Great photos and very honest assessment of what you perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be. That is always a good start to overcoming weaknesses. Of course, I have identified a lot of my weaknesses but still haven't figured out how to overcome them. Thanks for sharing your experience in Zion.
You sure had a busy day! Even though I just returned from Zion on my winter trip, watching your video really makes me want to head back there. That area at the end where you shot your last photo is where I recorded some audio of those same crickets, and used that in several of my videos. Just like Scott, the first and last photos really stood out to me the most. Gotta love those maples!!
It was definitely busy, and toward the end I was starting to feel it! I really enjoy that little side canyon and am looking forward to exploring the area above it as well. I'm not sure there are many photographic opportunities up there, but it looked like a nice secluded area to at least hike and take lunch. Also, I barely even noticed the crickets until I was rewatching the videos!!
MrDebone75 This has actually been suggested to me by a few other people. I’ve experimented with it and to me the blurred leaves just never seem to portray a sense of movement...it always just looks like a mistake! I have seen others do it quite convincingly so it’s just a technique I need to work on.
Thanks for sharing Alan. You got some nice images in this video. I liked the first one the most. Zion is wonderful in the fall. I really enjoyed my trip this year. I missed you by about a week. I got some images at the same locations one week later. It's amazing how fast the color and mood can change in mere days!!
Thanks, I appreciate that! It is wild how quickly Zion changes. I've noticed that it seems to go from peak color to mostly dead much faster than the leaves at home (which is Tennessee for me). I'm wondering if that has something to do with it being a desert environment.
Liked the rock textures in the first image, worth the scramble 👍🙂 You must have arrived a little latter than Ben Horne leaves were falling. Certainly nailed the exposure settings even with different film stocks 👍
Thanks! Ben and I were actually there at the exact same time this year! The window for prime color is so short in Zion; you can have perfect conditions one day and the next day the ground will be covered.
Nice video, Alan. As a wildlife photographer, I always appreciate when I see some animals in the videos. Great photography too. I especially like the 5th image. If I remember well, Ben shot this scene too. :)
Thanks! I don’t really have a long enough lens to do any real wildlife stuff, but occasionally I can get a few shots. Really a fascinating branch of photography; requires tons of patience!
Beautiful images. My experience with large format photography is limited to you, Ben Horne and Nick Carver. I notice that you, and Ben, usually take more intimate landscapes rather than the large, sweeping landscape vistas that I usually do. Is this an artistic preference or does it work better with large format film vs digital?
Robert Grenader Thanks for following along! Several reasons for the choice in subject material. As mentioned in a previous comment, it is easier to get the smaller scenes in good light. More of a factor though is that Zion just doesn’t lend itself very well to the grand landscape shot...with black and white images being an exception. It’s very difficult to find good lighting for a vast landscape inside the canyon.
John Leftwich So these days Velvia is about $13/per sheet (cost of film plus processing), Ektar is about $11, and Ilford Delta 100 is around $3 if you develop it yourself. None of these prices includes scanning either which can get really pricey if you don’t have your own scanner.
Great job Alan. Really enjoyed the video and all the images, the first and last being my favs but they’re all nice. Glad to see you got the 300m. Sorry about the bellows draw issue. You probably already know about this or might not be interested but SK Grimes makes a nice extension tube that will give you some extra length. Feel free to reach out to me if you want some details. I’ve used them for years. All the best.
That actually something I didn't know about. Definitely would like to hear more about it! Have you noticed any ill effects when using camera movements? Not that I would be using many with a 300 anyway, but was just curious about it. Sounds like something I need for (relatively) close focus work.
@@AlanBrockImages I've been using one for years and have never felt like I've ever had any vignetting problems. I use it with my 450 which would be even worse than a 300 I think, if you were going to have a problem. As you say, you don't really end up using very extreme movements for most landscape work so it's probably not a concern. I'd say definitely with the normal swings and tilts we use for focus correction, you would not have any issues. Maybe with extreme rise or fall it might come into play but honestly, the tube is fairly similar in size to the narrow (lens) end of a long bellows anyway so I don't think it would be an issue.
