Gothic Portraits at Kambah Pools: Canberra Storytelling with Lens Compression | Lyle’s Lens Photography
Discover How Lens Choice Shapes the Narrative in Creative Portraiture
As a Canberra photographer, I’m always searching for ways to tell a complete story through my images. For this gothic-inspired shoot with Rain at Kambah Pools, I set out to capture both the environment and the intimacy of the moment—using nothing but lens choice to shift the narrative.
Rain, captured with a wide-angle lens, immersed in the natural beauty of Kambah Pools.
For this series, I alternated between my Sigma 16mm and Sony 70-200mm lenses. The Sigma 16mm allowed me to set the scene, pulling in the riverbend and the golden hour sun to frame Rain in her element. With the Sony 70-200mm, I moved further away, using lens compression to create a more intimate, focused portrait—simplifying the background and drawing all attention to Rain.
Composing the same scene with two very different focal lengths required careful planning and communication. I explained my vision to Rain, asking for her patience as I swapped lenses and repositioned myself—sometimes finding new perches on the rocky riverbank to maintain the composition I wanted. The technical challenge of moving further away with the telephoto lens also meant I had to pre-warn Rain about communication difficulties over the sound of the flowing river, but keeping her pose consistent helped us stay in sync.
The difference in how each lens rendered the environment and Rain’s presence was striking. The wide angle muted the details around Rain, using fast shutter speed and off-camera flash to keep her as the story’s focus, while the telephoto lens compressed the background, decluttering the scene and generating a sense of intimacy.
Lens compression with a telephoto lens draws the viewer into Rain’s world, creating intimacy and focus.
For me, lens compression is a powerful storytelling tool. It lets me control the relationship between subject and background—either drawing the viewer into the environment or isolating the subject for emotional impact. In this shoot, it was all about using a small patch of natural light to frame and backlight Rain, and letting the lens choice dictate the mood.
Looking at the final images, I hope viewers notice how the story shifts with each lens: from environmental context to personal connection, all without changing the model’s pose or the setting. It’s a reminder that technical choices are just as important as creative ones in telling a compelling visual story.
Ready to Tell Your Story?
If you’re looking for a Canberra photographer who can use both creativity and technical skill to bring your vision to life, I’d love to collaborate. At Lyle’s Lens, every detail is intentional, and every image is crafted to tell your story.
Contact me today to book your session or discuss your next creative project!