How to Use Wide Angle Lens

PerspectiveOne of the most interesting featuresto point out. It relates to the "Making it big" issue
of wide-angle lens is the capability to stretchcovered earlier in this article. The body parts of
perspective. What do I mean by that? I meanthe man, which are closer to the camera (in our
that when you look through a wide-angle lens, itcase those are the legs) appear to be bigger than
seems that the distance between objects hashis other limbs, which are farther away. Such a
extended. The objects that were not so distantdistortion sometime may add a funny look to a
could appear too far away. And the proportion ofportrait or highlight specific features of the
objects dramatically increases, so the one thatsubject. You probably have seen many images
close to the camera look enormous, but those,taken with a fish eye lens - the lens that cover
which are father away almost disappear in the180 degrees and with most distortions. The first
distance.The wider the angle the shorter andexample that comes to my mind is a picture of a
stronger the difference in the sizes of thedog, which is sniffing the camera. The nose of the
elements in the photograph. If we think of twodog has the size of the dog's head, which makes
parallel lines that stretch out away from theit so funny.The other effect of distortion is that
camera, these two lines will visibly merge at somestraight lines that cross the frame may appear
point. This is a point, which I would call perceptivenot that straight. The farther from the image
vanish point for wide angle lens. What do I meancenter the line crosses the frame the more it will
by that? Well, theoretically at this point andbe bent by the optics. Sometimes with fish eye
beyond (at this distance from the focal plane) alllens it seems like a couple of lines create a circle
elements would be represented as a dot or notaround the lens. That's how strongly a distortion
visible at all. For normal lens (of in reality) thiscan affect the scene in the photograph.But we
vanishing point is somewhat farther from thehave not talked about the dynamics. Where are
focal plane then for wide angle lens.What do thosethe dynamics in the photograph created with a
two vanishing points mean (for normal and widewide angle lens? In my mind the dynamics in all
angle lens)? They mean that the wide angle lensaspects described above: the stretch of
reduce the actual (visible) distance to the vanishingperspective, the differences of the subjects,
point. Which results that our brain, when judgingwhich are on different distances from the
the distance and sizes of the objects in thecamera, the unreal proportions of known shapes
photograph, assumes that the distance to theand forms and the distortion of the straight lines
vanishing point is the same as with normal lens (i.e.(or any other usual and known graphic
reality). But this assumption makes it to stretchelements).Getting personalAmong those technical
the perspective recorded in the image to theaspects of the wide angle lens, there is one, which
normal one.Making it bigLet's take for example aadds its own appeal to me. Considering that you
simple situation, where we have two kids, whichare using the lens to take photographs of a
should be of similar size. The girl is playing closerperson, you are bound to come closer to the
to the camera while the boy is watching severalsubject. Coming closer, huh? It means that most
feet farther. We make a shot with a wide angleprobably the person would notice you and your
lens. What effect the lens would bring here? Firstcamera, which will almost touch him or her. And if
of all compare the size of the girl and the boy.your are noticed by the subject, then the
The boy probably would be two-three timesattention will be turned at you and all the activities
smaller than the girl, while in reality theiror interests that kept that person busy and made
somewhat of the same height. OK, thehim/her interesting for you will be forgotten for a
perspective added its effect and make the boylittle while. And the scene, which you were hunting
seem smaller. But in the reality the boy is not thatfor, is gone. It seems like you are loosing the
far away. On the photograph I it could seem asadvantage of a candid shot and are left with a
15-20 feet (5-7 meters) between the boy andposed one.Not at all, if you stick just for a few
the girl, actually only a few feet separated themmore minutes and spend some time around the
at that moment. So here you see the first effectsubject, the person would be bored with you and
of the wide angle lens - stretchingshift his attention to some other, more interesting
perspective.And I should say that there isactivities or objects. That's the moment we have
additional benefit for a photographer in this.been waiting for - we are close and unnoticed.
