Focal Length Explained 2 - Mike Browne

Improve your photos by using focal length to improve composition. Focal length changes field of view, compression effect and depth of field. You can change the mood and feel of an image and it's impact so easily when you know how focal length works.
When I learnt this (and trust me - it took a while and a lot of practise) my image making leapt forward in leaps and bounds. Now I use these techniques everyday in my work as a pro photographer. So what am I on about....?
Field of view is how much a lens includes from side to side, up and down. A short focal length lens has a very wide field of view. A long lens has a very narrow field of view. Depth of field is how much of your image is sharp moving front to back (depth). A wide (short) lens inherrantly has a lot of depth of field whilst a long focal length lens has very little. And last but by no means least is perspective. This is the way the magnification of different length lenses makes things 'stack up' in the picture.
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[@Vicious12384able]

That was quite frankly the best explanation of anything I've ever seen in my entire life.

[@MikeBrowne]

Wow that's praise indeed Vicious12384able. Thank you. Please help me make more videos by sharing them on forums etc with other photographers.

[@qbara8672]

Mike Browne thanks so much for making these videos ...

[@Fell_Wanderer]

I think this guy brings into sharp focus, explaining DOF perfectly better than any text book can.

[@SOLIDSNAKE.]

Seriously a fountain of knowledge

[@piad2102]

The wheel and focal length was right up my alley. Explains it like that. :) I like pictures or video rather than reading. I can read, but many times just a photo or very short video will get the message through very effective.

[@LAnonHubbard]

You are out standing in this field.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +LAnonHubbard - MIKE

[@AdrianBigyes]

Your take on lens compression is so good and very easy to process. You're a really good teacher Mike!

[@SSTrueLoveMarinus]

You have a gift for teaching a complicated thing in a simple, understandable way. Thank you, Mike!

[@totaleffort]

Hello Mike, just starting photography and NEVER understood the "focal length." Your low tech demo explained it PERFECTLY... Thanks so much! Keep up the good work...

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you totaleffort happy to help. Please share this and any other of my vids you find helpful with other photographers. It helps me make more of them. Best wishes ... MIKE

[@TheBoonable]

you sir taught a man how to fish, instead of giving him. normally people would only give us the answer on how you should take a picture. but you, guided us and we got to learn by ourselves on figuring out what works best. thank you very much.

[@theGiantAngryRobot]

you are by far the greatest photography teacher on youtube

[@cameronlastname5751]

This man is a genius. Wonderful demonstration!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Cameron LastName :-)

[@colosistvan]

OMG! As a beginner I have watched over 300 hours of tut vids on youtube in this month, including countless from pros and I did read over a thousand article/review on this topic, but I still did not have a clue what lens I actually need (35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 135mm on APS-C). Your tut vids are the very best, most efficient and easiest to understand lectures on the whole internet! Hereby, you are nominated to the LORD PHOTO GURU title by me ;) Thank you so much for your vids, helped me a LOT to chose lens and understand the fundamental principles of photographing.I think you shall open a photography school :) Ps.: Natasha is so perfect, so attaractive ;) Ps #: One thing, you never mention if you are shooting on FF or crop when you talk about focal lenght, but it is fundamental for us beginners. I guess you shoot on FF.

[@MikeBrowne]

Wow - thanks again Steve. I have a photography school with downloadable courses and real life workshops you can come along to as well. Link Below - MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/

[@MidlifeGamer]

This is such a great lesson. As a beginner I often just look at what I want and take the picture without thinking about what’s happening.

[@jcmdfgdfg3df]

You explain thins like Jeremy Clarkson and that makes the video 100 times better. Never stop doing this videos please!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +Jhonder Jonas with your help sharing them around I will keep making them for many more years to come - MIKE :-)

[@panamapapertiger1720]

This guy plays fast and loose with his lenses, juggling them around, holding both with one hand...putting them on the grass! I like the confidence, it's like watching an action movie, puts me on the edge of my seat.

[@MikeBrowne]

Ha ha ha... watch out Tom Cruise!!

[@davidnoelwinder8368]

What a genius. After all the years trying to understand photography along comes Mike. What a brilliant man who explains the details in a passionate knowledgeable and fun way. No hesitation in subscribing to this channel.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks david - MIKE :-)

[@TheChiro2000]

Wow Mike, I watched 2-3 of your videos and learnt so much in very short time... Thank you man, you're the best! :D

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Chiro hppy to help. Please share any vids you like around, it helps me make more... Best wishes... MIKE

[@alexsaturnino1481]

Clear as pure water, your videos are so educational and simple to understand. Congratulations

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - MIKE :-)

[@paulinoaz]

I can't say anything more then what others have already said, great video. Should be a required watch for anyone interested in photography.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - MIKE :-)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - and so are my awesome followers..

