the hills too. This is the 2nd video recently when the Nantlle ridge has featured along with Craig Cwm Silyn & if fitness allows I will be having a look in that area next time I am in Snowdonia. I suppose the beauty of everyone and his dog doing the main peaks is that the surrounding mountains are relatively quiet, that is certainly the case down here in the Brecon Beacons. Wonderful selection of images & I was very interested in the walking sticks that have a monopod thread attached to them - I had an old Leki singtle stick that hd the same but my current ones don't so will check out the ones you have. atb Alan
Thanks Alan. It is become harder and here to find quiet locations wherever you go these days which is partly why i go out so early. The main ridges are far too busy for me but fortunately Snowdonia is a very large area and so many peaks are deserted.
Stunning landscape! 👌
Hi steve, i am currently watching a whole bunch of your videos. I am Giddy at the thought that i may have seen you a few times in wales which is my second home. A lot of your stuff is done in most of the places I've been. Great photos mate.
I live and work in Manchester but most weekends i am in my caravan in Abergele North Wales. I saw the sunset you did at Llandullas. I've taken that shot many times. Loving the videos.
Stay safe pal.
Thanks Rob, I also love the North Wales coast and the lovely light. Another Llanddulas video later this year methinks.
You were the first vlogger I ever followed and I now look forward to the Sunday vlog from you. This one hasn't disappointed and once again is full of interest and some great photos. Thanks steve.
Thanks John, I’m glad you liked it.
Nice video Steve !
Awesome video Steve. I’d love to visit the U.K, especially Scotland and Wales. I live in Australia so it would be a once in a lifetime trip. I love the setup with the walking pole/monopod/GoPro mount. Fantastic. Thank you.
Thank you.
Photo walks without other people crowding the scene is always wonderful.
The best, I find that people disturb my concentration sadly.
Lovely. Thanks a lot for putting this together! Snowdonia seems to be (luckily) underrated, at least outside the UK, and is therefore not overrun. Must visit it again!
It is my ‘go to’ location for landscapes these days and I have only started to scratch the surface.
Super vlog Steve, tough climb up Y Garn! You and I are in danger of making Nantlle too popular like so much else of this area!! 😊👍🏻
I’ll take the Eastern end, you have the West then we can charge £10 a day for a photography permit 😀
@@SteveONions HAHA let's make it £20!!
I wish I could do the hikes like you did on this video Steve, unfortunately this girl's knees aren't what they used to be. but, I will still try and find ways to get some shots like the ones you shared in this video. I'll have to wait for our Aussie winter to arrive first and that wont be till the middle of the year here. loved some of the shots you got, they're gorgeous.
I’m sure that one day in the not so distant future I’ll not be able to do such walks. These videos are for those times so I can look back with fond memories. I only wish I’d been able to record them when I was young 😢
@@SteveONions Well, your'e doing them now and thats all that matters, so you'll still have some wonderful memories to look back on.
It's a lovely part of Snowdonia range. Its always difficult trying to reduce the load balancing hiking gear against camera gear. Great vid
Very beautiful serie of photographs, I really like the one in black and white at 7:10, lovely light.
Thanks Fabrizio.
Gorgeous images!
Thanks Lucia.
What a great area for hiking and photos. It's always special when you score it with little or no wind too. I also dropped tons of gear weight 2 years ago. From Nikon FF to the Panasonic GH5 and assorted Panasonic and Leica lenses. If I were to carry all of the gear it's only 7 lbs. That's 16mm - 800mm. Went to a smaller 18-liter pack too. I just carry my camera with the 8 - 18mm lens on it in my hand most times. I use a slightly larger pack if lots of water is needed. My younger days of carrying 50+ lb packs are over. Nice work on the video...
I also appreciate light weight over absolute image quality especially when modern M43 sensors surpass medium format film quality.
Been watching your videos for a while now and want to say "thanks". Always look forward to them and love em. Nice 1 m8
Thanks James.
Great vlog and good advice, I learned it from experience and finally switched to light weight gear for when I'm traveling.
Thanks Tanvir.
Some great views there. Much better conditions than I had in the Brecon Beacons last weekend! (That place doesn't like me) Loving the beard! :-)
Hehe, thanks Julian 😀
Intrigued to find out what you intend to use in your even lighter trip next time. One small SLR and one prime lens perhaps? My ultimate go-to for this approach is the Pentax ME with the 28mm M series. The simplicity forces you to concentrate on the composition and I always get better results.
I’ve already recorded the even lighter outfit Richard and it went pretty well.
Thank you for taking us on such a beautiful walk, possibly the longest you’ve taken us on. I’m not a big one for pushing film, I'm Mr Boxspeed as a rule. I do have a box of Microphen somewhere so I might give it a try though I doubt it’s in date.
You got some cracking shots Steve, really very special, and as always a superb video.
Thanks Mark. I could have got away with not pushing the film but that extra stop was nice to have and I like the look it gives on days with a lot of cloud cover. To be honest I also bias heavily towards the shadows so my EI800 might be another persons EI400 😀
Steve, I very much enjoy your photo walk videos. Your landscape photography is stunning. Your composition is wonderful and frankly I’ve attempted some of your techniques, but my execution certainly isn’t anywhere your’s is, but thank you for the video.
Thanks Kent, that’s very kind of you.
The shot around 14:20 is my favorite shot of this trip! A rather compact 28-200 zoom - I have no idea what they have done lately to pump of the volume and weight of lenses, especially for mirrorless full-frame cameras. And I'm curious what lighter and cheaper outfit you might come up with next …
I know what you mean about current lens trends Christian. Just at the point where digital technology delivers outstanding quality in smaller sensors (and bodies) they focus al their efforts on huge lenses that few people really need. What happened to all those wonderfully compact primes from a few decades back, I don’t recall any significant optical defects with them?
@@SteveONions Well, many of the monster lenses are technically better than their predecessors - mostly at open apertures or slightly stopped down. What seems to be missing are good lenses with less extreme qualities; at least quality control seems to be lacking for these lenses, especially with Sony and Zeiss E-Mount lenses, but I stumbled upon a bad zoom lens from Olympus too (the small "pancake" zoom 14-42 mm - very unreliable results from fine to bad, but mostly bad).
I’ve yet to find a bad M43 lens and appreciate that I can use most either wide open or just one stop down. Coupled with the excellent depth of field this makes them perfect for hikes without a tripod. I am not a fan of the super sharp and contrasty modern lenses for most landscapes and prefer the tessar designs that are more gentle and considerably lighter.
@@SteveONions Older lens designs (not only the Tessar-type 4 lens in 3 groups one) were normally much simpler than modern ones, and that's one factor why they were smaller. I'm somewhere "in the middle" when it comes to that: I see the benefits of modern lens designs (sharpness up into the corners even when only moderately stopped down, good micro contrast), but they are sometimes a bit "soulless" too. Perhaps this is why I like shooting with some old folding cameras (I've settled mainly on the 6x6 Agfa Super Isolette with its 4 lens/3 groups normal lens) - I have to use what I've got with the camera, and results are mostly what I was looking for in the first place … ;-)
I used an Isolette III for many years with the 75mm Solinar and it remains my favourite lens to this day. I actually like the corner drop off as the transition is so smooth it compliments many square compositions. I used it 95% of the time with B&W. My current folders are a 6x9 Zeus’s Ercona (tessar) and Voigtlander Perkeo 1 with 3 element Cooke triplet.
Loved this ramble :)
Thanks Colette.
Excellent Video Steve! What an extraordinary hike, and you are right. Less gear is more practical. Like the way you hang the camera on the backpack. So its true, less gear makes a lightweight photographer a happy photographer.
Great video and some very nice shots Steve , I quite often go out locally and just shoot handheld with one lens these days it
Means I can just nip out when I havnt got much time without the encumbrance of a big bag , tripod and range of lenses , it’s very liberating and I’m more likely to take of the cuff images which I probably wouldn’t have bothered with if I’d had to take the rucksack off get the gear out and set up a tripod , it’s the way to go when your legs aren’t what they used to be !
I’ve missed countless shots through not wanting to take the bag off Andrew. I don’t mind a lot of gear if I know what I’m going to shoot and there’s no walking involved but mountain are hard enough as they are.
So many great images, but 5.56 is stunning.
Thoroughly enjoying your channel Steve 👍
Thanks Darren, I’ve been admiring your Snowdonia work lately.
Humble gear but great photos. That's a proof that you don't always need the "latest and greatest" to make good images. Thanks for sharing.
Don't forget your wonderful micro 4/3 camera! As you know, many landscape photographers use them and make great prints too like you showed in your other video.
Micro 4/3 is great but I love film, not logical I know but there you go 🙂
Nothing wrong with film, I shoot Holga!
