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Competition Photo Turn In
In the world of rarely used lenses—where photographers become adventurers, and every shot is a roll of the dice! Remember those dusty, partly moldy vintage prime lenses that you bought for $20, and that expensive f1.2 prime lens that you rarely use ?
Picture this: you slap on a ultra-wide angle lens to capture up close your friend’s birthday party, only to realize their head now looks like a balloon animal and the cake resembles a UFO.
Or maybe you’re experimenting with a tilt-shift lens, turning your local park into a whimsical diorama where joggers look like wind-up toys.
And who could forget the macro lens, which transforms a simple photo of a dandelion into a Jurassic jungle, complete with pollen monsters and dew-drop dragons?
These lenses, long neglected and under-used, may make you feel that they are the quirky, unpredictable cousins in the family of your frequently used telephoto zoom, and nifty fifty prime lenses— but the results they produce are always ready to surprise, confuse, or occasionally horrify us.
So, dust off that rarely used lens in your drawer and dive into the madness—your next photo might be a masterpiece or a meme, but it’ll definitely be unforgettable!
Some photographers have turned oddball rarely used lenses into their superpower. Take *Vincent Laforet*, who uses tilt-shift lenses to make cities look like miniature train sets (check him out at (https://vincentlaforet.com)).
Then there’s *Thomas Shahan*, the macro maestro who turns insects into otherworldly creatures (see his work at (http://thomasshahan.com)).
And don’t miss *Ryan Schude*, who uses wide-angle lenses to create chaotic, story-filled scenes that feel like stills from a Wes Anderson movie (https://ryanschude.com)).
Jenna Watson – Judge for May Competition – “Your Least Used Lens”
I (she/her/hers) am a photojournalist at the Indianapolis Star, where I tell human-centered stories through dynamic still images and video. I’m most drawn to stories that have been overlooked or less reported by mainstream media. I am a skilled portrait, documentary and sports photographer and have a knack for video storytelling.
In my 8 years as a newspaper photojournalist, I have developed a gentle but direct approach to reporting, strong news judgment and an ability to lead well under pressure. I practice local journalism as a public service and believe it is a journalist’s duty to meet community members where they’re at.
I am also president of the Indianapolis NewsGuild, a union whose mission is more than just workplace betterment – we are fighting to preserve local news.
Originally from northeast Ohio, I earned a bachelor of science in journalism with a concentration in photo from Kent State University in 2015. Before joining IndyStar full-time, I interned at the Grand Forks Herald, Columbus Dispatch and the Star.