One of the greatest things I've learned from your channel, Ben, is the importance of being purposeful in one's photography. I heard you talk about the stunning sky on the podcast and how you enjoyed it but didn't rush to change from what you were there to photograph. Seeing your very compelling shot of the "monster" bush pulling in the rock is yet another example of your purposeful approach to photography to tell the stories you want to tell. It's inspiring in a way that is just so rare on UA-cam and one of the top reasons why I love this channel.
Thank you so much Christopher! That's one of the things working with large format has taught me through the years, to remain patient and to stay the course. If it works out, great. If not, no biggie. Either way, I can enjoy the show and live in the moment.
Like you, I really enjoy that last image of the bush reaching for the rock. It takes a unique and special kind of person to eschew the grand vista - the obvious subject - for something smaller and easily missed. Loved this.
Thanks Peter! Although I do enjoy the grand vistas, there sure is something rewarding about finding a subject that is so easily missed. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Thanks Luís! The first view in particular would make for an interesting evening photo. It's not too often one can find a perspective that offers such a wonderful view of the valley floor. Perhaps something to put in the notes for when I return next year. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Haha! Thanks Martin! I still have a hard time saying that. I think I tripped over my own words in the film reveal as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
A monster bush eating a rock and feathers in the sky! What substance have you in your tea 🤣 I like the rocks and thought what on earth were you thinking with the bush but seeing the shot 😍 the dead branches are great but I love the texture in the rocks! Great job. Last night I was trying to capture the milky way over a scene I did a year long project on and after 2 hours shooting I just sat back and enjoyed the serenity of the stars in the opposite direction. Got home at 2 am to discover what I was putting down as light pollution on the back of the camera was actually a weak Aurora! Life with a camera can be good. Really enjoying this season.
Thanks Andrew! A vivid imagination for sure! I found that bush the day before while killing time waiting for good light for the shattered white rock. I had many hours to kill and wandered all around the whole area and found a wealth of interesting subjects. That's one of the many joys of sitting on a shot waiting for good light-especially when it isn't windy and I don't have to worry about my camera being blown over. :-) That's so cool to hear that you had an Aurora sneak into your photos!! That sure must have been a wonderful moment when you realized what it actually was! Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Yup! It's so fun to see what sort of subjects are out there hidden in plain sight. I found a couple other things out there that I made note of to perhaps try and photograph next year as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks Charles! I spent some time studying that scene which is one of the reasons I filmed some video there. I didn't see a solution that immediately jumped out at me, but I definitely want to return and see how I can frame it. On the plus side, scenes like that seldom change much from year to year. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love the shot of the rock field with the mountains in the background. Reminds me of my favorite Ansel Adams photo of rocks outside Manzanar with Mount Williamson in the background.
Thanks! That's a scene I hope to revisit on a future trip, hopefully with some clouds. The wide angle perspective makes those foreground rocks quite interesting, and I can definitely see the similarity to the shot you mentioned. I wonder what focal length Ansel Adams used for his photo? The perspective of his shot sure is visually striking.
Thanks Dexter! That's one of the beauties of 8x10. A little while back, I had one of my images scanned to 700+ megapixels and it still wasn't resolving down to the grain yet. Thanks for watching and commenting Dexter!
I agree with what you said about the three images. The last one is the only one to catch my eye. It appears to be scooping up several rocks, so maybe call it Rock-Eater or the monster that snatched Death Valley? ;-) I appreciate all the effort.
Thanks Caleb! There sure is so much wonderful stuff out there to discover when you spend some time wandering. I'll need to revisit those boulders with some different ideas on the composition, but I now at least have a good feeling for when the light is decent.
Ben, I love the tones in the sunrise photograph and agree that it needs interest in the sky. For me, the boulders in the canyon remind me of a scene from Star Wars. The bush grabbing the rock is an interesting composition. Thank you for sharing. Peace and Safe Travels
Thanks Craig! That sunrise scene is definitely one I want to pursue on future visits. Now if only I had returned to that same spot the following day, I would have had the exact skies I was hoping for, but instead I enjoyed the view elsewhere in the valley while loading film out of the back of my 4Runner. :-) Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
While I agree the final image is tops, we very much liked all three. That canyon looks very inviting. We're off Monday for a couple days of springtime in Zion before going further east for a couple weeks. Hoping for some fresh green leaves, although it may still be early. Really enjoyed the calmness of this episode.
