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David M Roberts
{K:914} 4/18/2006
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Nice LB shot Hugo, quite surreal effect you've shown here, out of this world
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/28/2006
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Hi Cessy, Excellent critique! Thanks a lot!
Interesting point; it's exactly what bugged me about the Break of Dawn series. Don't think they're bad, yet it fails to have the WOW effect, grabbing and holding the attention.
Admittedly, this series is quite extreme and I have to agree with many others that the use of the lensbaby is way too much. But the reason I think these are stronger is exactly the dominance of the primary subject, as well as the somewhat scary, haunting and uncomfortable feel of the lensbaby effect.
I'll keep this in mind for the next series; see if I can compile a series that is more subtle and refined, yet evokes a stronger effect. That'll be a challenge!
Thanks again for you insightful feedback; absolutely brilliant!
Cheers,
Hugo
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cessy karina
{K:14205} 3/28/2006
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Hi Hugo
You know, I like this Zabrieskie's void series better then the break od dawn series. They are wonderful, calm, tranquil, but a I felt they are a bit empty. Once you told me that a more dominant primary subject to grab and hold the attention of the viewer is good in a picture, and I believe so (eventhough the one without is not bad either). hehe..
anyway, this is really cool, the way he walk, as if he is having great load on his back and that menacing blurred background, coming after him, really cool
very well done
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Joe Ciccone
{K:3684} 3/22/2006
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glad you got a laugh from it...sometimes people get bent out of shape when you mess with their photos....cheers
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/22/2006
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heheheheh... Rather cool! thanks...
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/22/2006
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Hi Joe, thanks for the feedback, you have a few very valid points. It's always dangerous to play with new toys, as generally speaking they're overly used, and I for sure have that tendency. And I have to agree that that is the case here too. Also, I agree that the feel I was aiming for could've very well be created in Photoshop, and probably more effective, too.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading (and stirring up) the talk on this one, very insightful and a great way to learn, much more effective than posting "flawless" images (if they exist) So thanks for your honest feedback! Much appreciated!
Cheers,
hugo
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Joe Ciccone
{K:3684} 3/22/2006
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and I also play in photoshop with images that just didn't make it...until I get something I feel is worth a look...hope you don't mind but this is what I thought of using your photo...cheers
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Binocular View |
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Joe Ciccone
{K:3684} 3/22/2006
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wow...lots of talk on this one...
basically it seems like this 'lensbaby' just was for this type of photo, or wasn't set as best it could have been for this shot.
First off the so called in focus area is barely what we would call sharp...and the blurred area is way to blurred to seem to be part of the foreground area.
I understand what your aim was...but this just missed the mark...
I sharp photo (using a decent wide angle lens)
worked in Photoshop (blurred tool etc) might have got you closer to what you 'saw in your minds eye'... was a nice idea, keep shooting...cheers
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Tony Smallman
{K:23858} 3/19/2006
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Hi Hugo!I was asking about the lensbaby 2.0 -is that the one you've got?-on the help forum today and Rina got in touch suggesting I take a look at your photos plus those of Mel Brackstone.I can see the potential for some very interesting photography here.Jeroen Wenting also got in touch but said that they are pretty expensive;about 164Euros from the U.S he estimated.There is a distributer here in Spain who I'll phone about the price tomorrow.Did yours cost that much?I'd be most grateful for any info!
Cheers ,Tony.
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/18/2006
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Hey Steve, thanks for the feedback! Interesting metaphor with Sisyphus; a connection I hadn't made before, but a very appropriate one, I believe.... Might have to change the sequence once again...:)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Steve Aronoff
{K:18393} 3/15/2006
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I really like this photo, Hugo. The heavy blurring doesn't bother me because the photo reminds me so much of the myth (metaphor) of Sisyphus and the blurred massive rocks provide a graphic expression of the feeling of the burden that Sisyphus was saddled with.
Steve
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Joel Aron
{K:14920} 3/14/2006
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Brilliant!!
...that's it... i'm buying a lensbaby.
