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7 Tips for Gorgeous Glass Ball Photography

22 Sep

The post 7 Tips for Gorgeous Glass Ball Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

7 tips for crystal ball photography

Glass ball photography is a fantastic way to create compelling images, the kind that will leave your audience both wowed and curious.

But how do glass ball photos work? How do you set up beautiful images? And how do you use a simple crystal ball to capture such striking effects?

In this article, I share everything you need to get started, including a lensball recommendation, plenty of tips, and even a few crystal ball photography ideas.

Let’s dive right in.

Doing Crystal Ball Refraction Photography - house inside glass ball

How does glass ball photography work?

Glass ball photography, also known as crystal ball photography, uses refraction to capture unique images. A crystal ball (lensball) is placed in front of a scene; the scene is then refracted in the ball. Thanks to the magic of physics, you end up with an inverted image in the ball, which you can then capture with your camera.

As the photographer, you have ultimate control over your lensball image. For instance, by repositioning the ball (and by repositioning the camera with respect to the ball), you’ll capture different perspectives. You can also adjust the aperture for shallow depth of field effects (where the ball is framed by a blurry background), and you can change the distance from the camera to the ball for an interesting close-up effect. I discuss these techniques in greater detail below.

1. Consider flipping the upside down image

Thanks to refraction, the image inside a glass ball is flipped. Which means you have two options:

  1. You can leave the inverted image and incorporate it into the composition. For instance, you can juxtapose the flipped image with the real scene in the background.
  2. You can rotate the image during post-processing, so that the ball’s image appears right side up. Here, you may want to blur out the background with a wide aperture; that way, the flipped background isn’t obvious.

As you’ll see throughout this article, I use a mix of techniques. Sometimes, I like to keep the inverted crystal ball image. Other times, I flip the image for a less disorienting effect.

By the way, if you want to create a sharp, right side up image but you don’t want to do any rotation in post-processing, there is another option:

You can use the ball to photograph reflections. After all, reflections are naturally upside down, but the ball will invert them for a normal-looking result.

upside-down image in a crystal ball.

The image inside the ball will be upside down.

2. Get on a level with your subject

It might be tempting to put your glass ball on the ground and shoot into it, but this will actually cause significant distortion, plus it will create less compositional impact.

Instead, I recommend getting your ball up off the ground and on a level with your subject. The key here is to ensure your subject is centered in the ball, so feel free to move the setup around until you get the composition you’re after.

Note that you’ll want to keep your hands out of the frame, so you can either get up close and only photograph part of the ball, or you can perch the ball on an elevated platform, like a rock, a car, or a bench.

Of course, there are exceptions to this advice. Sometimes, it pays to place the ball on the ground, especially if you plan to photograph puddles or leaf beds.

3. Fill the glass ball with your subject

Unless you get close to your subject, it will appear very small inside the ball. So do what you can to close the distance, until your subject looms large in the ball (and consequently the frame).

This might involve careful planning or even some creativity. The ball is like a wide-angle lens, so try to think about your shot as if you’re photographing it at 16mm or so. Would the scene fill the frame at 16mm? If so, you’re golden!

cityscape crystal ball photography

In this photo, the cityscape is captured inside the ball.

4. Choose the correct lens

Yes, you can do glass ball photography with literally any lens, from ultra-wide to super-telephoto. But if you want to maximize the impact of the ball, I’d really recommend using a macro lens (or a telephoto lens with significant close-focusing capabilities).

Thanks to a macro lens, you can get close to the ball, which does two things:

  1. It lets you increase the size of the ball in your shot (in other words, you can get close for lots of detail).
  2. It helps you create strong background bokeh, which is key if you want to flip the image and keep it natural looking (discussed in Tip 1).

A wide-angle lens can work, too, but only if the scene allows it. I recommend experimenting with a macro lens and a wide-angle lens to determine the effect you like best.

5. Choose the correct aperture

The aperture influences the depth of field (i.e., the amount of the scene that’s in focus).

Set an ultra-wide aperture, and you’ll end up with a beautifully blurred background and a sharp foreground. Set an ultra-narrow aperture, and you’ll end up with a crisp foreground and a crisp background.

Neither is obviously better than the other; it just depends on the effect you want. If you’d prefer to create a blurry background (for example, you want to flip the image without a disorienting result), you might try using an aperture of f/4 or so. This will generally blur out the background while creating a sharp image inside the ball.

But be sure to review the image on your LCD afterward to make sure you get the result you want. If you go too wide, even the ball will be blurred, and everything will become an out-of-focus mess. Also, the depth of field depends on other factors as well, such as the distance between the lensball and the camera, so experimentation is always a good idea.

lensball close up

6. Find a safe place to position the ball

This is very important, especially if you are photographing from a high vantage point. Balls are, well, balls, which means that they like to roll, and you certainly don’t want your crystal ball rolling off a bench (or worse, a building). Best case scenario, it’ll end up with scratches – and worst case scenario, it’ll smash and you’ll need to buy a new one.

That’s why I recommend putting the ball on a flat surface, and a crevice is better (if you can find one). Place the ball carefully, then let it sit for a few seconds. Even if the ball seems stable, keep your (or a friend’s) hands nearby, and watch it like a hawk, especially on windy days. You do not want the ball to blow off in the middle of a photo!

