We’re still on step four my ‘one focal length at a time’ exercise because I didn’t take any photos last week. That means I’m still at 55mm (which is 35mm on my mirrorless, APS-C camera).
Since I know I’m not going to buy a new 55mm prime lens any time soon (I already own one), I figured I’d repeat the photo walk I started this whole exercise with so I could do a bit of a direct comparison.
27mm vs 55mm focal length comparison
I took three matching(ish) photos to see/demonstrate the difference between 27mm and 55mm.
The weather and, therefore, the light was different when I took these photos, so you’ll notice that I edited them differently.
I don’t have anything to say about these photos, by the way, I just wanted to do the comparison!
Subject framed within a foreground object
Photo of a blue-and-white ferry, now a show boat, as seen through the hole of a bright red lifebuoy that’s attached to a pole next to a harbour.
Subject some distance away from the photographer
Photo of urban dock. In the foreground is a grid of several old, wooden, white-tipped pillars sticking out from the water. In the midground is a boat tied to one of the piers. In the background are several tall buildings.
Subject in the foreground
Photo looking up at a large bronze sculpture of a black-and-white square-ish cow with a tiny head that is stuck, upside-down, on top of a bare tree. In the background is a harbour, a bridge across this harbour, and some tall buildings.
My thoughts on the 55m focal length
I don’t have any strong feelings about 55mm.
I enjoyed being zoomed-in a little more and I enjoyed being able to isolate my subjects from their surroundings a little more than usual.
But I also struggled with not being able to capture the surrounding context that I enjoy showing in my photographs.
I know I’ll get comfortable with 55mm if I stick with it for a while, but honestly, 40mm focal length was much more my jam :)
For now I think I’ll stick with 55mm for portraits and the like.
Photos from my walk
Lady Cutler showboat through a lifebuoy (55mm)
Photo of a large blue-and-white ferry boat, now a show boat, named Lady Cutler as seen through the hole of a bright red lifebuoy attached to a pole next to a harbour.
Docklands Harbour and the Lady Cutler showboat (55mm)
Photo of urban dock. In the foreground is a grid of several old, wooden, white-tipped pillars sticking out from the water. In the midground is a boat, the Lady Cutler, tied to one of the piers. In the background are several tall buildings.
Cow Up a Tree (John Kelly, 2000) with the Bolte Bridge in the background (55mm)
Photo looking up at a large bronze sculpture of a black-and-white square-ish cow with a tiny head that is stuck, upside-down, on top of a bare tree. In the background is the Bolte Bridge, a large road bridge. The Bolte (as it is known) is a large, twin cantilever road bridge with two 140m tall towers that hold up the roadway that spans the width of the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour. More about ‘Cow Up a Tree’, in case you’re interested.
Public art and practical bike stand combo on Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
Photo of a metal bicycle stand bolted into the concrete footpath. Instead of a simple upside-down U-shaped ring, this bike stand has been bent into the approximate shape of a bicycle (though with additional bends and waves so that multiple bicycles can be attached to it).
Receiving a crane-full of construction supplies
Photo of a tall building that’s under construction. A large platform is jutting out of one of the upper floors of this building. A construction worker in high visibility clothing and safety gear is standing on this platform, awaiting the building supplies that are being brought up by crane. A large pallet attached to a cable is being pulled up by a tall crane that is outside the frame of the photo. The pallet is about to reach the platform that the worker is standing on.
Frankston train approaching Southern Cross Station in Melbourne
Photo of a yellow-and-blue electric commuter train traveling through a rail yard that has about a dozen pairs of railways tracks running through it.
Done with the inspection of the V/Line train
Photo of a rail worker wearing an orange high visibility vest. The worker is walking across a rail yard towards a pedestrian walkway. The worker is next to a purple, silver, and yellow train that is parked on one of the tracks.
Working on a diesel engine V/Line locomotive
Photo of a rail worker wearing an orange high visibility vest standing on the walkway that runs the length of a diesel locomotive. This red and yellow coloured locomotive is parked at a rail yard.
V/Line train approaching Southern Cross Station
Photo of a purple, yellow, and silver diesel commuter train traveling through a rail yard that has about a dozen pairs of railways tracks running through it.
Rail worker at the Alstom West Melbourne Depot
Photo of a rail depot with seven large train maintenance sheds, one with an ‘Alstom’ sign/logo affixed to one of its walls. There are also several trains parked in neat rows outside. A rail worker wearing an orange high visibility vest is walking along one of the yellow-lined pedestrian footpaths that weave themselves around tracks across the whole yard.
Taking a break after completing his deliveries
Photo of a white panel van parked on the side of a road. This delivery van has its side sliding door open. In the back of the cargo space are several empty, white, plastic crates that have been stacked on top of each other. The rest of the cargo space is empty. A delivery driver wearing a yellow high-visibility shirt is sitting in the cargo space with his feet sticking out of the open sliding door. The driver is looking down at a phone in his hands.
Next week I move on to shooting at only 85mm. I’m looking forward to that, since 85mm was my most frequently used focal length over the last year.