I loved the images especially the 2nd, 3rd & 5th..absolutely beautiful !! Have you ever considered showing the photographs with a white background? Something like what Andrew Marr does on his channel...I think the beautiful colorful leaves in the photograph with a white background would make the photograph's color pop even more... maybe it's a personal thing ... I don't know... you can try it in LR/PS by changing the background...
Thanks for taking us all along with you to Zion. Been watching and keeping silent for a while. I do have a question. Everyone seems to go to Zion in the fall. Doesn't anyone go in the spring? Haaha, I'm going next month. First time ever. Wish I could get an idea what it's like then. Thanks again!
Hi Barbara, I'll jump in on this one. I've been in the Spring twice and it's very nice. Now, March might be a bit early, I think I've been in April both times but if you're there when the trees have just finished leafing out, the greens are amazing and contrasted with the red walls, it's just stunning. Also, if you're lucky enough to have some Spring rains, you get all these ephemeral waterfalls all over the valley and it's incredible. So I wish you those conditions and you'll make some amazing photos.
@@ScottWalton Thanks Scott! I was hoping for some wild flowers. Some... We'll see I guess. I'm actually going to the Outsiders photo conference in Kanab. So I'll be in Zion right after. Around the 22nd to the 25th if I can remember correctly? Its 3 nights. Staying at the Watchman for 2, another campground just outside the park for the last night. (I screwed up my reservations... grrrrr!) But yeah, really looking forward to it. :)
Barbara Livieri One thing that happens in Spring in the valley is the sacred datura bloom. That’s the one that looks kind of like a trumpet. Not exactly a wild flower but similar in the short lived, seasonal nature. I think it blooms over night then fades during the day. So it makes a fun subject to try to capture.
Hey Barbara, thanks for watching!! I haven't yet been in the spring, but I know several that have including Ben Horne. From what I've seen it look stunning! One thing to consider is that I know the Narrows often stay closed through late spring/early summer due to high flow rates from snow melt.
Need to do a video on your workout routine. I've been going through your channel and it looks like you destroyed the old you from 3 years ago and absorbed all of his power.
The 3 year ago version of me was faulty so I upgraded to 2.0!! :) The weightlifting was from a New Year's Resolution a little over 4 years ago that I have stuck with over time. It's been slow and steady progress, but I've managed to put on over 40 pounds since then!
@@AlanBrockImages That's awesome man. Just recently found your channel and I've been binging everything. I'm gonna be picking up an Intrepid because of you. I stopped photography a few years ago as I got burned out with it doing it professionally and found myself not doing it for fun anymore and I still do video full time. Following a few 4x5 photographers has lit a fire back under me. Cheers from the other side of Tennessee.
@@Lukewillcreate Hey there. Not that I'm trolling Alan's site for subscribers but I'm another LF photographer you could look at. Like you, I worked commercially for years. I used LF for over 20 then switched to medium format digital but thanks to Alan and Ben and just missing the look of film and what a view camera can do, I've picked it up again and am loving it. Glad you've got that 'fire' again!
Don't take this the wrong way but every shot doesn't have to be a selfy. As you describe these beautiful scenes to us all we get is a glimpse over your shoulder. Very frustrating. On the other hand your photography is awesome! Suscribed.
If you think I do a lot of selfies here, you should see my Instagram stories... :) Not showing much of the scene is actually by design. I want the entirety of the scene to first be viewed at the end film reveal. Not saying that's right or wrong, it's just kind of how I structure my videos. Thanks for the sub too!!
Great photos and very honest assessment of what you perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be. That is always a good start to overcoming weaknesses. Of course, I have identified a lot of my weaknesses but still haven't figured out how to overcome them. Thanks for sharing your experience in Zion.
You sure had a busy day! Even though I just returned from Zion on my winter trip, watching your video really makes me want to head back there. That area at the end where you shot your last photo is where I recorded some audio of those same crickets, and used that in several of my videos. Just like Scott, the first and last photos really stood out to me the most. Gotta love those maples!!
