For years, I used to be a lazy photographer. My first few lenses, beginning with the compact 18-55mm package lens on my Canon EOS 500D and finally upgrading to the 24-105mm and 70-200mm zooms, gave me comfort. They enabled me to seize just about something with out shifting my toes. But that comfort did nothing for my creativity.
It was then that I bought a beautiful second-hand Olympus OM 50mm f/ 1.4. This wasn’t simply my first handbook lens; it was my first prime. I nonetheless personal it and, if I’m ever falling out of affection with pictures, I’m going straight again to it. As far as prime lenses go, it was my old flame.
Indulge me a minute as I recall my first expertise with it. I used to be taking pictures some portraits for a consumer and I keep in mind the odd feeling of getting to maneuver round my topic, somewhat than merely zooming in. This pressured me to do three issues – and I consider I’m a greater photographer as we speak for it.
1) I interacted with my subject more intentionally
Using zoom lenses so often meant that I found myself becoming disconnected from my subject rather than intertwined with it. Getting familiar with prime lenses forced me to interact with my subject as something with character and depth.
I started to consider composition and depth of field like I never had before, and began engaging with my subject in ways that drew out my feelings and emotions.
2) I learned to pre-visualize what I wanted
Using a prime lens also forced me to consider what I wanted to capture rather than just getting the shot as quickly as possible. Crops and angles that would initially feel too tight or too wide meant that I had to think beyond the immediate and most obvious.
I also found myself making much more use of negative space. Instead of zooming in to fill the frame, I would choose to step back and employ empty space strategically to add context, scale or drama to my shot.
3) I stopped having zoom indecision
Instead of wasting time trying to get the right zoom distance, I learned how to notice shots that suited my fixed lens. Over time I became more accustomed to this, although it felt very unnatural to begin with. Not having the luxury of a zoom simplified my decision-making and forced me to think visually before I even brought the camera to my eye.
Having experienced the beauty of prime lenses, if I ever have a choice between zoom and fixed, I will choose fixed almost every single time. Given that it’s something that has to be experienced rather than taught, why not make shooting with prime lenses your 2026 resolution?
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