Technology/Equipment Grant for Individual Artist

My goal is to create photographs with my artistic preference of composition without the worry of distortion to the scene I am photographing. Normal lenses do not allow perspective control and can alter the shape and direction objects appear when they are placed close to the edge of the frame. The focal length of the lens I would like to purchase is one that most of my photography is created with. Using this lens will help me add a true representation of what I would like to capture, and the quality of my prints in terms of sharpness will also improve over my current abilities. My measurable outcome will be instantly noticeable for me when I use this wide angle lens for any composition I choose and can control the natural distortion that can happen on the outside edges of a framed scene. When using a precision piece of equipment, great clarity in the image itself is possible. This will become apparent when I make my enlargement prints.I would be able to physically see the effects of this lens while I am working on making a photograph. During composition, I would be in control of perspective. By making sure I am able to accurately represent to my taste the scene I am photographing, my artwork will become even more my own. By comparing images from different lenses, I would see the difference in the images by the shape changes that can occur when using a standard lens versus the tilt/shift I would like to purchase. My goal is always to see my finished images in print, and I prefer to do enlargements. By enlarging a file during digital printing, focus and clarity become the main concerns for me. Traditional lenses can have problems with focus when objects are both very close and very far. The tilt/shift lens allows me to also control my focus plane, meaning I can more easily keep everything in my photograph in focus. This will result in a more pleasing enlargement print.