Fort Collins Digital Camera Club

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Mike Barry
Robert Barley
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Michael Hohol
Jim Limburg
Jack Lipscomb
Paul Marcoux
Rick Newmark
Kristi Norman
Rich Roberts
Albert Wang

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1. Fisheye and Wide-angle images
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We discussed "Wide angle and fisheye images" at the SIG meeting, including what we learned, equipment, techniques, results... while exploring wide angle photography. Several members showed images.

2. Full Frame -vs- Circular Fisheye
======================
We discussed why some 8mm fisheye lenses make a perfectly circular image on a full frame camera while other 8mm fisheye lenses don't? In essence, the key difference lies in the lens's design and how its image circle is engineered to interact with the size of the camera's sensor.

3. Fisheye Images Using Photoshop Filters
===========================
We discussed creating a fisheye effect using some of the Photoshop filters, like the Spherize filter and the Adaptive Wide Angle filter. Jim showed an example.

4. Fisheye Portraits
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We discussed creating portraits using a fisheye lens. You can certainly make a very comical distorted portrait, but the subject may not like it. Rick showed a great example of a rider on a horse, the distortions caused the horse to have very short legs and the rider to have very long legs, and it was quite comical.

5. Constructive Critiques and Personal Projects (optional) =====================================
Rich wanted to change the background in one of his pictures, and we discussed how that might be done most efficiently.

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration)

How to Make a Fisheye Effect in Photoshop by Evato Tuts+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gmNgVPF0ZY&t=25s

Creating a bold fashion image using a fisheye lens! by Lindsay Adler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfEghN4IvU&t=226s

PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
We decided to create fine art using "fancy lighting" techniques. Light painting, shiny objects, strobes with snoots, gels, extreme lighting of any kind.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 9/16/2025 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Fancy Lighting", but we will probably also discuss other topics. If you want to discuss something else, send me an email and I will add it to the agenda
2. Constructive Critiques and Other Personal Projects
3. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

Thanks,
Mike Barry

================ Notes from ZOOM ==================

Meeting summary

Quick recap
The group explored various photography techniques and equipment, focusing primarily on fisheye and wide-angle lenses and their creative applications in capturing unique perspectives and effects. Members shared their experiences and examples of using different lenses and cameras, discussing technical aspects like focusing, depth of field, and post-processing methods. The discussion concluded with conversations about lighting techniques, software tools for image enhancement, and practical advice for improving specific photos, with members exchanging tips and suggestions for future projects.

Next steps
Mike: Prepare a theme on light painting or special lighting techniques for a future meeting.
All members: Prepare for the next meeting topic on "Extreme Lighting" or "Fancy Lighting Techniques.
Mike: Organize the next meeting on Tuesdays starting next month.
Rich Roberts: Experiment with Photoshop techniques to improve his Greenland cross image, including potentially using select object tool, generative fill, and masking to address the fog issue.
Rich Roberts: Continue processing and reviewing his Greenland wide-angle photos.
Rich Roberts: Try deselecting lens corrections in Lightroom on some of his wide-angle photos to see the natural distortion.
Rich Roberts: Remove the small objects hanging from the horizontal crossbar of the cross in his photograph.
Rich Roberts: Lighten certain areas of his cross photograph as mentioned.
Rich Roberts: Explore YouTube tutorials for adding atmospheric fog effects to his cross photograph.
Rich Roberts: Try recomposing his cross photograph by cutting out the cross and repositioning it to avoid alignment with the fog line.
Rich Roberts: Experiment with blending the thicker and thinner fog areas to diffuse the hard line between fog layers.
Rich Roberts: Check the club website resources for information on creating fog in Photoshop.
Mike: Practice using his 4mm and 7.5mm fisheye lenses while being mindful of capturing unwanted elements like fingers, feet, and shadows.
Mike: Consider getting a 6mm fisheye lens to achieve maximum size full round images.
Mike: Look for a 6.5mm fisheye lens that might provide the desired circular image effect.
Mike: Experiment with using a selfie stick or tripod setup to avoid capturing his shadow/feet in fisheye photos.
Mike: Try using the lens cap with the hole to see if it produces a round image with better quality.
Mike: Explore programming one of his camera buttons to zoom in for better manual focusing.
Mike: Explore using Photoshop to extend the canvas and fill in the top and bottom of images to create a circular effect.
Mike: Look into the 6.5mm fisheye lens that Albert found on Amazon as a potential alternative.
Mike: Attend Tour de Fat event at City Park on Saturday.
Heather: Continue experimenting with fisheye photography techniques, particularly for tree compositions.
Heather: Experiment with the lens baby fisheye lens she hasn't played with yet.
Robert: Continue practicing wide-angle photography at 16mm, focusing on forced perspective techniques.
Rick: Try taking a fisheye photo from a boat pointing down to capture the shoreline all around a reservoir, as suggested by Mike.
Rick: Try taking a fisheye photo with a group of people in a circle/huddle formation with the camera in the middle.
Rick: Share techniques for creating ghost images using long exposures with the group.
Jim Limburg: Share instructions for creating orb effects using polar coordinates in Photoshop with Kristi and other interested members.
Albert: Look for and share his existing set of directions for creating polar coordinate effects.
Albert: Check which smoke detector went off and clean it if necessary.
Group members: Explore using focus peaking with third-party manual fisheye lenses.

