In the dynamic world of photography, the lens you choose can greatly alter the look and feel of a photograph. By changing your lens, and therefore your perspective on a scene, you can greatly alter the way a viewer will interpret and interact with your work. Photography, after all, is an art form that thrives on innovation and creativity, and the lens you choose can be a powerful catalyst for pushing the boundaries of conventional imagery.

In this exploration of lenses, we will not only examine the technical aspects but also dive into how each lens classification challenges photographers to think outside the box, fostering a spirit of experimentation and artistic expression. We’ll take a look at wide-angle, standard, telephoto, super-telephoto, ultra wide-angle, and macro lenses. Additionally, we will discuss the nuances between prime and zoom lenses, revealing how these choices open up diverse opportunities for photographers seeking to broaden their creative horizons.

With that being said, let’s get right into it and examine exactly how different lenses inspire new perspectives.

Ultra Wide-Angle Lenses

We’ll start at the widest end of the spectrum and progressively get narrower in focal length throughout this article. When it comes to capturing vast expanses and wide-open landscapes an ultra-wide angle lens is the widest field of view you can achieve. Ultra wide-angle lenses, with focal lengths below 24mm, push the boundaries of perspective. These lenses produce dramatic and immersive images, making them a favorite for capturing sweeping landscapes or creating surreal and distorted visuals.

Ultra wide-angle lenses, with their tendency to distort and exaggerate, invite photographers to break free from traditional compositional norms. The challenge here is to use distortion creatively, turning ordinary scenes into visually arresting compositions. These lenses encourage photographers to play with unconventional angles, leading to images that provoke thought and challenge viewers' perceptions. The closer an object is to the edge of your frame the more distorted it will be and the closer it is to the center the more natural it will appear. Ultra wide-angle lenses open up a whole world of creative possibilities and they can be quite fun and challenging to use.

Wide-Angle Lenses

Wide-angle lenses, with focal lengths typically below 35mm, excel at capturing expansive scenes. These lenses allow photographers to include more of the environment in a single frame, making them ideal for landscapes, or wide-open expanses. 16-35mm is a very common zoom range for wide-angle lenses and you can also find wide-angle prime lenses with very fast apertures. These are great for low-light situations, and astrophotography.  

Wide-angle lenses, by their very nature, compel photographers to think expansively. The challenge here lies in finding fresh perspectives within a vast frame. These lenses encourage photographers to explore foreground interests, leading lines, and exaggerated perspectives. By incorporating elements in the immediate foreground, wide-angle lenses create a sense of depth, drawing viewers into the scene and challenging photographers to compose in three dimensions. The distortion created by wide-angle lenses can be used creatively to exaggerate perspectives, leading to visually striking and dramatic compositions.

Standard Lenses

Standard lenses, with focal lengths around roughly 35-85mm, more or less mimic the natural field of view of the human eye. The 35mm-50mm range is considered the most similar to human vision. Known for their versatility, these lenses are excellent for portrait photography, everyday shooting, and documentary-style photography. Standard lenses are celebrated for their ability to capture scenes with minimal distortion, providing a balanced and true-to-life representation.

Standard lenses, while seemingly straightforward, challenge photographers to seek beauty in simplicity. The restriction to a fixed focal length or focal range encourages photographers to rely on composition, framing, and subject interaction. The challenge is to capture emotion and tell a compelling story without relying on the crutch of zooming in or out. Standard lenses force photographers to engage with their subjects intimately, emphasizing the importance of timing and the decisive moment.

Telephoto Lenses

Telephoto lenses, ranging anywhere from 70-300mm, bring distant subjects closer, making them perfect for wildlife, sports photography, or anything that requires higher levels of zoom or magnification. Common telephoto zoom lenses are often 70-200mm or maybe 100-300mm and there are many great prime lenses in this classification as well with fast apertures.

Telephoto lenses present the challenge of distilling a complex scene into a single, compelling frame. They create a sense of intimacy and allow photographers to capture details that might be otherwise missed or lost in the distance. By compressing the perspective and isolating subjects from their surroundings, these lenses encourage photographers to emphasize emotions, expressions, and details. A common challenge is to create visually intriguing compositions while working within the constraints of a narrow field of view. That being said, this limitation fosters creativity in framing and encourages photographers to find innovative ways to convey a sense of connection and intimacy.

In general, constraints and limitations often force us to be more creative and think outside of the box. A great creative exercise for any photographer is to head out for a shoot and limit yourself to one lens or focal length. This really causes you to think about composition, framing, and other aspects of photography in new ways.

Super-Telephoto Lenses

Super-telephoto lenses, typically anything exceeding 300mm, take the concept of magnification to the extreme. These lenses are indispensable for wildlife photographers seeking to capture elusive subjects from afar. The powerful reach of super-telephoto lenses allows photographers to create compelling compositions, emphasizing the grandeur of distant subjects and isolating distant or small subjects.

The extreme magnification of super-telephoto lenses challenges photographers to capture subjects that are distant, small in size, elusive, or all three at once. Wildlife photographers, for instance, must hone their skills in tracking and predicting animal behavior, pushing the boundaries of their craft. Predicting where an animal will move next, its next body position, or tracking a fast-moving bird in flight are often challenges that must be overcome to capture compelling wildlife images.

The challenge lies in creating images that not only showcase the subject's beauty but also evoke a sense of proximity and immediacy. And of course, these challenges or limitations force us as photographers to get creative and make artistic decisions. For instance, with a super-telephoto zoom lens, you may have to decide how much of your frame you want the subject to occupy and how much of the surrounding environment you want to include. If you’re a bit closer you may have to decide on a full body shot or isolating just the head or part of the animal.

Macro Lenses

Macro lenses are designed for extreme close-up photography, capturing intricate details of small subjects like insects, flowers, or minute textures. With a razor-thin depth of field, these lenses transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, revealing the beauty hidden in the minute details of the world around us.

Macro lenses present the challenge of finding beauty in the small and often overlooked details. Photographers must develop a keen eye for textures, patterns, and tiny subjects. The narrow depth of field in macro photography challenges creators to carefully choose focal points, resulting in images that transform the mundane into the extraordinary. Macro lenses inspire photographers to explore the world in miniature, revealing hidden beauty in unexpected places.

Prime vs. Zoom Lenses

Another key factor to take into account is the difference between prime and zoom lenses and the creative opportunities and flexibilities that each provides. The choice between prime and zoom lenses is often a pivotal decision for photographers. On one hand, prime lenses have a fixed focal length, promoting creativity through constraint and encouraging photographers to move and explore different angles. Zoom lenses, on the other hand, offer flexibility by allowing the adjustment of focal length, making them versatile for various shooting scenarios.

Ultimately this is a choice that you must make as a photographer. To learn more about the difference between the two, check out this article diving into the discussion ofZoom vs. Prime Lenses. 

Conclusion

As photographers navigate the diverse landscape of lenses, each classification serves as a creative catalyst, challenging them to innovate, experiment, and see the world through a new lens—both literally and metaphorically. The limitations posed by different lenses are not constraints but rather invitations to break free from the ordinary, encouraging photographers to think outside the box and create images that transcend the commonplace. In this dynamic interplay between vision and equipment, photographers embark on a continuous journey of discovery, unlocking the full spectrum of their creative potential.

I hope this article has been informative and that it has inspired you to get out there and start experimenting with your lenses whatever they are. I often recommend that all photographers have a full range of lenses when in the field ranging from wide angle to telephoto. But, even if you only have a single lens to work with you’re doing just fine, and with a little bit of creativity you’ll be surprised what’s possible.

Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.

When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.

At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.

Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.

Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.

You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com