Goodbye Wide Angle Lenses! 

Sorry for the random upload time - thought I'd try it! Antarctica 2024 Workshop: geni.us/Antarctica2024

You do realise that now you have lost your beard, all your magical photography powers will be gone until it grows back! 😉

James, I just would like to say that I've been OBSESSED with your channel lately. Don't know about others but the algorithm has been feeding me your content so much lately that I couldn't not subscribe. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with beginners (such as myself). Your advices have been shedding light in this uncharted area for me which is photography. Cheers

I’m guessing the sign was saying “this bridge is so narrow that you may have to jump over the edge if a vehicle approaches”. I SOMEWHAT agree with the wide angle thing. Back in the day when I got a Samyang 14mm for my D700, I loved it! Then over the years I realized that I don’t like having everything in the frame. Subject photography is much more fun. The widest lens I genuinely like now is a 33mm lens for Fuji, which is about 50mm on full frame. But the big difference between you and me, I think, is that I genuinely like making photos that don’t look like what you would see with your eyes in real life. I agree that some aspects of photos (long focal length, wide focal length for example) makes the viewer realize they’re looking at a photo. It doesn’t look “normal”. But for me the thing is, we already DO look at the world with our eyes. So I would much rather make photos that show something that you can’t see with your own eyes. Edit: great video btw. I appreciate your hard work! :D

I went from wide angle to telephoto and never looked back. I even like to stitch telephoto pictures into panoramas. Such level of detail, so many megapixels in one image.

Wide angle is such a weird one - there are times when you think you need wider but when you start out wide you realise how close you need to be to subjects to make them really work. I'm a fan of telephoto crops in landscape, so I'm with you on the wide-angle-a-phobia !

My old mentor always said that wide angles are for photographing the foreground. If you want to photograph a wide landscape use a pano. That's why, although I do carry a wide-angle, it's the least used lens in my bag. Even my macro lens gets more use!

Always enjoy hanging out with you, James. Like the 50mm focal length, your content has a lovely natural feel to it.

I do a lot of wildlife photography and therefore I usually always have a telephoto mounted. Instead of switching to a wide angle, I try to find ways to get my landscape shots at a longer focal length usually around 100mm. Started to enjoy the different perspective, and the compression is pretty beautiful at times. Cheers.

I like your approach to being as true to life as possible, so people can feel like they are in the places in your photos. I usually want the opposite. I want the people who look at my photo to know it's not real. My images are my attempt to transmit my idea of a feeling or an ambiance using something that exists as a starting point. My images are not a representation of something you can go and see for yourself and I want the viewers to know that.

Awesome to see in the opening, the dam behind you being painted with steel scaffolding - that's for Star Wars show Andor.

James, one of the things I appreciate about your videos is they present alternate viewpoints which challenge us to reconsider our own approaches to landscape photography. Thank you.

Your bike in the middle of that gate, with the lake in the background and the mountains with a little sky, perfect shot!!!

I like hearing the perspective of serious photographers on their thought process, so yes, I enjoyed the video.

Thank you for your continued efforts and your photos. Well done.

i actually love wide angle lenses, even super wide. they have such a quirky funny feeling to them, and they're very challenging - which i love!

I enjoy this channel and I enjoy your perspective on photography that you don't find on a lot of channels.

This channel is just perfect to put on after a long day and relax

Thank you so much for the wonderful images and the tips. I perfectly understand what you said about photographs taken with long exposure, wide or long tele lenses. The uneasiness in viewing them.

"Photography is a process of elimination"...well said. and thumbs up for the bike!

Love the photos you showed us. Think you could have had another good one with the bike propped up against the wall toward the end, with you next to it. Thank you, James!

95% of my photos are taken between 24-100mm. I gravitate to that range for exactly the reason you said, that's the range that looks most natural to our own perspective of the world. 24-50mm I use for things where I want to include the environment around the subject, that range looks most like our whole field of view. 50-100mm I use for isolating subjects, this range is more like only focusing on the detailed centre part of your vision. I find if I go wider than 24mm or longer than 100mm things start to look off, especially at the wide angle end

Thanks for the video, always learn something from you, your photos and your "rambling" which I think is always great info. Enjoy your day! 🙂

I feel the exact same way when it comes to wide-angle. I rarely shoot in that range, though I like when others do it well. Makes me want to do it too but I rarely vibe with the result. The art of exclusion is easier to do well than cramming in as much as possible. Especially when you have so little control over what shows up in a landscape. Not having a wide angle also means less gear to haul, less time thinking about alternative compositions, a more cohesive portfolio/vision, and less fussing around in post.

