{"id":20138,"date":"2021-08-19T07:40:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T14:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picsart.com\/blog\/post\/how-to-use-wide-angle-lenses-effectively"},"modified":"2021-08-19T11:19:15","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T18:19:15","slug":"how-to-use-wide-angle-lenses-effectively","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picsart.com\/blog\/how-to-use-wide-angle-lenses-effectively\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Photos Like a Pro: How to Use a Wide-Angle Lens Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps the age of cellphone photography has spoiled us. We can take the perfect portrait by holding our phone up vertically and choosing a setting that casts studio lighting on the photo. Then, we can turn our phone horizontally and snap a wide-reaching landscape. We can even tap on the panoramic function and capture a 360-degree view. When we want to take a hyper-realistic shot of a bloom, we can select macro mode. We can do all of this and more without setting up a tripod or switching out even a single lens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While cellphone cameras may be versatile, they aren’t perfect either. Ease is one thing, but nothing beats a good, old-fashioned analog or digital camera’s quality. Sure, it’s a bit more work to switch out lenses and learn how to maneuver more complex settings, but it’s enjoyable, worthwhile work that leads to great results. Being completely in control of every little aspect of a photo allows you to get the perfect shot almost all of the time. Below, we’ll look at why and how to take pictures with a wide-angle lens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Basics of a Wide-Angle Lens<\/b><\/h3>\n

A wide-angle lens is an everyday staple in a photographer\u2019s toolkit. This type of attachment has <\/span>a shallow focal length<\/span><\/a> and can capture \u2013 as the name implies \u2013 wide scenes. Continuing in the line of thinking from above, you can approximate the effect of a wide-angle lens to that of turning your phone horizontally to take a picture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The shallow focal length of a wide-angle lens means that it has, in turn, <\/span>great depth of field<\/span><\/a>. That means this type of lens goes not only wide but also long. For this reason, wide-angle lenses are a favorite among landscape photographers. We\u2019ll delve deeper into appropriate uses for this kind of lens below, but for now, hold onto this idea as it will help you visualize the type of photos a wide-angle lens takes. You\u2019ve seen many sharp, stretching landscape photos, and whether or not you knew the photographer took with a wide-angle lens at the time, these crisp, layered photos serve as a perfect point of reference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pros & Cons\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Wide-angle lenses, like anything in this life, aren’t perfect all the time. While they are a helpful addition to any photographer’s line-up, they won’t work for every setting either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The primary drawback of a wide-angle lens is that it distorts certain subjects. As mentioned above, this type of lens is perfect for landscapes; it helps keep everything sharp, deep, and focused. We can’t say the same for portraits. Wide-angle lenses will <\/span>warp the subject<\/span><\/a>, stretching out features, distorting the person’s face. One could argue that this, in and of itself, is a unique effect, and we won’t deny the possibility for an avant-garde creative moment here. That said, if you are trying to capture a person’s face as realistically as possible, you’ll want to avoid using a wide-angle lens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide-angle lenses can also distort angles in landscapes and urban shots if the photographer doesn’t compose the shot correctly. This effect is known as “<\/span>converging angles<\/span><\/a>” or “<\/span>keystone distortion<\/span><\/a>,” and it essentially means that if the camera is pointed upward or downward, objects in the photo will appear to lean in or away. Again, you can use this effect to your artistic advantage, but if you’re going for an even landscape that makes the viewer feel as if they are standing right in that space, you’ll need to make sure your wide-angle lens is pointing straight out at the horizon line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash<\/span><\/h6>\n

Getting The Right Shot: Why Use a Wide-Angle Lens<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n