Chapter 2: Casting a Wide-Angle Net

In This Chapter

arrow.png Defining wide angle

arrow.png Shooting with wide-angle lenses

arrow.png Improving your shots

arrow.png Going overboard with fisheyes

Who doesn’t love to zoom in and take close-ups? But wait. Take a step back for a bigger perspective. This chapter considers the other end of the focal length spectrum, where wide angles are the norm.

The types of photos you can take with wide-angle lenses are different than those you would take using “normal” focal lengths. With wide-angle lenses you can capture sweeping vistas, large cities, buildings, big things, and small things. It’s a refreshing change of pace from stalking the cat around the house with a zoom lens! Most standard kit lenses have a wide enough angle of view when zoomed out to get you started on a wide-angle journey. If you like what you see, consider investing in a dedicated wide-angle zoom lens.

Wide-Angle Whatzit

A wide-angle lens is a lens whose focal length is greater than the diagonal size of the film the camera uses (or, rather, the sensor). This means that if you’re using an APS-C camera whose sensor ...

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