Style Week Posts:
Selina Maitreya Day One
Daron Shade Day Two
Christian O’Dell Day Three
Ivar Teunissen
Kirk Tuck Day Five

Point of View is a defining piece of a photographer’s style. Where is the camera in relationship to the subject? It can be confrontational and direct, low and obscure, or simply a ‘static’ device there to render a moment.

Lens choice can make a huge difference as well. From the expanded spatial associations of a wide angle lens to the distance compression of super telephotos, the choice of lens is usually a stylistic one.

Look at these photographers and notice the lens choices they make. Remember we are looking only at lens choice:

Dave Hill
Earnst Haas
Jay Maisel

Noticing the lens choice of a photographer can tell you a bit about their style.

Assignment:
Choose three of your images where the lens choice is particularly noticeable… a very long telephoto or a wide angle shot.

Ask yourself why you chose that lens. The compression of space can create a different emotional charge than a very closeup shot with a wide angle. Isolation is prominent in both lens choices, but it has a much different way of presenting it. Isolating with a wide angle has so much more environment to be set off against, while the compression isolates subject from background with a different feeling of relationship. Add to the telephoto some shallow Depth of Field and we have a much different shot.

What were your reasons for the lens choice? Was it to isolate or include? Separate or distinguish? Think about which ones you like the most.

Personally I like wide angles for the isolation and environmental inclusion and I love the compressed space of a telephoto… the ability of the lens to ‘flatten’ subjects into nearly a two dimensional plane. And the lens I will probably never buy is the 24-70MM – I am simply not interested in that range at all. Yes, I have a fast 50 for those times when I need it, but usually a 20-35 and a 70-200 is all I need. Stylistically that is… as a commercial photographer there are times you are choosing the correct lens for the project at hand.

Now let’s talk to Ivar Teunissen (@iamivar), an emerging photographer in the Netherlands. I met Ivar through Twitter and he graciously arranged a time to chat… it was noon30 where I was, and very late where he was. Here is the Audio Clip, and below are some of Ivar’s images.

Thanks. If you follow me on twitter, you know that I am traveling this week. I do hope you all are having a great week. Workshop information is at Learn to Light… see you next time.