Crystal Forest
A reflection of the tall pine tree forest in the crystal ball
A reflection of the tall pine tree forest in the crystal ball
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Feb, 2016Views
614
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Awards
Winner in Photos Through A Crystal Ball Photo Challenge
Winner in Crystal Ball Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Superior Skill
Absolute Masterpiece
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martijnvansabben
May 01, 2016
What an excellent way to use the Crystal Ball, I've been looking to find ways to place it and your photo makes me want to look even closer to what nature has to offer us so the Ball will be included in the natural photo (hope it makes sense!). Brilliant!
PRO+
adavies
November 23, 2017
Really creative placement of the ball...nicely done! If you haven't done so already, please consider joining my Through the Looking Glass challenge:)
https://viewbug.com/challenge/through-the-looking-glass-photo-challenge-by-adavies
https://viewbug.com/challenge/through-the-looking-glass-photo-challenge-by-adavies
Ultimate
gcampbell6652
January 09, 2022
Nice. I received a glass ball for a gift, I am enjoying it very much. Do you have any insight or tips when using it?
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This Photo was taken at a place known as "The Spot" - a photographers dream. It is in a local Metropark in Northwest Ohio and has gained much recognition on the internet for its wonderful location.While park officials are also enjoying the Instagram photos and the “fame” of The Spot, the real work of nature, is Oak Openings, Toledo’s largest metropark at about 5,000 acres and home to about 150 rare and endangered plant and animal species, oak savannas, wet prairies, and sand dunes. The acreage of pines in The Spot is manmade; it is part of about 700 acres in the park where rangers planted red, white, Scotch, and Austrian pines between the 1930s and 1950s to prevent erosion of the preserve’s sandy soil, which sometimes blew all the way into Toledo. An additional perk, the rangers thought then, was to use the trees as a source of income for the parks system by selling the evergreens as Christmas trees or timber. That never happened, and the trees grew to maturity. “So what you end up with is this very unusual theme … first, pine trees that do not grow naturally in northwest Ohio, and then to have them planted so close together in these nice, neat rows,”. “It’s not how we would conserve the area today, but we do see it as an important area, nonetheless, for its historical value more than its natural value.”Time
The Photo was taken in the morning around 10 am on a cloudy day.Lighting
It was overcast and all lighting was natural light.Equipment
I used very little equipment. An 80 mm clear crystal ball, a Nikon D3100, and 18-55 kit lens, and a Circular Polarizing filter on the lens. The photo was shot hand held.Inspiration
I was looking for a interesting way to capture " the Spot" without humans visible. The canopy and the ground, and magic of the place all in one shot. I happened to find this tree stump where the ball fit perfectly and the vision was realized.Editing
I did very little post-processing. Slight adjustment of the curves was really all I had to do.In my camera bag
I normally carry a light bag. I have an 18-55 mm and 55-200 kit lenses and a 50 mm prime lens, on camera flash, ND or CPL filters, extra memory cards, and camera body. I do carry the glass ball also.Feedback
Stand still, close your eyes, feel and hear your surroundings. Then slowly open your eyes and look around and notice your surroundings before shooting any photos. See how the wind moves the trees. What drew you to this place? Look...feel...think...then shoot. In the forest such as this you can take a little time to unwind, see what is around you and figure out what appeals to your senses. The first thing a friend of mine did when we went here...her for the first time was to hug one of the trees to feel the vibrations of nature. I have seen others lay on the ground and look up in awe.
