You know what seriously bothers me, how is it that your channel is not growing? You are amazing photographer and your videos are very very watchable. Not to mention your sense of humor is precious and you always make me laugh, plus you make awesome tutorials and tips + tricks. Quite some people have more subscribers than you and their content is really ''boring''. But please stay true to yourself and keep making this videos as long as possible. There are people like me who at the end of the week watch these videos like a relief and where we can just have an meal and watch banger videos!
Agree 100%. The guy who drives me nuts is Peter McKinnon with his millions of followers. He basically doesn't do photography anymore. Just posts the occasional mediocre photo, and constantly shills equipment and sells his pirate crap. Gavin is both a terrific instructor and an amazing photographic artist who deserves a lot more attention.
Couldn't agree more! TH-cam's algorithm is garbage. That said, I'll second the comment above and say, "Please don't change, Gavin. What you are doing is perfect."
A little while ago you asked what we want in your uploads and I just say the answer I gave back then is exactly this video. Out on location, tips and education, Amanda, views and some but not too much humour and skits. Perfect👌 hope you figure out what’s going on with the dizziness and get it sorted.
Good advice delivered in your usual manner but on a very serious note - Re the dizzyness, get your blood pressure and some scans on your ticker. I suffered the same thing and it was only by chance that I got what I thought was a chest infection was it found that at some point in the past I'd had a heart attack (It was news to me!!) and I had to have a stent put in. (30 min in theatre - wide awake - job done!) Everything now is back to normal and the dizzyness has gone. I know you like messing about, but seriously - see a quack asap! Take Care
Yeah I got the sigma version and it's brilliant. Funny focal length but I actually used it for panorama shots and portraits and other stuff in between.
You've got this bass ackwards, Gav. The hell zone lenses are standard stock for many of us, used all the time. It's the superwides we struggle with as the scenery recedes like our hairlines and finding and then framing a foreground pebble or puddle to exaggerate like our waistlines in front of that gnarly tree trunk is a chiropractor's nightmare. You embracing the hell zone means only one thing: you're joining us - you're getting old! You'll get used to it.
It’s nice to know that great landscape photographers struggle like the rest of us. I found this video much better than some of the recent ones - more educational and less shenanigans. I hope you find out - and fix - what’s causing the dizzy spells. You don’t want to “take a turn” on the edge of one of those majestic Cape Breton cliffs and become fish food.
Shooting with wide and tele is easy, because the lens does the work for you, it gives you unusual perspective distortion or compression. Human brain is made that way that it is attracted to unusual. The normal range lenses are the opposite -- the perspective looks very familiar, pedestrian, and it means boring, unless there is something unusual in the frame, you have to find very interesting subject and composition, which is rare. No wonder that I have the least number of pictures taken in that hell zone, because most of them went to the garbage can.
We spotted it too and couldn't stop laughing. Best number plate EVER. Soooo jealous. We would even christen the car as the SH4RT mobile... The only way it could be better, was if the plate were on the Bigfoot. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂💜🤟
Interesting perspective. Growing up in the film days when Pentax Spotmatic was the affordable choice, 50 or 55mm lenses were what you got. Show offs had a 35 or a 135. They were great for recording family stuff. Landscapes often looked a bit post card style. Coming back to photography in the digital era has meant re-learning many things. For what it’s worth I haven’t been able to shake off the habit of manual settings. I agree with you that the foreground interest/ midzone/ subject composition style can all get a bit “same same” too.
I hope you're doing all right. Love the video. You're such a great teacher, very entertaining, and remind us to use gear we wouldn't always think to use. It's always a treat to see a new video of yours pop up each week. Thanks for the inspiration... and giggles.
I recently made the move from my budget Canon DSLR gear to a Nikon Z5. So starting fresh with lenses. I originally bought the kit lens, but a week later the 50mm 1.8S was on sale, used so I picked that up. All I've been using for the past few months has been a 50mm. While I absolutely miss having a decent wide and zoom, I love the challenge of one focal length right now.
The Crapometer! . . . "straight through chods and into diarrhea" That is brilliant . . . ., this is half of why watching your vids is top notch; half of it the humor the other half crap, oh, and some education and stunning photography mixed in. 🤙
Hey Gavin, first my hubby and I have prayed for you to fully recover soon from the dizziness. Thank you for this video. I have a 60mm and I have been really challenged when using it. I appreciate seeing your pictures within that focal range, it does look more natural. Thank you for discussing this, it is helpful. I am encouraged to get out and shoot with this lens more often.
This is why I bought the Nikon 40mm f2. Normally I carry the 14-35 and the 24-120 along with the newest acquired 180-600, sometimes. Now I go out at times with the 40mm mounted on my Z6ii and have my 14-35 in my case... just in case. :)
Howdy, not sure if you’re planning on continuing with this current format with your channel… either way, my wife and I wanted to express our enjoyment with your channel 1st of all all these years and this seemingly new format you’ve grasped onto…. Amanda has always been a favorite of my wife’s since joining your life and becoming a dynamic duo! Your current cross between photo shooting and photo explaining is refreshing!
Another great video! I love my Sony 50mm f/1.8 lens for taking pics around the garden (APS-C so actual 75mm equivalent). Great bokeh behind pin sharp flower clusters. It's the perfect step between my macro and my zoom. The wider aperture also ensures I can get good blue hour shots when the mood strikes me. I've even used it for astrophotography. It's the perfect focal length to fit Orion in.
After 25 year of photography, I just bought my first prime lens and this is it! After months of research the amount of positive reviews for this 55MM 1.8 even now is surprizing. Can't wait to try it.
Thanks Gavin! Great teaching video, I just got a nice shot of a waterfall with a foreground cascade at 50mm which brought the scene together and eliminated the messy stuff
Love that you made a video about the 55. I have one, carry it in my bag all the time out tramping etc and it seldom comes out. But its so light it stays there just in case. I do love it, but its a rare go to. In contrast I used to walk around with a 50 all the time when on holiday abroad, so I feel like it's a mindset thing. You have inspired me to try using it more, I mean I'm carrying it in my bag anyway.
I line the hell zone; I have a Nikon 24-120mm lens on most of the time and frequently shoot between 40 and 120mm. Lots of advice about your dizziness; could be as benign as earwax buildup but hope you’ll get it resolved soon. Keep well. 😊
Ive got much the same setup as you, A7riva 16-35, 55, and 100-400, and have been forcing myself to use the 55 as much as possible. Using the super35 mode with it is another nice way to change the composition and try a forced ca. 85mm. Ive had a couple of images I'm really happy with from it, but i agree it takes a bit more effort to find a gem
I absolutely love 90-105 on crop sensor for portrait style photos. I say portrait style because I photograph individual things like flowers, mushrooms, etc. but it also works quite well for distant trees in the forest
Wow thanks a lot for opening my eyes on that topic Gavin! I have just the kit 24-70 lens and i frequently catch myself thinking "i need a wider lens, i need a telephoto lens etc" and trying to compensate with pano stiching. Your very good points made me appreciate more the focal length i have and realise that i should just get better at it, give a bit more time to compose and the results may be even better than with a super-wide angle. Or at least i will enjoy the process of trying no matter if it doesn't bear fruits right away!
