I had the opportunity to photograph student life and sports a number of times at the Millbrook school. Photographing student life is one of my favorite genres of photography. It involves a number of skills and requires an extensive range of equipment. In this post I would like to describe the range of lenses that I have used to capture authentic moments in an artistic way.
Architectural lenses – tilt and shift lenses
I have used both Canon 17mm TS-E and Canon 24mm TS-E lenses to show the exterior and interior design of buildings. The 17mm focal length provides a super-wide field of view, making it ideal for tight interior spaces and expansive architecture. Unlike standard wide-angle lenses, it minimizes distortion, keeping lines straight and natural-looking.
In addition tilt and shift lenses allow the creation of a panoramic image by stitching together three frames in the digital darkroom. Having tried also a multi row panorama platform, it is my preferred gear for such a technique, when I am able to use a tripod.
One row panorama using the Canon 24mm TS-E lens and stitching together three frames.
Extreme wide lenses
Sometimes even a 11mm lens is necessary to emphasize the size of an area. My favorite lenses in this category have been the Canon 11-24mm f/4 and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 lens.
Ultra Wide prime lenses
I appreciate the usefulness of a Sony 14mm f/1.8 or a Sigma 20mm f/1.4 lens. They allow twice the amount of light to the sensor compared to a typical ultra wide lens like a 16-35mm f/2.8.
Normal lenses: 35mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.2
These are my favorite photographic tools to capture authentic moments in the classroom.
Medium telephoto lenses: 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.2
This is my favorite focal length as it has allowed me to differentiate my work by capturing moments with a unique rendering both inside and outside the classroom.
Long telephoto lenses: Canon 200mm f/2 and 135mm f/1.8
These two lenses are my favorite for capturing action and sports.
Sometimes the 200mm f/2 creates a unique perspective.
Super telephoto lenses: 300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/4
Even though they are mostly used for outdoor sports, I have captured a few beautiful portraits from a distance.
Photographing student life offers so many opportunities to be creative and capture moments in an artistic way.