If you can’t find a good resting place, you might just ask a friend to hold the ball for you. Or, with some practice, you can hold the ball yourself (though this is always tricky; unless you’re working with a tripod, you’ll need to hold the ball in one hand while focusing and firing the shutter with the other!).

using reflections for a natural result

In this photo of the Taj Mahal, there is a reflection in the background, and this reflected image is in fact upside down.

7. Make sure your subject is well-lit

Pretty much every photo can benefit from a well-lit subject, but it’s especially important for crystal ball photography.

Why? A strongly lit subject will shine through the ball while minimizing reflections. (Yes, those pesky reflections that come from in front of the ball and can show unwanted elements such as the camera lens!)

That’s why I recommend you photograph with the sun behind you and striking your subject directly. Alternatively, you can photograph during the blue hour or at night, but aim to photograph buildings with brightly lit facades.

(On the other hand, reflections can create interesting effects, so don’t be afraid to try out different lighting scenarios if you’re feeling creative.)

Glass ball photography vs standard photography

Are you wondering whether it makes sense to pursue glass ball photography? After all, do you really want to play around with a lensball when you could be capturing a beautiful wide-angle shot of the same scene?

In this section, I’ve put together a quick list of pros and cons – which will help you decide whether crystal ball photography makes sense for you.

Glass ball pros

  • A glass ball is cheaper than a lens and allows you to create a unique fisheye effect
  • A ball offers flexibility; you can move it to different positions in your scene
  • You can use a large aperture in conjunction with the ball to create bokeh
  • Scenes created with a crystal ball often have a more artistic feel
  • The ball creates a natural frame for your scene

Glass ball cons

  • Larger glass balls are heavy to carry (in an already heavy camera bag)
  • You need a macro lens to get the best results
  • The edge of a glass ball produces distortion
  • Getting a sharp image inside the ball can be difficult
  • The image in the ball is upside down, which gives you another problem to contend with

In fact, here’s a quick illustration of a crystal ball effect. First, we have a standard wide-angle image of a scene:

A wide angle photo of a famous road junction in Shanghai.

And here’s the same scene, but shot with a glass ball:

Lensball road junction

What do you think? Which shot do you prefer? The choice to use a glass ball is yours to make, though I highly recommend trying it out. Personally, I feel the pros majorly outweigh the cons (plus, you’ve made it this far in the article, which means you know all sorts of helpful tips!)

If you find crystal balls too heavy to carry all the time, you can try scouting scenes in advance, then returning for a second visit with only the equipment you need to get your photo.

Glass ball photography: final words

Well, there you have it:

Plenty of tips to get started with crystal ball photography. You will, of course, need a crystal ball – which you can buy easily on Amazon for around $ 27 USD. Once the ball arrives, head to a local landmark and start experimenting. The list of subjects really is endless; you can start with a lone tree, a church, or even a cityscape scene.

Now over to you:

Have you tried lensball photography? Do you think you’ll start? Share your thoughts and images in the comments below!

Volcanic lake found in Indonesia in glass ball

Natural landscapes look great inside the ball. This is a volcanic lake found in Indonesia.

The post 7 Tips for Gorgeous Glass Ball Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.


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Sirui launches AM-2 Travel carbon fiber tripod series with five models and a ball head

28 Feb

Chinese camera accessory manufacturer SIRUI has announced its new carbon fiber AM-2 Travel Tripod series featuring a total of five tripod models. The company describes its new lineup as lightweight, with the largest and heaviest model weighing in at 1.22kg (2.69lbs). The tripods are suitable for uses that range from macro to travel photography, according to the company.

The SIRUI AM-2 Travel Tripod series features the following models:

  • AM-223 ($ 129.90): 350mm (13.78in) max height, 15kg (33lbs) max load
  • AM-225 ($ 199.90): 1200mm (47.24in) max height, 6kg (13.23lbs) max load
  • AM-254 ($ 199.90): 1200mm (47.24in) max height, 12kg (26.46lbs) max load
  • AM-284 ($ 249.90): 1200mm (47.24in) max height, 15kg (33.07lbs) max load
  • SL-200 ($ 29.90): 320mm (12.60in) max height, 15kg (33.07lbs) max load

The tripods are resistant to corrosion and have a high level of stability, according to SIRUI. Features vary based on the model, but include anti-slip leg locks, leg angle adjustment buttons, 1/4″-20 accessory port, interchangeable feet for use with metal spikes, included adjustment tools and tripod bag, as well as, in some cases, an included ball head. The AM-2 series can be used with the optional low gravity A-10R ball head priced at $ 99.90.

The new models are listed on the SIRUI USA website at this time but don’t appear to have yet been added to other online stores like Adorama and B&H Photo.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer hit with ball during ceremonial pitch at recent White Sox game

30 May

Photographer Darren Georgia was struck with what is being called the ‘worst first pitch ever’ during the Royals and White Sox game that took place on May 28. Georgia was positioned near the mound to capture the ceremonial pitch, but the toss didn’t go as anticipated — instead of travelling to the catcher, the ball ended up bouncing off the photographer’s lens hood.

The ceremonial pitch was thrown by an unnamed White Sox employee, according to White Sox Talk, which shared a brief interview with Georgia. According to the photographer, both he and his camera gear survived the unanticipated contact without injury or damage. As well, Georgia successfully captured an image of the pitch seconds before the ball made contact with his camera.