I pretty much live in the hell zone, my favourite lens is my Nikon Z 24-120 f4 and I have that on my camera 95% of the time. Also have my 50 1.8 so double down on the hell zone, lol. 📸😎
I used to shoot with 24-70 and later got 24-120, and I must say half of the pictures are still taken in 24-35 range, the longer end is much less used, and there is only about 10% pictures taken in 70-120mm range. I frankly don't even like 24-120 because it's a large, heavy lens and I much prefer having 24-70 with me. People were crazy about that lens, so I bought it when it was $200 off, but now I regret doing that.
@@ElementaryWatson-123 I love it and having that extra 50mm when I want it without changing lenses is great. I don’t find it large/heavy at all for me, to each their own I guess. 🤷🏻♂️😎
You might look up BPV. It's easily testable and curable on your own. I had that and was able to mitigate. The vertigo was horrible, no way I could drive during an episode.
I had Vertigo and headaches myself just recently. Turns out it was sinus related. I did a warm, salt water flush and it all went away. Saved me a trip to the neurologist. Love your videos.
I switched between 55mm Sonnar and 50mm Planar multiple times, lol. While the light weight and compact size of the Sonnar seemed indispensable, I loved the rendering of the Planar and preferred the 50mm focal length over 55mm. Eventually, I replaced the 55mm with the new Sony 50mm G lens that is even lighter and more compact and is great for landscape photography. There is one thing I love about the Sony system: the abundance of native lenses not only from Sony but also from third party manufacturers.
That is so weird I have the same thing going on for the first time in my life it feels like vertigo. I hope you feel better soon I am going to the balance and dizzy centre in Halifax to see if it is my ears or stress in my neck
I am living in the hell zone. I been using 50mm prime lens since I bought my first SLR camera 40 some years ago. I do have other lens like 23mm, 28mm, 100 to 300mm zoom, 70 to 200mm zoom, a 2x teleconverter lens and etc.. It seems that I am always going to photograph my scenery with 50mm lens even with my digital kit lens 24 to 70mm, I would select 50mm or closer to it. I guess in my younger days, it was easier to carry a 50mm with your camera than a heavier telephoto or zoom lens and I guess it became my habit to generally use 50mm lens with all these years. By the way, I really love your landscape photography and your sense of humour.
If you want some warmer weather, come out to the high desert of the eastern Sierra in California. We've got the Trona Pinnacles, Alabama Hills, Mt. Whitney, Death Valley, the bristle cone forest, etc.
Thanks for the reminder. I am not sure if it's cheating but I used to do Pano's with the 55. The natural look is indeed nice.. Dizziness, maybe you need some rest and refresh your Batteries. Listen to your Body. 😅💪
I feel you mate. I began experiencing dizziness in mid February, which worsened over the following weeks. Eventually I started having severe attacks where I felt nauseous and panicked. After undergoing some tests, I was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis, which affected my left vestibular organ or nerve. I’m still in the process of recovery. The symptoms come and go, and my left ear constantly feels blocked. But it was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. Talking about “hellzones”! I strongly recommend seeing specialists Gavin. I underwent various blood tests and other examinations, which provided some relief by confirming that it wasn’t a heart related issue or something else. Hope you feel better soon! Btw: you’re absolutely right about these 50mm(ish) lenses. I sold my 50mm f1.4 Zeiss to get the 24-70GMii but I often miss the good old 50 now 😅
Feel better soon. It's interesting but my favorite landscape lens is a 24-120. Maybe, it's what you're used to, but I will admit that using a 50mm for landscape's took me a while to figure out. Get checked out with your health and when the snow gets too much next year, you're welcome to park the van in my drive in Florida.
I have tried using that lens for many things, and for a while, its best use was to help me balance weight in my backpack. I ended up selling it and getting the 20-70 which I now use A LOT! Thanks for challenging us to explore and expand our skills every week Gavin :)
I love the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 but it is tough to use inside. I used it for a boudoir session in a small bedroom and it forced me to get creative. But the detail shots were 🔥. Outdoors it’s great! They’re so inexpensive now on the used market, it’s definitely worth picking up.
I never got into the 50mm focal lengths, always found it too close and 35mm being to wide, i always found 45ishmm to be the butter zone for prime lenses! a few foot steps either way and you can get closer or father away! For landscape stuff, i always found 100-400 to be the ultimate lens with an ultra wide for panos! Versatility is KING
My most used lens for landscape is a Nikon 16-80 mm f2.8. On my d7500 Nikon aps c crop sensor camera body. In other words firmly in your “hell zone”. It’s become my goto for Most landscape images I take and I can really relate to your photo journey. Except I stayed in aps c land and didn’t break my credit limit with full frame bodies and lenses. Good content.
This is interesting to me. Fun my own experience, the standard 24-70mm was my workhorse lens for landscape as well as my decay subjects. For portraits i lean towards a 50mm prime. After 20 years, I'm starting to use the 70-200mm mostly in all different types of photography. My wide angle lenses are for certain scenes where i have a great foreground or i want the perspective. In the workshops i teach, it seems that most everyone is shooting somewhere in the 25-105mm range almost exclusively.
35/1.4, 70-180/2.8 & 24/1.4 for me..... I do very often shoot 70mm panoramas though too. But it's again another very interesting aspect of photography.
Hope you’re feeling better soon Gavin. Great advice as always mate. Really appreciate your efforts to produce content for your viewers. You always come up with something great to watch 👍
I shoot most of my landscapes with a 24-105, and my telephoto is an easy 2nd place for number of “keeper” pictures. It’s the wide angle lens that gives me fits trying to compose a good shot.
For me my 50 is my favourite lens for my FF camera. It's limited in that some shots are too tight for it, but it's great fun for wider shots with a few major subjects.
Lately I've been shooting a LOT on a M4/3 with a 300mm f/4. At first it was very frustrating but I can easily pick out compositions that fit in the field of view and am quite happy with the photos now. Plus it yields results that are hard to get otherwise. Due to health issues, I've been shooting a lot near where I live and have found that my best results are coming from macro and the super long lens.. I can make ordinary scenes into a tighter composition that is interesting.