Because the girl appear to be bigger than the boyAnd the time which we spent waiting for that we
she becomes the main subject without anymade an invisible connection with the subject. We
doubts or additional thinking, we just assume it bylearned about some personal side and probably
judging the relative sizes of subjects/objects inmade some impressions and conclusions. All those
the frame. It means that with wide angle lens itssmall things count, they will appear in the
much easier to focus viewer's attention on thephotograph, it will create that personal touch and
primary subject - the size matters. If we consideradd the mood to the photograph, which is based
the relative sizes and how it reduces theon the photographer's understanding and
significance of the objects/subjects that fartherimpression of the subject. I consider this
away from the camera, we can say that theside-effect of the wide angle lens one of the
other elements of the photograph (not theimportant aspects. And even if the subject is a
primary one) easily become the background forsimple rock laying in the grass, we will have to
our primary subject. And this trail of thought leadspay more attention to the rock and by doing so
me to a conclusion that by using wide angle lenswe cannot escape a deeper impression. This
we can separate the subject from the rest ofpersonal connection makes as think more about
stuff in the image by making all other elements towhat subject we select to include into the frame
become the background. It looks like we push alland what we know about it, what we want to
other elements farther away from the cameraexpress, which is the core of
and pull the subject much closer to thephotography.Technical stuffThere are a few
camera.Though there is one side thought, it maytechnical things that you may need to know when
not always be possible to get close to the subjectusing the wide-angle lens. Here is the short
and enforce that distance between elements indescription of those (I am not that much into
the photograph. It only works when you are verytechnicalities):Lens Hood and Flare - because the
close to the subject, otherwise the use of widelens covers a very wide area there is a great
angle lens will have the opposite effect - it willchance that the sun could mess with your image.
blend your subject in with the rest of theTo overcome this small problem most of the lens
elements of the photograph. And sometimes itare supplied with a lens hood. The hood creates a
may even worsen things, such that someprotection from the sun, but there are two things
insignificant object on front plane becomes almostthat collide: the lens is created to allow view as
huge and draws a lot of unwanted attention.much as possible and the hood tries to provide a
That's why there are limits to this techniqe, asprotection from the sun. These two concept are
always.Seeing a lotSo, by pushing the subjectsomewhat contradictory, so one of them should
farther from the camera we blend it withgive in, and that's why the hood for wide angle
background. But what if we need to include a lotlens is not such a good protection after all. So, it's
of the scene? What if there is no single subject?your job to watch for the flare and it may be
Let's say there is a vista or a big room full ofuseful to use some other objects (such as a
people (some kind of event) and we want to getsheet of black card) to protect the lens from the
everything into the frame. Well, again the widesun rays.
angle lens could be your choice, because thePolarizer - with polarizer you have two concerns.
name of that range says it all. Wide angle meansOne of them is that the simple thickness of the
that you can fit a lot of stuff into themetallic rim around the glass may cause
image.Though when you put a lot of stuff into thevignetting. The other one is the unevenness of
image everything becomes small and lessthe effect, which is partially depends on the all
significant. And then the emphasis shifts to thethose various reflection angles that these lens will
overall "wow effect". When the quantity oflet through. If we take for example the sky, the
elements and their relation to each other playbest effect will be when the sun and the camera
more importance, than qualities of a singleare at 90 degrees to each other. Though the lens
element, this mix of many elements becomes thecover a lot more of other angles, where the
primary subject.Wide angle lens help when there isangles will vary from 45 to 135 degrees. As well I
a limited space and you need to jam a big subjectnoticed that even without the polarizer the lens
into the picture. One of the examples is thesaturates the sky more than any other type of
interior design photography. Let's say we have anlens.
assignment to take photographs of a kitchen,Depth of Field - the design of the wide angle lens
which I had some time ago. In my case I hadand its optical constraints make the DOF wider
plenty of room to move around, the kitchen wasthan with any other lens. It's very hard (almost
for a show, not for real purposes. But there areimpossible) to have a shallow DOF with such lens,
times when the space is a great issue, then theso look for other ways to simplify background
only choice is to use a wide angle lens, if you are(such as framing).
not focusing on the details and need the overallSharpness - if you have a wide angle zoom lens
view of the room.Dynamics andthan you may notice slighter less sharpness at
distortionSometime ago I've taken a shot of athe very wide angle, especially with the widest
man sitting on a car. It was taken with "a hiddenaperture. That's another design constraint, which
camera", I just pointed the camera at the manvery hard to avoid as I understand (almost any
from the waist level at pressed the shutter. Thewide angle zoom lens has this drawback, even the
lens, of course, was the wide angle one - at itsbest lens).
widest angle. The legs of the man were closestVignetting - some lens (especially of cheaper
to the camera, and the head is most distant. Howprice range) may have dimness in corners at the
was it represented in the photographs? My firstwidest angles and apertures. You may want to
answer would be the disproportion of the man, hischeck this issue before buying the lens.
legs seem much bigger in relation to his wholeRoman Zolin
body than a person usually would have. That isFriendly photography with a smileVisit for more
one of the the distortion effects which I wantedphotography and photoshop related articles.