Thanks Frank! On a whim, I checked the Zion webcam yesterday and saw that the cottonwoods were at the early stages of leafing in. That got me excited about heading East as well perhaps toward the beginning of next month. I'll be watching the weather and the river flow rates before heading out there on my annual backpacking trip, though thankfully any river crossings will be optional and not mandatory. I hope you enjoy your time out East!
I actually like the zoom-in on #3 as a crop, as I prefer that composition to the full photo. And, beautiful lighting in #1. Absolutely plan to do some photography myself in Death Valley, as my one trip there was not a success and you’ve inspired me to try again. What stops me is the trip from San Diego, which as you know is a long one. Maybe Memorial Day weekend, when I’ll have time to recover. 😅
Thanks Michael! Death Valley is the sort of place that requires quite a few visits until you start discovering some interesting subjects off the beaten path. My first several visits often ended in frustration, but now after visiting every year since 2010, I'm learning better how to place myself in the right place at the right time. It is indeed a bit of a drive from San Diego, but I find that leaving early in the morning (I leave my house just after 3am) gets me through the congested areas without traffic. Thanks for watching and commenting!
When I was there, several major roads were still closed, though it didn't affect the areas I was visiting. They've since reopened some of those roads, but I know there are some backcountry areas that remain closed because the dirt roads were washed away. I suspect it will take a while until everything is fully recovered. Thanks for watching and commenting Scot!
There is a collection of lyrics and texts of songs known in the rural landscapes in Germany in the 17th and 18th century called "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (the boy's cornucopia (?) of miracles) by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano. And when I look at that whole canyon scene from left to right I can see that horn shaped wall where these boulders are rolling out ... I don't wanna spoil your perception but maybe it's interesting what people see in the videos months after you've been there ...
Beautiful video about the creation of the images. The sound as you walk through the gorges adds to the impression of an almost unreal landscape. Is that a series 3 or series 5 tripod you use for this 8x10?
Thanks! Sound is definitely important as it carries so many details that are often difficult to convey with video. That's one of the reasons why I love filming with my Rode Stereo Videomic X since it produces such immersive sound. The tripod in the video is a 3 series, 3 section Gitzo Systematic. I also have a 5 series, though I very seldom use it. I reach for the 5 series if I need added height or if I'm setting up in a flowing river. That all being said, when I venture on my backpacking trips, I use a Gitzo 1 series mountaineer with the center column removed and it handles the camera just fine. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks Robert! Yup, the neck gaiter and balaclava are for sun protection. I wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect my arms and legs, but even though I wear a wide brimmed hat, a lot of light reflects off the desert floor which really adds up after spending a week in the desert. I shave my head so the back of my head is exposed along with my face and neck. In the past I would put on sunscreen, but that often gets caked with sand and dust, and after a week of that building up isn't all that fun. With the neck gaiter and balaclava, I can avoid sunscreen and sunburns. It also helps keep me warm when necessary.
Hi Jeff! The initial plan is to scan the negatives and bring them into my usual workflow, but having the negatives certainly allows some darkroom work as well. I have no plans (nor the space) for a full 8x10 darkroom setup, but perhaps contact printing? We'll see. Thanks as always for watching and commeting!
One of the greatest things I've learned from your channel, Ben, is the importance of being purposeful in one's photography. I heard you talk about the stunning sky on the podcast and how you enjoyed it but didn't rush to change from what you were there to photograph. Seeing your very compelling shot of the "monster" bush pulling in the rock is yet another example of your purposeful approach to photography to tell the stories you want to tell. It's inspiring in a way that is just so rare on UA-cam and one of the top reasons why I love this channel.
Thank you so much Christopher! That's one of the things working with large format has taught me through the years, to remain patient and to stay the course. If it works out, great. If not, no biggie. Either way, I can enjoy the show and live in the moment.
You have a talent for capturing scenes that most others would just have walked right by. Great job.
Thanks Tony! There is so much beauty hidden in plain sight. We just have to be in the right mindset to see it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Like you, I really enjoy that last image of the bush reaching for the rock. It takes a unique and special kind of person to eschew the grand vista - the obvious subject - for something smaller and easily missed. Loved this.
Thanks Peter! Although I do enjoy the grand vistas, there sure is something rewarding about finding a subject that is so easily missed. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
blue hour in DV without a wisp of wind to move the creosote, awesome!
It sure was great to have such calm conditions! Thanks for watching and commenting Marshal!
