Ordinary photographs made with a telephoto lens make distant objects appear close. How does the focal length of a telephoto lens compare with that of a normal lens? Explain your reasoning.

When we talk about a telephoto lens, we are referring to a particular type of camera lens that is characterized by a long focal length. Compared to a 'normal' lens, which offers a field of view similar to that of the human eye, a telephoto lens allows photographers to zoom in on distant subjects. This is particularly useful for wildlife photography, sports, and any situation where you cannot get physically closer to the subject of interest.

Telephoto lenses have focal lengths typically greater than 70mm and can extend to 300mm or even beyond. This longer focal length compresses the space within the frame, bringing distant objects much closer to the viewer. A byproduct of this compression effect is that the background often appears blurred, resulting in what is known as a shallow depth of field, which can make the subject stand out more against the background.

The magnification effect of a lens is directly related to its focal length. It determines how large the subjects appear in the final image. With a longer focal length, such as those provided by telephoto lenses, the magnification is higher. This makes these lenses ideal for situations where the photographer wants to focus on a specific subject, like a bird in a tree or a player on a sports field without physically moving closer.

• Magnification is crucial for capturing details that would otherwise go unnoticed with a standard lens.
• The larger the focal length, the more magnified the subject appears.
• Magnification can also affect the perception of depth and thus the three-dimensionality of the captured image.

Understanding this principle is a key component in choosing the right lens for a particular photographic goal. For instance, if capturing the intricate patterns on a butterfly's wings is the objective, a telephoto lens's magnification can make that possible from a distance.

The angle of view of a lens determines how much of the scene in front of the camera will be captured in the photograph. This is also influenced by the focal length of the lens. A shorter focal length has a larger angle of view, encompassing a wide swath of scene—think of panoramic landscapes captured with wide-angle lenses. As focal length increases, the angle of view narrows, honing in on specific details.

With a telephoto lens, the angle of view is significantly reduced, offering a 'tunnel vision' focus on the subject. This narrowed angle of view is why telephoto lenses are not ideally suited for capturing broad scenes but are exceptional for isolating and magnifying subjects. This also contributes to the effect of compressing space, making different elements within the photo appear closer together than they actually are. When using a telephoto lens, it's crucial to be precise with composition, as the restricted angle of view can exclude important scene elements if not framed correctly.