9 | ARCHITECTURE
Use a tilt-shift lens to change the way you shoot – it can open up a new world of possibilities
While many photography enthusiasts have heard of tilt-shift lenses, few will have tried actually using one – or even have one in their camera bag. When buying new glass, a tilt-shift optic may be well down the list of priorities, but they are suitable for landscapes, architecture and interiors, as well as for product, jewellery and portraits. Pieces of specialist kit, tilt-shift lenses are expensive, but you could pick one up pre-owned, or hire one.
Tilt-shift lenses are specialist primes with two unique capabilities: the lens can be shifted in relation to the camera body and can be tilted so it isn’t perpendicular to the sensor. You can rotate the lens around the lens mount so the shift can be vertical, horizontal, 45º or 60º – this shift movement is often used for interior and architectural photos. You can capture tall buildings from ground level and avoid converging vertical lines.
By tilting the lens, the focal plane that normally runs parallel to the image sensor is rotated. This can be used to ensure objects behind the main subject are in focus, by aligning the focus plane with the objects. Try using the lens at or near its maximum aperture to see this effect. You can also use reverse tilt, to minimise depth of field and draw the viewer’s eye to one part of the frame.
Tilt-shift lenses are manual focus only, so it’s a good idea to focus on the key part of your subject and half-press the shutter to get confirmation in the viewfinder when it is in focus. You should also use a tripod with a geared head and tether your camera, so you can see the effects of the lens’s movements i
