How was this photo shot? at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · December 18th, 2008, 01:34 PM

Photo Highlight - Yahoo! News Photos

I'm trying to figure out how the photographer took this without being in the shot. The angle is almost dead on, he should be right in the middle. Photoshopped is possible of course.... but I don't think AFP allows photoshopped pictures.

Any insights on how it was done?

Josh Chesarek · December 18th, 2008, 01:46 PM

Do the Lens babies allow for that much adjustment? Camera might be at top left where the branch is covering the reflection?

Edward Phillips · December 18th, 2008, 03:12 PM

Extreme zoom lens?

Chris Medico · December 18th, 2008, 03:33 PM

This could be done by using a long lens and setting up on the opposite side of the courtyard.

These spheres have so much curve to them they really exaggerate the size of the courtyard. Its not that far across to the other side. I suspect something in the 400mm size would do it with a 15mp camera.

Dylan Couper · December 18th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Medico

This could be done by using a long lens and setting up on the opposite side of the courtyard.

These spheres have so much curve to them they really exaggerate the size of the courtyard. Its not that far across to the other side. I suspect something in the 400mm size would do it with a 15mp camera.

I had considered a huge telephoto, but written it off because there wouldn't be a telephoto big enough to get that tight.... BUT I'd failed to consider that the curve of the ornament would completely distort the size of the courtyard. The image characteristics don't strike me as an extreme telephoto shot, but again, the image could be a crop from a wider shot on a big megapixel camera. Anyone else got any thoughts on this theory?

Dylan Couper · December 18th, 2008, 04:59 PM

Well, we can write off the basic extreme telephoto theory...

I put my Sigma 50-500 on my 1DmkII and fired off some shots at my own Christmas tree.

At 500mm, to fill the frame like that photo, I have to be FOUR FEET from the ball (and that's with a 1.3x crop factor)... which makes me clearly visible (the Bigma won't focus that close anyway). Granted, the ornament in the shot could be bigger than the one on my tree... but probably not by much.

You could still hide in the shadows opposite the square, but you'd need a gargantuan lens to get it. I just don't think that's the answer here.

Robert Martens · December 18th, 2008, 05:47 PM

But he IS in the shot, isn't he? Behind the pillar at the base of the staircase on the left? Looks like there's some sort of plant behind the right staircase that may fool us into thinking he's a matching shrub. Still pretty far away, I imagine, but not as much of a stretch as across the courtyard.

Paul Cascio · December 18th, 2008, 06:01 PM

Maybe that's not a real xmas ornament. You can get that shot with a fisheye lens and then using software to give it a spherical look. Then, filter the color and ad the foregorund objects.

Gary Nattrass · December 18th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Looks photoshop montage to me, the tree doesnt look real

Dylan Couper · December 18th, 2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Martens

But he IS in the shot, isn't he? Behind the pillar at the base of the staircase on the left? Looks like there's some sort of plant behind the right staircase that may fool us into thinking he's a matching shrub. Still pretty far away, I imagine, but not as much of a stretch as across the courtyard.

Wow, I can't believe I missed that!

I blame my tiny laptop monitor! :)

Ok, that looks to me like a human, so assuming he's the shooter, he could get that with a 400mm and a 2x extender, since the stairs may only be 4' wide and that pillar 6'-8' from the tree. But would there be focus distance issues?

Chris Medico · December 18th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

Wow, I can't believe I missed that!

I blame my tiny laptop monitor! :)

Ok, that looks to me like a human, so assuming he's the shooter, he could get that with a 400mm and a 2x extender, since the stairs may only be 4' wide and that pillar 6'-8' from the tree. But would there be focus distance issues?

Me too.. I had to download the photo and look at it blown up to see it but yep.. there is the photographer.

Jim Michael · December 24th, 2008, 06:28 PM

I saw something similar recently on The Luminous Landscape of 3 ornaments that had to have been photoshopped. One ornament is in focus and the other 2 are not, yet they all 3 have a reflection of a scene some distance away and the "reflected" scenes on the 2 out of focus orbs are also out of focus. If they were real reflections they all 3 would be in focus. It's on the home page unless they've switched images by now.

December 18th, 2008, 01:34 PM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 6,937	How was this photo shot? Photo Highlight - Yahoo! News Photos I'm trying to figure out how the photographer took this without being in the shot. The angle is almost dead on, he should be right in the middle. Photoshopped is possible of course.... but I don't think AFP allows photoshopped pictures. Any insights on how it was done? __________________ For quick answers try our Search!

December 18th, 2008, 01:46 PM	#2
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 905	Do the Lens babies allow for that much adjustment? Camera might be at top left where the branch is covering the reflection? __________________ Simple Thought Productions - Life @ 30,000 Words per second

December 18th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#4
Chris Medico Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NC, USA Posts: 403	This could be done by using a long lens and setting up on the opposite side of the courtyard. These spheres have so much curve to them they really exaggerate the size of the courtyard. Its not that far across to the other side. I suspect something in the 400mm size would do it with a 15mp camera. __________________ Sony HVR-V1U (Arrived 12-21-06) Sony HDR-HC3 Sony DCR-VX1000 Sony CCD-VX3 (retired) HP Desktop w/ AMD 4200 & ATI 1600PRO Avid Liquid Pro 7.1 HP Laptop (field logging and rough editing) Pinnacle Studio 10 (semi-retired) Videos - http://dieseladdict.blip.tv

December 18th, 2008, 04:59 PM	#6
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 6,937	Well, we can write off the basic extreme telephoto theory... I put my Sigma 50-500 on my 1DmkII and fired off some shots at my own Christmas tree. At 500mm, to fill the frame like that photo, I have to be FOUR FEET from the ball (and that's with a 1.3x crop factor)... which makes me clearly visible (the Bigma won't focus that close anyway). Granted, the ornament in the shot could be bigger than the one on my tree... but probably not by much. You could still hide in the shadows opposite the square, but you'd need a gargantuan lens to get it. I just don't think that's the answer here. __________________ For quick answers try our Search!

December 18th, 2008, 06:01 PM	#8
Paul Cascio Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 788	Maybe that's not a real xmas ornament. You can get that shot with a fisheye lens and then using software to give it a spherical look. Then, filter the color and ad the foregorund objects. __________________ Paul Cascio

December 18th, 2008, 03:12 PM	#3
Edward Phillips Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 117	Extreme zoom lens?

December 18th, 2008, 05:47 PM	#7
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 749	But he IS in the shot, isn't he? Behind the pillar at the base of the staircase on the left? Looks like there's some sort of plant behind the right staircase that may fool us into thinking he's a matching shrub. Still pretty far away, I imagine, but not as much of a stretch as across the courtyard.

December 18th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#9
Gary Nattrass Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 681	Looks photoshop montage to me, the tree doesnt look real __________________ Over 30 years in Broadcast Film and TV: www.HDProductionSolutions.com

December 24th, 2008, 06:28 PM	#12
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 252	I saw something similar recently on The Luminous Landscape of 3 ornaments that had to have been photoshopped. One ornament is in focus and the other 2 are not, yet they all 3 have a reflection of a scene some distance away and the "reflected" scenes on the 2 out of focus orbs are also out of focus. If they were real reflections they all 3 would be in focus. It's on the home page unless they've switched images by now.

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