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Lenses and Perspective

Lesson 39 from: Mastering Photographic Composition and Visual Storytelling

Chris Weston

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Lesson Info

39. Lenses and Perspective

Next Lesson: Rule of Thirds

Lessons

Class Trailer
1

Your 10,001st Photograph

03:24
2

Camera Gear

03:03
3

Piece of Gear We Always Forget

03:47
4

Be a Storyteller

03:09
5

Finding Ideas For Photography - Know Your Subject

06:59
6

Cae Study - Why Are Zebras Black and White Striped

01:30
7

Photograph What You Love

02:00
8

See the Extraordinary in Ordinary Things

01:31

Lesson Info

Lenses and Perspective

there's a common misnomer that lenses affect Perspective is not true. Altering focal length causes changes in the gestalt figure and ground relationship because of distortion or angle of view. Is the objects in the scene that a changing, which means lenses, effect perceived reality. But they don't directly affect perspective. Now, using a set of images of this statue shot at varying focal lengths, let me show you what's happening in the figure ground relationship and how our mind is interpreting the data it receives. This first images shot with a 50 millimeters standard lens, which is the lens that has the angle of view closest to human vision. Note the size of the main subject, which is our figure in the figure ground relationship and the size of the objects in the background, which form the ground. Now I'm going to change to a wider focal length, and I'm going to move closer to the subject to maintain its size in the frame. Look what's happened to the objects in the background. They'...

ve become smaller on because they're smaller. Our mind perceived them as being further away. This is the reason wide angle lenses are said to expand space they don't down mind interprets smaller background objects as meaning more space. This is distortion. Now I'm going to switch to telephoto, and this time I'm going to move further back again to keep the subject the same size in the frame. Look what happens to the background This time. The objects are again distorted, appearing larger on because they seem larger. Our mind perceives them as being closer again. This is distortion. Telephoto lenses are said to compress space again. This isn't the case. It's our mind that's interpreting larger background objects as being closer. Now let's see what happens when I repeat the exercise. But this time I stay put, keeping the same camera to subject distance. Notice how the figure ground relationship remains exactly the same in that the objects in the background are the same size. In each scene, there is no distortion. But look at how the amount of ground changes compared to the standard lens. The wide angle has included more ground on the telly photo less in this example, altering focal length has changed angle of view to include more or less of the scene. In other words, focal length simply affects the crop lenses have no direct effect on perspective. Perspective changes only when the photographer changes position and camera angle relative to the subject, you change perspective lenses don't no.

Ratings and Reviews

Edmund Cheung
 

Perhaps the style of presentation and simple, short, and direct messaging does not "jive" with some; but others may really love this. Yes the production of each episode is stylized and perhaps a bit formal (like a TV Show?), but there is something to be said about it. Perhaps this is not meant for professional photographers? I think of myself as decent amateur / high level photographer. I found lots of great nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from this. Especially when I an in a rut for creativity. Yes I have heard all these concepts and ideas before. BUT it is always great to hear and see a different way of presentation and voice. Please do NOT take the naysayer reviews as the end all. You should judge for yourself and watch a few episodes. If the style and content click for you, I would highly recommend this course.

Abdullah Alahmari
 

Thanks a lot to mr. Chris Weston This course is great and It is a 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 course for me. Beside the other course ( mastering the art of photography ) both courses are Complementing to each other and highly recommended.

Kai Atherton
 

While I am perhaps more advanced in my photography then this course. It is always great to be able to go back to fundamentals and remind ourselves of the basic principles, and even camera function. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and Chris's other. It is a great motivational jumpstart when lacking fresh creative idea's.

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