Choosing the RIGHT LENS - Why Focal Length MATTERS
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- CHOOSING THE RIGHT LENS - WHY FOCAL LENGTH MATTERS //
Choosing the right focal length is much more than about creating a flattering portrait or being able to fit everything you want into your frame. Your choice of lens changes the dynamic of your image and the psychological meaning the audience will derive from it. In this video essay, I examine how different focal lengths can be used to communicate different messages to your audience.
*CORRECTION*
I've just noticed that the image @ 3:39 is incorrectly labelled. It's by John Bulmer. Apologies.
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FILMS AND TV REFERENCED IN THIS ESSAY
'Jaws'
Universal Pictures, 1975
'No Country for Old Men'
Miramax Films, 2007
'The Man Who Wasn't There'
Entertainment Film Distributors, 2001
'Barton Fink'
Universal Pictures, 1991
'The Big Lebowski'
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1998
'Call Me by Your Name'
Sony Pictures Classics, 2017
'Fallen Angels'
Kino International, 1995
'The Graduate'
United Artists, 1967
'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'
Netflix, 2018
'Doctor Who'
BBC One, 2018
'The Handmaid's Tale'
Hulu, 2017
'Killing Eve'
BBC America, 2018
All copyrighted content used for the purposes of commentary and education under the 'Fair Use Act' (sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988)
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♫ Music
● Todd Siesel, "Boom Bap"
/ todd-siesel
● Music during animated essay: Composition performed by me.
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Video essays. You've raised the quality of RUclips.
"quality of RUclips" lol
8k quality
Quality of uptight and obnoxious. :(
@@leonie9248 :P
Agreed! Just outstanding on every level!
This is probably the best video on focal length and one of the rare videos on youtube that is actually about photography/cinematography. It was very refreshing and inspiring to see. A needed change from what you usually get on RUclips. Just thinly veiled shilling for gear and workshops book ended by simple tips we've heard 100 times and most people pick up in their first week of learning. This is how you make a video about equipment. You related to the actual craft and art the gear is used for instead of analyzing it in isolation as a technical exorcise. Most people talk about lenses in isolation from actual photography as if these things are made for some engineering purpose instead of artistic expression. I once tried to tell people arguing about zooms vs primes on a popular forum that you should be picking the focal length on purpose for the look you want and the feeling you want to convey anyway so the argument was silly. Because either way you should not just zoom or walk closer to fill the frame as it changes the whole look and feeling of the image. But these people really couldn't' understand it. They argued all you were doing was cropping with the lens so it didn't matter what focal length you were at as long as you "filled the frame" and used a "portrait" lens for portraits SMH. Stay off of forums. They are full of gear heads who know nothing about actual photography or cinematography and just want to "be right" on forums to look good. Oh and show off how much money the spent on their new expensive f/1.4 lens they didn't' really need and that will mostly sit on shelf while they argue on forums anyway.
That's often the case: the people talking about it are rarely the ones doing it 😅
This might sound weird and I don't have enough time to explain it fully - but I have a theory that this very thing you're describing is a product of public education. It's a sort of classically, AND operantly conditioning process that makes people very thoroughly in boxes. People who actually LOOK for rules to follow, because they can't think artistically. Basically, because of technology and what not - lots of nonartists are able to dabble.
@@gopolarisstudio josh885 - I totally agree about the tech heads, they really have a problem with expressing ideas about the actual use of an object. Whether it be a camera, lens or a set-up for a portrait, there seems to be a lack of education regarding the "why" and "how" of the thing. It becomes intensely boring to listen to another explanation about how cool and dope a lens is, when clearly the reviewer has little experience in using it, therefore, they haven't experienced the effects and the possibilities at all. Jamie is spot on in going for the nugget of the matter and showing us ideas regarding the artistic side of the business. To be a great photographer who understands their art, and a great business person, can only be a more power to you situation.
One thing to note though is that actually there's a cool effect that no matter what focal length you're on, cropping, moving, whatever - it's actually the exact same look.
Protect Jamie Windsor at all costs.
