I must say I like the vignetting effect of using my Bower fisheye lens (meant for the DX crop-sensor size of digital camera) on a full frame 35mm camera. I feel like I am peering into a separate world.
Nikon N90s 35mm film SLR, Bower 8mm/3.5 fisheye lens
Rollei Retro 80s film, developed in Rodinal 1:50 for 14 min. @ 20 C
There is only one thing I don’t like about my Bower fisheye lens, namely that it doesn’t take filters. It’s not an issue for digital, but it does introduce some limitations for black and white film. At least I can take colour digital and convert to Black and White after the fact (and add filters). Today’s image (created yesterday at the RC Harris Water Treatment plant here in Toronto) has the equivalent of a dark red filter added, to dramatically darken the sky, even though I was shooting directly into the sun.
Nikon D7100, 8mm/3.5 Bower Fisheye lens
Post work done using Adobe Lightroom
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
My Third Eye 