Why Ultra-Wide Lenses are So Fun to Shoot With

To have more fun with photography, shoot ultra-wide! (21mm, 24mm or even wider!):

1. Go wide without cropping

When you are shooting ultra-wide, the world becomes a little more fun and ‘wonky’. For example in photographing Cindy’s outfit (RICOH GR III x 21mm lens adapter), I had to get super-close. This creates a very fun effect!

So the tip:

To make more interesting compositions with an ultra-wide lens, don’t crop, and get super close!

Also, crouch down super low and shoot looking up (superman effect), or shoot from a high perspective looking down.

2. In praise of the new iPhones

The great innovation with the new iPhone 11 and iPhone Pro:

The ability to shoot ultra-wide.

I think shooting ultra-wide is far better for creativity than just using a telephoto/zoom lens. Shooting ultra-wide makes you take more compositional risks, and it is more challenging, fun, and difficult at the same time!

Therefore if you have a new iPhone 11 or iPhone Pro, I encourage you to experiment by shooting everything only ultra-wide angle mode, and see what you get!

3. Getting close and putting more in the photo

To be able to get closer and more intimate with your subjects and also include more in the frame: it makes the viewer feel like they’re in your shoes, witnessing what you’re witnessing! The photos feel more intimate, raw, and real.

4. Architecture is more fun!

Get on a really high roof, and shoot cityscapes. So much more fun when shooting hyper-wide; you can experiment more with tilting the camera, framing in different ways, and also capturing more information within your photo!