Award-winning Danish photographer. Teaching street photography, portraits, and storytelling. Author and book prints. Sign up for the newsletter and be the first to know about new workshops, Albek Photo Walks, and more: www.mortenalbek.com/newsletter/ Follow me on Instagram instagram.com/mortenalbekphotography/ Follow me on Facebook facebook.com/MortenAlbekPhotography
I often post my images on Instagram but create a square background slightly larger than the largest dimension of the image (i.e. for portrait, the height is the largest etc). It means I'm not constricted by instagram's square format. Having said that, I used to use a TLR square format camera and often crop to square when shooting monochrome. Very interesting video. Thanks.
Thank you. It's a good idea to make a background and keeping whatever framing you choose inside that for Instagram. The square format is something different and makes a different expression. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for your informative channel. I am surprised at the low number of subscribers. You certainly deserve many more. Your sample images are superb.
Great advice Morton! I have tried it and can say it has my photography. I enjoy using prime lenses in particular the 50mm. It’s amazing how versatile it is. Thank you
I thought my selecting only one lens which happens to be a 50mm Summicron Rigid on my MD262 was incorrect but you made me realize having one lens can be more easily mastered than to have different focal lengths...!
Thanks. Having one favourite lens isn't incorrect. Not at all. Many famous photographers relied on one focal length and often it was a 50mm. There was a reason for that. They mastered because they repeatedly used it.
THANKS FOR SHARING...I Love the low light tips with my 50MM Nikon lens! Quick question: kDo you prefer shooting black and white more thanr color images?
In street photography especially I favour black and white and only when colours are better I go with that. For my professional work I have to switch to colour when it’s the demand. But monochrome is my main focus.
@@MortenAlbekPhotography Good call! I find that monochrome gives our images more contrast and a "movie" type of feel to them, and I hardly ever see our younger camera shooters shoot in black and white..they consider it to be 'OLD SCHOOL" and are strictly working in color; Like you, I have to shoot color when the demand is made by a client or for a photo assignnment; I love seeing the world in black and white or even sepia tone! Thanks again for sharing
A lot of old school photographers like myself recall when the 50mm lens was the standard lens used by all the film camera professionals, mostly in black and white! Although DLSR cameras have taken photography to a different level with the zoom lenses and kit DX lenses, nifty fifty lenses seem to be making a comeback! Appreciate your video tips and suggestions...
Hello, Morten. I totally agree with you. For me, the 50mm is the lens with the most possibilities. City photography, portrait photography, and also landscape photography are possible with this lens. I have several prime lenses but the 25 Summilux (Micor 43) is my favorite lens. When I have that on, there is very little that can happen that I cannot capture. A strong video, friend. Antoine (the Netherlands)
I decided only to shoot prime 12 months ago, I have finished a year at only 85mm, learnt so much and improved my confidence and composition. First week with my 50 and really looking forward to 12 months of it.
I did this 12 months ago moved to Primes, I’ve spent 12 months only shooting with an 85mm (just to make it more challenging) wow it’s been worth it, I shoot a lot of street and travel style. Next 12 months will be with my 50mm. Thank you for a great video, subscribed.❤
Good lesson to learn regarding the 50mm lens. While not the ultimate portrait lens it does a fine job for most work. Wide angle on landscape shots does not offer a natural perspective like a 50 does. Also my bulky Nikon D810 slims down considerably when fitted with an older AFD 50 1.4.
Thanks. I use the 50mm for portraits too in many situations. It gives me a little more room to play with adding interesting to the story. 90 or 100 gives more focus on the portraited figure I know. I also use the Sopny A7rV with a 50mm but it is just too large to bring around all day when not doing a job with it.
What a collection of beautiful photos you have here! I love the 50mm (but I've some sort of an 'allergy' to the 35 to which prefer the 40 or the 28 - there's something with the 35 that won't click with me somehow, although I have it in my bag). Thanks for sharing. I'll subscribe to your channel.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject. Some lenses are not for all. I rarely use the 35mm for photography but for video. I will post a 35 photo video soon though.
@@MortenAlbekPhotography 35 with video works well, somehow there's a place for that focal length that is better suited with video work than photography (great masters of photography including Gianni Berengo Gardin and C. Bresson used the 50 or the 28, hardly ever the 35). In any case the look and feel of proportions on a 50 are surely more pleasing than the same lines and subjects portrayed with a 35mm, in my opinion and for my taste. I even prefer landscape photography done with an 85mm or more sometimes.
Do you have an opinion on back-button focusing? It seems to me that it addresses all of the issues that you described and makes zone focusing easy. On some cameras like my Canon you can enable manual focusing while in AF mode so you have the best of both worlds.
