Or inverse proportional?
F = k/A or F = kA ?!
I like shooting 35mm lenses. My Olympus XA2 is that focal length. So is my Olympus Stylus and my Leica and I guess even my Holga in medium format terms. I've also shot a 28mm when my GR1v was still working. I guess I like wide angle and getting close. I like the different perspective you get. You don't look at the world from that point of view most of the time.
Shibuya - 35mm lens
Shibuya - Ricoh GR1v - 28mm lens
The issue with wide angles is distortion. You really have to stay parallel to your plane of focus. Most of the time that means you have to kneel down or squat to take photos of other people unless you only want to take head shots? But would do that? A head and a whole bunch of empty space around it?
If I don't kneel down, I get stuff like this.
Shinjuku - 35mm lens
or this:
Shibuya - 35mm lens
Everything is 'looking down'
The problem with kneeling down or squatting when taking pictures is age. For one thing it gets harder the older you get. I am not at that point now. I like it at this point. I even like the attention I get from people when I do it. People assume I am just a tourist snapping away anyways. No one cares in Japan. The issue is, the older I get the creepier this is gonna look. I do like photographing women. I don't want to start looking like some old creep taking shots from below. So is a telephoto lens the answer then?
I shoot at Shibuya crossing a lot. Yes, it's always the same spot, but the people are different everyday and the more I shoot the more I started noticing patterns. Patterns of people passing by, behavior, regulars, homeless and crazy people to stay away from etc. Then I noticed this older man in his 60s. All dressed in beige/grey boring clothes with a photographer's vest and a huge telephoto lens on his DSLR. He only stands in one spot and shoots all day. I can only imagine what he shoots.
So which one is creepier?