Sardonic Spotlight

On my first "for fun" shoot with the D3, I wanted to try a bunch of things that pretty much no one had tried before, and #1 on that list was combining the surprisingly large image circle on the not-full-frame Sigma 30mm f/1.4 with Nikon's 5:4 crop mode. I figured it would get rid of all the vignetting except for an interesting burn in on the corners, and I was right. It's definitely still a specialized look and I'll be first in line when Nikon updates its fast wide primes, but handled right this can be a fun combination.
--------------------
Visit my Amazon.com Digital Photography blog, or follow the RSS feed.

To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player.

Comments

Schoolbookdepository says:

beautiful....
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

aaronwhardin says:

Very nice. I really like how you color correct and your choice of contrast for some reason. The 5:4 looks nice in portrait.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Tengen Toppa Kaitsuu Me says:

wonderful portrait... such a mysterious look!
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

paul goyette says:

awesome! i was waiting for you to post one of these.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

becks photography says:

lovely colors

seen in Utata
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

jcandeli says:

wow. great photo. Totally thought it was film. very nice lens :D
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Fr Antunes says:

nice angule

Seen in a darckr view of your photos (mine, ?).
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

raayn_not really a pro, just play one on Flickr! says:

That's pretty sweet, I like the way it almost looks like a "fixed" fisheye.
Plus it would appear that the model has the right shape for such a shot.
How far away were you? and is she kneeling?
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Peddecord Photo says:

That's nice; a very stylized look you can fall back on for fun. I want a D3 just for the 5:4 crop sometimes... probably one of the most overlooked features.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

raayn_not really a pro, just play one on Flickr! says:

5:4 crop? can someone help out a new guy with this???
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

raayn_not really a pro, just play one on Flickr! says:

Additionally, I thought the D3 only shot DX format with DX lenses, and did some thing else (whatever that would be) with "other" lenses? Or, am I just getting in way over my head here? " Just go take pictures kid"
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Dricota © says:

EXcellent shot1
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

gato-gato-gato says:

Lovely portrait.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

° . . [deleted] says:

charming model's expression
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Doomshammer says:

Absolutelly sweet model :)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mississaugapictures says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nikon D3 Canada, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ryan Brenizer says:

I'm not Canadian, and this photo wasn't taken in Canada. I have a bad feeling you're going to leave this on every photo I take from now on. ;-) I'll let you know when I do visit.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ryan Brenizer says:

raayn: The D3 can shoot in three image areas -- full frame, DX, and 5:4 mode, which is handy when you want to shoot images that will be blown up to 8x10, or when I'm shooting full-page magazine images. You can turn off auto-DX cropping in the menus.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Josh Thompson says:

This is very nice. I'm not gonna have a D3 anytime soon, but I guess I should try putting my Sigma 30mm on my film camera and see how it looks.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

TheAmazingJosh says:

Wow. You SOB, now I REALLY want a D3! Sadly I have no money yet for that purchase, but that's awesome that you found an excellent used for the Sigma... I was hating the idea of not being able to use that lens on the D3, it seemed like a natural for shooting in the dark.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Daniel Stark says:

this is great!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

toastforbrekkie says:

Wonderful shot, love your knowledge of the technical aspects. Love the title.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

rodinis says:

thanks for sharing this! i was curious as to what the result of the combination would be.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Michael Czeiszperger says:

There can be no doubt that vignetting is hot these days, and this natural effect looks better than the automated look you get out of Photoshop/Lightroom.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ryan Brenizer says:

Josh Thompson : I've done that, too.

Michael Czeiszperger Yeah, it looks tons better than fake vignetting.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

thoth037 says:

Beautiful portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tvchicklet says:

V. cool! I'll need to try this!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

PatMatte says:

Very nice!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Mute* says:

Superb colours, great portraits.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Zack DeLaune says:

Stunning portrait! Love it!

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Judy Cabbages says:

Very interesting experiment, and a really great result.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

migmerrell says:

stunning. The colors are amazing
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

scubapup says:

what a fun shoot, i wish i could have fun like you, all i have are uncooperative birds lol :)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Max-Zip2 says:

Wonderful expression !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Cooriander says:

Definitely a cool image. Cinematic look - great color too, nice dimensionality to it.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Denis Collette...!!! says:

Door #16 in the Explore Heaven!!!
CHAMPAGNE... PEANUTS... CHOCOLATE... ICE CREAM...!!! :)))

Congratulations! Félicitation! Felicitazione! Felicitación! Glückwunsch! تهنئة 恭喜 Felicitação! Čestitke! Blahopřání! Gratulation! Felicitatie! Õnnitlus! Onnittelu! Συγχαρητήρια! כל הכבוד! Gratulálok! مبارکPowinszowanie! Felicitação! Честитке! Lyckönskningar! Поздравляю! Tebrikler! Поздравления! تبریک おめでとう Til lukku or til hamingju! Parabéns!

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Poco ma Buono! [deleted] says:

This is a fantastic shot....very nice girl, most intresting Job!!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tshane says:

To use a golf expression, "That's a useful shot!".

