How to Use Wide Angle Lenses - Beginner Explained

The BEST explanation of wide angle lenses! Well, I hope so, anyway :)
If you're new to wide angle lenses, you might not realize that they're actually somewhat difficult to use. They shrink the background and give the foreground strange proportions; they leave a lot of empty space in your photo. And, they include EVERYTHING in front of you - which is not always a good thing!
In short, it's very easy to get bad pictures with a wide angle lens.
But, at the end of the day, wide angle lenses are just another tool for your photography. Used right, you can get awesome pictures with a wide angle. Some foregrounds are meant to be exaggerated! And some scenes really don't have any distractions that harm your photo.
Hopefully this video gives you a good idea of where to start.
~Spencer
/ spencercoxphoto
👇👇👇
This video is not sponsored! You can support Photography Life and Spencer Cox Photography by buying anything through my affiliate links!
Here is all the photo equipment I use: bhpho.to/3XUv32a
And here’s my video gear to film this video: bhpho.to/3Yt8th1
#WideAngleLens #LandscapePhotography #Camera

Пікірлер: 107

  • @Noojtxeeg
    @Noojtxeeg4 жыл бұрын

    KZread needs more KZreadrs like you and less influencers who are essentially extended salespersons.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Really appreciate that, Noot!

  • @MaxMaiKeSi

    @MaxMaiKeSi

    4 жыл бұрын

    Agreed, those what's in my camera bag, my gear sets video are literally advertising, it does not ever ever improve your photography like this one

  • @IvanKam11
    @IvanKam115 жыл бұрын

    My goodness I love this video!! I think I subbed right after your intro - I knew this was going to be good. Extremely informative and will be very helpful in my quest of learning as much as possible about photography/videography. Exactly what I was looking for, and I am definitely checking out your other videos. Thanks for sharing!

  • @FrankSchulenburg
    @FrankSchulenburg2 жыл бұрын

    You're spot on: this is one of the best explanations of wide angle lenses. Well done!

  • @bradleyanderson247
    @bradleyanderson247 Жыл бұрын

    Haven't watched any of your other videos but just subscribed. Really well paced and professionally presented.

  • @robari2410
    @robari24102 жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation, amongst the BEST in KZread when you combine your clear easy to understand explanations of complex subjects with excellent and beautiful video production and photographic materials. You just gained another subscriber! Thank you.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    2 жыл бұрын

    Wow, thank you! Glad you found it so clear.

  • @stefansmuts8882
    @stefansmuts88825 жыл бұрын

    Great video Spencer! Keep them coming! Cant wait for the next one!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it, Stefan! Next one is coming soon, got to say I think you'll like it too.

  • @SelaphielGodsAngel
    @SelaphielGodsAngel4 ай бұрын

    Cool tips and very much enjoyed those tight spaces you were squashing through "cool video .

  • @f64Academy
    @f64Academy4 жыл бұрын

    GREAT job on this video! Your tips are spot on and your video has a great flow. Perfectly delivered as well!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it! I had a great time filming it at such an amazing location.

  • @wissnasraoui
    @wissnasraoui3 жыл бұрын

    I like the way you have explained things, very simple, and informative,

  • @jin6000
    @jin6000 Жыл бұрын

    SUCH a helpful video. Thank you so much!

  • @CalloftheCrow
    @CalloftheCrow3 жыл бұрын

    Very useful info. Awesome edit man.

  • @markymark240682
    @markymark2406824 жыл бұрын

    I usually do not comment, but this is some very thought out and competent content. Kudos!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, Marcus! Happy you liked it.

  • @aydarcleric3974
    @aydarcleric39743 ай бұрын

    Thank you, very good explanation

  • @grephusingati7807
    @grephusingati78073 жыл бұрын

    I am overwhelmed Spencer...your simple explanations and practical experiments compiled with your physics .Thanks

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Great to hear you liked it so much! Thanks for the kind feedback.

  • @AnandaGarden
    @AnandaGarden5 жыл бұрын

    Luuuuuv these tutorials, Spencer. It drives me wild when people don't "get" wides and ultrawides. A photo is about just one thing - that leads to the next thing. (Example: Spencer walking through the slot gully.)

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, runbei! "Awesome place = capture it all" ... not always a method for success! It takes some practice to get killer shots with a wide angle. Worth it though.

  • @seantomlinson3320
    @seantomlinson33205 жыл бұрын

    Excellent job. And a fun place to go to show us how they can work. I'm enjoying these please keep it up.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, Sean! I had a bunch of fun making this one, and I'm honestly pretty excited about doing more.

  • @stanleystevens6278
    @stanleystevens62782 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video. I learned quite a lot about using wide angle lenses.

  • @punzstudios2234
    @punzstudios22342 жыл бұрын

    loved this video! extremely informative

  • @khanscombe619
    @khanscombe61910 ай бұрын

    Awesome. I'm getting to like wide angle for outside, I used to mainly use indoors tight spaces or up close personal. I lived worked and school in SLC so it never seized to amaze me of how much natural beauty we have only footsteps away in the Salt Lake Valley . Butterfield Canyon, Kennecott Mine or Donut Falls and so on.

