Master Wide Angle Lenses with These Simple Tips

[@steveperryphoto431]

I just listed my wide angle lens for sale. I have taken the listing down after viewing this. Great ideas!

[@paulbenson3441]

I remember that my aunt used to have a round, convex mirror in her living room. As a small boy I had the habit of staring and this used to get me into trouble at times. My aunt's couch faced the wall with mirror and I used to stare at the reflection of the room and how I could see the door, the opposite wall and the window looking out on to the building across the road. If someone came in to the room, I used to watch their reflection as they walked into the room. Small to start with and getting bigger and then getting smaller again. Seeing the world through the eyes and imagination of a child is magical and how I wish we could hold on to that imagination and fascination throughout our lives.

[@DebiSenGupta]

You are such a great teacher and the passion you feel for photography is so visible in each video you make.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

I don't know which one of the two ways - your comments or your pictures - is the better way for the viewers to learn, what wide-angle lenses are all about. Thank you for your great contribution to the world of photography.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@madnesstothemethod3328]

In the words of Robert Capa “If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.” To use wide angle lenses effectively, you have to get CLOSE to your subject.

[@conchscooter]

Some people argue he meant emotionally close.

[@madnesstothemethod3328]

@@conchscooter "some people" are effing morons

[@feliperojas-doomride]

@@conchscooter it works both ways

[@WMedl]

If you dare - especially for lions, cobras, crocodiles and homo sapiens....

[@tomrose2086]

Thanks for the introduction to the work of Gustave Caillebotte. I had never heard of him previously. What a genius! What an inspiration. I may give up photogaphy and take up painting.

[@peternavanac9310]

Packed full of thought provoking gems, as usual.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@geoffmphotography9444]

Alex, speaking as an aging and very experienced photographer raised in the dark age of analogue, I found this piece very refreshing. I have four lenses - 3 primes and an ultra-wide zoom. The zoom has been languishing in the bag. Now, thanks to these very helpful suggestions, it's going to get a new lease of life. Great stuff. Good to see the well deserved YT award in the background too; subtle placement there.

[@WMedl]

No, the very long period of analogue photography had (have?) been an enlightened age of artistic claim. Photography now is more and more entering into a dark age!

[@justinmadair]

Most people don't really understand that any "rules" we have are actually observations of movement. I discovered this myself when I became an English teacher and finally had the space to see that (of course) the rules followed the language, not the other way around. So, a message like yours which frees people of feeling yoked by these hard definitions is really important, not just for understanding English or photography, but for the exploration of everything.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you so very much. That's a wonderful comment and thank you for sharing your experience as a teacher

[@roy.mclean]

I love shooting wide. You have a subject and rather than isolate it, you show how it interacts with the details of the surroundings. Sometimes the fun is in those details. I use telephoto when I need to isolate things for emphasis.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome,

[@LightshaperQ]

Thank goodness I came across this…. I was getting down about loving my 24mm prime. Motivated me to not get a 35. 🔥

[@ronniejoshua7843]

I have been using 17mm for two weeks, and it is just gives a mindblowing perspective on what is being pictured/documented. I think it is one of the most important tool to document a moment while immersing the viewer.

[@tedgoldman9121]

One of your best videos: “Chuck rules out the window and explore!” YES!!! And it’s a reminder of the wonders of wide angle lenses. Well done!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Cheers, thank you

[@andrewgallup3890]

I really liked this one and I am glad you included landscape examples as it got me to realize why some of my shots work. What also came to mind is to trust yourself when you see "a shot" and take it, then worry about the rules.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s cool, thanks for watching

[@TinoTre]

I went to photography church right there! Keep preaching! 📸❤️‍🔥

[@jbliborio]

Thank you so much, Alex! When I restarted shooting after many years of inactivity, I must confess I was and close up or macro addicted. But from some years now I´m just in love with my wide angle lenses and my insignia lens (lol) is a 20-35 mm. I was so pleased to find here so many good advices and tips that in some measure validated and also give me new perspectives about the use of thee wonderful lenses. Thank you once again and regards from Brazil.

[@teacherdude]

I love my wide angle lens, I just love it for crowd scenes. It gives you a sense of being literally inside the image.

[@ddsdss256]

Yet another example of the peril of rules! I too embrace the exaggerated perspective provided by short FLs and especially love the geometry of low-angle urban architectural shots where convergence can make the composition work (obviously, there are times where vertical verticals are called for, which is why we have tilt/shift, view cameras, and perspective correction software). If it induces vertigo in the viewer, at least they're engaged in the scene.