Summary

Mastering Wide-Angle and Fisheye Photography
The group discussed wide-angle and fisheye photography techniques, with Mike sharing his experiences using different fisheye lenses and learning to manage distortion. Rich Roberts presented wide-angle shots from Greenland, demonstrating how the 14mm lens captured landscape scale effectively with minimal distortion. Robert shared examples of forced perspective shots taken with a 16mm lens, showing how wide-angle lenses can make distant subjects appear much smaller than they actually are. The discussion highlighted how focusing techniques and depth of field can be used creatively in wide-angle photography, with Robert explaining his preference for shooting at f/11 for maximum depth of field.

Fisheye and Wide-Angle Photography Techniques
The group discussed various fisheye and wide-angle photography techniques and shared examples of their work. Rick demonstrated the use of a Lens Baby fisheye lens, showing how it can create unique distortions and effects. Heather shared her experience using a Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens, highlighting the challenges of composition and exposure. Jim Limburg presented creative wide-angle and Photoshop techniques, including the use of polar coordinates to create abstract images. The participants discussed the pros and cons of different fisheye lenses and editing methods, with Lens Baby being praised for its distinctive effects.

Fisheye Photography Techniques Explained
Mike demonstrated and explained his use of fisheye lenses, particularly a 4mm and 7.5mm model, to capture unique architectural and urban scenes. He showed how the fisheye effect distorts perspectives and discussed technical challenges like handling the camera and post-processing the images. The group discussed creative ways to incorporate elements like feet and shadows in fisheye photos, with Rick suggesting the use of spray-painted sneakers to make the feet more interesting.

Fisheye Photography Techniques and Challenges
The group discussed Mike's photography of a carnival, focusing on his use of a fisheye lens to capture distorted and unique perspectives. They explored technical aspects such as lens aperture, camera settings, and the challenges of focusing with fisheye lenses. The conversation also touched on the differences in fisheye lens performance across camera manufacturers and lens models, with Mike explaining that a 4mm lens would produce a circular image on full-frame cameras.

Fisheye Photography Techniques and Effects
The group discussed various photography techniques and equipment, focusing on fisheye lenses and creative effects. Mike shared several photos taken with a 7.5mm fisheye lens, including ones featuring architectural shots, shadows, and unique perspectives. The participants admired the circular framing and distortion effects of the fisheye lens, with Rick suggesting ways to enhance certain shots. They also discussed the limitations of converting regular images to fisheye using AI and the advantages of mathematical transformations for achieving desired effects.

Lens Techniques for Circular Images
The group discussed lens options and image quality, with Mike sharing photos taken with different focal lengths. They explored various techniques to achieve circular images, including using a lens cap with a built-in circular frame and the possibility of adapting a larger sensor lens to a smaller sensor camera. The conversation touched on the benefits of different apertures for creating starbursts and the impact of lens distortion on image quality.

Photography Techniques and Software Demo
The group discussed various photography techniques and software tools. Mike shared his experience with using a 4mm lens and capturing distant subjects, while Rick demonstrated how to extend canvas in Photoshop and fill in circular areas using AI. Rich Ernst presented his work using JIXI PIX plugins, showcasing oil, watercolor, and pencil effects on various landscapes and portraits, noting the flexibility of layer-based workflows and the ability to blend different artistic styles. The group admired the realistic results of the plugins and discussed printing options for the artistic images.

Enhancing Cross Photo With Fog
Rich Roberts sought advice on enhancing a photo of a cross in foggy conditions, expressing concerns about the harsh fog line intersecting the cross. Jim Limburg suggested adding more fog using render clouds or exploring YouTube tutorials, while Rich Ernst proposed cutting out the cross, using the remove tool, and repositioning it. The group discussed blending techniques, diffusing fog layers, and using Photoshop tools like free transform and generative fill. Rich agreed to experiment with these suggestions and explore resources on the club website for further guidance.

Camera Lens Compatibility Experiences
Rick shared his experiences with various lenses and cameras, particularly discussing his new OM System camera and the versatility of using Canon lenses with the adapter. He expressed his preference for the distortion of wide-angle lenses and mentioned the manual clutch feature of the Tokina 11-16mm lens. Rick also shared his purchase of a 100-400mm lens from Ralph Smith and noted the improved autofocus performance on the OM System camera when using Canon lenses.

Photography Lighting Techniques Discussion
The group discussed various lighting techniques for photography, with Mike suggesting the use of special lighting effects and experimenting with different light sources and colors. Rick shared his experiences with a Godox V1 flash and discussed using grids and snoots to control light spillover. Heather presented an idea for a geometric lighting setup using an acrylic prism and a tablet. The conversation also touched on using high-speed sync and adjusting shutter speeds to control background exposure in macro photography. Albert had to leave early due to a smoke detector going off in his house, which he suspected was a false alarm.

AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy.

(I think that ZOOM is assigning more action items than we discussed...)