A Bit of a Challenge

I watched an interesting video on YouTube a while ago which suggested that if you wanted to improve as a photographer you need to get back to basics. This meant using a fixed focal length 35mm lens for a day and nothing else. I decided to give this a go last week when we went to North Wales.

I dug out my first DSLR, a K100D Super (all 6mp of it) and fitted my little Pentax M 28mm 3.5 which, when converted vis APSC gives a field of view close to 35mm (using an actual 35mm lens is beyond a joke!)

It was hard work going back in time and quite an interesting experiment. I managed quite well getting everything in, as it were, but when faced with some wide views, cheated and shot some panoramas stitched together in Elements. The exposure was often a bit wayward but it was simple to check on the screen and re-shoot; the manual focusing was easier than I expected as the lens is a real one with proper distance markings on the barrel. And using an aperture ring was intuitive, after all, the iris is in the lens not in the camera (why did they stop fitting them to lenses?)

I'm sure the experiment didn't make me a better photographer, just a more frustrated one and one who is grateful for auto exposure, auto focus and zoom lenses.

The pictures benefited from some excellent weather and good light together with the sharp, contrasty lens and CCD sensor. All shot in RAW (the limited dynamic range was a bit trying at times) and processed in Elements.

Any comments are most welcome.

Fungi



At Rhiw Goch



Morfa Bychan



At Tan y Bwlch



Cottages at Croesor



"Palmerston"



Ruin



The Rivals



Harrowing



Ivy



At LowTide



Porth Wen



Y Garn II



Aran from Llyn Gwynant



Evening at Tyn Gadlas



Nant Gwynant



The Nantlle Ridge



Moel Eilio



Pond near Castell Caeronwy



Cwm Pennant



Mynydd Mawr



Ffridd Slate Quarry



The Glaslyn Estuary



Footsteps in the Sand



Will


Mynydd Drws-y-coed

Nice shots there Andrew

I often take nly one lens out - I just got into the habit, I think it may well have stopped me buying more lenses

Really good job!! If I was forced to pick one 'favourite', it would be "At low tide".

Phil

You can't complain about any of these. It is clear that composition was pretty much at the forefront of all of them

extremely good set

A great set of images Andrew - frustrating at times I can imagine doing everything manually - not sure I want to restrict/ discipline myself that way - but you didn't lose your nack of getting a good composition for each shot presented here. Difficult to choose a favourite - I like 'em all!

An interesting experiment and a wonderful set of diverse images!

My everyday kit consists of the K5-iis and only two lenses, the SMC K30/2.8 and the HD DA 15/4, in other words a "normal" lens and a wide angle lens. With the K30/2.8 I use green button metering and "catch in focus", and do not find this limiting at all. I must be old fashioned

Fantastic set of shots Andrew - as always. Would any improvement be made with multiple lenses at your disposal? It is not the equipment that makes the photos as we know. I just take the 35mm macro limited with my K5 cycle touring because of the lack of weight and bulk. Many years ago it was a MX and a 50mm lens that was in the panniers. Using one lens means there is more time to concentrate on the basics.

Regards

Paul

Beautiful pictures!

Wonderful set.

All very evocative, I feel transported to the destinations you have captured.

Cheers

Simon

Really great set of images. 👍

excellent set of images and the colours are beautiful, so natural. it does good to force yourself to slow down sometimes

Beautiful set of images..

Looks like you covered some ground too.

dave k

Great variety and quality in your images!

Without the back story how many of us would have guessed 1. They were all taken with a single prime lens, and 2. They were taken with a camera that many would consider 'old' technology. Just goes to prove that your best lens is the one you have on the camera at the time, and it's the photographer that makes the image, the camera just takes it.

Really nice set Aran from Llyn Gwynant would be my choice.

Regards Ian