Lenses
The main types of lenses are wide-angle, telephoto and standard.
Wide-angle lenses
Wide-angle lenses capture a wide view of a scene. They can be used to show wide open landscapes and to highlight or exaggerate the size and scale of a subject.
Images can seem distorted around the edges. For example, straight lines can appear curved or faces might seem stretched.
Wide-angle lenses can make objects in the The part of a composition that appears to be nearest to the viewer appear much bigger than those in the background. This can be a useful way of emphasising the foreground.
Telephoto lenses
Telephoto lenses have a long focal length. They magnify or show faraway subjects in detail. They are useful in many situations such as wildlife photography or sporting events.
They canât be used to photograph subjects that are too close.
Photographing subjects that are in the distance can result in images that appear flattened, so it is helpful to think about ways to add depth and space to a composition.
Standard lenses
Standard lenses are designed to work in a wide range of situations. They cannot show as wide a scene as a wide-angle lens or show distant detail like a telephoto lens.
Standard lenses can be used for a wide range of different subjects and are a flexible choice for trying out different compositions quickly.