[@paul.papadopoulos]

Hey Alex thanks for this. It's interesting because coming from an underwater photography background you really have to use wide angles and get really close to get some good images and especially if you want them to be well lit and give a sense of the scale of the underwater scenery and creatures. I've never really used that above water in portraits but this video is going to push me into trying it out! Thanks for all your videos!

[@greggorter]

What a great subject Alex ! we are often constrained by a mindset in using for example 35 or 50mm on the street, that we get stuck in the tunnel. I love how you have challenged us all to go beyond and think wider ! cheers, thank you 😊

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesmoros1274]

I love wide angle lenses and have always thought that these lenses are neglected by photographers. Getting distortions and different shapes is part of creativity 🤗 lovely context as always 🇦🇺📸

[@johnpollock6996]

Great film Alex. I really appreciated it and now I am all fired up. A year or so ago I bought a 12-24 which has proven to be quite a chore. No one would say that I have mastered either end of it. Your wide angle of a convex mirror scene was brilliant.

[@filmic1]

Neat! I love my 28mm 2.8AF. I even used it in the studio fashion workshop I took. My prof couldn't believe it.

[@conchscooter]

Fantastic encouragement to go crazy. I love my wide angle zoom and shall now remember I have permission to ignore distortion. Thank you for this.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Your welcome

[@tonybaker55]

I finally got around to getting my first fisheye lens, a Sony 16mm f/2.8 for my Sony A99. So far, I am astonished at how good it is and absolutely fascinated by the effects I can get. I already had enjoyed using a 10-20 on my APSC camera, but the fisheye just is in another realm.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Enjoy shooting

[@kevinhanley3023]

I remember..I looked thru the view finder with the 20mm pointed at Chuck, a fixture of a homeless guitar player on Main Street. Chuck was sitting with his legs crossed and guitar across his lap. The image in the viewfinder was distant. I was standing and he sitting; I leaned all the way in until I had him framed up. He leaned to the camera with a really warm smile. I clicked. A friend standing next to me tugged my arm. He thought maybe I invaded his space. I moved the camera and found that smile only a few inches away. ‘Still gently smiling. I made a print for his family. They loved it. I was lucky that day.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

You are a phenomenal photography educator. It's a privilege to have access to your knowledge on KZbin.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Wow, thank you

[@twopoolpeople]

Thank you for reminding this old guy of things I once learned! My favorite lens - though not the best is my Nikon 18-140. I noticed one day when friends were looking at my photos that they quickly viewed the closer photos of people and studied the ones that included more of their surroundings. I like shooting - wide and zoomed in!

[@marksmodellingmadness]

Back in the early 2000's my fave lens was the Canon EF20-35mm and I used it mainly at sci-fi conventions taking photos of friends and cosplayers mostly at the 20mm end., and mostly in the bar :) I liked the fact that I could get a small group of people in the frame while being only a couple of feet away from them or isolate one person in an environmental style portrait. This was on film btw, Canon EOS3.

[@alexanderpons9246]

Great video Alex Kilbee, for me there is so much beauty and interest in distortion! I remember when Mario Testino shot Madonna and the Versace Ads using a wide angle lens and combined it with a shallow depth of field, truly beautiful images.

[@hotsauce7124]

I like how you showed examples in motion pictures and still images

[@hansjzeller]

Thank you for the great video! I've always struggled to use very wide angle lenses and also haven't seen a lot of wide-angle photographs by other people that I really liked. You showed some wonderful examples in the video that motivate me to try a wide-angle myself again.

[@Ultrarmx]

A few months back I bought a 14mm lens. It’s been on my camera 50% of my events. Ever since I watched The Revenant. I was amazed the angles they used. They film with 12-21mm lens.

[@PeterKoperdan]

Do you know other movies that use wide lenses a lot?

[@richardsimms251]

Thank you for another useful presentation

[@edgargo3068]

Thank YOU Alex about wide angle lenses you open the door of creativity I have a 10-22mm ultrawide a hidden potential tool!

[@ChrisMahtal]

I used to use a 14mm religiously, but at some point it broke and I sent it off to be repaired. While it was being repaired I continued shooting the same way, but instead with a 55mm lens. I would have to take multiple photos and stitch them together, but it created some very interesting distortion and the resolution of the final images was insane. I love ultra wide angle lenses and use them 80% of the time. I love distortion, after all everyone's version of reality is uniquely distorted anyway. I believe it is best to embrace it.

