Zion Winter 2021: My Digital Work

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Zion Winter 2021: My Digital Work

Рет қаралды 7,513

Күн бұрын

In this week's video, I share some of my digital photos from my January trip to Zion. Although it was quite liberating to have access to a long lens and to be able to photograph rapidly changing scenes, working with the digital kit served only to reinforce my love for film. I'm not sure I will ever use these photos for anything, but it sure was fun to take them.
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Пікірлер: 103

@KWGPHOTO 3 жыл бұрын

Bit late to this video, but its really interesting hearing you describe your thinking of a digital image in comparison to film. You're bang on about not looking for perfection in digital, its such an easy trap to fall into. I spent a long time photostacking everything searching for depth throughout scenes, I realised later it was a big mistake which prevented me from concentrating on the importent elements of seeing images and composition. Great video, keep up the good work Ben!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

It really is quite liberating when we no longer seek perfection. Sometimes it's those touches of "imperfection" that make a photo feel more authentic. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@cameronbrandt1212 3 жыл бұрын

Love hearing your thought about perfection with regards to medium format digital. Your articulation of your process has really helped me to try to slow down in my own photography. I have a tendency to rush and your zen like approach of savoring the process has been a big help to me. Thanks!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Cameron, and that's fantastic to hear. It's very easy to pass right by some beautiful subjects, and the moment you notice something, you'll realize there are many other great things nearby. It's no coincidence that some of my favorite subjects are only a few feet part. Keep taking it slow, and forcing yourself to be observant. It definitely pays off.

@robertwhitemoto 3 жыл бұрын

Love the Ice/Leaf/ladybug photo... the two leaves locked in a frozen embrace :)

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Robert! It sure was fun to notice the ladybug after the fact on that one.

@sdkgodeacs 3 жыл бұрын

Love the intro about the trap of chasing perfection with digital.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

So glad to hear that resonated with you. It’s definitely a pursuit that leads only to disappointment.

@huwmorgan51 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the digital images. I also really liked the leaf in the ice with the ladybug.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Huw! It sure was fun working with the digital kit on that trip. Seeing the frozen ladybug in that shot after the fact sure was a nice little surprise.

@achinthadahanayake6477 3 жыл бұрын

Love the photographs.. specially the leaves

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It sure was a great scene to find.

@codyschultz9915 3 жыл бұрын

Some very beautiful photographs here Ben - really love the Sonic the Hedgehog one! I'm glad to see your approach to photography has not changed between digital and film. Looking forward to seeing what you do with these works.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always Cody! I’m happy to say those large format traits are rooted deep within me. I would have a tough time shooting only digital, but if/when the day arrives that I can’t buy film anymore, it will be nice to know that my roots are still intact.

@coreyhart1850 3 жыл бұрын

Nice Ben! I love the play between the horizontal lines & bubbles in that ice shot!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Corey! That was a fun one to compose for sure. I probably should have worked that little frozen puddle longer, but there were so many other areas to check out that day. 👍

@hugovangool 3 жыл бұрын

Love the combination of cool tones of the winter and the warm tones of the sandstones.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Hugo! That sure is one of the wonderful things about Zion. That place is transformed so dramatically with the snow, and the warm/cool color contrast is such fantastic theme to work with.

@craigallenphotography 3 жыл бұрын

WOW, that leaf in the ice (with ladybug) is absolutely stunning.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Craig! It sure was a great scene to find!

@aaronza7218 3 жыл бұрын

Great content as usual. Also loving that image of leaves embedded in textured ice. Thanks Ben!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Aaron! Those leaves sure were a great find. I love photographing ice, and it sure was nice being able to shoot it with my 100-400mm at close range.

@humanelements2 2 жыл бұрын

It was interesting listening to your thoughts here as well as in the following video on how the imperfections of film are simultaneously frustrating yet part of what makes it worth pursuing over digital. I have two camera systems as well and the perfectionist in me demands that I choose. I find that the appeal of the less capable system is the flaws; the slower pace of it, the limitations on how many images I get, the lack of dynamic range forcing me to be careful, the need for a tripod, the intimacy of the normal fov lenses required, and how much the final image resonates with me when everything - both my talents as well as what the world offers - comes together. It's romantic despite not at all optimal for a working photographer. Hence my second kit - modern, flexible, and fast. Yet there is something lacking in how easily I can snap a shot and knowing how many compositional errors can be covered for in post. How the file is so malleable that it can be whatever I want. How I don't have to walk closer to the distant mountain with my 70-300mm lens, which means I miss potentially discovering something new. And coming home with hundreds of shots somehow annoys me. There is a great freedom and creativity in a lack of options...Despite all of the frustration that comes with that package.

