Lens Characteristics and Specifi cations 265
Figure 14-26 Perspective. A barn photographed with Mount Shasta in the background at a
110 mm focal length (top) and 250 mm (bottom). The barn in the foreground could have been
recorded in the same size in both images by either photographing with the 110 mm lens from
a closer distance or with the 250 mm lens from a longer distance. (Photo by Ernst Wildi.)
SELECTIVE BACKGROUNDS
Different focal length lenses can also be used to change the background area without chang-
ing the size of the foreground subject (see Figure 14-27). Long lenses permit us to cut down
background areas and eliminate distracting background elements such as billboards, cars,
people, direct light sources, or bright white sky areas. In the studio, a longer lens makes it pos-
sible to use smaller backdrops. In outdoor people pictures, longer lenses are usually prefera-
ble because they produce a blurred, undisturbing and undistracting background for a portrait.
In candid people pictures a larger background area may be desirable to identify a location.
Figure 14-27 Background area coverage. A short focal length lens (1) covers a large background
area, whereas a longer focal length lens used from a longer distance (2) covers a smaller
background area. The size of the main subject is the same with both lenses.
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