Creative uses for a wide-angle lens

I know that most of you have heard of the wide-angle lens before. And also know that most of you think the wide-angle lens is meant to take pictures of a wide piece of real estate such as a landscape photograph.

Well, you can certainly use a wide-angle lens for that purpose, but in most cases, the landscape will look flat and lack detail because everything will appear so far away.

You see, when you think wide angle, you should think close up. That’s a strange way of thinking, but I promise when you start to use a wide-angle lens up close, you will find that this is where the magic happens.

A word of warning, if you shoot close up on a person, you will distort them. Noses will become bulbous, fingers will elongate, and all sorts of strange and interesting things will happen. While this might not always be a bad thing, it’s something that you should be keenly aware of, because you can use this to your advantage during composition.

I have found that if you use a wide-angle lens for landscapes, it’s extremely important to include some sort of foreground element as the main subject. In doing so, it will give depth to your imagery.

Also, the backgrounds that look so far away will become a supporting element instead of just creating a flat boring not so great image. Remember, when you think wide angle, think close up.

Here’s a look at a few images created with a wide-angle lens and my self-critique.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Now go grab a wide-angle lens and go have some fun.

This is a guest post by Thomas Shue — lilsamedia.com/blog