[@sevo12t]

That is exactly what I’m looking for as a painter I can incorporate this technique in photography and painting it’s an art

[@raphaelmimoun9571]

Hi Alex, I love compression in my photos so I mostly shoot telephoto lenses… u made me want to try wide angle with that video!! I only wish u put what lenses were used next to your photos to give us an idea of which lens can do what. Thanks again 🙏

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

As a newspaper photographer the first lens they threw at me was a 16-35 2.8. I recall the first picture I brought back to the editor he just looked at me like I grown dreadlocks. An hour later the chief photographer came up to me with his camera and a 16-35 2.8 he jammed it in my face took some shots and said there that's impact now go get me photos with impact. I recall one of the team always used his wide on close ups of horses he and the ditor absolutely loved it the horse owners absolutely hated it with a passion, and rightly so. That was 2004. We still use the same lenses,although now tastes have changed we are far more subtle with the wides most of the time.

[@SniperPhotography]

I use the 14mm ultra wide for many landscape images. Love using it.

[@jackbarron8880]

You get it, mate. You get it. Wide angle photography will improve your photography graft.

[@edwardpike1]

Thank you for this lesson on wide angle lens. I have been playing with my 16mm f 2.8 Fuji lens today and found your video. I plan on using this lens and only this lens for the next six months, to really know the lens. I shoot street and have for years but never more than 28mm the 16 is going to take practice which is why I plan to have that as my one lens for a while. Again a good video.

[@ChrisHunt4497]

Thank you Alex. I have a wide angle lens and hardly ever use it. That is all about to change, thanks to you. So many ideas here to try. Great video👍👍👍👍

[@ReneGrothmann]

You inspired me to look through my images filtered by focal length. Indeed, the wide ones stand out by their intimacy and impact. Makes me want to go out immediately and try my best. Good advice!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad it was helpful.

[@ceoisbk87]

Man....this video couldn't have come at a better time, been thinking about a wide angle lens for a while now, not just for landscapes, but for portraits as well. As a matter of fact, my very first decent portrait I ever took was with a Nikkor 14-24mm.

[@michelk5]

Interesting topic, i do not use my wide angle lens very often, may be because I don't know how to use it effectively. I usually use it for boring landscapes instead of daring photographing people with it. And as you said I may be scared of distortions, but sometimes with a good composition i recognise that this lens has some kind of 3D pop that my 50 doesn't. I will take the challenge and shoot more with it. Thanks to open my eyes and my creativity !

[@WaheedAkhtarWahid]

Hey Alex, great video as expected from you. With the multi camera smartphones, wide angle is a quite a thing now a days. People use wide angle lens more often these days; though one can argue the creativity index in their photos. May be this can be an aspect to look into as a follow up video or part 2 of this video. Also may I request to make similar video, a study of creative use of ultra-wide lenses, as well? And then perhaps another video with a comparison of wide vs ultra-wide?

[@thomasgoetze]

I kinda hated wide angle lenses until i've got a used Leica Q. I was more in 50mm before. The Q showed me the love for 28mm. Now I'm obsessed with it and found a whole new world of photography. Actually I'm curating my pictures of the last 4 years for a photo website relaunch. Most of the selected pictures comming from the 28mm Q fixed lens. Thank you for this vid!

[@MyJeanf]

So informative, interesting and inspiring. I am soon to but a wide angle lens and now having watched your video, I feel excited and cannot wait to try out your many tips. Thank you your video has been a real blessing.

[@mjs4663]

I just discovered you and I LOVE your videos. Something about the way you are describing things is so inspiring and I just get it. Thank you so much.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you so much!!

[@hurleygreen927]

Appreciate this video! I am now using a 12-24mm DX lens on my full frame Nikon D750, and playing with the cropped 18-35mm perspective: and I LOVE IT!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Good stuff!

[@Gravelbomber]

Quite a coincidence you put this video out today. I carry my old dslr with me at work, everyday, and normally have the 50mm on it. 2 days ago, I decided to put the 10-18mm on it and have been having a ball. It can make an average scene or subject a lot more interesting.

[@CiceroShows]

Thank you for the Playlist. At least I have lessons being learned in order. Focus guaranteed. Thankyou. Great work Sir. Michael.

[@richardsimms251]

Correction : a GREAT presentation

[@SamVanEman]

8:39 Thanks for the video, Alex. Would you mind sharing the settings for the STOP image?

[@darrenleigh201]

Excellent video (as always)! I know when watching one of your videos that I will actually learn something if I can only quiet my mind and listen with intent. Thanks for sharing!

[@scottruffner3075]

Happy to see more of your images in this video Alex. Well done!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@dhritimanbatchu]

I constantly refer to cinema for visual inspiration, and I'd also highly recommend Barry Sonnenfeld, Emanuel Lubezki, Terry Gilliam, and Benoit Delhomme, among others. As a beginner, films are endlessly fascinating to study for inspiration and ideas.

