"The paperweight". That's what many call the standard lens included in the kit of your SLR camera. When we first buy a SLR, everything seems perfect. But once we're immersed in the world, we discover the disadvantages and shortcomings of those lenses. Every now and then, it's good to go back to the basics, reconcile ourselves with our paperweight, and discover that we can also take good photos with it. Why not look at your old paperweight with fresh eyes?
I'm sure you've all had the lens I'm talking about in mind. We bought our first SLR camera, and the kit comes with a lens (sometimes two) with a small zoom, autofocus, and in some cases, a stabilization system (the famous anti-shake system).
In my case, it was the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5 lens, with stabilizer and autofocus. And it was a very popular lens, believe me.
Little by little, I began to specialize in landscapes and nature, as well as wildlife. And my paperweight fell short for those things. It didn't have enough zoom for wildlife, and it didn't have enough aperture for night photography... Little by little, I put the paperweight aside, pre-retired on a shelf.
But sometimes it's good to revisit this goal and practice with it. Its versatility and the possibilities it offers may even surprise us. In this article, I'll recommend several exercises and accessories to help you reconcile with your old self. paperweight.
And why not? If you're tired of always taking the same photos with your paperweight, maybe it's time to buy a couple of filters cheap ones to experiment with. You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a neutral density (ND) filter, a filter polarizing, a reverse gradient filter or one infrared.
And why not? Experiment with shutter speed, create photos with moving water or clouds, enhance colors, or take spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Play with filters and have fun in the process.
"I bought a 70-200mm for portraits and now I never go out without it." "No way, for portraits the best thing is a very bright 50mm, or even better, a very bright 85mm..." You've probably heard phrases like this at some point. It's another one of those axioms of photography that many of us believe when we start in the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. a good portrait just your imagination.
Play with the frame, open the diaphragm to the best of your ability and freezes motionYou'll see how quickly you get a flirty bokeh Focusing or blurring your subject. And who says we have to follow the eye rule? Since we're experimenting, focus on a different point in the frame, blur your subject, play around, and have fun learning the possibilities and limits of your paperweight lens.
And why spend your savings on a macro lens? If you want to get started in macro photography You don't need a big investment. By screwing a magnifying glass magnification to your lens or placing a magnifying glass between the lens and the camera body extension tube you will be able to change the focal length from your paperweight and get some really neat macro photos. Just... guess what...? EXPERIMENT.
That's right, you guessed it. A tourist's best friend is a paperweight lens. Whether you're looking for rural adventures or city trips, hotels, and museums, the basic lens in your kit will solve the problem. There will always be photography professionals (and amateurs) who will recommend carrying three different lenses. But trust me, a paperweight is all you need to immortalize your vacation.
And I'm telling you this as someone who has carried several lenses and accessories on their backs on their travels. It may not be much weight, but when you're walking for hours through the woods or the city, your backpack eventually becomes your worst enemy. Do you know how many times I've regretted carrying so much backpack? Give your lens kit a chance.
They say that the best social photographer, Cartier-Bresson, he never went out without his 35mm, That's because he didn't know the paperweight lens 😉
The versatility offered by the kit lens's zoom will be your best ally when it comes to quickly capturing a street photo. It's much easier (and faster) to move a small zoom wheel than to navigate yourself until you find the right frame. If you're truly passionate about social and street photography, you'll have time (and money) to invest in bright prime lenses and even small, handy camera bodies. But in the meantime... why not make the most of what you already have?
And give it another try, you won't regret it. You'll see that there are many exercises you can perform and accessories you can add to expand its versatility. Fotogario We've quickly come up with several examples. Can you think of any more?
Greetings.
