Wide Angle Lens tips?

[josh98052]

I feel pretty comfortable composing and shooting at normal focal lengths. I seem to just naturally position myself and don't normally need to move around too much to compose my shot.

I recently got a Tokina 12-24mm f/4 and am finding this isn't the case any longer. I am constantly having to reposition myself to compose all that extra space.

Any tips for composing with a wide angle lens?

Here is a shot I took earlier today at the Ballard Locks in Seattle,WA. I like how this shot turned out, but it was a struggle to get in a reasonable position.

https://hal98052.homeserver.com/POEs...91909_2002.jpg
Nikon D60
Tokina 12-24mm f/4
90mm
f/7.1
1/200 sec.
ISO 100
Cropped in Lightroom

uncropped
https://hal98052.homeserver.com/POEs...909_2002-2.jpg

[Nicole]

With my wide angle, I find myself either using somewhat centred shots (and utilising that massive wide angle symmetry) or playing with angles and the corners of the shot. I think part of the trick is reminding yourself that you need to find something interesting while making sure that you're not getting essentially too much in the frame. It's kind of like, finding something to anchor the shot.

Some examples of some of my fav wide angle shots that I've taken to try to illustrate how I like to compose when using my 10-20mm lens:



With this one (ok, my main goal was getting that gorgeous light on the sculpture), but I also wanted to play with putting the focus on the upper left and lower-ish right. It's not centred, and there is more landscape there (like the reflecting clouds), but there's something to anchor the shot.



I pulled this one out because of the idea of ways to photograph a boardwalk / wood walkway sort of situation. Not necessarily something that would work in your location, but my goal was to fill the bottom with the pathway leading the eye down the sidewalk and up into the sky.



Another landscape where I've tried to use the idea of anchoring the shot using something. In this case, it's the cement thing at the front of the shot.

So that's where I'm coming from when I say that it feels like the composition is trying to get everything and needs some sort of focus / anchor.

[OsmosisStudios]

The real trick, as Nicole has demonstrated rather artfully, is getting some kind of interest in the foreground. As she mentionned, you'll either spend your time centering things, or getting them into corners. That's where they belong with an ultra-wide, anyway.

[josh98052]

Thanks for the input, this is exactly what I was looking for.

Looking through the pictures I took today, I can see that the images I 'anchored' with a foreground object or with something to add perspective look the best and demonstrate the exaggerated focal length.

I can see this is going to be a challenge ( a fun challenge ).

[beth0b]

Also, check out this article:

6 Winning Ways to Work Wide

[diputs]

I am also new to wide angle, but here are my 2 cents.

Don't just get closer, but also change the height at which you are taking the photos. I think my better (not great, but better) pictures are taken when I get as close to the ground as possible.

[dcclark]

I highly recommend getting much closer than you expect. I almost always find myself within a few feet (if not inches) of my subjects with my Nikon 10-24. Subtle shifts in body position can radically change the composition, so try moving your muscles slightly. It can really make a difference!

[kirbinster]

Yes getting clos can get you some interesting shots. I took one of a Donkey's face today with my 18-200mm at 18mm where I was about 8" from the animals face.

[RussHeath]

Great examples, Nicole! I completely agree. Your best bet with ultrawides is to have either a very close, very dominant foreground object:



Or use symmetry:



Or both:



If you don't like your shots, get closer!

[zappo]

I completly agree with was said above, and only want to add one thing: You can use the wide angle for shots that break the "normal" rules. The view ist just strange for most pictures and you can use this as an advantage to do things out of the ordinary.

Most ultra wide lenses have quite a bit of distortion, use this to make shots the viewer finds some kind of awkward (but don't overdo ist )

Some examples from myself:
Bild: Dreistes Model | VIEW Fotocommunity
Bild: Wer hat Angst... | VIEW Fotocommunity

And a link to someone who really spezialized in this kind of things (and is truly a master as I think):
Fotos von Sebastian Niehoff - Fotografin aus Wanne-Eickel - fotocommunity.de