As creative photographers, we are always looking for new ways to incorporate objects to enhance our photos and feeds. A creative object that has been heavily incorporated into photos is the glass lens ball. Lens ball photography consists of using a clear glass lens ball as a subject in an image. The glass ball creates a distorted effect and makes for a very creative photo. With lens ball photography, you can use a 60mm or 80mm glass ball to infract light from the lens ball to capture a cool image. Here’s a guide to using the lens ball to create some stunning images!
Understanding Lens Ball Photography
Lens ball photography involves using a crystal ball, also known as a picture ball, to create striking and unique images. This innovative technique allows photographers to capture scenes through the ball, resulting in a fascinating perspective that transforms ordinary landscapes into stunning visual compositions. The lens ball refracts light, creating a circular view that adds depth and intrigue to your photos.
Manipulating the focus and angle of the lensball produces dreamlike scenes, highlighting both the foreground and background in imaginative ways. The spherical shape of the ball can create interesting reflections and distortions, allowing playful explorations of light and shadow.
Choosing the right lens ball is crucial. Standard glass lens balls are favored for their clarity and ability to produce high-quality images. Colored lens balls add a creative flair to your shots, and smaller, portable options are ideal for travel photography. Each type offers unique opportunities to experiment, making the lens ball an exciting tool for photographers at any level.
Camera Settings for Lens Ball Photography
The lens ball is easy to use. But, having the right camera settings are important to achieve the perfect image. It’s recommended to keep your shutter speed high and lower your aperture. This will keep the glass ball in focus and the image within the glass ball in focus, while causing the background to be blurred out. Also having a higher shutter speed eliminates any motion blurriness that might be caused because of shaking if you’re holding the ball in your hand.
Hand Holding Lens Ball This is as classic and as simple as it gets. Lift up the glass ball with your hand or you can get someone else to do it for you. Set a manual focus on the glass ball and adjust your camera distance from the lens ball to get the right shot. Think of the glass ball as a second lens and make sure you capture everything that you want in the lens ball. It essentially acts as a wide angle lens.
Glass Ball Photography from Below
You can take a shot using your Sigma lens from Beachcamera.com from below the glass ball to get a cool wide angle shot upwards. The lens ball should capture most of the architecture or landscape since it’s so wide. Circular structures also look very cool with the glass ball because of the way that it distorts the image.
Portrait Shots
What about using models for your glass ball photos? You can capture the image of someone through the lens ball and it would make for a very creative shot. Adjust the distance of the glass ball away from the model’s face and alter your focus accordingly. Remember, you want to frame the subject within the glass ball first before moving onto framing the shot through your camera.
Creative Ideas for Lens Ball Photography
Lensball photography offers unique opportunities for creativity. Capture landscapes and cityscapes by placing a picture ball in the foreground, creating compositions that showcase scenery within the sphere and add depth to your images. Explore different angles to highlight nature's beauty or urban architecture.
In portrait photography, position the lensball in front of your subject for a magical effect that focuses on the person while reflecting surroundings. This works well outdoors, where natural elements enhance aesthetics. Adjust focus to keep both subject and sphere sharp for striking impact.
Incorporate seasonal themes to elevate your photography. During autumn, use fallen leaves and pumpkins, or in winter, capture holiday lights reflected in the lensball. These elements add a festive touch and invite viewers to connect on a personal level. Embrace these creative ideas to produce artistic and memorable images.
Post-Processing Tips for Lens Ball Images
Enhancing lensball photography through post-processing can significantly improve your images. Adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation to bring out vivid colors and details in both the lensball and surroundings. Use selective editing techniques to highlight the refraction effect, a hallmark of lensball photography. Tools like the brush tool or graduated filters can refine specific areas without altering the overall image.
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are excellent for photo editing. Lightroom offers batch processing for consistent adjustments across images, while Photoshop provides advanced tools for retouching and layering. Alternatives like Affinity Photo or Capture One also deliver impressive results.
Maintain the integrity of the refraction effect. Avoid excessive sharpening or noise reduction, as these can distort the unique characteristics that make your images stand out. Focus on enhancing clarity and vibrancy while preserving the natural distortion and beauty of scenes captured within the lensball. This approach ensures your final images remain true to your vision, showcasing the enchanting qualities of lensball photography.
Using a glass ball in your photoshoots can add a new creative element that can really make your photos stand out. It can turn a simple concept into a unique never seen before image.
