Telephoto views - variety of images (32)

Requirement

Several images

Purpose

To appreciate the variety of compositions which use of a telephoto lens makes possible

Technical learning

• Telephoto lenses narrow the angle of view, so offer more potential images from a single viewpoint than wide angle ones
• The larger the focal length of the lens, the more variety of compositions it offers
• Nevertheless, this still creates a challenge

Exercise instructions

• Select a commanding viewpoint
• See how many satisfactory images of distant views you can create from one location
• Use vertical as well as horizontal framing
• Include the horizon in some, exclude it from others

Images and review

Views from hill above Upavon. No successful vertical frames were possible. 

 

 

Telephoto views - compressing planes (31)

Requirement

3 images

Purpose

• To explore the difference in impact between using a telephoto and a wide angle lens 
• To identify the factors that are important in making a successful telephoto image

Technical learning

'Seeing' telephoto is fundamentally different to 'seeing' wide angle - the telephoto lens:

• compresses distant planes and detail, so perspective/ depth is weaker
• makes depth of field shallower, so increasing the probability of out of focus elements in image
• works through more atmosphere, so colours are more muted
• reduces the angle of view, so makes it easier to eliminate unwanted elements and use vertical framing successfully

Exercise instructions

• Make 3 bracketed images of 'compressed planes' in a distant landscape

Images and review

Parque Natural Montes de Malaga

Bracketed images taken with telephoto zoom at 170mm and f8, using Panasonic Lumix G3

Impact was:

• to shorten distance between the shoreline and mountains in the background
• to get rid of a flat expanse of sea in the foreground
• to tone down the natural colours of the landscape
• to produce an image that is relatively sharp from front to back

-0.67 EV

Standard exposure

+0.67 EV

Wide angle lens - near and far (30)

Requirement

At least 3 images

Purpose

To shoot an image with a sharp foreground and background

Technical learning
Wide angles most suited to the following compositions or compositional effects

Panoramic images

• Use wide angle lens when you want to emphasise breadth rather than detail 
• Works especially well when used from a high viewpoint

Enhance perspective/ depth

• Use to make the most of the relationship between fore-, middle- and background. 'Near and far' was a technique used by Ansel Adams (see 3 examples below)
• Works well to create the impression of being in the scene rather than just observing it

Camera craft

• Pick a foreground with clear and interesting detail
• Position the camera low
• Be aware that small adjustments to the angle of view
• Use a small aperture to gain maximum sharpness 
• Be alert to the effect of wind in creating motion blur since shutter speed will be relatively slow at a small aperture (can adjust by dialling up ISO)
• Decide whether to use (the more natural) horizontal frame or (the potentially more dramatic) vertical composition (if camera is angled downwards)

Exercise instructions

• Find a scene with an interesting foreground and a distant view visible from a low camera angle (will require experimentation)
• Use your widest angle lens and a tripod
• Consider using a ND grad filter to balance the exposure of land and sky
• Compose the image so that near and far relate to each in sn interesting way

Images and review

 

Experiment with focus stacking. Set up tripod. Shot first image with focus sharp on foreground, second on middle ground and third on background. Then blended the 3 images into a single photograph using masks in Photoshop.




Near Mere, Wiltshire (lay-by off A303)