Lenses: Heart, Soul and Eyes of a Camera
Derek Smith • 27 December 2023
Bridlington Harbour
TT Artisans 27mm f/2.8 by Derek Smith
St. Peters Church, Markby
Samyang 12mm AF by Derek Smith
Kaya
Fuji XF 50mm f/2 lens by Derek Smith
Windsurfer
Fuji XF 70-300mm, Fraisthorpe Beach by Derek Smith
Many photographers imbue their lenses used with a sense of magic, a secret sauce that produces amazing images. Whilst it is true that some lenses have a particular character in optical performance, or a warmth of colour in the resulting images, there’s no doubt that the choice of lens can improve the image taken with any camera.
I prefer to think of my set of lenses more as a tool kit, a workman’s tools to get a job done. I like to have a pair of zoom lenses to obtain a full frame focal length range from 24mm to 450mm. Shooting as I do with an APS-C sensor camera, my shorter focal length zoom lens has a range of 16-80mm (24-120mm full frame), and the longer zoom has a range of 70-300mm (105-450mm full frame), and I can confidently go out with my camera, with just these two lenses to achieve the majority of my photography – a lightweight travel kit.
To compliment the zoom lenses, I have a few of what is known as prime lenses, these have a fixed focal length. Sometimes I need a lens with a wider viewing angle for architecture, and landscape photography, my choice for this role is a prime lens with a 12mm (18mm) focal length, this was the lens used for the Church Project last year.
A prime lens with a full frame focal length of 50mm is often favoured by photographers, however from experience I prefer a wider focal length of around 40mm. To this end I have a 27mm (40.5 mm) tiny “pancake” lens that is great for street, or travel photography. I did have a 23mm (34.5mm) f/1.4 Viltrox lens, but I sent it back, and I have replaced this lens with a 30mm (45mm) f/1.4 lens, for portraiture, and travel. Specifically, for portraits I have a 50mm (75mm) f/2 lens, which renders excellent image quality, and warm colours. The importance of a bright, wide aperture of around f/1.2 to f/2 can assist in lowlight photography, and isolation of a subject within a scene with the background blurring away, an effect described by photographers as bokeh.
Choosing a prime lens to suit you: if you only currently only have a zoom lens for your camera you are in an ideal situation to choose a focal length for your needs by analysing the images taken with the zoom it will become evident which is the favoured focal length. If photographing a building interior or exterior and your back is up against a wall and you still can’t capture the whole scene, you will require either a wide angle zoom, or a prime lens. For portraiture, a prime lens can be used to full advantage, a wide aperture will provide a blurred background, and stopping down will give an environmental style of image. For travel a small pancake lens is ideal, often enabling the lens, and camera, to be carried in a day bag, or large coat pocket. For street photography many photographers like a 35mm full frame lens, whereas other more timid souls like to take photos from a distance with an 85mm full frame lens, again use your zoom lens to find the working distance comfortable to you.
In summation then, a prime lens can enable a photographer to obtain sharper, clearer images, in possibly a lighter smaller package than most of the “kit” zoom lenses supplied by camera manufacturers. Additionally, a prime lens can help to hone your compositional skills by forcing you to move around the subject.
In these sample photos, for this view of Bridlington harbour the TT Artisans AF 27mm pancake prime lens is deliberately focused on the foremost bollard as the subject, the rope marks, and sharpness of the bollard contrast with the blurred background of the harbour at f/2.8. The 50mm lens wide open at f/2 captured this portrait of my model Kaya, the skin, hair, and eye detail are faithfully captured. I used the 12mm prime lens at f/11 to capture this stunning monochrome image of St Peters Church at Markby. Lastly, a photo of a wind surfer, the 70-300mm zoom lens was indispensable here, at 300mm, f/5.6, and a shutter speed of 1/1800 to capture, and freeze the action.
