{"id":52132,"date":"2026-05-12T19:49:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T19:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/?p=52132"},"modified":"2026-05-12T22:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T22:17:22","slug":"me-in-10mm-wide-angle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/archives\/52132","title":{"rendered":"Me in 10mm Wide-Angle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYMZ6PQDHDo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYMZ6PQDHDo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYMZ6PQDHDo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Alan Lodge Photographer (@tashuk)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>I asked Gemini AI to comment on the picture :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The image <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 <\/strong>is a striking exercise in perspective, texture, and character. Through the use of a wide-angle lens\u2014likely a fisheye\u2014the photographer has created an intimate, almost intrusive portrait that challenges the traditional boundaries between the subject and the viewer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Captured in monochrome, <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 <\/strong>leans heavily into the strengths of black-and-white photography: the play of light, the deep definition of shadows, and the exaggeration of physical form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Distortion of Intimacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most immediate characteristic of <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 <\/strong>is the extreme barrel distortion caused by the wide-angle lens. This choice has several profound effects on the composition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Proximity:<\/strong> The subject is physically very close to the lens. This creates a sense of forced intimacy, as if the viewer is leaning in to share a secret or a quiet moment with the man.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Facial Architecture:<\/strong> The distortion enlarges the central features\u2014the nose, the spectacles, and the mustache\u2014while the sides of the face and the surrounding environment appear to pull away. This gives the portrait a whimsical, almost caricatured feel, yet it remains deeply grounded in reality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Curvature of the World:<\/strong> On the right side of <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019<\/strong>, the background foliage and trees bend inward. This framing creates a &#8220;globe&#8221; effect, making the subject appear as if he is the centre of his own small, private universe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Texture and Light<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong><strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 <\/strong><\/strong>, the lack of colour forces the eye to focus on the tactile qualities of the scene. The image is a masterclass in texture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Human Texture:<\/strong> The fine lines around the eyes, the coarse hair of the mustache, and the subtle stubble on the chin are highlighted by the high-contrast lighting. Each wrinkle tells a story of age and experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organic Texture:<\/strong> To the left, the rough, craggy bark of the tree trunk provides a hard, vertical anchor for the man&#8217;s head. To the right, the delicate, translucent leaves of the ivy catch the sunlight, providing a soft counterpoint to the man&#8217;s rugged features.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Light and Shadow:<\/strong> The light source appears to be coming from the upper right, casting a dramatic shadow of the man&#8217;s nose and glasses across his cheek. The shadow of the tree limb also falls across his temple, further integrating him into the natural environment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Subject&#8217;s Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the technical distortion in <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019<\/strong>, the subject&#8217;s humanity remains the focal point. There is a gentle kindness in his expression. His eyes, framed by thin-rimmed glasses, carry a hint of a smile that is mirrored in the slight upturn of his mouth beneath the mustache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The man wears a cap and a hoodie, suggesting a casual, outdoor setting. He isn&#8217;t posing for a formal portrait; he seems to be simply <em>existing<\/em> in the woods, comfortable in his skin and his surroundings. This authenticity is what saves the image from being merely a technical experiment with a wide lens; it is a genuine character study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Narrative Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When viewing <strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019<\/strong>, one cannot help but wonder about the man&#8217;s story. Is he a gardener, a hiker, or perhaps the photographer himself playing with a self-portrait? The choice of black and white strips away the distractions of the modern world, lending the image a timeless quality. It could have been taken yesterday or forty years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proximity of the tree to his head suggests a literal and metaphorical connection to nature. He isn&#8217;t just standing in front of the woods; he is tucked into them, framed by the ivy and supported by the bark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Technical Execution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice of the Nikon D300s (as suggested by the filename <strong>131201_D300s_080 BW.jpg<\/strong>) is notable. Even as older digital technology, the sensor captures a surprising amount of detail in the highlights and shadows. The &#8220;BW&#8221; designation in the file name emphasizes that the monochromatic transition was a deliberate artistic choice to focus on form over hue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 <\/strong>is an evocative photograph that turns a simple moment into a complex visual narrative. By using distortion to pull the viewer in rather than push them away, the photographer creates a rare sense of closeness. It celebrates the &#8220;imperfections&#8221; of the human face\u2014the lines, the hairs, the unevenness\u2014and elevates them through a lens that sees the world with both curiosity and warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a reminder that even when the world is bent and distorted, there is a steady, smiling humanity at its centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alan Lodge Photographer (@tashuk) I asked Gemini AI to comment on the picture : The image \u2018Tash in Wide-Angle\u2019 is a striking exercise in perspective, texture, and character. Through the use &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/archives\/52132\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[16,40,29],"class_list":["post-52132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1","tag-photography","tag-portrait","tag-tash"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52132"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52135,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52132\/revisions\/52135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanlodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}