3 ms·

> If you can cherrypick to distortion I'm cherrypicking to perspective. Distortion is an additional argument, alongside field of view of the area of focus, etc

> If you can cherrypick to distortion I'm cherrypicking to perspective. Distortion is an additional argument, alongside field of view of the area of focus, etc. > documentary photographers/photojournalists choose 28-35mm for their more authentic representation I dispute the idea that there is anything like a uniformity of choices, and I dispute the idea that documentary photographers choose a focal length for authenticity purposes. If you're doing a documentary and especially if you're doing photojournalism, you're choosing focal lengths that properly frame your subject at whatever distance you need to stand at... because often you won't be able to choose your distance to the subject. This fstoppers article suggests that the two most useful photojournalism lenses are a 24-70mm zoom, and an 85mm portrait lens. https://fstoppers.com/originals/two-most-useful-lenses-photojournalist-should-carry-200048 https://fstoppers.com/originals/two-most-useful-lenses-photo... Other articles seem to suggest that photojournalists should carry zoom lenses covering a range from 12 or 16mm to 200mm, which makes perfect sense. I see no indication that 28-35mm is preferred. > To say that they should actually be using 50mm is... foolish at best. Then don't say that. What does this statement have to do with this conversation? > When someone pays me for portraits, I will use a 50-75mm, but when I want to remember what it was like to be somewhere doing something and living, I and many others will use a 28mm or 35mm. And that's fine. You can use whatever focal lengths you want to evoke different emotions. That's one of the reasons we don't just use one lens or one focal length all the time. This isn't really relevant to the assertion that short focal lengths are somehow closer to human vision.

psychomugs 5y ago
>I dispute the idea that there is anything like a uniformity of choices, and I dispute the idea that documentary photographers choose a focal length for authenticity purposes. Documentation: the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents [Merriam-Webster]. Documentary photographers are thus by definition chiefly concerned with representing events as authentically as they happened. I've done several years of work as a photojournalist [1-3]. Of the other photojournalists I've bumped into, the wide-normal zoom or a 24/28mm prime gets used most of the time. Barring logistical mandates, only amateurs aren't able to choose their distance to the subject and rely solely on telephotos; more experienced PJs know how to get close. “If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough” - Robert Capa. I also do a lot of personal street/documentary work and have shot around prominent photo circles in Japan and New York [4,5]. As I've said repeatedly, the most popular cameras in this genre (Ricoh GR, Leica Q, Fuji X100) sport fixed, i.e. unchangeable, 28mm or 35mm lenses. Many of those who shoot on Leicas, whose system lenses are so expensive you can only have a few, often choose either a 28mm or 35mm. It's a running joke within New York specifically that you don't shoot street unless it's with a Leica M6 and 28mm. > Then don't say that. What does this statement have to do with this conversation? With regards to documentary photography, which is trying to portray things as authentically as they happen, by your standards, normal lenses would be the principle option because of the distortionless proportional perspective, but this is empirically not the case. I think we're on different levels of experience here, and I will sign off this conversation as I advise again: go photograph grass with a 28mm. [1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CHS-DHPHV8c/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHS-DHPHV8c/ [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVdZ0SHuI2/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVdZ0SHuI2/ [3] https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBK85GnVPA/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBK85GnVPA/ [4] https://www.instagram.com/p/CSEvyDkHA-i/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CSEvyDkHA-i/ [5] https://www.instagram.com/p/CRY8O_znC2G/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CRY8O_znC2G/
- falcrist 5y ago
  > Merriam-Webster Not relevant to the discussion. > I've done several years of work as a photojournalist [1-3] This is an anecdote, and even if accepted it doesn't do anything show uniformity. You have chosen short focal lengths. That's fine. > With regards to documentary photography, which is trying to portray things as authentically as they happen, by your standards, normal lenses would be the principle option because of the distortionless proportional perspective, but this is empirically not the case. That is not my standard.
  - psychomugs 5y ago
    Have a good photographic journey ;)

psychomugs 5y ago

>I dispute the idea that there is anything like a uniformity of choices, and I dispute the idea that documentary photographers choose a focal length for authenticity purposes. Documentation: the act or an instance of furnishing or authenticating with documents [Merriam-Webster]. Documentary photographers are thus by definition chiefly concerned with representing events as authentically as they happened. I've done several years of work as a photojournalist [1-3]. Of the other photojournalists I've bumped into, the wide-normal zoom or a 24/28mm prime gets used most of the time. Barring logistical mandates, only amateurs aren't able to choose their distance to the subject and rely solely on telephotos; more experienced PJs know how to get close. “If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough” - Robert Capa. I also do a lot of personal street/documentary work and have shot around prominent photo circles in Japan and New York [4,5]. As I've said repeatedly, the most popular cameras in this genre (Ricoh GR, Leica Q, Fuji X100) sport fixed, i.e. unchangeable, 28mm or 35mm lenses. Many of those who shoot on Leicas, whose system lenses are so expensive you can only have a few, often choose either a 28mm or 35mm. It's a running joke within New York specifically that you don't shoot street unless it's with a Leica M6 and 28mm. > Then don't say that. What does this statement have to do with this conversation? With regards to documentary photography, which is trying to portray things as authentically as they happen, by your standards, normal lenses would be the principle option because of the distortionless proportional perspective, but this is empirically not the case. I think we're on different levels of experience here, and I will sign off this conversation as I advise again: go photograph grass with a 28mm. [1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CHS-DHPHV8c/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHS-DHPHV8c/ [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVdZ0SHuI2/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVdZ0SHuI2/ [3] https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBK85GnVPA/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBK85GnVPA/ [4] https://www.instagram.com/p/CSEvyDkHA-i/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CSEvyDkHA-i/ [5] https://www.instagram.com/p/CRY8O_znC2G/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CRY8O_znC2G/

falcrist 5y ago
> Merriam-Webster Not relevant to the discussion. > I've done several years of work as a photojournalist [1-3] This is an anecdote, and even if accepted it doesn't do anything show uniformity. You have chosen short focal lengths. That's fine. > With regards to documentary photography, which is trying to portray things as authentically as they happen, by your standards, normal lenses would be the principle option because of the distortionless proportional perspective, but this is empirically not the case. That is not my standard.
- psychomugs 5y ago
  Have a good photographic journey ;)