Telephoto lenses create such a literal and metaphorical distance between the photographer and their environment. Although one of my favourite lenses to work with is a 90mm, I re...
21 November, 2024
Memorable photos made with forgettable lenses
Well, memorable for me anyway – your mileage may vary. Some of the images I’m sharing here made good money for me a few years ago when I had a side hustle in stock photography, ...
21 October, 2024
From a 50 to a 35 – How I Changed My Perspective
So, how exactly did you come to adopt a 35mm focal length lens as your everyday carry? Well, gradually and then very suddenly. For decades, since, well, I started out in photogr...
29 June, 2024
One camera, One Lens – Testing the Photo Adage in Japan
Photography is chock full of sayings, adages, call them what you will. F8 and be there. Sunny 16. Most are grounded in some reality. But the one that I think has some applicatio...
22 June, 2024
In praise of ‘cheap’ lenses for ‘pro’ works
I have recently discovered Viltrox, a Chinese manufacturer of lenses for the Fujifilm X-system. I am using the AF 85/1,8 II XF and the AF 56/1,4 XF and I am very satisfied by th...
11 December, 2023
The Short Telephoto – My Preferred Carry-Everywhere Lens
It’s been a little while since I really began to realise just how much more I favour I hold for a short telephoto lens. Over last summer though it went from being a vague prefer...
29 November, 2023
500mm Mirror Lens with Film – by Simon King
I sometimes feel a fear of falling off. It once occurred to me that looking up at the moon was like looking over the edge of a chasm except that while there may be an edge of so...
17 May, 2023
Don’t Sleep with Yellow Lenses, Darlin’
Photographers who remember the Petula Clark 1967 hit single that’s paraphrased in the title will also probably know what it's talking about! Regardless of how much one might lov...