31.01.2012

TAOP Level 4.

Part 1. The Frame.

Focal lengths and different viewpoints.

Equipment: Canon G12 with 6.1mm-30.5mm lens.  28-130 equivalent.

For this exercise I returned to the Fisherman Stature by Deal Pier.

I took shots at the extremes of the the zoom range and filled the frame with the subject on each  occasion.  It was a grim, grey, overcast day  with poor light quality.

The telephoto shot is rather flat and the stature is not lifted out from its surroundings.  Even my low angle shot has not isolated it from the lamp-posts and flag-poles behind.  The picture merely records the statue but adds nothing to it.

The Wide angle shot is more dynamic and emphasizes the struggle between the fisherman and the fish.  The background clutter has been reduces in size and is far less distracting.

Getting in close to a subject adds drama and dynamism to a shot but can have unfortunate repercussions when applied to people.  Many a celeb shot features the perfect smile and upper body but out of proportion legs because it was taken close up with a wide angle lens.  It gives immediacy and urgency to the celeb shot and is forced on the photographer by the paparazzi scrum.  Such pictures, however,  do not show people at their best.

Tele-photo.

Wide-angle.