Project 52 - Week 8, Go Wide

There are many camera lenses out there for photographers to choose from.  The lenses that they choose can aid in producing images that represent the photographers style as well as helping them to capture their subject in a certain way.  If the desired image is to isolate the subject within a very busy or tight scene, then the photographer might use a long lens to help get rid of unwanted elements.  If he wants an image that will include the background to tell more of the story, then a wide angle lens might be his tool of choice.

A wide angle lens is often used to show "peripheral vision" in an image. Even though you are closer to your subject,  a large amount of the scene can still be captured.

Without a wide angle lens, this image would not have been possible.
​I would have been able to capture either Dash (and wonder what he was looking at ) or the squirrel (and have my husband make fun of me for photographing that squirrel for the hundredth time) but, there is no way I could have gotten both of them in the shot. 

The image below is one of my recent favorites from a session. This image would not have the impact that it does if it didn't include all of those trees. The trees in the background offer the viewer more of "the story" (and give the image a fun whimsical feel that makes me smile every time I see it ).

When using a wide angle lens, the edges of the image will warp to some extent. Sometimes, this is exactly what the artist wants to happen as it can emphasize more of what the photographer wants you to see in the image. The stripes in this chair help to lead the viewer's eye to Hermes, but they also give the viewer a better reference as to the size of the chair in comparison to Hermes.

My wide angle lens is also a must when photographing animals who are so friendly that they feel they need to be very, very close to me. (Do I really need to tell you that I love this? ) The closer they get to my camera the wider that lens needs to be. This often results in wonderfully cute and funny big nose or goggle-eyed images.  The closer you get to your subject with a wide angle lens, the more comical it can be. Sometimes it's fun to take these sorts of pictures for no other reason than . . . because you can.  ;O)

If you'd like to see how other pet photographers use their wide angle lens start with
​Future Framed Photography, South Dakota.  You can make your way around the blog ring and you'll end up right back here with us.  Have a great weekend!  :O)