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Whitewater
Photography Tutorial #8: Wide Angles.
There
is a
misconceptions about wide angle lenses. Wide angle lenses are not about
getting it all in. Wide angle lenses are about getting close to your
subject. As
an image says a thousand words here are some mistakes I made;
embarrassing moments that no photographer likes to show.
We know by now that shooting from downstream at water level is rarely, if ever the best angle. Wide angles also tend to stretch things out from side to side. This means that if you are shooting from downstream it tends to make a drop look smaller than it is.
So the quick and dirty with wide lenses: Wider is not always better, it just means you have to get closer to your subject, and your composition has to be closer to perfect. I normally don't carry an ultra-wide lens on the river anymore, but if I note a specific shot on a run that needs a wide angle, I'll bring it on my next trip.
Next Up: Panning.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #1: Intro.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #2: What is the right exposure?
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #3: Getting the right exposure.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #4: Low Light Action
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #5: Focus
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #6: Lighting
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #7: Composition
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #8: Wide Angles
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #9: Panning
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #10: Post-processing
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #11: Sequencing
Devin
Knight, Dinkey Creek, 2008. Trying to get it all in, and also
making the mistake of not keeping my horizon level.
Nikon D200, Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm 1/640 F4 ISO 400
Nikon D200, Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm 1/640 F4 ISO 400
Just
a few
weeks later the same rapid with the
same lighting. Shot at 50mm on a Nikon D200.
Nikon D200, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 @ 1/800 F2.8 ISO 200
Nikon D200, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 @ 1/800 F2.8 ISO 200
So
how
close to your subject? The wider the lens, the closer! Taylor Cavin and
I almost making contact on Fordyce Creek.
Nikon D200, Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm 1/1250 F8 ISO 200
Nikon D200, Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm 1/1250 F8 ISO 200
We know by now that shooting from downstream at water level is rarely, if ever the best angle. Wide angles also tend to stretch things out from side to side. This means that if you are shooting from downstream it tends to make a drop look smaller than it is.
Kiwi
in a Pocket on Upper Cherry.
Nikon
D200, Sigma 10-20mm @ 20mm 1/750 F8.
Jonas Grunwald from just a few feet away on the Little White Salmon. 14mm and cropped in.
Nikon D600, Samyang 14mm f/2.8 @ 1/1000 f/4 ISO 400
Jonas Grunwald from just a few feet away on the Little White Salmon. 14mm and cropped in.
Nikon D600, Samyang 14mm f/2.8 @ 1/1000 f/4 ISO 400
So the quick and dirty with wide lenses: Wider is not always better, it just means you have to get closer to your subject, and your composition has to be closer to perfect. I normally don't carry an ultra-wide lens on the river anymore, but if I note a specific shot on a run that needs a wide angle, I'll bring it on my next trip.
Next Up: Panning.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #1: Intro.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #2: What is the right exposure?
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #3: Getting the right exposure.
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #4: Low Light Action
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #5: Focus
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #6: Lighting
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #7: Composition
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #8: Wide Angles
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #9: Panning
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #10: Post-processing
Whitewater Photography Tutorial #11: Sequencing
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