  • @LensArt43
    @LensArt436 ай бұрын

    Great job!

  • @trishfoster3732
    @trishfoster37322 жыл бұрын

    Love the location. Great video.

  • @jfs_films
    @jfs_films5 жыл бұрын

    Great video mate 👍🏻

  • @SniperPhotography
    @SniperPhotography4 жыл бұрын

    Great video.Well done.

  • @habitatbuildco9079
    @habitatbuildco90792 жыл бұрын

    Great vid.

  • @MoveOutMedia
    @MoveOutMedia4 жыл бұрын

    Very good info. 😊 thanks

  • @richhughes2225
    @richhughes22255 жыл бұрын

    I saw this on PetaPixel. This is well presented information. You are articulate and the video is interesting. Thank you.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, Rich! Glad you liked it and I appreciate the feedback.

  • @chriswittstruck282
    @chriswittstruck282Ай бұрын

    Nice vid thanks! Subbed.

  • @MDMiller60
    @MDMiller605 жыл бұрын

    Well done presentation and images, Mr. Life.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Michael, glad you liked it.

  • @KaiTiura
    @KaiTiura4 жыл бұрын

    Great vid! Since few have commented on their choices of wide angle lenses here, I'll just say that I'm watching this because I just got a Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art Lens for my EOS R. I just got it today, so I haven't had time to play with it yet, but I'm hoping for a number of things with this lens: 1) To shoot some great wide-angle shots like the ones you've shown here. 2) To utilize the wide angle to get the most out of my Rs 1.75x crop in 4K by 'backing' away some in 4K video so the crop's not so pronounced. 3) To give myself some room when shooting in my tight space (kinda same as above). 4) To put the lens to use in real estate photography. Thanks for the concise input! Sub'ing!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome, Kai, that's a great lens and awesome camera! Good luck and get some great shots in with it.

  • @sarajitsil
    @sarajitsil5 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful video. Very interesting and informative.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, Sarajit!

  • @zaid6251
    @zaid62514 жыл бұрын

    These tips are really meaningful. Thumbs up!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @roundedge1031
    @roundedge10312 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @amishmustafakhan
    @amishmustafakhan3 жыл бұрын

    Wow - This was an outstanding video!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for saying so! I'm glad you liked it so much.

  • @adam_fakes
    @adam_fakes3 жыл бұрын

    love the part on negative space - thank you

  • @ProfessorDeke
    @ProfessorDeke5 жыл бұрын

    Sometimes it is simply the brilliance of common sense that makes articles and/or videos from Photography Life so helpful. This is such a video, and one in which subject and guide (Spencer) engage, inform, articulate, and illuminate. This video “captures it all” in exemplary manner.

  • @Shinobi.Alexander
    @Shinobi.Alexander3 жыл бұрын

    honestly this was great, thanks man!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Really appreciate it! Glad you liked the video.

  • @1949AKN
    @1949AKN3 жыл бұрын

    I like your video !

  • @hurleygreen927
    @hurleygreen9273 жыл бұрын

    THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO! I have a new DX 12-24mm super wide angle lens on a Nikon 7200 and am experiementing with it. Your video is really helpful!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome, enjoy the new lens!

  • @w0mblemania
    @w0mblemania3 жыл бұрын

    Wow, clear useful content without plugs for Skillshare. Thank you!

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haha, thanks!

  • @EricRoseBahamas
    @EricRoseBahamas5 жыл бұрын

    I learned. I enjoyed. I subbed. :)

  • @lordr9485
    @lordr94854 жыл бұрын

    Very useful and thanks 🙌🏻

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it!!

  • @michaelvail2446
    @michaelvail24465 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Spencer, very helpful. I struggle with wide angle lenses - for some reason I just don't have the "eye" for it. I will follow your advice going forward. I have a 21mm prime and a 24-35.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it, Michael! It's actually a good sign that you've noticed your "wide-angle eye" needs work. A lot of people don't realize that. And they use wide angle lenses by default anyway :)

  • @adam_fakes
    @adam_fakes3 жыл бұрын

    Great explanation, and a great spot

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! It's one of my favorite spots for landscape photography. I saw your other comment too, glad you like the negative space tip.

  • @jaredengland1955
    @jaredengland19554 жыл бұрын

    Awesome content

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Much appreciated!

  • @shot2death876
    @shot2death8764 жыл бұрын

    Good info...

  • @PointBlankZA
    @PointBlankZA4 жыл бұрын

    Cool vid, thanks ;)

  • @vuwanrai56
    @vuwanrai563 жыл бұрын

    very informative....hoping for more such videos on telephoto lenses ..especially 300mm

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I’ll take that into account while planning the next videos 👍

  • @nancyk9475
    @nancyk94752 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Very helpful. I’m thinking about a 14-30 f4 for my Nikon Z6ii

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    2 жыл бұрын

    It’s a great lens! I use one and highly recommend it.

