When I was younger, my favourite focal length was 24mm (on full frame). Don’t get me wrong I still like it, but as I travel down my photography path in life I’m finding myself composing more and more landscape images with the so-called ‘normal’ focal lengths of about 45mm to 50mm. This is one such image shot earlier this month on a 10 day adventure and much needed vacation to the beautiful province of British Columbia.
I think what I like about these slightly longer focal lengths is that the resulting images feel calm, peaceful, and relaxing whereas images shot with a wide or ultra-wide focal length are often full of drama and excitement, which while they’re good qualities in themselves, sometimes leave me mentally exhausted.
What do you think? Do you agree, or do you find longer focal length landscapes ‘boring’?
Specific Feedback Requested
Anything and everything - I always appreciate all feedback and everyone’s input!
Tom, this is a wonderful image. I like the perspective as is. I can’t say I find any given lens a go to lens. I roam from Medium Format Fisheye 37mm up to 300mm in Large Format. I can’t say I’m a big fan of super wide lenses, but at times if it gets or fits the scene correctly I’ll use it in a second…
Sounds like you had a excellent 10 day outing up north too…
I am a fullblown ultra-wide addict but I love stuff like this. I think the longer lens view does more resemble what I would see if I were there.
In cases like this where there doesn’t seem to be any really strong foreground interests to use in a wide-angle comp, I think you’re right to go with the longer length. As Paul said, whatever fits the scene is probably the right lens to use.
Beautiful colour palate Tom. I started out with a wide angel lens and shot with it for about 2 years straight. I always felt attracted to landscape photography and realised most of the photographers I liked were using them.
Lately I’ve been shooting more and more with my 70-200mm. A few people in our photography group drew this to my attention and said it seemed to be my favourite lens when ever we went out to shoot. Nice comp with the reflection.
I think a wide lens would have been wrong for this composition because it would have made the mountains smaller and this image is mostly about them. The lens I use most comes out to be 35-80mm on a full framed camera.
I can’t offer any valuable thoughts on what the various focal lengths do to mood. My perspective is more along the lines of Igor’s comments - and a practical thought about the size of the mountains being affected by the focal length.
Regardless of all that, this is stunning landscape, or reflectionscape as I sometimes refer. If I were standing there, I have a feeling that I’d be high-fiving my buddy or whomever was there, if there was someone else and thinking this was epic! Another comment would be, this is an great example of why it is that we go out to photograph.
No nits here. the only suggestion might be to selectively paint in some contrast in the bg/left mountains - without effecting the light. gorgeous Light throughout.
Stunning!! I have the feeling I’m right there! I love the different character of the clouds over the nearer and farther mountains. I think @Lon_Overacker has a good idea about slightly more contrast in the more distant mountains.
This is gorgeous and I think that Igor is right about a wider lens diminishing the presence of the mountain too much. It could be me, but the sky and clouds seem a bit overdone to me. Too dark and contrasty for the rest of the scene and matches the reflection too exactly when a reflection should be darker, but it’s a matter of taste. If it was toned down and desaturated a bit, I think it would be less competition for the mountain view. And who wants that? Really stunning.
I use whatever the scene call for so I really don’t have a go to lens. It depends on the situation. But, for me to break out the wide angle lens, there has to be really interesting foreground elements and the background, be it mountains or something else need to be very close because they will be rendered much smaller than normal. My favorite new landscape lens is my 100-400. I feel I can pick out smaller scenes in a larger grand landscape with this lens.
Back to your image, beautiful scene well composed with decent fall colors and a fairly moody sky. All in all, a great combination. Oh, and the light is terrific made better by the stunning reflection in those still waters.
