HOLY SMOKES. I saw the beanie and thought to myself "Now this guy knows a a thing or two about film photography", and then the photos came along and HOLY SMOKES Carhartt beanie guy knows a thing or two about film photography in harsh light too! And digi photography in harsh light actually. That digi shot of the hair on the horses neck at 6:49 and the 4x5 of the mud at 8:19 are world class matey, they've got me feeling some type of way, WHOOOO I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND NICE PHOTOS thank you for another banger, SUCH NICE PHOTOS
@@BryanBirks Can't help but go bonkers for lovely photographs mate it's what keeps me goin, last thing we had in the water was a typhoid outbreak a couple months ago ahah, and I love you toooooooo
I had been waiting for a genuine Birks print to add to my collection of world-class photographs, and now I'm getting one, woot! 😋. Digital, analog, potato, potaahto!
I've come across your videos before and enjoyed them. This one is very insightful and the images are exceptional. The 4x5 shot of the cracked mud is something else - the print must be outstanding. At any rate, this vid made me a subscriber. Well done.
@@BryanBirks something I am learning as well, to revisit subjects that I have photographed in the broad sense of landscape imagery, and to then return and look for the smaller details I missed which also tell a story surrounding my interest of the original subject.
Great video with very useful information! Pulling (over exposing and under developing) black and white film really is a great tool to decrease contrast in harsh light. And like you said, it is easier to add contrast to the print.
What an awesome, awesome video … and photos! IMHO, it is so important to not restrict oneself in only allowing oneself using just film … or digital (unless, you do that on purpose, to grow in your craft). I loved the intro and the overall mood and atmosphere of the video. … Great work! 👍🏻
Appreciate it! Yeah, I agree. Tools for everything. I am not shooting a wedding on 4x5. But I am definitely not taking a one-shot portrait on digital either.
Great video and photo series! I honestly like shooting in harsh light! You can get some nice contrast and cool shapes and lines created by shadows that way
Mama mia that shot of the ground was incredible! Loved the tone of this video man, and the reflections on film vs digital resonated with me, it can be so tense shooting film when you know exactly what you want to shoot but don't want to waste frames. Great point about shooting low contrast as well, this is something I definitely don't consider but now you mentioned it I need to try this (everyone edits film)
Ah yes the intensity is there for sure. But when it pays off…mama Mia indeed. I’ve always leaned towards TMax and HP5 because they’re lower contrast than a Tri-X or FP4 in my experience.
I think in our love for film we sometimes get caught in the fact that digital is a capable alternative. It allows to make pictures throughout the day and doesn’t place a limit on exposures. Your digital images are tasteful. Though film does have soul and warmth.
Excellent video Bryan .. I shoot HP5 all the time either at box speed or more often pushing it. I am going to try pulling it for the next few rolls just to see what I get ... Thanks
Like you I prefer film but not opposed to digital. Digital is easier and cheaper just not as much fun. I have to say that when I saw the images of the two horses comparing film and digital they were similar but I preferred the film. Nice lesson on pulling and the importance of processing it properly.
With 6x7 and digital, I always go back and forth but something keeps pulling me back to film. I can’t escape it. 4x5 is a constant because I get a look you can’t really imitate but 6x7 is more of a process thing for me. I just love using the Pentax regardless of how much work.
Excellent storytelling and photos as usual! You certainly don't need to make excuses for using a digital camera. Use the right tool for the job - jumpy animals? Astrophotography? Sports? Those are digital jobs man. Couple of notes - I have had great luck with DxO film pack. I'm able to get my Canon raw files close enough to both Portra and Provia that I can't tell the difference for color. I haven't tried simulating grain though. Also if you like HC110 and flat negative scans, I just developed my 1st roll in Flic Film Black White and Green developer. It uses the the same active ingredients as xtol, but they managed to create a long-lasting concentrate syrup. I mention it because I just used it on a roll of GP3 220 yesterday with fantastic results. I was pretty worried about the GP3, it doesn't play well in Rodinal - super steep curves, no highlight retention even with 1+100 stand. GP3 in this BWG stuff is a whole different film. Now I need to pick up a 220 back for my Bronica. Cheers!
