Trifocus Photography on the Streets of Toronto

Three Photos, Three Focal Lengths, One Story!

After 15 years of walking around Toronto taking photographs, I am always looking for different ways to tell a story with my camera.

This time, I decided to try something I call Trifocus Photography.

The idea is simple. Instead of taking just one photograph of a subject, I take three photographs at three different focal lengths. Each photograph tells a different part of the same story.

Photo 1 – The Wide Shot

I start with a wide-angle photograph showing the entire scene. This gives the viewer an idea of where I am and what is happening around the subject.

Walking through Toronto's colourful graffiti-covered laneways, I photograph the buildings, street art, and the entire laneway.

Photo 2 – The Medium Shot

Next, I zoom in a little closer.

Now I concentrate on the main subject. It might be someone walking through the laneway, an interesting piece of graffiti, or a construction crane towering above the city.

The medium shot removes some distractions while keeping enough background to tell the story.

Photo 3 – The Close-Up

Finally, I zoom in for the details.

This is where things get interesting. It might be the metal framework of a construction crane, old equipment tucked between buildings, or someone pushing a baby stroller past the end of a laneway.

These are details people might never notice when walking down the street.

Putting Trifocus to Work in Toronto

For this photo walk, I photographed several subjects using my three-shot method.

The graffiti-covered laneways gave me wonderful opportunities to photograph the entire laneway, zoom in on the activity, and capture smaller details.

I also photographed a large red construction crane. The wide photograph showed the crane against the beautiful blue sky. The medium photograph concentrated on the upper structure, while the close-up revealed the steel framework and machinery.

Three photographs of the same subject, but three different ways of looking at it!

Why I Like Trifocus Photography

One thing I have learned over the years is that street photography is not always about taking one great photograph.

Sometimes the story is better when you show several photographs together.

Trifocus photography also makes me slow down and study what I am photographing instead of just taking a quick picture and walking away.

And the best part?

You don't need three cameras or three different lenses.

All you need is a camera with a zoom lens, a little imagination, and a willingness to look at the same subject three different ways.

So next time you are walking around Toronto with your camera, try taking three photographs instead of one.

Wide, medium, and close-up.

You might be surprised at how much more of the story you can tell.

And remember, Toronto's streets and laneways are full of photographic stories just waiting to be discovered.

Keep walking, keep looking, and keep taking photographs!