3/1/2021
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`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
`
`Why You Should Use a Telephoto
`Lens for Landscape Photos
`
`H O M E » P H OTO G R A P H Y T U TO R I A L S » L A N D S C A P E » W H Y YO U S H O U L D
`
`U S E A T E L E P H OTO L E N S F O R L A N D S C A P E P H OTO S
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` RO SS H O D D I N OT T
`
` CO M M E N T
`
`It is easy to get into bad habits, isn’t it? For example, most
`landscape photographers have a nasty habit of being over-
`reliant on wide-angle lenses. Wide-angles are considered to
`be the “landscape lens” due to their ability to capture big,
`far-reaching vistas and exaggerate the size and impact of
`foreground objects and dramatic skies. However, if you only
`ever use one type of lens for your landscape photography –
`or restrict yourself in any way – your photographs will grow
`predictable and formulaic. Whilst wide-angles will always be
`the mainstay of a landscape photographer’s kit bag, don’t
`overlook longer focal lengths. In fact a medium telephoto or
`tele-zoom – in the region of 70-200mm – can prove to be a
`highly effective and versatile landscape lens. Let me explain
`why.
`
`Your choice of focal length has a huge impact on how you
`record the landscape and the look and emphasis of your
`shots. Wide-angles might be the best choice in many
`instances, but their ability to stretch perspective is not
`always a desirable one. They effectively diminish the size
`and importance of features within the landscape that are
`further away. For example, the impact and dominance of
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`3/1/2021
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`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
`hills and mountains is vastly reduced when you opt to go
`wide, and this can produce images with less impact and a
`reduced sense of scale. In situations like this, a telephoto
`lens is a much better option.
`
`Vik i Myrdal Church, floodlit at twilight after snowfall, Vik, Iceland. December 2017.
`
`What is a telephoto lens? Well, generally speaking, anything
`longer than 50mm is considered to be a telephoto. Being
`more powerful, they enable photographers to isolate detail
`and interest within the landscape. Despite this
`ability, telephotos are often overlooked by landscape
`enthusiasts. This is partly due to landscape photographers
`being conditioned by numerous photography books and
`magazine articles to always think wide-angle. Longer focal
`lengths can prove more effective for many scenes, though.
`
`Not only do longer lenses have the ability to highlight detail,
`shape and form within the landscape, but they also appear
`to compress or foreshorten perspective. Whilst (technically
`speaking) long lenses do not actually compress perspective,
`they certainly can create this impression. Perspective is
`simply an effect of camera-to-subject distance: the further
`you are from your subject, the smaller the gap appears to
`be between it and its background. To successfully shoot
`more distant landscapes, you need a longer lens, so
`telephotos have understandably become closely associated
`with the visual effect of foreshortening.
`
` 10 Things to Keep in Your Camera Bag
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`https://www.naturettl.com/use-telephoto-lens-landscape-photos/
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`APPLE V. COREPHOTONICS
`IPR2020-00861
`Exhibit 2003
`Page 2
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`3/1/2021
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`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
`
`View from Loughrigg, autumnal colour and morning mist, nr Grasmere, The Lake
`District, Cumbria, UK. October 2012.
`
`Whilst wide-angles are credited with the ability to create
`depth, telephotos are good for highlighting interesting
`detail, repetition and patterns found in the landscape. They
`are a good choice when you are seeking structure or
`simplicity within a chaotic environment. This is because they
`allow you to exclude unnecessary elements from your
`composition and instead focus on layers within the
`landscape, shape and form. Telephoto compression will help
`a hilly or mountainous backdrop appear larger and more
`imposing, and create a ‘stacked’ effect – where objects
`appear pushed up closer to one another. A focal length in
`the region of 70-200mm is ideal for shooting rural scenes,
`allowing photographers to highlight shapely trees or place
`emphasis on interesting buildings and landmarks within the
`landscape.
`
`Avoid the temptation to frame too tightly, though. Instead, I
`recommend you try to retain a degree of breathing space
`and capture the subject in context with its surroundings. For
`example, if you are photographing a church set within rolling
`countryside, consider placing it strategically on an
`intersecting third and include enough of its surroundings to
`convey a proper sense of place. The building should act as a
`key point of interest and anchor the composition, without
`being so dominant that the eye never bothers to explore the
`rest of the frame. A telephoto zoom (opposed to a prime
`lens) is a good choice, allowing you to quickly adjust focal
`length in order to fine-tune composition without needing to
`physically change lens.