[@NomadsDraw]

Really enjoyed this explanation man...that bicycle tire example is money!! Thanks for taking the time to make these!!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Craig Harris glad it helped, please spread the word and share it, so we can make more free videos- MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@esnevip]

Its genuinely unreal how good of a presenter you are, bravo

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you so much.

[@outerglow]

God bless u man, ive learnt more from your vids in one day than i learned a semester in photography. Thank u

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Jenny Stead - CHRISTINA

[@seanmeiners5975]

I'd like you to know that I appreciate your videos, thank you for all you do. I learn something every time I view one. Your not only a gifted photographer but a excellent teacher.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Sean - MIKE :-)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. Please help us by sharing our vids on Facebook, G+ and by telling people about us on forums etc. The more people who enjoy learning from us - the more films we can make. - Mike

[@UVHorizon]

This is by far one of the best videos I have ever seen. Not just about photography, this is how every teaching should be done...

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you Yuvaraj - please so share it too so we can make more! - Melissa pp Mike

[@danielschmaderer]

8 years later and this video is still the best at explaining and showing focal length and lens compression.

[@MikeBrowne]

thanks Daniel 💚

[@lawrence8434]

You Sir, are a gift from the "University of KZbin"

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +MooiCreatives MV - MIKE :-)

[@WesterStarThunder]

Well done. I have had very limited success explaining this to people. This is very helpful. Thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

No worries WesterStarThunder :-)

[@andrewcroft2570]

Thanks to your friend Gary Gough and the interview he did with you some time ago I've finally found the KZbin channel that is just great for me. I bought my first DSLR camera around 4 weeks ago, it's a used EOS 1300D and as a complete novice I'll be taking advantage of your online masterclass very soon.

[@MikeBrowne]

Ha - I just left you a reply to previous comment about getting onto Masterclass... 🙏😊

[@soundoftheatom]

A light bulb moment! I think I finally get it now. Brilliant video Mike. Cheers!

[@MikeBrowne]

Pleasure Mark Redshaw Please help us spread the word and grow the community by 'liking' 'G+ing', sharing our videos and linking to us on photo forums, Facebook etc

[@kenrickwong2959]

Complicated concept but amazingly easy to understand

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. Please help us spread the word and grow the community by 'liking' 'G+ing', sharing our videos and linking to us on photo forums, Facebook etc

[@markrooke1961]

I've read many books on this subject but could never understand it. Mike your explanation made it simple to understand and now, I have knowledge of the subject. Thank you.

[@jssherrard]

"...the finest quality garden shed materials!" *LOL* Mike, you are a delightful treasure! Thank you for the excellent demonstration and for helping folks like me to better understand photography. I'm sincerely grateful for your efforts!!! :)

[@MikeBrowne]

awww thank you for the kind words, Lets make this world a little bit better :) - Melissa pp Mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you, my pleasure, if you like what you're seeing then please subscribe or help spread the word, thank you :-)

[@David_Nurse]

Great addition to part 1. Reinforced, and expanded the principle perfectly. Well done. Thanks Mike!

[@yeejinyee7042]

You are an awesome instructor! I can clearly understand the videos you make. They are explained in a simple manner without confusing a beginner like me. Thank you so much 😊

[@MikeBrowne]

My pleasure Yee Jin Yee happy you like them . Please help me make more free vids by ‘Liking’ them and sharing them with other photographers on forums, Facebook etc

[@dhuripg]

That's how you nail it Mike. A good teacher is the one who can teach without being complicated and with practical touch and more so ever leaving behind technical jargon. Keep up the good work. You will sure have one more subscriber...and that's me!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Blimey! thanks for subscribing! Melissa pp Mike :)

[@Zues42208]

You have an incredibly good way of helping people understand manual photography

[@lolwhittingham]

Think I've mentioned this before, "..I've RE-watched vids before that I'd previously watched in my earlier learning days and 'thought ' I knew it......then (as now ) I watch it again but this time ,it all makes more sense , and really gets taken in"....As always Mike, many many thanks for this and all the helpful vids you've produced. I for one owe a lot of my knowledge to you ..thanks. Lolwit

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +lol whittingham that is really a lovely feedback,- MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +lol whittingham - MIKE

[@offspringy]

I knew about the dramatic effect you can get from wide angle lens and the way that tele lens compress the shot, but this video really punches you in the face and makes it completely obvious of the effects, so thank you! :)

[@sharonkeist5395]

I just discovered you. so good at making us understand focal length. Thanks for doing this. My grandson just got a camera & i am forwarding your videos to him.