Well done! I love the composition on this one! Great action, and very well balanced on all marks!
cheers,
-joel
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/13/2006
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Hi Adnan, thanks for your comment. In answer to your question, I guess I have to say neither. This is one of my first shots I've taken with the Lensbaby, and I wanted to see what you guys think of it. Even though I do like this excessive effect, I guess it's a bit too extreme for most... I've learned a lot...:)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/13/2006
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Hi Kurt, Thanks for the feedback, I agree on the excessiveness of the blur; I posted the full image (no cropping) of one of my first photos with the Lensbaby, as I wanted to see what the reactions were. Very educative exercise...:) As usual, more to come, I've slightly altered the sequence I had in mind based on the critiques I've received.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/13/2006
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Hi Paul,
Tanks a lot for your very constructive and helpful comment.... The reason I posted this shot was for a fairly simple reason: it's the full frame, and as this is one of my first few shots I took with the Lensbaby, I wanted to get feedback on the whole image. And I did receive a lot of useful comments, too...:)
I intend to work on it some more, and follow either the advice to crop it, or to work on the brightness of the top and right sides; it's the tunnel effect that I intended, and I realise the image isn't quite finished yet....:)
Death Valley sure is great! There are quite a few more I want to upload over the next few months....:)
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Hugo
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Paul's Photos
{K:35235} 3/13/2006
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Interesting effect and very creative, excellent. I like it a lot but at the same time I think it would work better if the image was cropped a bit more on the right and top. I am guessing that your intent was to bring more attention and focus to the man walking. But, I think too much of the image is distorted. If you don't want to crop the image, maybe if you can darken the distorted areas in a gradual fashion towards the man it would accomplish your intent more. Sort of a tunnel effect...I definitely need to check out a lensbaby someday... Also, I love Death Valley :)
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Ursula Luschnig
{K:21723} 3/12/2006
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Hi Hugo,
I love the effect here,for me the man is so exhausted,dizzy... from walking upon the mountain...either to hell..or heaven,that he has got a blurry view...and never look back!
Well ,maybe a bit crazy my interpretation... :)
I love the lensbaby effect,wish i had one.
Cheers,Ursula
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João F * Photography
{K:41945} 3/12/2006
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Tank you for the information dear Hugo!!!
regards
joão
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Weston Dru
{K:3243} 3/11/2006
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blury part is dominant and its realy hard to look in that guy. Contra effect or that was your intension?
best regards
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Kurt LaRue
{K:5067} 3/11/2006
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Hi Hugo. I guess I have to agree with some of the others that the blurring is just a bit much. I really do like the postioning of the hiker in the frame, though. We can see the rough terrain that he's just had to cross and we can only imagine what might lie ahead on his path. A real sense of isolation here, and very creative.
Best wishes, Kurt
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Ace Star
{K:21040} 3/11/2006
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UMmM my eyes LoL ... Hugo u did creat some kind of magic here ... keep it up :)
Excellent work
wish you all the best
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/11/2006
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Hi Don, i suddenly remembered your email you sent me a while ago during one of my other sprees of photographic extremism...:) I realise this is not your thing, but rest assured, I'll post some less extravagant photos soon...:) Thanks for reminding me!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/11/2006
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Hi Thilo, For what it's made of, Lensbabies are way too expensive. I bought mine from a Dutch site which imports directly. Shipping to Germany is one of their options, and I believe it's a pretty good deal they offer... Send me an Email if you want their webaddress...:)
Your vision of this photo is probably the closest anyone has come to... And I do agree, the blur is too excessive, but as this was one of my first shots with the Lensbaby, I struggled with it's handling. I only saw the resulting image full screen when I returned home.
The crop you suggest is IMO the proper approach; I decided to upload the full framed image into the CC section, because I needed some in-depth feedback. In most of my replies, I have explained my ideas behind this photo. Prior to uploading, I realised this is by no means an "outstanding" photo, as it definitely has its flaws, but I also hoped for some feedback about the feel it would create - and from that point of view, I do believe I succeeded...:)
There'll be more to come, and one day, I hope I manage to master the lensbaby!
Usefilm, and specifically the Critiquer's Corner, is a perfect tool to venture out into new fields of photography. I don't think I've ever received so much honest feedback!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/10/2006
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Hi Joao, thanks for your comment...:) This effect is created by the lens I used. The Lensbaby is basically a piece of glass attached to an harmonica. You have to focus using your fingers, pulling the glass towards the camera body. By pulling harder with one hand, you can also tilt the piece of glass, creating a severe shift in Depth of Field, resulting in an image like this....
If you want more information, just google on Lensbaby. Or add dot com to it, and you'll find their website.
