Creativity Exercise #11: Life @ 50

[evil4blue]

Creativity Exercise #11: Life @ 50

Time to strap on that normal lens and do some shooting. In this exercise you're only allowed to shoot at 50mm. If you need to get closer, move your feet not you zoom. Limiting your self to just one focal length will really make you examine your shot before you take it and will help you focus on composition a little more. A quick thanks to Pete, Jake, and Steve for discussing this exact subject over lunch today and giving me the idea for the exercise.


Rules:

1. All photos are to be taken at 50mm (primes and zooms are both fine).

2. Basic photo editing only (Review the "How this works" thread for clarification).

3. Each participant can post up to 3 of their favorite shots.

Next Exercise: 03-01-2006

[RandySmith]

Steve -

I haven't acquired my 50mm yet, and when I shoot sports with the indicator pointed at 50mm, sometimes the exif data shows 51mm, 52mm ... etc., so will that okay ?

Randy

[evil4blue]

Randy,

That's fine, the point is to basically force yourself to stay at one focal length. I picked 50mm because 99% of the photogs out there have either a 50 prime or a zoom that can be set to 50mm. Truthfully if you want to do this at 35mm or 70mm that's fine to. These exercises are designed to get you to rethink your process of shooting. Maybe do something that seems uncomfortable to you. Hopefully this will help you improve your technique or learn a new way of taking a photograph. Hope this clears things up a little.

[RandySmith]

Steve,

Sure, I understand I just didn't want to go outside of the parameters you were setting. I'm seriously considering a 50mm purchase, just haven't had time to get to the camera(candy) store yet.

Thanks.
Randy

[Jake]

You posted this right after I sold my 50mm f/1.8
But I got the new f/1.4 so now I can post something. Well, I could have set my zoom to 50mm but anyway....
Here are 2 from this week.

[RandySmith]

Finally decided to pick up a 50mm f1.4 today. Stopped by a local park in Richardson, on my lunch hour. I think I'm gonna like it.

[Gordon]

heh - so my new lensbaby is a 50 - that count ? ;)

It is a good exercise to do though - teach you to sneaker zoom, rather than be lazy.

Also maybe make you think about the impact of lens compression vs zoom

[evil4blue]

2 things. First, Gordon, sure you can use the lensbaby. Like I said before, the idea is to be forced to use one focal length.

Second thing, I was so busy this weekend, I forgot to post a new exercise. After a little thought, I decided to extend this exercise until the end of the month to give people more time. Kinda like Brad did in the assignments section, I'm tinkering with the idea of having monthly assignments instead of the bi-weekly.

[Jake]

Well, if you are going to extend this exercise I will post one more shot, so that will make 3 for me. I went out to the Ft. Worth Zoo for their Croc Tail Party thinking I will only use the 50mm, well I did not make it all night before I broke out the 28-75mm.
Anyway, here is a shot of John Price that I used the 50mm.
1/125s f/1.4 at 50.0mm iso800


Here are some more, the first 8 shots are with the 50mm.

[Roy]

My Contribution with 50mm prime.

[mwhigham]

When I first saw this thread, I was thinking age, oh well this qualifies both ways . I cropped and did a slight levels adjustment and a bit of unsharp mask. I hope that's not cheating.

[Guther]

All taken with the 50 f/1.8, only on a 35mm Film Body Taken and processed over the last few weeks, for a "2D" assignment.

Scanned from negative and levels adjusted to match my enlargements, for the most part anyhow...

Canon Elan 7n - 50 f/1.8 - Ilford HP5+
#1


#2


#3


#4


#5 - white powdery hand print on glass, just FYI

[bburton]

Shot at 55mm; 1 sec+; f8; ISO200

Set up tripod; focused on subject (ceramic flower); turned out all the lights; opened shutter; shone penlight at subjct; closed shutter. Voila, a "light painting."

[Tim T]

Took these with my 50 1.8 when I first got it about a year ago. Great lens for the price.