I took an awful lot of Fisheye images on film this weekend, so I decided to create a slideshow, with “Bone Garden” by Blood Ruby as the sound track. I think the music fits well.:-) The feeling I get with circular fisheye images is one of peering through a keyhole, glimpsing another world.
All images taken with Nikon F2 35mm SLR,
Lens: Lensbaby Composer with Fisheye Optic.
Films: Rollei Retro 80s, Fomapan 100, Eastman Double X
Post production with Nik Efex
As I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, the Cherry Blossoms in High Park did not have a banner year in 2014, which left a lot of photographers and other visitors desperately looking for colour. A Magnolia tree became an instant magnet, and was surrounded by a crowd. While this image was shot on black and white film, I thought it might be interesting to add a pink tinge in post, to bring back some colour.
Nikon F2, Lensbaby Composer with Fisheye Optic, Rollei Retro 80S film developed in Rodinal 1:50 for 14 minutes @ 20C, Post processed with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
There were a lot of disappointed photographers in High Park, Toronto today. The blossoming of the cherry blossoms was pretty much a bust this year, due to the very cold/late spring. Luckily there is no shortage of alternate subject matter available. As I continued my fisheye kick, I tried out the LensBaby fisheye optic (mounted in the Composer) on a film camera: my Nikon F2, loaded with Rollei 80s film. On the full frame 35mm I almost get a complete circle. I quite like the result. 🙂
Nikon F2, Lensbaby Muse with Fisheye Optic, shot on Rollei Retro 80s film, developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 14 minutes @ 20C
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
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
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.
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 pluginsÂ
Taken with my Lensbaby Muse, a deliberately low sharpness lens, focussed by squeezing (like and accordion)
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
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
My Third Eye 