The Wide Angle Environmental Portrait - Why wide angles work when photographing people

The short telephoto lens is seen as the go-to lens when photographing portraits. In the video I discuss using a wide-angle lens instead as it is a lens that lends itself to a story-telling narrative (or at least allows for more interpretation of the scene and the person being photographed) for the viewer.

I do mention several prominent and influential photographers during the video. My critique of their work is meant as a critique, NOT criticism. Steve McCurry in particular remains one of my photographic heroes (not forgetting some controversy highlighted by his detractors and critics), so please don't watch the video and assume that I don't like his work; I am in awe of his skill and photographic eye. The video serves to highlight that a style that he has become synonymous with is not the only way to approach portrait photography, particularly travel portrait photography.

Timeline:

00:00 The lens most associated with portrait photography
01:00 Why the 85mm is considered the perfect portrait lens
04:19 The portrait trope
05:36 The influences on my own portrait photography
06:32 What sets the image style apart
07:32 Wide angle for story-telling
09:17 Compositional tips for wide angle portraits
11:42 Why the wide angle works

Join a Natures Light Photographic Workshop. Some of the example images in this tutorial were shot on workshops in Morocco and Madagascar - https://www.natureslight.co.za/

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