The photojournalist in us never wants to miss the moment, that laugh, that tear, that hug, that kiss. However, the 200mm close ups come out so nice that we sometimes forget that the moment also involves the surroundings and the environment.Sometimes the best picture isn’t the subject perfectly cropped in the scene; or even slightly zoomed out. Sometimes, the best picture is wide…. big… and fully zoomed out. This seems like an obvious thought, and it is, but I think it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and forget that these beautiful backgrounds are all around us. As Ernst Haas once said, “Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the ah-ha.”

Here are some examples:

Justin & Yvette – Getty Museum Engagement Shoot

Shot at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, CA with a Canon EOS 40Dwith a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L at 100 ISO f/5.6 1/125

Clint and Jessica – Point Fermin Park Engagement Shoot

Shot at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro, CA with a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM at 250 ISO, f/6.3, and 1/200

Tom & Heather – Getty Museum Engagement Shoot

Shot at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, CA with a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L at 100 ISO, f/8.0, and 1/200

Jack & Mikki – Laguna Beach Engagement Shoot

Shot at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach, CA with a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM at 100 ISO, f/4.0, and 1/100