How to Select Lenses for Creative Photography

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By Blue Gaia
eHow Contributing Writer

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Select Lenses for Creative Photography

In creative photography a photographer can use different camera lenses to create desired effects or to simplify the shooting procedure. Camera lenses establish focal length, angle and depth of field. Normal lenses, wide-angle lenses, telephoto and zoom lenses are examples of different effects that a photographer can create with adept uses of lenses.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Approach your subject with a normal lens. When the focal length of a lens is approximately the same as the diagonal of the film, the lens is considered to be normal. A normal lens, 50mm, best approximates the view of the human eye in range and size of objects. This is the lens of the purist.
Step 2

Select a wide-angle lens if you want to include more of your subject in a frame. A wide-angle lens allows the photographer to be close to her subject and include more space as if she were more distant to the subject. Perspective is an issue. Size becomes distorted and distance alters. These considerations can be creatively applied and resolved with interesting effects. A wide-angle lens offers greatly enhanced depth-of-field. The photographer need not refocus as often as with a normal lens.
Step 3

Use a telephoto or long lens to photograph distant objects and bring them into close examination. Telephoto lenses have extremely limited depth-of-field. A long lens works well with certain subjects such as wildlife, which are best photographed from a distance. Surroundings will blur, but that can be used to creative effect. A blur of dense brush framing a baboon has creative potential for the frame. The subject is the undisputed focal point of the shot. Generally, for 35mm cameras, 85mm to 105mm long lenses are the most useful and practical. Some longer lenses are extremely heavy.
Step 4

Consider the attributes of a zoom lens, which is several lenses in one. A zoom lens has variable focal length. This means that you can adjust for close-up, wide-angle as well as distant, telephoto shots. Some zoom lenses include a macro feature. Convenience in a shifting environment is an attractive feature of the zoom lens. Some experts think that it is best to use a zoom lens that ranges from 43mm to 86mm. Lenses of greater range create a loss off sharpness.