One of the problems I often find when using a long (50mm+) prime lens is that it often makes for quite a tight shot on my digital cropped sensor (D80) body. Here's one way around such a dilemma.
Often described as the Brenizer Method, the process is perhaps better described as a "Bokeh Panorama."
The aim is not to take the picture in one single shot, but rather to shoot around the subject and let a computer re-arrange the pictures to create the illusion of a wider shot, but with the same perspective as a longer lens.
Why not just use a wide angle lens?
Perspective changes with focal length. A wider lens will make the background seem further away, a 50mm will typically make the background look "normal," and a telephoto lens will compress the background for dramatic effect.
What this method attempts to achieve is a wide shot with the characteristics associated with a longer lens, such as compression of background, whilst making the most of your longer, tighter lenses.
There's a great explanation of the relationship between perspective and focal length here, and as it happens the physics behind it make up my favourite cinematic technique: the dolly zoom.
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| I went for less subject. |
A bokeh panorama gives you the ability to combine, and then crop to your heart's content.
What do I need?
- A digital camera with a manual (M) mode.
- A long, preferably fast lens. 50mm f/1.8 and longer/faster should be fine.
- A computer, loaded with Photoshop.
- Something (or someone!) to photograph.
How do I do it?
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| Midwest photographers do it in the Prairie. |
- Fiddle with your camera. Turn the command wheel to Manual (M) mode, with manual focus. It's not as scary as it sounds. You'll want to turn Auto-ISO off, and set your White Balance based on the available lighting. Turn the image size to small JPEG (when you merge on the computer you'll end up with a high resolution file).
- Focus and Meter. Decide on your focus point. Focus the lens close enough and set the aperture wide enough to throw the background out of focus (I used f/1.8 on a f/1.4 lens in my examples). Once you're happy with the manual focus, don't re-adjust between taking separate shots. Set the shutter speed to whatever the camera is telling you to.
- Take a Test Shot. If it comes out looking properly exposed, you're on the right track. Adjust if you need to, but don't change any settings once you begin shooting.
- Shoot around the subject. Make sure that you keep at least one portion of the subject present in all of the shots, and that you have plenty of overlap for the computer to decipher. If you're photographing a person, tell them to keep still until you're happy with your collection of shots.
Complex subjects like plants and trees prove problematic, but signs, posts and static objects are easy enough. People make the best subject for this technique, and they'll even talk with you too. Handy.
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- Transfer files to separate folders. Having each set of pictures in their own folder makes merging easier.
- Load up Photoshop. Select File>Automate>Photomerge. Select the folder with the group of pictures you'd like to merge.
- Set the layout to Auto. Let the computer chug away, align and blend the photographs together until it finishes. Large sets of photographs will take longer, and there's quite a bit of processing involved.
- Crop. Once the automated process completes, you'll be left with an oddly shaped photograph. Crop to your desired size.
- Touch up. Tweak anything you may have missed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.
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| File>Automate>Photomerge... |
So there it is. A digital way to enjoy a wider photograph without losing the perspective of a tighter lens. Get creative and feel free to submit your shots to the Bokeh Panoramas or The Brenizer Method Flickr groups. Happy snapping!
Adam Simmons
P.S. If you're still curious, Ryan Brenizer has a good video tutorial on his Facebook page.
P.S. If you're still curious, Ryan Brenizer has a good video tutorial on his Facebook page.