Wide Angle Scenic Tips « Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Wide Angle Scenic Tips


paine-reflections-in-still-pond-_a1c7889-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created at Torres del Paine National Park, Chile with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus lens (at 16mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital camera body ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop yielded a base exposure of: 1/200 sec. at f/16 in Av mode (+/- 2 stops).

Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the far end of the pond and recompose. Click here if you missed the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

When even the remotest possibility of doing some serious land-scape or bird-scape work with a short lens exists, I make sure to have a Wimberley P-5 plate and my Giottos MH 1302-655 Ballhead in my vest. It takes less than two minutes to mount the plate on the camera body, spin off the Mongoose M3.6, and replace it with the tiny ballhead.

Go Ultra-wide With Dramatic Skies

With dramatic skies, pointing the lens up to make the clouds the most prominent feature in the image is often the best way to go. When doing so, the clouds seem to radiate from the vanishing point thus adding to the drama. Be sure to use either a double-bubble level in your camera’s hot shoe or the electronic level if your camera has one to ensure an image that is square to the world with a level horizon.


derelict-fishing-boat-_a1c3125-south-of-puerto-natales-chile

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created at Puerto Natales, Chile with the hand held Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus lens (at 19mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital camera body ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1/3 stop yielded a base exposure of: 1/200 sec. at f/8 in Av mode (+/- 2 stops).

Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the far edge of the large yellow rock and recompose. Click here if you missed the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

Point the Camera Down With Relatively Boring Skies

With plain skies and an interesting subject (in this case the old fishing boat), look for something interesting in the foreground (in this case the large boulder lower left) and point your camera down. Get close to the foreground object and move left or right to balance the composition. I recently began setting the 4X6 viewfinder grid on both my 5D III and my 1D X bodies. When hand holding this makes it easier to ensure a level horizon and it can do the same thing when you are photographing birds or animals.


pond-and-reflection-_a1c2852-torres-del-paine-national-park-chile

This 3-frame in-camera Art Vivid HDR image was created at Torres del Paine National Park, Chile with the tripod-mounted Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus lens (at 16mm) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital camera body ISO 400. Evaluative metering +1 2/3 stops yielded a base exposure of: 1/80 sec. at f/16 in Av mode (+/- 2 stops).

Central sensor/AI Servo Rear Focus AF on the far shoreline of the pond and recompose. Click here if you missed the latest version of the Rear Focus Tutorial. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a larger version.

When even the remotest possibility of doing some serious land-scape or bird-scape work with a short lens exists, I make sure to have a Wimberley P-5 plate and my Giottos MH 1302-655 Ballhead in my vest. It takes less than two minutes to mount the plate on the camera body, spin off the Mongoose M3.6, and replace it with the tiny ballhead.

Look for Ovals

With all scenic images placing a large oval shape in the foreground can help to create a powerful composition. A Frans Lanting Galapagos Tortoise image drove that point home when I first saw the photograph about 25 years ago. First I moved to my right so as to angle the pond in the frame and I got as close as possible to my oval shape while still fitting the whole pond in the frame. Finally I squared the image to the world using the electronic level in my 5D Mark III. (Note: as detailed in the 5D Mark III User’s Guide I set the Info button to exclusively activate the level so that I do not have to scroll through the other options each time.)

Other Wide Angle Lens Options

Whatever camera system you are using and whether you are using a full frame camera or a crop body you can find the best wide angle lens for you by clicking here and scrolling down. To check out wide angle lenses the are currently being offered with rebates, click here.

To search for a specific wide angle lens simply use the B&H link on the side bar of the blog or click here.

More on Using Wide Angle Lenses

Click on either of the two links below to learn more about using wide angle and ultra wide angle lenses.

“10 Tips on Using a Wide Angle Lens” at Views Infinitum here.

“Using Wide Angle Lenses” at Cambridge in Colour here.

Image Questions

Which of the three images above is your favorite? Why? In the third image would you have moved to your left or to your right to explore the possibility of creating a stronger image? Why?

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13 comments to Wide Angle Scenic Tips

  • David Policansky

    Great images and advice; many thanks. I’ve also noticed that skies get more dramatic with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses; can you explain why that is? Answers to your questions: The first image is my favorite, because of dramatic scenery and composition. And I love good mirror reflections like this one. I am fascinated by old wooden workboats–Chesapeake Bay is a treasure trove of them–and would love to see the one in your image closer up. On the third, I’d probably have tried to move to the left to have the mountain and the edge of the lake farther left in the image, if the terrain, scale, and time permitted.

  • Carol Ryan

    Wow!! Wide angle is far more lovely than blurs! You could never get tired of looking at these! Very pleasing and soothing composition, proportion and colour.

    • Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      Thanks, but according to whom? If you like these images why opt to include something negative???

  • Jim Amato

    Wow to the wide angles!
    Depth of colors and scene, leading presentation with foreground….very good

  • Hi Arthur, great tips for using wide angle lenses! Love each of these photos, but the first knocked my socks off…great cloud-scape. You will need to try your wide angle lens for frogs one day 🙂 My new Nikon 18-35mm lens is often on my camera.

  • Great images my friend!!!
    Nice days at the park
    Un abrazo
    Rodrigo

  • Bill Richardson

    I found having to install and remove a tripod plate very annoying. I now use a quick release with a Black Rapid strap to connect to the plate so I don’t have to remove it.

  • Mark

    Wow, Art, these are great shots. I enjoy using the HDR in my 5D3, but I’ve never panned to create a shot like that. Never thought of it. Thanks for showing that.
    mark

  • Generally speaking, how accurate electronic levels are – say, compared to the classic bubbles?
    Thanks.

    • Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

      Neither is perfect to a fraction of a single degree. Both work just fine at leveling the horizon. artie