Great advice Gavin. I think part of the challenge comes from needing a scene that has enough interest to stand on it's own without perspective distortion tricks or cramming a bunch of supporting elements in. Then that scene conveniently has to fit a 50mm frame. I'll often take a 50mm with me on adventures. I rarely take landscape shots with it, but I find it's great for capturing other parts of an adventure. Friends antics drinking away evenings while stormed in at backcountry huts, better framing for climbing shots, and if nothing else it's small so nice to have at the ready on a clip instead of a 70-200 hanging off my shoulder strap. Those spontaneous shots rarely make wall art but in other ways they're way more memorable.
The thing about hot countries like Australia where I live is the heat haze. Im only relatively new to photography but struggle during summer. My favourite time of year is right now, not just for photography but in general. Crisp clear views, bearable temperatures, no humidity and a good general feel. I would always advise tourists to travel to Australia in April.
Thanks, Gavin, for a truly excellent lesson. I've been doing landscape photography for over 25 years. My problem lens is the Fuji GF 45 mm (my camera is the Fujifilm GFX 100S). Just as you described, I purchased it on sale, thinking I would use it to shoot a few pictures at family gatherings, etc. But the lens is such a challenge to use in the field that I have been leaving it out of my backpack. Perhaps I've been spoiled by Fuji's high quality zoom lenses. With just three GF lenses and a 1.4 tele-converter, I can cover everything from 32 mm (equivalent of about 24 mm in a full frame camera) to 280 mm (about 220 mm in full frame). And when you are in the woods or the mountains, it's often difficult to "zoom with your feet", as you so aptly put it. So I have become spoiled. What you point out, however, is that I have been focussing (pun intended) primarily on lens coverage and have been ignoring perspective. When I first started in photography zoom lenses were frowned upon - never as good as a prime lens, everyone said. Perhaps that was true in another day, but some of today's zoom lenses, which are computer designed, incorporate rare earth elements and have sophisticated metallic coatings, are probably much sharper and provide greater contrast than many top grade primes of the last century. I thought I was the only person dealing with this issue and I'm so happy you shared your frustration with us. Thanks so much for your insights - you are truly an inspiration to those of us who are in the field trying to find beautiful compositions.
Some of my favorite photos of yours are from the "hell zone," and as a poor sod who only has the canon kit lens (24-50) at the moment. I find the challenge enjoying, and lust after a zoom in the ways you describe.
It's so surprising that there are not more followers. I only follow Gavin and of course, Simon Dentremont. Between them, I have learned so much about technique and composition. I hated the 55mm Sonnar lens and used it once and sold it.
I have been shooting landscapes at 43mm for a few years now and it's my favourite lens to use. I was always put off using that focal length because landscape photographers don't do that. How wrong I was.
It’s nice to see someone talking about gear who is actually good at photography. Too many tech reviews who couldn’t find a shot in the apocalypse. Good video. Thank you.
I have been using primes for a long time, its kind a fun way to learn a wierd dance! But i have been a bit lazy and using zooms for a while now, thanks for inspiring me to go back to wierd dancing!
Brilliant advice. I only have one prime lens. A 50mm 1.4 it’s just a cheap one and I hardly use it I do weddings and I wish I had the confidence to use nothing but prime lenses but 24-70 f2.8 so go for the easy option but maybe one day. Hope you get that dizziness sorted. Possibly high blood pressure.
I just love watching you and Amanda each week!! I think you and Simon make a good team!! You each bring out a different perspective of photography in a serious and fun way. Keep up the great videos!!
Very interesting video and topic. I learned photography on a Minolta SRT 101 camera, a 50mm f/1.7 lens and Kodak Kodachrome slide film many years ago. I never thought of the 50mm focal length as the hell zone. I do agree that shooting with a focal length of 40-85mm does require more careful and thoughtful composition. One of my favorite lenses is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for Sony e-mount so I struggle more with super wide focal lengths. Thanks so much for the stimulating and thought provoking content.
Great stuff, resonated with my experience. Last year I traded in a load of DSLR for mirrorless and the one lens I kept was a Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4 which is fantastic and in my office at work hangs my favourite photo - which was taken with it. I agree, persevere and practice the results will come and when they do, they will stand out from the ordinary.
Have that lens too. Have only used it for some portraits so far but I am inspired to take it out with me on my next landscape adventure. Hope you get feeling better soon!
I prefer your usual content, but will definitely watch this to support you. At least being shorter in length means that it's easier to make time for it.
Of course we want to see the failures 😍 also 13:22. - Knowing exactly what you’re taking about 😅. Since 2 weeks I try to photograph a specific landscape image, but the weather never complied yet. It’s a one hour drive (one way) plus a 2:30 hrs hike.
WOW! How refreshing, not afraid to talk about failures...such excellent content! I'll be getting your book once I've paid off my lens purchases (and now, I'm adding the Zeiss Sony 55 1.8...DOHHH). Thank you for your most excellent work and sharing with us. Ron J. from Pennsylvania
Well as an Large Format photographer i’m always in the ‘Hell Zone’. I primarily use a 150mm (45mm) or an 300mm (95mm). And i’m quite happy with those lenses. So when I go out with a digital camera (vacation) It will be with a 50mm
This episode strikes a nice balance between entertainment and education. I started out many decades ago with my father’s hand me down Argus C3 with 50mm f/3.5, so now I discover all those Kodachrome transparencies were shot in the “hell zone.” I now wonder what a query of my Lightroom catalog will reveal about my choices in this era of so many options. Regarding dizziness, another possibility to explore is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is pretty common, especially among those of us old enough to remember when film photography was the only option and the fixed 50mm lens was not interchangeable.
At first I was like what is there to hate about such a popular focal length? Then I realized you’re a landscape photographer. You mentioned exactly what I did (did? I still do!). I would either go ultra wide or too zoomed in. In fact I haven’t composed a single landscape in the 40-150 range. Because like you said, it’s just a hell zone, you just don’t go there. This is so insightful, I can’t wait until I have some free time to bring my 24-70 and 70-200 lenses and try and compose a landscape in that hell focal range zone.
I sometimes think the “50ish” mm is like the 5 iron in golf. One good way to get a good feel for golf is to play a round using only the 5 iron and how you have to adapt and manipulate. So trying photographing all day with just that lens and it’s capabilities are more than you think.
What an excellent video, Hardcase. You include some really nice photos here, too. I really liked this one. I like Amanda's comment early on concerning your choice of places you could go to shoot that are not so wintry. Great fun. Cheers to you both.
Hi Gavin, there are not many youtubers I watch whenever they release a video, but you are definitely one of them. Your sense of humour aligns completely with mine and your images capture the imagination. I am also surprised your channel isn't growing exponentially. I'm left wondering if it's a lack of content that also depicts the failures you mentioned in this video? Of course, there are going to be those, with a face similar to someone sucking a lemon, that just dont find you amusing. But your photographic content is exceptional.
Another outside your comfort zone video. Very well done! Looks to me like you can likely solve your own problem with channel growth-if you stay on top of your health problems.
