Yes, anyone with a pernicketty bone in their body knows that a lens's focal length has no direct bearing on perspective. But it is also true that each particular focal length requires its own particular distance to subject to maintain a constant subject reproduction ratio. So, while in theory and fact you are correct, in real world practice photographers use focal length choice as a tool for manipulating perspective. It's a win-win situation, you can enjoy your correctness, yet the erroneous belief that focal length and perspective are directly related still works successfully for the ignorant masses ;-)
BTW I was in fact referring to the haze that distance introduces. The paragraph in question opened with this direct reference to haze, "Get as low as the pilot will dare, because distance (and altitude) in aerial photography introduce haze.". Regards, Anthony Farr ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dr E D F Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Anthony writes 'tele shots from above will flatten out whatever precious > little modelling you might have'. If he means that the lens will change the > perspective, he is wrong. If he means that haze will degrade the image he is > right. Light scatter from moisture, or other nastier particles, increases, > the longer the path to the subject and contrast will suffer. > > But a telephoto lens does not change perspective - although this might seem > to be so. Trees in the distance, that might be miles apart seem bunched > together in a picture taken with a 1000mm tele; or a picture down a long > stretch of highway may seem to put cars, that may far apart, right next to > one another. To demonstrate this, enlarge an area equivalent to that covered > by the telephoto lens of a landscape taken with a normal lens of the same > scene. You will find the perspective matches - so does the contrast. Of > course you have to ignore the increase in grain and loss of sharpness. > > D > > Dr E D F Williams > > http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams > Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery > Updated: March 30, 2002 >
