Exercise: focal lengths and different viewpoints

For this exercise, I changed lenses as I changed positions. First, I used my 105mm, then I moved in and took a shot with the same basic framing using my 28mm. This was a very interesting exercise and I was surprised with the results.



In this shot, I'm using my 105mm.



Then I walked in and shot the same basic scene, but I captured a lot more to the left side then before. I probably could've gone in even further, and I realized this at the time, so I did the exercise again from a different perspective. I was surprised at how wide it is.



Same basic location but from a different spot. First is the 105mm.



Then I walked in closer with the wide angle and got almost the identical edges on both the left and right, so I was happy with that. I am really struck at how much the wide angle changes the perspective (and with the distortion on the sides). My other big impression is how much more interesting the shot is with the wider angle. It's a lot more dynamic. In particular, there's a lot more energy around the rough lines, especially the lower one on the right side. With the 105, that roof line was entirely static. But with the 28, it has a lot of energy. And so does the lower roof line on the left.

I think I've underused my wide angle close up. I have a tendency to think of it as just for getting in the whole scene and really haven't thought much about how to use it creatively, especially closer-up.