Ansel Adams: Thoughts on lenses acting in three dimensions

[Ramsden]

Hello

I was recently pointed to the late Ansel Adams work on photography, and I'm half way through Book 1 on the Camera.  What a great writer he was with a wonderful way with words.

So here's my take away from today on P54 on lenses - he waxes lyrical about being experimental and getting a "feel" for the effects of depth of field and other optical properties. But the quote to discuss is 

"Try to develop a sense for the way the lens acts in three dimensions, as well as in relation to two dimensional 'framing'.

And as I used to say with my academic hat on:

Discuss (please). 

Ramsden

[normadel · Accepted solution]

Remember the crop factor of 1.6 when considering focal lengths to acquire. A 70-300 is equivalent to 112-480 on the 90D, a crop-sensor body. That's fine if you don't want to shoot in the close-up to short distance range, and you can stabilize the camera enough. A  50mm lens looks like an 80mm. A good option might be one of Canon's wide angles made for crop-sensor bodies.....the EF-S 10-18 STM or 11-22 USM.

[normadel]

What do you want to know?

He's talking about depth & depth of field, as well as up/down and sideways. That's three dimensions.

[JFG]

Hello Ramsden,

I agree with normadel, however to expand on what she said:  Ansel Adams' quote highlights a crucial aspect of photography: understanding how a camera lens interacts with the scene you're capturing. When he talks about the lens acting in three dimensions, he's referring to the depth and spatial relationships within the scene. This includes how foreground, middle ground, and background elements relate to each other and create a sense of depth.

On the other hand, two-dimensional framing deals with how the elements are arranged within the rectangular frame of the photograph. It involves composition techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and balance to create a visually pleasing image.

By combining both perspectives, photographers can create images that not only have strong composition but also a sense of depth and dimension, making the photographs more engaging and dynamic.

What kind of photography interests you?

[Ramsden]

Hi Joe

Thanks for your detailed reply. I got an EOS90D just over a year ago and have  been on a steep learning curve since then. Its a big camera that I try to use to its potential. My photography ranges from railway architecture and trains. I also take my camera for a walk around the country paths, here in the North of England and try and get close ups of birds, insects and foliage. In december i treated myself to a bigger zoom (70-300) and realised I was falling into the trap of 'all the gear and no idea'. I also have a nifty fifty.  

So I found Ansel's work quite inspirational and was looking for a few tips on how to experiment and think more 3D. 

The 70-300 lens is quite overwhelming in its capability when hooked up to my camera - so any help appreciated.

Thanks

Ramsden

[normadel · Accepted solution]

Remember the crop factor of 1.6 when considering focal lengths to acquire. A 70-300 is equivalent to 112-480 on the 90D, a crop-sensor body. That's fine if you don't want to shoot in the close-up to short distance range, and you can stabilize the camera enough. A  50mm lens looks like an 80mm. A good option might be one of Canon's wide angles made for crop-sensor bodies.....the EF-S 10-18 STM or 11-22 USM.

[Ramsden · Accepted solution]

Hi Normadel 

Thats the kind of information I need in the back of head when I'm looking at a potential scene. But Ansel really inspires me to look at a scene and experiment - but with the facts to back it up. I hope this doesnt sound silly, but after reading further on in the book today - I'd like to be able - one day - to rely on my senses to assess the 'light' and then decide on an aperture that gives me a creative depth of field - length of zoom for creativity. At the moment, I feel the camera is bossing me!

Thanks for your advice

Ramsden