Why I Always Shoot with a Telephoto Lens

Why I Like Telephoto Lenses

Longer focal lengths are perfect for bringing far-off objects and settings closer. There's a condensed, richer sense of detail in images shot on telephoto that you can rarely replicate with a wide lens.

From the trials of Zambia on an African Safari to local studio portraits and stylized shoots, the photos crafted on my 70-200mm EOS Canon or 85mm lenses on my film cameras have always been a favorite.

No matter the backdrop or subject, the beautiful bokeh and soft backgrounds create a near hyper-realistic scene I treasure. Captured on my Canon digital and a range of film cameras, I perpetually gravitate toward showcasing the tele-forward galleries for the portfolio.

It's important to note that my portfolio primarily showcases human emotions, intimate details, and uniquely sentimental moments within confined settings. I rarely capture street scenes or expansive landscapes, which require a broader perspective. Whether I'm working on portraits, lifestyle shots, or even outdoor images, my style favors a closer, more detailed, and almost ethereal quality, capturing moments as if frozen in time. I typically avoid using wide lenses because they capture a wider view, providing a look that differs from my preferred aesthetic. Consequently, I seldom find the need to use a wide lens, as it doesn't align with my style.

The Technicalities & Use Cases:

For technicalities, "telephoto" is used informally to refer to lenses with a restricted field of view that are longer than 80mm. They are separated into three groups:

• Short telephoto lenses have focal lengths between 85mm and 135mm and are ideal for daily usage due to their portability.
• Medium telephoto lenses have focal lengths between 135mm and 300mm, which can be heavier than short telephoto lenses.
• With focal lengths above 300mm, super telephoto lenses have magnifying power akin to a telescope but are too hefty for handheld shooting.

Telephoto lenses are highly valued in photography for their unique ability to capture detailed, intimate images with a deep, creamy depth of field. This compression effect makes the elements appear closer together, helping to isolate the subject from the background and focus on specific details or emotions without the distraction of unnecessary background elements.

These lenses also feature a narrow field of view and can achieve a shallow depth of field at wider apertures, such as f/2.8 or f/4. This capability allows the subject to be in sharp focus while the background fades into a soft, blurred canvas, thus enhancing the three-dimensional feel of the image. Many telephoto lenses come equipped with built-in image stabilization, which is essential for reducing camera shake at longer focal lengths. Whether it's capturing the delicate expressions in portrait photography, the dynamic action in sports, the elusive wildlife, intimate moments in event photography, or the striking poses in fashion photography, the telephoto lens excels by providing a clear focus on the subject against a beautifully blurred background, making it a versatile tool for photographers aiming to add a dramatic, focused depth to their images.

Shooting Telephoto On Your Phone

Yes, it's entirely possible! I’m consistently amazed by how well smartphones can capture distant subjects in crisp, precise detail.

Although the phone's depth of field won’t be as pronounced as it is with telephoto lenses on my FujiFilm GFX or film cameras, there are a few tricks to creating more dynamic zoom images on your phone:

Using a Moment Tele 58mm Lens

The Moment Tele 58mm Lens is a game-changer in smartphone photography. Just twist the lens onto your phone’s native 1x camera using the drop-in lens mount, and you’re ready to capture stunning images. With its bright F/1.8 aperture and 58mm focal length, you’ll notice a significant quality boost over the 1x's standard 24mm equivalent. This setup offers increased background bokeh for more subject separation. Plus, because it’s a physical lens rather than a digital zoom, you’ll avoid the image degradation often caused by AI. If you like a more analog style of shooting with tangible gear, the Moment Tele is a winner.

2x Is Better

If you're shooting al la carte and not using any attachments, it’s key to understand how your phone’s zoom levels and apertures work. While each device may differ, your phone’s native 2x zoom generally delivers better optical quality than 3x or 5x. Higher zoom levels like 5x often rely on a dedicated telephoto lens for “optical zoom,” which preserves image quality better than “digital zoom,” which can degrade clarity. So, if you’re focused on resolution and detail, consider sticking with your phone’s 2x zoom.

Knowing Where To Stand

Quick shifts — moving your body a foot to the left or right — an be key in securing a good-looking shot: Don’t be afraid to reposition yourself to execute the rule of thirds (where you place your subject at one of the intersections formed by dividing the frame into vertical and horizontal thirds).

In Conclusion

Gone are the days when photography rules remain strict. After a decade of method, patience, and endurance in this ever-evolving industry — the best tool for any artist is the one they love the most. For me, it's a set of particular lens lengths, aperture settings, and camera bodies that I know will better highlight my visions than others.

If you prefer the fisheye for funky fashion portraits and street scenes under sunny skies — go for it. Sometimes, it's healthy to branch into the unknown or uncomfortable.

However — creating stunning results through practice, trial and error, and varied gear to find the recipe you like is equally a part of the creative process.