It was definitely busy, and toward the end I was starting to feel it! I really enjoy that little side canyon and am looking forward to exploring the area above it as well. I'm not sure there are many photographic opportunities up there, but it looked like a nice secluded area to at least hike and take lunch. Also, I barely even noticed the crickets until I was rewatching the videos!!
Great work. I have one comment not a criticism. Do not be afraid to let the leaves move. You are recording nature. Nature moves. Keep up the good work
MrDebone75 This has actually been suggested to me by a few other people. I’ve experimented with it and to me the blurred leaves just never seem to portray a sense of movement...it always just looks like a mistake! I have seen others do it quite convincingly so it’s just a technique I need to work on.
Thanks for sharing Alan. You got some nice images in this video. I liked the first one the most. Zion is wonderful in the fall. I really enjoyed my trip this year. I missed you by about a week. I got some images at the same locations one week later. It's amazing how fast the color and mood can change in mere days!!
Thanks, I appreciate that! It is wild how quickly Zion changes. I've noticed that it seems to go from peak color to mostly dead much faster than the leaves at home (which is Tennessee for me). I'm wondering if that has something to do with it being a desert environment.
Liked the rock textures in the first image, worth the scramble 👍🙂
You must have arrived a little latter than Ben Horne leaves were falling.
Certainly nailed the exposure settings even with different film stocks 👍
Thanks! Ben and I were actually there at the exact same time this year! The window for prime color is so short in Zion; you can have perfect conditions one day and the next day the ground will be covered.
Nice video, Alan. As a wildlife photographer, I always appreciate when I see some animals in the videos. Great photography too. I especially like the 5th image. If I remember well, Ben shot this scene too. :)
Thanks! I don’t really have a long enough lens to do any real wildlife stuff, but occasionally I can get a few shots. Really a fascinating branch of photography; requires tons of patience!
Beautiful images. My experience with large format photography is limited to you, Ben Horne and Nick Carver. I notice that you, and Ben, usually take more intimate landscapes rather than the large, sweeping landscape vistas that I usually do. Is this an artistic preference or does it work better with large format film vs digital?
Robert Grenader Thanks for following along! Several reasons for the choice in subject material. As mentioned in a previous comment, it is easier to get the smaller scenes in good light. More of a factor though is that Zion just doesn’t lend itself very well to the grand landscape shot...with black and white images being an exception. It’s very difficult to find good lighting for a vast landscape inside the canyon.
Great video Alan. Beautiful images too. What is the range of cost including processing for a sheet of film?
John Leftwich So these days Velvia is about $13/per sheet (cost of film plus processing), Ektar is about $11, and Ilford Delta 100 is around $3 if you develop it yourself. None of these prices includes scanning either which can get really pricey if you don’t have your own scanner.
Great job Alan. Really enjoyed the video and all the images, the first and last being my favs but they’re all nice. Glad to see you got the 300m. Sorry about the bellows draw issue. You probably already know about this or might not be interested but SK Grimes makes a nice extension tube that will give you some extra length. Feel free to reach out to me if you want some details. I’ve used them for years. All the best.
That actually something I didn't know about. Definitely would like to hear more about it! Have you noticed any ill effects when using camera movements? Not that I would be using many with a 300 anyway, but was just curious about it. Sounds like something I need for (relatively) close focus work.
@@AlanBrockImages I've been using one for years and have never felt like I've ever had any vignetting problems. I use it with my 450 which would be even worse than a 300 I think, if you were going to have a problem. As you say, you don't really end up using very extreme movements for most landscape work so it's probably not a concern. I'd say definitely with the normal swings and tilts we use for focus correction, you would not have any issues. Maybe with extreme rise or fall it might come into play but honestly, the tube is fairly similar in size to the narrow (lens) end of a long bellows anyway so I don't think it would be an issue.
I loved the images especially the 2nd, 3rd & 5th..absolutely beautiful !!
