50mm | Mid Point Perfection

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50 is the half way point.

This calculation is my mind making friends with the mathematical focal range available to me.

In terms of focal length, 50mm is the mid pint before we enter telephoto territory. This assumes the full frame sensor is being used - no optical trickery, just that mid point perfect frame exactly as rendered by the human eye.

The 50mm standard frame sets the standard; I have now found my self putting a frame around everything in my mind. I do this naturally, if it feels correct to create it in camera.

I get a little more breathing space when using this Lens because of how my eyes work - on a DX Crop sensor, the subject is exactly at the distance I see with my naked eye. The FX gives me space and the subject is pushed back every slightly. This has been a big breakthrough in me understanding my natural vision through all of my Lens. The mid point 50mm has been my biggest learning.

The three images above could have been created with a 35mm - the Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art was used. I simply moved in - zooming with my feet to create the frame. Henry Cartier was famous for his deceptive use of a 50mm. A lot of his images have breathing space around his subject.

Getting in close, filling the frame is all part of the visual expression. The 50mm being that flat midpoint optics is perfect and renders like magic.

This field of view has grown on me.

I am working it a lot this week simply because I love the sharpness of the Sigma Art Lens.

The 50mm as a portrait lens is wonderful. That's me and Johnny right there. Johnny took the photo of me.

So that middle ground either side of wide angle and telephoto is very important to me because I now understand how to create using a 50mm - space and movement is required. I am the zooming function, two steps forward one step back, that's it.

If 50mm is the sweet spot standard optics for a subject driven narrative, the 35mm is my context driven frame for the subject and 85mm is my lens for pin point isolation.

It all makes sense.

"It's all common sense, use the right lens for the job; wide to set the scene, normal to connect with the subject and telephoto to add deeper meaning to the story"

Michael Vincent