Something a bit different today. As a landscape photographer I spend so much of my time trying to take photos that have a large depth of field and worrying (or at least thinking) about whether all parts of the image are as sharp as they could be.
Often though I get really bored of this – the more practice you get, the more robotic the process of taking photos can become – so occasionally I like to stick one of my cheap prime (fixed focal length) lenses on and use them wide-open (at their widest aperture/lowest f-number) or thereabouts.
Whereas shots with a large depth of field can end up leaving nothing to the imagination, a shallow depth of field can make an image about something totally different – about the light, colours or textures.
Purchase print at redbubble
The shot above was taken using the Canon 24mm f/2.8 lens on a Canon 5D. The 24mm is perhaps my favourite lens – I don’t use it anywhere near as much as I should, but it always makes me happy. Using it wide-open (at f/2.8) on the full-frame camera gives such heavy vignetting – something that some people try their best to avoid, and others spend time trying to recreate, but I think if you know when to expect it (it’s generally gone by f/8) you can use it to your advantage.
Above, the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 – old, clunky, no full-time focus, and not the quietest motor in the world – but great value for money, especially considering just how cheap you can pick one of these up for on ebay.
Reviews
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/canon-ef-24mm-f-2.8-lens-review.aspx
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=21&sort=7&thecat=2
