Picture This

Our Picture This! assignment for this month was on Trick Lenses and how they help us to see in ways that our normal perception does not allow. Readers responded with images that used accessory lenses, as well as glass that distorts light in fascinating ways. Some used scanners to create imagery, while others “squeezed” light through pinhole apertures. While photography is mostly used to “draw from nature,” these images prove that it can also be used to see the world in ways that the unaided eye might otherwise never see.

Jack Of Clubs

Using a Canon PowerShot A720 IS, Frank Goroszko made this photo of a playing card through the bottom of a large glass mug, resulting in magnification and considerable distortion around the edges. Exposure was f/5.6 at 1⁄800 sec. © 2010, Frank Goroszko, All Rights Reserved

Belle Of Portugal

Irwin H. Segel didn’t use a camera to record the rich tone, color, and detail of these roses. He placed the flowers on the glass bed of the scanner and darkened the room so he could scan with the cover lid open. © 2010, Irwin H. Segel, All Rights Reserved

The Great White Way

John Skelson used a homemade body cap pinhole lens on a Nikon D300 for this impressionistic look of Times Square. © 2010, John Skelson, All Rights Reserved

Full Speed Ahead

Deborah Stile worked with a Lensbaby on a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi to depict the speed and energy of these racing motorcycles. © 2010, Deborah Stile, All Rights Reserved

Old Truck Mirror

Ira Schwartz photographed into the convex side view mirror of this old pickup in New Mexico. He shot with a Nikon E990 with an exposure of f/7.1 at 1⁄190 sec. © 2010, Ira Schwartz, All Rights Reserved

Stairway To Heaven

Bob Turner worked with a Kodak EasyShare DX6490 and a Phoenix 0.25x Fisheye auxiliary lens on a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens to get this bending staircase effect. Exposure was f/2.8 at 1⁄500 sec. © 2010, Bob Turner All Rights Reserved

Abstract Interior

Emilio Fernandez placed a fisheye attachment on his Canon EOS 50D to make this expressionistic view inside his home. Exposure was f/11 at 1⁄30 sec at ISO 400. © 2010, Emilio Fernandez, All Rights Reserved

Big Bang

Vera Blair placed some extension tubes behind her Canon 100mm macro lens to get this amazing close-up with her Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Exposure was f/16 at 1⁄200 sec. © 2010, Vera Blair, All Rights Reserved

Hallway

This near-surreal image by Bradley Gross was made with a Nikkor full-frame 10.5mm lens on a Nikon D90. He corrected the lines using Image Trends’ Fisheye-Hemi software; exposure was f/18 at 1⁄2 sec. © 2010, Bradley Gross, All Rights Reserved

Bent Bars

Andrew Dunford created this exaggerated effect of the Seattle Public Library with a Sigma 10mm fisheye lens on a Sony alpha 300 camera. Exposure was f/14 at 1⁄50 sec at ISO 100. © 2010, Andrew Dunford, All Rights Reserved