Buzz
As businesses resume operations and individuals flock to beaches and parks, you may have come across news images or videos that seem to depict tightly packed crowds disregarding social distancing measures. However, these visuals can often be deceptive, a result of a clever camera technique.
Photographers frequently employ zoom or telephoto lenses when capturing crowd scenes. This method compresses the image's foreground and background, creating the illusion that people are standing closer together than they actually are. For instance, the Outdoor Photography Guide explains that a 300mm lens “compresses the crowd, making it appear denser and more vibrant, enhancing the overall impact of the photo.”
While this technique can be used to intentionally deceive, it also serves as a practical way to capture large groups without making individuals appear disproportionately sized or spaced out. It’s important to note that photographers using this method aren’t always aiming to mislead; there could be other reasons for their approach. For example, a newspaper editor explained that a widely circulated photo of a reopened beach was taken with a long lens to “accurately represent the scene by capturing as much of the beach as possible.” Whether for better or worse, this is a standard practice in crowd photography.
How a telephoto lens can alter the perception of a scene
This aerial photograph captures the same beach on the same day, taken by the same photographer as the image at the top of this page. Notice the red and white umbrella in the lower left corner of the aerial shot? Great. Now, locate the red blanket with the dark green umbrella near the top center.
Now, scroll back up and observe those two umbrellas in the previous photo. (The red and white umbrella is positioned in the center, while the dark green one is closer to the camera.)
From the initial photo, one might assume that the individuals under the green umbrella are right next to the dark blue towel. However, the aerial perspective reveals they are actually quite distant. Given that the average person is between five and six feet tall, you can use sunbathers as a reference to gauge distances—are people maintaining six feet of separation? In most instances, they are much farther apart.
For a deeper understanding of how varying camera lens lengths can alter the perception of a crowd, landscape architect Jeff Cutler captured images of a local beach using multiple lenses to demonstrate the distinct view each one provides.
This photographic technique also applies to video: The clip in this tweet is a particularly striking example, as highlighted in one of the responses. Is the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland truly “packed”? While there are certainly more unmasked individuals gathered than advisable, the camera lens amplifies the perceived density:
Watch the video and tally for yourself. The man carrying a baby appears at the 0:03 mark and seems to be just behind the woman standing in the foreground:
...but when the clip ends—after 20 steps and 13 seconds—he remains behind her.
These deceptive crowd images are concerning as businesses reopen, as they heighten public anxiety. Many of us are striving to avoid crowded spaces, and these photos suggest that others are disregarding physical distancing guidelines. While some may be, the reality is likely less severe than these images imply.
Consider another instance involving a restaurant that reopened under regulations requiring tables to be spaced farther apart than usual. One photo seems to indicate non-compliance, while another angle (provided by the restaurant) paints a different picture.
Additionally, these images and videos fuel social media debates, escalating tensions. If infection rates don’t increase post-reopening—possibly due to people exercising caution and maintaining distance—someone will inevitably use these photos to argue that crowded conditions didn’t lead to negative outcomes.