This isn’t the first time a sports photographer has been hit while photographing a game. Last year, for example, Olympic skier Lara Gut collided with photographer Sean Haffey after one of her skis struck a gate.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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7 Ideas for Creative Lens Ball Photography [video]

25 May

The post 7 Ideas for Creative Lens Ball Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.

In this video by our friends over at Cooph, you’ll learn 7 great ideas for creative lens ball photography to have fun with.

The 7 ideas for creative lens ball photography include:

1. Typography

Type some text and print it out (or find some text you already have) and photograph the lens ball on top. The ball acts as a magnifying glass and distorts the edges of the text.

Look for large letters on signage and displays and photograph the lens ball in front of it for a cool effect.

2. Split World

Look for corners with contrast to create a yin/yang effect.

3. Altering Structure

Find interesting flat structures to photograph the sphere against. The sphere will alter its structure and give it form.

Scan your lawn for flowers and photograph them through the sphere.

4. Inner Circle

Find round shaped objects that support the shape of the lens ball. Crawl into a tunnel (only a safe one, of course), set up your lens ball for the perfect shot.

5. Elements

Fill up a bucket with water. Set up your camera with a high shutter speed and have someone throw the lens ball out of the water bucket. You capture all the action.

Prepare lighter fluid and a spark (Editor note: actually, I don’t fully recommend this one unless you can absolutely do this safely. Fire is dangerous!!)

6. Portraits

Play with nature and your model for capturing cool portraits using the lens ball.

You can also have fun in the studio with this.

7. Abstract Spheres

Create custom backgrounds (cool wrapping paper or printouts will work great). Find interesting patterns too. These make for awesome shots using the lens ball.

Grids also work well. Place your grid in front of a colored wall and light it up. Put your lens ball in front and take some shots.

Bonus Tip:

Use light sabers and your ball for cool effects.

 

You may also find the following helpful:

  • How to Create Glass Ball Landscapes – 6 Techniques
  • Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?
  • How to Make Creative Photos with Prism Photography
  • Copper, Prisms, and Orbs, Oh My! – 3 Creative Techniques for People Photography
  • How to Take Unique Crystal Ball Portraits
  • 5 Photography Hacks to Improve Your Creative Photography

 

The post 7 Ideas for Creative Lens Ball Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Caz Nowaczyk.


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Manfrotto launches a trio of new center ball heads

09 Oct

Italian tripod maker Manfrotto has updated its line of ball tripod heads. The new 490 center ball head is an affordable model designed with simplicity in mind. The entire head is controlled via single knob, making sure the new model is easy to use. It comes with Manfrotto’s RC2 200LT-PL plate and allows for quick positioning of the camera into portrait orientation.

The company has also redesigned its 492 and 492LCD heads. Both models are manufactured in Italy and designed with ergonomics and convenience of use in mind. The LCD version comes with a cold shoe mount, allowing for mounting on top of a camera to hold external displays or others accessories via a 1/4-inch tripod mount.

The new heads are targeted at amateur photographers and have a payload of 4KG, making them ideal for smaller camera/lens combination, such as Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras or entry-level DSLRs.

At $ 50 (GBP 44.95) the 490 is the most affordable of the new center ball heads. The 492 is $ 60 (GPB 54.95) and the 292LCD will set you back $ 70 (GBP 64.95).

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review – Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

22 Aug

When my original tripod head started getting a bit loose and wobbly, the decision had to be made to replace it. But what was I going to get for a new head?

There are many brands and choices and after doing a lot of research and reading reviews, the most important parameters (for me) were narrowed down to these:

  1. It must be as light as possible
  2. There must be a lever clamp
  3. Panorama leveling included

Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

After much careful consideration, I opted to go with the Acratech Ball Head with Lever Clamp option. For those interested, the other serious contender was from Really Right Stuff. Pricing was similar but the Acratech was a lot lighter.

When it finally arrived (it takes a long time for things to travel to NZ affordably) the first thing that surprised me was how small it was. The second thing was how hefty, solid and well made it was. It is almost a work of art in its own right, how sculptured it looks.

Up close and personal with the Acratech GP Ball Head

There are three knobs on the base of the Acratech GP. The largest one with the notches is the ball head release – this is the one that gets used all the time to position the head.

On the same level is a smaller round knob which is responsible for adjusting the tension. When you loosen the main knob it can go completely loose and floppy really quickly, or you can tension it to have a bit more resistance.

There is a small notched knob on the panorama ring. It allows the whole head to swivel around from side to side – a necessary requirement when panning across for panorama images.

Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

Back of the tripod as it faces the photographer with the three main control knobs and the lever clamp in a closed position.

There is one notch that allows you to drop the camera over 90 degrees (to a vertical position) and be held firmly in place there.

Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

Front of the tripod head showing the drop notch.

At the top is the camera mount plate which has a lever clamp with a safety release. This has to be held down for the lever to let go. It’s easy to get a shirt cuff caught in the lever so this is a very important feature.

On the front of the camera mount, is a high friction adjustment knob so you can close the lever tightly around the tripod plate on the camera.

Finally, there is a bubble level on the camera mount plate.

Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

Top view of camera mounting plate with the lever clamp in the closed position.