Great to see the sky. the light the object you want is really great, amazing and thank you for sharing it with us. Regards, Martijn Van Mierlo 🙏
Thanks as always Martijn!
Loved the framing of the video at 3:20 and 11:37!
Thanks Luís! The first view in particular would make for an interesting evening photo. It's not too often one can find a perspective that offers such a wonderful view of the valley floor. Perhaps something to put in the notes for when I return next year. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
Lovely video, Ben 👍🏻 The brush 😉 bush image is a belter 🙌🏻
Haha! Thanks Martin! I still have a hard time saying that. I think I tripped over my own words in the film reveal as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
A monster bush eating a rock and feathers in the sky! What substance have you in your tea 🤣 I like the rocks and thought what on earth were you thinking with the bush but seeing the shot 😍 the dead branches are great but I love the texture in the rocks! Great job.
Last night I was trying to capture the milky way over a scene I did a year long project on and after 2 hours shooting I just sat back and enjoyed the serenity of the stars in the opposite direction. Got home at 2 am to discover what I was putting down as light pollution on the back of the camera was actually a weak Aurora! Life with a camera can be good.
Really enjoying this season.
Thanks Andrew! A vivid imagination for sure! I found that bush the day before while killing time waiting for good light for the shattered white rock. I had many hours to kill and wandered all around the whole area and found a wealth of interesting subjects. That's one of the many joys of sitting on a shot waiting for good light-especially when it isn't windy and I don't have to worry about my camera being blown over. :-) That's so cool to hear that you had an Aurora sneak into your photos!! That sure must have been a wonderful moment when you realized what it actually was! Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
love that last shot
it's like mother nature tidying up her back yard!
Yup! It's so fun to see what sort of subjects are out there hidden in plain sight. I found a couple other things out there that I made note of to perhaps try and photograph next year as well. Thanks for watching and commenting!
The scene at 8:18 looked worth a sheet of film to me. 🙂 Thanks again for another video that inspires us, instead of lecturing to us. 👍
Thanks Charles! I spent some time studying that scene which is one of the reasons I filmed some video there. I didn't see a solution that immediately jumped out at me, but I definitely want to return and see how I can frame it. On the plus side, scenes like that seldom change much from year to year. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love the shot of the rock field with the mountains in the background. Reminds me of my favorite Ansel Adams photo of rocks outside Manzanar with Mount Williamson in the background.
Thanks! That's a scene I hope to revisit on a future trip, hopefully with some clouds. The wide angle perspective makes those foreground rocks quite interesting, and I can definitely see the similarity to the shot you mentioned. I wonder what focal length Ansel Adams used for his photo? The perspective of his shot sure is visually striking.
the details on those photographs are mind-blowing.
Thanks Dexter! That's one of the beauties of 8x10. A little while back, I had one of my images scanned to 700+ megapixels and it still wasn't resolving down to the grain yet. Thanks for watching and commenting Dexter!
I agree with what you said about the three images. The last one is the only one to catch my eye. It appears to be scooping up several rocks, so maybe call it Rock-Eater or the monster that snatched Death Valley? ;-) I appreciate all the effort.
Thank you as always Danny! It was certainly a fun subject to work with, and I'm glad the wind was calm that evening.
The bush with tentacles is awesome and so beautiful. Nice find (beside the fotography skills involved)
Thanks! There sure are some interesting things out in the desert. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Love it when you get a sky like that! I do like the two boulder image, that was a great discovery. Thanks for sharing Ben!
Thanks Caleb! There sure is so much wonderful stuff out there to discover when you spend some time wandering. I'll need to revisit those boulders with some different ideas on the composition, but I now at least have a good feeling for when the light is decent.
The light on that final scene was perfect. Really nailed the timing!
Thanks Brian! It sure was nice to have such calm conditions that evening! It didn't last, but still. :-)
I like the boulders photo.
Thanks Darryl! I think I'll need to scan the B&W version of that to see how it does. I suspect it's a subject that's better suited for B&W.
Boulder shot is pretty good!
Thanks Süheyl!
Thanks Ben, great video again. Till " next time "
Thanks Mark!
Ben, I love the tones in the sunrise photograph and agree that it needs interest in the sky. For me, the boulders in the canyon remind me of a scene from Star Wars. The bush grabbing the rock is an interesting composition. Thank you for sharing. Peace and Safe Travels
Thanks Craig! That sunrise scene is definitely one I want to pursue on future visits. Now if only I had returned to that same spot the following day, I would have had the exact skies I was hoping for, but instead I enjoyed the view elsewhere in the valley while loading film out of the back of my 4Runner. :-) Thanks as always for watching and commenting!