Cheers,
hugo
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João F * Photography
{K:41945} 3/10/2006
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Oh very strange image in the same time it´s amazing this deph of view...How you can do this?
great impact well done dear Hugo!
regards
joão
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Thilo Bayer
{K:50358} 3/10/2006
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Hi Hugo,
It took some time to see that you're using lensbabies here... Thought about getting some by mself but they are quite exepensive here.
Back to the image. While I like the theme here - a kind of supernatural power that tries to attack (or shield?) the man, the effect is a bit exaggerated IMHO. Maybe a square crop would help a bit. anyway, good to see you acting in this field.
best wishes, Thilo
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Leo Régnier Я£
{K:67696} 3/10/2006
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Another GREAT one!!!
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/10/2006
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Hi John, you're not the only one who isn't positive about this one....:) Very few have understood the intentions here. Thanks about the mudstone, I couldn't remember what it was, but now you mention it, I think you're right! The CC feature is great, don't you think?
Cheers,
Hugo
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John Bohner
{K:8368} 3/10/2006
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Okay - I should weigh in here. 1. I agree that there is too much of the effect. 2. The subject make be too far beyond normal experiance for the effect to be applied to without loosing most of the viewers. 3. I am not positive but I very sure that it is not sandstone. I believe its mudstone. Nice to see some Death valley shots by s creative person- it stimulates one. Thanks for doing the CC route.- JB
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Laura Spell
{K:24080} 3/10/2006
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This is a creative photo idea. However the blurred areas are so extensive, I had a bit of trouble picking out the lone figure on the rocks. I might have cropped closer, in order to reduce the amount of the image which is blurred.
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Dubravko Grakalic
{K:25235} 3/10/2006
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man and nature...great thema! nice work!
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tom rumland
{K:14874} 3/9/2006
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hmm, interesting comments, hugo. i guess it's a bit different if you are the man in the photo vs. a third party not present at the time. i can see how this is seen as disturbing and/or disorienting by many but to be honest, this reflects exactly how i 'felt' walking around there. my posture reminds and the blurred surroundings remind me of how out-of-breath, thirsty and dizzy i was. the fact that you caught me leaving the frame also conveys my desire to 'get out of there' and back to flat land.
is the effect exaggerated? most definitely. is it an accurate emotional representation of the moment? absolutely. would i hang it on the wall? probably not, it's not that kind of photo. is it a keeper? definitely.
hoping to see more...
tom
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神 風
{K:10665} 3/9/2006
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Alternate title: "ADVIL" ...
A very short critique indeed especially for the CC entry, but your own comments always make up for the rest of us ...
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Bruce Harper
{K:5305} 3/9/2006
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Interesting experiment Hugo, and interesting comments receieved, looking forward to seeing further ones in the series.
Actually I'm wondering how it would be with an even stronger lensbaby effect by including the part of the rock behind the man into the blur too?
This might make the environment seem even more overwhelming.
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Nick Karagiaouroglou
{K:127263} 3/8/2006
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Almost unreal capture, somehow reminding of a dream. Only perhaps a bit larger domain of detail around the man - but then again it is exactly this that makes the scene so dizzy.
Very well done,
Nick
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Max, thanks again. I fully agree, I don't think I've ever received so much useful feedback on a single shot, and I've learned a lot from it. The CC pages are definitely a very valuable addition to UF...:) It's always nice to discover what people see without knowing the exact intentions nor idea behind any trial series.
Cheers,
Huog
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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It's quite alright, Rashed, Thanks for your explanation!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi MS,
Thanks for your feedback. I agree the effect is pretty severe, and I see your point. It's why I posted this shot, as it's one of the first I took with the lensbaby, and I was really looking forward to some sincere critiques on how extreme this photo would be perceived - well.... I guess that part is answered!).
The lensbaby is a great tool, and I would definitely recommend one, but as you've noticed it takes some time to get used to.
But I rather like the effect, and basically, the rather shocked comments do fit with the image in mind. (Which is by no means an easy to understand, appealing, lovable nor the classic type of image) The idea behind the man walking out of the frame in stead of inwards was to create a hint of an escape from the void. It never crossed my mind that the excessive lensbaby blur would affect that idea so much!
When I bought the lensbaby, I planned to use it for something very extreme, and I've planned such a shot meticulously... The feeling I set out with is rather comparable to the revolting feeling I get when watching Fear and Loathing Las Vegas.