@BenHorne 2 жыл бұрын

This is very well articulated Earl, and I very much share those thoughts. I recently sold my digital kit because, quite frankly, it didn't bring me joy. I thought it would give me an excuse to experiment more, but I never was as satisfied with those images as what I shoot on film. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@Leicashootr 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, you’re the man!!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Ruud! Much appreciated!

@SourianteOrange 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@BenHorne 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@tomass7952 3 жыл бұрын

As always a nice video by Mr Horne. That ice image = absolutely stunning!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Tomas!! Much appreciated!

@alanclark9691 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the images Ben, particularly the 3rd one. I suspect the orientation issue you referred to on the last image was caused by the slope of the small tree trunk.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

That's a very good point Alan. I can see how that combined with the angle of the slopes makes it feel just a bit awkward. When working with large format, those things tend to jump out quite a bit when composing upside down, so I'm able to better visually level the shot. I'm sure the grid on the ground glass also helps with that. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

@saidnidahmed4538 3 жыл бұрын

if it's your first time to this channel ... push all buttons there ... Ben is great artist and more over he is the nicest modest (time giver) i ever known ... i wish he was my brother ... he never hesist answer you instagram msgs even if they stupid like mine ... big up Ben from morocco

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Said!!! That is very kind of you!

@photosbyadamclarke 3 жыл бұрын

“That did not BUG me at all” you say shortly after pointing out the lady bug 😂. Great video Ben!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! Gotta bust out the dad jokes. :-)

@kevins8575 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting perspective on digital/ film. Wondering how you would respond to a good tilt-shift lens, but if you like what you're doing, then do so I. Thanks for all the great images of these beautiful places.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin! Before I switched to film, I had a tilt shift lens with my previous digital kit. Though it got the job done, the process of using it separated me from the process of shooting. I find large format cameras to be very intuitive, but the tilt shift lens wasn't as intuitive-perhaps because large format cameras are inherently very simple, but when you create a SLR lens using the same concepts, it makes something simple far more complex. It made the process feel much less hands on, if that makes sense. For that reason, I don't have much of a desire for a tilt shift lens on digital. I'm all about keeping the process quick and fun.

@Robert-ko6wr 3 жыл бұрын

Sonic the Hedge Hog? I saw a milk mustache. Nicely done video and nice change of format. You teach me to pay better attention to shapes and sunlight each time I watch. Really enjoyed you giving a detailed discussion of your digital work this visit to Zion. Thank you for sharing.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Robert! Now I definitely see the milk mustache as well! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

@zfisher 3 жыл бұрын

Really nice compositions, I absolutely love the texture in the ice in the frozen leaf photo

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Zach! It's so fun how there are so many compositions in a relatively small frozen puddle like that. I probably should have spent a bit more time there with the digital kit, but I felt the need to move on for whatever reason.

@CAYENNEOREZ 3 жыл бұрын

Nice work, Ben.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@kaufmannneofoto 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting and reassuring to see you embrace the digital experience and visibly having fun with it. At the same time it is humbling and inviting for me to see you apply your standards and your 4x5 know-how to shooting digitally. This grasshopper here has much to learn. ;))

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! It's definitely a very fun experience working with the digital kit, and it gives me a wonderful change of pace from the film work I do.

@dannylaureys1376 3 жыл бұрын

No such thing as perfection, even in digital.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Definitely not. It's a standard that doesn't exist. Thanks so much Danny!

@dannylaureys1376 3 жыл бұрын

@@BenHorne Love your work.

@lfac 3 жыл бұрын

The leaves in ice image is beautiful, so simple at a first glance but with so much depth in the details. That “fun experimentation process” is how I usually photograph, at least from your description. I already have enough things in my life where I have to be more disciplined 😅

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Luís! There is something to be said about that very fun side of the process. I find that it balances very well with the film side. Life is certainly about balance, however we find ways to achieve it. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

@lindahenderson2113 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your digital photos! For those times when you are out scouting and don’t need to carry the box camera, you can shoot digital (or not). Beautiful photos.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Linda! It is quite nice to be able to travel light and take it easy. I will need a different backpack for my digital kit so I can accommodate the 100-400mm, but that'll happen perhaps in time for my spring trip. On both my fall and winter trips, I spent a couple days in the park working with only the digital kit, and it was a nice change of pace for sure. Shooting with digital makes me appreciate the film kit, and vice versa. They make a great pair.

@duringthemeanwhilst 3 жыл бұрын

I shoot digital MF but agree with your reasons for not wanting to shoot it more "professionally". one thing I will add though, is if you prefer the 4x5 aspect ratio, a MF sensor will give you a natural 4x3 and less lost information when cropping to 4x5 than a FF 3x2 sensor similarly cropped would give you. of course, a M4/3 sensor would give the same results (cropping wise). I really like the "diagonal" image - I try to look for shapes when I can.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

The native aspect ratio of medium format sure would be nice, but I do like having the extra width of the 3:2 to give me some significant shift ability after the fact. I don't know how long the longest lenses are for medium format these days, but I sure love the 100-400mm lens on the sony. That's a sweet range.

