One effect I like with the Lensbaby Fisheye optic is how it can turn a back alley wall of graffiti into an image that looks like one of the marbles I used to play with as a young boy.
Nikon D7100, Lensbaby Muse with Fisheye optic
Fisheye Friday
This week my Lensbaby Fisheye optic arrived. Inserted in my Lensbaby muse assembly, it requires focussing by squeezing on the bellows, making for a bit of a challenge, but it is a lot of fun! This morning I tried it out at Sugar Beach here in Toronto ( a surrealistic location if you ask me), and I love what the exaggerated perspective does at this location!
Nikon D7100, ISO 400, Post-processing with Nik SilverEfex Pro 2
More Lensbaby
Here is another image from my photo shoot this week with model Cat Huntress. I again used my lensbaby muse lens to get the focus effect, as well as doing some post processing in Nik Color Efex Pro 4.
Reflections
I like sunglasses pictures: sunglasses create mystery, and often end up with interesting reflections. This image was created yesterday at the closed (but not demolished) Eastern Avenue bridge over the Don River near lake Ontario here in Toronto, and I like the bridge reflections in the sunglass lenses.
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 18-200 lens. Post processing with Nik Efex plugins
LensBaby
Taken with my Lensbaby Muse, a deliberately low sharpness lens, focussed by squeezing (like and accordion)
Reflections
My favourite part of today’s image is the reflection of the lighting in the sunglasses worn by my subject. The lighting used was a small strip light/soft box, to make the lighting very directional. In addition, a strobe was used behind her head, facing the camera as a rim light in order to create highlights in her hair.
Nikon D7100 DSLR, 18-200mm Nikkor lens, ISO 100. Post work done in Nik Efex and Lightroom
Neewer 300DS Studio strobe with strip/softbox light, Yongnuo YN 560 III flash used as rim light
Side Light
Having more fun with light tonight: this image of an Indonesian wood carving was made by placing the flash (a Yongnuo YN-560 III, triggered by an RF-603 wireless trigger) to the left of the carving, at 1/16 power
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikon lens, ISO 100
Background
This post is about the background. 🙂 At a local thrift store I found an old bedspread for $5. I love the pattern: it has a vintage look, and in some ways reminds me of Batik. I’ll definitely be using it again! 🙂
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm lens
Playing With Light
Today’s image is all about playing with light. I placed my newly acquired YungNuo YN-560 III flash (quite a bargain by the way) behind the glass ball. It was triggered by a built in optical slave when the main flash (my Nikon SB-600 with a Lightsphere) fired. Finally, a cross star filter provided the star effect, when things were lined up precisely.
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm lens
Post work done with Nik Efex and Lightroom
About Face
I call this post About Face for multiple reasons. Firstly, after months of shooting black and white, or colours muted by a seemingly endless winter, I wanted to do an about face and shoot some bold, vibrant, highly saturated, over the top colour. Secondly while I still shoot a lot of film, I felt like doing something shamelessly digital, not trying to emulate a film look at all.
Lastly, this post is called About Face as a tribute to the model Jennifer Bettencourt, who consistently delivers great facial expressions, whenever we work together! (Jennifer is multi-talented: she is also the singer on the demo version of a song from my Blitzed musical I am writing. )
Nikon D7100, 18-200 lens, Illumination via Nikon SB600 flash and Lightsphere Diffuser.
Post work done in Adobe Lightroom and Nik Color Efex 4
My Third Eye 