Using the 70-300mm lens again for this exercise I initially didn't really see the difference when looking at the shots on the viewfinder on the back of the camera, and I wasn't really sure what the exercise was trying to show me.
This first image was taken at 300mm and foreground and background have been compressed. The tree on the left seems to be very close to the signpost and the road looks as though it is bending to the right going behind the signpost.
When compared with the image taken at a much closer range at 70mm you get a completely different perspective in the photograph.
As you can see the photo is no longer compressed and you get a completely different perspective. The tree on the left is now much further in the background and the road now appears straight.
When taking portraits, I definitely prefer the compression that the longer focal length gives. At the moment my favourite is using the 105mm F2.8 Nikon lens as it gives a nice compression with the background whilst also allowing the background to be out of focus allowing the subject to really pop in the photo.
