Someone recently asked me what my favorite lens is, and obviously it depends for what type of subject. Since I’ve already posted my favorite lenses for Travel Photography, I thought I would do a post for my lifestyle work. The answers are simple: The Canon 35mm f1.4L, the 85mm f1.2L, and the 20mm f2.8. All of these lenses create a certain look depending on what I’m going for.
*I just noticed that this post looks weird in RSS reader, so you have to view it in the actual blog for the captions to line up with the images.
The 35mm f1.4L
Most of my lifestyle work is a realistic feel, which I use my 35mm probably 85% of the time. Most of the work I’ve shown in the last year has been with that lens. Here are some examples:
Interaction Group:
Interaction Single subject with environment:
Indoor tight space low light:
One thing I love is when shooting vertical images, you can fit the full body of a person in the frame and still have space to crop to an 8.5×11 crop ratio:
Realistic Action:
The 85mm f1.2L
I love using the 85mm for a more cinematic feel when I still have interaction with the subject. You’re farther away from them, but not too far away. You can also get a nice compressed look if you’d like to put your subject in their environment.
Cinematic:
Subject far in environment:
Tighter Compressed:
Compressed Action:
The 20mm f2.8
This lens is fantastic for close dynamic lifestyle shots, or action.
Dynamic Lifestyle:
Dynamic Action:
Great information Nick! Thanks…
Very good info! Thank you for sharing! I’d love to try a wide fixed lens soon. It looks like you don’t have any distortion on the 20mm closer shot of the girl in the dress on the beach. Do you notice that with this lens? no distortion?
Great post Nick. Just the stuff I wanted to know.
Thanks for the info! I love how you post your amazing images, and give us other photogs a little glimpse into how you work. It’s greatly appreciated:)
Loved this post Nick, thanks very much. I use the 35L religiously and the 85L a lot too. I gotta say though, I’ve tried everything from recalibration to focus screens and getting that thing in focus from 1.2-2.0 or so is almost maddening sometimes. Do you deal with this?
@Suzanne You get a bit of distortion, but not too much. That’s why I use it dynamically. The 20mm has a great dynamic to it without looking too “wide angle” distorted..
@Zach Yeah i’ve had that problem, but I find myself shooting less and less from 1.2-2.0. I think if you have a UV filter or on it, it could help taking it off. It’s usually really hard to have exact focus at that aperture. I’ve found myself shooting f2.8-4 a lot more lately. It’s a bit safer.
Thank you for this great post! I also shoot with prime lenses. I’ve never tried the 35mm but it sounds like it would be a great addition to my lenses. I use the 50mm 1.2 all the time, but it is never really quite wide enough. Again thanks for a great post.
thank you!
Very good info my friend. WOOT for the 35!
thanks for the low down on your lens choices. I always learn so much on your blog.
Cheers.
According to metadata the black&white picture is shot at 200mm. Is it the 70-200?
@Gustav You’re right. Thanks for catching that. I grabbed the wrong photo. I changed it.
your images are very inspirational. thank you for sharing all the useful info!