Mastery with long focus lenses

V

varjag

Guest
The last few threads about most/least favorite focal length set me thinking. A lot of what is considered great and classic photographs was done with normal and wider lenses. But are there acknowledged masters who were noted for their use of long focus lenses?

There are of course iconic photos done with telephoto; mostly journalist work like man defying a tank at Tiananmen square. However these are where tele was used as "last recourse", simply because photographer couldn't afford to get any closer, rather than for aesthetics of longer focal length.

I noticed that Rene Burri did use telephoto lenses creatively on some of his photos. Anyone knows more examples? And of course, if you have a photo of yours illustrating the issue, feel free to show :)
 
I have a picture of W Eugene Smith using a 135mm Elmar to photograph people from his apartment window. It was printed in "Great Photographic Essays from Life" in 1978 and is entitled Dram beneath a City Window form the 10th march 1958 edition. The image itself is very small, about 5cm square.

Nick
 
I think the RFF rumour that most rangefinder photography has been done
with 50 and wider is wrong.

If you check Life magazine history, for instance, you will find many, many
portraits taken with RF and short tele. An M3 or Nikon RF with 85/90 f2 is still one
of the best portrait outfits.

Roland.
 
Ernst Haas used telephoto lenses masterly in many pictures, Andre Kertesz shot his series of the Washington Square Park using a telezoom. Franco Fontana shot many great tele-photos too.
 
Last edited:
ferider said:
An M3 or Nikon RF with 85/90 f2 is still one
of the best portrait outfits.

Roland.
Click to expand...

... or a Kiev 4A with Jupiter-9, or an Olympus OM-1 with a Zuiko 85/2 ... :D
 
shadowfox said:
... or a Kiev 4A with Jupiter-9, or an Olympus OM-1 with a Zuiko 85/2 ... :D
Click to expand...

And what would be funny about that ?

:)

You are right, of course ! Any Sonar/Ernostar works for me.
 
ferider said:
And what would be funny about that ?

:)

You are right, of course ! Any Sonar/Ernostar works for me.
Click to expand...

Not trying to be funny, I am agreeing with you with glee :D

Speaking about Ernostar, a friend of mine gave me an old Ernemann catalog (1914). I'm planning to scan it so it can be posted online.
 
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