Hi, thank you for tuning in.
I'm Helen. I'm a family photographer and a Canon Ambassador.
And today I'm gonna be talking to you about shooting with one camera and one lens.
How by limiting our equipment we can push ourselves creatively
and create images we might never have thought of before.
Sometimes with photographers, there can be a tendency to give ourselves too many options.
And then we spend all our time choosing between them, rather than concentrating on getting the shots.
Equipment`s exciting, lenses are fun, it's nice to have lots of options.
I can be as guilty of this as the next person,
and I often pack far more lenses than I need when I'm heading out on a shoot.
But instead, if we limit ourselves, we have to think through a situation more.
We have to think about how to use our tools in different ways.
Personally, I'm a huge prime lens fan.
My usual equipment is two Canon EOS-1D X Mark IIs with an EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM lens on one,
and a Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens on the other.
Or an EOS R with either the RF 50mm or the RF 35mm.
I find that with zooms,
I can sometimes get a little bit lazy,
a little bit complacent.
I might stand in one place and just treat the focal length, rather than really moving around
and looking for the best angle or for a shot.
Using primes feels more instinctive to me.
I know the angle of view,
so I pick up the right camera for the job.
It's very personal, though.
I know a lot of photographers love zooms,
and there's never a right or wrong to anybody's camera lens choice.
So I probably shoot with the 85mm lens about 70% of the time,
I absolutely love it.
However, if I look at my best work, then probably about 50% is shot on the 35mm.
So why is that?
I think it might be because it's a bit trickier to use.
I have to think more and so result in images more unusual.
The 85mm is a dream, I love it,
but it's easy to fire off lots of beautiful headshots.
That 35mm requires more thought to make clear dramatic images.
So recently I decided to do a few shoots just on the 35mm f/1.4L.
I wanted to limit myself technically and see how I cope with a whole session on a single focal length.
I thought it would be hard.
I thought it would be really restrictive,
but I actually found it very liberating to work with one camera and one lens.
I love the 35mm focal lens, it`s the only lens that I have in both the EF and the RF format.
I'll take both with me on shoots, so I have flexibility to use it,
depending which camera system I'm using.
For this shoot though, I decided to use the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and the EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM lens
We spent the day between the family`s small London flat and their local park,
and this is very standard for me when I'm working.
I often do half my session inside and half outdoors.
The 35mm is the perfect storytelling lens, it's so versatile.
Especially if you're working in a small space.
I was able to come in close for portrait's and then also pull back further for scene setting shots.
Because often when I'm working I swap between my lenses to get variety to my pictures.
But without that possibility, I had to think of it more.
For example, when the little boy was having a story on the sofa,
I started with something fairly standard, and then I varied my height.
I looked down on the scene and then I got in low to shoot details.
It's easy to think that variety comes from just zooming in and out,
but getting up high, shooting low,
varying aperture to lead the eye to the important elements in the frame,
these all equally useful techniques.
So when shooting a project like this using a single focal length,
it can often help to think in terms of stories.
Sequences of images that you can show together as this encourages experimentation with composition and approach.
Because if you look at 30 shots, which are all variations of the same close up portrayed,
you know it is easy to get a little bit bored.
But if you tell a story, it will always keep the viewer interested.
I shoot for albums that's one of the main things I sell in my business,
and this makes me very conscious to mix up portraits and storytelling images when I'm taking pictures.
So let's look at a very short sequence, all obviously on the 35mm.
We were just walking to the playground, so it was unposed,
just reacting to what happens in front of me.
And that's how I take the majority of my pictures.
So as we were walking, I realized that the dad was jumping as he carried his little boy along.
So I ran forward to get a shot.
I chose to shoot from the side to really show the jump.
I didn't think it would be as obvious in a shot taken from the front.
I also wanted to show the environment to the park as it's a place
that`s very important to the family.
I took a couple of pictures,
then I ran in close for a tighter shot ,
before running ahead for a final picture that included the mum.
I wanted to tell the whole family story.
Using one lens does mean you have to run around a lot.
You have to zoom with your feet,
but you know it keeps us fit,
and it's much more fun than going to the gym.
So I really like these shots,
but as always, it's good to think of where we can improve.
You know, if I had been a bit lower shooting that first picture,
I might have got more of a gap between the dad's feet and the ground,
and this would have made the jump feel more dramatic.
I didn't have time to run forward,
lie down, get the perfect angle,
get back up again.
But in a situation like this,
the articulating screen of the EOS R would have been amazing.
I could have held the camera low, used the touch screen on the back to take the picture
and then running in close for the close-up in seconds.
So stories all around us,
and often it's just getting into the habit of looking outside the viewfinder.
I know I can get lost in the moment, taking a shot and
not realizing that sometimes if I pull back,
then a different, and you know, maybe a funnier shot might be there for the taking.
Practising with a single focal lens also allows us the opportunity to get to know it better,
to discover where it works at its best.
And I love making use of the 35mm wide-angle and incorporating leading lines
to guide the eye around the image.
Having spent a few days shooting solely with the 35mm, I feel more confident with the lens.
I have a clear idea of its strengths
both for storytelling and also as a portrait lens.
So now when I'm working fast in the day to day activity and mayhem of family shoots,
I'm using the lens with more confidence, and I'm getting better results.
So I really recommend doing this,
have a try shooting with one camera and one lens.
Set yourself a project, a day at 35mm or a day at 50mm.
Start with shots you normally take and then push yourself.
Shoot differently.
Step away from the subject for a wider view,
step in closer for a detail.
Tell the story in your images and see if it takes you anywhere new.
So I hope you found this interesting and that it will inspire you to shoot outside your comfort zone.
Do have a try shooting with one camera and one lens.
Use this opportunity to get to know your equipment better.
Leave a comment here or drop me a message on Instagram, I'm @helenbartlettphotography.
Do tag #CanonConnected and Canon Europe in your pictures, we'd love to see your work.
So that's it.
Thanks so much for watching.
And I hope to see you all again soon.