Going Big

Putting this 300 f.8 on a monopod is a great way to guarantee for shake-free shots

My Arsenal for covering the commencement at UMF (basically the same as my sports set-up ) Nikon D300 with 80mm-200mm f2.8, 300mmf2.8, 17mm-55mm f2.8, 11mm-16mm f2.8, mono-pod and twio Nikon flashes

While I like to travel light, it's not always an option. Recently I shot the commencement for UMF. I wanted to get some dramatic wide angle shots, which I did with my favorite every day lens, a 11mm-16mm f2.8. But to create an image that can get me into the middle of a crowd as well as create the illusion of compressed perspective a telephoto was required. For these a 80mm - 200mm f2.8 lens filled the bill for the majority of the shooting. To get closer however I had to use a non-zoom prime lens 300mm f2.8 with a 1.4 tele-converter making it effectively a 420mm f4. This heavy combo was used on a monopod and while it made it easier to get a shake free shot it did add to the weight...Luckily I had an assistant on this shoot. bellow are some examples of wide angle as well as telephoto shots made with the described combination.

Lens - 300mm f2.8 with 1.4 tele-extender (420mm f4)

on the "wide spectrum" 11mm - 16mm f2.8 set at 11mm - The downside of using an ultra wide is that getting a dramatic image often involves getting uncomfortably close to ones subject.