Landscape photographers often default to the wide angle lens when approaching grand scenes in the early part of their photography path. This video looks at simplifying these scenes with a telephoto lens to highlight the smaller details of a landscape.
Back in Death Valley National Park, landscape photographer Michael Shainblum utilizes his Sigma 100-400mm lens in the sand dunes of the park. While many would approach this area with a wide angle lens, he works through several compositions using his telephoto lens.
The 100-400mm lens allows Shainblum to pick out and isolate the details from the expansive landscape and simplify the composition. As he wanders the dunes, he talks about the details and elements he looks for, from patterns and textures to subtle tone shifts in the scene.
Shainblum also emphasizes the importance of walking around the scene, moving from spot to spot, and looking for the best angles. Small shifts in the position of the photographer can have a large impact on the strength of the final composition.
I continue to train my creative eye for these simpler scenes as I learn to see beyond the grand landscape. Watching Shainblum work and move through a location helps provide me with elements to practice in my own landscape photography.