Have you ever considered showing the photographs with a white background? Something like what Andrew Marr does on his channel...I think the beautiful colorful leaves in the photograph with a white background would make the photograph's color pop even more... maybe it's a personal thing ... I don't know... you can try it in LR/PS by changing the background...
Harsh Vardhan Sharma Thanks so much! Honestly I haven’t considered a white background, but I may give that a go...either that or a neutral gray.
Alan, stunning as always...
Thanks Mike, I really appreciate that!!
Thanks for taking us all along with you to Zion. Been watching and keeping silent for a while. I do have a question. Everyone seems to go to Zion in the fall. Doesn't anyone go in the spring? Haaha, I'm going next month. First time ever. Wish I could get an idea what it's like then.
Thanks again!
Hi Barbara, I'll jump in on this one. I've been in the Spring twice and it's very nice. Now, March might be a bit early, I think I've been in April both times but if you're there when the trees have just finished leafing out, the greens are amazing and contrasted with the red walls, it's just stunning. Also, if you're lucky enough to have some Spring rains, you get all these ephemeral waterfalls all over the valley and it's incredible. So I wish you those conditions and you'll make some amazing photos.
@@ScottWalton Thanks Scott! I was hoping for some wild flowers. Some... We'll see I guess.
I'm actually going to the Outsiders photo conference in Kanab. So I'll be in Zion right after. Around the 22nd to the 25th if I can remember correctly? Its 3 nights. Staying at the Watchman for 2, another campground just outside the park for the last night. (I screwed up my reservations... grrrrr!) But yeah, really looking forward to it. :)
Barbara Livieri One thing that happens in Spring in the valley is the sacred datura bloom. That’s the one that looks kind of like a trumpet. Not exactly a wild flower but similar in the short lived, seasonal nature. I think it blooms over night then fades during the day. So it makes a fun subject to try to capture.
@@ScottWalton Interesting. Thanks. I'm going to look that one up.
I just realized who you were. I've been watching your videos too!
Hey Barbara, thanks for watching!! I haven't yet been in the spring, but I know several that have including Ben Horne. From what I've seen it look stunning! One thing to consider is that I know the Narrows often stay closed through late spring/early summer due to high flow rates from snow melt.
This was "very" nice... ;-)
Very much appreciated...:)
Need to do a video on your workout routine. I've been going through your channel and it looks like you destroyed the old you from 3 years ago and absorbed all of his power.
The 3 year ago version of me was faulty so I upgraded to 2.0!! :) The weightlifting was from a New Year's Resolution a little over 4 years ago that I have stuck with over time. It's been slow and steady progress, but I've managed to put on over 40 pounds since then!
@@AlanBrockImages That's awesome man. Just recently found your channel and I've been binging everything. I'm gonna be picking up an Intrepid because of you. I stopped photography a few years ago as I got burned out with it doing it professionally and found myself not doing it for fun anymore and I still do video full time. Following a few 4x5 photographers has lit a fire back under me. Cheers from the other side of Tennessee.
@@Lukewillcreate Hey there. Not that I'm trolling Alan's site for subscribers but I'm another LF photographer you could look at. Like you, I worked commercially for years. I used LF for over 20 then switched to medium format digital but thanks to Alan and Ben and just missing the look of film and what a view camera can do, I've picked it up again and am loving it. Glad you've got that 'fire' again!
Whole time thinking you're talking about Subway the restaurant till you said 'hiking'. Like why would you take your 4x5 there.
To take a quality photograph of some delicious turkey subs of course!
Don't take this the wrong way but every shot doesn't have to be a selfy. As you describe these beautiful scenes to us all we get is a glimpse over your shoulder. Very frustrating. On the other hand your photography is awesome! Suscribed.
If you think I do a lot of selfies here, you should see my Instagram stories... :) Not showing much of the scene is actually by design. I want the entirety of the scene to first be viewed at the end film reveal. Not saying that's right or wrong, it's just kind of how I structure my videos. Thanks for the sub too!!