I’ll have to look into the film pack. That sounds quite interesting. I use some luts for video that carry over to photos that are based off film stocks that are quite nice but not all the way there.
@@BryanBirks I was skeptical, but I got it for relatively cheap back at Black Friday when they were doing half off. I've found myself using it more than I expected. Low light shots especially, and tight places or rough terrain where I wouldn't want to set up a tripod. I ended up using the adox CHS 100 filter on one shot from last weekend I took in the middle of a cedar swamp:) It just fit the mood, and it would have taken me quite a bit of work, I think, to achieve the same result manually.
Golden hour all day, now that would be nice 🙃 Great stuff once again Bryan, appreciate you just getting out there and shooting. Animals never make things easy haha
Great video as always man. Just had a quick question - is it possible to credit any music use in the description your videos? I love how the mood pairs with the images. Keep doing what you do, it's super informative :)
Awesome photos, Bryan! This is my standard practice. I almost always pull my HP5 and Tri-X. I simply get the best results exposing at 200ASA and then adjusting the development.
@@BryanBirks nice man! Have you tried glossy too? Normaly I wont touch glossy but with FB its different. Dry it to air and then tape it to a piece of glass it will be flat. To me it doesnt feel like glossy at all. Its beautiful!
i really need to try pulling bnw film. i somehow always end up using ortho80 or panf50 when it‘s really bright or i need small dof. both films are pretty unique though… great video, dude.
Possibly working on it. I was going to include at least one that I really liked but I’m debating on what printer I should go with (local or the same place I get my color prints). Trying to keep the cost down while not sacrificing quality.
Oh, for some reason I thought you said the digital photos specifically. Not sure why I thought that. I wasn’t too fond of these specific horse photos so I didn’t want to take the time to print them. Maybe I’ll take a second look.
Wow, fantastic video Bryan. How do you scan your prints? I use the darkroom a lot, and I have an Epson v600, but I have been assuming that if I lay the prints down on the glass and scan them, they'll be slightly out of focus, since the focal point of the scanner is raised up a few cm/mm to where the film sits. Am I worrying for nothing here? EDIT: And are the photos in this video scans of the negatives or scans of the prints? They look great, the first portrait included!
They are scans of the negative. I use a Lumix s1 camera to “scan” my photos. Much better than an Epson but can get pricey. I use a V550 way back for a while and got decent results but the time and quality was a buzzkill compared to scanning with a camera. If you have the means I would suggest going that route. Even a camera that’s 12mp will outperform an Epson.
I still can't work out the benefit of pulling HP5 plus over shooting FP4 if you want to shoot at ISO 100, heck with FP4 you could have even pulled it down to ISO 50 or 25.
I agree. There isn’t many benefits. I only had HP5 and wanted to shoot it in harsh light. One benefit is buying HP5 as your only stock so you can use it to pull, shoot at box speed, or push to 3200 whenever you want. Can’t do that with FP4.
If I wanted to overexpose a 400 iso film by a stop would that mean I shoot it as if it's 200 iso(and just develop normally). However pulling it a stop would be shooting it at box speed and developing it longer(equivalent to one stop)?
Overexposing is shooting 400 at 200 and developing normally. Pulling is shooting a 400 iso film at 200 and developing at 200. So developing less. Pushing is shooting 400 at 800 and developing at 800. Developing more.
@@BryanBirks oh nice. That's my favorite B&W film too. I used to use HC-110 almost exclusively, but recently switched to xtol because of how amazing it looks with tmax in particular. Would highly recommend giving it a try
Just make sure if you use xtol that you follow the instructions (water can't be too cold. Also, definitely mix with distilled) and make sure part A is 100% dissolved before adding part B. Takes a while to get every single granule dissolved. At the end I filter through a coffee filter just to be on the safe side so I know my dev is super clean
What changed that made you take up SS sponsor? I remember you a while back ranting about how you won't be like "those youtubers" so what gives? If you don't mind me asking of course.