This is an uncommonly well written video. In a medium dominated by just-wing-it presentations - some of them quite good despite their casual origins - this essay demonstrates what disciplined writing can bring to an audience. The visuals are every bit as well curated as the narrative is written. I know we're all here for the photography & video information but, as a matter of composition, this piece by Jaime Windsor stands out in much the same way fine photographs stand out from snapshots. Both have value. One, exemplified by this I'll assert, offers more.
You are really good at telling stories
Wow. That was wayyyyyyyy better than I was expecting. I think you've slowly become my favourite photo-related RUclipsr!
Also, I have a degree in Sound Engineering (although I fully admit I'm not the best), I'd be more than happy to help with audio advice if you ever need it. But tbh, saying that, I've never found the audio to be an issue on your channel and I've watched the entire catalogue.
It's not the quality of the audio we should be paying attention to. It's the quality of what is being said. And, that is just superb.
I’m telling you, I see Jaimie Windsor, I click. 🤷🏻♂️
Same!
Totally agree... He should definitely be more popular.. Better than the childish shit others post riding around on Boosted Boards & click baiting..
I am glad to see that you are focusing on videos that discuss technique and photography as an art rather than the latest gear. Much appreciated.
With this background music, anyone else spend the video waiting for Aerosmith or Eminem to start playing?
I actually made the background track. It was based on the first 4 chords of _Dream On_ by Aerosmith and the 2nd 4 chords of _In A Broken Dream_ by Python Lee Jackson. I then experimented with different melodies and changing the bassline to create variations.
@@jamiewindsor Haha, interesting! Glad I'm not crazy for hearing Dream On in it, then!
@@jamiewindsor I thought Dream on will be playing! Great Video :D
@@jamiewindsor, you actually made the music to this!? I come to this video sometimes just to listen to it!
EXCELLENT conceptual video. I never stopped to think how lens focal length has evolved our perception of pretty much everything photographic. I wish more photographers would explore this side of the craft instead of endless technical reviews. Keep going! 10/10
"Most people use their phone cameras to take pictures of things rather than to create an aesthetically pleasing composition." Jamie, this is a brilliant bit of observation. It provides a perspective of how people view, use and define photographic technologies. Sierra Hotel!
Can't tell you how much I appreciate that you display the artist's name with each photo. I always end up doing an additional deep dive into great photographers.
Your style morph into something deeper and closer to you. It seems to me you’ve been finding your voice and because of that the expansion of your creativity. I love the story telling style, the view, the depth of understanding of the subject matter. Not just the audio, your Channel quality improve and getting close to perfection. I feel not just inspired or educated, but conditioned to see the world trough my lenses selectively.
Nicely stated Stan.
Jamie Windsor and Mike Browne cover everything that I need in photography from very different perspectives and neither fusses too much about gear. Keep up the good work.
I love your videos dude, The art and concepts around photography and videography, it's a refreshing change to all the gear videos out there. :)
I swear, everything this man puts out is a piece of art. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jamie.
Yah I def hit that bell.... Man. The value here and the presentation is next level!
This explains focal length in a way I haven't seen before... Learned alot thanks!
You’ve nailed the crossover between art and technology. Having a graphic design background is a big plus for you. Original and informative.
Hi Jamie! I've noticed that your videos aren't enabled for the community contribution. If that's a personal choice I totally get it, but if it's just something you never thought about I wanted to let you know that I'd love to translate your videos in Italian and I'm sure a lot of other people would do the same with other languages. Your work has reached an impressing level of quality and it would be great if it could reach non-English speakers too!
I quite agree. I would love to be able to help you reach more Portuguese speaking viewers since your videos are so brilliant and I know so many people who wouldn't be able to perceive everything on your videos, Jamie.
This was far too good to not comment!
So many nuggets of gold in such a detailed, informative & Inspiring video! Keep doing you’re thing, it’s a blessing to so many others.
Excellent as always. One thing though - at 05:20 ff. you state mobile phone lenses provide FOV similar to standard lenses shaping the way we see our world. I would argue that majority provide FOV closer to 28mm lens which dramatically alters our visual perception so much so that 28mm probably is the new 35mm.