Bottom line of this rather tedious reply is that I am beginning to get the feeling, that I did apply the lensbaby effect a bit too heavily, but reading the reactions, I'm also quite satisfied that the feel I wanted to create did work out to some extend, although not exactly as planned....:) Gotta love the Critiquer's Corner! Hope you see what I mean (I'll gladly explain if you don't see my point, I'm not arguing it is a good photo) , I don't think I've ever learned this much from the comments!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Verena Rentrop
{K:15233} 3/8/2006
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since I have my lensbaby I'm wondering where to use it...
the effect is good...but to be honest I cannot take a long look...my brain gets more then dizzy...and for me the person is not really needed...the position he is holding in this second looks so unnatural...
I end up with ambigious feelings about it
Take care
Verena
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jon parsons
{K:13639} 3/8/2006
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very interesting work Hugo! marvelous.....regards, Jon
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Rashed Abdulla
{K:163889} 3/8/2006
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M y dear friend I know and I did mention that this has been taken with a lensbaby , I also explained the out come of that . Of course I like a lot of your work and I also like you but you thought me to be like this , don’t you ? :))))
Never mind I like your work and your experiments , if not for those experiments we would never learn .Have a nice day my friend )))))))))))))))
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Rashed, Don't be sorry. I appreciate you don't like my images. That is your perogative! But I suggest you take a closer look. There is a zone in focus. And it is taken with a lensbaby. I'll gladly send you the original NEF file, so you can see it with your own eyes.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Rashed Abdulla
{K:163889} 3/8/2006
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Sorry my friend :
Lensbabies bring one area of your photo into sharp focus, with that sweet spot surrounded by graduated blur, while looking at your image I did not see any zone in focus. All of the best my friend
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Rashed Abdulla
{K:163889} 3/8/2006
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This image in the background is distractive and not pleasant at all while on the foreground the contrast of the Rocks is very much incorrect ,that why a lot of details been lost here .More over I thought there should a least be one zone of the image inside the focusing range of your camera and lens. I can not call this more than a snap shot by any means and even if some people given it a good comment complement wise, is not fare at all.
All of the best my friend and aim pretty sure you could come with some thing better than this considering yourself as a Pro. Photographer. Forgive my English, please.
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Mary Sue Hayward
{K:17558} 3/8/2006
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You know, I was just looking at an ad for lensbaby yesterday, and then I saw this today! My first impression mirrors what has already been written, that the effect is so overwhelming that it is confusing. So much effort is required to resolve (or ignore) the distortion on the right that seeing the man on the left is frustrating...I can't really appreciate that critical element because of the other issues.
I'm also a bit bothered that the man is leaving the frame, but I'm not sure if this would still bother me if the confusion on the right was not so pronounced.
I'm glad you posted this image, especially that you posted it in the CC section. Mostly, I appreciate the courage to experiment and push your creative boundaries!
p.s. I still might get a lensbaby!
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Jeanette Hägglund
{K:59855} 3/8/2006
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Oh my god, this make feel like i´m falling down from a HIGH peak - falling and falling, soon reaching the ground. From the thumbnail i had no clue what it could be. Interesting and very suggestive.
Jeanette
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Roger, I appreciate your honesty. Thanks! It's the kind of comment that I value, and why I put it in the Critiquers' Corner....:) The effect was deliberate, but it did come out stronger than planned.
Not to worry, Ocasionally, I tend to try and push the envelope, to get me out of the conventional "box", but I'll return to the more "normal" type of photography once this series is uploaded...;)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Roger Williams
{K:86139} 3/8/2006
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Alas, this does nothing for me at all. It looks like an accident... and I find it hard to credit that the effect was deliberate. I don't get it even after reading the exchanges of opinion. This makes me sad because there's obviously fun and interest to be had with this lensbaby thing, it just leaves me cold. My fault, no doubt about it. At least I know not to buy a lensbaby... I wouldn't normally write something so negative but, well, you did put it in Critiquers Corner...
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Di Ciuccio Maurizio
{K:57398} 3/8/2006
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magic effect zoom for interesting view and minimalist subject..excellent job dear Hugo..very very good shot...
tanks a soon my friend...
ciao a presto
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Rob Ernsting
{K:8899} 3/8/2006
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Immediately when I saw the picture it crossed my mind; lens baby. A nice and surprsing effect. Cheers, Rob.
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Saeed, interesting suggestion / remark. It's what I enjoy about Usefilm, as it allwos me to look at my own images through another persons' eyes. As to the proportions, I assure you, they're all very natural, the person wasn't pasted in, and he IS small compared to the vast and barren landscape surrounding him. I like your suggestions, they would make it more of a portrait shot. Yet, the intentions I had when I took this photo where to make him look lost in the area around him...
