Learning how to effectively use the telephoto lens can add real impact to your images by picking out a few key features within a bigger picture to emphasize the scene’s most visually striking elements. When using a telephoto lens for a landscape photo, the best approach is to keep it simple and follow the saying “less is more” and it’ll make your images stronger and come out looking better than if you had used a different lens.
While there are no strict rules that tell you when you when not to shoot wide, the telephoto lens works best for landscapes that have compositional elements; this can include, but not limited to, a long line of trees, an isolated bough or structure, peaked mountains, and any scene that plays off a good light and shade. A visually appealing field of patterns with various color contrasts can make for an exceptionally beautiful telephoto when done effectively.
You’ll want to make sure there’s a strong feature present for your photo because it will become your image’s main focal point. It’s got to be something that’s going to make a visual impact on the picture.
To take a telephoto, zoom in the range of 70-300 mm is more ideal but it doesn’t have to be an expensive model since the image will be static. You’ll also need a good support, a sturdy tripod will do just fine, a remote release will also come in handy although having one is not essential to capturing the image.
A telephoto lens zoomed in on an isolated object can make a great picture as opposed to taking the same shot with a 28mm and having the picture come out terrible because of all the clutter in the background, clutter which gets cut out in a telephoto with the lens zoomed in and focused on that one simple, isolated object or focal point.
