6 Important Lessons Learned From Shooting With Long Lenses

Shooting with long telephotos lenses is an entirely different experience that requires some specialized techniques and considerations. If you are new to working with those extra-long focal lengths and looking for some helpful advice to ensure you get the best possible shots, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses six important lessons. 

Coming to you from Bobby Tonelli, this interesting video tutorial details six important lessons learned from shooting with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR SNIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, and NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S lenses. I think one of the most important lessons I had to learn when I first used such lenses was the importance of reading the lighting, even from far away. Such lenses are normally used for things like photographing sports or birds, where you are trying to keep up with fast action, and as such, you might be totally focused on capturing your subject, but of course, good light still matters. If you can, try to read the light beforehand and position yourself so your subject wanders into the good light rather than trying to find it in a split-second. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Tonelli.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments
2 Comments

You speak quite fast. That stresses to listen to your voice. No pleasure to me to watch the movie.

What I learned from the video.

1. He understands using a slower shutter speed and panning to give a sense of motion to cars and bicycles.

2. He hasn't learned to use slow shutter speeds on prop planes and helicopters. These things don't fly if the fan-blade-thingy doesn't go round and round like the wheels on the bus. Slow the shutter speed and let the propellers and rotors blur a little or a lot.

3. He didn't speak much about shooting with long lenses. Much of what he said applies to most photography. His bit about light for instance. How is that different with long lenses than other lenses? Direction of light is always something to take into account unless you are stuck in one place.