Tip: People who shoot wildlife or surfing competitions use long lenses to bring that distant person or animal up close for a good look. Telephoto lenses let you see the details of something far off. Telephoto lenses flatten perspective. They make different elements in the picture look closer together than they really are. You've seen this in movies where the hero seems to be walking down an incredibly crowded street with people squeezed right up next to him. You get this effect by standing well back and shooting with a long telephoto lens. The magnification of a telephoto can be used for dramatic effect. For example, you may want to shoot a twilight shot that includes the full moon in the background. The moon will appear larger and closer if you shoot with a long lens. You can also zoom in on objects that aren't so far away. While a telephoto lens usually will not focus close enough to be a true macro lens (used for very detailed close-ups), it will often enable you to take interesting close-ups or details. At close range, the shallow depth of field of a telephoto will also help the item stand out from its background. On even normal-sized subjects, you can minimize distracting backgrounds using depth of field. If possible, move your subject away from the background and adjust your focus to soften the background but keep the subject sharp. Manipulating perspective is a useful creative tool. If you want to associate two things that are separated, move back and shoot them with your telephoto. This will make them appear closer together. To be creative, you need to know your equipment, what it can do, and what it can't. The telephoto lens is one of your most creative tools. By learning its characteristics and visual effects, you can use this tool to increase the impact of your videos and/ or pictures.
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