Funny thing is I have some relatively expensive glass but The lens I always go back too is the Helios 44-2 58mm (or the other variations I have of it). Funny how a lot of film makers seem to be using this lens too. A rehoused version of the Helios is used in The Batman and Dune Part 2
I really enjoyed this video. Im going to try using my 85mm prime and see how it goes. I have always used it for portrait only. Not a 55 but it will be interesting to see what I can do with it. Thanks Gavin, I hope you feel better soon.
I’ve been having the same thing. Thought it was my heart but was inner ear problems. If you notice a pattern of dizziness when your head is in a certain position then could be inner ear and not heart related. Best to get checked regardless.
I had a 50mm prime years ago that I ended up selling because I hated using it so much haha! I now have an 18-55mm kit lens (along with others) that gets used all the time, but after your advice today I'm going to be a little bit more mindful of that focal length. Thanks for another great video! Keep them coming, and keep being you 🙂
The most horrible thing in the photo you shot was the carving some idiots did. That's the hell zone - being around those AHs. Dizzy spells? Sounds like hypoglycemia to me. Nothing that Twirl won't fix. I'd love to see more 'failure' videos. Not only would it make me feel less bad about my photography, but it would also help me learn more. Can't wait to see the new book.
Gavin thanks for this vlog. As a Yorkshire man myself and on the doorstep to retirement, l often wonder what l will do to fill my time going forward. Photography was my passion but lost my 'photography mojo' a few years ago. This vlog has encouraged me to dig out my eos r, 50mm prime and start experimenting. Cheers lad 👍
Hope your health improves soon. Thinking of you. On a side note - once again - you have encouraged me to use my 50mm prime lens more. Since retiring- I am trying to learn more about photography. Thank you so much.
Just a thought about your dizziness: Has your fluids (water) intake been sufficient? If I don't have one large glass of water before a meal, I will eventually have twinges of dizziness during the day. You might monitor fluid intake especially if you are a heavy coffee drinker.
It will soon be spring up there and your health will mend. Here's what my Gramma always did to/for us kids in the spring. As soon as the poke plants started poking about three or four inches up through the ground she would go out and pick an apron full of it. The she would boil it a couple of minutes and drain the water off. Then she would put it in a skillet with a little bacon grease and scramble in an egg or two and fix it like spinach. It is delicious and will clean out your insides and give you a new lease on life. Soon you will feel better all over. She would also give us sassafras tea made from the dried roots of a red sassafras tree. She said our blood needed to be thinned after a long cold winter. My only endorsement for these curatives is the fact that her father was an herb doctor of local renown and passed a lot of his knowledge to her and she passed it "through" me and I turned 82 years old last month. BTW, back to photography: I started out and lived for many years in your "hell zone". The first "real" camera that I bought was a Beseler Topcon Re Super. It had one of the first 35mm f/1.4 lens on it and cost $400 in Japan in 1964. This outfit was magnificent. The only problem was that the lenses for this model of Topcon were proprietary and terribly expensive. But, and here is part you will love, the f/1.4 lens that came with was 58mm. What do you do with that? And there were no "off brand" lenses that would fit it and could be adapted to it. I still have it.😜 Many years and a good many cameras lated I added a 135 lens and an 28mm lens that I found in a junk box in an old camera shop. I still have all of it.
I recently just sold my 24-105mm as i found i was never in the middle range. Was either at 24mm and not wide enough, or at 105mm and struggling for more reach. Sold it to fund a 14-35mm and then picked up a 100-400 zoom. Total opposite of this video, haha. But I do have a nifty 50 in the bag... purely for looks, can't remember the last time it was on my camera. 😅 Great advise though Gavin, I really should put some effort in with the 50mm. 👏
Thanks Gavin, That was very valuable and insightful advice on the hell zone focal length in lenses. Call me a cheapskate, if you like, but my photography is very much low budget - APS-C crop sensor and kit lenses: 18-55; and 55-250. That’s full-frame equivalent of about 29-88 mm and 88-400 mm. I know the limitations of both lenses, but, sometimes, I do get some astonishingly good images, where the results are more than the sum of their parts. I will have a budget for full frame later this year. But these full-frame equivalent focal lengths means a lot of my photography ends up in what you call the hell zone. I agree, sometimes it can be really hard to compose, especially with the shorter focal length lens. In the last year or so, I have used the longer lens to simplify something and get a better reach to something within the grander vista and really like to do that. Yes, it may be low hanging fruit sometimes. But, after several years, I have kind of got used to these focal lengths and I think I might struggle with a really wide-angle lens. Some photographers love them, but many times, I see images where the camera is pointing down at some impressive foreground and the mountain, or sea stack in the background is not the subject, even if the photographer thought it was. Instead, the foreground becomes the subject, filling as much as two-thirds of the frame. I probably will buy a wide angle lens sometime and I am guessing the only to get comfortable with them is to use them and practice.
We really enjoyed this episode! It really was very engaging and helpful. Also, my husband especially related to your "hatred" of the 55 mm as he shared the same struggles with it when he started out. We're hoping you feel much better soon.
My New Book: www.fototripper.com/stories-within-stories-landscape-photography-book/
Do you know when the book will ship?
I'm sure this is resolved now but take a look at the 'Epley Maneuver' for your dizziness. Can help reduced symptoms from Menieres disease and BPPV.
I told my wife I want your book for my birthday :D I'll probably get socks again.......
All ordered and can't wait 😁
@@jeffreywatson396 Thanks Jeffrey:)
You know what seriously bothers me, how is it that your channel is not growing? You are amazing photographer and your videos are very very watchable. Not to mention your sense of humor is precious and you always make me laugh, plus you make awesome tutorials and tips + tricks. Quite some people have more subscribers than you and their content is really ''boring''. But please stay true to yourself and keep making this videos as long as possible. There are people like me who at the end of the week watch these videos like a relief and where we can just have an meal and watch banger videos!
I totally agree with you 😊
Agree 100%. The guy who drives me nuts is Peter McKinnon with his millions of followers. He basically doesn't do photography anymore. Just posts the occasional mediocre photo, and constantly shills equipment and sells his pirate crap. Gavin is both a terrific instructor and an amazing photographic artist who deserves a lot more attention.
I agree!
High blood pressure... anxiety......or just a semi 🍆
Couldn't agree more! TH-cam's algorithm is garbage. That said, I'll second the comment above and say, "Please don't change, Gavin. What you are doing is perfect."
1:33. That feeling of dizziness and light headness....I get that too when my wife does the driving.....!
A little while ago you asked what we want in your uploads and I just say the answer I gave back then is exactly this video. Out on location, tips and education, Amanda, views and some but not too much humour and skits. Perfect👌 hope you figure out what’s going on with the dizziness and get it sorted.
