10 Creative Ways To Master Your Lenses

The lens you choose, and the way that you use it, are essential ingredients into getting a picture that stands out from the rest

- Chris George

You might think that there was nothing new to discover about lenses. After 180 years of evolution, surely there can’t be much that you can invent in the optical design of our cameras? The truth is that lens design is now changing at a rapid pace – almost as quickly as the cameras that we attach them to. Bigger zoom ranges, wider angles of view, faster maximum apertures, higher resolutions and innovative designs seem to arrive on almost a weekly basis.

It has never been easier for an enthusiast photographer to get hold of a super-fast prime, an ultra-wide zoom, or a ‘big Tom’ telephoto. AF speed and manual focus controls are getting more refined too.

This revolution in lens manufacture has come at a crucial time – as it is the ability to bayonet the right lens to suit the subject that gives DSLRs and mirrorless cameras that unequivocal edge over the masses and their ever-more intelligent smartphones.

But it is not just a matter of forking for a bag full of glass if you want to get great shots. Each lens type needs a different set of skills, if you are to harness its true creative potential.

Lessons to be learnt

We have hunted out 10 stunning images that help explain the important lessons that need to be learnt. With each, we will explain the key things to think about when as you use different lens types – the compositional tricks, the laws of physics, and the rules you should break – which will hopefully inspire you to use your zooms and primes as creative tools in your picture-taking.

1 Hyperfocal sharpness

Use wide-angles to ensure that everything is tack-sharp