Petzval Gaze

Gallery: POP PhotosPosted March 9, 2014215 views10 comments

First Portrait with my new Petzval lens. Models were not the most cooperative !!

1/2500 sec
F 1.2
ISO 320
handheld

Lightroom edit

Found this to share. Johnathan Marks
In the 19th Century, the vast majority of photos were shot with the extremely popular Petzval lens. The lens was invented by Joseph Petzval in Vienna in 1840 and had a huge impact on the development of photography. Photos shot with a Petzval lens are immediately recognizable for their sharpness and crispness, strong color
saturation, wonderful swirly bokeh effect, artful vignettes and narrow depth of field. The totally distinctive look of Petzval photos is all about the fantastic lens design that gives you the satisfaction of the instant optic experience that goes far beyond using photo editing software and filters.

Lens has a manual f 2.2-f16 range. I have been shooting it wide open without a aperture blade inserted.A lot like a Lensbaby where you have to manually place the aperture blade into the lens for chosen depth of field.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on March 9, 2014 at 6:26 PM

I really like the positioning of the model, and what I call the softness of her image. She is also a bit pensive but also with an impish look. Nice image!

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 9, 2014 at 7:58 PM

Lovely image, Lorna.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on March 9, 2014 at 10:32 PM

Holy cow, what a neat effect this lens has. You used it in a fine portrait. I hope you will post more images with it! Are you planning on doing nature photography with it, too?? f 1.2 wow... just wow!

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on March 9, 2014 at 11:02 PM

Thanks everyone !! Rebecka, I am probably one of a small few who would buy a portrait lens to do macro nature work , so yes the first thing I did when I got it was to slap on some extension tubes and do flower shots !!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on March 10, 2014 at 2:12 PM

Real nice image and great effect with the lens. It works like a petzval. What a shock.

This turned out beautifully and I am looking forward to seeing more of what you do with this lens.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on March 11, 2014 at 11:11 AM

Lorna, this is excellent! The tonality is wonderful and the plane of focus is perfectly placed. Just lovely.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on March 11, 2014 at 5:04 PM

Fine shot! The trademark swirled bokey catches the eye ...to say nothing ...of the young model and neat defined lines and tones already mentioned. Cool...love the hands-on that this lens requires....'auto-nuthin'.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Staubus on March 11, 2014 at 11:19 PM

Very nicely done. Kids that age usually have to be bribed.

Kent in SD

Registered on November 11, 2003, 121 Posts, 2098 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on March 11, 2014 at 11:22 PM

Thanks everyone !!

I agree Kent, bribes and a good swift kick in the butt should do !!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 27, 2014 at 4:12 PM

Beautiful girl and exceptional image!
Congrats on the (double) WP!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments