Shooting photos for yourself, not others.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 19 лип 2023
- It's easy to be swayed by other people's opinions and not make the photo's you really want to.
In this video I chose to shoot predominantly infrared with a digital camera because I know I'll like the end result and that's all that matters.
Equipment Used
Panasonic G5 full spectrum camera with R72 filter
Olympus 35RC with XP2 Super and yellow filter
Preview App
Mark II Artists Viewfinder (iOS only on the App Store)
Vlogging Equipment
GoPro Hero 10
Rode wireless Go II
Incidental Music (Epidemic Sound)
Tranquility Sphere 2
Etsy Shop
steveonionsphoto.etsy.com
Contact Details
Email: youtube@steveonions.co.uk Twitter: Steve_ONions / steve_onions Instagram: steveonions1 / steveonions1
UA-cam: / @steveonions
I made a massive maitake by joining the local camera club. It was all about sharpness and "judging" by folks with various combination of letters from various photographic societies. Not a single meeting/talk discussed practical elements of actually capturing a half decent image to start with, no talks on equipment and preparation etc. Every image had been photo shopped to within an inch of its life, and I quickly realised I was never going to fall into line. Best decision I have ever made.
I am with you, I tried a camera club twice. It was all about sharpness and "club" photographs. Like you I like to be free to make phographs from the heart.
My cousin is a fabulous photographer and she gave me the same heads up about joining camera clubs (she tried several times, always disappointing). Snooty stuffed shirts running around, telling others the only right way to do things.
I belonged to a club that judged photos but all had insturctional lectures and guest speakers. You must just have been unlucky with your clubs.
I’m not sure I could tolerate someone telling me how I should be taking photos 🙂
Add my name to the list. I am in a photography club now strictly for the camaraderie but I have no interest in competitions, judging, and ribbons. Unfortunately, that is their primary focus.
That is what i always do, photography as a (serious) hobby, and only for myself. Not to please anyone else, but for the love & joy of photography, since decades.
Fine video and pictures, as always, Steve ! 🙂
Cheers Marc.
Art is subjective and you'll never please everyone. The only person you can please for certain is yourself
very nice Steve . Some inspirational shots
Thanks for sharing. Excellent results, once again.
Beautiful place and amazing photos
Great video again and I liked all photo's. Great work!
That was an amazing video and pictures, most enjoyable!
Really enjoyed the video and your IR images. The variety of clouds was terrific. I converted a Ricoh GRii and love using it on my walks.
Gorgeous , thank you for sharing. I'm glad you're using black & white film also, I do black & white as a hobby.
Amazing IR images, very interesting to see these from "just" a filter rather than a sensor conversion. Nice!!!!
What a wonderful hike in every way! You were blessed with fantastic wispy clouds too. Love the photos from both cameras.
I did get lucky with the clouds but it was surprisingly hot in the later stages, hence the lack of energy and video clips 😊
Really nice.
Beautiful images (and location of course!). I did not know Ansel Adams did infrared photography, but then again, I am not really surprised. Cheers!
Absolutely lovely images, superb in infra red. Looked like hard work and it's made me quite tired just looking at it, goodness knows how you felt after that amount of climbing and walking. Always enjoy your videos Steve, thank you.
Thanks Chris. I was worn out by the time I got to the annoying sheep (the video doesn’t give any idea just how noisy they were!).
as always great video photos are fantastic
Glad you like them Robert.
Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome 😊
superb trip around an area once very familiar to me, and some very good IR shots. Once more, thanks for taking me along.
Glad you enjoyed it Andrew.
Wonderful outing, Steve. Unreal how many great images you were able to capture during your hike. One heck of a keeper rate!
Thanks Larry, glad you enjoyed it.
I think the photos are spectacular, especially the last ones. Nice work.
Many thanks!
Quality ❤ ✌️🙏✌️ 👊👊👊
Thanks Steve, absolutely beautiful images. Wonderful scenery really enjoyed this one. I really do love infrared photography as always looking forward to the next one. Cheers from down under.
Thanks Brendan, glad you enjoyed it.
I came fir the scenery as always, and the photography of course , the infra red is stunning , living in wales vicariously through you 😊 those cloud 😊 wonderful
Thanks Christine, I’m hoping we’ll get some of that weather back again soon.
Love the soft focus glow / grain treatment - must dig out the IR again ! Thanks
Your photography is amazing, you really mastered the craft
Thank you 😊
Good heavens, what a track! I'm exhausted watching you. Kudos for the Oly 35RC. Killer images.
Cheers Russell.
Interesting to see your images in infra red, some very wall-worthy ones for sure. The title of this video is a good reminder, as I often go out with set themes in mind to be used for our camera club later. Count myself lucky my club is active, vibrant and heavy on education, like a big family. I admire how you are able to hike such distances.
Glad you enjoyed it, getting a supportive set of friends and colleagues can make a big difference.
The Olympus 35RC is such a great camera, and all in the same series of cameras. Great video again Steve!
Thanks Steve 🙂
Good work Steve all photography is good if it pleases you! Art is subjective and I love your work.
Thank you 🙂
Yes... we enjoyed your ramble / yomp very much. I think you did well to cover the distance in the time you seem to have taken, and with the shots you've got - good conditions, good scenery, possibilities at every turn... i can take hours for a few hundred meters! All the best from New Zealand.
If I stopped too much I’d never complete the walk so I have to keep going and take the images I see in front of me.
Really enjoyed that one (well - I enjoy all of them - just decided to mention it this time). I've been curious about getting an IR converted camera one of these days - the images look so surreal. Thanks for taking us along.
Glad you liked it Bob, IR is so much fun.
A simple Wow, for the images! I really enjoyed them and the setting! I imagine all then people that have walked that ridge over the centuries past! It looked like some interesting geology as well as the old stone structures! very nice work!
It’s a great place to walk and photograph, I could never get bored there.
Great to see the return of the 35 RC! Enjoying the IR shots too. When the sun shines an IR camera can certainly save the photographic day,
Thanks Richard.
Thank you I enjoyed this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love IR Photography and glad to see you are having fun with it. Really like the grain and wood effect on your photos - beautiful imagery.
After many years of using IR and full spectrum converted cameras, this year I finally decided to go down to only a single 590nm converted Sony A7R3 camera. I seem to prefer the latitude of choices in post I can do with 590nm. If I want more IR, I just add my favorite filter, the Heliopan 780nm, onto the lens.
There’s definitely more scope for false colour with the lower cutoff filters Martin, my full spectrum G5 was initially used with a 650nm filter for this reason.
Wonderful images Steve. I very rarely use a tripod. Like you I am out for a good walk with a camera most of the time. I’m shooting a lot more pictorial style images these days. I never knew there was a pictorial movement in the 1800”s and came upon this style myself through trial and error. Infrared is great at this time of year especially around Noon as you say. I do enjoy following your journeys through the North Wales landscape. I shoot all sorts of cameras both film and digital so I stayed to the end. A great day you had.
I’m also a big fan of the pictorialists Simon, the moods and atmosphere they were able to impart with such basic equipment is impressive.
With the steady improvement in digital imaging it’s nice to see something a bit different and not always sharp.
Awesome Steve! I love IR. Can’t wait to see you climbing Mt Snowdon shooting 8x10 IR 😉.
I have thought about taking the 8x10 to the top of a mountain, just for the hell of it 🙂
The image at about 10:58 is stunning. Very nice work.
Hi Steve, at first I really like your photography and video, thanks for sharing it with us ‼️👍🏻 I’m living in the Netherlands “the flat landscape” but I love the mountains especially the Lake District!
I hope to visit it again soon ‼️👋🏻
Thank you, I’m very lucky to have a lot of mountainous regions fairly close to home.
Epic, simply epic.
Thank you.
Makes me want a converted camera, wonderful images.
You won’t be sorry 👍
Every image is a stunner Steve. The Nantlle Ridge is one of my "must do at least once a year" walks - it's absolutely beautiful.
I also like to get up there every year or so (along with Cnicht and the Arenigs).
@@SteveONions Yes Cnicht is another favourite. I'm doing The Rivals tomorrow - first time and really looking forward to it.
Great video! This one inspired me to get off my tail yesterday afternoon and take a short outing with my full spectrum body and my 830nm filter and I got an image I'm very pleased with!
Glad to see you got out, I often need some inspiration to make the effort too.
You didn't loose me! I'm still exploring the world of infrared with a converted Panasonic GX7 and really enjoyed your use of it on this walk. More on IR please :) All the best
Glad it was helpful Huw, I can’t see it being the last IR trip of 2023.
Loose you? Your bowels?
"So that's half of you gone already, the better looking and more intelligent half left".
Well, plus me. 😜
Some great mono infra red shots there Steve! I’m like you in loving that Kodak HIE film look (grainy, glowing and surreal looking) which you seem though to have replicated rather well! I’ve not tried and digital IR photography as yet but I must give it a go.
I think the only film I truly miss from the old days is Kodak HIE. Every other material can be replicated to a large extent but shooting the Kodak with a deep red 25 filter was something special.
Enjoyed the video and the photos - looked like a long day out in the end :)
It was a long one Rich, just can’t get across on the video how tired I was 🙂
Beautiful images and a nice video. That seems like a lovely area of the country to explore . Your work with infrared is intriguing. I have an old Fuji X-T2 that is sitting around idle. I am thinking of having it converted to infrared and giving that a go.
It’s well worth getting the conversion, a new life for an old camera 🙂
Any recommendations on the type of conversion?
I must talk to you about this video some time; comment on it anyway. The title is so apropos to what has occurred to me within the last few days. But no space or time here. Anyway, you have come away with some very nice images on this outing. I think the effort has payed off. Thanks for posting, Steve.
Thanks James, look forward to hearing from you soon.
ahhhhh Steve you redeemed yourself with that film camera, I have to admit that I was hovering over the off button when I saw you pull out the digital infrared.......lol
Close call Malcolm, you were nearly in the less intelligent/ less attractive pile 😀
Love the IR images, you're the reason I converted my Fuji XT-2 to IR... love putting a 23mm lens on and shooting with it this summer.
I hope you get some good shots with your new outfit Randy.
You do look very lonely and exposed on those treacherous paths and mountains; do hope Wales Mountain Rescue were tracking you. 🙂 Wonderful scenery and shots. Mark
It’s a pretty safe place with well marked tracks to be honest and I always share my location data too.
I"ll never complain about you showing the scenery!
Thank you 🙂
Excellent picture. Although I'm not a huge fan of IR, I liked the composition if these pictures a lot.
Thank you Joerg.
great video Steve, stunning photos, like doing Infared photography myself and i use my Lumix g2 with a 12-32 lens fitted with a IR 720 filter.....
It’s surprising how popular infrared is, even though it really divides opinion at times.
I admire your level of fitness!
You wouldn’t have been so impressed if you’d been there - I control the edit 😀
you should perhaps come down to Parma and take a few pictures of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennine. You'd thank me for such suggestion
Lovely terrain there
Thanks Mike.
I have done this for decades. Almost no one sees my photos. Even my family sees very few of them. I just shoot what catches my eye. When I shoot film... it is almost a surprise what comes back because I don't rush through a roll.
I also spent years taking photos that nobody else saw, I’m thankful that we now have an easy way of sharing and seeing what others are doing.
I only shoot for myself. Someone else likes my stuff, good. I shoot a certain way, it's not wrong. It's what I want.
I’m largely immune to negative comments these days, if anything I find them encouraging 😀
Your Infra-Red shot so beautiful! Strangely I hate , Infra-Red in colour! That small Olympus did well. It doesn't have to have the Red-Dot stuck on with 2 sided sticky tape. Geez! I can say that, 'cause I use and own Leica, when I started, way back when! I prefer SLR. I shoot for me! Mostly! If a portrait etc.be nice! A great video. TX Steve!
Glad you enjoyed it Jason.
Reminds me to go out with my g9 and IR filter along the Rhine since it is super bright here these days (when it is not cloudy and rainy). Thanks.
I was in Munich a couple of weeks ago and could have done with the IR when visiting the countryside - so hot!
A good outing Steve with very interesting pics from the IR - but it's definitely not for me. I'll stick to the 35RC shots for my personal taste. Thanks for showing the combination - much appreciated.
Glad you liked it Ray (at least the 35 RC bits 😊).
IR photos look very nice. They look similar to black and white but with greater contrast.
They do indeed Ron.
love the start of this shooting with a digital camera today i have found myself shooting more digital the last year as film has gone up a lot in price i love shooting film and still do a bit but with a family and bills you don't have so much free cash and digital is free to shoot good video and photos.
I know exactly what you mean 🙂
You know what, you have really piqued my interest in IR photography (previously I kinda liked the images but wasn't really that into it) but these images - wow! I have soooo many "redundant" digital cameras now its a bit of a no brainer to get.a conversion done....
And as a fun bonus addition you have also reminded me just how good the little Olympus is - must dust mine off for an upcoming trip.
Old cameras are perfect for conversion, no need for the latest technology.
Absolutely gorgeous images, Steve. Love the composition and placements. Curious as to how many hours you spent on this occasion. Obviously, a lot of effort were put into it. Thanks very much for sharing.
It was a 9hr hike in total, about 11 miles round trip. It doesn’t leave a lot of time to refine compositions so I work very quickly, hence the camera clip and single lens approach.
@@SteveONionsI love your images.
Fantastic images Steve. I've got an old Panasonic G3 720nm and just waiting for fujixt10 720nm to come back
You can never have too many IR cameras Peter 😀
Fantastic video, Steve! I love the infrared landscape photos. I've just had a Panasonic G3 converted to infrared 830nm and am looking forward to getting out and taking some landscapes with it. The scenery and landscape in north Wales is phenomenal. Any idea of how many km/miles you hiked for this video?
Your stamina and hiking skills (in addition to your photography) are an inspiration.
I think you’ll like you converted G3, Micro 43 is the perfect device for infrared in my opinion.
The walk was a very tiring 11 miles, largely due to the direct sun and heat ☀️
I plan to get my GX7 converted. I also have a GX9 and now a G9, I'll never learn 😂📷👍
I’ve also got the G9 and GX9 Eltin, but I’m not sure why 😀
As always Steve a fabulous video. The images are superb, the IR worked really well and certain images looked like they were from some far off planet. More using the IR please, weather permitting of course. What are your thoughts on using IR when the sun isnt shining? I for one love it. Many thanks for sharing, i really enjoyed this.
Many thanks Dean. I like the look of IR in the winter but I usually go with straight B&W as there’s plenty of drama already. In flat light IR often lifts a scene just enough without being obvious.
I have a GX1 720nm micro 4/3rds converted camera for my IR pictures, I am a great fan of IR, some great shots there.
I used to have a GX1 Mick, super compact camera and a good base for infrared.
@@SteveONions I have seen some shots from Z6's converted to IR and my GX1's just look as good, its not everybody's cup of tea, I post on a forum and some peeps just do not like or agree on what are great images taken with IR, like you say steve it takes good sunshine in the right direction and works best with green foliage and stone work.
Wonderful stuff as always. Will you ever be doing more pinhole content in the future? Thats not me telling you what you should use btw haha
I would love to do more pinhole but all the other cameras keep pushing to the front every time I mention I’m going out!
I was going to leave the moment you said "digital" and I assumed CMOS-sensor digital (CCD would have been quite ok)... but then I realized you also said "infrared" so I finally stayed (just joking of course!)
😀
Hi Steve, I personally don't know what to do with infrared images. I would never make one myself. Every photographer has to decide that for themselves. The title is therefore absolutely correct.
Well said Rolf.
I have been using a Sigma SD Quattro for IR photography and it is a very rewarding experience, especially when it is a bright sunny day with distinctive clouds. The beauty of this camera is removing the IR cutting filter from the body takes a couple of seconds with a pair of tweezers, so you can be doing IR photography one minute and normal the next.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Sigma sensors of old, perhaps I should pick one up as I’ve a feeling it would suit my approach.
I think it would work well for you. If you’d like me to share a couple of IR photos let me know.
Brilliant and a fabulous message. Celtic tripod - must get me one of those. Do they do a travel version? 😁
Off topic, would you recommend the walking poles you are using? If so, what brand and model are they Steve? I want to narrow down my choices for when I can afford some. Cheers.
I definitely recommend using poles for hill/mountain walks, not only for safety but also to reduce fatigue. I use Leki, the cork handled model and would definitely buy another pair when they eventually fail (or I lose them 🙂).
@@SteveONions Thanks Steve.
The thing I like most about infrared is that there is always something familiar and something unfamiliar in the images. If I were to illustrate a book on dreams or a book on a visit to another planet, I think infrared is the way to go. On doing your own thing, I am reminded of Ricky Nelson's song, "Garden Party". Some people will pooh-pooh anything digital. Some people will pooh-pooh anything film. But why throw away half of your toolbox, if you want to do the best work possible? Every tool has a job for which it is well suited. You won't catch me using a butter knife for a screwdriver. ;-) Two UA-cam bloggers (Art Jaaksi of "Shoot On Film" and Nicole Small of "One on One") have a tendency to build their own cameras and to use their own weird chemical processes (such as developing with coffee) in their photography. They get excellent results, so why not? To me, the experience of photographing is one of the very important steps in creation of art. Thomas Heaton uses digital and film. Ben Horne uses a digital camera at times, though it seems clear he prefers large format film. Chris Darnell uses digital and film. One cannot deny the fabulous results obtained. If I am going to buy a framed image to hang in my house, the question of what sort of equipment was used will never arise. I care only about the beauty of the image.
I’m really neutral when it comes to equipment and technique, sometimes I like high quality digital images and other times grainy film. I’m also surprised how partisan some people are about their choice of tools which is fine until they try and impose their approach on others!
yeah, the 35 RC 😀
sorry, just a bit 35RC biased here .. on a more serious note, that was definately a wonderfull hike with some beautyfull photographs.:-) thx for the video :-)
Glad you liked it 😊
Thanks for warning about digital infrared camera, for me only videos about medium format Kodak E100 rated at iso 75 with 2 stop soft grad at twilight will do.
just kidding, good video
Interesting timing, I’ve got some E100 in 120 to shoot soon 🙂
Great photos, magical. I did want to ask though, some of those trails, particularly around 5:15 or so seemed really sketchy. Were they really that precarious or did the camera angle make it seem so? I'm a pretty good hill walker here in the SE U.S. but that section gave me the shivers. I'm not certain I would have made that section.
It’s a lot to do with the GoPro Philip, even I feel queasy watching the footage back. It’s nothing like as dangerous as it appears in the video 🙂
Sounds like many of the people replying had bad choices in camera clubs. I belonged to one that was very instructional and went out on group photo shoots. Had guest speakers.
Yes there was judging of photos but also were very inciteful critiques.
I’m too wary of them I’m afraid 🙂
That looked a yompn half for sure, interested in your route if you would like to share>? As ever a great selection of images Steve.atb Al
Thanks Alan. It was a good walk for sure, start at Rhyd Ddu and straight up Y Garn. Follow the tops to Craig Cwm Silyn but I’d advise not descending to the Cwm Pennant valley as I did, horrible rocky section and a real slog down. I’d retrace my steps back to Trum Ddysgl then follow the lovely ridge down to Beddgelert forest.
Absolutely no way to take a bad photo. If photog likes results, it's a good photo. If one stranger likes photo its a good photo.
I can handle people saying I would shoot that differently. Someone says you shot that wrong. That's an issue. The worst is when someone says one needs the lastest and greatest.
Id say, well look at Steve's film photos(awesome by the way). Proves you wrong. Look at Ansels photos. Proves you wrong.
Thanks Eric 😊
OK, Steve. I'm convinced. I bought a Nikon D600 with the intention of converting it to IR. What wavelength do you recommend if B&W is what I want to do? BTW, how long was that walk?
My personal favourite is 720nm Jeffery but if you want the option of doing false colour in future get a 650 or 590.
And the walk was 11 miles (the second half of which were very tiring!).
Haha Ive never been accused of better looking before! Still not sure about infrared. The image at 12:52 is a bit overwhelming for me. The last one at 14:32 was my fave. More subtle effect but subtle enough to give it that spiritual feel.
It’s definitely a marmite thing Tony and I love marmite! (Even the crisps).
@@SteveONions Haha Down here in Oz I love Vegemite!
I am staying
At 11:27 a cloud looks like the face of an old man with a beard. Did you see that?
Well spotted!
Do you have any advice for what to do with the photos once you’ve taken them? I find that the majority of the fun I have with film photography is the experience of actually taking the picture. I’m in a rut with what to do with the images when I’m done.
The photos are incredible and the video content is very refreshing.
Print and plaster your home with them. Aside from actually taking photos, it's the best part. Being surrounded by what you love and created over the years.
@@MarlonSardini I need to get in the habit of printing them instead of just letting them sit on my computer. Something about physically holding the photo.
@@mountainlessbiking3268 Try printing a few zines to give away as well.
It’s a very good question. Not having an outlet for your work can make it feel pointless at times but I find UA-cam a good way of getting stuff out there for others to see.
The view from Tvvwwooppllyynn was beautiful
😊
its a shame lightroom can give me the look but not the composition. yet.
I hope it never can 🙂
If you are shooting photos for yourself why would you put them up for sale. Shoot the photos and put them on your wall and not ask people to buy them I don’t understand you logic.
I’ve always made prints of my work and people often asked me if I’d make them available for sale, so I did 😊
@@SteveONions not buying it.
Outstanding episode as always Steve, full of keepers. Working the day job for the paper I'm constantly shooting to keep the editor happy, on my own time I shoot for myself and the occasional subscriber, hell I don't even have a website yet then again I'm only at the arse end of this mad life so maybe one day. Keep em coming mate loving the IR shots, and the wee Oly is a cracker, I have the 35SP just a gorgeous bit of kit.
Thanks Paul, I don’t have a website either as they are a lot of work to keep relevant and not many people visit them!
@@SteveONions exactly my thoughts also I can't get round to it.