Mistakes are an unavoidable part of film photography, often teaching lessons far more memorable than successes. You may be all too familiar with the frustration of putting effort into your photos, only to ruin the results later in the development stage through impatience or oversight.
Coming to you from Steve O'Nions, this practical video openly shares a damaged roll of Rollei Infrared 400 film—and explains exactly what led to its destruction. O'Nions admits rushing through film loading with sweaty, humid hands in a warm changing bag, causing the film to stick badly and end up deeply scratched from repeated attempts to wind it onto the spool. It's rare for an experienced shooter to show images ruined by impatience, but O'Nions makes a compelling case for slowing down and keeping your film-handling environment comfortable. He doesn't downplay the error; instead, he honestly evaluates what he did wrong so you can avoid repeating similar mistakes. Beyond the ruined film scenario, you're treated to several insightfully documented comparisons between infrared and traditional black-and-white shots captured on the sunny, foliage-rich landscape.
Throughout the day, O'Nions seeks ways to shoot fewer frames with more thoughtful results. Limiting himself to just two prime lenses—a 28mm and an 85mm—he challenges himself to put extra care into each composition. His goal of being more selective highlights a philosophy that can be beneficial to your practice: equipment restrictions may actually improve your photography by forcing deliberate compositional choices. Alongside these disciplined exercises, O'Nions comments candidly on the benefits and downsides of infrared versus conventional black-and-white imaging. For instance, he finds the slight lift given by a yellow or orange filter can offer nicer, subtler enhancements than heavy infrared filtering, especially in bright daylight conditions.
Throughout the shoot in the Lake District, he discusses both technical and artistic considerations of infrared photography, illuminating camera settings and filter effects transparently without technical jargon. He explains clearly his thought processes for exposures in different lighting scenarios—sunny hillsides versus shaded woodland interiors. By demonstrating alternate approaches, O'Nions reinforces the value of experimentation within even straightforward, traditional photographic methods. You’re encouraged to test different exposures and filter combinations to find results that suit your own tastes rather than strictly adhering to conventional infrared goals.
Importantly, while O'Nions shows the practical side of taking infrared photographs—lens choices, tripods, exposure decisions—he also includes frank assessments of his shots. He isn't hesitant about saying when a composition is off or when elements are disappointing. Additionally, he highlights a shot from his companion, Robin, who followed a very different approach and ended up with compelling color digital images despite the harsh daylight conditions. The comparison might prompt you to reconsider how you plan your own outings when faced with challenging lighting conditions. Check out the video above for the full rundown from O'Nions.