I was about to comment this :)
And these days we tend to get 23mm-ish fields of view. A shame, imo.
EXCELLENT simplification of explaining the massive topic of focal length, specifically how it affects the image is seen by an everyday viewer
I love the 35mm/50mm focal lengths, but gods am I sick of seeing it abused by cellphone snapshots. 😅 So true that composing well with 35mm sets one apart. Thanks so much for your videos!
This deserves to be a 30-minute production with you well compensated Jamie. I stopped mid-multitasking to watch this. (If it was 30 minutes long I would have paused the video, poured myself a single malt, dimmed the lights, and then clicked play.) The David Attenborough of Photography. Thank you very much, I never before considered what you spoke about.
Oh my god. There's so many videos on focal length and what you should and should not do but this is the most helpful, just because it explains everything from a perspective on what feelings can be evoked rather than 'this distorts the face'. THANK YOU!!
I really like your videos. They reflect not only photographic skill, but that you have spetn a lot of time thinking about the WHY of photography, which is thought-provoking.
Your videos are among the very best on RUclips, Jamie. I recently discovered your channel, but it's one of my absolute favourites!
You're eloquent, intelligent and a good storyteller. Keep making videos, they're RUclips gems.
More of the same sentiment but I just have to comment, this was shockingly valuable and refreshing. I'll admit when I saw the title picked up by some blog site I skipped right over, but when I saw Jamie's name I figured I'd give it a chance. So glad I did, this is easily one of the best channels out there for those truly looking to learn and improve! Thank you!
I'd go as far as saying you're my favourite person on RUclips at this point. Thank you so much once again for such a well made, informative video on a subject I care so greatly for. Keep up the good work man!
Probably the best explanation of focal length I have ever come across
Your videos are always top notch! Keep it this way, your way.
I didn't cry when a some relatives passed way. But I have cried to 3 of your videos.
Emotional things don't make me cry, overwhelming things do. (Like that huge rising wave in interstellar.)
Your work is very cinematic. By this I mean, when the music, dialogues, duration of shots all come together perfectly. Beautiful pacing. Like Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer in 'The dark knight rises.'
Jamie, the quality of your content is off the charts. Thank you
Late to this particular party but hey career change at 40 I’m loving the change. These are elevate the short RUclips experience into something genuine and intriguing. Just amazing content. I’m like a kid in a sweet hop here and that’s a lovely place to be thank you pure inspiration
I love these cinematography essay videos. Learning less about the what and the how, and more about the why. Learning about the artistry of photography, creating moods and effect, along with some iconic examples to really bring the points home. I will be rewatching this one to remind myself, I’m sure. Thanks for doing this.
Such content needs to be watched without any disturbances.
I like it - love it.
Great stuff Jamie. Genuinely providing something different to most other RUclipsrs.
So I thought this video would be one of those fluff blurbs for n00bs by the title but it was very much so not. It was very well thought out and insightful, kudos on a great video. Also, I’ve never really noticed any major audio issues in your content :)
There are a lot of videos about focal lengths, but very few this concise. You are very good at including the information that matters and cutting the unnecessary stuff out. Those other videos feel like small talk around the subject.
Just wow. I'm pretty sure that a lot of people watching that video already knew those things, but this video made me think about my own work and which story I want to tell with my images. Thanks for that.
That was so helpful! We don't hear much about the psychological aspect of photography, yet it's so important. Thank you for all the information!
hitting it for 6 again. youve a knack for bringing complex ideas together in an easy way to understand
Your videos are amazing! They are like little essays really inspire me to get out and shoot but also teach something. Great job!
This is like a well-written essay: you make an interesting point; you illustrate it with examples and comparisons, then you link it to the subsequent comment. Ten out of ten!
Absolutely brilliant, Jamie. Instead of talking and reviewing a lens as all the other channels do, you take us behind said lens inviting us to rethink why we chose it in the first place. Loved it.
A fresh and entertaining examination of a specific aspect of photography. Love your videos - they’re some of the best on the subject. Never had any issue with the audio, so I have no idea what people were complaining about. This newest one definitely has a professional-sounding mix and is clear as a bell. Frankly people have a lot of nerve whining about high quality content that they get to enjoy for free, but I applaud your desire to continually improve your work, Jamie.