@BryanDorr 3 жыл бұрын

That ice image, it's like a bunch of googly eyes fell onto the ice!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

That's a great observation about the Googly eyes Bryan. I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it. It does add another element to the photo. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

@joelwolski 3 жыл бұрын

That's funny; I have a picture of galvanized metal because it looks like ice.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

That is very funny! Who woulda' thought? Thanks as always for watching Joel.

@brianbeattyphotography 3 жыл бұрын

Nice finds man. Interesting point on how an 8x10 would be somewhat easier to compose in the field. There's definitely times when I get home to review and think how I should've adjusted the comp even just a degree or two to avoid that slight tilting feel. The two leaves frozen in a sort of yin/yang motion was great!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

I was quite surprised to see how much of an impact the large format process had on composition. I suppose I hadn't thought about it prior to this, but working with digital did feel a bit limiting in that sense. It might be interesting to try using a dark cloth with the digital kit just so I can concentrate a bit more. I actually did that back in 2001 with my Canon D30, but that was mostly because the LCDs were so bad back then.

@jeffhiggins8087 3 жыл бұрын

Your info about the focus plane with the frozen shot got me thinking of lens choice. Would a shorter and wider lens flatten that plane for focusing? Also, have you thought about a tilt-shift lens for things like the frozen leaf photo? Really cool stuff, thanks for sharing!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jeff! Depth of field is a tricky thing. If one used a wider lens the depth of field would indeed be larger, but as you get closer to a subject, your depth of field will get shallower. In the end, it might be a bit of a tradeoff. To shoot that photo, being directly overhead would align the plane of focus with the ice, but that shooting position would be tough to achieve. Although a tilt shift lens would allow for a subject like that to be in focus, I honestly have zero desire for a tilt shift lens on digital. I love the flexibility of zooms, and how the experience is so incredibly different than working with my film camera. I'm perfectly happy with not being able to get it all in focus. In some ways, it makes the photo seem more real.

@Qwiv 3 жыл бұрын

I like your digital work because you have a great eye and you can apply your 8x10 skills across the spectrum. You should dabble in all facets of the field that bring you pleasure and spark your creativity, but you don’t need to box yourself in as I am only a 8x10 photographer. Just be an artist and use the tool you like to make art.

@Qwiv 3 жыл бұрын

Oh.... maybe strap an iPad to the back of your Sony and make a digital 8x10🤭

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I think one of the important parts is to keep the process fun, and for me at least, that's one of the things I love about digital. It keeps it fun, while also providing a wonderful sense of appreciation for the film work. The two very much go hand in hand.

@michaelmeyers4917 3 жыл бұрын

Your recent 8x10 work at zion is some of your best. Working with limitations of a 8x10 has its advantages. Just curious how is Arca Swiss to deal with on your gear head? They make beautiful equipment. Is it an easy repair?

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael! It sure was a great trip. The geared head was easily repaired for a very reasonable rate from a repair shop here in California. They had the parts on hand, and my geared head is now as good as new. I'm extremely satisfied with the work done, and love my Arca-Swiss equipment.

@chevy2die 2 жыл бұрын

Ben how the hell do you pack out an 8x10 kit and then also a Sony with 100-400?? You're like a pack mule!

@joerainbow4173 3 жыл бұрын

Great to hear your thoughts re shooting more spontaneously on the Sony. Did you notice the fox cub head in the desert wall at 6.0 mins? Can't help but see it every time there in the center right. Lovely work as ever Ben.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

That is very cool! I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it, but now I can't unsee it. Very cool!

@elmachomen 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video, as always Ben! I'm happy you're enjoying working with both systems. I think the lesson you're sharing here it's very important to remember, we do get caught in that trap of seeking "perfection", absolute sharpness front to back, 200 stops of dynamic range, and so on and so on, and it's quite easy in today's atmosphere around photography to fall down that rabbit hole and forget, that in the end, photography is not about that. All mediums have limitations (just as we humans do), is the story that matters, being a witness and present in the moment. Thanks once again for sharing, when will your first videos from Death Valley come up? Anything planned for your spring trip? Take care!

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Kevin, and that is very well said. Working with both systems is great because it provides a sense of balance, and avoids the “grass is greener” mentality that is so prevalent with photography. It’s easy to daydream that a particular camera, lens, or shooting format is the solution, but in the end, working with a variety of systems helps keep one grounded. The digital kit gave me a greater appreciation for film, and vice versa. I’m watching the weather now for a backpacking trip, but if that weather window never arrives, I have a trip to the Redwoods booked for late May.

@maricello13 3 жыл бұрын

Normal people buy something like a lensbaby to have some fun at the cost of quality. Apparently 8x10 shooters buy an a7r ^^

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! Yup!

