Stan: I have always loved those NASA shots too. There is so much equipment to capture within the view of the super wide-angle lens at the NASA facility. I also absolutely admire that seal shot. You have inspired me to make some of those pseudo earth-curvature experiments in the future. Well done my friend, just masterful work.
I really like those shots of the house, hut and backyard fireworks here in the thread.
A super wide lens really gets your attention as a photographer. It makes you think.
I love using a fisheye, the 15mm and a full frame camera work prefect IMHO. It's just fun to play with and get a feeling of the environment, which a longer lens can't capture. It's also tricky to get the horizon straight, and keep your feet out of the photo.
If you want to have less fisheye wide angle, the Canon 14mm captures amazing images that are wide yet not distorted. But I like the distortion look, I can't get that from any other lens.
In some cases, it's easier to capture images with the extreme view. This photo I took at the Marker Faire would have been near impossible with out the fisheye. I wanted to capture the entire circle and show the people standing around.
One of the most fun ways to use a fisheye is for 360 degree panoramas. With a 15mm fisheye you can do 6 shots around and 1 up to achieve this effect. Or using a 12mm fisheye on a full frame camera this can be done in 4 shots. Here's the single image version of the file:
These are taken with the Nikkor 8mm 2.8 AI-S but since I am now shooting Canon and dont yet have the Canon 8-15 mm -F 4 they have to do for now. I hope you guys dont mind me sharing these on the Canon forum.
As far as how to use the fish-eye. That is a very personal question. And I dont think there is any wrong answer.
I have some principle's I use but in truth. I really experimenting is the best and only ways to get your head around using these type of lenses.
And the fact using a circular fish-eye @180 degree's or even the 16 mm won the which is only 180 degree's on the diagonal is very extreme angle of view.
Over the years, I have really apprecaited having the 8 mm circualr fish-eye and the 16 mm at my disposal.
From a creative stand point, it really challenges one to look at comon things in a new and exciting way.
Being able to pre-visualize is a essential to getting usable images. One must have the Fish-eye mind.
