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Anamorphic
Anamorphic
krnodil


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: A Is For _______ (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Date: May 8, 2010
Aperture: pinhole slit
ISO: 320
Shutter: 20s
Galleries: Self Portrait, Pinhole/Zone Plate
Date Uploaded: May 8, 2010

 The subject my image represents is anamorphic photography.

anamorphic: producing various optically distorted images. [among other definitions]; true anamorphic illusions need to be viewed at a particular extreme angle to be seen for what they really represent. My image is not one of those, but rather presents an anamorphic distortion akin to what you might see in a funhouse mirror. For the optical illusions (and not just using photography), see anamorphosis.

I was reading up on pinhole photography and how certain artists used various techniques to produce anamorphic distortions in their photos, and it gave me the idea to try to reproduce the effect using a digital cam and a couple of "pinhole" slits.

I attached 2 s-curved slits to my camera at particular mm lengths from each other; the first slit (closest to the sensor) was shorter than the second slit (farthest from the sensor), according to mathematical calculations I won't bore you with here. I then tried out shots by twisting the 2nd, farthest slit a number of ways (so that it was at different orientations to slit no. 1.) to create varying degrees of distortion in the image (you can see the effect dimly through the viewfinder as you set up the shot).

I had to cut a number of slits before I got ones that were thin enough to better approximate "sharp" pinhole focus - the wider the slit/pinhole, the fuzzier the image, so I did aim for the narrowest I could manage with my X-acto knife; I suppose if I had a laser I could have managed something even thinner, but I had to draw the line somewhere. :)

I developed my digital pinhole/slit modification from reading various sections of the following two excellent references on the topic of pinhole and homemade cameras:

Pinhole Photography, Eric Renner
Adventures with Pinhole and Home-Made Cameras, John Evans

The pinhole/slit mod:

This image is not cropped. I don't get to say that very often. :)

I put a lot of work into getting this image and I really like how this turned out, particularly how it looks painting-like. Hopefully not too many voters will think I just photoshopped the effect, or took a picture of artwork...

Statistics
Place: 172 out of 175
Avg (all users): 4.1667
Avg (commenters): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 4.0862
Avg (non-participants): 4.2297
Views since voting: 1276
Views during voting: 263
Votes: 132
Comments: 10
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
Sigma DP1x
05/25/2010 06:13:03 AM
The Renner book is a must read. This is amazing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm x100
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 05/24/2010 11:05:24 PM
The distortion and lighting give a sense of struggle. Impressive effort, thanks for the details and links.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-10D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
 05/20/2010 03:13:53 PM
great - another of your ideas I can steal... maybe you'll get a laser for Christmas.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens
 05/20/2010 01:22:33 AM
feels like the surprise cake from the Little Rascals.... weeeep wooow...
keep bustin down the doors of alt!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 05/17/2010 12:13:34 PM
you are definitely a hero of the dark side.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 05/17/2010 02:10:45 AM
This is really cool and interesting and not achieved by the methods I imagined at all. (I was thinking a distorted reflection). I'm sorry that your efforts and ingenuity were not better rewarded, but I am going to take inspiration from your creativity and give this a try. Thank you for the detailed information.
I have nominated this in the posthumous underappreciated thread.

Message edited by author 2010-05-17 02:23:24.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 05/17/2010 01:17:16 AM
Amazing! You never cease to amaze me with the ways you can make a camera see for you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7 II
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA
 05/17/2010 12:14:29 AM
One of my favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Ricoh GR III
Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC
 05/17/2010 12:04:27 AM
Julia Cameron.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 05/11/2010 12:58:46 AM
This makes me queasy. Very interesting and original.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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