The 35mm Focal Length — STREET SILHOUETTES

Quarantine. Yes, I am in quarantine. For the next two weeks, I am holed up in a hotel because the Hong Kong government lives in Plato’s Cave. You see, the Hong Kong government, in all its infinite wisdom, still believes the world is overwhelmed by Covid. But, that is not the case. Though parts of the world are still engulfed in it, the United States - once the poster child of the pandemic - has largely returned back to normal. And, how do I know that? Well, I have been summering in the Pacific Northwest and New York City for the last two months.

In the parts of the United States where I have been, enough of the local people have been vaccinated for herd immunity to be reached. Not surprisingly, the daily tally of infection is very low. Of course, the United States is far from perfect. Unfortunately, pockets of anti-vaccination proponents are still contracting the virus. However, that does not affect me because I am vaccinated (Pfizer-BioNTech) and wear a mask when hanging around or passing through crowded places. That is why I have not contracted Covid during my stay in the United States.

So, why am I in quarantine? Even though I am vaccinated? Even though I do not have the virus? Well, the Hong Kong government is foolishly stuck on this infinite lower-cognitive-limbic-system loop that insists on pursuing a zero-case strategy towards the prevention of Covid transmission. Why? It is a question of redirection. Since the government has not been successful at winning the hearts of its most vocal citizens, they have decided to be tough on travelers - as a way to placate the village mob from raising their pitchforks and torches at them.

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length

Lisa Simpson has a rock to sell you, if you believe in the specious reasoning of the Hong Kong Government. In addition to Covid, it also wards off bears. But with bears and Covid aside, I am still stuck in quarantine. What is one to do in solitary? Stare out the window from my tower cell? Gaze upon the free folks going about their day to day life? Well, I do have a cache of rainy day photos that I could repurpose for quarantine instead. I might as well take advantage of them and write about something - anything - to keep me sane during confinement.

So, let me write about the 35mm focal length. Why the 35mm focal length? Because, this photowalk was taken with a 35mm lens. And if I must, there is also the more substantive undertaking of addressing a curious matter of why the 35mm focal length is so trusted by so many of us? After all, is not the 35mm focal length always the preferred choice for photographing children’s birthday parties and once-in-a-lifetime vacation snaps for most of us? It does seem to be the choice that most recreational photographers and enthusiasts shoot by default.

There must be something to our beloved 35mm focal length, given the blind confidence we bestow onto it. Of course, this does not mean we do not or cannot photograph children’s birthday parties and once-in-a-lifetime vacation snaps with other focal lengths. We most definitely can and do. But, there is a sweet spot innate to the 35mm focal length that offer photographers the optimal balance of acceptable distortion in group photos and sufficient coverage in closer shooting distances - two considerations relevant for most photo opportunities.

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. See how the plastic water filled barriers dominate the frame! And the concrete ground below the feet. And the underside of the concrete overpass. All this makes the subject appear all the more remote. 1/6

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. Again, plastic water filled barriers in the foreground dominating the frame. 2/6

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. The subject is remote, but the foreground is not competing for dominance. Shot correctly, in my opinion. 3/6

I mean, who does not want enough environmental coverage of one’s dinner companion, one table span away, without having to back up? Moreover, who does not want group photos where each subject in-frame appears more or less similar in scale? In that way, the 35mm focal length can provide us with a strong sense of security that no other focal length can. It does not surprise us with subject disfiguration nor disappoint us with framing limitations. It documents with the inclusivity we need, just so we will not goof up our photo opportunities.

That said, defaulting on the 35mm focal length because of the sense of security it offers can become a crutch after a while. And when that happens, one can see it in the photos with the telltale sign of settling. The thing is, the 35mm focal length, having a wider angle of view, is intended to be shot at closer shooting distances to the subject, so that the subject’s relationship to the viewer can appear more inviting. But when it is shot at further shooting distances to the subject, the subject’s relationship to the viewer will invariably appear more remote.

This happens because of a change in scale between the subject and the foreground. So when a 35mm lens is shot at closer distances, less (or no) foreground is captured. As such, subject presence becomes dominant because of an increase in scale over the foreground. This makes the subject appear more inviting. But when a 35mm lens is shot at further distances, more foreground is captured. As such, foreground presence becomes dominant because of an increase in scale over the subject. This makes the subject appear more remote.

