Lens Compressiongeneral
How a longer focal length (shot from farther back) makes the background look larger and closer to the subject.
Compression isn't really caused by the lens — it's the distance. To frame a subject the same way with a long lens you stand much farther back, and from there the background appears magnified and 'stacked' behind them. That's why telephoto portraits have big, close-feeling backgrounds and wide-angle shots feel deep and stretched.
Use this when
- Make a mountain loom behind a subject: long lens, stand far back
- Exaggerate depth/space: wide lens, get close
Common mistake: Blaming the lens for distortion that's really about how close you stood.