Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Practice Exam

What do telephoto lenses do to the background in relation to the subject?

1. Make it appear farther away

2. Make it appear closer

3. Make it sharper

4. Make it blurry

The correct answer is: Make it appear closer

Telephoto lenses compress the background relative to the subject, creating an optical effect that makes objects in the background appear closer than they actually are. This is due to the way a telephoto lens magnifies the image and reduces the perceived depth of field. When a photographer uses a telephoto lens, they can isolate the subject more effectively and make background elements seem more integrated with the subject, which can enhance the composition of the photograph. This effect arises from the lens's longer focal length, which allows for shooting from a greater distance while maintaining a close perspective on the subject. The resulting image often highlights the subject against a backdrop that might appear more compact, contributing to a distinctive visual aesthetic. In contrast, other options, such as making the background appear farther away or sharper, don't accurately reflect the characteristics of telephoto lenses. While telephoto lenses can create a shallow depth of field that blurs the background, which may lead to certain misconceptions about depth perception, the key takeaway is their ability to visually compress space – bringing the background closer to the subject's plane.