I can say I happy stand along with the "loads of other photographers" 😂 That's what makes photography fun, seeing and showing the world in a different way than the human eye.

"It's taken me about 20 minutes to recover from that climb!" 🤣🤣It'd take me about 3 days!

I really like shooting with long lenses. I shoot mainly with my 70-300 on my Fuji X-T3 and even use the 1.4x teleconverter quite often as well. Living in the Rocky Mountains of the US I enjoy zooming in on distant peaks and vistas that would otherwise be lost with wider lenses.

Your vids are about your journey so don't mind whatever that may be, always interesting.

Love the cycling images! Makes for a little bit of a change to all the landscape videos I watch.

so fun getting around by bike in nature. I often mount my gopro on the chest harness upside down too! Great POV! Fantastic shots. You've inspired me

A couple of years ago I went with my wife , our dog and my camera for a walk in a local park in forest along the beach. I thought I would take out my 8 mm on an apsc sensor. I loved the effect and the distortion. The douglas fir were tall and everything curved in a surrealistic way. The beach shots really emphasized the curvature on the horizon. I love that lens but I need more opportunities to use it.

Dude, you like man made objects in your shots. My suggestion is do the railway to the top of snowdon, keep up the good work.

Ultrawide angle can be stunning when done right, but it's hard to do it right, and as a result it's overused in landscape photography IMO. I think there are too many pictures of boring rocks and plants with mountains that look tiny in the background because the photographer decided he/she had to use ultrawide.

We should always shoot what feels right to us. As long as you grow. It's great to see your progress and you touch a certain portion of those that see your work.

Love taking landscape photos with my 100-400

Capel Curig is the rainiest place in Wales ;-) The sign is for HGV drivers to warn them that if they open their doors, whilst on the dam, they will be over the side .

Loved that beginning drone sequence 👍

If I should be limited to just a one lens for the rest of my shooting days then my 20mm Lumix G becomes my eternal companionship. James I like the wise colour choice of your biking gear .

me: studying the 16-35 lens hoping it to be my first lens option to learn how to tell stories through photos and videos James: I sold my 16-35 months ago and not missed it once :')

I like making panoramic pictures with a 35mm lens as you feel you are there when viewing the print. Thanks for your work 😎

Just sold my 20mm 1.8 G to upgrade to a 50mm 1.2 GM. I felt guilty but truth is, I've never really used the 20mm that much and I could never really point to the exact reason why. You've just helped me figure that out, so thanks a lot! Also, that intro with the polarizer is actually pretty informative, most dedicated videos do not show such huge difference with and without the filter. Great video as always.

I hope you get your 200.000 subscribers, I am already one and I am so glad to be able to watch your videos, you have a great way about you in how you explain your thoughts, I hope I can learn something from that as well as the photography. Thanks for sharing this with us James, it was great as usual 😁👍

I was that location in May. Every photo I took was with a telephot lens. Granted I'm still learning, but I just can't imagine going wide in place like that, because it's difficult to tell the story. Weirdly it did not rain when I was there

This is not exactly the video I needed to see after buying my first ever wide angle lens, but you've got great insight! 😂

Went there a few years ago. We had lunch in a cafe, which was fine except the floor was on a slope and the rain had made the floor wet. The upshot was that our table kept sliding downhill.

Interesting comments and point of view. I consider 24mm wide angle but I get what your trying to say. I sold my 14-30mm for that very reason. That's the beauty of focal lengths and exposure times as you can convey the feeling you are looking for either in realism so the viewer gets lost in the story, or throwing them off with a unique perspective that tells a different type of story. That's what makes this hobby/profession so much fun.

More videos plz really enjoy the content keep up the great work 👍

I love your videos and your "ramblings." I only shoot extremely wide about 10% of the time, but I love that option when the occasion arises. I actually think great stories can be told with the wide angle lens. Bottomline, the cool thing about photography is the variety of options to get the shot you've envisioned. I never go wider than 18mm and never longer than 200mm...my old age may contribute to that decision. Not being a wildlife photographer, that range works wonderfully for me.

You could make a video about taking photos of yourself on a bike. I'd watch it for sure!

Totally agree wide angles hard and should be used sparingly. However, you begin to realise they are not a tool to cram as much in as possible these images always fail, instead it’s a perspective tool very much the opposite of telephoto compressed landscapes. I think when we all start landscape photography it’s our most poorly used lens.

Funny you should bring this up, but I agree with your points on wide angle. I find myself hardly ever wider than 24mm even though I have some nice wide angle lenses.

