Wide Angle Scenic Tips

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.

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.

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?

Bosque IPTs/Late Registration Discounts Increased!

For information on both the 7-Day and the recently announced short version of the 2013 Bosque IPTs please scroll down here. If you would like to join us for the first 3 or 4 days of this IPT please shoot me an e-mail. Please call Jim at 863-692-0906 or e-mail for late registration discount info.

BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition

Learn more and enter the BIRDS AS ART 2nd International Bird Photography Competition here. Twenty-five great prizes including the $1000 Grand Prize and intense competition. Bring your best.

2014 Tanzania Summer Safari

If you are interested in joining us in Tanzania next summer please shoot me an e-mail and I will be glad to forward you the PDF with dates, itinerary, and price.

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