I use Squarespace personally. They pay me exponentially more than what I make with each video because I don’t make “smart” videos financially. Aka gear shit. What gives is that I put hours upon hours into making videos and I get shit back in the form of compensation because UA-cam blows. So yes, while I probably did rant about sponsors, I was more so talking about people that take every sponsor and hawk everything under the sun without actually using it or believing in it.
What's the benefit of wearing a beanie indoors?
I shoot film so I have no furnace. It’s 46 degrees Fahrenheit all day.
@@BryanBirks Now that explains everything 😁
looking rad.
@@BryanBirks lmao
reminds me of the great 90s band East17
HOLY SMOKES. I saw the beanie and thought to myself "Now this guy knows a a thing or two about film photography", and then the photos came along and HOLY SMOKES Carhartt beanie guy knows a thing or two about film photography in harsh light too! And digi photography in harsh light actually.
That digi shot of the hair on the horses neck at 6:49 and the 4x5 of the mud at 8:19 are world class matey, they've got me feeling some type of way, WHOOOO I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND NICE PHOTOS thank you for another banger, SUCH NICE PHOTOS
William is going absolutely bonkers. Something in the water down there in Africa? Haha I love you and photography. How bout dat?
@@BryanBirks Can't help but go bonkers for lovely photographs mate it's what keeps me goin, last thing we had in the water was a typhoid outbreak a couple months ago ahah, and I love you toooooooo
damn, whenever I run low on motivation your videos provides a fresh dose.
That is nice to hear. I have plenty of people that I watch for that sole reason. Cheers!
Bryan you're awesome storyteller and i always enjoy your videos and your photos. excellent work as usual.
Thank you. I really appreciate that!
The Hat alone was worth a like LOL> Thanks for your Willem Verbeeck impresion.
Now if only I could get the same color as Willem gets 🤔
Bryan looking like the dude from Paranoid Android, and I'm here for it. 😄📸🤙
I looked him up. You ain't wrong.
I had been waiting for a genuine Birks print to add to my collection of world-class photographs, and now I'm getting one, woot! 😋.
Digital, analog, potato, potaahto!
Haha amazing. Thanks for the support, Sergej!
Yes, many of us have few days where we're available to shoot mostly during golden hour. I really appreciated your clarification about pulling film.
these horses are still more cooperative than most models I've worked with ✨ liking the digis too tbh
Haha dead. I hope they aren't as hairy.
I've come across your videos before and enjoyed them. This one is very insightful and the images are exceptional. The 4x5 shot of the cracked mud is something else - the print must be outstanding. At any rate, this vid made me a subscriber. Well done.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Beautiful pictures
🖤
Love your videos bro. Greetings from Brasil
Really appreciate that. Cheers 🍻
the 4x5 photo looks like something from Kovi Konowiecki's "In Its Place, Another". Loved the video man
Love his work. Thanks for the kind words.
dude that image of the horse against the sky at 5:54 is beyond beautiful
Thank you thank you 🖤
Really nice job !! So peaceful… every vidéo have you make it are amazing ! Keep going !
Thank you very much.
Simple videos as possibile. They way how you talking about your whole process. I can listen that for hours
Thank you, sir. Always feel like I’m rambling but glad it resonates at least a little bit!
Absolutely love the shot at 6:21
Thanks, Tom. The light was hitting just right on his face with the rest in complete shadow under an awning.
Beautiful image with the 4×5! I think it makes for a lovely detail to the images of the horses.
I was quite fond of that one as well. Detail images are something that I’ve always neglected. Always too focused on the main subjects!