[@RedNGold]

Mike, you're my best discovery of the year! I wanted to find a patient teacher for beginners in the field of photography ;) You're the BEST of the BEST!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +Rasa Didžiulienė Melissa pp Mike :)

[@Redsparxxx]

Fab tutorial and an excellent choice of location, Avebury is beautiful.

[@eccs19]

One of the best videos I've seen for explaining FOV and DOF and how they all tie together. Excellent work Mike.

[@adithyamanda7387]

i have stumbled across this video today in jan 2016. you sir are a great teacher. Thank you so much. Subscribed .

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Manda Adithya we are delighted, please do share our films to help us make more free videos! - Melissa pp Mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you zeetons. Please help us spread the word and grow the community by 'liking' 'G+ing', sharing our videos and linking to us on photo forums, Facebook etc

[@willriv1251]

you are a brilliant teacher. Much love from Australia :)

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Will Riv glad you like it - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@thattravellingguy]

Appreciate the efforts that you two are putting into making of these videos. The tools you use and your passion for photography really stands out.

[@Kinag86]

This is THE best video about DOF, focal length and perspective I gave watched so far. And I have watched A LOT!!!! Thank you for a thorough and well thought out tutorial.

[@chilltime99]

Your videos are fantastic! Thank you for taking the time to get out in the field and demonstrating how these concepts work. It has brought me more understanding than all of the other, in-classroom, lecture style, videos that I've watched. Hats off to you, Mike and Jane.

[@derkling]

The best explaination of focal length effects you can find on KZbin! Cheers!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you patrick! please do share so we can make more :)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks for your comment :-)

[@MrVangassen]

Newbies paradise!!! I have had a general idea about focal length but this is gold. So happy I decided to subscribe. Thank you.

[@bigedkc0179]

great teaching Mike I will view many times so I can learn

[@ChabySan]

Absolutely brilliant tutorials! Thank you very much for your time and the willingness to teach!

[@leniehulse1621]

There is no better way of learning by physically showing how it’s done!! Great teacher and video!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Lenie. - MIKE :-)

[@zeetons]

Mike, having read lot's of books and videos I have to say that I have learnt so much more by watching your informative and entertaining videos. Fantastic work Mike much appreciated

[@debikay22]

Thank you for taking the time to actually demonstrate what most tutorials just talk about. It's all coming together now. =)

[@bonmec101]

The focal length had been in back of my brain for such a long time. Thanks for clearing it up. Subscribed. You make some of the best videos teaching photography.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you bonmec101 - delighted to have helped. Please help me make more by sharing my tutorials with other photographers... :-)

[@dlittlester]

Good stuff Mike. I can hardly wait to watch all your stuff. Well done, and thanks.

[@nospam4279]

I think this video has the most clear and demonstrated explanation of compression. Thank you Mike

[@feathercast7594]

Brilliant! Very lucid explanations - easy to grasp

[@JohnPelagides]

Here I was ready to absorb some complex maths, charts or other such nonsense images. And instead we get an incredible simple and effective way to understand lense focal lengths! Brilliant!! Ansel Adams would be proud..

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you John, glad you like it ! - Melissa pp Mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks John - MIKE

[@Mariamuri4]

Mike, what a great explanation! Thank you.

[@tsscnorthants]

By far the best photograph videos I have seen, great stuff!

[@mdavidf]

Brilliant, Mike! I really like your videos, the visual demonstrations you provide are outstanding! Thank you, I've already learned a lot from you :)

[@famasG24eva]

I loved the demonstration with the rods, completely simple but clear!

[@Lekhadia]

wow u explain things so good and make it so easy to understand Mike.

[@i7rs]

Loved your demonstration, finally all the photography terms I am understanding better than ever!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +i7rs glad it helped, please share it so we can make more free videos :) - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@nomanoki]

The best discription about this theme I ever saw! Great and welldone!

[@BatatasFriasss]

i am so blown away by your videos just wow

[@MickPsyphon]

Excellent explanation in this video! Thanks for posting.

[@GrahamTruman]

Excellent demonstration, your teaching style is brilliant!!

[@LaKuPuLa]

Excellent explanation. Practical, and straight to the point. Your videos are between the best i've seen so far about photography.

[@roovawal]

Very enjoyable and informative. I like your passion for what you do! Thank you both for taking the time to make such fabulous tutorials.