Often, we talk about the importance of subject isolation and background coverage for environmental context. However, we seldom talk about the role of the foreground. For most photo opportunities, the foreground is an afterthought. It is that empty space between the lens and subject that no one wants obstructed with unsightly photobombs and other distractions competing for presence. So when a photo, taken on a 35mm lens, is shot at further distances from the subject, that empty space will lengthen and be at risk of competing distraction.

In my opinion, this ruins the photo. The subject is made smaller from the wider angle of view pushing its focal planes further away, making the subject lose its presence to the foreground. Then, the foreground consisting of bloated out-of-focus objects outside the depth of field dominates the frame. Hence, objects and structures at the side of the frame increases in scale, as do the negative space beneath and above the subject. As such, photos shot in this way exaggerates the scale of the surrounding walls, ground, and sky relative to the subject.

Perhaps it is just me, but I always thought that the subject should dominate the composition, if not be at equal footing with the background and the foreground. As such, the thought of anyone consistently taking photos in this way is perplexing to me. I mean, why would anyone want an asphalt pavement below the subject’s feet or a row of building exteriors at the side of the frame to dominate a composition? Essentially, that is what we are doing when we shoot a 35mm lens at a distance. In other words, we are not optimizing our photo opportunity.

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. The subject is remote, but the foreground is not competing for dominance. Shot correctly, in my opinion. 4/6

To shoot the 35mm focal length optimally, one must shoot at closer distances to the subject. As a general rule of thumb, there should be minimal negative space between the top of the subject’s head and the top edge of the frame and between the bottom of the subject’s feet and the bottom edge of the frame. In fact, it would be advisable to shoot even closer and crop off part of the subject’s legs - either at the shin, thighs, or even at the hip. Or, shoot closer and capture the subject above the waist or chest. This is the raison d’être of a 35mm lens.

So, what about even wider focal length lenses? In those cases, are we not also at fault for not shooting closer to the subject? Obviously, we are. But, not as frequently. What sets a 35mm lens and a wider focal length lens apart is the fact that wider angle lenses, like the 28mm, 24mm, or 15mm lenses, are usually regarded as wide angle lenses, and are thus shot closer to the subject like a wide angle lens. In contrast, a 35mm lens is usually regarded as a normal lens, and is thus not always shot closer to the subject like a normal lens.

Mind you, this does not mean that the 35mm focal length cannot be shot further from the subject. Of course it can. Creative reasons! But if most of your photos from a 35mm lens are captured at further distances, it might be a sign to consider a tighter focal length lens. And if the only reason why you continue this practice owes to a sense of security believing that the 35mm focal length offers the optimal sweet spot for children’s birthday photos and vacation snaps, then you really need to excise yourself from this spell of specious reasoning.

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. This is what settling looks like. This photo would look better if shot with a tighter angle lens. 5/6

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. Here, the tiled walkway surface below the subject’s feet in addition to the Warren truss beams and handrail on the left side is somewhat dominant. But since the majority of my photos are shot at closer distances to the subject, I can chalk this photo up as a demonstration of being creative. Yes, you are allowed to do this. Just make sure it counts, and do not overdo it. 6/6

Kodak Ektachrome E100 @ 35mm Focal Length. A sliver on the right side was cropped out because of a photobomber who just got into the frame… and this was the last frame on the roll… so I couldn’t do a retake.

Harsh word indeed - I know. But if you are the kind of photographer that enjoys documenting everyday street life from a distance, then it would make more sense to choose a tighter focal length lens. At the very least, you should choose a 50mm lens. However, if you still insist on shooting a 35mm lens, then it is advisable to shoot closer up to the subject.

I must seem surly. I am blaming it on this pointless and needlessly punishing quarantine. Well, thirteen days to go.

Thank you Kamila for accompanying me on this photowalk. By the way, I only have six out of thirty-one photos in which I shot this 35mm lens at a distance from the subject. In other words, I did not overdo it. And, I did it to provide variety in framing.

Disclaimer

Aug 8 The 35mm Focal Length

Disclaimer

Aug 8 The 35mm Focal Length

Aug 16 Spirit of Photography

Jul 23 Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH Revisited