Thank you. I think people were just trying to be helpful, but I did get a lot of comments (and emails) about it so there was clearly something that wasn't right.
Very useful and informative. I think I'll watch more than once. Thank you!
Well explained. Totally agree that choice of focal length is not about getting what you want into the shot.
As A youtuber and creator....I love your videos......so much. You are a storyteller
I always like Jamie's videos. They are informative, clear and somehow he manages to avoid that self-centred and narcissist feel of many other vloggers.
He speaks to an audience like to a good friend (i'd even say that he talks), sharing his knowledge, without bragging about what he knows better than you.
Hands this is a seriously underrated channel. Not people sprouting information that we already know, too. You are giving actual reasonings and concepts into why focal length matters. I really love it.
Great job Jamie in connecting the science and engineering of lenses to how they help us convey and/or evoque feelings. I am going to be more purposeful in my lense choices moving forward.
A more in depth and artistically useful explanation of the subject, well done and thank you.
I stumbled with your channel when I was about to buy a 5D classic, I got it thanks to your review, I keep watching your content and it’s amazing! My photography has changed thanks to videos like this one, the artistic side not gear/specs related
How can I have learnt something from a video that was so enjoying and relaxing. I get the impression that when you go out for a shoot you just glide there, with the camera by your ankle and a nimbus beneath your feet.
I love this. It’s a mini-documentary. It’s informative, it has meaning, history, ..depth. I so appreciate the thought and effort you put into your video creations. Truly gifted.
This video is a master piece in itself. The shots sends me tingling down my spine. The explanation is spot on.
Thank you for your videos!
I just started on the photography journey, and I like your tutorials.
You manage to explain what I as a n00b needs to think about, and most important.. WHY I need to think about it.
I remark that when I am presented with several videos on youtube, I will mostly first click on your videos. This is for the entertaining value but also for the good educational and production value. This was one of your best videos in my humble opinion. Congrats! I prefer less videos with great content than a lot of rubbish. Thanks!
Love the way you put this together. This will become something for my students to watch. They need to learn that say 85mm is not only (or principally) a way of getting a portrait with a blurred background, but is a creative choice rooted in the emotion we choose to elicit. That the blurred background is the technician taking the photograph, but the emotion is where the poetry resides.
Jamie this video has blown my mind!
This has put a long-awaited jigsaw piece in my photography knowledge bank.
You've got a new subscriber and groupie. Keep up the good work!
This is excellent. It's great to see a RUclipsr that focuses on the art of photography, most seem to just talk about gear - and that's about it.
Thank you.
As one who shoots only stills, I look for photographic insight. Your use of stills taken from movies is very interesting in the way it puts a photo into a context which I can "see". The shots from the Coen brothers were most interesting to me, too. Thanks.
Jamie, dude, that has been awesome!! I have a lot to learn and it is a privilege to have you around to learn from
My goodness Jamie, please keep making videos like this! You get to the heart of the how and why of photography technique, and I believe that this is something that more people need to know about.
It's always a good day when JW posts a new video.
3:57 27mm on a super 35mm sensor gives around 40mm on a full frame camera, which is bang on "normal" as opposed to wide angle.
always a pleasure. i'm not here for the audio but the ideas you share.
this idea sounds great, thanks JW!
I can't thank you enough my friend for your contribution to youtube for a truly educational presentation of photography, bravo
This is one of the best photography videos ever, great job!
Great video!
One reason I love shooting with primes is that it forces me to choose a focal length and work with it (even if it means ending up in awkward positions) rather than just zooming to a field of view that fits.
I’ve really been impressed by the quality work you’ve been putting out lately - RUclips tutorial meets art history seminar. Great work.
I've been watching videos on this all day, and this is the ONLY one that made it make sense. Specifically, when it is said that mid-range lenses best mimic the way the human eye sees, I had NEVER understood what that meant until this video! THANK YOU.
This video was amazing, your philosophical method of teaching helps me relate to the real world application of photography. Thank you.
