The Importance of Wide Angle Lenses

Sometimes it takes a lot of experimenting to get the shot you like just right. By using lenses of small focal lengths (under 15mm on a cropped sensor DSLR, or under 20mm on a full frame) you can create very interesting compositions by either compressing or distorting the subject of your photo (be careful with wide angle lenses and people... unless you don't like them). In this shot of the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY, I used a Tokina 11-16mm lens mounted on a D300 to achieve a very eye popping composition. 

Blue Cross Arena - Downtown Rochester, NY

Notice how the symmetry also makes the image interesting. I was only a few feet away from the corner of the building when I took this a few months ago on a sunny (rare) day in Rochester. Wide angle lenses exaggerate the difference between things that are near and far. Use this tool to get those in-your-face compositions that really pop off the page.