One of my favorite pub debates with the boys is the classic “if you could have one superpower, what would it be?”. I’ve also tried this on first dates but the conversation never lasts very long (and nor do the dates for some reason…).
However, after hours of exhaustive analysis and comparisons, what always seems clear is that it’s better to have one kick-ass superpower than multiple skills. After all, who really likes Superman right?! And a collection of superheroes each with unique skills, such as the Fantastic Four, is pretty much invincible!
Anyway, back to wedding photography and it’s a similar story with lens selection. I outlined in a previous post how wedding photography requires knowledge of a number of photographic genres e.g. portrait, macro, landscape. Well, for each of those genres there are specific types of lenses which will help you to get the best results, and at a deeper level there are then usually choices between primes and telephotos. That’s a massive discussion point in itself, but for now it’s important to remember that shooting a wedding is not the same as shooting in a studio. I LOVE super fast prime lenses but I need to be practical about how many lenses I can carry around so I don’t turn up to a wedding looking like a lost safari photographer!
My current solution is a set of 4 lenses comprising two primes and two telephotos. It took me about a year of intense research, trial and deliberation to assemble this Fantastic Four as I wanted to ensure that any lens I invested (a not insignificant amount of $$) in would have a specific mission and deliver a particular type of shot that complements my documentary style of storytelling. I’m also keen to avoid lens “stuffocation” i.e. having so many lenses that you can’t make up your mind which one to use!
I’m not going to get into any technical jargon in this post because that’s not why you’re here. Rather my aim is to give you a feel for what my lenses accomplish and the types of shots you can get with them, so that hopefully you can make more informed decisions about your own lens selection. Read More→
I’m a born and bred Londoner who decided to give up the rat race, move halfway round the world to Australia and live by beautiful Bondi Beach.
But that’s not all. I also bought loads of cool camera gear to play with then realised I could use it to make a living, and now I run a successful wedding and baby photography business.
My background in media and marketing has been invaluable in quickly establishing myself, particularly through social networking, and I’m keen to help others do the same. I also strongly believe in giving back to the community, so look out for my blog posts where I’ll be sharing thoughts, insights, and tips about life as an emerging wedding photographer.
Jan 9, 2010 – Canon announced their second generation EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens. This focal range is arguably the most popular of Canon’s telephoto lens and is a staple for many professional photographers. It provides the focal length, maximum aperture and zoom power for capturing everything from fast-action sports to studio portraits. The new EF 70-200 has been enhanced to provide better durability and strength without a significant increase in weight and will produce better image quality with improved contrast and resolution. Auto focus has been improved with a new focusing algorithm and the minimum focusing distance has been reduced to 3.9 feet through the entire zoom range. The new lens is scheduled to be at US dealers in April. The price is still to be determined but the previous model is selling for $1,699.95 at B&H so I would expect this one to be close to that.