Good advice delivered in your usual manner but on a very serious note - Re the dizzyness, get your blood pressure and some scans on your ticker. I suffered the same thing and it was only by chance that I got what I thought was a chest infection was it found that at some point in the past I'd had a heart attack (It was news to me!!) and I had to have a stent put in. (30 min in theatre - wide awake - job done!) Everything now is back to normal and the dizzyness has gone. I know you like messing about, but seriously - see a quack asap! Take Care
Get a physical. Check for AFIB. Love your channel. Amanda is a hoot.
So sorry about your health challenges, I wish you success in finding the cause and a solution. Very interesting topic, thanks for sharing!
Cartier-Bresson shot with a 50mm lens because it most closely approximates to the way the eye sees things.
The studies I've seen claim 43mm to approximate the human eye on a full frame camera.
Bought me a Nikon z105 macro lens and it is an absolute gem. Use it for close ups but also landscapes and it is unbelievable sharp.
Yeah I got the sigma version and it's brilliant. Funny focal length but I actually used it for panorama shots and portraits and other stuff in between.
You've got this bass ackwards, Gav. The hell zone lenses are standard stock for many of us, used all the time. It's the superwides we struggle with as the scenery recedes like our hairlines and finding and then framing a foreground pebble or puddle to exaggerate like our waistlines in front of that gnarly tree trunk is a chiropractor's nightmare. You embracing the hell zone means only one thing: you're joining us - you're getting old! You'll get used to it.
The landscape painter Fredrick Church found the solution to that. Look at his painting called...Niagara.
@@rayspencer5025 Wide aspect ratio and a gargantuan canvas? That painting is gorgeous, thanks for the heads up about it.
It’s nice to know that great landscape photographers struggle like the rest of us. I found this video much better than some of the recent ones - more educational and less shenanigans. I hope you find out - and fix - what’s causing the dizzy spells. You don’t want to “take a turn” on the edge of one of those majestic Cape Breton cliffs and become fish food.
Shooting with wide and tele is easy, because the lens does the work for you, it gives you unusual perspective distortion or compression. Human brain is made that way that it is attracted to unusual. The normal range lenses are the opposite -- the perspective looks very familiar, pedestrian, and it means boring, unless there is something unusual in the frame, you have to find very interesting subject and composition, which is rare. No wonder that I have the least number of pictures taken in that hell zone, because most of them went to the garbage can.
I love the 55mm Sonnar Zeiss...one of the best lenses I have...compact sharp...all day long
Your license plate!! I’m dying over here 😂
I had to go back and check that out. 😂
Holy crap...... your right. That is gold😂
We spotted it too and couldn't stop laughing. Best number plate EVER. Soooo jealous. We would even christen the car as the SH4RT mobile...
The only way it could be better, was if the plate were on the Bigfoot. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂💜🤟
Interesting perspective. Growing up in the film days when Pentax Spotmatic was the affordable choice, 50 or 55mm lenses were what you got. Show offs had a 35 or a 135. They were great for recording family stuff. Landscapes often looked a bit post card style. Coming back to photography in the digital era has meant re-learning many things. For what it’s worth I haven’t been able to shake off the habit of manual settings. I agree with you that the foreground interest/ midzone/ subject composition style can all get a bit “same same” too.
I hope you're doing all right. Love the video. You're such a great teacher, very entertaining, and remind us to use gear we wouldn't always think to use. It's always a treat to see a new video of yours pop up each week. Thanks for the inspiration... and giggles.
I recently made the move from my budget Canon DSLR gear to a Nikon Z5. So starting fresh with lenses. I originally bought the kit lens, but a week later the 50mm 1.8S was on sale, used so I picked that up.
All I've been using for the past few months has been a 50mm. While I absolutely miss having a decent wide and zoom, I love the challenge of one focal length right now.
Thank you for teaching this, Gavin. It was very interesting. The photo of Amanda in the landscape was really beautiful 😊
The Crapometer! . . . "straight through chods and into diarrhea" That is brilliant . . . ., this is half of why watching your vids is top notch; half of it the humor the other half crap, oh, and some education and stunning photography mixed in. 🤙
Hey Gavin, first my hubby and I have prayed for you to fully recover soon from the dizziness. Thank you for this video. I have a 60mm and I have been really challenged when using it. I appreciate seeing your pictures within that focal range, it does look more natural. Thank you for discussing this, it is helpful. I am encouraged to get out and shoot with this lens more often.
This is why I bought the Nikon 40mm f2. Normally I carry the 14-35 and the 24-120 along with the newest acquired 180-600, sometimes. Now I go out at times with the 40mm mounted on my Z6ii and have my 14-35 in my case... just in case. :)
i have that lens and i love it
Funny how this is by far my favorite lens after 10 years of wedding videography
That is my most used lens, and I love it.
Kudos for only publishing when you are happy with the result rather than forcing out a substandard video. Really enjoyed this one.
Howdy, not sure if you’re planning on continuing with this current format with your channel… either way, my wife and I wanted to express our enjoyment with your channel 1st of all all these years and this seemingly new format you’ve grasped onto…. Amanda has always been a favorite of my wife’s since joining your life and becoming a dynamic duo! Your current cross between photo shooting and photo explaining is refreshing!
Another great video! I love my Sony 50mm f/1.8 lens for taking pics around the garden (APS-C so actual 75mm equivalent). Great bokeh behind pin sharp flower clusters. It's the perfect step between my macro and my zoom. The wider aperture also ensures I can get good blue hour shots when the mood strikes me. I've even used it for astrophotography. It's the perfect focal length to fit Orion in.
After 25 year of photography, I just bought my first prime lens and this is it! After months of research the amount of positive reviews for this 55MM 1.8 even now is surprizing. Can't wait to try it.
Thanks Gavin! Great teaching video, I just got a nice shot of a waterfall with a foreground cascade at 50mm which brought the scene together and eliminated the messy stuff
Love that you made a video about the 55. I have one, carry it in my bag all the time out tramping etc and it seldom comes out. But its so light it stays there just in case. I do love it, but its a rare go to. In contrast I used to walk around with a 50 all the time when on holiday abroad, so I feel like it's a mindset thing. You have inspired me to try using it more, I mean I'm carrying it in my bag anyway.
I line the hell zone; I have a Nikon 24-120mm lens on most of the time and frequently shoot between 40 and 120mm. Lots of advice about your dizziness; could be as benign as earwax buildup but hope you’ll get it resolved soon. Keep well. 😊
Ive got much the same setup as you, A7riva 16-35, 55, and 100-400, and have been forcing myself to use the 55 as much as possible. Using the super35 mode with it is another nice way to change the composition and try a forced ca. 85mm. Ive had a couple of images I'm really happy with from it, but i agree it takes a bit more effort to find a gem
I absolutely love 90-105 on crop sensor for portrait style photos. I say portrait style because I photograph individual things like flowers, mushrooms, etc. but it also works quite well for distant trees in the forest
Amazing sample images. Thank you for sharing your experiences with different focal lengths.
