How to make the most out of your wide-angle lens
Abyss right next to the famous Seceda ridge. To emphasize the sheer scale of the abyss, I used a wide-angle lens. The cliffs on the right form a leading line to the mountain peaks in the background while the mountain crow helps fill the negative space on the left side of the image.
The wide-angle lens is perhaps the most popular lens among landscape photographers. However, it is also one of the most challenging lenses to work with. Majestic mountains can appear small and insignificant, and straight lines may suddenly seem curved. That’s why I’ve written a handy checklist below on how to get the most out of your wide-angle lens and how to avoid common mistakes.
The Wide-Angle Lens
The double peak of the Peitlerkofel towers high above the Würzjoch. The tree roots form an interesting foreground and leading lines that guide our eyes toward the Peitlerkofel.
A wide-angle lens offers a field of view that is wider than what our eyes can see. You can capture an entire landscape in a single shot. That’s why these lenses are extremely popular among landscape photographers. In general, a lens with a focal length of 35mm or lower is considered a wide-angle lens.
Characteristics of a Wide-Angle Lens
The mountain with the red morning light on its summit, Pelmo, is one of the highest peaks in the Dolomites. In this photo, however, Pelmo appears small compared to the flowers in the foreground.
Wide field of view – You capture a large portion of the landscape in a single image.
Strong sense of depth – The distance between foreground and background appears greater than it actually is.
Sense of presence – It feels as if you could step right into the photo.
Emphasis on the foreground – The foreground is greatly enlarged at the expense of the background.
Large depth of field – Ideal for keeping the entire landscape in focus.
Join a Photography Trip to the Alps!
Selfie taken during one of my journeys through the Alps. Over the past ten years, I’ve visited hundreds of promising photo spots in the Alps. During my photography trips, we visit my favorites.
If these tips and photos inspire you, consider joining me on a photo tour to the Alps. During the trip, I’ll show you my favorite photo spots and teach you everything I know about landscape photography. Thanks to my extensive local knowledge, I’ll help you effortlessly find great compositions in the best light.
During my all-inclusive photography trips:
✅ We stay in beautiful hotels and mountain huts near the most stunning photo locations
✅ We discover hidden gems for unique compositions
✅ We learn everything about composition and lens choice for landscape photography
⚠️ Disadvantages of a Wide-Angle Lens
The tent on the right side is completely stretched and distorted, making it appear flatter than it actually is.
Strong distortion – The edges of the photo are stretched; the foreground appears much larger than the background. If you tilt the lens, straight lines can also appear curved.
Minimized background – Large objects appear small and far away. What is in reality an epic mountain now becomes just a tiny speck on the horizon.
Compositional challenges – Due to the wide field of view, many elements quickly enter the frame, which can make the composition feel cluttered.
💡 Tips: How to Get the Most Out of Your Wide-Angle Lens
Soft light, strong visual flow, and an interesting foreground made this scene very suitable for a wide-angle lens.
📍 Only use it in a beautiful environment with minimal distractions
This prevents ugly or uninteresting elements from unintentionally appearing in your image.🌾 Find a strong foreground
Without a powerful foreground, your wide-angle lens loses its magic. Use interesting textures like rocks, flowers, streams, or tree roots as a foreground.➡️ Use visual flow
Guide the eye through the photo using leading lines, contrast, or natural shapes.🌅 Shoot with soft light
Due to the many details in your image, things can quickly become chaotic. Soft, warm light during golden hour, diffused light during blue hour or the even lighting of a cloudy day often work perfectly as this light makes the photo look calmer. Harsh sunlight makes your photo look grating to the eyes at the heavy contrast brings out too many details.✨ Dodge and burn when post-processing
Enhance the focus in your photo by brightening interesting parts (dodging) and darkening distracting or less important areas (burning).
