Whenever I take my camera out I find myself frustrated. I’ve got a 50mm lens on a Canon 600d. I don’t know all the technicalities but I know it has a crop sensor, which means that the 50mm is extremely zoomed in. Moreover, the lens I’ve got has a very slow autofocus, meaning I more or less always shoot manual. All in all it makes it very hard to shoot things ad hoc – you really need to stand back and be nifty with the manual focus – so I don’t take it out very often.
The other day was my grandparents’ diamond wedding anniversary – that’s 60 whole years! – and, Mack being unable to make it, the photo requirements fell on yours truly. I really wasn’t expecting to be able to get much, but – and I do say so myself – I was very pleasantly surprised with what I was able to capture (as well as my Lightroom skills!).
And, importantly, I realised how powerful the 50mm can be. The depth of field is really stunning, especially for fairly emotive pictures like the above, which are made all the more visually captivating with a poignant focal point. I also fell even more in love with natural light – “shoot for the light, not the subject” – that I see so many “professional” photographers completely neglecting lately.
Maybe it’s just because the subjects are obviously of great personal value to me, but I think these are some of the best pictures I’ve taken to date (and I’ve captured some pretty awesome lattes). This whole set has given me a little bit more confidence with the 50mm, although I don’t doubt a wider angle-shaped dent will be coming to a bank statement near me in the not-so-distant future.
CM