@@BryanBirks something I am learning as well, to revisit subjects that I have photographed in the broad sense of landscape imagery, and to then return and look for the smaller details I missed which also tell a story surrounding my interest of the original subject.
Great video with very useful information! Pulling (over exposing and under developing) black and white film really is a great tool to decrease contrast in harsh light.
And like you said, it is easier to add contrast to the print.
Thanks for watching, Ryan!
What an awesome, awesome video … and photos! IMHO, it is so important to not restrict oneself in only allowing oneself using just film … or digital (unless, you do that on purpose, to grow in your craft). I loved the intro and the overall mood and atmosphere of the video. … Great work! 👍🏻
Appreciate it! Yeah, I agree. Tools for everything. I am not shooting a wedding on 4x5. But I am definitely not taking a one-shot portrait on digital either.
Interesting photos (could be a project?) and I learned something. This was great!
Beautiful photos.
Great video and photo series! I honestly like shooting in harsh light! You can get some nice contrast and cool shapes and lines created by shadows that way
Definitely. I think it would come in handy more for street work in my opinion. Portraits and landscapes are always tough for me!
@@BryanBirks no doubt! My work doesn’t include that much portraiture so that makes mid day light a little more usable
Mama mia that shot of the ground was incredible! Loved the tone of this video man, and the reflections on film vs digital resonated with me, it can be so tense shooting film when you know exactly what you want to shoot but don't want to waste frames. Great point about shooting low contrast as well, this is something I definitely don't consider but now you mentioned it I need to try this (everyone edits film)
Ah yes the intensity is there for sure. But when it pays off…mama Mia indeed. I’ve always leaned towards TMax and HP5 because they’re lower contrast than a Tri-X or FP4 in my experience.
I think in our love for film we sometimes get caught in the fact that digital is a capable alternative. It allows to make pictures throughout the day and doesn’t place a limit on exposures. Your digital images are tasteful. Though film does have soul and warmth.
Lovely long scale rich tonality - I'll try this with my next roll of hp5. Thanks.
Absolutely beautiful video ♥️
Thank you, Alvin 🖤
Beautiful work, Bryan!
Thank you, Nuno!
Fantastic shots - as always. Personally, I enjoy harsh light. It makes me think about composition more.
I need to learn to love it. Just like using flash, it will only make me better and will give me more tools to get the shot I need.
Some magnificent photos. I like the soft pace of the video. It feels like you're more in phase with your photography.
I really only have one gear when it comes to photos. Slow. Haha thanks for the comment.
Another great vid Bryan! I love your honesty and openness to your topics and vids 👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks for watching!
Excellent video Bryan .. I shoot HP5 all the time either at box speed or more often pushing it. I am going to try pulling it for the next few rolls just to see what I get ... Thanks
film photographer starter pack: a beanie
No lies were told.
Like you I prefer film but not opposed to digital. Digital is easier and cheaper just not as much fun. I have to say that when I saw the images of the two horses comparing film and digital they were similar but I preferred the film. Nice lesson on pulling and the importance of processing it properly.
With 6x7 and digital, I always go back and forth but something keeps pulling me back to film. I can’t escape it. 4x5 is a constant because I get a look you can’t really imitate but 6x7 is more of a process thing for me. I just love using the Pentax regardless of how much work.
@@BryanBirks I meant to add that I absolutely LOVE that B&W image of the dirt
Beautiful images. Thank you for the technical explanations as well.
🖤
That picture of the mud is beautiful.
Appreciate that, Shawn!
Dude, I add my own light.
Are you da sun?
@@BryanBirks yes I am.
Looking forward to more harsh light photos 👊🏽 loved these especially the dried mud image
Thank you, Sathya! Need to get some Gold 200 after your vid 💁🏼♀️
That cross in the field...was that in a past video of yours with the Margaret Lewis song? Holding onto you.
Yes indeed. We have three horses buried there.
Excellent storytelling and photos as usual! You certainly don't need to make excuses for using a digital camera. Use the right tool for the job - jumpy animals? Astrophotography? Sports? Those are digital jobs man.
