Fisheye photographs are taken by using an extremely
wide-angle lens to capture very wide images. These pictures are known
as hemispherical, since they record half a sphere, and the lens were
originally developed take whole-sky pictures for meteorological
research. The artistic potential of the fisheye lens was quickly
recognized by all kinds of photographers, leading to some truly
intriguing images.
This post brings together 20 examples of amazing
fisheye photographs
from across the spectrum of subjects and styles. From beautiful
architecture photographs to wide-angle shots of the cosmos, you’ll find
beautiful photographs with detailed descriptions of each.
Hopefully you enjoy the post!
1. Fisheye Architecture
Jon Hanson’s stunning architectural shot captures some of the City of
London’s most iconic buildings in the heart of the capital’s financial
district. The photograph employs the 180-degree fisheye effect to take
in the unusual ‘inside out’ design of Lloyd’s building and 30 St Mary
Axe, better known as the Gherkin, which has helped redefine the London
skyline. Below the Gherkin is a glimpse of the 16th Century tower of the
church of St An
2.Aurora Borealis
Austrian astrophotographer Philipp Salzgeber specialises in recording
celestial bodies and cosmic phenomena. In this image, he used a
one-minute exposure on a Nikon Coolpix 4500 with fisheye converter to
capture the Northern Lights of the Aurora
3. Glasgow Science Centre Fisheye from Tower
This fisheye photograph was taken from the top of the tower high above
Glasgow Science Centre on the banks of the River Clyde. The wrap-around
image is fitting since Glasgow Tower, at 127 metres, holds the Guinness
World Record as the world’s tallest building where the entire structure
can rotate through 360 degrees.
4. National Carillon on Aspen Island
This photograph of National Carillon on Aspen Island, Australia, reveals
the peculiarities of panoramic fisheye images taken in architectural
spaces.
5. Fish-Eye View of Atlantis
Taken during a mission in 1995, this fisheye image shows NASA’s Atlantis
shuttle in a high orbit above the Earth. The picture was taken by a
cosmonaught onboard the Russian Mir Space Station, which at the time was
docked with the shuttle.
6. Rievaulx Abbey
In this picture, the sky is seen through the roofless ruins of Rievaulax
Abbey in North Yorkshire. During its heyday the Cistercian monastery
was one of the wealthiest in England. In 1538, Henry VIII dissolved the abbey and left it to ruin
7. Umeda Sky Building
This cool composition shows the twin towers of the landmark Umeda Sky
Building in Osaka, Japan, which comprises two forty-storey buildings
connected at their top. Bridges and escalators criss-cross the open
space between the structures
8. Sunny Friday in Seattle
ArtBrom’s beautiful fisheye cityscape takes in the port of Seattle on a gloriously sunny Friday afternoon.
9. Fisheye (Maco@Sky Walker)
Fisheye lens often add a certain dreamlike feel to photographs, such this picture capturing gorgeously red autumnal leaves
10. Fisheye Madness (Laverrue)
Fisheye photography is generally not very flattering when it comes
portraiture, due to the distorting effects on facial features. The
resulting images can appear amusing or downright bizarre; this
self-portrait is at once both funny and strange.
11. La Tour (Serge Melki)
Serge Melki’s awesome shot emphasises the massive dimensions of the Eiffel Tower’s architecture and the dramatic clouds above
12. Planet Sunset (Kevin Dooley)
When turned to landscape photography the fisheye lens distorts the
curvature of the horizon and the sweeping arc of the sky, as in this
beautiful sunset shot by Kevin Dooley.
13. Missing the Light of Day (Rawheadrex)
Planetoids are photographs created by taking a complete 360-degree
composite image of everything that can be viewed from a single point in
space, and then digitally stitching the images into a fascinating
miniature planet. The wrap-around quality of
fisheye photographs lends itself ideally to this type of image, as demonstrated with this wonderful snowy world.
14. FishEye WHAT? (Lumkness)
The fisheye lens can’t help but exaggerate an already large nose, whether its owner is human or canine.
15. Southern Theatre (A. Blight)
This impressive auditorium with tiered balconies of seating is the Southern Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, built in 1896.
16. Fisheye at the Bank in River (Strollers)
A beautifully grassy summertime portrait.
17. Fisheye Dome (Bruno Girin)
Bruno Girin’s fisheye shot captures a domed ceiling at Topkapi Palace
in Istanbul. The palace, built on the shores of the Bosphorus, was home
to the ruling Sultans during the reign of the Ottoman Empire.
18. Me Fish! (Hamed Saber)
Fisheye photography offers some unusual solutions to family and group
portraits. Photographer Hamed Saber used seven separate pictures to
compose this image. A close inspection reveals a few extra legs and
hands amongst the sitters.
19. Mr Ed (Jurvetson)
Another nosey fisheye shot, this time of a horse named Ed.
20. Fish-eye View of Titan’s Surface (Huygens Probe)
Fisheye photography offers fresh perspectives on scenes from our planet,
and even helps capture the landscapes of other worlds in the solar
system. This image shows the surface of Titan, the largest of Saturn’s
moons, taken by the European Space Agency’s Huygens probe. Pictures like
this have lead scientists to believe that Titan’s atmosphere could
maintain life, revealing the magnificent possibilities of fisheye
Dragon’s Dreams by Antonio Diaz
