Some say the 50mm is boring—neither here nor there, the lens you start with before moving on to something better. A training wheel for “real” photography. But here’s my take: the 50mm is a way of seeing that doesn’t feel forced, it radiates a quiet confidence.
At its core, it’s a documentary photographer’s lens. No matter how much the industry chases ever-wider glass or absurd telephoto reach, the 50mm remains. It doesn’t date your photos with extreme perspectives or tricks; it lets the moment, the composition, and the subject carry the weight.
Do you shoot with a 50mm? Love it or hate it? Here are some of my favourite 50mm photos I’ve taken over the years.