how to shoot with a UWA lens

[ahming111]

Hi,
i know it sounds weird but it seems that i have trouble getting a nice pic with a newly bought UWA lens.

my normal 28-70 is great for me.

i think my prob is about composition using the UWA lens

 

[Rashkae]

Then you need to practice and learn. Creativity is not something easily taught.

Or perhaps you're just not a UWA shooter and should stick to a more specialized range instead.

 

[night86mare]

http://www.flickr.com/groups/wide-angle/discuss/72157600266615185/

something to note:

Ultra wide angle shots that contain just a wide view are usually boring as there is just a lot of small things – and usually lots of empty space. Often things get better when there is a foreground interest but that requires the photographer to be very near the subject – a lot nearer than what it seems from the photo.

it's true, quoted from: http://ppusa.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/going-ultra-wide-angle/

some tips:

http://www.nelsontan.com/articles/wideangle.html

i quote:

- Leading composition to the background/subject
- Panoramic trick (when there is no foreground)
- Near-far technique
- "In-the-scene" look

 

[night86mare]

example of leading line:

http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=86
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1382
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=550

subtler version of leading line:
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1083

emphasizing the foreground relative to background, thereby making full use of the "distortion" (no, not barrel distortion, rather, you make nearer objects larger relative to distant objects than they actually are):

http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1402
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1091
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1160
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfleming701/4361033161/

layers - not limited to UWA, but this is a fine example that i saw:
http://timecatcher.com/main.cfm?p=01_200&PhotoID=1161

you'll get the hang of it - just remember, every element counts, and you have loads of elements when you have a wide perspective. also, if all your shots end up seeming like they have a lot of empty useless space, it's probably true.

 

[ahming111]

thanks for all the advice and links.

yah it's true, really too much space, i see the pics also sian already

 

[ed9119]

because your field of view is much wider than a 'normal' or tele lens...... a key skill to learn is how to manage all that space effectively and impactfully

 

[ahming111]

hi,
here are some of my shots using the UWA, not very impressive but perhaps can be used to give me some pointers if u guys wish to?

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5912606#post5912606

 

[sabee]

Hi ahming, the best way to learn is to keep shooting and also look at some of the fantastic works from sites like Flickr.

In particular you can join the groups on Flickr for your particular lens (just do a search for your lens under group names) and I'm sure you can discover lotsa gems in there and learn from them. Figure out what works and what doesn't!

 

[atjh81]

Learned quite some useful tips from this thread.
Thanks to TS.. and Nightmare for the wonderful sharing.

I have a link to share as well.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

 

[ahming111]

Learned quite some useful tips from this thread.
Thanks to TS.. and Nightmare for the wonderful sharing.

I have a link to share as well.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

glad u learn some stuff. i'm still trying to figure things out with all these information given :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[sfoto100]

http://www.flickr.com/groups/wide-angle/discuss/72157600266615185/

something to note:


it's true, quoted from: http://ppusa.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/going-ultra-wide-angle/

some tips:

http://www.nelsontan.com/articles/wideangle.html

i quote:

- Leading composition to the background/subject
- Panoramic trick (when there is no foreground)
- Near-far technique
- "In-the-scene" look

Hi nightmare

do u mind saying more about:

- Panoramic trick (when there is no foreground)
- Near-far technique
- "In-the-scene" look

 

[daredevil123]

All about wide angles:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/techniques/wide-angle-lenses.htm

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/wide-angle-photography/

 

[daredevil123]

BTW, these are my first ever pictures taken with a UWA (tokina 11-16mm):

Don't really have a foreground in this one. Does the picture work? Not sure.

I have some "not so good" shots in UWA as well. This is one I think:

I'm also learning as well.

 

[night86mare]

Hi nightmare

do u mind saying more about:

- Panoramic trick (when there is no foreground)
- Near-far technique
- "In-the-scene" look

panoramic cropping can help with the composition when there is no foreground, by removing any "dead" (or useless) horizontal space. examples:

you can compare that last one to:

here the water was more still, and i could use reflections

 

[night86mare]

near far technique is simply a means to emphasize subjects in the foreground, because the wide angle lens has such a wide field of view, things that are nearer appear a lot larger than they actually are, relative to far objects.

the most traditional type of wide angle landscape photo with a background and a foreground anchor element is standard use of this:

here, the rock is not larger than the sun in the distance, nor is it as large as all the trees put together far away, but you emphasize it.

most people tend to think that using UWA is all about capturing the scene and standing far away. like i mentioned before, this results in a lot of dead space that has no use or purpose. in my view, most of the time UWA helps you get closer than usual, and in a way, "simplifies" the scene.

here's a less obvious example, but it is still happening:

the merlion is certainly not as large as the esplanade, and all the buildings put together.

 

[night86mare]

for in the scene, you can shoot close , etc, and it gives a sense of the viewer being there.

i don't really have many examples for this, the only ones i can think of that i have taken are from my hipshot series which i have stopped:

i hope you get what i mean from these pictures, don't really know how to explain this.

 

[sfoto100]

i hope you get what i mean from these pictures, don't really know how to explain this.

Hello nightmare,

u explained it well, in fact , very well. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thank you so much!!!

 

[sfoto100]

All about wide angles:

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/techniques/wide-angle-lenses.htm

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/wide-angle-photography/

tks for sharing. i find them helpful .