Another really enjoyable video
Thank you.
Loved it Steve, the best part for me shooting with out the tripod! O the joy of that.
I’m appreciating the freedom of just pointing the camera and shooting without overly complicating things Craig.
Beautiful images, and relaxing video. As always perfect presentation. Another great vlog.
Thanks Phillip.
Lovely vid as always Steve.
on your next trip you said you would try to take some thing even lighter.
How about a holga or lubitel 166 and a few rolls of film?
paul
Close Paul, very close 👍
You don't have to go Lomo to save weight. I would imagine something like old folder camera or fixed lens rangefinder. Could be also compact SLR a la Pentax MX/ME Super with 40mm pancake :)
Lovely images Steve. Travelling light is the only way when you are out on the hills especially when you are 65 and totally unfit like I am. God I love my Oly m4/3 gear and carbon tripod. By the way sir, what is that gadget you have that fastens the camera to your shoulder strap ? I think I need one.
Thanks Stuart, I also like my (ever growing) M43 equipment for the lack of weight and flexibility it brings. The clip is made by Peak Designs and attached to most bag straps, the camera uses the supplied lightweight Arca compatible plate - very efficient.
Some great images and advice. Perhaps if you want to go lighter your M43 gear would be better suited. Thank you for sharing.
M43 is easily the best system for hiking John but I have an irrational attachment to film sadly 🙂
Love to see you test an olympus trip in b n w in the hills etc
I got pretty close with the Olympus RC on this same mountain a year ago 👍
Mountains. Oh, to have mountains close by. The tallest 'mountain' we have in Oklahoma is the Black Mesa at 1,516 m. Lots & lots of rolling hills, but no mountains. sigh.
Bad luck John but at least you are in a country with an incredible diversity of landscapes 🙂
The Nantlle ridge is very much a hidden gem, rarely do you see many people up there. I've done it twice from West to East and vice versa. Sadly both occasions were in very bad weather. Did you get a bus back to your starting point? I always hated doing A-B routes because of that ! Great images with minimal kit, always a joy.
Hi Alan. I’ve never done the end to end traverse but tackled it from both directions and looped back. On this trip I dropped down to the Beddgelert forest just before Craig Cwm Silyn but it was a bit of a slog and nowhere near as enjoyable as being up on the tops.
Nice, man. For hikes, I only take my RX10, a polarizer filter and a set of ND grad. No tripod anymore. The lighter the better. Greetings from Brazil.
How do you hand hold ND filter shot friend
@@pwood5733 I hold the camera with my right hand and the grad filter with my left hand, flush to the lens to avoid reflections.
And great video as always.
Even lighter and cheaper? The 120 folder and for colour the trusty iPhone? :D
Partly right, i hope you like the results from the upcoming video 👍
@@SteveONions I certainly loved the results of this video. 7:09 took my breath away..
Oh yes, I always have my Zeiss Ikon Nettar with an orange filter in my pocket for the 6x6 shots
I also like 120 folders, one of them is used on an upcoming video.
Well I think you got a few very nice images. I am going up Snowdon from the Watkin Oath in a few weeks so I’ll take your advice on taking less. See your rocking the Hulk Hogan face hair haha.
Thanks Paul.
Nice video, I really like your compositions.
Thanks Bob.
Loved the video Steve and 'Lightening the Load' was real 'Click bait' for me as it's something I have to do asap. Beautiful images and the one at 12:30 is my favourite 👌
Thanks Andy.
Outstanding outing Steve but I have to say that one of those paths on the top razor's edge looked just a little bit sketchy to me.
It was quite a drop Philip and the GoPro exaggerates the height too 🙂
Great vlog as always - funny enough, I decided some weeks ago to rather invest in my fitness instead of more gear ;-) so this vlog was the perfect confirmation that it is the right decision. Thanks for sharing!
Getting fit is definitely the way to go Isabel and I need to make more effort in this respect. There’s only so much equipment you can jettison so being healthier must always be the priority.
That was great. I do think more photographers on here should engage with the issue of weight. I'm going to the Dolomites soon, and I'm 64: in good health, but seriously not keen on heaving too much stuff up the trails. But I do want to get those shots! Thanks again - btw, I think you do some really good B roll - unlike some I could mention, you don't overdo it and it all contributes to the narrative. Well done.