Yes and no. No, because everyone needs to find their own best practise and what works for one of us may not work for another. Also depending on the camera and lens you use. Yes, because my approach is to practise one metod and be very good at it. Repeating is all it takes and manual focus isn't as difficult as it sounds. It all depends on your way of shooting and what you photograph. Maybe not a clear answer but an honest answer. If you shift too much between methods of operating the camera nothing becomes a habbit, and more time will be used on buttons than on taking the photo in the right moment.
Gracias por su interesante video! He trabajado el paisaje desde los años 80s con cámaras de 35 mm B/W. Mis mejores resultados han Sido con Leica M3 / 135 lentes. Y un filtro rojo o anaranjado.. Muchas gracias Saludos desde México!
Many of my better landscape photographs were taken on a Mamiya 7 with a 50mm equivalent lens. Since moving to digital I’ve used several focal lengths on my Leica, including 50mm. I find 50mm an excellent focal length and, if I feel a picture demands a wider view, it’s often possible to create a wider perspective by shooting several shots and merging them in post-processing. I rarely do that but a 50mm makes it easier because there’s less distortion in each image.
I am a bit minimalistic in the way that I accept what’s captured in the picture and newer sample. I like the beauty of simplicity and that is probably why I stick with the 50mm. In between I like to use the 35mm though. Thanks again for sharing.
Your landscape photos are really stunning!! I like a lot of them. I'm 79 years old and own a Nikon D750 and about 7 to ten lenses of Nikon manual lenses of different focal lengths. I prefer to use 50mm/1.4 most of the time. Those lenses are leftover of film era when I used Nikon F, Nikon FM2, and Nikon F3. Thank you for your beautiful and breathtaking photos!!
Thank you so much and thanks for sharing your experience. It’s great to hear of a long journey and dedication to photography. Funny how some reject the 50mm and others love it.
With all the different subjects that I photograph including events, i never limit my self to one or two focal lengths, i look at my cameras as lens as tools to capture an image. Back years ago when you can work on csrs i had a tool box with a variety of different tools 🔧, wrenches and sockets. If i know exactly what I plan on photographing i can limit my self to one camera body and a lens or two, in September of this year i will drive 7 hours to the Eastern Shores of Virginia, i will be staying at a sea side island that has a variety of birds, is a home to wild ponies and will also be photographing the sun rise and sunset along the coastline. For this trip i plan on taking two to three cameras and a variety of different lens as i will be using both my car as bike to travel to different areas on the island. I will also have a camera with me while I am at dinner as the restaurant i will be eating at will be on the water, i might get some sunset after dinner. So i like having a selection of glass to cover my trip.
If you want a wider view, take overlapping snaps and combine the files later. Camera vertical for a better height:width ratio. Ideally on a panorama head to rotate the camera about the nodal point but you can approximate that by hand. Look at the scene with one shut and keep still, may not look as good as it did with both eyes.
Thankyou very much for such a great video. I thought I was alone in using 50mm for landscape. Your image of the rainbow above the strip of bright field is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. You have captured so much in a single frame 🙂
Wonderful video and wise insights. I have several cameras and many lenses, but some of the best pictures I’ve taken in recent years were with an old Olympus film camera and 50mm lens. Your photos are beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for making this video. Subscribed.
A very factual/truthful talk rather than tutorial. Very true indeed when you mention the photographers perception. Hence in my view (excuse the pun), choice of lens, settings are all controlled by that perception, with a little arithmetic added. Excellent viewing. TQ
The photographers who are "well known" usually are very articulate regarding all the reasons why not just how they work in the field. It's part of what makes their work significant, they tell you exactly why it's significant. Since you are comfortable with the 50mm maybe try another focal length?
Thanks for replying. With a more than 35 years career as a professional Photographer I am confident in using several different lenses on my cameras. I still prefer 50 and 35 mm for most of my work.
@@MortenAlbekPhotography it was your word "comfort" that prompted me to suggest a different focal length. Comfort is the enemy of creativity. I try to follow Ralph Gibson's advice given to him by Dorthea Lange. Every time you pick up your camera have "A point of Departure"
Wow. I am glad to see your new video and appreciate your informative content that gives me a clear answer to my question. Your picture inspired me for a new perspective of 50mm for landscape photography. Thanks again and will keep watching your next Video.
I'm 80! Most of my images done with 50mm on my M3, 57 years in my use). It's the easiest to frame on M3, prefer the perspective! The 50mm is the least expensive lens? f2 is more than enough! In recent years due to more and more folks everywhere, need 35mm, to get near my subjects.. I think 35mm is the new choice, because the best large frame in VF. Bravo!
Hi Morten! I just came from buying my first Nikon 55 1.8 D second hand in mint condition, It's night and I have done a couple of test shot in my city, and I am delighted! it's so nice to work with a fast lens, and since my camera don't have a motor and neither the lens it's so light to handle, and so confrtable to carry not like the original zoom lens. I will spend many time with this! Cheers!
