We have recapped the most common mistakes in the niche of wide angle lens photography and also explained how to fix them. Moreover, read our recommendations of camera gear to get the best results.
Introduction:
Wide angle lens photography remains one of the most common categories to date. There is a huge fan base of people who love to capture dramatic architecture, immersive environmental portraits, and expansive landscapes. These shots are captured with wide-angle lenses on full-frame cameras that typically have focal lengths shorter than 35mm.
This setup allows the camera to capture a wider scene on its sensor. Such lenses also come with apertures between f/1.4 and f/2.8, making them quite fast and capable in low-light conditions. As easy as it may sound, the reality is that this niche is not without its challenges, and both seasoned and beginner-level photographers make serious mistakes, putting them in a pitfall of disappointments and lost opportunities to capture masterpieces.
Common Mistakes in Wide Angle Lens Photography
1. Flat photos:
Most people get carried away with the use of wide-angle lenses to capture as much as possible but completely ignore the importance of the foreground. This makes the final results flat with an image that either empties or overcrowds the frame. Always scout for strong foreground elements to add depth to the image. Also, use the rule of thirds & leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye. Then simplify the image with two or three elements.
2. Unintended Distortion of Subjects
This is one of the most common mistakes in the niche of wide angle lens photography when photographers attempt landscapes or architecture but end up with exaggeration of the size of objects close to their lens. This happens when the subject is too close, making the lens bend the straight lines and enlarge nearby objects. The result will be stretched or warped faces or architectural elements.
To fix this, always use a lens specialized for landscape and architecture photography, which are designed in a way to minimize distortion. Also, maintain a reasonable distance from the lens to minimize distortion.
3. Vignetting and Light Falloff
Uneven illumination happens when light travels further to the edges of a wide camera lens, darkening the sides of the image. Use a camera lens with coatings made to minimize light falloff. You can also use a camera hood, which is designed to prevent stray light. You can also try to slightly stop down the aperture of your lens to deal with vignetting.
4. Not Leveling the Horizon
Ask any professional photographer, and he/she will agree to the statement that a skewed horizon is a dead giveaway of a rushed shot, and this is especially true for wide angle lens photography. These lenses will exaggerate the horizon line distortion and tilting, making them look unnatural and like a rookie’s work. We always recommend using a tripod when making wide-angle photos and turning on the grid to know your horizon levels. Moreover, always invest in a camera lens that has minimal curvature distortion.
5. Ignoring Lens Quality
Cheap wide-angle lenses have production processes that cut corners and result in soft images, poor contrast, and chromatic aberration. Modern optical design of internal elements and quality of materials used in the lens will highly affect the final wide-angle photos. Always invest in high-quality lenses and properly maintain them.
Putting everything together:
Having said that, such lenses should not break the bank. Consider the SIRUI Vision Prime, a high-tier cine lens that is not harsh on your pocket and addresses almost all of the common problems we mentioned above.
Designed with filmmakers and photographers in mind who are interested in wide-angle shots, this lens is constructed with advanced glass elements and coatings. You also get a T1.4 ultra-fast aperture, which gives you complete control over depth of field and helps correct the typical wide-angle challenges of selective focus.
The entire lens assembly works in a way that you almost have nonexistent levels of distortion, flare, and chromatic aberration. Then there is also full-frame compatibility for wide-angle shots without any cropping and the ability to create cinematic video footage too. Investing in this lens is the best way to deal with most of the common mistakes of wide angle lens photography and get professional-level clarity and artistic impact.