[@senthurrendhanasekaran7839]

Have never seen an explanation like this before, very beautifully done and it was crystal clear

[@Sn0wball7]

Very good explanation, especially the example with the wheel. Thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Sn0wball7 - glad you liked it. Please help me make more complimentary videos by sharing them on forums, Facebook etc..

[@JAlexanderPhoto]

Excellent explanation. Everyone asks how i have gotten so good at taking pictures. Its from watching excellent videos like this. Your country looks sooo beautiful!

[@beavertown2006]

Wow, how could I miss such important lesson. You are great!

[@arvindsajeev309]

This is so great, thank you for all the effort you put in.

[@kadoree]

You have explained it in the best way ever. Thank you so much! I have learnt much from you through your videos.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you kadoree I'm delightd to know I helped. Please help us make more videos by sharing them with other photographers on forums and social media :-)

[@tessbrown2371]

I've just started watching this video and I am very impressed. I have dipped in and out of your website from time to time and I'm very glad I've found these videos. Thank you for explaining things so well, I very often get so confused...

[@baggothree]

wow i have never done anything with photography, and probably never will, but i just gotta say that this tutorial was awesome. i've barely even touched a camera, and i understood everything completely. nice work indeed.

[@Csoery]

LOL I subscirbed right at "finest garden shed material" :D :D Great videos, thanks for sharing, finally someone can explain and demonstrate what all this hocuspocus means in practice.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Csoery, glad you are finding my videos helpful. please do share them so we can make more! - MIKE :-)

[@geoengineeringwatchsouthaf415]

Awesome tutorial Mike, thank you so much! I am just beginning to learn about DSLR photography and LOVING IT!! You explain things very, very well, thank you. Love your style.

[@lindamarie358]

I wish I had found your videos sooner, it would have saved me a lot of time and confusion. Great explanations of these concepts; you are an excellent teacher.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. 18 and 35mm are still short focal lengths - they're just not as short as 10mm. As you increase the number the focal length gets longer. Don't worry about measuring it - just use the one that looks right for the shot you want to achieve.

[@the_learner12]

Excellent explanation. You make a great photography teacher because you are thorough. You illustrate the theory with practical demonstration.

[@mkaylor]

Excellent Job There are so many photography videos on the web. Yours are the best that I've seen.

[@lennardlatina4805]

The best explanation. Awesome video! :D Thank you!

[@admnambiar]

Mike.. this was the first ever video that really made me understand the three things in the focal length puzzle... Thank you

[@aravinds123]

Thats the best explanation I have heard in my entire life! The video was added 10 years ago, I see. But, no other person has still come close to your style of presentation and explanations! Just too good!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks again Aravind.

[@rigas472]

well that's brilliant. just today i found your channel. Brilliant videos for beginners. Thanks a lot.

[@isaaczaiek487]

After watching many videos to understand what focal lenght is these two videos did the job. Thanks.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you ***** I’m delighted they are helping. Please help us make more videos by sharing them with other photographers on forums etc. MELISSA FOX ( for MIKE )

[@Klausebou]

You are such a good teacher for your craft, I realy love how simple yet effective you explain things without getting caught up in numbers and technical Mumbo Jumbo :-) thx, keep up the great work

[@rajat79foryou]

Thanks Mike, When an amateur photographer like me gets stuck with an intimidating kit your lucid ways are an inspiration indeed... When ever you come down to India to do some wildlife photography in the land of tigers in Madhya Pradesh State do give me a call... Thanks for all the hard work you are putting in Mike....

[@vickib4063]

Excellent demo. I am trying to learn about photography and this has been extremely helpful. Now to your next video.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks victoria brun - glad it helped. Please help me make more videos by sharing them on forums etc and with all your photography friends... :-)

[@michellet.3530]

just finding your videos, THANKFULLY! You are THE BEST!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Michelle... have you seen the free sample of my 4 week online photography course? www.photographycourses.biz/courses/masterclass-free-sample

[@RandellJohn]

Great video Mike, very well explained and demonstrated.

[@LaurenzEdelman]

I am glad KZbin suggested your videos on focal length. Your explanation of what focal length actually is and how to use it is very clear, thorough and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you @Laurenz Edelman. By the way, if you found this helpful, I'm giving away 7 free lessons from one of my online courses. Please see link below... ... MIKE🙏😊 www.photographycourses.biz/7free

[@petermoel2]

That's a great video. Many of us will struggle to work out all the characteristics of different lenses. This video really helps.