Thanks for sharing and congrats. Great concept and execution.

Have you ever seen any front focusing issues with this lens?

--
Seen on popurls.com (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tintinian says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Empyrean Portraits(invite only) Post 1 award 2..., and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

--
Discovered using FlickrFox. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

chaysbc says:

beautiful shot! lighting, pose, mood all great.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

newreverend says:

great image! where can I get this border???
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

martin nieto says:

nice!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ryan Brenizer says:

I have had some focusing issues; not really miscalibrated, it's just a tricky beast.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Baby Dove says:

very sharp. I like the look of the vignetting.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tommy630greg says:

great composition, great colors !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

jagg.girl says:

oh i LOVE this!! the crop, the colors, the processing.... wow!!

seen in explore...
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

tshane says:

Thanks for the feedback. Would you recommend the lens (on a D80)?
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Julie Marques says:

great
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

aragost says:

D3+Great photographer+awesome model=nice combination :D
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Steh says:

wow beautiful portrait!
love the smile
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Fotos Feas says:

I think this photo is a

Please add your photo to www.flickr.com/groups/supershot/
After you add it to the group pool, please tag this photo as a SuperShot
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

CaptureThem says:

This is a really fantastic shot my friend!

#11 on Explore!

Thank you for sharing, it's definitely deservedly at the top of Interestingness!

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

blue_firetail says:

Love the colors, and the enigmatic Mona Lisaesque smile...I can see that I need a better camera, one with no time lapse before the shutter goes off...any suggestions for a very limited budget?
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

viajvia says:

she is beautiful. love those soulful, deep eyes.

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

wmarkclarke says:

Very good picture.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

striatic says:

she really has a very striking expression.

--
[discovered in the photophlow welcome room] (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ozio-bao says:

wow wonderful colors and contrast!

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

45street | www.victorpuig.com says:

Fantastic work. Excellent portrait. Beautiful look.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

prosto photos says:

I can't really decide, whether I like this one or the 85mm one more, but for some reason (I guess, it's cuz of the Flickr hiccups atm) I can only comment on this one, so here I go. The portraits are just so different: this one is more vibrant in all senses, has more energy to it, the other one is soft, dreamy and sublime.

Having another thought, I guess I'd give my voice in favor of the Sigma's. Glad you're enjoying your new toy!

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

DH_Photo says:

NICE!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Samuel Barr Photography says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Pictures with Frames (post a max of 5 per day), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

HckySo says:

Amazing portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

pstarr says:

not too shabby!

all you d3 users are killing me. KILLING ME!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

espressoDOM says:

simply outstanding my friend.... simply outstanding....WoW
i like that sense of sarcasm and the hint of a lil danger.... she could easily be holding books or a 9mm in this same photo
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Darien Chin says:

is it just me, or is there something a little evil about her stare...in a nice way of course....:)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

B*2 says:

gorgeous.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

davidteter says:

stunning.
and a lot more affordable than a Nikon 28/1.4
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

the half-blood prince says:

i love this
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

RaskarKapak says:

Amazing!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

missus1 says:

beautiful portrait.

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

alemdag says:

so good
colours are amazing

--
http://www.flickrfy.com/blog/ (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

joh@nn says:

Lovely...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

joh@nn says:

...and the colors are very beautiful.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

azrasta says:

your pic has been added to flickrbabes

Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

ZebraPix says:

This looks like a promo shot for the star of a new CW series. Love it.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

dvux says:

great look ;)

--
Seen in your New D3 set. (?)
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

NazzyK says:

I love the vivid colors.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

alemdag says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Alemdag"Quality Only"Club►VOTE for Contest Please, and we'd love to have this added to the group!Your photo is great and really has quality.
So please click the "Add it" button

Alemdag "Quality Only" Club
Please tag your photo with AlemdagQualityOnlyClub
Comment & Fave 2

Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

AF_PHOTOGRAPHY says:

EXcellent shot !! EXcellent shot!! :)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

[?]

	Ryan Brenizer's photostream
		2,709 uploads

This photo also belongs to:

	Stephanie (Set)
		6 items

	New D3 (Set)
		11 items

	50+ comments (Updated 3/21/08) (Set)
		63 items
	Part of: Most popular (updated 8/2/09)

	misc. portraits (Set)
		52 items
	Part of: Portraits

	Utata (Pool)
		0

	Sigma Fast Primes (30mm f/1.4) (Pool)
		0

	Flickr Babes **we love you (Pool)
		0

	The World Through My Eyes - Post 1 / Comment Any 1 (Pool)
		0

	Nikon D3 D3s D3x (Pool)
		0

	bokeh whores (Pool)
		0

171 people call this photo a favorite

Additional Information

Taken in Harlem, New York (map)
Taken with a Nikon D3.
More properties
Taken on January 5, 2008
Viewed 7,349 times

Add to your map

Yay location removed

...

(Some formats are OK.)

Anyone will be able to see this on the map

(edit)

Or, remove it from the map.

Go to the map | See nearby photos and videos

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Get Help