Exploring prime lenses in can significantly refine your skills and vision. It’s a path worth considering for those looking to focus on composition, visual weight, and other photographic elements without the distraction of multiple focal lengths.
Coming to you from Ben Harvey Photography, this insightful video features Harvey taking on a unique challenge throughout 2024. He’s swapping out a bag full of zoom lenses for one prime lens, hoping to channel his attention to more critical elements of photography. This approach aims to simplify decision-making regarding equipment, pushing him to be more creative with his shots. This method can indeed remove the paralysis of choice, but it might also mean missed opportunities where a zoom lens would be advantageous.
It’s important to understand the implications of opting for only a prime lens. Harvey starts his morning at Brighton seafront with just a 16mm lens. His choice is strategic, taking advantage of low tide to capture fascinating foreground details revealed by the receding water. A wide angle lens is beneficial in this scenario, providing a vast perspective that can effectively include interesting foreground, mid-ground, and background elements. Harvey highlights the advantages and challenges of using such a lens, noting how critical it is to get close to your subject and maintain compositional integrity to avoid keystoning.
Beyond its practical application, Harvey’s experiment encourages you to push beyond usual comfort zones. He advocates heading out in varied, even turbulent weather conditions to capture more dramatic imagery. His intention is clear – overcoming the tendency towards safe, pretty images in favor of raw, powerful shots borne out of challenging environments. Of course, be safe if you head out in such conditions.
Harvey’s deep dive into the specifics of wide angle lens usage also reveals a learning curve. Wide angle lenses require thoughtful use due to their propensity to distort verticals if the camera isn’t level. This makes careful composition and camera handling paramount. Such a challenge might lead you to discover new compositional techniques and problem-solving strategies in your photography practices. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Harvey.