@MichaelZieschang 3 жыл бұрын

Wenn I compared your analogue work with digital work from others I think I would have no problem to identify your style and images. With your digital work it would be harder to make out imho...

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

I suspect much of that is dictated by the medium. Film has a certain look to it, but also it restricts one to a certain range of subjects. Between those two factors, it narrows the scope a lot. In that sense, my film work would be more apparent in a sea of digital photos. With digital, photographers with a recognizable body of work stand out more so because of their editing. If a person looked at the original RAW files from several different photographers, they would have a tough time who shot which photos. It's the editing that becomes the tell-tale sign. My own preference is to leave the photos very natural. For that reason, the digital photos I shoot likely won't stand out from the crowd as much. I approach it with the same approach as my film work, and find that a great subject in great light needs very little post processing.

@sander5086 3 жыл бұрын

Great to see what you came up with, on the digital kit. I do like the closeup shots from the cliffs, but the frozen leaves become your specialty!! Can you get a longer lens for your 8x10 or is 85mm (ff) the maximum (think that's your 600mm lens)?

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sander! It sure was fun to find those frozen leaves, and it was also good to learn that the 100-400m does very well at that close of range. 600mm is indeed my longest lens for the 8x10, and the lenses longer than that move to a very heavy hourglass shaped telephoto design. Those lenses don't require as much bellows draw as a regular large format lens, but they are VERY expensive. I think some are in the $10k range. I have no real desire for those though. 600mm is a great focal length for my 8x10 kit, and for anything longer than that, digital sure makes it easy.

@davemenard5089 3 жыл бұрын

Yep... sonic is all I can see in that photo now haha

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha!! Love it.

@c.augustin 3 жыл бұрын

Well, you could plug a large monitor to your Sony, or shoot tethered with a laptop (or maybe with a tablet) to get this larger preview. Just saying … ;-)

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Then throw a dark cloth over the whole thing so I could see it. :-)

@c.augustin 3 жыл бұрын

@@BenHorne 😂

@airship9637 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps as a result of my large format experience, when shooting digital, I take time to carefully compose and examine the viewfinder critically before making the exposure. A decent gear head is a remarkable tool which aids contemplative seeing. I continue to slow down the photographic process and find the resulting slowness, or stillness, conducive to good work.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

That's definitely a great skill to have, and I very much approach it the same way. However, at its very root the process, examining a ground glass under a dark cloth (albeit dim, upside down, and backwards) it a significantly more intimate experience than composing on a small LCD or viewfinder. Even with a careful eye, one still won't be able to notice the same sort of things as with large format. On 8x10, I can't see the entire ground glass at once in some situations, so I have to very carefully evaluate each part of the photo, and that too helps with the process.

@MichaelWellman1955 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you're taking some personal times just to take photos without the burden of filming it. That combined with the ease of a small format camera (film or digital) makes it a lot easier to work but I agree that composing on a 8x10 is much better than on a smaller format camera. Any thought of converting some of these to B&W?

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael. Keeping the digital work separate from the video work has been a great change of pace sometimes it’s nice to shoot without everything that goes along with filming video. I hadn’t thought about B&W for some of the digital photos, but with all those textures, I see how it could definitely work.

@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio 3 жыл бұрын

Have you considered getting a medium format film kit? Maybe that could give you the same appreciation for the film work aesthetic but allow you to shoot much more quickly and stay in the moment. Maybe a Mamiya 645 camera.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

I had a Hasselblad kit for a while and although I enjoyed the camera, I found it just wasn't for me. Even though a drum scan of medium format film will be excellent, I feel it's not too far from what a high end digital full frame kit will do these days. The large format kit and digital kit take up quite a bit of spare in my truck as it stands, so that too is a limiting factor. The other nice thing about the digital kit is that I can film video with that camera as well. It gives me a wonderful backup for both still shooting and video shooting in case something happens with either of my kits. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Michael!

@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio 3 жыл бұрын

@@BenHorne I have a Mamiya 6, which is a GREAT rangefinder camera that allows you to move really quickly. I've never quite adjusted to the square format, but other than that I really love it.

@ruudmaas2480 3 жыл бұрын

Complematery. When you will use the extra focal lenght.

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

Yup, the two kits go very well with each other. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and having the mix of the two opens up some possibilities. Thanks for watching Ruud!

@andrewfindlayphoto 3 жыл бұрын

Filming can really distract from the flow and enjoyment of photography. You have to keep some experiences pure. 🙂

@BenHorne 3 жыл бұрын

It really can distract from the process. On both this trip and my Death Valley trip, I just let the camera record while I was shooting with my film camera. I just figured I could make it all work with the video editing. For the digital stuff, I just wanted to avoid the video all together. It’s nice to have those quiet moments all to myself. Thanks for watching and commenting Andrew!