{"id":23396,"date":"2014-08-12T23:35:17","date_gmt":"2014-08-13T03:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=23396"},"modified":"2019-02-02T15:02:46","modified_gmt":"2019-02-02T19:02:46","slug":"using-teleconverters-lens-compression-tighter-portraits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-teleconverters-lens-compression-tighter-portraits\/","title":{"rendered":"Using tele-converters: Extra lens compression for tighter portraits"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Using tele-converters: Extra lens compression for tighter portraits<\/h1>\n

One of the techniques to have your subject really stand out from the background, is to use the longest focal length on your 70-200mm telephoto zoom. One of the first things I do, is to zoom to maximum focal length, and then step backwards to find the\u00a0composition<\/a> \u2026 and then only zoom wider if necessary. \u00a0Doing it this way, forces you to use the longest focal length.\u00a0This compression focuses attention on your subject\u00a0by creating separation from the background<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To extend the range of my 70-200mm f\/2.8 lens, I always keep a 1.4x teleconverter in my bag. This extra 1.4x boost in focal length gives me reach, or as in this case, that extra compression to help with my photograph’s composition:<\/p>\n

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The setting<\/h2>\n

The setting for photographing these two boys, Will and Ian, was this\u00a0parking area. But I also knew that the sun on the Fall colors would be a fantastic background. The light on them from the front was just the open sky – soft and even. No need for additional light really.<\/p>\n

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This shows approximately the position I shot from. And again, you can see this is a “nowhere” location. Aside from the glorious colors in the background, there isn’t anything else to work with here.<\/p>\n

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Comparing the effect of longer focal length<\/h2>\n

Stepping through a sequence of images, you can see how the longer focal length compresses the photo more and more.<\/p>\n

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70-200mm lens, used at 135mm
\n1\/250 \u00a0@ \u00a0f\/5 \u00a0@ \u00a0800 ISO<\/p>\n

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70-200mm lens, used at 200mm
\n1\/250 \u00a0@ \u00a0f\/5 \u00a0@ \u00a0800 ISO<\/p>\n

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70-200mm lens,\u00a0with a 1.4x teleconverter<\/strong>, to give an effective 280mm focal length.
\n1\/400 \u00a0@ \u00a0f\/4 \u00a0@ \u00a0800 ISO
\nI increased the shutter speed to help against camera shake.<\/p>\n