An incredible video. I already knew about focal lengths, but the way you present information and give examples makes this an amazing video to watch. Thank you
i love the diversity of examples given for the still photos. so many of these photographers whose work I need to check out now...
this video is so great i can watch it over and over and over again
I love the way you give historical facts, practices and reasoning behind the practicalities - super work mate!
I have to say Jamie that you really make some quality content. Everything you say and all your points are valid and make sense. Plus you explain everything in a way thats just easy to follow and understand. You obviously put a lot of thought and effort into your content. Thank you so much for teaching us all and being such an inspiration. You alone have made me (and im sure many others) a better photographer and
videographer. Thank you for everything that you do.
Fabulous choice of photographs.
It was awesome to see photography examples that used one or another lens. As an amateur photographer i learned or picked some of those psychological effects. But at the same time nothing can replace a quality example of the principle done right.
In my opinion that makes your channel outstanding. It is informative and makes clear examples.
wow i was expecting a technical video but i got a piece of art insted. im amazed!
Your voice, the music, your storytelling is just so amazing! Watching this for the third time and added to playlist to watch later. Thank you!
Intended to compliment you on a great video, but scanning the comments before me I realize they've said it all so well already. Well done Jamie, and thank you for creating such great quality content!
a great romp through merits of different focal lengths from a viewer's perspective, with some great examples. has made me think about more deliberate choice of lens. thanks
Uk Based near Newcastle Jamie. I love watching your videos, I feel like I'm listening to a university lecture. So knowledgable. Keep up the great work
Getting ready to photograph a friend's wedding. Thank you for opening my eyes to the different ways to tell their story. Also bought your preset pack.
Really great content with good examples and explanation -- what I think needs to be added that it's not the focal length on it's own -- which gives a certain "feeling", but that one (typically) chooses a different point of view for a specific focal length (wide, normal or tele type) -- thus choosing a different perspective. The focal length "just" decides which part of the reality is cropped out, but the important point is that one decides on the perspective (distance and viewing direction). The perspective determins the relationship between all the elements in the frame. So first the shooter has to move to find the desired perspective and then decide about which part to crop. Of course in practical work those two steps often come more or less together in the decision making process what to capture how.
With a moderate wide-angle like 35 full-frame equivalent one can both create a pretty "wide" and initimate looking view by getting close to the subject, with other parts of the subject being further away. And with the same lens you will get a vastly different feel, when stepping back a bit and the relative distances of the different subjects being captured are being much closer.
Last not least one can always crop an image -- thus selecting a smaller frame -- similiar one would have with a more "tele-"like lens. While the other way around is not possible.
Oh, and another note. Most smartphones do not have a lens which is close to 35 or 50 mm ("normal") equivalent, but a moderate wide-angle around 28 fullframe equivalent.
Really perceptive stuff on cinema, not sure I agree with the psychological descriptions of different focal lengths but their various impacts are a good reminder to prepare for what type of shot you want before you leave the house. Thanks again
It's so nice to see how you keep mentioning Kathy Ryan's work. I've discovered her through your channel and I do recommend her to each and everyone who asks me for advice about truly goods photographers to be inspired by. Thank you for this video and for the amazing storytelling. Came for yet another good video and got an outstanding documentary)
Your presentation is always A+. It’s unique and easy to follow.
This is the video i needed to see, I've always thought about how different focal length would bring to the photo, but my mom always contradicts me on that, which mess up my thoughts everytime i hear it. but now with this video, I can think of focal length properly
First one of your vids I've ever seen. Don't know what your audio was like before, but this was quite good compared to a lot of other stuff out there. Nice work and great articulation on focal lengths. Thanks for the effort
Wooow woow one of the best photography videos I have ever seen! Jamie you had my attention all this 9 mins. Bravo!
One thing you didn’t touch on is longer focal length lenses makes things in the background look larger which is great for shooting environmental portraits where you want a mountain in view or a bridge. This works great if you can back up far enough.
As an Amateur enthusiasts photographer i can say this was a great presentation well done.
That was amazing Jamie. This isn't a vlog post, it's a 9 minute masters thesis on focal length!