Wow thanks a lot for opening my eyes on that topic Gavin! I have just the kit 24-70 lens and i frequently catch myself thinking "i need a wider lens, i need a telephoto lens etc" and trying to compensate with pano stiching. Your very good points made me appreciate more the focal length i have and realise that i should just get better at it, give a bit more time to compose and the results may be even better than with a super-wide angle. Or at least i will enjoy the process of trying no matter if it doesn't bear fruits right away!
nothing wrong with stitching
Combination of behind-the-scene and instructional video - love it!
I pretty much live in the hell zone, my favourite lens is my Nikon Z 24-120 f4 and I have that on my camera 95% of the time. Also have my 50 1.8 so double down on the hell zone, lol. 📸😎
I used to shoot with 24-70 and later got 24-120, and I must say half of the pictures are still taken in 24-35 range, the longer end is much less used, and there is only about 10% pictures taken in 70-120mm range. I frankly don't even like 24-120 because it's a large, heavy lens and I much prefer having 24-70 with me. People were crazy about that lens, so I bought it when it was $200 off, but now I regret doing that.
@@ElementaryWatson-123 I love it and having that extra 50mm when I want it without changing lenses is great. I don’t find it large/heavy at all for me, to each their own I guess. 🤷🏻♂️😎
You might look up BPV. It's easily testable and curable on your own. I had that and was able to mitigate. The vertigo was horrible, no way I could drive during an episode.
I had Vertigo and headaches myself just recently. Turns out it was sinus related. I did a warm, salt water flush and it all went away. Saved me a trip to the neurologist. Love your videos.
I switched between 55mm Sonnar and 50mm Planar multiple times, lol. While the light weight and compact size of the Sonnar seemed indispensable, I loved the rendering of the Planar and preferred the 50mm focal length over 55mm. Eventually, I replaced the 55mm with the new Sony 50mm G lens that is even lighter and more compact and is great for landscape photography. There is one thing I love about the Sony system: the abundance of native lenses not only from Sony but also from third party manufacturers.
Brilliant images and loads of useful info. I’ll get out with my 55 and try harder. Thanks!
Northwestern Thailand! - go there! Beautiful compositions in the mountains!
That is so weird I have the same thing going on for the first time in my life it feels like vertigo. I hope you feel better soon I am going to the balance and dizzy centre in Halifax to see if it is my ears or stress in my neck
I have been thinking the same, and are in the process of getting the Canon RF24-105 F4 to accompany my 16-35. The extra reach could be invaluable.
I am living in the hell zone. I been using 50mm prime lens since I bought my first SLR camera 40 some years ago. I do have other lens like 23mm, 28mm, 100 to 300mm zoom, 70 to 200mm zoom, a 2x teleconverter lens and etc.. It seems that I am always going to photograph my scenery with 50mm lens even with my digital kit lens 24 to 70mm, I would select 50mm or closer to it. I guess in my younger days, it was easier to carry a 50mm with your camera than a heavier telephoto or zoom lens and I guess it became my habit to generally use 50mm lens with all these years. By the way, I really love your landscape photography and your sense of humour.
If you want some warmer weather, come out to the high desert of the eastern Sierra in California. We've got the Trona Pinnacles, Alabama Hills, Mt. Whitney, Death Valley, the bristle cone forest, etc.
Fantastic Gavin. Thank you.
Thanks for the reminder. I am not sure if it's cheating but I used to do Pano's with the 55. The natural look is indeed nice..
Dizziness, maybe you need some rest and refresh your Batteries. Listen to your Body. 😅💪
not cheating at all.
I feel you mate. I began experiencing dizziness in mid February, which worsened over the following weeks. Eventually I started having severe attacks where I felt nauseous and panicked. After undergoing some tests, I was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis, which affected my left vestibular organ or nerve. I’m still in the process of recovery. The symptoms come and go, and my left ear constantly feels blocked. But it was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. Talking about “hellzones”! I strongly recommend seeing specialists Gavin. I underwent various blood tests and other examinations, which provided some relief by confirming that it wasn’t a heart related issue or something else. Hope you feel better soon!
Btw: you’re absolutely right about these 50mm(ish) lenses. I sold my 50mm f1.4 Zeiss to get the 24-70GMii but I often miss the good old 50 now 😅
Feel better soon. It's interesting but my favorite landscape lens is a 24-120. Maybe, it's what you're used to, but I will admit that using a 50mm for landscape's took me a while to figure out. Get checked out with your health and when the snow gets too much next year, you're welcome to park the van in my drive in Florida.
I have tried using that lens for many things, and for a while, its best use was to help me balance weight in my backpack. I ended up selling it and getting the 20-70 which I now use A LOT! Thanks for challenging us to explore and expand our skills every week Gavin :)
I love the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 but it is tough to use inside. I used it for a boudoir session in a small bedroom and it forced me to get creative. But the detail shots were 🔥. Outdoors it’s great! They’re so inexpensive now on the used market, it’s definitely worth picking up.
I never got into the 50mm focal lengths, always found it too close and 35mm being to wide, i always found 45ishmm to be the butter zone for prime lenses! a few foot steps either way and you can get closer or father away! For landscape stuff, i always found 100-400 to be the ultimate lens with an ultra wide for panos! Versatility is KING
My most used lens for landscape is a Nikon 16-80 mm f2.8. On my d7500 Nikon aps c crop sensor camera body. In other words firmly in your “hell zone”. It’s become my goto for
Most landscape images I take and I can really relate to your photo journey. Except I stayed in aps c land and didn’t break my credit limit with full frame bodies and lenses. Good content.
Used to get dizzy also driving and found out that my main aortic valve was 90% blocked Gavin! Please check your heart...love your videos man!
I will check it out
This is interesting to me. Fun my own experience, the standard 24-70mm was my workhorse lens for landscape as well as my decay subjects. For portraits i lean towards a 50mm prime. After 20 years, I'm starting to use the 70-200mm mostly in all different types of photography. My wide angle lenses are for certain scenes where i have a great foreground or i want the perspective. In the workshops i teach, it seems that most everyone is shooting somewhere in the 25-105mm range almost exclusively.
35/1.4, 70-180/2.8 & 24/1.4 for me..... I do very often shoot 70mm panoramas though too. But it's again another very interesting aspect of photography.
Hope you’re feeling better soon Gavin. Great advice as always mate. Really appreciate your efforts to produce content for your viewers. You always come up with something great to watch 👍
I shoot most of my landscapes with a 24-105, and my telephoto is an easy 2nd place for number of “keeper” pictures. It’s the wide angle lens that gives me fits trying to compose a good shot.
