Wide angle lens settings and telephoto lens settings have very different characteristics. These characteristics can be used to convey meaning, mood and emotion. So it is important to learn the differences.

Telephoto:

Telephoto (also called "zoomed in" or "long focal length") lens settings have a couple interesting characteristics.

First, telephoto settings compress distance. So things that are far apart in real life seem closer together when viewed through a telephoto lens setting. In the image at the right, notice how close is seems Subway is to Popeye's--when shot with a telephoto setting. The restaurants are actually a fair distance apart.