A Warning to Long Lens Shooters: Heat Wave Distortion

We’ve all seen heat waves rising up from the asphalt of a hot road in the summertime. But did you know that this same effect happens across all types of open area environments? In this informational video, nature and wildlife photographer Steve Perry demonstrates what long lens shooters need to look out for in order to preserve sharpness in their images.

As Steve explains, visible heat waves near the Earth’s surface are not limited to roadways. This distortion effect may occur over any open area where the sun warms the ground, such as meadows, fields, deserts, and beaches. Heat waves can also happen at any temperature, even when it is below freezing. Additionally, non-natural open areas may be a culprit. Shooting over the hood of a warmed vehicle or from the inside of a heated car can have detrimental results.

Long lens shooters are especially affected by visible heat waves. Telephoto lenses will optically compress the warping effect resulting in soft images and inaccurate autofocus. Steve claims that quality loss from heat wave distortion presents itself most noticeably when going beyond 150mm-200mm focal lengths.

Now that we understand the problem, what can we do to fix it? Unfortunately, there is no clear easy-step solution. In some instances, you might be able to change your position in relation to your subject so that you are shooting over less open air. Sometimes, as Steve admits, you’ll just have to wait for some overcast skies or shoot at a different time of day such as sunrise or sunset.

By being aware that this issue sometimes crops up will help you consider a better approach to long lens photography. Making simple adjustments to your future shooting methods, such as avoiding snaps from over your car hood or shooting at more appropriate times, will prove this as valuable lesson.