| Despite all the emphasis on the power of | | | | Perspective is exaggerated by a wide-angle lens, |
| telephoto lenses, there is great value to be had in | | | | so it makes long objects seem even longer. If |
| getting creative with a wide-angle lens. Here are | | | | you are shooting a fence-line, a jetty, railroad |
| five simple tips to help you 'broaden your horizons' | | | | tracks, a road...anything that stretches away into |
| with a wide-angle lens. | | | | the distance, the wide angle lens can really give |
| Your digital camera has a powerful zoom lens. I | | | | your photo a boost. The result will be a truly |
| have never seen it, but I bet it does. In fact, | | | | three-dimensional sense of depth. The strong lines |
| when you bought it, one of the first things the | | | | of the composition will lead the viewer into the |
| salesman mentioned was the magnification power | | | | picture, so they feel they are not just looking at |
| of the zoom lens. It is one of the 'must have' | | | | the photo, but right into it. |
| features of a modern digital camera. | | | | Wide-Angle Photography Tip #4. Powerful |
| A powerful telephoto lens is terrific, and essential | | | | foregrounds. The exaggerated perspective of the |
| if you are shooting lots of sports photography, | | | | wide-angle lens makes objects at different |
| wildlife photography, or any photography that | | | | distances seem much further apart than they |
| requires you to capture your subject from a | | | | really are. Foreground objects may seem a bit |
| distance. But with all the marketing that goes on | | | | smaller, but objects in the background can seem |
| around telephoto power, you could be forgiven | | | | many miles more distant. As a result, the |
| for believing there is little value in a good | | | | wide-angle lens is excellent for adding impact to a |
| wide-angle lens. | | | | foreground subject. You can stand very close to |
| This is simply not the case. In fact, if you take a | | | | a person (or a tree, whatever) and they will |
| lot of travel photos, you may find that your | | | | appear to tower over the scene in the distance. |
| powerful telephoto rarely gets a workout. As a | | | | This is the opposite of a telephoto lens, which |
| landscape photographer, I use my wide-angle lens | | | | tends to bring the background into prominence. |
| a lot more. I can tell you right now that even | | | | Wide-Angle Photography Tip #5. Putting It All |
| though the wide-angle lens makes everything | | | | Together. All the above tips are helpful by |
| smaller, it can create images with massive impact | | | | themselves, but by putting them all together you |
| if you use it well. | | | | have the power to create photos that really grab |
| So here are my five tips for creative | | | | the eye of the viewer. There is not enough space |
| photography with a wide-angle lens. | | | | in a short article to outline all the ways you can |
| Wide-Angle Photography Tip #1. It Really Is A | | | | use these tips, so I will give you one example |
| Wide Angle. When using a larger lens, you narrow | | | | that puts all the strengths of a wide-angle lens to |
| your field of view considerably, so if you focus on | | | | good use. |
| a subject in the foreground you really don't | | | | Imagine an old rustic farmhouse, with a striking |
| capture much of the background. On the other | | | | cloud formation behind it. Your telephoto lens |
| hand, with a wide-angle lens you capture a much | | | | might fit in just the farmhouse, and a standard |
| wider field of view. Your foreground subject may | | | | lens might fit in the house and the sky. |
| still be the focus of the image, but you can make | | | | With a wide angle lens, you could walk down the |
| use of the background to add interest to the | | | | driveway and look for some special detail (maybe |
| picture as well. | | | | a rusty old mailbox) to create a more interesting |
| As a result, your picture can tell more of a story. | | | | composition. If you stand near the mailbox, it will |
| Instead of a photo that says "Here is a shot of | | | | have prominence in the composition, but you will |
| my kids" your photo can say "Here is a shot of | | | | still have a clear shot of the farmhouse and the |
| my kids at the beach, you can see what a | | | | sky in the background. Even better, the strong |
| beautiful day it was and I managed to capture a | | | | depth of field makes it easy to keep everything |
| sailboat going by as well." | | | | in focus. The exaggerated perspective will make |
| Wide-Angle Photography Tip #2. Depth Of Field. | | | | the driveway seem longer, adding a |
| The wide-angle lens has a much stronger depth of | | | | three-dimensional impact to the picture. If you do |
| field than a larger lens. Not only can you make a | | | | it well, the first thing that catches the eye will be |
| feature of both foreground and background, you | | | | the mailbox, but the driveway will lead the viewer |
| can keep everything in focus while you are at it. | | | | into the distance, to appreciate all the detail of the |
| To achieve the same result with a larger lens, you | | | | background as well. |
| may have to close the aperture, which means | | | | So there you have a quick introduction to the |
| slowing the shutter speed, which means using a | | | | creative use of a wide-angle lens. I hope this little |
| tripod...a lot of exta effort. After all that, the | | | | article does more than just just spark your |
| depth of field may still not be as strong as if you | | | | imagination. Reading about it is not nearly as |
| had used your wide-angle lens. | | | | exciting as doing it...so grab your camera and start |
| Wide-Angle Photography Tip #3. Perspective. | | | | snapping! |