Hey there, fellow photography enthusiasts! Are you tired of seeing the world through the same old lens? Feeling like your photos are starting to look a bit… well, predictable? Fear not, for I have a tale to tell that might just change the way you view photography forever.
Picture this: a very hot and sunny day during our 4-day Angkor Photography Tour this March, a camera in hand, and a client with a broken 24-70mm lens using only a 70-200mm… In order to help her” as much as I could I had to switch my mind and see the world as she could only see it!
I embrace the challenge, of course! Instead of sticking to my trusty 35mm lens, I decided to step out of my comfort zone too and reach for the 85mm (similar range as the 70-200mm). Yes, you heard that right – the 85mm! It was like venturing into a land where bokeh reigns supreme and perspectives shift in mysterious ways in one of my favorite days near Siem Reap.
As I embarked on this lens-tastic journey with my client, something magical happened. I started to see the world through her eyes, quite literally. The familiar subjects I had photographed a million times before suddenly took on a whole new life. The narrow field of view forced me to frame my shots differently, to pay attention to details I had previously overlooked. It was like rediscovering photography all over again, one click at a time.
In a way nothing changed as I still engaged and interacted with our encounters but this time from distance due to the narrow field of view offered by the 85mm and the results were nothing short of spectacular, I think. I mean YOU should tell me!
The images I captured with the 85mm had a certain “je ne sais quoi”, a unique quality that set them apart from my usual work. The bokeh was buttery smooth, the subject isolation sublime. It was like I had unlocked a secret door to a hidden realm of photographic possibilities, all thanks to a simple switch of lenses and my guest had equal and even better opportunities!
So, dear reader, I implore you – step out of your comfort zone. Put down that familiar lens and pick up something new, something different especially when you shoot in a well know environment. Whether it’s a prime lens, a zoom lens, or even a quirky fisheye lens, dare to experiment. Challenge yourself to see the world in a different way, to capture moments from a fresh perspective.
And hey, don’t just take my word for it. Tell me, what’s your favorite lens? Have you ever tried something completely out of the ordinary?
Share your tips, your tricks, your secrets with the world. Let’s inspire each other to push the boundaries of our creativity, one photograph at a time.