Photography tips

Using a wide angle creatively

View of the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background under a cloudy evening sky.

The effect of wide-angle focal lengths

Working with wide-angle focal lengths between 12 mm and 30 mm allows for a comprehensive capture of the subject. This range is suitable for documenting both expansive scenes and architectural contexts in Lucerne.

Composition with the foreground

Incorporating a prominent foreground changes the spatial depth of your image. Combining a nearby object with the surrounding area creates a direct link between details and the architectural background.

Precision in image composition

When using ultra-wide-angle focal lengths, precise camera alignment is essential. Careful placement of elements within the frame minimizes converging verticals and ensures a cohesive composition.

What using wide-angle photography changes

Low angle view of the Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church in Lucerne under a clear sky.
15 mm · f/4.5 · 1/400 s · ISO 400

Spatial depth and dimensions

Using a wide-angle focal length emphasizes the distance between a near foreground and the background. This increases the spatial effect and makes the large dimensions of landscapes or buildings visible in a single shot.

View of the Pilatus peaks with hotel and transmission towers in daylight
100 mm · f/11 · 1/160 s · ISO 100

Managing image sharpness

By selecting a closed aperture such as f/16, you control the depth of field in wide-angle shots. This ensures that both details on the ground and distant architectural elements remain in focus.

Alpine flowers in the foreground with Hotel Pilatus-Kulm and the mountain summit under a clear sky.
12 mm · f/18 · 1/80 s · ISO 200

Integrating the foreground

A deliberately chosen object in the foreground serves as a design element to frame the scene. This technique connects details such as flowers or chains directly with the expansive surroundings of the city.

Three concrete examples

Fireworks in the night sky above the illuminated Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne
15 mm
Steep stone stairs with wooden railing on Mount Pilatus above a thick cloud cover
19 mm
Night view of the illuminated Chapel Bridge and the old town of Lucerne along the riverbank.
12 mm

Key tips

  1. Actively include the foreground at 12 mm to complement the wide-angle subject and emphasize depth.
  2. Use a closed aperture of f/16 to ensure consistent depth of field in wide-angle shots.
  3. Ensure precise camera alignment at 12 mm to minimize converging verticals on buildings.

Photographs on this topic

519 photographs with tips

The exact camera settings for each shot are shown below it - a starting point for recreating the look yourself. Click through to a photograph for detailed photography tips on that specific shot, under "Photography tips for this image".

All subjects City Architecture Mountains Landscape Lucerne Pilatus Lake Lucerne Central Switzerland
View of the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background under a cloudy evening sky. 12 mm · f/14 · 1/15 s · ISO 200 View of the Chapel Bridge with Water Tower and Mount Pilatus in the background under a cloudy evening sky 12 mm · f/18 · 1/15 s · ISO 200 Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge in Lucerne at dusk over the Reuss river 12 mm · f/18 · 1/30 s · ISO 200 View through a round railing at the sunset-lit Reuss river in Lucerne 13 mm · f/18 · 1/100 s · ISO 200 View through an ornate metal railing towards the old town of Lucerne and the Reuss river at sunset. 12 mm · f/16 · 1/200 s · ISO 200 View through an ornamental metal gate onto the Wasserturm and Kapellbrücke in Lucerne at dusk. 12 mm · f/22 · 1/10 s · ISO 125 Stone Nölliturm in Lucerne viewed from a low angle 12 mm · f/22 · 1/13 s · ISO 160 View from the Pilatus mountain massif over Lake Lucerne and surrounding mountains in sunny weather 12 mm · f/16 · 1/500 s · ISO 500 View from the rocky edge of Mount Pilatus over Lake Lucerne and surrounding mountains 12 mm · f/16 · 1/400 s · ISO 500 Steep wooden staircase on Mount Pilatus overlooking Lake Lucerne and Central Switzerland 12 mm · f/16 · 1/250 s · ISO 500 Hiking trail on Mount Pilatus with a view of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding area 12 mm · f/18 · 1/250 s · ISO 500 Group of alphorn players in traditional Swiss costume on a terrace at Mount Pilatus 16 mm · f/18 · 1/400 s · ISO 500 Sun setting behind mountains over Lake Lucerne with cloudy sky 12 mm · f/22 · 1/60 s · ISO 1000 View across Lake Lucerne towards Mount Pilatus at sunset 12 mm · f/16 · 1/60 s · ISO 640 View of Mount Pilatus from a ship during sunset 12 mm · f/4 · 1/1000 s · ISO 200 Bürgenstock mountain ridge over Lake Lucerne in violet evening light 12 mm · f/4 · 1/400 s · ISO 200 Mount Pilatus above Lake Lucerne at sunset 20 mm · f/4 · 1/1250 s · ISO 200 An anniversary flag of FC Luzern waving against the backdrop of the city of Lucerne at Lake Lucerne. 29 mm · f/16 · 1/160 s · ISO 200 Aerial view of the Pilatus summit area overlooking Lake Lucerne 21 mm · f/9 · 1/200 s · ISO 200 View of the green mountain ridge and steep rock faces of Mount Pilatus in Central Switzerland 12 mm · f/9 · 1/500 s · ISO 500 Night view of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus with light trails from boats 12 mm · f/4 · 1.6 s · ISO 1000 View of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus with illuminated villages at night 12 mm · f/2 · 1.6 s · ISO 200 View of Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne through two ship bollards 22 mm · f/14 · 1/160 s · ISO 200 Facade of Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne illuminated in blue at night with a crowd in the foreground 12 mm · f/8 · 1.6 s · ISO 160

Related topics

  • City
  • Architecture
  • Mountains
  • Landscape
  • Composition
  • Camera settings
  • Light
  • Perspective
  • Lucerne
  • Pilatus
  • Lake Lucerne
  • Central Switzerland
  • Evening light
  • Sunset
  • Blue hour
  • Night
  • Snow
  • Rain
  • Fog
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