Standing back

In this exercise, we are asked to stand back from our subject and take the image using a medium telephoto.

The exercise suggest 80-200mm full frame equivalent. This is approximately equivalent to 50-130mm on the smaller sensor size of Canon 450D and these images are within these parameters, albeit that one does not wish to get too hidebound by the exact focal lengths - the idea is more to understand the opportunities and difficulties of using longer lenses for street photography.

The subjects were all taken in Bath - the photo shoot there was used to cover several exercises simultaneously, concentrating on one aspect at a time. The focal lengths are those for the smaller sensor in the camera, not the full frame equivalent. The crop factor is about 1.6.

Using a crop factor of 1.6, this image does not quite fit within the parameters of the exercise, and it is different from the other images in that the zoom is used to get a close up of the concentrated face looking down. Demonstrates that zoom can be used to get even closer to the subject.

The zoom was used here to capture an elderly gentleman walking resolutely along clutching his bag.I like the expression, can be interpreted in several ways.

The image demonstrates one hazrd of longer lenses: it is more difficult to compose the image so as to eliminate extraneous information - it is simply more difficult to appreciate what may be in the background. This the image loses some impact by virtue of the couple in the background and the blind seemingly protruding from subject's head.

This image was taken on maximum zoom - a great opportunity to capture a tourist reviewing her images.

Another good example of where the zoom provides an opportunity to take a completely unaware subject.

Converted into black and white, I took this couple across the square. Again, there is the difficulty of a background - this time the shop window.

The zoom provided the opportunity for a creative image of this banner holder. His face encapsulates the boring nature of his task. The background was ideal for the context of the image here - not sure whether the ice cream prop was actually for the advertised store but no matter in the context of the image.

This is a less good image, included to demonstrate one difficulty of using long lens: getting the focus correct; it is not quite right on the subject's face, possibly because of movement blur and no part of the image is sharp. Without a tripod, it is quite challenging to avoid movement blur.

Similar problem with this image, where there was a need to pan, an operation that is not easy and even more difficult with a longer lens.

It was surprising this shot turned out reasonably sharp given the slow shutter speed. Taken in Bath information office, it is spoilt by the computer terminal on the left seemingly protruding from the cyclist's head.

This is another opportunity rather similar to first image: get a closer perspective on subject near to you.

This set of ten images demonstrated some of the opprotunities one gets from using a longer lens:

• Getting in close to a subject that is not far away;
• Opportunity to take images of subjects that catch one's eye at a distance

The difficulties are:

• Technical, avoiding movement blur and achieving correct focus;
• Avoiding unwanted intrusions in the image
• Missing a great shot by virtue of someone or something blocking view - this occurred a couple of times, but by definition is not one that can be demonstrated photographically.