(The Journal)
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
(
Behind The Lens
)
Lens Diaries: Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
A personal challenge that reminded me why I started.
Okay, real talk — I love gear. Lenses, modifiers, camera bags… the whole toolbox. But somewhere along the way, I started feeling stuck. Like the more tools I had, the harder it became to just… see.
So I gave myself a rule: 30 days, one lens — my 50mm.
No switching. No “just this once” exceptions. Just me and that little piece of glass, every day for a month.
🎯 Why 50mm?
Because it’s the middle ground. Not wide, not tight. It sees the world kind of how our eyes do — honest, flexible, intimate. It forces you to move, reframe, step in closer or pull back instead of letting the lens do the work.
🗓 Day by Day, Frame by Frame
Some days were gold. I shot a sunrise walk with an old couple holding hands. I found a kid spinning in circles under falling cherry blossoms. I took portraits of friends who hate being photographed, and they actually liked the results.
Other days were a grind. Rain. Creative block. Nothing felt good. I took photos of my own hands, of mugs, of doorways. And yet… even those shots taught me something.
📸 What Changed
I started seeing differently. I started moving differently. I stopped trying to make “banger images” and started listening to the quiet moments again.
That 50mm lens didn’t just simplify my gear. It simplified my expectations. I remembered how much beauty lives in the everyday, if you’re patient enough to notice.
🧠 Lessons I’ll Keep
You don’t need more gear. You need more time.
Constraints make you creative.
“Boring” places can hold beautiful light.
Trust the process, not just the result.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re ever stuck, try this challenge. Strip it all back. One lens. One month. No pressure. Just shoot.
It might just remind you why you fell in love with photography in the first place.
EXPLORE more
This is LYSANDRA, a Portrait Photography Portfolio.
Designed by JenkateMW
A refined portfolio template for photographers who want to showcase their work through sleek layouts, subtle motion, and a polished visual experience.
GET TEMPLATE
(The Journal)
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
(
Behind The Lens
)
Lens Diaries: Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
A personal challenge that reminded me why I started.
Okay, real talk — I love gear. Lenses, modifiers, camera bags… the whole toolbox. But somewhere along the way, I started feeling stuck. Like the more tools I had, the harder it became to just… see.
So I gave myself a rule: 30 days, one lens — my 50mm.
No switching. No “just this once” exceptions. Just me and that little piece of glass, every day for a month.
🎯 Why 50mm?
Because it’s the middle ground. Not wide, not tight. It sees the world kind of how our eyes do — honest, flexible, intimate. It forces you to move, reframe, step in closer or pull back instead of letting the lens do the work.
🗓 Day by Day, Frame by Frame
Some days were gold. I shot a sunrise walk with an old couple holding hands. I found a kid spinning in circles under falling cherry blossoms. I took portraits of friends who hate being photographed, and they actually liked the results.
Other days were a grind. Rain. Creative block. Nothing felt good. I took photos of my own hands, of mugs, of doorways. And yet… even those shots taught me something.
📸 What Changed
I started seeing differently. I started moving differently. I stopped trying to make “banger images” and started listening to the quiet moments again.
That 50mm lens didn’t just simplify my gear. It simplified my expectations. I remembered how much beauty lives in the everyday, if you’re patient enough to notice.
🧠 Lessons I’ll Keep
You don’t need more gear. You need more time.
Constraints make you creative.
“Boring” places can hold beautiful light.
Trust the process, not just the result.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re ever stuck, try this challenge. Strip it all back. One lens. One month. No pressure. Just shoot.
It might just remind you why you fell in love with photography in the first place.
EXPLORE more
This is LYSANDRA, a Portrait Photography Portfolio.
Designed by JenkateMW
A refined portfolio template for photographers who want to showcase their work through sleek layouts, subtle motion, and a polished visual experience.
GET TEMPLATE
(The Journal)
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
(
Behind The Lens
)
Lens Diaries: Shooting with Only a 50mm for 30 Days
A personal challenge that reminded me why I started.
Okay, real talk — I love gear. Lenses, modifiers, camera bags… the whole toolbox. But somewhere along the way, I started feeling stuck. Like the more tools I had, the harder it became to just… see.
So I gave myself a rule: 30 days, one lens — my 50mm.
No switching. No “just this once” exceptions. Just me and that little piece of glass, every day for a month.
🎯 Why 50mm?
Because it’s the middle ground. Not wide, not tight. It sees the world kind of how our eyes do — honest, flexible, intimate. It forces you to move, reframe, step in closer or pull back instead of letting the lens do the work.
🗓 Day by Day, Frame by Frame
Some days were gold. I shot a sunrise walk with an old couple holding hands. I found a kid spinning in circles under falling cherry blossoms. I took portraits of friends who hate being photographed, and they actually liked the results.
Other days were a grind. Rain. Creative block. Nothing felt good. I took photos of my own hands, of mugs, of doorways. And yet… even those shots taught me something.
📸 What Changed
I started seeing differently. I started moving differently. I stopped trying to make “banger images” and started listening to the quiet moments again.
That 50mm lens didn’t just simplify my gear. It simplified my expectations. I remembered how much beauty lives in the everyday, if you’re patient enough to notice.
🧠 Lessons I’ll Keep
You don’t need more gear. You need more time.
Constraints make you creative.
“Boring” places can hold beautiful light.
Trust the process, not just the result.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re ever stuck, try this challenge. Strip it all back. One lens. One month. No pressure. Just shoot.
It might just remind you why you fell in love with photography in the first place.
EXPLORE more
This is LYSANDRA, a Portrait Photography Portfolio.
Designed by JenkateMW
A refined portfolio template for photographers who want to showcase their work through sleek layouts, subtle motion, and a polished visual experience.
GET TEMPLATE