When was the last time you explored with just one lens, focusing solely on its unique perspective? Taking this approach can help you see familiar places in new ways and appreciate the versatility of your gear.
Coming to you from Brent Hall, this candid video focuses on using a 70-200mm f/4 lens for a mix of landscape and nature shots. Hall starts by addressing the lens’ versatility, particularly in capturing textures, sidelight, and intimate compositions that you might otherwise miss with a wide angle lens. Using medium focal lengths, Hall emphasizes finding new perspectives in well-trodden locations. This is especially valuable for anyone looking to challenge themselves by stepping away from typical landscapes. The video also touches on the importance of experimenting with settings like focus stacking and HDR techniques to enhance depth and dynamic range.
Hall shifts focus to the practical side of shooting, discussing gear decisions that prioritize flexibility and weight. He compares the 70-200mm f/4 lens with the RF 100-400mm lens, highlighting the trade-offs between sharpness, portability, and cost. While the 70-200mm excels in sharpness and build quality, the 100-400mm offers a longer reach at a lower price. This comparison underscores the importance of choosing equipment that aligns with your shooting goals and style. For wildlife enthusiasts, the extended focal length of the 100-400mm is invaluable. However, Hall’s choice to focus solely on the 70-200mm in this outing reflects a deliberate effort to reconnect with its strengths.
Another notable segment involves adapting to changing light conditions. As the sun dips lower, Hall demonstrates how sidelight creates stunning textures and contrast, ideal for capturing the unique rock formations and flora of the City of Rocks. He shares his thought process for composition, often experimenting with vertical and horizontal orientations to maximize the lens’s potential. The combination of a smaller aperture, like f/16, and the medium zoom range allows for sharp sunstars and layered landscapes that stand out in the golden hour light. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Hall.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
If you're going to "Rediscover Your Creativity with a Single Lens", make it a single-focal-length lens.Using a wide-range zoom is working around that, giving you a bunch of different focal lengths and a different look and feel working with each.
👆 Beat me to it. 😊
But it makes me wonder, are people with fixed-lens cameras more creative by default?
Me? 63 year old Nikon buyer since 1977 in HS.
I stopped using fixed focal length lenses about the time I went digital with my Nikon D40. I own the Holy Trinity of Nikon F2.8 zooms and use them less as I get older. I Never used zoom lenses with film, yet carrying a couple of film bodies with different lenses, I could shoot football (American) games to the center of the field from the sideline or a runner close to my by grabbing the other body and lens combo.
Never looked back at fixed focal length although I do sometimes use a 50mm F1.8 Dx and an 85mm F1.8 for portraits, usually at F2 for subject isolation.
Depending on the activity such as weddings, sports, or other events, I carry two Nikon D750 FX DLSR bodies, one with a 24-105mm F4 Nikon , the other with a 70-300mm Nikon Yes, there is focal length overlap, but I readily have wide to telephoto and with two of the same bodies, I do not have to think about settings or menu differences.
For other things like a short hike, I take my D7500 Dx DLSR with the 24-120mm F2.8-4 Nikon lens. I may put my Tru-Lens carrier on my belt with a Dx 10-20mm and a Dx 70-300 Nikon lenses (I do not like the way this carrier works with three lenses), keeping one slot open allows me to place the removed lens right on the carrier then grab a replacement lens to put on the body.
I usually carry a Nikon SB700 flash in a belt pouch, variable ND filters and Circular Polarizing filters as well as few adapter rings.
For quick sharing, my Samson Galaxy S21 Ultra works great. I rarely have to adjust colors, even in mixed museum lighting thanks to AI and localized image processing... I wish Nikon would catch on to this. Unfortunately, my modern DLSRs still operate on achieving the average exposure for the entire inafe, no note advanced than film a hundred years ago. Thank God for post processing.
Admittedly, my Nikon gear are the least connected devices I own. Nikon has not figured out that if I can afford $3,000 bodies and lenses (I own about 35 Nikon lenses) that I can easily afford another $500 for a built in cell phone and $100 a month cell service to connect my camera to the world (would ensure it has an Android OS allowing Apps for quick editing before sharing. Nikon Snap Bridge connects via Wi-Fi or BT to a smartphone but is the least intuitive piece of software I own be it MS Windoze, Linux, or Android based.