`
`https://www.naturettl.com/use-telephoto-lens-landscape-photos/
`
`3/6
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`APPLE V. COREPHOTONICS
`IPR2020-00861
`Exhibit 2003
`Page 3
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`3/1/2021
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`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
`
`Widecombe-on-the-Moor, early morning light, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK.
`October 2014.  
`
`Longer focal lengths are ideally suited to scenes where
`there is a lack of foreground interest, or there are objects
`nearby that would appear distracting or inappropriate.
`Placing emphasis on the landscape is also an effective way
`to obscure boring skies. They also appear to exaggerate the
`effects of haze, fog and mist and on misty mornings I will
`typically opt for a telephoto length to help emphasize the
`moody conditions.
`
`Colmers Hill, pine trees growing on hill top, morning mist, near Bridport, Dorset, UK.
`September 2012.
`
`Longer focal lengths are well suited to shooting tree
`avenues and woodland interiors too. They effective reduce
`the gaps between trunks and appear to exaggerate the
`density of a colourful carpet of wild flowers, like bluebells.
`Personally, I always keep a 70-200mm tele-zoom in my
`camera bag, and occasionally an 80-400mm if I think I might
`need the extra reach. Using longer focal lengths does
`present a few technical considerations, though. Telephotos
`provide less depth of field, although as the landscape is
`more distant, working with a shallower zone of focus rarely
`presents any serious issues, and you should be able to
`select a mid-range aperture of f/8 or f/11 (where most
`lenses perform at their sharpest) without any problem.
`However, when using longer focal lengths, any flaw in your
`technique will be exposed and there is little leeway for error
`when focusing. Therefore, always use a tripod and focus via
`
`https://www.naturettl.com/use-telephoto-lens-landscape-photos/
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`APPLE V. COREPHOTONICS
`IPR2020-00861
`Exhibit 2003
`Page 4
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`3/1/2021
`
`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
`LiveView, as this will enable you to magnify your subject (or
`chosen focal point) in order to focus more precisely on this
`area. It’s also worth remembering that long lenses are more
`prone to being caught by the wind due to their size – even
`when using a tripod, image sharpness can be effected if
`shutter speeds are too slow. Therefore, when necessary,
`increase ISO sensitivity to generate a faster, more practical
`shutter speed when the weather is blustery.
`
`Bluebells {Hyacinthoides non-scripta} carpeting floor of beech woodland with ferns,
`West Woods, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. May 2013.
`
`A focal length of 100mm or longer is also well suited to
`shooting silhouettes, providing the power to isolate subjects
`with strong, instantly recognizable outlines – like trees,
`building or iconic landmark. Longer focal lengths also suit
`creative techniques like Intentional Camera Motion (ICM) –
`which involves moving the camera during exposure to
`create a more impressionistic interpretation of the
`landscape. ICM often relies on strong shapes and colour for
`impact and success, and using a telephoto will help achieve
`this.
`
`A telephoto more than justifies its place in a landscape
`photographer’s kit bag, providing needed versatility and
`endless creative options. Still not convinced? Try long lens
`landscapes yourself and you will soon consider a telephoto
`as an integral part of your landscape kit.
`
`Ross Hoddinott
`
`VISIT ROSS'S WEBSITE
`
`Ross Hoddinott is among the UK’s best-known
`landscape and natural history photographers. He
`is a multi-award-winning photographer and the
`author of several bestselling photography titles,
`including The Landscape Photography Workshop
`(with Mark Bauer). Based in Cornwall, Ross is best
`known for his images of the South West of
`England, but he travels all over the UK in search
`of outstanding views and atmospheric conditions.
`He is a Nikon Alumni, an Ambassador for
`Manfrotto and a Global Icon for F-Stop Gear. Ross
`
`https://www.naturettl.com/use-telephoto-lens-landscape-photos/
`
`5/6
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`APPLE V. COREPHOTONICS
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`

`3/1/2021
`
`Why You Should Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photos | Nature TTL
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`APPLE V. COREPHOTONICS
`IPR2020-00861
`Exhibit 2003
`Page 6
`
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