Here are the specifications on the Acratech GP Ball Head from the manufacturer’s website:

  • Will hold up to 25lbs (11.4kg)
  • Height 4.14″ (105mm)
  • Length 3.47″ (88mm)
  • Wide 3.20″ (81mm)
  • Base Diameter 2.375″ (60mm)
  • Weight 0.95 lbs (.43kg)

NOTE: It also comes with a 10-year warranty.

Setting up the Acratech GP Ballhead

Step 0 is to screw the head to the top of your tripod legs.

Step 1 is to sort out your appropriate level of tension needed for the ball head when you release the main locking knob.

  • Too loose and the camera will instantly flop over to one side if you don’t have a hand supporting it.
  • Too tight and it can be stiff and difficult to position, which slows you down and is quite tiring after a while.
  • My preferred option is set so that it’s tight enough to loosen off slowly initially but has enough play to move about easily.

Step 2 is to put the camera on the mounting plate (with the ball locked shut) and the adjustment knob on the mounting plate loosened.

This allows you to seat the camera firmly and holding tightly with one hand, screw the adjustment knob as tight as you possibly can.

Step 3 is to figure out how it all works together with the camera mounted. You may want to change the tensioning once the camera adds its weight to the arrangement.

There is a full set up video on the manufacturer’s website, or you can watch it below:

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Features

One of the benefits of the Acratech GP ball head is it offers three key features in one mount:

  1. Standard ball head with lever clamp option
  2. Gimbal head
  3. Panorama head

1. The standard ball head allows you full rotation around the top of the head and a drop notch to allow a 90-degree supported camera position.

2. Gimbal head utilizes the drop notch and by having both the main knob and the panorama knobs loosened, you can swing the camera around and swivel up and down freely. This works best when you have it mounted on a longer lens with a locking collar.

3. The panorama head is a unique feature where you unscrew the head from the legs, also unscrewing the camera mounting plate from the top of the tripod.

You then screw the camera mounting plate on the bottom of the head and screw the reassembled head back onto the tripod legs.

(See the video above which fully explains all these features.)

The User Experience

I have had my Acratech GP Ballhead for several years now and in general, I really like it though there are some design features I find quite irritating.

  1. The main locking knob has a really short shank (the distance between it and the body of the head). My hands aren’t huge but I often scrape my knuckles on the side of the head when tightening the locking knob.
  2. The main locking knob is quite small which means you need to turn it a lot because it lacks the leverage a wider knob would give. As a result, I have the tensioning set quite high.
  3. When the tensioning is set towards the higher end (i.e. quite resistant), it can sometimes seem that the camera is locked in place. However, if the locking knob is not fully engaged, the camera can suddenly drop or slump especially if you have a heavy lens. Or if you are really unlucky and you didn’t check the friction knob was tight, your camera literally falls out of the head and smashes onto a concrete floor!
  4. Check that the lever clamp high friction knob is tight as it can loosen over time.
  5. It may be the age of my head but I notice it droops down a bit when the camera settles into position. Not a huge amount but it’s noticeable when working with macro and tightly framed compositions. It’s manageable by setting it a tad higher than usual and letting it drop into the correct position.
  6. For panoramas I have never bothered to muck around with unscrewing it as its designed to be, I just set everything up and then loosen the pano base knob and swing it around happily.
  7. I have never used the gimbal feature so I cannot comment here.
Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

Side view showing some of the wear and tear on my Acratech GP Ball Head – it’s a solid piece of kit.

My Gear

I shoot with a Canon 7D Mark II and my heaviest/longest lenses are Canon 24-70 II F2.8 IS, Canon 100mm F2.8 IS L macro and Canon 70-200 F4 IS L with a locking collar.

I got an RRS L-plate for the camera and a lens plate for the 70-200mm lens.

My tripod gets used a lot. I always use it for landscapes, as I do a fair amount of long exposures. Any macro photography is always done using the tripod and most of my food and still life shots are done on a tripod as well.

Review - Acratech GP Ball Head for Tripods

Acratech ball head with a Canon 7D mounted for scale.

Summary

This is only the second tripod head I have owned in 10 years of doing photography and in general, I am very happy with it.

It is tiny in comparison to other options, so the lighter weight is appreciated when traveling or carrying the tripod. Despite the size, it does provide a good firm base and allows me to get solid sharp images.

There are a few quirks to get used to in regards to setting up and using the head. I am sure this is pretty common no matter what brand or option you get.

My one main niggle is the design of the main locking knob. The shank is too short and I have scraped my knuckles bloody on more than one occasion. It can be avoided by careful positioning of my hand in relation to the knob, but in my opinion, it is a design flaw that should be improved upon.

Overall, based on the range of features it offers a run of the mill photographer (i.e. you don’t have big heavy lenses), the lighter weight, quality of workmanship and design, I give the Acratech GP Ball Head 8 out of 10.

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Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

06 Jun

Shopping for a tripod may be one of the most complicated endeavors a photographer can take on. Lights, lenses and other accessories are pretty easy. Most things on the market in these instances are relatively similar and the differences can be negligible. With tripods, that is not the case.

There are so many options at every price point on the market that it’s hard to choose. In my case, I went through various models at the cheaper and middle-grade ends of the market with varying results. At first, the cheaper models were fine. All that I used them for was tabletop work, where if I didn’t knock it by accident, there was little chance of movement.

But as I started to get outside more for landscape photography, the downfalls of using a cheap tripod became apparent immediately. Upgrading to middle-grade models did little to solve the problem. Still fine in a studio environment, they always underperformed on location.

