subscribe 0330 333 1113I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI 21 September 2019 19One lens torule them allThe benefits of limiting yourself to just one lens andgetting to know it intimately are manifold. We askedthree photographers why they still love 50mmMAKING THE MOST OF 50MM TechniqueWhileit can be tempting to
fill your camera bag with
a whole host of zoom and
prime lenses, the 50mm
is still one of the most versatile pieces of
glass you can own. Light and compact
it boasts a fast maximum aperture,
making it ideal for low-light situations.
Setting wide apertures also helps to play
down distracting backgrounds, which
makes this lens ideal for portraiture
and travel. What’s more, the 50mm isgreat for shooting in tight spaces, which
earns it fans in the wedding photography
community. Naturally, limiting yourself to
a 50mm prime has its downsides: without
the ability to zoom in and out you have to
move your feet to alter the composition,
plus the field of view is fixed at 50mm
(unless you attach the lens to a camera
with a cropped sensor). However, these
limitations can sometimes lead to greater
creativity. With just one lens in your kit
bag you’re not overwhelmed by choice,and you can concentrate on fine-tuning
your composition instead. Over the next
six pages we speak to three professional
photographers who regularly shoot with
a 50mm prime. Julia Trotti finds it ideal
for shooting portraits in all locations and
lighting situations, Lee Frost takes his
off travelling – and alleges it has got him
out of some seriously sticky situations- and Brett Harkness likes to use his to
stay in the thick of the action, while
engaging with his subjects.
The50mm is a versatile
lens that deserves
a place in any kit bag© JULIA TROTTI
Photographer Julia
Trotti finds a 50mm
prime lens ideal for
outdoor portraits