Life through a wide-angle lens

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We are all storytellers.  We’ve all heard that line since birth. Some of us spend our lives telling stories, through dance, fiction, non-fiction, song and theater. 

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We’ve heard stories from U2 in “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Bullet the Blue Sky.” Of course, like Paul Simon, “I got a Nikon camera I love to take a photograph.” We know the story Simon’s telling. Or “I take pictures. Photographic pictures,” Depeche Mode. We know the amazing stories the guys from Basildon have been telling. Stories to live and cry by.  

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Many of you have seen my photos. If you haven’t check my Instagram accounts, personal and TMR Scout Museum. Ansel Adams or Robert Mapplethorpe I’m not. But I’ve gotten thousands of likes and views on mine. Yeah, I am sure they’d get more. I will keep trying to reach their level. I’d love to have their subject matter Andy Warhol, Peter Gabriel, Patti Smith and Yosemite National Park.

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Telling a story through photography is amazing. It is how you tell it that makes it fun. Creating the story is challenging. 

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I once took a photo class where we had to shoot for one week the same way. We had the option of using the same lens, lighting, settings, subject matter, etc. I chose to use the same lens. I picked a Nikkor 50MM F1.4. It is an amazing lens. To continue Simon’s lyrics, “They give us those nice bright colors.”

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And its major benefit is shooting in low light situations. Great for capturing bands in a dive bar. If only we could go back to those. My challenge presented by this lens is framing the shot. I had to be able to properly measure the subject matter from the lens. That’s always been challenging. I chose to take the challenge with a fixed focal length lens. It is tougher to frame your shot this way.

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 I didn’t want the option to zoom in and out. Too easy. Those lenses have other challenges. I have two. One is bigger than me. And probably weighs more. On a sunny day, it is fun to stroll parks along the East and Hudson Rivers. Even better a cloudy day on the Coney Island Boardwalk. Or get a great shot of everyone’s favorite cruise boat, the Staten Island Ferry sailing from St. George, Staten Island to Whitehall Street, Manhattan.  

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Lately, I am finding the best stories come via a wide-angle lens. I love the way it captures the whole story. Outdoor Photography’s website has an amazing YouTube video on the best way to shoot with your wide-angle lens. It is so much fun to hang by the East River and capture the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges. Or just a nice shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. What makes it so special is you get the whole bridge, the river and if you shoot in a certain direction, everyone’s favorite highway the BQE.

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You also can capture the medicinal waters at Coney Island, the sandy beach and the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel.

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You get the picture. We have the ability to zoom in and out on great moments, capture images in different situations and see how they changed based on lighting, weather and of course the mood of the photographer. That goes into the subject matter, camera settings and photo edits.

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This is the story of life. No matter whether you choose your camera, pen (maybe keyboard these days), voice or all. Whatever mechanism you use tells your story.  Ultimately, your eyes and soul are capturing the story. They are the real camera or script.

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Tell it well.  

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