Finding the Right Tripod

Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

This all changed when I visited the Manfrotto stall at a trade show in the UK. At first, I thought it was going to be another case of being overwhelmed by choice with no apparent differences in the various models. That was more or less exactly what happened. That is until I spotted the Manfrotto XPRO Ball Head. Within two minutes of fiddling about with it, I knew that it was exactly what I had wanted for the past few years.

With a tripod head chosen, I just needed to find a set of legs. Going through the selection of tripod legs, none of them felt right. They were all either too heavy, too short, or the controls were too awkward. Just as I was about to give up, I spotted the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod. It was perfect. Lightweight, a maximum height just above my eye level, sturdy carbon fiber construction and easy, but firm controls added up to everything I had given up on finding.

The Legs

The Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fibre Tripod has a few relevant features.

Carbon Fiber Construction

This is pretty self-explanatory, but the carbon fiber build on this tripod is excellent. Despite being quite lightweight at 4.6 pounds (2kg), it’s still tough as nails.

I once gave up on a landscape location after 15 minutes because of gale force winds. When I got home, I realized the frames were all sharp with no signs of camera movement.

This thing is sturdy. Any of the other half dozen tripods I’ve used in the past decade or so probably would have snapped in half on that occasion. (An exaggeration of course, but it doesn’t feel like one.)

landscape scene - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

I gave up on this location after 15 minutes because of really strong winds. When I got home, I realized the tripod held its own and there was no sign of camera shake despite the weather.

Here’s a little bonus:

All of my previous tripods have been aluminum. As it’s difficult to operate tripods with thick gloves on cold winter days, they were quick to become painful when used or carried for any amount of time. One of the first things I noticed about this tripod is that the legs never got truly cold, even in the worst weather.

At first, I thought I was making this up and it was psychosomatic, but when you have poor circulation as I do, these things are really noticeable. A bit of research showed that heat conduction with carbon fiber is vastly lower than it is with aluminum. If you have poor circulation and carrying cold metal in the winter is painful to you, even with gloves, try carbon fiber. It may give you a bit of relief that you weren’t expecting.

Controls

All of the clasps, knobs, and levels on the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod work beyond well. All of the knobs can be tightened with small movements and loosened just as easily. Gone are the days where I would have to spend ages tightening down a knob with all my strength only for it to still not be tight enough. In this case, Manfrotto’s engineers have outdone themselves. Twist and go.

The clasps that hold the legs in place are strong, but they’re designed so they are easy to use, even while wearing thick gloves. At first, it seemed like getting the clasps open was a bit tough. But once you get used to the amount of pressure you have to apply to get them to open and close, you begin to appreciate how much force is keeping the legs in position.

Just don’t close your fingers in them. That would hurt a lot.

leg clasps on the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

The clasps on the legs are strong and require a bit of effort to open and close, but they do their job really well.

Height

Without the head, the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod has a maximum height of 66.9” (170cm). This stat alone could have caused me to not give this tripod a second glance had it been any shorter. There have been too many occasions, when on location, that I couldn’t get the shot because I couldn’t get the tripod positioned over a normal size barrier like a fence or railing.

It was frustrating, which is why height was a major consideration in choosing my next tripod. The problem is, every single tripod I looked at that had a similar height and the taller ones were significantly more expensive. This tripod, however, sits at exactly the height I was after and was just inside the budget I was willing to spend.

Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head - tripod height

Fully extended, the Manfrotto 055 comes to (just about) my eye level, making it the perfect height for me.

Spirit Level

tripod spirit level - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

The body of the Manfrotto 055 features a spirit level that moves independently from the rest of the tripod and the head. You can put it in any position around the center column. Although the XPRO ball head features two spirit levels already, this third one makes sure that you have visual access to a level at all times.

Size

Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

When folded up, the Manfrotto 055 is small and easy to carry around.

Despite being just shy of six feet when fully extended, when it’s compacted the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod folds up quite small. With the head detached, it fits neatly into the small carry-on suitcase that I fly with. On location, I can slip one of the legs through the straps on the side of my camera bag and it only sticks out a few extra inches.

Tripod Design

detail of tripod leg - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

It may be a weird thing to say about a tripod, but this one sure is pretty.

As an aside, it’s worth mentioning the design aesthetics of both the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fibre Tripod and the XPRO Ball Head. Considering that we’re talking about a tripod, they both look really good.

The carbon fiber legs feature a pleasing pattern and the whole thing has a generous dose of metallic red that looks good to the eye. Now, aesthetic design is the last thing that you should ever consider when choosing a tripod, but as it exists here, it’s worth a mention.

Perhaps it’s a symptom of that fabled Italian design, or perhaps it just reflects the price point. Either way, don’t buy a tripod because it looks good, but this one does all the same.

The Ball Head

In short, the Manfrotto XPRO Ball Head is a dream. As mentioned, it’s exactly what I have always wanted in a tripod head.

tripod ball head - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

If you don’t know what a ball head is, imagine an old trackball mouse (if you can). The tripod plate is mounted on the ball which in turn moves freely in its mount until you clamp it down. This allows you to move the camera freely to any position within the head’s range of movement, and clamp it into position with the twist of a knob or two.

Ball heads are ridiculously convenient and easy to use.