Couple of notes - I have had great luck with DxO film pack. I'm able to get my Canon raw files close enough to both Portra and Provia that I can't tell the difference for color. I haven't tried simulating grain though.
Also if you like HC110 and flat negative scans, I just developed my 1st roll in Flic Film Black White and Green developer. It uses the the same active ingredients as xtol, but they managed to create a long-lasting concentrate syrup.
I mention it because I just used it on a roll of GP3 220 yesterday with fantastic results. I was pretty worried about the GP3, it doesn't play well in Rodinal - super steep curves, no highlight retention even with 1+100 stand. GP3 in this BWG stuff is a whole different film. Now I need to pick up a 220 back for my Bronica.
Cheers!
I’ll have to look into the film pack. That sounds quite interesting. I use some luts for video that carry over to photos that are based off film stocks that are quite nice but not all the way there.
@@BryanBirks I was skeptical, but I got it for relatively cheap back at Black Friday when they were doing half off. I've found myself using it more than I expected. Low light shots especially, and tight places or rough terrain where I wouldn't want to set up a tripod. I ended up using the adox CHS 100 filter on one shot from last weekend I took in the middle of a cedar swamp:) It just fit the mood, and it would have taken me quite a bit of work, I think, to achieve the same result manually.
Great pictures bryan! Digital is how I started as well so it will always hold a special place in my heart as well lol
Props to anyone these days that just goes straight to film to learn. Savage.
nice hat at the end 😂
I am true film photographer now.
Golden hour all day, now that would be nice 🙃 Great stuff once again Bryan, appreciate you just getting out there and shooting. Animals never make things easy haha
Great video as always man. Just had a quick question - is it possible to credit any music use in the description your videos? I love how the mood pairs with the images.
Keep doing what you do, it's super informative :)
Thanks, Jack. I’m probably going to put them in the videos somewhere because music does play a big role and a lot of people ask me.
Awesome photos, Bryan! This is my standard practice. I almost always pull my HP5 and Tri-X. I simply get the best results exposing at 200ASA and then adjusting the development.
Interesting insight. Thanks, Gary!
Dang! Why aren't horses more cooperative? Regardless, wonderful images and storytelling Bryan, both film and digital!
It’s like they don’t know they’re in a UA-cam video or something…thank you, John!
Nice video! Make that print on Ilfod FB paper, i'll tel you, you won't regret!
I made one of Rich on FB matte. It helped out a lot with the harsh light. Made everything a bit more balanced for me.
@@BryanBirks nice man! Have you tried glossy too? Normaly I wont touch glossy but with FB its different. Dry it to air and then tape it to a piece of glass it will be flat. To me it doesnt feel like glossy at all. Its beautiful!
i really need to try pulling bnw film. i somehow always end up using ortho80 or panf50 when it‘s really bright or i need small dof. both films are pretty unique though… great video, dude.
For 4x5 I am a TMax 100 guy. It is perfect and can overexpose slightly if you need to. Need to get some for 120 pronto!
*has heart attack at 5:55 🥰
I hope you made it out alive.
I liked your film images better, with the prices of film nowadays I shoot more digital too.
How come you don’t have prints of the horses up? I quite like those
Possibly working on it. I was going to include at least one that I really liked but I’m debating on what printer I should go with (local or the same place I get my color prints). Trying to keep the cost down while not sacrificing quality.
@@BryanBirks why not silver gel?
Oh, for some reason I thought you said the digital photos specifically. Not sure why I thought that. I wasn’t too fond of these specific horse photos so I didn’t want to take the time to print them. Maybe I’ll take a second look.
Wow, fantastic video Bryan.
How do you scan your prints? I use the darkroom a lot, and I have an Epson v600, but I have been assuming that if I lay the prints down on the glass and scan them, they'll be slightly out of focus, since the focal point of the scanner is raised up a few cm/mm to where the film sits. Am I worrying for nothing here?
