Telephoto lenses aren't always the first thing you think of when photographing landscapes, but they're crucial if you want to simplify scenes and highlight what's truly compelling. Landscapes aren’t just wide, sweeping vistas—they’re also about selecting elements that tell a clearer story.
Coming to you from Andy Mumford, this thoughtful video explains why telephoto lenses, especially those in the 100–400mm range, might quickly become essential in your landscape kit. Mumford initially believed a wide angle lens was enough but soon realized its limitations. Wide angle lenses capture everything in front of you—sometimes too much—leading to cluttered images or unnecessary elements. By using a telephoto lens, Mumford demonstrates how you can carefully select just the most impactful parts of the landscape, like specific mountains, patterns, or shapes, leaving distractions behind.
One strength of telephoto lenses is their ability to simplify an image by removing unnecessary details. Mumford calls this subtraction—the careful removal of unwanted elements until you're left only with what matters most. When your photos contain fewer distracting elements, viewers connect more quickly with what you're trying to show. He shares examples from Namibia, where excluding dull skies or featureless foregrounds transformed average scenes into striking compositions. This technique effectively keeps viewers' eyes exactly where you want them, without wandering into irrelevant parts of the frame. Mumford also explains how cropping into a scene can add intimacy, as it creates a sense of closeness rather than showing a distant, expansive landscape.
Another compelling advantage Mumford discusses is the sense of scale you achieve with a telephoto lens. He shows examples where intentionally cutting off the tops of dunes or waterfalls activates your imagination—you can't see where these structures end, so they appear more immense. Small foreground elements, such as a figure or a tree, amplify this sense of scale even further. This imaginative approach helps create powerful, memorable images that provoke curiosity and wonder, inviting viewers to mentally explore beyond the frame.
Compression is another key benefit of telephoto lenses that Mumford covers. This effect brings distant elements closer together, creating layers and adding depth to your photos. He illustrates how layers in mountain ranges or misty scenes become visually interesting and expressive, turning a flat landscape into something multi-dimensional. Compressing layers enhances visual rhythm and helps emphasize natural patterns, turning complex scenery into simplified, clear images that feel harmonious and balanced.
Beyond simplifying landscapes, Mumford also touches on abstract photography—using telephoto lenses to isolate shapes, lines, or repeated patterns. He cautions that abstract photography is harder than it might appear, as it requires thoughtful selection and precise framing. Telephoto lenses make it possible by offering the reach needed to exclude distractions and hone in on exactly what interests you most about a scene.
Mumford also shares a practical consideration: versatility. Having a longer telephoto lens—such as a 100–400mm—allows you to capture wildlife without carrying additional gear. As cameras and lenses have improved, there's more crossover between wildlife and landscape photography. A telephoto lens allows you to spontaneously capture animal encounters, enriching your overall photographic experience. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Mumford.
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!”
