Shooting Wide in Taipei: What I Learned from a Week with My 24mm Summilux
Shooting Wide in Taipei: What I Learned from a Week with My 24mm Summilux
Diary
Shooting Wide in Taipei: What I Learned from a Week with My 24mm Summilux
I recently spent a week in Taipei with my Konica Hexar RF and a single lens: the Leica Summilux 24mm f1.4 asph. Over 5 days, I shot 18 rolls of film, capturing everything from sun-drenched street scenes to moody nighttime cityscapes. The 24mm focal length was perfect for the dense, layered city, allowing me dramatic perspectives but without the distortion of an ultra-wide. Here are a few tips I picked up along the way:
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Forget Your Usual Lenses
I usually shoot with a 35mm or 50mm, but I deliberately left those at home. Forcing myself out of my comfort zone allowed me to fully grasp how to make the most of the 24mm’s wide angle of view. There’s no better way to learn than total immersion!
Use the Drama / Guiding Line
The 24mm’s wide perspective is perfect for capturing dramatic angles, shapes and lines in the city environment. I found myself composing shots to maximise the drama, using strong leading lines and an off-kilter approach. The results show the city in a whole new light.
Pay Attention to Atmosphere
A wide lens means a lot of atmosphere in the frame. I shot at all times of day and night to capture the mood, from the dense humidity of a summer downpour to the glow of neon signs diffused through mist. The 24mm handled it all beautifully. So watch out the negative space around you.
Get Close
A close-up, immersive shot is one of my favourites. The 24mm’s wide view lets you get right in close to your main subject while still capturing a sense of place. Just be careful not to get too close, or your subject can become distorted.
Find the Layers
With a wide lens, you can capture details in the foreground, midground and background. Arrange elements at different depths to create a sense of travelling deeper into the scene. The 24mm gives you width without flattening, so the layers remain distinct.
Embrace the Symmetry
The 24mm’s rectangular frame suits symmetrical shots. In Taipei, I found natural symmetry everywhere, from reflections in modern buildings to a wider area in Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
The Leica Summilux 24mm opened my eyes to Taipei’s layers, details, and geometry. By embracing a single wide focal length, I was able to capture the spirit of the city through dramatic angles, atmospheric moments, and symmetrical frames of its blend of modern and traditional spaces. My week with the 24mm taught me new ways of seeing photographs and showed me Taipei as I’ve never seen it before. By the way, I took some black and white negative film shots during my trip, but I haven’t developed them yet. I promise to share them with you guys once I do. So stay tuned!
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Thanks Anson for your beautiful pictures plus the tips for 24mm photography!!!
This focal is indeed extremely interesting and worth exploring, even though it is difficult at both levels, technical (controlling distortion…) and artistic (composition…)
Thanks Philippe! I will share more images from the trip soon. 🙂