EDIT: And are the photos in this video scans of the negatives or scans of the prints? They look great, the first portrait included!
They are scans of the negative. I use a Lumix s1 camera to “scan” my photos. Much better than an Epson but can get pricey. I use a V550 way back for a while and got decent results but the time and quality was a buzzkill compared to scanning with a camera.
If you have the means I would suggest going that route. Even a camera that’s 12mp will outperform an Epson.
I still can't work out the benefit of pulling HP5 plus over shooting FP4 if you want to shoot at ISO 100, heck with FP4 you could have even pulled it down to ISO 50 or 25.
I agree. There isn’t many benefits. I only had HP5 and wanted to shoot it in harsh light. One benefit is buying HP5 as your only stock so you can use it to pull, shoot at box speed, or push to 3200 whenever you want. Can’t do that with FP4.
Holy shit the song in the beginning... name and artist please?
If I wanted to overexpose a 400 iso film by a stop would that mean I shoot it as if it's 200 iso(and just develop normally). However pulling it a stop would be shooting it at box speed and developing it longer(equivalent to one stop)?
Overexposing is shooting 400 at 200 and developing normally. Pulling is shooting a 400 iso film at 200 and developing at 200. So developing less.
Pushing is shooting 400 at 800 and developing at 800. Developing more.
@@BryanBirks sweet! Thanks for the informative reply. Going to tape this to the back of my camera till I have it memorized.
sorry for an offtopic question, but what is the intro music? very beautiful
Don’t be sorry. It’s Last Goodbye by Eric Kinny and Danica Dora (she’s great. Used her music in the previous video as well).
@@BryanBirks thanks :)
if I shot at 12:am,the light is very sharp and very deep contrast,this should be shot with pull precessing?
Pulling will definitely help ease up the contrast but you could also just overexpose a bit and process at normal speed. That should help as well.
I have pull-shot a roll of Ektar 100 recently....now Im trying to find someone in my town who can develop pulled film😬
How far did you overexpose it? One to three stops I would just process normally.
@@BryanBirks . I think I might just do that.
What 4x5 camera do you have?
Chamonix 45N-1
neigh
Bro what shutterspeed are you using when bnw photos? And what ASA do you need to let it set?
I shoot HP5 at 200 so I’m overexposing one stop. Shutter speed will be dependent on your lighting and will vary.
How do you use actual music in your videos without them getting flagged?
MusicBed
Curious why you decided to pull hp5 vs using a lower speed film?
I only had some HP5 on me and thought it would be interesting to pull. Normally (99% of the time) I shoot TMax 100.
@@BryanBirks oh nice. That's my favorite B&W film too. I used to use HC-110 almost exclusively, but recently switched to xtol because of how amazing it looks with tmax in particular. Would highly recommend giving it a try
Just make sure if you use xtol that you follow the instructions (water can't be too cold. Also, definitely mix with distilled) and make sure part A is 100% dissolved before adding part B. Takes a while to get every single granule dissolved. At the end I filter through a coffee filter just to be on the safe side so I know my dev is super clean
noooo not square space , such a draggggg , borrrrrrinnnnnggggggg!!!!! :D
You can always pay me if you want :D
What changed that made you take up SS sponsor? I remember you a while back ranting about how you won't be like "those youtubers" so what gives? If you don't mind me asking of course.
I use Squarespace personally. They pay me exponentially more than what I make with each video because I don’t make “smart” videos financially. Aka gear shit.
What gives is that I put hours upon hours into making videos and I get shit back in the form of compensation because UA-cam blows. So yes, while I probably did rant about sponsors, I was more so talking about people that take every sponsor and hawk everything under the sun without actually using it or believing in it.
@@BryanBirks understandable.
You look like an orange drop capacitor in the intro. Not complement nor insult, just obs mane.
Had to look up what it was. Don’t disagree with you. Lmao