post by enirus | | Wide Angle Composition < on 12/13/2015 6:37 PM >
So I recently got a new wide angle lens, the Sigma 8-16mm for my Canon T5. I feel as though with this lens the way I need to set up and compose my shots will be very different. So I'd like some critiques on what I could do better in these pictures.
Composition is the same. You need to square the shots unless you're just grabbing as much of the room as possible; documentary shooting. The cam is angled up in all of them.
#1, maybe get some height by shooting from the hill; you're way too low.
In the rest the vertical lines are at an angle even at the center because the cam is angled upward; not squared off. The center of the shot must be at the same height as the center of the lense.
post by nyctophilia | | Re: Wide Angle Composition <Reply # 3 on 12/16/2015 5:00 PM >
These are really awesome. Something you might want to try when shooting a room with wide angle, is standing in the corner of the room and shooting it so the opposite corner of the room is lined up in the center of the photo, if that makes sense.
I can post some examples later if you'd like, I just don't have access to my files right now.
That's not to say that you can't shoot head-on. It still looks great, but don't be afraid to experiment with different angles. You're doing great!
Re: Wide Angle Composition <Reply # 4 on 12/20/2015 9:21 AM >
These are really awesome! If I was gonna nitpick, most of these have some areas that are either completely black (underexposed) or completely white (overexposed). I might play with some subtle bracketing and masking to help with that. That's all I got. Great photos!
post by sirpsychosexy | | Re: Wide Angle Composition <Reply # 5 on 12/20/2015 5:08 PM >
The wide angle distortion.. some like it, others absolutely hate it. I for one like it. Though I tend to straighten lines in my own shots more often nowadays just because I started to like abstract-ish head-on compositions, I still love the dynamic look of a wide angle pointed up or downwards! My advice would be to play with it some more. Now they're all shot from a low point of view upwards but I'd like to see some other angles for the sake of variation. Years ago I knew a website from a guy that totally nailed it, with the craziest angles you can think of (like a toilet stall shot straight down from the top), but I can't find it back
As already mentioned, the contrast is a bit high in all of them, but that's probably a matter of taste too. I like the shots!
post by General Zod | | Re: Wide Angle Composition <Reply # 6 on 12/20/2015 10:37 PM >
This looks just fine, other than the fact that you are losing out on some details in your shadows and black.
But like sirpsychosexy said, you will get variety by making sure you are not always pointing upwards. The most challenging part of using a wide angle lens (if you want everything lined up perfectly straight) is having to make sure that both the horizontal level and the tilt of the lens is flat. There is probably a photography word for this adjustment, but I don't know what it is.
in other words, tilting the lens from side to side or up and down will cause the perspective of all lines to skew and distort, even without changing the horizontally flat level of your camera. Many cameras have an option for superimposing a grid over your viewfinder or screen, which helps.
[last edit 12/20/2015 10:41 PM by General Zod - edited 1 times]
post by tiffers | | Re: Wide Angle Composition <Reply # 8 on 12/29/2015 6:22 PM >
I only shoot with a wide-angle...and I HATE the distortion, so I always correct it. Composition is the same, you just get more view. I also am with the others about shooting rooms from below, shoot from waist height for rooms, not eye-level or knee-level. Though, that may be a personal preference...?
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