[@roadaheadmedia]

Many thanks for this one! I've used a 35mm for quite a while for street and landscape. Also for portraits to make people look tall or petite. I just began using a 16mm earlier this year and it's been quite an adventure. As you say, leading lines become way stronger and when you bring this into portraits and group shots it opens up a whole new world. Many of the shots look crazy but still fascinating so I hope as I progress I can use this constructively. Anyway, this has been most helpful!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bluefilmsltd]

I appreciated this video. A LOT. So many misconceptions about wide angle lenses. I think they are great for portraiture.

[@joetrent4753]

If photographers had stuck to the rules, David Bailey would never have taken those iconic fashion photos in New York with Jean Shrimpton that literally changed the fashion photography industry overnight.

[@saucelove]

My Fuji 16mm 1.4 lens is pure perfection, and I use it for portraits.

[@australianboy]

My first mirrorless setup was a Sony NEX-3 with a wide angle mount and it felt like a cheatcode to the photography game. I never missed anything and whatever I shot looked interesting.

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Great ideas. Have to try these out this afternoon.

[@Leondrian]

First, thank you for a great video with a bunch of really varying examples. Secondly, just wow, your wide angle photos are so good! Really.love that you include so much of your own work in the clip nowadays. Thirdly, as I've shot more and more (on a hobbyist level) I get more and more drawn to the wider field of views. Not for landscape but rather documenting my immediate surroundings. I've got hooked on a 28mm field of view, but how know were I will end up.

[@loihpatli]

Great video, really inspiring to play with wide angle. Thanks!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Your welcome

[@danielscheerer3032]

Alex - this was an important one for me! I've always been a long lens, intimate details type of photographer, so generally shun wide except for certain landscapes. Your examples are inspiring to get to learning how to better handle wide in smaller circumstances! So far I like this series - cheers!

[@davidskinner274]

Thanx, Alwx for using more of your own images recently in your videos. They are grssat to seeamd back up your own point. Cheers

[@jayymorris5285]

I actually have been using my Tamron 17-28 for portraiture but clearly not enough! Thank you for this!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Your welcome

[@ashleyhoff7561]

Its been a while since I have watched one of your videos. Love the delivery. Love how you challenge us to break those musty old photo club rules! Great advice

[@kenn6592]

Amazing insights. I have just started with a 20mm lens on a A7iii and this taught me so much. Some very special photos shown too. Thanks.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@aes53]

One of your best, I'm a huge fan of wide-angle lenses and you've analyzed extremely well how to use them. BTW, your sax player image is terrific.

[@svtk5104]

Refreshing to see some quality there!

[@brittneerenee]

This just inspired me thank you

[@mrdanyel73]

Great video Just got my 18 mm f1.4 fuji lens and i am sold..so much fun

[@ungavaproductions]

Excellent and very interesting presentation. I'll put away my telephoto lens for few days. You gave me interest for my wide angle ! Thanks for sharing

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s awesome, thank you

[@nickelbers48]

Alex, you are becoming the king. Thanks for everything you do. I got a 13mm for apsc this week and it's been a blast but I wanted some more structured tips before a job I have this weekend. This was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks,

[@ThePhotographicEye]

😄 thank you

[@nickelbers48]

@@ThePhotographicEye Client was super happy, so thank you! :P

[@clairerobinson2006]

So glad you presented this. Having 2 fixed 28mm lens camera I’ve struggled with my photographic eye beyond architectural subjects. Tho’ 28mm isn’t extreme wide, your discussion and examples give me other ways to practice seeing differently. Thank you.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s great, thank you

[@PeterKoperdan]

Ricoh GR? 🙃 Just get close to people, get an interesting composition, perhaps wait for interesting facial expressions and click. When reviewing your photos figure out what worked and why, then do more of that. If you need some inspiration, there is a ton of Ricoh GR street photography out there. TLDR: The most interesting 28mm shots happen when you are pretty close to your subjects.

[@MarceloFernandez1967]

I watched this inspiring video and before it ended, I bought the RF 15-35mm. Thank you very much.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome

[@laureness]

I'm going to buy my first prime lens soon and I've been choosing between a 50mm or a 35mm. This video has me wanting a 35mm - I think it'll be quite the creative challenge. 😁

[@gladysperrier4270]

This is your most inspirational video yet. I can’t wait to go out and try it.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@havinganicedave]

Listening to Alex makes me calm. :)

[@supersingular]

It would be amazing if you could do a workshop/master class exclusively for wide angle lenses in portrait and street photography (Here in the U.S.)

