I Got A New Lens
(28mm)
Now THIS is a Street Scene (taken with a new lens)
I must admit that part of the fun with photography is the gear. And some of the most fun pieces of equipment are lenses. New lenses means new perspective and coverage. My new lens is a 28mm wide angle lens, just slightly wider than my 35mm which is my most used lens (our entire Cuba trip was photographed with the 35). These two lenses are pretty close with regard to characteristics and coverage (angle of view) but different enough to me to provide some “more” of what the 35mm has.
You are all probably pretty familiar with the 28mm focal length and perspective. More on that at the end of the blog.
I have always leaned toward wide angle lenses. I think that’s because I generally like to construct images that compel the viewers to move their eyes around the scene. And I like the close/far perspective of wide angle.
Judy and I were at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest over the weekend and I felt that would be a good testing ground to put the 28mm lens to work. Yep…that photo above surely demonstrates wide angle…and (I hope) makes you move your eye around the scene, By the way, he was a very nice guy…we spent about 5-10 minutes chatting.
On Dearborn Street at the Lit Fest
The photo above is definitely a “street photography” style. And I was able to pack a lot into the frame. It will take time to get used to a new lens, so it’s good to go out and find scenes like this.
Hanging out at the Lit Fest
It’s easy to photograph people at an event! Especially a vendor. People are used to seeing cameras and people taking photos. And I’m certainly not threatening or intrusive. Though, keep in mind, you’ve got to get CLOSE when taking photos with a wide angle lens.
Leaning Along the Wall at the Dearborn Station
Frankly, I just thought this couple looked sweet, so I got as close as I could without disturbing them. We didn’t speak. I felt the post added a compositional element…a bonus of the coverage of a new lens (wide angle).
Alleys Can Be Fun
This is gonna sound funny, but I like alleys for finding photo possibilities. One can frequently find interesting components and the perspective is enhanced by a wide angle lens. I like the way the light bounced from and reflected from the doors and the wet, extended puddle on the right side. I stepped back to get the black manhole cover to give your eyes another thing to scan while viewing. Simple…and good practice, so to speak.
View from Above…South Loop (on Federal Street)
Parking Along an Old Building (South Loop)
Finishing off the blog with these two images of scenes in the South Loop of Chicago, on Federal (a very short Chicago street). No people visible, but a very graphic feel. And the drama of the shapes is enhanced by a new lens in my collection.
Do you know where else you probably have seen a 28mm lens? That’s the focal length of the iPhone camera!
Prime Wide Angle lenses are a great choice for street photography. It appears from the test images you have mastered what you can do with it. Dearborn Street at Lil Fest shows a multi level approach and the Alley image makes you look on both sides. The first image is interesting. Since we view images left to right, your eye follows to the end “V” and back to your subject. An interesting approach.
Have fun fine tuning your images with that lens.
Thanks for your comments and interesting observations, Stan. Always welcome your insights!!
Interesting that you noticed the man on the right instead of the left. I photographed both ways and liked this one more: better perspective of the street and I felt it compelled me to look around the frame more.
Yes…I lean toward wide angle for much of my photography. Since way back! Though I must admit, I have fun with all focal lengths. Sometimes I just slap on a lens randomly and walk around, seeing where it takes me.
Amazing!!!!
Thanks, Pamela! Appreciated.
WAIT, I, one of the million Vivian Maiers, use a 28mm lens??? Love how you educate thru your blog. I’m intimidated to comment after the knowledgeable Mr Kirscher who also contributes valuable insight.
Dearborn Street photo has 60’s overtones with the John And Yoko like subjects. The mother and child’s feet are barely touching the ground…..Beatles symbolism.
“Incredibles 2”- subjects are ideal with arms crossed and corn cob stripped bare and the observer walking into pic.
The Couple- vertical and horizontal composition. The couple with their canes and the post. Horizontal- blinds bricks, building detail. Awesome!!!
*wonder the purpose of post
Alley- I think a Superhero blazed a trail of glory to the black hole!!
Buildings- seriously, in a city of 2.7 million you found and empty street???
Nan– I love reading the comments that get posted! Fun for me to hear about what people notice in my photos. Some subtleties that I deliberately included and sometimes surprises (things I hadn’t noticed), too.
For example, the observer in the corn photo—I thought he would go unnoticed! But you DID notice. On the other hand, I had not noticed the symbolism in the “Dearborn Street” photo. Thanks for pointing it out to me even though it wasn’t my “plan.”
I think it’s fantastic that we all seem to see different things in photos. And draw different conclusions. Applies to reading, music, etc., too. Right?