  • @yasirabbas6650
    @yasirabbas66505 жыл бұрын

    Mate the audio quality of this video is amazing. Would you mind sharing about your mic too please

  • @marcelvanlierop

    @marcelvanlierop

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same here! That was actually the first thing that struck me: the very good quality of the audio, even in the confinement’s of the canyon. How did you do that? :)

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@marcelvanlierop Really glad you bumped this comment, somehow I missed it at first! I used the Sennheiser EW 100 G3 to record audio here. I actually wouldn't recommend it because of the price, though, unless you need a wireless lav mic system (I did for a prior project). Otherwise, a good shotgun mic or wired lav will be a better value for the money. Hope this helps!

  • @ibrahimz

    @ibrahimz

    3 жыл бұрын

    I believe also being between the canyon formations has created some sort of an isolation which concentrated the sound.

  • @elvispresley2542
    @elvispresley25422 жыл бұрын

    Subbed thanks!

  • @piranhi
    @piranhi5 жыл бұрын

    This so much! I love my wide angle lens (16-35mm Nikkor) but I'm on the cusp of selling it for the 70-200mm Nikkor because I really struggle to find a scene that fits the criteria for a good wide angle photograph. This video has definitely spurred some inspiration in me so maybe I'll give it a few more attempts before I pull the trigger.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    5 жыл бұрын

    Happy to hear it, piranhi! Certainly not all scenes work well with a wide angle. But when you find one that does, it's hard to beat the results.

  • @Revolution-tl5wo
    @Revolution-tl5wo Жыл бұрын

    Really awesome video. The fact you shot it in a setting where you would use a WA lens, and did the video with a WA lens, really helps visually communicate what you're talking about. I'd love to see videos on things you can do with WA lenses besides landscapes though, esp. with crop sensor cameras.

  • @aandm7772
    @aandm77724 жыл бұрын

    this video was beautiful.. i am now going to that location

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    You should! Slot canyons are amazing. The ones in this video are in Escalante National Monument.

  • @specialized41
    @specialized414 жыл бұрын

    Recommended wide lens to visit Utah Parks , for Sony A7III system.??

  • @roguesodyssey
    @roguesodyssey3 жыл бұрын

    You're so great at explaining these things! Are you a Utahan like myself?

  • @gamkagan
    @gamkagan2 жыл бұрын

    Which lens did you use in the example, that has the range of 14mm to 30mm ?

  • @Saudagaar
    @Saudagaar3 ай бұрын

    Hi, this maybe a stupid question. Can I zoom into wide angle video or photo without losing quality?

  • @SweetMalina33
    @SweetMalina333 жыл бұрын

    Wide angle lenses can be used for filming too.. right?.. not only photography.. I’m asking. Thank you! Great content

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Most definitely! I filmed almost this whole video with a 14mm ultra-wide lens. It does add a bit of perspective stretching, but otherwise looks fine.

  • @misurebanks1538
    @misurebanks15383 жыл бұрын

    what mic are you using sir?

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sorry for the delayed response. I used the Sennheiser EW 100 G3 to record audio here. I actually wouldn't recommend it because of the price, though, unless you need a wireless lav mic system (I did for a prior project). Otherwise, a good shotgun mic or wired lav will be a better value for the money. Hope this helps!

  • @milansajan1001
    @milansajan10015 жыл бұрын

    👍🏻

  • @MohamedIbrahim-rd1jx
    @MohamedIbrahim-rd1jx4 жыл бұрын

    Can someone tell me where is this place please? Thank you friends

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah! I filmed most of it in Peek-a-Boo Canyon, and some in Spooky Canyon nearby, if I recall correctly.

  • @pugotis1

    @pugotis1

    2 жыл бұрын

    check out Buckskin Gulch next time your in the Page/Kanab area. Freakin mind blowing!

  • @photofocus_professional
    @photofocus_professional4 жыл бұрын

    Give more Practical use wide angale lenses like 24mm, 16mm, 8mm, and how will we use fish eye lense during landscape and travel photography.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Fisheyes are a whole different beast, but the tips in this video should apply whether you’re using a 24mm lens, 16mm, etc.

  • @mrjiggawatt
    @mrjiggawatt2 жыл бұрын

    Where is that canyon?

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    2 жыл бұрын

    Escalante in Utah. I went to a few different slot canyons while I was there. Beautiful place.

  • @austinharding9734
    @austinharding97344 жыл бұрын

    Where is this exactly? Zion? Bryce? Canyonlands?

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Most of the video is filmed in peek-a-boo slot canyon in Escalante. I did film some parts in various other locations, from Arches to Joshua Tree. This was a LONG road trip.

  • @LUIShtRUIZht
    @LUIShtRUIZht3 жыл бұрын

    woowww 6:45

  • @photofocus_professional
    @photofocus_professional4 жыл бұрын

    Your channel is good but you are giving too much lactuer we amateur photographers like practical videos , tutorials, and workshops then after you will get more Subscribers.

  • @PhotographyLifeChannel

    @PhotographyLifeChannel

    4 жыл бұрын

    Are you saying you would like to see more specific walkthroughs on how I took one particular image, and less of me talking to the camera without any visuals to back it up? Glad you like the channel and thanks for the feedback!

  • @Kmo1970

    @Kmo1970

    2 ай бұрын

    Nice video 👏