Crystal Ball Photography

tirediron · Dec 31, 2017

In an effort (but NOT a New Year's resolution) to do more personal and creative work, I wandered down to the beach with a crystal (really glass, but who's counting?) ball to see if I could come up with anything interesting. I quite like this one, but unfortunately, missed the flares, which should have been flagged. Still, I rather liked it. Trying to decide if I should invert the image so the tree is "right side up" or leave it as is? How say you? As always, comments, critique and suggestions appreciated.

Dean_Gretsch · Dec 31, 2017

Leave it as is, I think! Makes it more interesting.

limr · Dec 31, 2017

Dean_Gretsch said:
Leave it as is, I think! Makes it more interesting.

x2

smoke665 · Dec 31, 2017

tirediron said:
In an effort (but NOT a New Year's resolution) t

I like it as is.

jcdeboever · Dec 31, 2017

I'd pull a tractor up next to the tree, and do a handstand on the seat

JustJazzie · Dec 31, 2017

I like the way the foreground curvesTowards the tree, is that part of the effect? Or was the landscape actually a bit windy? Well done! Looks like you had a fun adventure!

BrentC · Dec 31, 2017

Personally I think it would have been much better with a lot of white stuff around and ice crystals forming on the ball. Something is wrong with your weather over there.

As with others I would leave as is. Cool shot.

Derrel · Jan 1, 2018

I have been seeing more and more and more of these types of shots! I like this one, but if there's a nit, I might like to see what it looks like with the sky tones darkened a bit., and maybe a bit more contrast or clarity added to the scene as well. Still...it's an interesting wrinkle on modern-era landscape and scenic shots.

acparsons · Jan 1, 2018

Nice. I just picked up a crystal ball myself. Should be an interesting New Year.

zombiesniper · Jan 1, 2018

Very nice.
I like it the way it is and even like the bottom flare since it creates a curving light around the right side of the ball, almost like smoke.

tirediron · Jan 1, 2018

Dean_Gretsch said:
Leave it as is, I think! Makes it more interesting.

Thanks Dean!

limr said:
Dean_Gretsch said:

Leave it as is, I think! Makes it more interesting.

Click to expand...

x2

smoke665 said:
tirediron said:

In an effort (but NOT a New Year's resolution) t

Click to expand...

I like it as is.

Got it!

jcdeboever said:
I'd pull a tractor up next to the tree, and do a handstand on the seat

I'd pay a lot of money to see you doing a handstand anywhere, never mind a tractor seat!

JustJazzie said:
I like the way the foreground curvesTowards the tree, is that part of the effect? Or was the landscape actually a bit windy? Well done! Looks like you had a fun adventure!

A bit of each; this is a peninsula that sticks out into the harbour and is always a breezy, but the ball has quite a pronounced effect as well.

BrentC said:
Personally I think it would have been much better with a lot of white stuff around and ice crystals forming on the ball. Something is wrong with your weather over there.

As with others I would leave as is. Cool shot.

Thanks, and yeah, there is! It was only 31 this morning... there's s*** on the truck I have to scrape off before I can drive!

Derrel said:
I have been seeing more and more and more of these types of shots! I like this one, but if there's a nit, I might like to see what it looks like with the sky tones darkened a bit., and maybe a bit more contrast or clarity added to the scene as well. Still...it's an interesting wrinkle on modern-era landscape and scenic shots.

I did play around with that a bit, but I wasn't able to do it in a way that I was happy with due to the flaring and ghosting on the ball itself. I think to actually nail this, it really needs to be right in-camera.

acparsons said:
Nice. I just picked up a crystal ball myself. Should be an interesting New Year.

Thanks, and yes. Good, cheap fun!

zombiesniper said:
Very nice.
I like it the way it is and even like the bottom flare since it creates a curving light around the right side of the ball, almost like smoke.

Thanks Alex! Good points!