Wide-angle shift at Magnum and elsewhere ...

[Trius]

Aside from the advantages of wides wrt DOF, intimacy (closeness), angle of view, perspective, etc., I think it is precisely those characteristics that make it subject to slopiness or abuse. For example, the angle of view, while enabling the inclusion of context, also makes it easy to make confusing compositions.

So if a photographer makes sensible use of a wide angle, then it is because of their skill, not simply the angle of view.

The same goes for DOF, where it would be easy to have too much DOF. The development of fast wides is nearly as much about limiting DOF as it is about low light, for me at least.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

FWIW, most pro photojournalists are shooting autofocus Canon or Nikons in the field (not RFs), so the DOF/speed argument of using WAs is not as strong. Nachtwey shoots with a 16-35/2.8 Canon zoom as his primary lens, and he uses AF almost exclusively. Yes, some of these photogs use RFs in less time-sensitive work. But much of the pro time-sensitive work is now almost exclusively SLR and indeed DSLR.

The point is that the body of work in recent years is so satuarated with the WA look, that I find myself yearning for photojournalists to work in a few 50 shots every now and then. If nothing else, just to moderate the overall percentages and give us a bit more 'considered' perspective. Looking at the photos from most newspaper and magazine photogs working in Iraq, for instance, it is really difficult to distinguish any individualized style, other than that a WA was used.

 

[boarini2003]

Very interesting discussion. I think that HCB also was fond of the 50mm because he was (like I am) shy and didn't want to really interact with his subject, which wide angles almost always require. the 50mm allows some distance. While I love many wide angle examples, I still think personally that the 50mm is superior in terms of providing more options in a single scene when it comes to composition, resulting for me in better photographs.

 

[boarini2003]

Aside from the advantages of wides wrt DOF, intimacy (closeness), angle of view, perspective, etc., I think it is precisely those characteristics that make it subject to slopiness or abuse. For example, the angle of view, while enabling the inclusion of context, also makes it easy to make confusing compositions.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Jonathan_100]

Great topic and discussion.

I prefer the 35 and the 50. I have to agree that the over use of super wides has become cliché. Is it dramatic? Yes, but does it tell a better story? I don't know.

I've been watching the photogaphs that have been coming out of Magnum, AP, and the other news agencies for a while, and the one that stick with me are those that capture the moment. They are usually well composed and appear to be shot somewhere between the 28 and 75 range (with the exctption of sports of course).

Personally, I prefer the 35 and the 50. They are quick, unobtrusive, and have good DOF if you have the light or the film speed to shoot at 4 and above.

As far as style or technical ability, I roll that into the photojournalist's personal taste. Some shooters just like the wide.

Jonathan

 

[sirius]

I agree with the comments about the effect of the wide-angle lens, it does exaggerate perspective and make more dramatic pictures (when handled well). I wonder if this is a response to he HUGE prolifferation of the image. TV, magazines, all pervasive advertising, and the internet are FLOODED with imagery. Perhaps the desire for more dramatic compositions is a way to fight for the viewers attention. I think that there is a revolution happening in photography right now with the proliferation of digital cameras. I wonder if professional photgraphers face what graphic designers faced with the rise of desktop publishing in the late 80's? Good wide angle lenses still tend to be pricey and require a lot of experience to use well. Maybe this is a where niche pro-photographers still reign supreme.

Has anyone seen the movie Brick? There is tons of excellent wide angle camera work there. http://brickmovie.net/

One of my favorite photographers that uses wide angle with great skill is Gerd Ludwig. http://www.gerdludwig.com/

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

Very interesting discussion. I think that HCB also was fond of the 50mm because he was (like I am) shy and didn't want to really interact with his subject, which wide angles almost always require. the 50mm allows some distance. .

I would second this view on him his style, but it is a proven fact that he used wides too, mainly when he was forced to because there was no room to step back. Which is the purpose for which the wides are thought for IMHO.

And what we see nowadays is often more the abuse of a technical solution, which got a toy in the name of creativity, which is itself is a frequently abused word.

Wides are a phantastic thing, indoor or in urban environments, narrow places, high buildings and and each time your photos must tell something about wide spaces but I have caught myself at messing shots because I did not switch timely to a longer FL trying to concentrate in the adeqate way.

The use of prime lenses can make it difficult not to miss the point where a change of the FL would be necessary. From what reason ever, one gets so used to a certain FL that one rather tries to do the trick with this lens than that one would think about changing it.

Using a 28-85 zoom like a set of three primes can be an enlightening experience in this context. Having done this for a while and working with primes again later one will more often remember that there are other lenses too in the bag, which weren't bought because of nice-to-have but because of nice-to-use !

Fitzi








Fitzi

 

[Ken Ford]

IMO, the trend to WA for reportage is nothing new.

When I was a budding young PJ in the late 70s, I consciously used wides for the dynamic they brought to images. I would say at least 70% of my non-sports stuff was shot with a 24 or 35, and the majority of the rest with a 20, 85 or 105.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Sirius,

Thanks for the Ludwig link. I really enjoyed his portfolio, particularly the landscape work.

 

[sirius]

I find wide-angle lends itself to telling stories, hence the connection to journalism, because you can situate the subject in an environment. The 50 mm has the effect of isolating a subject.

 

[__--]

Wides are a phantastic thing...

Sorry, I cant resist this because of the spelling of "fantastic" — just like "phat"!

--Mitch/Bangkok

 

[canonetc]

Interestingly, a wide-angle lens is challenging and non-challenging, for all the reasons expressed in this thread. You can shoot casually or rushed and allow for cropping, or shoot well-composed, using rule of thirds or empty space to convey meaning within the photo. Antonin Kratochvil uses empty space often.

I wonder if HCB may have been the last one to stamp "image may not be cropped for publication" on his prints.....and have the magazines actually obey!

50mm or wide-angle: in either case, good composition without cropping should be a worthy goal.

Cheers,

Chris
canonetc