Dedicated landscape photographers whom may balk at the thought of jaunty angles may choose other options, such as pan and tilt heads, but I shoot landscapes for fun when I can. The versatility and ease of use of a ball head in the studio or for a portrait session make it ideal for multiple disciplined photographers.

Ball Head Controls

ball head controls - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

Both knobs that hold the ball in place (yes, there are two) are strong and tighten with short, effortless movements.

Like the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod, the controls of the XPRO Ball Head are very well designed and easy to use. Movements of the knobs that hold the head in your desired position are slight, yet they hold fast without any slippage.

On top of that, there are two knobs to hold the ball in place, creating a layer of redundancy when it really counts. The same applies to the other mechanisms and controls. They all work perfectly and in the time I’ve been using the tripod, nothing has slipped yet.

Spirit Levels

levels on the tripod ball head - Review: Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and XPRO Ball Head

The Manfrotto XPRO Ball head features two spirit levels in perpendicular orientations that make it easy to ensure that your shots are level.

Price

You may be thinking that I’m waxing a bit too lyrical about the virtues of this tripod and head. I promise, it really is that good, but there is a significant downside. All that greatness comes at a cost.

At $ 379 for the legs and $ 139.95 for the head, this is not a cheap piece of equipment. If you’re using it a lot, that price is fine, but if you’re looking for a tripod for the occasional landscape foray, this tripod is probably not for you. Likewise, if you’re only using it in a studio for static subjects, you can easily get away with a less expensive model.

Conclusion

As you can gather from the write-up, this tripod works very well when in use. It’s sturdy, with easy controls that work quickly and fluidly. It’s lightweight and does what it says on the box.

If you’re looking for a quality tripod and head combo that’s a workhorse, do consider the Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod and the XPRO Ball Head combo. It does exactly the job it’s meant to with finesse. Yes, it’s an expensive bit of kit, but the price point reflects the quality.

A good tripod is a great investment, one you will not have to repeat if you choose wisely.

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Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

06 May

The world is in your hands, well it can certainly seem that way when you do crystal ball photography. The crystal ball allows you to take refraction photos, which reveal the background scene within the ball. It’s a great technique, with which many people are having a lot of fun.

The photographic technique has now become so popular that photographers have re-branded the crystal ball as a lensball! So the question that’s often asked is which lensball size is the correct one to buy? Let’s take a look at the various options available when buying a crystal ball, and decide which is the best for you.

Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography? - 3 sizes

Which size of the lensball is the best? There are three here, an 80, a 120 and a 60mm ball.

Small Lensball

The small size lensball is anything less than 60mm, so all the way down to a marble. These balls are the easiest to pack and are considerably lighter than the other balls. So what are the strengths and weaknesses of this particular size?

Strengths

  • Weight – These add almost no weight to your bag at all, and this also makes them easier to use for handheld photos.
  • Size – Again owing to their small size they’ll be easier to pack, giving you more space for other items. The smaller size also allows you to place the ball in gaps where the larger balls won’t fit.
  • Handheld – This size makes it easier to hold the ball between your finger and thumb, which becomes more difficult at larger sizes.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

This position to rest the ball is only possible with a small lensball.

Weaknesses

  • Weight – This is also a weakness. Once a heavy ball is in place it usually stays there. The problem comes on a windy day, where the wind can move a lighter ball much more easily.
  • Focus and distortion – This lensball size will have a smaller sweet spot for focus, and a greater proportion of the ball will be distorted. Using a smaller aperture can help, as more of the ball will be focused.
  • Lens required – You will need a macro lens when using a small lensball if you wish to fill the frame with the ball.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

The small size is perfect to hold between your index finger and thumb.

Medium Lensball size

This refers to balls at 80mm in diameter. Many photographers see this as the ideal size for their refraction photography. There are a lot of good reasons why you should also use this size of lensball. Let’s break it down, as this is the crystal ball you’ll likely be using.

Strengths

  • Weight – This is a little heavier, but still not noticeable. So it’s a nice thing to carry in your camera bag to add a bit more creativity to your work.
  • Size – This is a decent size, though you might not fit this ball into a small space. The ball will fill a nice portion of your frame with a standard lens, using a macro is optional at this size.
  • Focus and distortion – By this size, the sweet spot area of focus within the ball dominates the scene inside the ball, and distortions at the edge are much less noticeable.

Weaknesses

  • Size – There are very few weaknesses in this size of a lensball. However, if you wish to take a photo where you frame just the edge of the ball this is more difficult. Likewise using the ball to eclipse a background object is also more difficult, as the ball is that much smaller.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

The lensball is ideal for many kinds of creative takes on typical scenes. Here it’s used to capture a road lined with cherry blossom trees.

Large Lensball

The large size refers to those balls that are 100mm or over in diameter. This size is not common amongst most photographers, though this is the size I cut my teeth on for crystal ball photography.

Even with the extra weight, this is often the preferred size for me personally, it just gives better quality images in my opinion. Whether this is the size for you will come down to if you want to carry the extra weight or not.

Strengths

  • Optics – This size offers the best in optics, a larger proportion of the ball will be in sharp focus.
  • Handheld – This is a much more natural size to fit in the palm of your hand or someone else’s palm. One classic crystal ball composition is that of a hand cupping the ball.
  • Size – This makes it far easier to fill the frame with your ball, and even hide some background elements behind the ball.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

A larger size ball will both fill the frame more easily and cover up the background when it’s close to the camera.

Weaknesses

  • Weight – The obvious weakness here is weight. Those not used to carrying a heavy camera bag should avoid this crystal ball size. The weight is equivalent to an extra lens in your camera bag. It comes down to whether you want an extra lens or the larger crystal ball in your bag.
  • Size – While optics are better when photographing this size, the larger size is not so good for storage. This will take up a large space in your bag.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

This particular way of holding the crystal ball is one of the classics. It’s not so natural looking with a smaller sized ball.

Safety

The crystal ball is a really great photographic tool to play with, though there are some safety issues you need to be aware of. You will also find that staff in the airport may consider the crystal ball a lethal weapon! This means you will have to put it in your checked luggage, hand luggage is not an option.

So what are these safety concerns then?

  • Fire hazard – Keep the crystal ball stored somewhere out of the sun. The glass will act in the same way a magnifying glass does, and while this will usually only result in smoke it can lead to a fire as well. Oh not to mention, it can burn your hand when you are holding it as well!
  • Gravity – Due to its spherical nature the ball is liable to roll. If it rolls off the edge of a tall building it can cause damage to whatever it hits. Take care with the ball in such situations.
Which Size Lensball is Best for Crystal Ball Photography?

Having a small crystal ball with me enabled me to fit it in the gap of this fence.

Conclusion

Asking which size if crystal ball you should buy is a little like asking which is the best tripod. Everyone knows the sturdiest tripod is best, but that it’s impractical to carry around for the whole day.

The same is true of the crystal ball, the 80mm medium sized ball then is probably the best choice. There is certainly a case for the smaller or larger size of balls though, so if you decide to get a second ball how about a different size?

Using more than one ball at a time can also be fun!

As mentioned in this article, the 80mm is both not too heavy, yet doesn’t sacrifice the image within the ball making this a good size.

Have you bought a crystal ball, or are you thinking of doing so? We’d love to see your comments, and images – please share below.

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How you can make Your individual individual Ball Pit

07 Mar

Ball pits have generally been the like of children though utilizing the brightly colored balls moreover the principle of just with the ability to leap all-around and conceal in them is intriguing www.superiorballscrewrepair.com/. From sheer boredom just one working working day I was viewing a further king measurement mattress I might in opposition to the basement wall and decided to develop a ball pit of my own for my tiny kinds to delight in in. By very first measuring the scale from the mattress which turned out for getting 76″x80″, we could detect just simply how much lumber is going to be required. For supplies you might want, and bear in mind this tends to not be essentially the most cost efficient undertaking, 164′ of 2×4 untreated as this can be generally intending to be inside of, 50′ of orange advancement fence, two hinges and slide lock for that gate, 3″ screws.

For instruments we have been intending to be employing our Bosch Miter Found and Stand, energy screw driver, staple gun with 1/2″ staples, tape assess and amount. This might unquestionably be described as a complicated activity all on your own so a husband or spouse on this unique endeavor is simply not vital, but useful. You may be aspiring to lay your mattress in regards to the basement floor inside of the locale you would like it, remembering that shifting it about isn’t really its intention. Your then gonna slash your 2×4’s into sections employing your Bosch Miter Seen and Bosch Stand, four merchandise 78″ quite very long and 4 merchandise are going to be 82″ comprehensive, sixteen 4′ parts, and two about the 82″ parts could possibly be reduce in two locations each and every to guidance a gate.

Pursuing obtaining our lumber all set we then begin off over a one side laying the appropriate dimension 2×4 down and following that another butting up from around the corner and screwing them in two sites. When completed finishing the underside we then start off off on one specific corner and screw the 4′ 2×4 every one 3′ upright screwing just the base aspect to start out with with two screws. When this is often attained you happen to be then possible to attach your very best 2×4 with two screws also. This particularly in which you could quite possibly need to have aid possessing everyone to hold the alternative complete, I even so did it on your own making use of a recognized horse as my other set of hands. On the entrance of one’s ball pit human body with the many 2 2×4 which have the aspect slash out in just the center with will likely be screwing just the boards on both equally aspect together with the door as well as the 4′ upright price ranges. Get the remaining two by fours and set up in a square in excess of the bottom and screw jointly within of a sq. to sort your doorway, attaching the hinges on one particular side top rated rated and base and also the lock about the opposite over the coronary heart. Mount your doorway about the entrance and lock closed.

You might be then intending to just consider your development fence and beginning on a person corner all over the proper facet of front and staple your fence key and bottom lots of the way in which shut to ensuring all staples are sunk into your picket as to not bring about damage. The moment you have throughout on the entrance you chop your fence while using the doorway and begin a tad all over one other aspect in the doorway to precisely where you commenced. Your best bit of fence will likely be stapled in the doorway part that could protect all of your balls while in the pit. (1 advice is often to scoot some balls very clear of the doorway when getting into and exiting regarding not spill them out onto the ground.) Now you happen being wanting to extend your balls which might be acquired at most vendors coming in the box of a hundred. Once again these balls can be dear so appear close to and price them. I separately acquired fifteen containers and position 1500 balls in my pit. From the event the colorful entertaining balls are added your kids ought to have a fun, safe, and bizarre complete house of their individual. You will end up the envy from your community.

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How to Take Unique Crystal Ball Portraits

23 Jan

The search is always on to try something new in photography. That process is often about taking a technique and applying it in a new way. A crystal ball is a great addition to any landscape photographer’s camera bag. In this article, you’ll see why this is also true for portrait photographers.

You’ll learn to take the perfect crystal ball portrait. There are some special characteristics of refraction photography to consider. You will learn the technical side of refraction photography, and how to use this for your portraits.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

In this photo, the model is seated, with her legs near her body. This made it easier to “eclipse” her behind the ball.

What is refraction photography?

Refractions is an effect that is produced when the light is bent upon passing through an object of denser mass. In the case of a crystal ball, this has the effect of inverting the background image inside the ball. This can be great to use for photography, as the ball becomes an external optic for your camera. You can read more about refraction photography in one of my previous articles.

This effect is mostly used for photographing landscapes, as it creates a super wide-angle scene within the glass ball. However, there are occasions you’d use a wide angle lens for portrait work, and the same is true with the crystal ball.

As with all crystal ball photos, try to ensure your subject is well lit, this will enhance the image coming through the ball. If you try to use strobes for this you need to position yourself carefully, the ball will pick up the light from the flash as a reflection very easily. The best advice I can offer is to position the strobes in a parallel line with the glass ball.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

In this, photo the model is silhouetted against the dawn sky. The distance from the model to the crystal ball is quite far, so the person appears small in the ball.

How to create your crystal ball portrait

Now you know what refraction photography is and how to do it, the next step is to apply this to a portrait.

There are three main types of crystal ball portraits you can make, each uses the ball in a slightly different way. The three types of photo are shooting close to the ball, photographing the ball in the scene, and using the ball as a prop. Let’s take a look at each one.

1 – Fill the frame with the crystal ball

This composition type has the crystal ball fill the entire frame, or become the dominant part of the frame. In this photo, your model will be the main subject inside the glass ball, which means they’ll need to be quite close to the ball itself. To succeed with this type of photo look at the following points, and apply them to your portraits.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

You can avoid distortion by placing the model in the center of the ball.

Center the model

  • The model needs to be in the center of the ball so that you avoid ugly distortion of the face on the edges of the ball. To do this consider the following steps.
  • Don’t have your model standing up strait, a sitting position where there body is more compressed will fit better inside the ball.
  • Take the portrait from the chest up, and center the composition on the eyes.

Compress your scene

Use a long focal length to hide the model behind the glass ball, essentially eclipsing the model. The larger the glass ball the easier this will be.

Position the ball

The ball should be level, or a little higher than the model. This will avoid distortions on the edge of the ball, and by having the ball higher than the model, it will focus the viewer’s eye more on the face.

Avoid bad bokeh

The background in a crystal ball photograph can make or break your image. With your model close to the ball, the background is likely to contain some bokeh. Use an appropriate aperture to blur them out, or consider using post-processing to remove them.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

You can enhance your crystal ball portrait by using good light on the model.

A photo of this type is best achieved with a macro lens, or a long telephoto lens. Both these lenses will allow you to fill the frame with the crystal ball, and then it’s simply about avoiding a bad background.

2 – Use the crystal ball as part of the overall picture

The next option for incorporating the crystal ball into your portrait shoot is to include much more of the background, and make the ball a smaller part of the frame. In this type of photo the focus will be on the ball, but the background bokeh will be equally important in telling the story.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

Use the bokeh in the image to create your crystal ball portrait.

  • The ball is smaller – The ball will be more of an accent within the overall frame. It’s likely the ball will be placed on the ground, or perhaps on a wall and will take up between 10-25% of the frame.
  • The background will be bolder – The shape of your model is important, so have them strike an interesting pose. As the focus is on the ball, the focus on the model will be soft.
  • Use the correct aperture – Adjust the aperture to a suitable level, so defined shapes can be seen in the background. The background should be neither to blurred nor too sharp. An aperture of around f/4 is a good place to start.
  • Wider focal length – Now that you are including a large amount of the background a wider lens will be needed to achieve this.

3 – Use it as a prop in your crystal ball portrait

You can also use the ball in the more traditional way, as a prop for your model. In this type of crystal ball portrait your model will be directly interacting with the ball. This will mean that the refraction effect inside the ball may or may not be seen, depending on the way you arrange your photo.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

Have your model hold the ball, and interact with it.

  • Tell the story – As a prop, the ball will be a focal point for your photo. You can use the crystal ball to show tropes like fortunetelling and magic. Use these ideas when composing your photo.
  • Do you refract? –  When using the ball as a prop you don’t have to show it producing refraction; however, it will add more interest if you do so.
  • Using strobes – A glass ball is a very reflective surface. When using strobes you need to decide if you want your strobe light reflecting on the surface of the ball. Moving your strobe to a side light position will eliminate most of the reflection on the ball, so this is a solution.
How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

Using more than one ball gives you more storytelling potential.

Go out and create your magical crystal ball portrait!

Have you ever tried using a crystal ball in portrait work? Let’s see your results if you have. What difficulties did you encounter when you tried this style?

If you bought the ball primarily for landscape photography, how about trying your hand at a portrait?  Give it a go and let us know how it turns out.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

The ball can help you make some unusual portraits.

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

Experiment with your crystal ball portrait, how about using other techniques like light painting?

How to Take Perfect Crystal Ball Portraits

When your model looks into a crystal ball, there is a story to that photo.

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