Working in a camera shop, I’m in contact with anywhere from 5-30 photographers a day. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn a new perspective or skill each day from photographers who work in different fields. In particular I have two master class, passionate photographers who do macro and astro respectively. Everything is connected, so most skills have an applicable application to an entirely different field.
During the rare moon of the month, I’ll get a fellow street photographer come in for some gear. It’s great to bounce back some insights, though there’s this awkward pause in conversation when we get to lenses.
“So what lens do you use?”
“Almost 100% with an 85mm,” I’ll answer back as a matter of calm fact.
The reply is a wrinkled crease of the brow or a slight dip down from the lips. The heaviest sound is the immediate, screeching halt of conversation. Once talk gets back on track, there are two usual connections: “Street is usually taken with a 50 or 35,” with the tone of a teacher gifting an insightful revelation to a budding student, or it’s a condescending “Ahh,” followed by a pause and quick departure.
This is my experience. I don’t want to blanket statement all street photographers react this way, but it happened enough that I started to google for other street photographers who shoot with an 85mm. I didn’t find much. People prefer wider focal lengths because they give a sense of being in the moment.
I may lose that sense of walking in the street with the photograph’s perspective, but what I gain is intimacy.
I have a single subject that I’m completely engrossed with. Enthralled. They become the most important person in that moment.
The separation of subject and background gives a dream-like quality. The focus hones a part of the dream while the rest slips into the unconscious mind.
I’ve been taking photos recently with a 50mm. I like to challenge my perspective constantly and grow from it. I’ve left the comment section open for everyone to discuss their own ideas and experience. The collective information and clashes of opinion is the best way for us to grow.