In the last issue #8 we talked about wildlife photography and how to catch

the animals by surprise. In this issue we are going to talk about using

lenses in photography. Thank you Amazon & Best Buy...

 

Just having a camera isn't going to get you the best pictures.  Most of

us who take photos are amateurs in the art world, but with the right

equipment our photography can be elevated to a new height.  Lenses

are important especially when you settle on a medium you will train in.

Most photographers choose one area of photography to specialize in.

There are many types of lenses, the standard 35- 80mm, telephoto, and

panoramic lenses.

 

Most cameras have a 35- 80 mm lens, even the point and shoot type.

Often when you purchase a camera casing they will sell you the

standard lens with it.  All lenses are interchangeable.  You do have to

stick with the same brand of lenses as your camera and make sure the

diameter is the same. The diameter of most lenses is the same as

long as you keep to the same brand.

 

The 35- 80 mm lens tells you the extent of reach. While you can take

photographs several miles away with a standard lens you will not have

the distinction of features in the print that you need. The standard lens is

great for close up shots, such as flowers, spider webs, people, and

pets. To gain more defined picture miles away you need a larger lens.

 

There are many telephoto lenses in photography. One is the 75- 300

mm lens. While this isn't as massive as other telephoto lenses you

may see a professional walking around with it is a great step up for

mountain and wildlife photography when your quarry is some distance

away.

 

When you begin to move from the 35mm into something larger it

is best to have a stabilizer with the lens. A stabilizer will help you hold

the camera steady for clear shots even if your hand moves a little bit.

When you move into the world of the telephoto lens you can by

accessories to help with angles and light.

 

Photography in the world of panorama is another way to take

spectacular landscape photos. The panoramic lens allows you to

widen the photograph, especially with a digital camera.  If there is a

mountain range or glacier that you wish to get the whole picture without

pasting them together in Photoshop the panoramic lens is the best way

to go.  I'm sure you have seen landscapes with a panoramic view and

wished you could have that option.  Even with film cameras you could

have a panoramic lens to widen the photograph.

 

All three lenses are just the icebergs on the use of lenses in

photography. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a budding

professional you will want to maximize your photo taking skills. The

next equipment you may want to purchase to help you with the larger

lenses would be a tripod to stabilize the camera even more.  Tripods

are pretty simple and lightweight pieces of equipment and work great

for portrait photography.

 

All mediums in photography require moderate to top of the line camera

equipment to produce a photograph with quality. Photography also

relies on the photographer’s skill and eye. Lenses are just a small part

of the photography world when you start to study the art.  If you have any

questions on lenses the best places to find answers are your local

photography shop.

 

Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about

the power of black and white photography.