How I process my lens ball images.

A lens ball is a photographic accessory that can open up new creative options for you. Do a Google search on "lens ball photography" for more information. I bought mine on eBay.

There are many ways that you can use a lens ball and likewise for how you post process your images.
Following is how I use my lens ball and how I process my images and you are free to agree or disagree.
Some people hold the lens ball in one hand and the camera in the other. I don't as I need both hands on the camera and place the lens ball on a base stand on a tripod. I use manual focus to get the image in the ball sharp.

The other thing that you need to be aware of is that the image in the ball will be upside down and the wrong way around. The glass ball refracts the subject in both planes and I correct that...because I can.
Here is an example taken with my Canon EOS-1Ds and EF 28-135 lens at 112mm on a Manfrotto tripod and the lens ball on a glass base stand on another tripod.
This is the unprocessed JPG SOOC. Subject is upside down and reversed left to right:

This is the image after being processed in Photoshop:
The subject is now the right way up and the right way around and the base stand has gone. The lens ball appears to be floating in the air and that is how I like it to be.

So, how did I achieve that? Here is what I did:

1. Open image in Photoshop

2. Make layer copy (CTL-J)

3. Select Elliptical Marquee tool

4. Shift-Alt Click to draw a circle from centre of ball

5. Click on Select, Transform Selection

6. Adjust selection to make perfect circle around edge of ball

7. Press Enter

8. Select Edit, Transform, Flip Horizontal

9. Select Edit, Transform, Flip Vertical

10. Add Layer Mask to Layer Copy

11. Select Layer 0

12. Click on Clone Stamp tool

13. Clone away the base stand.

14. Make any other adjustments

15. Flatten image

16. Save image

It took me a few goes to get it the way I wanted but I am now happy with that process. You may or may not want your images to look like that and that's fine. This is just MY WAY.
Do searches on Google, Flickr and YouTube to see how others have used lens balls. There are lots of ideas out there for lens ball usage and for subjects that work best.

I hope that opens up a new area of creativity for you.

 

great post ray Allen.
my brain is now trying to figure out a way to do it without ps, might not be possible but it will keep me occupied for a while.
might be possible with two lens balls in series

 

Thank you, Caladina. That's why I use PS CC. Best deal ever IMHO.

 

Interesting Ray, if you don't mind I shall grab a copy as in may come in handy for my class later when it starts back up

 

I have sent a .docx file to you.

 

Thank you very much Ray, appreciated.