While I agree the final image is tops, we very much liked all three. That canyon looks very inviting. We're off Monday for a couple days of springtime in Zion before going further east for a couple weeks. Hoping for some fresh green leaves, although it may still be early. Really enjoyed the calmness of this episode.
Thanks Frank! On a whim, I checked the Zion webcam yesterday and saw that the cottonwoods were at the early stages of leafing in. That got me excited about heading East as well perhaps toward the beginning of next month. I'll be watching the weather and the river flow rates before heading out there on my annual backpacking trip, though thankfully any river crossings will be optional and not mandatory. I hope you enjoy your time out East!
Love the way you tell the story of what you see
Thanks as always Mitch!
I actually like the zoom-in on #3 as a crop, as I prefer that composition to the full photo. And, beautiful lighting in #1.
Absolutely plan to do some photography myself in Death Valley, as my one trip there was not a success and you’ve inspired me to try again. What stops me is the trip from San Diego, which as you know is a long one. Maybe Memorial Day weekend, when I’ll have time to recover. 😅
Thanks Michael! Death Valley is the sort of place that requires quite a few visits until you start discovering some interesting subjects off the beaten path. My first several visits often ended in frustration, but now after visiting every year since 2010, I'm learning better how to place myself in the right place at the right time. It is indeed a bit of a drive from San Diego, but I find that leaving early in the morning (I leave my house just after 3am) gets me through the congested areas without traffic. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Excellent series, well presented. Love it. Cheers from the UK.
Thank you Albert!
Has Death Valley National Park recovered from the flooding back in August?
When I was there, several major roads were still closed, though it didn't affect the areas I was visiting. They've since reopened some of those roads, but I know there are some backcountry areas that remain closed because the dirt roads were washed away. I suspect it will take a while until everything is fully recovered. Thanks for watching and commenting Scot!
That final image is stunning…great story behind it as well. Nice one, Mr. Horne.
Thank you as always Prashant! It sure was a wonderful day to spend wandering around in Death Valley.
There is a collection of lyrics and texts of songs known in the rural landscapes in Germany in the 17th and 18th century called "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (the boy's cornucopia (?) of miracles) by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano. And when I look at that whole canyon scene from left to right I can see that horn shaped wall where these boulders are rolling out ... I don't wanna spoil your perception but maybe it's interesting what people see in the videos months after you've been there ...
It truly is fascinating how the same scene can be interpreted differently by different people, and I can totally see that now that you mention it!
Beautiful video about the creation of the images. The sound as you walk through the gorges adds to the impression of an almost unreal landscape.
Is that a series 3 or series 5 tripod you use for this 8x10?
Thanks! Sound is definitely important as it carries so many details that are often difficult to convey with video. That's one of the reasons why I love filming with my Rode Stereo Videomic X since it produces such immersive sound. The tripod in the video is a 3 series, 3 section Gitzo Systematic. I also have a 5 series, though I very seldom use it. I reach for the 5 series if I need added height or if I'm setting up in a flowing river. That all being said, when I venture on my backpacking trips, I use a Gitzo 1 series mountaineer with the center column removed and it handles the camera just fine. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Ben loved the compositions. curious about your head/neck gear, are you just using that as sun protection? "All about the experience in the field" 100%
Thanks Robert! Yup, the neck gaiter and balaclava are for sun protection. I wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect my arms and legs, but even though I wear a wide brimmed hat, a lot of light reflects off the desert floor which really adds up after spending a week in the desert. I shave my head so the back of my head is exposed along with my face and neck. In the past I would put on sunscreen, but that often gets caked with sand and dust, and after a week of that building up isn't all that fun. With the neck gaiter and balaclava, I can avoid sunscreen and sunburns. It also helps keep me warm when necessary.
Ben - Are you going to print you black and white negatives in a traditional darkroom? Or, will you scan and edit as you do your color work?
Hi Jeff! The initial plan is to scan the negatives and bring them into my usual workflow, but having the negatives certainly allows some darkroom work as well. I have no plans (nor the space) for a full 8x10 darkroom setup, but perhaps contact printing? We'll see. Thanks as always for watching and commeting!
@@BenHorne for what it is worth, I think a few black and white contact print would be a wonderful addition to your annual portfolios.