Create amusing portraits using a fisheye lens.
A fisheye lens is an ultra-wide angle lens that frames everything in front of the camera, as well as to the extreme right and left to create a spherically distorted image. There are two types of fisheye lenses: circular and full-frame. Circular types capture 180 degrees of the image to produce a circular image where the edges of the frame are black. Full-frame types capture 180 degrees of the diagonal and less around the edges so that a rectangular image is created. Originally called whole-sky lenses, fisheye lenses were used to study the sky and cloud formations. However, many photographers are adding fisheye lenses to their camera bags to lend an artistic or humorous touch to photos.
Portraits
Pick any person or animal and create a humorous portrait. Place the face in the center of the photograph because this area is the most magnified and appears the most convex. The edges of the frame will bend beyond the point of exaggeration and the result is a caricature-like image. Add the full body to make the head appear larger than the body. It's worth noting that when taking portraits it's best to place your subject against a neutral or uncluttered background because fisheye lenses have such great depth of field that it's impossible to throw the background out of focus.
Landscapes
Full-frame fisheye lenses are excellent for taking landscape shots because of their ultra-wide angle, and if there are no straight lines such as buildings, trees, or roads, the spherical distortion is minor or absent. Placing the horizon square in the middle of the frame so there is an even amount of sky and land also cuts back on fisheye distortion.
Cityscapes
In places where there are a lot of straight lines and elements to work with, the fisheye photograph gets very creative. The objects that are closest to the edges of the frame are going to be distorted the most. Abstract photography opportunities abound in the city with a fisheye lens by making use of the various lights, shapes and colors.
Radial Effect
Use your fisheye to create a radial blur effect that gives the look of motion or emitting light. To get the effect, slow the shutter speed to 1/25 of a second and press the shutter release button while you pivot the camera 90 degrees. Take several photos because not all of them will be keepers.
Tags: fisheye lenses, edges frame, fisheye lens, capture degrees, straight lines, there straight, there straight lines
