Can I Make More Of A Wide Angle

CaptainPenguin

CaptainPenguin

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Nigel Cliff
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I will say at the start that I am not a regular landscape of Architecural photographer but I do take these types of shots that are more associated with wide angle lenses,however I find that 99% of the time my 24-85 lens (38mm equivalent at the wide end) is absolutely fine which is why I am ditching my 17-35.

So how about others do you have an ultra wide that gathers dust most of the time or am I missing the point and is there something I could do with a wider angle in my favoured areas of Football,Canals and Steam Railways
 
Ultra wide with steam trains could make for some impressively imposing images I think.
 
steve.82 said:
Ultra wide with steam trains could make for some impressively imposing images I think.
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That thought had crossed my mind Steve however you are talking static engine shots in the station or yard where you may get unwanted people in the shot,no way even with a lineside pass am I getting low and close to 50 tons of train hammering past me at 30MPH although SWMBO may look at our life insurance and think its a good idea
 
My 12-24mm is my most used zoom on my 20D.

You can use a wide for getting it all in but you can use it for more too. They're great for capturing what's going on and context and relationship as opposed to isolating a part of a subject from it's whole or from it's wider surroundings, they're great for creativity and although aspect and DoF are the same regardless of focal length a wide can create illusions of extremes and they're also great for capturing scale and sweep.

Overall I think that a wide lens is the most creative and flexible lens that you can use.
 
CaptainPenguin said:
That thought had crossed my mind Steve however you are talking static engine shots in the station or yard where you may get unwanted people in the shot,no way even with a lineside pass am I getting low and close to 50 tons of train hammering past me at 30MPH although SWMBO may look at our life insurance and think its a good idea
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ND filter/welding glass and a ridiculously long exposure?
 
Even stranger vision surround by steam and an old engine... might make a good pic!
 
I have the Sigma 10-20mm, and love the lens, I'll never get rid of it.

It's always in my bag, but not always a lens I'll stick on the camera. Sometimes I'll go a few days with it being the only lens I use, sometimes it'll go a couple of weeks without being used, but it's nice knowing it's in the bag for when I do want/need it.

I've used the 10-20 a bunch along Lancaster Canal, with various things in the background doing timelapse stuff, very useful with the NDs and ND grads.

Like Steve said, something like a B+W 10 stop ND should take care of the people really well for the trains. It might be worth doing 2 exposures, one regular shot without the ND, then one with the ND so you can layer them in Photoshop and bring your nice sharp steam back into the shot with a layer mask.
 
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