Reading the comments so far, I'm beginning to see the paradox; this image is not about the man, but about the vastness of the surrounding area, yet the way I captured it places the emphasis on the person, as he's about the only subject that is more or less in focus.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, once again...:)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Saeed Al Shamsi
{K:47735} 3/8/2006
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I like the illusion result within the work, I might be wrong but the surrounding and the subject (the person) are a bit out of proportional, as the person looking a bit far or occupying a small area within the surrounding atmosphere.
Giving more space or a close up to the person might get more attention and not lost in the area around it. IMHO.
Saeed
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Sal, no, I only used PS for tweaking the levels, resizing and the frame. The blurred effect is created by the lensbaby, basically turning any (D)SLR into a toycamera.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/8/2006
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Hi Don, thanks for the honesty. I appreciate it! Let me reassure you, the man isn't pasted in, nor is it a macro...:) I do see how you can get that impression, though, and frankly, I've been waiting for somebody to mention it!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Salvatore Rossignolo
{K:13559} 3/8/2006
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Very impressive. Is that a PS motion blur?
Sal
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Don Loseke
{K:32503} 3/7/2006
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This looks like a man pasted into a macro picture. I just can't get this one to work for me Hugo. Don.
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Yep. Lensbaby it is. One of my first shots with that thing, and I guess I overdid it a wee bit....
Cheers,
Hugo
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Shane O'Neill
{K:3054} 3/7/2006
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interesting image - did you use a lensbaby?
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Massimo Di Maggio
{K:-53658} 3/7/2006
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I see your point and of course you are right, maybe my thought depends by my being a very traditional photographer, this is a good thing basically, but sometimes it may limit my work and my mind too ;) Anyway experimenting is always the best thing and looking at your image after your explanation gives me another sense, much closer to what you intended. Thanks, Max
PS: I like the idea behind the Critique’s Corner, I hope CC pages convince more people to leave constructive criticism everywhere :)
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Mike, thanks for your feedback. Of course I could fix it...:)
The reason the blurry part is darker is because I shot it top down, with more shadows in the rear of the scene. Also, there were a few darker patches in the sand stone in that area.
I agree on the excessiveness of use of new equipment, in general. At first, I found it very difficult to get the hang of this gadget, as shows clearly in this shot...;) Wonder what you'll think about the next ones in this series!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Max, thanks for the feedback. I agree the lensbaby effect is rather over-used, and probably too strong. The sense of disorientation, however, is something I intended to create, the sole person being lost in the immensity of the landscape. It seems unnatural, but the entire landscape (even without the distortion does....
I've attached an overview of the area around Zabriskie Point, taken with a standard lens. Just as a reference to what we're talking about. IMO, the undistorted version is too clean, and even though I reduced the beauty of Z-point to a mere peripheral background, I do find it relaying the wideness and atmosphere of the surroundings stronger... Hope you see what I mean. (not withstanding that this still IS one from a series of trial shots I took with the Lensbaby, and the effect is stronger than anticipated...
I really like these CC pages, Think I'll limit my uploads to one a week, too...:)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Zabriskie Point |
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Galal El Missary
{K:84569} 3/7/2006
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thanks for the useful info. about the Lensbaby , best regards .
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Michael Kanemoto
{K:22115} 3/7/2006
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hugo:
overall good, but just like any new piece of equipment I think we all try a little to hard to push the effect rather than use it as an invisible helper.
The lensbaby really punches you in the eyes in this shot.
Overall, I think that would have been OK, rather, I think it is the darkness of the background. It does focus on the person, but the blurring probably would have done that as well.
Perhaps you can use a circular mask around the figure and use levels to wash out the dark spots? Drag the midpoint slider left?
The result should mute out the darker areas to a pastel, and the result should be a lighter scene which most people associate with HEAT.
And that is death valley...
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Galal, thanks for your feedback. There's something I do not quite understand, though. If you like the composition, but suggest to crop off most of the background, I think you would change the composition all together....
I think a smaller crop could work in this case, but as these are my first trials with the lensbaby, I'm looking for the feedback on the full frame image - which is exactly what I got, thanks!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Galal El Missary
{K:84569} 3/7/2006
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nice shot , great composition & prespective in the forground but i think the background is too blurred , i suggest to crop most of the Background , Kind regards Dear Hugo .
Galal
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Massimo Di Maggio
{K:-53658} 3/7/2006
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Hi Hugo, I’m not sure about the use of Lensbabies here, I think it gives its best in portrait or street shots, but it’s only my opinion of course, in this photo the effect gives me a sense of vertigo and disorientation, oh my poor old eyes ;) maybe it’s a bit too much, I think the compositon would be great also without it, it certainly shows the immensity and the power of nature against the little man, but I miss a bit the details of the rocks, even if I must admit they are menacing in some way and maybe this is the sense you wanted from this photo. Bye, Max
PS: I was just curious to see a photo of yours in the CC pages :)
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Roberto Arcari Farinetti
{K:209486} 3/7/2006
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OMG Hugo.. the vertigo efec is so impressive.. but is also eloquent the fantastic "little man" in the imponent nature!!
nicely shot my dear friend,..
roby
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Joggie, I do see what you mean, and I think you've put your finger on the "sore spot" perfectly... I think burning the highlights a tad would probably do the trick allright.... Then again, I think the lensbaby effect could also be over the top in this composition. I have a few more to come, showing the same sandstone caterpilars and the same theme I had in mind when I shot these, and I'll definitely have a closer look at them... Thanks for making me think, much, MUCH appreciated!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Jose Ignacio (Nacho) Garcia Barcia
{K:96391} 3/7/2006
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exquisite tones. very creative. magnificent. 7
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Joggie van Staden
{K:41700} 3/7/2006
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Lookin at it again Hugo with your last comment in mind, I think the background has too strong angular lines and shodow/highlight areas (too busy) and the tunnel effect got lost because of this. Maybe a bit of burning on the haghlights could reduse that and enhance the tunnel effect - maybe? Kind regards.
Joggie
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Seems my reply crossed yours...:) Lensbaby it is!
Cheers,
hugo
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Gerhard! Good to hear from you! The fuzziness is due to the lens I used, a Lensbaby. It has a moveable / shifteable lense, attached to a harmonica, which is to be pulled towards the body of the camera in order to focus. But you can also slant it to create an unusual blur, and a shift in DOF. Very nifty thingy, and quite cool to play with...:) Thankfully, it wasn't that hot in Death Valley!
Cheers,
Hugo
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Gerhard Hoogterp
{K:4863} 3/7/2006
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ah.. lensbaby.. oke, that explains more..
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Gerhard Hoogterp
{K:4863} 3/7/2006
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funny.. from the thumbnail it looks like the detail of an old tree or smt while after opening the full picture the scale suddenly slaps you in the face..
I assume the fuzziness is a result of the heat?
Anyhow, a very nice piece of work..
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Hi Joggie, Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated!
I have to agree with you on the distortion which is too much, yet my intentions were exactly as you put it: I meant for the figure to get lost within the space, the idea was to create a tunnelvision, using the obviously impressive surroundings as a mere decor, zooming in on the man climbing up, lost in the void....
I think the crop would've worked well in this case, but as these are my first trials with the lensbaby, I'm looking for the feedback on the full frame image - which is exactly what I got, thanks! As to the larger aperture (value) I could've replaced the aperture ring to its max of f/8, and looking back at the results I brought home, I think I would've done just that, but that's in hindsight.
The lensbabies are lots of fun, and much harder to control than I would've thought. Definitely need to play around with it more...:)
Cheers,
Hugo
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Joggie van Staden
{K:41700} 3/7/2006
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Very nice composition Hugo. I think the immensity of the surrounding here ask for a bit more detail to put the figure in true perspective. Use of a large aperture, as we know would have done that beautifully here. My impression is that the distortion is too much in this case - the main subject is too small and is somewhat lost within all the blurred space. Perhaps a tighter crop retaining the landscape format and position of the figure could help. Always wondered about these Lensbabys - lots of fun but not so easy .
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Hugo de Wolf
{K:185110} 3/7/2006
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Thanks Steve, exactly the kind of comment I am looking for! I found it rather difficult to find the right balance between blur and focus. I think I agree with you on the excessive level of abstractism in the top right.
Cheers,
Hugo
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Steve Shuey
{K:-415} 3/7/2006
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This is a great attempt at landscape with a lensbaby. Cool place to try it but I just think the effect is too great here. I love the scale of the person but the upper areas and right side are just to much abstract for this to really work for me. Fun shot for sure.
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