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UPDATE: Click here for part two ;)
So I got this question on my formspring page and figured I’d make a blog post with it :)
“I have such a problem using tilt-shift lenses. Care to do a blog post about
how you make tilt-shift lenses work in your photography? Love your tilt work!”
Thanks so much for the question/compliment! Well I think a major key with tilt-shift lenses is not to rely on the “effect” to carry the image — but rather the strength and the impact of the image. Tilt-shift lenses should be the icing on the cake. Eat a ton of icing without cake and you’ll be sick. Keep that in mind with tilt-shift lenses and you should be just fine ;)
There are so many ways you can use tilt-shift lenses. Just the simple idea of bending the focal plane interests me! If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, check it out here. Now let’s get started with some examples.
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1. Wide, dramatic landscapes with an intimate couple. This is probably my favorite thing I can do with my tilt-shift lenses. The thing about wide landscape shots in couple portraits that always bothered me is that the couple seems to sort of get lost in the image. Not all the time, but enough to where I didn’t enjoy making these photos that much for myself. With tilt-shift lenses, I can bend the focal plane to focus on the couple in a manner which isolates them a bit more — drawing attention to them in a way that a normal 24mm, for example, would not, in my opinion.
Shot at Amy and Ian’s day after session at the Pechanga reservation using the 24mm tilt.
When I think of the purpose of tilt-shift lenses in wedding photography, I think of the above image.
Shot at Daniel and Michelle’s Morgan Run Resort wedding with the 24mm tilt.
From Brittany and Zac’s wedding at Strawberry Farms with the Canon 45 tilt
In the above image, even if I shot at f/1.2, everything would be in focus. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, of course, but a slight tilt seems to push the focus to the sweet moment happening between the couple in a way which a standard lens wouldn’t. Again, not necessarily better, but different in a way I prefer for this moment ;)
Shot at Shelby and Steven’s Beijing shoot with the 45 tilt
The above image would have worked fine with the 50L
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2. Isolating details. I tend to use my 50L
Shot at Natasha and Erik’s wedding at the Abbey in downtown San Diego with the image on the right using the 45 tilt
It’s not a major deal, but I enjoy the way tilting isolates her shoes in the above image and the aesthetically pleasing way her dress slowly blurs away.
Shot at Terry and Jen’s wedding at the Darlington House in La Jolla. Both are with the 45 tilt
Shot at Amy and Ian’s wedding at the Lodge at Torrey Pines using the 45 tilt
Shot at Astami and Chan’s Bali wedding with the 45 tilt
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3. Sometimes there’s no explaining it. Sometimes, for reasons I can’t put into words, I just like tilted images better.
Shot at Terry and Jen’s wedding at the Darlington House in La Jolla with the 45 tilt
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4. Add some cinematic drama. I love when images have a cinematic feel to them. Almost like you’re looking at an independent film screen grab. There are times that tilt shift lenses can help enable this.
Shot at Astami and Chan’s Bali wedding with the 24mm tilt.
Before the ceremony, the groom and his brother were having a private conversation. I love this image. I’d love it if it would have been shot with my 24L
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5. When there’s nothing there to work with… Sometimes the places we shoot can appear boring in real life. Sometimes the room where the bride gets ready isn’t the most photogenic room or it’s a tad too small or for whatever reason it’s just a bit challenging to shoot in. Tilt-shift lenses can help by swirling boring parts away with the selective DOF.
Shot at Daniel and Michelle’s Morgan Run Resort wedding with the 45 tilt
The above was shot in the corner of the bride’s getting ready room. It was at a beautiful hotel — but the room was busy and didn’t have tons of space. So I placed the bride in the corner and tilted slightly diagonally. I like the end result more than if I were shooting with the 50L
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Let me know if you want to see a part two and I’ll get one ready for next week :)
Bobby
UPDATE: Click here for part two ;)
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by Bobby Earle
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