I read in Ansel Adam's _The Camera_ that he prefers either wide or long focal lengths for a more interesting look, so I bought a really fancy ultrawide. But in retrospect when calculating equivalent focal lengths from large format, his idea of both wide and long fits in your standard 24-70 zoom lens, and my work in the field confirms his advice.

Interesting perspective on focal lengths. I tend to lean the other direction I suppose, whereas ultrawide/telephoto images provide a perspective not typical of the everyday human visual perception - Love your content!

Great sign post got to be beware of wide loads lol

Not a photography guy so to speak, but I have a keen interest in the incorporation of video work for my woodworking and I get that "preachy"commentary at the end of the video. Loved the video, thanks for sharing!

Completely agree with not needing a wide angle. If you do need you that badly you can always stitch shots together. Loving the bike content!

I think the sign means there's not enough room for a truck and a pedestrian on the bridge or causeway. With the current shipping issues, the driver will knock you off the road instead of simply stopping and offering you a ride. At least that's my theory.

Interesting points James and I'm with you on the wide angle. Just one point though. There are 'rules' for bike photos. From Velominati - Keepers of the Cog Rule 26 - Make your bike photogenic When photographing your bike, gussy her up properly for the camera. Some parameters are firm: valve stems at 6 o’clock. Cranks never at 90 or 180 degrees. Others are at your discretion, though the accepted practices include putting the chain on the big dog, and no bidons in the cages.

I really like your opinion. I find it very challenging to compose with wide angles. I try to find an interesting foreground, which makes those pictures look the same and as if it is about the foreground not the background. I know photographers like Felix Roeser shoot exclusively with wide or super wide and get a special look. I think it depends on how you like to communicate through a photo. I prefer 24 to 100 mm, because it is then more about the image itself, not about a "special effect" to get that wow. And I might add: I really like your natural viewpoints and simplistic composition, which makes a strong impact on me!

I really enjoyed this, so don't be worried that you thought it was 'A random upload.' You deserve to get to 200K subscribers long before the end of this year. Also, I have cancelled my website and am changing over to Squarespace - via your code. You advertise it so well.

This is what I love about photography, I'm at the other end of the spectrum, I pretty much shoot 98% of the time with a 15mm wide angle lens and would probably cry if I couldn't 😂

I agree with you with regard to long exposure and very wide angle lenses. I also have a problem with super sharp focus from front to far distance for the same reason, it's not how our eyes view a landscape scene

I'm allergic to long exposures because they make me think of the pictures you see in hotel rooms, or in some cases even worse, those "things" (I don't know what to call them) on the walls of Chinese restaurants that have a moving waterfall on them. OK, maybe that is pushing it a bit, there ARE of course good photos taken with long exposures, but in general I'm not a fan.

I loved this video James. I don't know why

I restarted cycling 4 years ago as well! New Alpha Shooter... Orange bike... I see what you did lol! Now you just need to do some Zwift commercial work! Btw, check out Zwift, you might really enjoy it with your unpredictable weather. It's helped me lose 80lbs (not sure what that is in Stones :D ).

Ultra wide angle lenses became a fad. In my older books on landscape photography there are very few if any images at less than 24mm on 35mm film format. The fad with ultrawide lenses was to photograph a big rock in the foreground that dominates the image, with the lake or mountain appearing very small way back in the background. I always thought the lake or mountain was more important than the rock. If you want to photograph rocks then make rocks the primary subject and don't have lakes or mountains in the photograph to compete with the rocks.

Yes, wider than 24mm is challenging because of the foreground effect - the square law of perspective - and one really needs to learn to adapt viewpoint, angle, and perspective in order to have foregrounds that complement the composition. In many cases you could use a 35mm or 50mm vertically and shoot a single row panorama - if you haven't figured the foreground out. Or still use a, say, 20mm and crop foreground away.

Great channel takeover. Can't wait for James to come back, though 🤣.

Great vid as always James, but very distracted, not by the beard, but by those dangly ear-rings hanging from that ear ring holder you wore on your head!!! Would be so sad if there were no more Videos from you because the ear ring holder did not stay on due to not being used in the recommended way when cycling (especially at 4,55). Stay safe, keep these vids coming, I love your style.

Back in the day (won't say how far back but it was film and I used a Pentax KXMD.......) 28mm was my standard lens. Loved it. Fast forward, got a D500 and among other lenses, a 12-24mm zoom. Also loved it. Used it a lot. Went mirrorless, eagerly picked up the 14-30mm, using old habits as my motivation - and I rarely use it. Meh. What happened?! I do like using it when the occasion calls for it (and I remembered to pack it which is hardly ever). Guess my use case has changed.