[@asheeshkchopra]

Really enjoyed this video of yours …like I use to, when I watched your initial videos.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s great, thank you

[@madeleinegille383]

Hey Alex, great video (as always).I learn so much from you. Thank you. I have a 35 mm f/1.4. Is that enough or should I get a 24 mm lens?

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching, equipment really is personnel to what your shooting, if you feel the need for different lenses go with it

[@oijani]

try a 16mm and a 20mm and see if you like it ^^

[@andrewcroft2570]

Great video as always, Alex as a newbie I've got 2 lenses a 28-105mm and 70-210mm I do have a vintage 50mm lens but either it got an issue with the adaptor ring or has a problem with the focus. I have a Canon 1300D and I quite like the look you can get with a vintage lens. What size wide angle lens would you recommend I get, please?

[@ExploringCanadaInfo]

I love your videos so much! So much technical information delivered with such passion for photography and photographers. 👋🇨🇦

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@GJSsongsmith]

Once again very inspiring , thanks Alex

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@johnclarke1319]

At what level does a wide angle become wide? is is more than the natural angle of the eye? or what?, you are so right.

[@jakedooom]

Well said! (I love my rectilinear wide-angle (I don’t want fish-eye) on my Olympus. It’s manual focus but that’s no problem. )

[@TrueNorthCaptures]

Great video, very encouraging. Love the movie references, I find myself doing this often.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@antivirusantivirus3139]

Thanks a lot. Great video.

[@stans6582]

WELL SAID..........WELL DONE !!

[@virginiainla8085]

Great video! Thanks!

[@simonpayne7994]

Unfortunately I am surrounded by people taking wide angle selfies, wide angle buildiings tapering to the top, indoor rooms with table-top edges going off in all directions, and last not least, landscapes with a slanted horizons and toppling trees. This has led to a situation where wide-angfle makes me almost vomit. 😊 It was nice to watch this reminder that wide-angle can actually produce interesting works of art.

[@joetrent4753]

I'm a bit anti-wide angle at the moment. Plenty of street photographers use Fuji aps-c cameras with wide angle lenses like 18mm and this can start to look a bit samey (especially photos from the same cities) after a while. Of course its up to photographers to use their lenses in unique ways to keep things interesting.

[@simonpayne7994]

@@joetrent4753 If you are an ambitious photographer with just an inkling of talent you can do all sorts of things with all sorts of lenses. Including wide-angle lenses. If you are an average human with an average camera taking average snapshots things are rather different. Then the question is: What does your average camera do as a default? First they mounted the flash into the analog compact camera. Result: all flash shots delivered red eyes. Then they they went digital and introduced smartphones with minute sensors. Result: no bokeh. At the same time the standard built in lens became wide-angle. Result extreme perspectives leaving hardly any straight edges horizontally or vertically inline. Now software fixes everything. The red-eyes are re-colored to black, the bokeh is simulated, and seeing the wide-angle problems cannot really be corrected, AI re-generates the whole picture for you from scratch. You do not even have to go there. 🙂

[@iaincphotography6051]

Great episode and Bill Brandt was correct in his thoughts.

[@andhib]

I'm sure those Schoeller portraits are taken from a distance with a longer lens (or heavily cropped wide angle). Distortion is due to perspective i.e. distance from subject. Sure, using a wide angle lens from a distance doesn't distort. The wide angle lens just draws people in to take overly close-up (hence distorted) shots -which is where the creativity could be exploited. Thanks for the interesting/informative video.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Hi, thanks for watching. Here's a video of him in action - he's pretty close :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZfZqJuCbdmJrK8

[@andhib]

@@ThePhotographicEye Thanks, good to see in action. From that video he is using a medium format Mamiya with what looks like a RZ67 50mm lens - on the normal/wide boundary for Medium Format. Impressive at that distance that he doesn't get the large nose distortion common with wide angle.

[@PeterKoperdan]

Why would anyone want to shoot from a distance and then heavily crop a wide angle lens as a stylistic choice? You would simply get the look of a longer lens while losing resolution. There are many tests on YT demonstrating that… 🤔

[@wastepreserve]

loved this video and your ideas thank you

[@ultraviesonic]

Thank you for speaking the truth about wide lens usage👍 New sub!!!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome. Thank you

[@Dunoria]

Thank you for this video, I knew almost everything you said but always forget to apply those things when I'm out with my camera. Next time I go out shooting, I'll make this a challenge :D

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Awesome