The Wonderful World Of Fisheye – Give It A Go!

Imagine looking at the world through a porthole in a whimsical submarine, or maybe the eye of a very curious, wide-eyed insect. That’s the feeling of fisheye photography! It’s a joyful, slightly silly, and incredibly creative way to capture the world, bending the rules of perspective into a delightful, bulging reality.

Fisheye lenses have fascinated me for as long as I remember, they can be so useful, in so many ways. I love the versatility, but I also understand that many do not like the distorted look. It is a two in one lens, and I will show some examples of fisheye images that have been de-fished later in this write-up.

Fisheye lenses are the rockstars of the lens world. They don’t just capture a wide scene; they grab a massive 180-degree view (or even more!) and cram it into a circular or super-distorted rectangular frame. Straight lines become curves, the horizon bows down like it’s taking a bow, and objects close to the lens get blown up to a cartoonish, larger-than-life scale.

The magic of fisheye photography is in its playful defiance of reality. A skateboarder flying through a skatepark looks like they’re jumping into a swirling vortex. A towering skyscraper suddenly becomes a majestic, curved monolith reaching for the heavens. And a simple portrait of your friend’s face can transform into a hilarious caricature, with a prominent nose and eyes that seem to be popping out in surprise.

It’s a fantastic lens for injecting humour and energy into your photos. Think of a group selfie: with a fisheye, everyone’s faces become part of a fun, warped panorama, a memory captured in a bubble of shared laughter. Or take it to a concert, where the stage, the crowd, and the ceiling all seem to be converging in a wild, rock-and-roll vortex.

But it’s not all silliness. Fisheye lenses can also be used to create stunning, unique artistic statements. A circular fisheye can frame a landscape in a perfect, cosmic bubble, with the horizon as the edge of a new world. A full-frame fisheye can capture the vastness of a cathedral ceiling, making you feel like you’re floating in a grand, architectural dome.

So, if you’re ever feeling bored with traditional photography, grab a fisheye lens. Let your creativity run wild. Embrace the curves, the distortions, and the wonderful, bulging world that it reveals. Because in the world of fisheye photography, the only rule is to have fun and see things from a wonderfully, wonky new perspective!