Shifting Perspective with B&H Photo
Happy First Day of October, guys!
I’m currently in the thick of foliage hunting season, but wanted to revisit some favorite memories from summer (I know, I know, I’m very behind!). On my recent trip to Newfoundland, I really wanted to challenge myself to get outside my ‘lens comfort zone’. For reference , I shoot with a Canon 5D mk iii, and usually have my lens set around 50mm. My friends over at B&H - an NYC staple - were super excited to help me step up my creative process. If you’ve ever visited the store in person, it’s easy to see for yourself how passionate and knowledgable the staff are on the products they represent. With my “perspective challenge” in mind, they sent me out with a trusty 24-70 2.8mm, and then upped the ante by adding a 70-200 2.8mm to my kit. This is a lens I’ve only ever shot with once before! To round out the experiment, I also brought along a 14mm lens.
The first shot below is a typical comfort zone shot for me. A landscape, shot at 45mm on a 24-70mm lens. For landscapes especially, I don’t really like to shoot super wide, as that always felt like a quick way to lose the scale. When I tested the 14mm in the same location, the lens distortion was definitely too noticeable. I’ve used that distortion in the past to manipulate scale, but for these two scenarios, the 24-70mm was the best fit.
Now on to the 70-200mm. I’ll admit, I found this lens pretty daunting at first - it’s a heavy piece of glass!! It really wasn’t until I focused on architectural elements that I started warming up to it. Newfoundland has countless charming fishing villages, most nestled right alongside the cliff edges on the coast. I loved how the extra focal length let me dial in on the details, and come away with imagery that would have otherwise been too far off if I was shooting with the 24-70mm.
The more I used the 70-200mm, the more it inspired me to try new ideas with my set ups. When I share images on my Instagram, I love the carousel feature - as it lets me tell a well rounded story of a location. With the different lenses, I felt like switching the focal length enhanced the way I told a landscape’s story! Below are two scenarios where I felt the combination of multiple lenses really helped highlight different features of a single location. Using the 70-200mm helped both dial in on the subject when I was positioned further back, the 24-70mm letting me focus on the subject nearby.
When I started this trip, I definitely found it difficult to get outside my comfort zone. But by the end, I was constantly changing my lens out! It became a super fun and engaging practice of just noticing what I was focused on, and what else could be found in the frame. I’m so fortunate that B&H gave me this opportunity to encourage and challenge my creative process. They are truly a company that care not just about the products they sell, but how their products can drive you to reach your creative potential! I’d love to hear from you guys, and how your equipment has enhanced your work flow! Linking lens specs below, if you’re interested in trying them out for yourself!
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
x
J.