Louth Photographic Society
Good Morning, All, Last week at the club member Chris Birchmore gave a presentation on MPP cameras which included some of Chris's collection of cameras and prints taken. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. Thank you Chris for an interesting evening. This week, Wednesday 1st April, we are holding a local and open PDI competition the local subject being nature, please if you haven't already, send your entries to Harry before midnight tonight. Members Steve Chapman and Dave Turner have volunteered to judge. Also on the Wednesday 1st April our Louth Photographic Society 70th anniversary exhibition will be open to view at the Louth Museum. Regards Graham
Chris Birchmore gave an informative, and interesting talk and demonstration of his medium format film cameras. at the beginning of the evening Chris gave a potted history of the origins of the MPP cameras he was showing us. The cameras take a 5 x 4" film stock, and looking at the cameras it seems incredible that photographers in the recent past could take excellent photographs with these. The MPP cameras were often used by the British Armed Forcies during the Second World War, and throughout the 1950s, and 60s, and some of these medium format were still being manufactured in the 1970s. The prints that Chris showed taken with these cameras were of excellent quality, with an amazing depth of field. Many thanks Chris for a fascinating evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a committee meeting, which was very productive, we made the final arrangements for the exhibition, charity night, and studio evening as well as other items on the agenda. We are holding an Exhibition opening night at Louth Museum on Friday 17th April celebrating 70 years of Louth Photographic Society. There will be a small buffet and cold drinks available, if any member would like to donate a bottle of wine to the occasion please hand it to Harry at one of our club nights. This week, Wednesday 25th March, member Chris Birchmore will be giving us a presentation. The following week is a local competition, with the categoriess of "Local Nature" (up to 25 miles radius from St James church) and "Open" (unlimited mileage) please send your entries to Harry before midnight, Sunday 29th March. Members Steve Chapman will judge the Nature category, and Dave Turner the Open category. Regards Graham
Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition judged by Martyn Wrigg, the standard of entries was very high and well done to Tony Gaskins for a first in the Architectural Detail and Derek Smith for his first place in the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. This week, Wednesday 18th March we will be holding a Committee meeting, just committee members for this one. The following week Chris Birchmore is the speaker for the night. Harry is now accepting entries for the PDI local competition, with the categories of "Local Nature" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so if you would like to judge one of the subjects please let me know. Regards Graham
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A PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition was held last night with the categories of "Architectural Detail", and "Open". Martyn Wrigg was our judge for the evening, and he competently judged the submitted images, although he diid surprise with some of his choices of placing, but that's a judges perogative. Martyn complemented members on the quality of the images presented, which had made some of his decisions difficult. First placed was "It's a Fixer Upper" in the Architectural Detail section, and "Dervish Musician" in the Open section. Congratulations to Robin Begley, who as one of our newest members submitted some impressive images, achieving a 3rd place in "Architectural Details", and 2nd in the "Open" category. All the results are now posted to our website Competition page.
Good Morning All Last week at the club member Steve Chapman gave us an insight into his life and especially his time at Ilam Park in Derbyshire photographing for the National Trust. Steve showed us many photographs he had taken of the people involved with the trust and the Peak District. The second half was dedicated to Steve's own work, some superb aircraft photography as well as many other subjects. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. This week, Wednesday 11th March we are holding a PDI competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail " and "Open" to be judged by Martyn Wrigg of Barton. The following week is a committee meeting for the committee members only on that evening. For newer members we have two committee meetings a year. Regards Graham
Last night Steve Chapman presented a selection of images from his archives. Steve had previously been a volunteer photographer for the National Trust, and he showed many photos from the Ilam Park Estate, Dovedale, it was interesting to see some of the "behind the scenes" photos. The Jacobite reenactment battle scenes were amazing, the uniforms showed great attention to detail, and there were some real characters among the reenactors. After the break Steve showed some of his general photography, he has a great photographic eye, as some of his photos showed with different colours, shapes, and leading lines. Steve has taken many photos of agricultural machinery, and risked life and limb to create some close up aircraft photos. For atmosphere, just look at these horseriders at the top of the hill on a cool early morning. For heartstopping imagery look at these children on the side of a building, the children are photos on the side of the building, however, Steve wasted no time in capturing this stunning image. Many thanks to Steve for a fascinating evening.
Good Morning All Last week at the club I gave you a PDI (Projected Digital Image) presentation showing photographs I had taken on my travels last year, following up with some past and present photographs of Binbrook. I hope you all enjoyed the evening and maybe saw parts of England you hadn't seen before. This week, Wednesday 4th March, our member Steve Chapman will be showing us photographs he has taken. This is Steve's first time showing the club his work so will be a very good night. Harry is now accepting your PDI's for the next competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail" and "Open". The closing date is Friday 6th March. Regards Graham
The N&EMPF Exhibition will be on display in Cleethorpes from 3rd March.
