I enjoy telling historic stories with my photography. When I visit a location, I am not only looking for a subject. I am looking for a way to connect the subject to the place, the history, and the feeling of being there.
Recently, Ohio State University installed a statue of Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. I wanted to create a photograph that did more than simply show the statue. I wanted to highlight Archie Griffin, but I also wanted to include the entrance to Ohio Stadium, better known as “The Shoe.”
To do that, I used my 16mm–35mm zoom lens on my full-frame Nikon camera. At 16mm, the lens becomes an extremely wide-angle lens, which allowed me to include both the statue and the dramatic dome entrance behind it.
The most important decision was my camera position. I chose a low angle so the statue would feel powerful and important in the frame. From that viewpoint, the wide-angle lens helped the stadium architecture rise behind the statue and become part of the story.
That is one of the lessons I try to teach beginner photographers: a better photograph often starts before you press the shutter button. Just a few minutes of thought can help you decide what you want the photograph to say. Lens choice, camera angle, background, and composition all work together.
This photograph is a good example. I knew the story I wanted to tell. I wanted Archie Griffin, the stadium, and Ohio football history to all be part of the same image. The 16mm wide-angle view gave me exactly what I was looking for.
Photography is not just about camera settings. It is about learning to see, making choices, and creating the photograph you envision.
My next in person photography class is scheduled for Sunday, June 14th at my office at The Event Connection in Dayton. You can ready more information about my photograph class at https://clearyphotoworkshops.com/photography-classes-in-dayton-ohio/ and sign up at https://clearyphotoworkshops.com/product/june-14-2026-in-person-photography-class/.
I am now sharing more of these simple photography lessons inside my Skool community, Dan Cleary Camera Coach, https://www.skool.com/cleary-creative-photography-8231. It is a friendly online community for beginner photographers who want to get off Auto, understand their cameras, take better pictures, and receive encouragement along the way. If you want help learning photography in a clear, practical way, I would love to have you join us.
I am a professional photographer, fine art photographer, and photography educator based in Dayton, Ohio. With more than 40 years of experience, he creates professional portraits, business photography, fine art prints, and educational photography content for people who want to improve their skills. You can see more of my professional photography work at www.clearycreativephoto.com and his fine art photography collections at www.clearyfineartphoto.com.