Thank you SO much for your observations! Makes me smile.
Thank you. I always enjoy your photographs and really appreciated your explanations and the discussion.
Susanne–so glad you enjoy the photos and comments. I like sharing them both!
Thanks for stopping by.
I love how you capture your subjects. Not used to looking at black and white photos but it seemed to it fit well with your pictures. The alley shot was a little eerie to me. Again amazing pictures.
Interesting…I was wondering if anyone would mention that all the photos are black and white! I feel like that’s my preference, generally. Part of the advantage of digital over film for me–one can do either or both!
Who knows…next time I may be in a color mood! haha (But, I’ve read that some people think we should pick one and use that as part of a style. I dunno.)
Don’t worry…the alley was harmless, though it looked quite dramatic with the puddles and light.
Always glad to see you stop by, Debbie. Thanks.
Beautiful shots. I think wider angle pictures always look better in B&W; you pay more attention to the composition rather than the color. The halo lighting along the center of the alley shot is particularly nice. Always enjoy your pics.
Thanks much, Mark!
I do like the feel of the composition of a wide angle lens…gives the ability to move around the image, so to speak. Longer lenses, on the other hand, give the opportunity to zero in on details more. I just saw a podcast about the famous image, “Afghan Girl” by Steve McCurry which demonstrates that. (I believe it was taken with a 100m or so lens.) Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfyVOX6jVQw&t=8s
wow.
Great comments by everyone and so interesting to read what each individual sees in each photo. Yes, it is like what we experience in our book club discussions. We never know what another reader keys in on, nor how things will be interpreted. I love seeing what you saw while I was listening in on author interviews and presentations. Sharing our days together but individually occupied gives us much to share and discuss over our following dinners (this time at Publican in Fulton Market).
YES! That IS part of the overall experience for me, too…going over things with you afterwards. Gives us a chance to bounce around ideas and observations.
Thanks, Pardner!
I also enjoy wide angle. You can pack so much into the frame, and in B&W the contrasts are that much more evident. I only recently got a new ‘beginners’ dslr that I’m using mainly for documenting my own work. I still use my iPhone regularly and especially enjoy the panoramic setting, which is about as wide as I could ask for.
Your work (no surprise) looks great. Were these pictures taken in 1950’s, 60’s, 80’s, 90’s? Only the cars give it away. The best thing about B&W is that no matter when or where the pictures were taken there’s always this look of timelessness about them.
Interesting observations and comments, Jonathan! Thanks so much.
There is a certain timeless feel to some b7w images…I agree. To flip things around, have you ever seen OLD photos (from the turn of the last century) that were taken in color? I feel disoriented seeing those sometimes because it’s not what we expect to see from that era. “Wait…d’you mean their clothes were actually brightly colored?” haha
Enjoy your new camera!
Although I lack the educated particulars, I echo the previous comment – these works do look timeless. I feel like I’m watching the old Untouchables TV show.
Hmmmm…interesting. I think that’s a good thing. The Untouchables featured dramatic, dark shadows and nuanced lighting. So, besides being b&w, you might be referring to the particular character and style of the show.
IF that’s the case, I think the grey, rainy atmosphere when I took the photos may have contributed to that “feel” in the photos.
Thanks for commenting!
Cool stuff, especially the vertical ones!
Thanks, Jordan.
I feel like horizontal (landscape) has gotten more acceptance lately. Probably influenced by social media practices and preferences. But I still do both vertical and horizontal, depending on how I interpret the composition. Also square and 16×9 (which I believe is being used more and more lately–cinematic/wide screen perspective).
Love all the photos but the one that remains with me is the first one. Something about the smile on his face made me wonder what he was thinking about when you took the photo. Kept going back to that one. Kept my interest. Was he a buyer, a looker, meeting someone or some sort of security. The black and white change ones perspective. Love that your photos make me think.
Keep on keeping on…
SOOO glad to hear your reflection and reaction! Always interested in that…
As it turns out, I took a few photos of him with him on the left and looking at the camera. I asked him to move so I could get a better angle of the street and by then, I think he was relaxed and we were having fun. I like that he is not looking at the camera because I think it made for a better expression and also allows some mystery.
Very nice guy.
Thanks, Jackie!
“You had me at alley”. Now I am hooked on your blog. I need to share this blog with a woman I work with. I think you may be soul mates. She is an artist. I will “hook you guys up”. I told her about you after she gave me one of her oil paintings she made from a photo she took.
Great! Lemme know.
And, glad you’re hooked. Haha.
Thanks, Benita!