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A Beginnerв s Introduction to Wide Angle Photography

2010-09-02 08:00
Today we 8217;re going to take a step back and view the art of photography through a much wider perspective, which is a terribly pun-filled way to say that this article will examine the basic concept of wide angle photography. We 8217;ll take a look at what wide angle photography is, why you should try it, some considerations to keep in mind and finally a few lenses to get you started. What Is a Wide Angle Lens Just to make sure this article is understandable to absolute beginners, a brief definition of our terms is necessary. For the purposes of this article, a wide angle lens will simply be one with a fairly short focal length. If you have a 14mm lens and an 85mm lens, the 85mm will possess a greater magnification than the 17mm. Because of its zoomed out nature, a wide angle lens is capable of capturing more in the frame than a zoom lens and is therefore considered to have a wider field of view. Why Not a Zoom Lens When new photographers purchase their first digital SLR and eventually set off in search of a few good lenses to buy, they tend to have only one thing in mind: zoom. A good lens is one that allows you to take a close-up shot of a fly on a horse 8217;s ear from thirty yards. All that other stuff is just second rate, right Obviously, the answer is a resounding no! Don 8217;t get me wrong, zoom lenses are absolutely fantastic and every photographer should have at least one good one. They 8217;re just not the only thing you should consider in your quest to expand your lens arsenal. In a recent article I raved about the wonders of using my 50mm 1.4, a lens that is by no means ideal for capturing your kid 8217;s little league game from the top of the bleachers. However, there are in fact several situations where it is hard to beat for both convenience and quality. This same logic applies to a good wide angle lens. While it definitely won 8217;t be appropriate for all shooting scenarios, it is an incredibly essential piece of equipment that can produce uniquely stunning photographs. More Than Landscapes Shooting with a zoom lens or even something like a 50mm prime tends to limit what you can take in. If you 8217;ve ever walked around with one of these you know that there are tons of shooting scenarios when you simply can 8217;t get the shot you want. Often, the first type of shot that comes to mind when you think about a wide angle lens is a landscape. After all, what wider subject could you possibly hope for than a mountain range or a vast windswept field There 8217;s definitely a reason for considering these shots first: wide angle lenses are unrivaled in capturing the beauty of an immense landscape. Your eyes are capable of taking in nearly 180 degrees of a scene at once and when you 8217;ve got a beautiful view, you typically want a lens that can capture as much or more than what you 8217;re seeing. However, taking in the sites isn 8217;t the only thing that wide angle lenses are good at. For instance, when you 8217;re indoors, walls...
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