Choosing the RIGHT LENS — Why Focal Length MATTERS

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LENS — WHY FOCAL LENGTH MATTERS //
Choosing the right focal length is much more than about creating a flattering portrait or being able to fit everything you want into your frame. Your choice of lens changes the dynamic of your image and the psychological meaning the audience will derive from it. In this video essay, I examine how different focal lengths can be used to communicate different messages to your audience.

**CORRECTION**
I've just noticed that the image @ 3:39 is incorrectly labelled. It's by John Bulmer. Apologies.

**********************************
FILMS AND TV REFERENCED IN THIS ESSAY

'Jaws'
Universal Pictures, 1975

'No Country for Old Men'
Miramax Films, 2007

'The Man Who Wasn't There'
Entertainment Film Distributors, 2001

'Barton Fink'
Universal Pictures, 1991

'The Big Lebowski'
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1998

'Call Me by Your Name'
Sony Pictures Classics, 2017

'Fallen Angels'
Kino International, 1995

'The Graduate'
United Artists, 1967

'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs'
Netflix, 2018

'Doctor Who'
BBC One, 2018

'The Handmaid's Tale'
Hulu, 2017

'Killing Eve'
BBC America, 2018

All copyrighted content used for the purposes of commentary and education under the 'Fair Use Act' (sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988)

**********************************
♫ Music

● Todd Siesel, "Boom Bap"

● Music during animated essay: Composition performed by me.

**********************************

Links
======================

Lightroom Preset Packs:
======================

—

[Caracalaba]

Video essays. You've raised the quality of YouTube.

[josh]

This is probably the best video on focal length and one of the rare videos on youtube that is actually about photography/cinematography. It was very refreshing and inspiring to see. A needed change from what you usually get on Youtube. Just thinly veiled shilling for gear and workshops book ended by simple tips we've heard 100 times and most people pick up in their first week of learning. This is how you make a video about equipment. You related to the actual craft and art the gear is used for instead of analyzing it in isolation as a technical exorcise. Most people talk about lenses in isolation from actual photography as if these things are made for some engineering purpose instead of artistic expression. I once tried to tell people arguing about zooms vs primes on a popular forum that you should be picking the focal length on purpose for the look you want and the feeling you want to convey anyway so the argument was silly. Because either way you should not just zoom or walk closer to fill the frame as it changes the whole look and feeling of the image. But these people really couldn't' understand it. They argued all you were doing was cropping with the lens so it didn't matter what focal length you were at as long as you "filled the frame" and used a "portrait" lens for portraits SMH. Stay off of forums. They are full of gear heads who know nothing about actual photography or cinematography and just want to "be right" on forums to look good. Oh and show off how much money the spent on their new expensive f/1.4 lens they didn't' really need and that will mostly sit on shelf while they argue on forums anyway.

[ggvnesq]

You are really good at telling stories

[JAStechnicalmedia]

This is an uncommonly well written video. In a medium dominated by just-wing-it presentations - some of them quite good despite their casual origins - this essay demonstrates what disciplined writing can bring to an audience. The visuals are every bit as well curated as the narrative is written. I know we're all here for the photography & video information but, as a matter of composition, this piece by Jaime Windsor stands out in much the same way fine photographs stand out from snapshots. Both have value. One, exemplified by this I'll assert, offers more.

[EricFosnaught]

I’m telling you, I see Jaimie Windsor, I click. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[EposVox]

With this background music, anyone else spend the video waiting for Aerosmith or Eminem to start playing?

[johnbianchi]

It's not the quality of the audio we should be paying attention to. It's the quality of what is being said. And, that is just superb.

[JimSamuel]

I am glad to see that you are focusing on videos that discuss technique and photography as an art rather than the latest gear. Much appreciated.

[stansabev]

Your style morph into something deeper and closer to you. It seems to me you’ve been finding your voice and because of that the expansion of your creativity. I love the story telling style, the view, the depth of understanding of the subject matter. Not just the audio, your Channel quality improve and getting close to perfection. I feel not just inspired or educated, but conditioned to see the world trough my lenses selectively.

[JamesClark]

Wow. That was better than I was expecting. I think you've slowly become my favourite photo-related Youtuber!
Also, I have a degree in Sound Engineering (although I fully admit I'm not the best), I'd be more than happy to help with audio advice if you ever need it. But tbh, saying that, I've never found the audio to be an issue on your channel and I've watched the entire catalogue.

[millerdp]

"Most people use their phone cameras to take pictures of things rather than to create an aesthetically pleasing composition." Jamie, this is a brilliant bit of observation. It provides a perspective of how people view, use and define photographic technologies. Sierra Hotel!

[findrichie]

Can't tell you how much I appreciate that you display the artist's name with each photo. I always end up doing an additional deep dive into great photographers.

[RyanRolshouse]

I swear, everything this man puts out is a piece of art. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jamie.

[RayFisherBiscuitstix]

This explains focal length in a way I haven't seen before... Learned alot thanks!

[drooghead]

Jamie Windsor and Mike Browne cover everything that I need in photography from very different perspectives and neither fusses too much about gear. Keep up the good work.

[LaurenceBakerAdobe]

You’ve nailed the crossover between art and technology. Having a graphic design background is a big plus for you. Original and informative.

[CuriousRiz]

I love your videos dude, The art and concepts around photography and videography, it's a refreshing change to all the gear videos out there. :)

[MiaogisTeas]

I love the 35mm/50mm focal lengths, but gods am I sick of seeing it abused by cellphone snapshots. 😅 So true that composing well with 35mm sets one apart. Thanks so much for your videos!

[veryjr]

Excellent as always. One thing though - at 05:20 ff. you state mobile phone lenses provide FOV similar to standard lenses shaping the way we see our world. I would argue that majority provide FOV closer to 28mm lens which dramatically alters our visual perception so much so that 28mm probably is the new 35mm.

[Jackinthewoodz]

EXCELLENT conceptual video. I never stopped to think how lens focal length has evolved our perception of pretty much everything photographic. I wish more photographers would explore this side of the craft instead of endless technical reviews. Keep going! 10/10