For me my 50 is my favourite lens for my FF camera. It's limited in that some shots are too tight for it, but it's great fun for wider shots with a few major subjects.
Lately I've been shooting a LOT on a M4/3 with a 300mm f/4. At first it was very frustrating but I can easily pick out compositions that fit in the field of view and am quite happy with the photos now. Plus it yields results that are hard to get otherwise.
Due to health issues, I've been shooting a lot near where I live and have found that my best results are coming from macro and the super long lens.. I can make ordinary scenes into a tighter composition that is interesting.
Great advice Gavin. I think part of the challenge comes from needing a scene that has enough interest to stand on it's own without perspective distortion tricks or cramming a bunch of supporting elements in. Then that scene conveniently has to fit a 50mm frame.
I'll often take a 50mm with me on adventures. I rarely take landscape shots with it, but I find it's great for capturing other parts of an adventure. Friends antics drinking away evenings while stormed in at backcountry huts, better framing for climbing shots, and if nothing else it's small so nice to have at the ready on a clip instead of a 70-200 hanging off my shoulder strap. Those spontaneous shots rarely make wall art but in other ways they're way more memorable.
frankly spontaneous shots are often captured with a mobile phone.
The thing about hot countries like Australia where I live is the heat haze. Im only relatively new to photography but struggle during summer. My favourite time of year is right now, not just for photography but in general. Crisp clear views, bearable temperatures, no humidity and a good general feel. I would always advise tourists to travel to Australia in April.
Thanks, Gavin, for a truly excellent lesson. I've been doing landscape photography for over 25 years. My problem lens is the Fuji GF 45 mm (my camera is the Fujifilm GFX 100S). Just as you described, I purchased it on sale, thinking I would use it to shoot a few pictures at family gatherings, etc. But the lens is such a challenge to use in the field that I have been leaving it out of my backpack. Perhaps I've been spoiled by Fuji's high quality zoom lenses. With just three GF lenses and a 1.4 tele-converter, I can cover everything from 32 mm (equivalent of about 24 mm in a full frame camera) to 280 mm (about 220 mm in full frame). And when you are in the woods or the mountains, it's often difficult to "zoom with your feet", as you so aptly put it. So I have become spoiled. What you point out, however, is that I have been focussing (pun intended) primarily on lens coverage and have been ignoring perspective.
When I first started in photography zoom lenses were frowned upon - never as good as a prime lens, everyone said. Perhaps that was true in another day, but some of today's zoom lenses, which are computer designed, incorporate rare earth elements and have sophisticated metallic coatings, are probably much sharper and provide greater contrast than many top grade primes of the last century.
I thought I was the only person dealing with this issue and I'm so happy you shared your frustration with us. Thanks so much for your insights - you are truly an inspiration to those of us who are in the field trying to find beautiful compositions.
Some of my favorite photos of yours are from the "hell zone," and as a poor sod who only has the canon kit lens (24-50) at the moment. I find the challenge enjoying, and lust after a zoom in the ways you describe.
i tend to find if i shoot 1:1 crop with 50mm prime it helpt me pick out comps a bit and really works well with the focal length
It's so surprising that there are not more followers. I only follow Gavin and of course, Simon Dentremont. Between them, I have learned so much about technique and composition. I hated the 55mm Sonnar lens and used it once and sold it.
I have been shooting landscapes at 43mm for a few years now and it's my favourite lens to use. I was always put off using that focal length because landscape photographers don't do that. How wrong I was.
It’s nice to see someone talking about gear who is actually good at photography. Too many tech reviews who couldn’t find a shot in the apocalypse. Good video. Thank you.
I have been using primes for a long time, its kind a fun way to learn a wierd dance! But i have been a bit lazy and using zooms for a while now, thanks for inspiring me to go back to wierd dancing!
Brilliant advice. I only have one prime lens. A 50mm 1.4 it’s just a cheap one and I hardly use it
I do weddings and I wish I had the confidence to use nothing but prime lenses but 24-70 f2.8 so go for the easy option but maybe one day.
Hope you get that dizziness sorted. Possibly high blood pressure.
I just love watching you and Amanda each week!! I think you and Simon make a good team!! You each bring out a different perspective of photography in a serious and fun way. Keep up the great videos!!
My Tammy 35-150 has been glued to my camera for quite a while now, even with my landscapes!
Very interesting video and topic. I learned photography on a Minolta SRT 101 camera, a 50mm f/1.7 lens and Kodak Kodachrome slide film many years ago. I never thought of the 50mm focal length as the hell zone. I do agree that shooting with a focal length of 40-85mm does require more careful and thoughtful composition. One of my favorite lenses is the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for Sony e-mount so I struggle more with super wide focal lengths. Thanks so much for the stimulating and thought provoking content.
Great stuff, resonated with my experience. Last year I traded in a load of DSLR for mirrorless and the one lens I kept was a Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4 which is fantastic and in my office at work hangs my favourite photo - which was taken with it. I agree, persevere and practice the results will come and when they do, they will stand out from the ordinary.
Have that lens too. Have only used it for some portraits so far but I am inspired to take it out with me on my next landscape adventure. Hope you get feeling better soon!
I prefer your usual content, but will definitely watch this to support you. At least being shorter in length means that it's easier to make time for it.
normal service will resume shortly.
Of course we want to see the failures 😍 also 13:22. - Knowing exactly what you’re taking about 😅. Since 2 weeks I try to photograph a specific landscape image, but the weather never complied yet. It’s a one hour drive (one way) plus a 2:30 hrs hike.
WOW! How refreshing, not afraid to talk about failures...such excellent content! I'll be getting your book once I've paid off my lens purchases (and now, I'm adding the Zeiss Sony 55 1.8...DOHHH). Thank you for your most excellent work and sharing with us. Ron J. from Pennsylvania
Well as an Large Format photographer i’m always in the ‘Hell Zone’. I primarily use a 150mm (45mm) or an 300mm (95mm). And i’m quite happy with those lenses.
So when I go out with a digital camera (vacation) It will be with a 50mm
Well Gavin, if you ever come to Perth, Western Australia ... reach out, you can stay with us and we would love to take you around this amazing state.
I've been. My sis lives there. Liked the Denmark area.
This episode strikes a nice balance between entertainment and education. I started out many decades ago with my father’s hand me down Argus C3 with 50mm f/3.5, so now I discover all those Kodachrome transparencies were shot in the “hell zone.” I now wonder what a query of my Lightroom catalog will reveal about my choices in this era of so many options. Regarding dizziness, another possibility to explore is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is pretty common, especially among those of us old enough to remember when film photography was the only option and the fixed 50mm lens was not interchangeable.
At first I was like what is there to hate about such a popular focal length? Then I realized you’re a landscape photographer. You mentioned exactly what I did (did? I still do!). I would either go ultra wide or too zoomed in. In fact I haven’t composed a single landscape in the 40-150 range. Because like you said, it’s just a hell zone, you just don’t go there. This is so insightful, I can’t wait until I have some free time to bring my 24-70 and 70-200 lenses and try and compose a landscape in that hell focal range zone.
I sometimes think the “50ish” mm is like the 5 iron in golf. One good way to get a good feel for golf is to play a round using only the 5 iron and how you have to adapt and manipulate. So trying photographing all day with just that lens and it’s capabilities are more than you think.
hahaha great dance at the end...thought i was the only one who knew the ole Slippy Slip. That was big in the 50s
What an excellent video, Hardcase. You include some really nice photos here, too. I really liked this one. I like Amanda's comment early on concerning your choice of places you could go to shoot that are not so wintry. Great fun. Cheers to you both.
Hi Gavin, there are not many youtubers I watch whenever they release a video, but you are definitely one of them. Your sense of humour aligns completely with mine and your images capture the imagination. I am also surprised your channel isn't growing exponentially. I'm left wondering if it's a lack of content that also depicts the failures you mentioned in this video? Of course, there are going to be those, with a face similar to someone sucking a lemon, that just dont find you amusing. But your photographic content is exceptional.
Some of my best portraits happened with the 55mm. I sold it when I got the 50mm f/1.2GM.
Hating lenses does not compute.
Another outside your comfort zone video. Very well done! Looks to me like you can likely solve your own problem with channel growth-if you stay on top of your health problems.
Another awesome video, thanks, brother. Also, can’t wait to drool over some images in your new book. Love the way you see the world through your lens.
Awesome, thank you!
Funny thing is I have some relatively expensive glass but The lens I always go back too is the Helios 44-2 58mm (or the other variations I have of it). Funny how a lot of film makers seem to be using this lens too. A rehoused version of the Helios is used in The Batman and Dune Part 2
I really enjoyed this video. Im going to try using my 85mm prime and see how it goes. I have always used it for portrait only. Not a 55 but it will be interesting to see what I can do with it.
Thanks Gavin, I hope you feel better soon.
I’ve been having the same thing. Thought it was my heart but was inner ear problems. If you notice a pattern of dizziness when your head is in a certain position then could be inner ear and not heart related. Best to get checked regardless.
I had a 50mm prime years ago that I ended up selling because I hated using it so much haha! I now have an 18-55mm kit lens (along with others) that gets used all the time, but after your advice today I'm going to be a little bit more mindful of that focal length. Thanks for another great video! Keep them coming, and keep being you 🙂
The most horrible thing in the photo you shot was the carving some idiots did. That's the hell zone - being around those AHs.
Dizzy spells? Sounds like hypoglycemia to me. Nothing that Twirl won't fix.
I'd love to see more 'failure' videos. Not only would it make me feel less bad about my photography, but it would also help me learn more.
Can't wait to see the new book.
Yep Amanda 55 xcd lens is amazing.
Gavin thanks for this vlog.
As a Yorkshire man myself and on the doorstep to retirement, l often wonder what l will do to fill my time going forward.
Photography was my passion but lost my 'photography mojo' a few years ago. This vlog has encouraged me to dig out my eos r, 50mm prime and start experimenting.
Cheers lad 👍
Hope your health improves soon. Thinking of you.
On a side note - once again - you have encouraged me to use my 50mm prime lens more.
Since retiring- I am trying to learn more about photography. Thank you so much.
Just a thought about your dizziness: Has your fluids (water) intake been sufficient? If I don't have one large glass of water before a meal, I will eventually have twinges of dizziness during the day. You might monitor fluid intake especially if you are a heavy coffee drinker.
It will soon be spring up there and your health will mend. Here's what my Gramma always did to/for us kids in the spring. As soon as the poke plants started poking about three or four inches up through the ground she would go out and pick an apron full of it. The she would boil it a couple of minutes and drain the water off. Then she would put it in a skillet with a little bacon grease and scramble in an egg or two and fix it like spinach. It is delicious and will clean out your insides and give you a new lease on life. Soon you will feel better all over. She would also give us sassafras tea made from the dried roots of a red sassafras tree. She said our blood needed to be thinned after a long cold winter. My only endorsement for these curatives is the fact that her father was an herb doctor of local renown and passed a lot of his knowledge to her and she passed it "through" me and I turned 82 years old last month. BTW, back to photography: I started out and lived for many years in your "hell zone". The first "real" camera that I bought was a Beseler Topcon Re Super. It had one of the first 35mm f/1.4 lens on it and cost $400 in Japan in 1964. This outfit was magnificent. The only problem was that the lenses for this model of Topcon were proprietary and terribly expensive. But, and here is part you will love, the f/1.4 lens that came with was 58mm. What do you do with that? And there were no "off brand" lenses that would fit it and could be adapted to it. I still have it.😜 Many years and a good many cameras lated I added a 135 lens and an 28mm lens that I found in a junk box in an old camera shop. I still have all of it.
I recently just sold my 24-105mm as i found i was never in the middle range. Was either at 24mm and not wide enough, or at 105mm and struggling for more reach. Sold it to fund a 14-35mm and then picked up a 100-400 zoom. Total opposite of this video, haha. But I do have a nifty 50 in the bag... purely for looks, can't remember the last time it was on my camera. 😅 Great advise though Gavin, I really should put some effort in with the 50mm. 👏
Thanks Gavin, That was very valuable and insightful advice on the hell zone focal length in lenses. Call me a cheapskate, if you like, but my photography is very much low budget - APS-C crop sensor and kit lenses: 18-55; and 55-250. That’s full-frame equivalent of about 29-88 mm and 88-400 mm.
I know the limitations of both lenses, but, sometimes, I do get some astonishingly good images, where the results are more than the sum of their parts. I will have a budget for full frame later this year.
But these full-frame equivalent focal lengths means a lot of my photography ends up in what you call the hell zone. I agree, sometimes it can be really hard to compose, especially with the shorter focal length lens. In the last year or so, I have used the longer lens to simplify something and get a better reach to something within the grander vista and really like to do that. Yes, it may be low hanging fruit sometimes.
But, after several years, I have kind of got used to these focal lengths and I think I might struggle with a really wide-angle lens. Some photographers love them, but many times, I see images where the camera is pointing down at some impressive foreground and the mountain, or sea stack in the background is not the subject, even if the photographer thought it was. Instead, the foreground becomes the subject, filling as much as two-thirds of the frame. I probably will buy a wide angle lens sometime and I am guessing the only to get comfortable with them is to use them and practice.
We really enjoyed this episode! It really was very engaging and helpful. Also, my husband especially related to your "hatred" of the 55 mm as he shared the same struggles with it when he started out. We're hoping you feel much better soon.
Ah my favorite lens for astro. Or everything actually. Only lens I've held onto the whole time since I adopted Sony.