Focal length and different viewpoints

Image 1: Nikon 70-210 mm at 112mm: f/13 at 1/100th

I tried this exercise in Guildford High Street earlier this week. Using the Nikon D200 with 70-210 mm zoom, I took a picture from outside the church at the top of the High Street zoomed out to just include the Guildhall and its clock and the buildings opposite.

I then fitted the 18-70mm set at wide angle and walked down the street until the Guildhall and buildings opposite were again at either side of the frame.

Image 2: 18-70mm lens at 18mm: f/13 at 1/125th

Comparing the two images, in the first photograph, the church across the River Wey at the end of the street and the snow covered South Downs appear quite prominently in the picture. Also, the street looks quite crowded with pedestrians. The street surface and sky are not included in the frame. The buildings in the foreground are virtually in profile and difficult to distinguish. The slope of the High Street down to the river is very noticeable.

In the wide angle image, by contrast, the street appears quite empty, apart from the busker standing in the foreground in a patch of sunshine. The surface of the street and the sky are significant elements in the frame. The South Downs and church at the end of the street, however are distant and barely feature as elements of the image. The slope of the street disappears and it looks virtually flat. The frontage of the buildings in the foreground are visible so that each is clearly identifiable.

I enjoy both images, but these are two very different views of the street.