Thank you 🙂
Hi Steve, great vlog with some lovely images, have you considered filtering your water when in the mountains? I have been filtering water for a couple of years and could save you a couple of extra kilos, more so confidently if you plan in a water source.
I think I need to investigate this option Carl.
You have two F80s now? A silver/chome as well I've seen in another video.
As usual I learned something and enjoyed your shots.
I’ve actually got four F80’s Lars, all were purchased for under £20 when the prices were rock bottom a few years ago 🙂
@@SteveONions Wow!. That's hard to beat.
Excellent. Really pleasing ridge walk - I'm jealous! Maybe, after the hip replacemenmt I'll be able to get back up into the hills myself. Even so, equipment weight will be a concern. My guess for the sequel: 35mm body, nifty fifty, L bracket, tripod. I'm holding my breath here...
What time did you have to set out to get to this part of the world in time for sunrise?
Thanks David and I hope you are able to get out again in the near future.
In terms of timing I needed to get up at 3am to arrive at the start of the walk by 04:45 which was just before sunrise. Everything is so easy at that time of the day, the drive there, parking and the empty trail - perfect.
Couldn’t agree more Steve. Ever since ditching the tripod, taking too many lenses and getting myself mountain fit my photography has improved no end. I go higher, further and for longer and the opportunities just open up 👍🏻
So true, there’s no point owning the best equipment in the world if you can’t get it to interesting places.
Lovely images Steve and thoroughly enjoyed the video. I have been thinking a lot about reducing the weight of my pack when in the mountains. I took a little canon m50 along to try some video but ended up using handheld all day which was liberating, my full frame camera stayed in the bag, so it got me thinking about just taking that in the future.
Also I have been taking a water filter and just 1ltr when I know there is a source on my route which saves a chunk of weight. Seems to work(not had the shits yet) 😆
Cheers, Paul.
Thanks Paul, I’ve not thought about a water filter before and many of my walks have plenty of fast running streams. The water can make up a significant amount of the weight and I often like to drink a lot early on to keep me hydrated and lower the burden. I need a lot less on the descent but a few years ago I got lost on a remote walk in Summer and was seriously dehydrated at the end so I always err on the side of caution now.
Steve O'Nions It was a case of dehydration that prompted me to get a filter and no longer have that water anxiety when out. The MSR trailshot is good, about £40 as you can drink directly from it or refill a hydration pouch/bottle. Something nice about a drink from a fresh stream too.
Thanks Paul, I’m often confronted with streams on my walks and with water at 1kg per litre it soon adds up. I’d probably always take 1l just in case during the Summer but in Winter I could get away with half of that.
Enjoyed this video a great deal thank you for sharing it: I shoot film and digital but love film more, B&W develop it myself don’t fully understand a lot of what you were saying there about developing extra stops etc: Thank you again for sharing
Thanks Brian.
It is funny that several minutes before watching at your video, I was wondering about how to use one of my marching poles as a monopode. So, when I saw that you already have solved that issue, I got really interested. So, how did you fix the quick release tripod plate to your pole? I don't get to figure out how to do so.
Hi Pedro. The poles I used in that video have a handy threaded attachment that takes a quick release plate, very useful. My better poles do not have this feature which is a shame 🙁
@@SteveONions Ah, ok! I thought it was a customized trekking pole 🙂
that's a very peaceful walk : )
I think you are very fit. I'm knackered just watching you though. Great photos today (as always) love your channel. Can't get enough. 6/1/20.
I was very tired at the top but I only start filming when I’ve got my breath back 🙂
how about a Fujifilm GA645 Zi?
A good choice and one I keep mulling over 🙂
👍 Fantastic 😉 lightweight is good.
It certainly is, much harder to be creative when you are worn out.
Can you tell me tripod and tripod head what model is it
Ok, I saw the film type in the final "whats in the bag"
I love your interpretation of the BWs. I think your one of the few guys who see stuff in BW BEFORE you shoot and convert it as the colour doent work. Love the BW post treatment also! Well done
Regards
E (NZ)
Thanks Ewan, that’s very kind of you.
I sold all my dslr gear and bought a mirrorless camera and a 24-70/4 and a sharp 50mm prime. Mayby i'll add a 85mm prime later. As a tripod i use a joby 3f. Nice lightweight setup. If your gear stops you from Going outside then get rid of it.
Lightweight is essential on long walks if you want to remain focussed on the photography.
What system have you used to attach the F80 to the backpack strap?
It’s made by Peak Designs.