How to compose with a super wide lens

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In this video I take a look at one of my favourite compositions in the west of Scotland. I use a very wide 12mm prime on a full frame sensor to fill the foreground with detail and an intimate feel.
I call this series "The making of a shot" and in them I hope to demonstrate the skills/techniques necessary to rationalise images. I also spend a lot of time in Lightroom understanding the composition and doing some processing.
Check out our learning material and the incredible community if you want to further develop your photography and expressive output.
Video edited by Ann Kristin Lindaas
Images ©Alister Benn
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[@Ruscombephotos]

It is a wonderful composition and makes me realize that I don’t pay enough attention to my foregrounds. I have a limited lens choice, but I know I could do better with foregrounds, especially on the coast. Thank you!

[@pandoraefretum]

I absolutely love this clip... thx, I like the slightly understated expression, which stands out in a world where ppl tend to kill drama with too much punch, HDR, saturation, etc

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks

[@justkerry173]

I can see why you keep going back, it's stunning. I do like this version, it feels lighter but I love the earlier version.

[@malcolmpaterson8737]

Thanks Alistair, so helpful to hear what you are thinking and especially what 'expressive' means - so well illustrated by your thought processes, judgements and adjustments. (loved the suggestion that we don't 'always do things the same way eg a dark edge vignette!)

[@guykerr8111]

Yes, I received value! It also re-enforced how helpful and frustrating tripod placement can be. As well, while I get a lot from the process, I obtain more from the "why". Thanks.

[@geoffreystone1598]

I’ve got a Slik desktop tripod I must remember to take with me, cheers.

[@Hirsutechin]

Always learn something, or re-learn what I'd forgotten, watching how others process their images. Cheers!

[@TimberGeek]

Indeed!

[@lightbox617]

I have a 10mm to 24mm 3.5 Sigma that I use on a Canon 80D. I tend to shoot "hand held" as the camera sensor allows me to shoot at 1600, f4, 1/80th. I am greatly influenced by Japanese wood cut prints that often make the main subject, a small part of the overall composition. I am not shy about using Photo shop to crop, change the direction of light and modify the shadow/highlight ratio. My serious work (not weddings of Bar mitzvas') is B&W. Raw files only

[@MikeBellPhotographer]

Thank you for showing the whole process, including all the fiddling with each tripod leg to get the viewpoint just right. It’s so critical with close foregrounds, isn’t it?

[@stevethompson8154]

Thanks to what I have learned from you Alister I am processing things much differently. I tend to look at a scene as if I am there looking at it with binoculars and only at one small portion of the scene. I make selective adjustments until I think it looks like I saw and felt when I was there in person. When I get through the various parts of the scene, I then take a look at the overall scene and do some final tweaking to make the entire scene harmonious. Thank You Alister!

[@davidskinner274]

Great techniques of fine unobtrusive adjustments... beautiful

[@davidskinner274]

... and it is all done in LR. Good on you for that

congrats on the book, looking forward to more happy gloomy days

[@jorisvanderhoevenphotography]

It's maybe not the nicest thing to say, but it is reassuring to see you struggling with the positioning of your tripod and yourself. Thanks for another inspiring video.

[@Alister_Benn]

I felt 80 years old!! 😂

[@StephenBridgett]

I have a new wide angle lens and itching to use it. Thank you. I always learn from your channel and enjoy the creative sensitivity you bring to post.

[@brianbeattyphotography]

Great video Alister. I've decided to make it a goal of mine for 2022 to focus my improvements primarily on wide angle compositions this year, so this could not have been posted at a better time!

[@paulus0109]

Joggeling with the tripod is not what one sees much in vlogs, but to me very reconisable! Hahaha. Working in tiny spaces (framing), the tripod is not very handy, but nessesary. Loved the photo. Thnx.

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah, it’s a very real experience

[@Alastair6]

Thank you for letting us get into your thought processes. Very interesting. I see far too many photographs that are so "overcooked" in Lightroom or Photoshop. I'm looking forward to your book. Good stuff, Alister.

[@krisweyers6248]

Another great video! I enjoyed watch you fiddle with the tripod. I love the differences of the two photos. It always amazes me that one can photograph the same place with different feeling to each photo.

[@sandyweir9692]

​Wonderfully expressive processing, Alister, superb! Best wishes.

[@brucehyman]

thanks for taking us into your mind for this photo..

[@Juliaredlphotography]

Thanks I am so glad to see how you are using the mask functions

[@AmorLucisPhotography]

Another great vlog! I'm looking forward to hear about the tablet - I use a Wacom Intuos Pro but have recently been thinking about getting a tablet. I'll try to hold off until you tell us more.

[@Alister_Benn]

Yeah probably the week after next. I’m away at the moment running a private workshop.

[@nostaticatall]

Great stuff again. I read your book, "The Colour of Meaning" and just picked up "Luminosity and Contrast" today. Looking forward to it. Cheers.

[@claudehamel9228]

Excellent!

[@carolwaldman6444]

Wonderful video and very inspiring. I was also intrigued by the tablet you are using. Can you share the link? Thanks and please keep those vlogs coming. They make my day and get me out shooting with a new perspective!

[@TimberGeek]

It's interesting, at first I felt your horizon adjustment was over rotated and wanted it brought back 25-50% but by the end of the processing it seemed right. Sometimes I have to walk away or stare out the window for a while when something like that happens and sometimes I don't then wonder what feels wrong later. ;-) Usually I avoid vignettes until the very end and then use the less is more approach if I do add one. My widest lens is an APS-C 10-24 which will fill the full frame of my D850 acceptably well around 13mm (it vignettes to a circle by 10mm which can be fun to play with) but despite being a highly recommended lens it's soft beyond the APS-C boundary so I'll only use it when my 16-35 isn't wide enough. Assuming I've brought it with me. PS: Put me in the line for a signed copy when your book comes out.

[@nickshepherd8377]

Very interesting and useful. Love the video of the dramatic seas as well. When or not to clip blacks is an interesting one. Generally I don’t worry about slight clipping in the foreground. I guess it depends on taste and whether there were any pure blacks in existence? 👍

[@Alister_Benn]

I've been doing loads of printing, so I have got quite careful about them, as they look muddy when printed.

[@hbphotos]

Thanks for this great video. I loved the image . You also made me curious about your new tablet. Could you please let me know the brand and model?

[@Alister_Benn]

Many thanks, I’m now using Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle SE

[@hbphotos]

@@Alister_Benn great. Thanks for quick reply. Looking forward to hear your thoughts about it.

[@esanford]

Thanks.... a great video. I really got a lot out of the processing... The comparisons of different processing(s) really helped as well. Mood obviously impacts processing...

[@davesusko3517]

I always enjoy your editing discussion. Also, I can’t un-see the flag now.

[@charlessummers7381]

Another great video! My question concerns focus point. Was it on the rocks or 1/3 of the way into the frame? With the 12 mm lens, the depth of field is incredible!

[@fjs68]

Really enjoyed this Alister. I am going to Harris and Lewis in March, thinking of buying the Laowa 12mm. I already have Kase and Lee filter holders, will they fit the Laowa. If not what do you recommend. Thanks

[@Alister_Benn]

Thanks. No, NISI make a holder specifically for the lens. (Or at least they did)