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There’s a temptation with landscape photography to go wide, as wide as possible. Because why wouldn’t you want to fit as much of that yummy scenery as possible into one image? Well, oftentimes, photography is as much about what you leave out as it is about what you include, and landscape photography is no exception. This is where a long telephoto lens can be your ally.
Landscape photographer Andy Mumford is no exception, and in this video, he admits that he fell into that trap when he first started his photography journey. Today, however, more than half of his shots from any trip are taken with a telephoto lens. Over time, Andy has developed a bit of an obsession with “reach,” using longer focal lengths to isolate and simplify landscapes, reducing them to their most essential elements. He explains why it’s so essential to have a long lens.
The Limitations of a Wide-Angle Lens
Wide-angle lenses are fantastic for capturing expansive, widescreen views of a scene. They excel at showcasing everything from the foreground to the distant horizon, creating a sense of grandeur. However, Andy quickly discovered that wide-angle lenses aren’t always the best choice. For one, they include everything in the frame, even elements that might distract from the scene’s true essence.
If the foreground is uninteresting (think dirt, grass, or snow), it can dilute the impact of the image. Additionally, wide-angle lenses make distant subjects, like mountains or rock formations, appear small and insignificant, robbing them of their power.
Wide-angle compositions are inherently more complex because they include so many elements. While this can work in some scenarios, it often leads to cluttered images that lack focus. This is where the telephoto lens shines.
The Power of Subtraction
Andy often refers to a key principle in photography: subtraction. The idea is to remove all distractions and unnecessary elements until only the essence of the scene remains. This approach creates simplicity and clarity, making images more impactful. Telephoto lenses are perfect for this because they allow you to isolate small parts of a scene, eliminating redundant foregrounds, skies, or midgrounds.
For example, in one of Andy’s shots of Deadvlei in Namibia, the sky added nothing to the image—it only detracted from the focus on the tree and the vibrant dunes. By removing the sky, he created a more intimate composition that emphasized the interplay of light, shadow, and colour. Similarly, in other Namibian landscapes, he used a telephoto lens to cut out uninteresting foregrounds, like dry riverbeds, which would have otherwise created a heavy, distracting section at the bottom of the frame.
Creating Scale and Depth
One of the most fascinating aspects of using a telephoto lens is its ability to create a sense of scale. By cropping out the top of a dune, waterfall, or glacier, you activate the viewer’s imagination. Without seeing the top of the subject, the mind perceives it as potentially infinite, adding a sense of grandeur to the image. This effect is amplified when you include a small element, like a person or a tree, in the foreground for comparison.
Telephoto lenses also excel at creating compression, making distant elements appear closer together. This technique adds layers and depth to an image, particularly in hazy or misty conditions. For instance, when photographing mountain ridges, Andy uses a telephoto lens to compress the layers, giving the scene a three-dimensional quality.
Isolating Distant Scenes
In vast, open landscapes, a telephoto lens allows you to pick out small, distant details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Andy recalls shooting in the Namibrand Mountains, where a long focal length enabled him to highlight the interaction between light and shadow on distant trees and rocks. Without the reach of a telephoto lens, these elements would have been lost in the vastness of the scene.
This approach requires careful attention to depth. To avoid flat images, Andy emphasizes the importance of contrast—using light and shadow to guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of dimension.
Exploring Abstracts
Telephoto lenses are also ideal for creating abstract images. By focusing on patterns, lines, or shapes, you can distil a scene down to its most basic elements. This requires a keen eye for detail and a willingness to experiment. Look for repeating patterns, strong lines, or bold colours that can stand on their own. The key is to remove everything that doesn’t contribute to the composition, leaving only the essential elements.
Final Thoughts
While there are a couple of downsides to ultra-long lenses (cost, missing focal lengths, weight), a 100-400mm lens should become an essential part of your landscape photography toolkit. It allows you to simplify compositions, create depth, and capture distant details that would otherwise be lost. Whether you’re shooting sweeping mountain ranges, intimate abstracts, or even wildlife, a telephoto lens can open up new creative possibilities.