"I'm feeling disheartened because THAT was not forecast" Welcome to my hometown! 😂😂

Sign looks like "diving from vans on damn prohibited"

I can certainly see your point about a wide angle lens. I bought one, but I don't use it. I think that I'm more likely to use it for a close up with a broad background. -E

LoL! I forgot about the video subject! I kind of understand what you're on about, but then, theoretically, a great image kind of frames itself, so an ultra wide angle makes that more and more difficult to achieve. My main lens zooms out to 18mm, so 24 isn't a prob, but I might consider a 24mm anyway to get the better f number.

James…you need to do what I did recently….bought an E Bike. Makes all the difference on hills.

blimey i remember that road was a track up there no tarmac

It freaks me out how much you are like Will from The Inbetweeners!!! 😊👍

Love your videos

Try an old type cut throat razor. They are usuall quite good.. I normally use prime lenses. 500mm does most things or a 24mm if wider. Or 100mm for more tighter shots.

I would adore to do the Antarctica trip but it's sooooooo expensive 😭

Great vid mate

Sold my Tamron 17-28mm. Bought a cheap Samyang 18mm in case I ever want to shoot wide but I barely use it. I much prefer telephoto as well.

It's rained so much it's washed your beard off....thought I was watching your younger brother 😁...great video as always James 👍

Black and orange appear to be colors of the day huh. 👍🏻 On the no beard.

I think the sign at 7:48 means to be careful cross the bridge because it's narrow and if a truck comes through you'll have to jump in the river 😬

Hold on. Now I think it's Saturday. Pub tonight and no work tomorrow - woohoo!

The lens I use the most is the EF-M 22mm (for APS-C). It is considered as a wide angle optic. The lens I use the least is the even wider angle EF-M 11-22mm which has such a wide angle at 11mm that it is only useful for taking pictures of big buildings such as churches (many of those over here) or other wide buildings in narrow streets. Wales is huge but Malta is so tiny that wide angle lenses are a necessity.

I like your tendency to want some man-made things in most of your photos. It definitely adds to the story line. The big mystery, though, is: what . . . is . . . that . . . gear . . . ratio ? You should be able to climb walls with that!

I think I like wide angle photography with a smartphone. You get that distortion to give a particular type of image. But with a camera I just got a 30mm lens and I feel that's just right for me. I'm very much an amateur with all this. 30mm is a very versatile size to use

You may have founded the Realist School of Focal Length. I’m not sure I agree fully with your position, but it is certainly worthy of serious consideration.

Can only say your first mistake James, was picking up shaver at all. As for the sign, Be careful on narrow viaducts. Stay safe 🇦🇺

I think Josef Koudelka is one of the greatest photographic storytellers. His preferred lens for much of his career was a 25mm, which he often used to create a really compelling dynamic between his main subject and the environment/secondary subjects. The focal length opens an unresolved space between them. 24mm or 25mm may be a harder length to get right than 35mm or 50mm for storytelling, but when you do, it has a unique magic.

I find myself currently falling out of love with anything tighter than a 35. Mostly, because it doesn't require working a scene. I like the fiddly little framing of wide angles. It feels quite rewarding to me to get it right. I'll always keep my 85, because sometimes I want to bring something as close as my eye actually saw it, but I live mostly around 24 or 28 nowadays. Thinking about going wider. 😂

I'm finding the same. I really do like 35 and 50. And I really like wide angle when other's do it because to my brain it just doesn't compute. But as fate and RU-vid would have it, in the sidebar up pops your 'How to Master Wide Angle Photography', dated 3 years ago. We all morph through experience- at least we are morphing in the same direction...

I absolutely agree. It's the wide angle photo trickery that makes many landscape photos look unreal. They tell a story, but it's a fantasy.

I have been avoiding getting the 14-24mm lens for awhile. Every once and a while I see a scene where I think something wider than a 24mm would work/look great, but since I have a 24-70mm and not a 14-24, I just move around to find a composition that works for the lens I have! I guess you can say it saves me money. 😋

I think the less bead look suites you. Do you have any recent videos about how you use SS?

3:22 Sasquatch!

I've been on the same boat about super wide angle lenses (anything above 24 for me) for quite a while myself. happy to hear my photographer guru sensei feels the sameish now. And I fully subscribe to the "being instantly aware you're looking at a photo" being a bad thing.

Nice to see the trusty tripod getting some air time 2.30 😂