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I took this today, using a zone plate on my camera. I would like to know what others think about it. To me, it's not really quite like a photograph, but more like a fabric print maybe. I am going to upload two other 'variants' I also got at the same time.
| Camera: | Nikon D300  Check out Nikon Nation! |
| Lens: | lens baby pinhole/zone plate |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | Cherry Blossom close up |
| Username: | 
SueEley |
| Uploaded: | 30 Mar 2012 - 6:35 PM |
| Tags: | Close-up / macro, Digital art, Flowers & plants, Lens baby, Pinhole, Specialist / abstract, Zone plate |
| VS Mode Rating |
100 (50% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | 7 |
 | Variant - Tests |
Comments
I must admit, I have no idea what a 'zone plate' is - but I feel this was an experiment, just trying something out to see what happens. As such I'm not sure it has worked.
Some blurred images are good because they become flowers at a distance, but unfortunately this one doesn't. Because of that I don't think this effect is for me.
Are you happy with it? Would you print it for the wall? If the answers are yes, then it's perfect, all 'art' must please the artist. 
The vote is for V3, which seems the most mysterious. This is Marmite photography - you love it or hate it. I appreciate it because it has an elemental quality for me, it's about light.
Moira
I have to admit that I like them myself, though in the reverse order to their uploaded sequence. As a Lensbaby exponent myself I find the Zone Plate less useful than the Plastic Optic; the latter allows easy handheld shooting which the Zone Plate's f19+ rather mitigates against. The effects are not dissimilar - extreme softness and a certain amount of colour separation; the Plastic Optic makes it easier to achieve a point of focus somewhere in the image! When the lens is bent the colour separation and haloing increase in the o/o/f areas. They are entirely photographic and far more appealing to me than digitally manipulated images of almost anything.
I appreciate that most people do not like to be seen to be different; also that wall-to-wall and foreground-to-vanishing-point sharpness are now in fashion. I like being different and seeing photos that are different; this set suits me completely: V3 is particularly surreal.
Bill
Quote: In my humble opinion, this does not work. it looks like a poorly taken image from a cheap phone camera. i am sorry to be so blunt but the D300 is worthy of better stuff.
I can see where you're coming from on that meyevew - if you don't think of it as a photo it might look better lol. Which is not to devalue what you say!
And thanks to everyone else who took the time to comment. Bill, I think I have the original lensbaby optic somewhere and should go and find it, though I did get 160th in my garden today with the zoneplate, which was easily handholdable even for someone like me with a tremor.
Karen, I do like it and I would print it for the cover of a notebook but not for the wall - so a partial success, at least.
Moira, 3 and 1 are my favourites for different opinions. 2 kind of falls between two fences for me. I will go back and try to see number two with different eyes.
Thanks again. Sue
Thank you for your reply..............I did wonder if perhaps I'd been a little harsh!
I have 'Google' it, but when faced with 'Arago spot' and 'Fresnel zones' and mathematical equations suitable for a University Don, I found the information a bit.............'!' From what I gather, it's a lens made up of circles, alternating opaque and transparent. The diffraction of light creates an image made up of focused and unfocused light.
Am I anywhere near right?
Reading it I felt I did understand why this image looks like it does.
I've never heard of a zone plate either but I can see it has its uses. V1 is a lovely study in colour and looks like an image you could use for fabrics. I can't say I'm particularly taken with the other two versions but it's good to try these things. It'd be interesting to see the method used on some other subjects so we can get more of an overview.
Chris
Quote: Thank you for your reply..............I did wonder if perhaps I'd been a little harsh!
I have 'Google' it, but when faced with 'Arago spot' and 'Fresnel zones' and mathematical equations suitable for a University Don, I found the information a bit.............'!' From what I gather, it's a lens made up of circles, alternating opaque and transparent. The diffraction of light creates an image made up of focused and unfocused light.
Am I anywhere near right?
Reading it I felt I did understand why this image looks like it does.
That's pretty much it, at least as far as I understand it! You are supposed to be able to print them out on transparent media, but as they are tiny I am not sure how easy that would really be. I will keep experimenting with mine. Thanks again for commenting, folks.
It is good to experiment and all results have their own value (even if to show you what doesn't work lol) I love v3 which I think is the most 'photographic' in feel and quite like v1 for its soft abstract 'patterned fabric' feel. I feel the same as you about v2 - doesn't quite work as either a photograph or an abstract for me.
Keep having fun with the zoneplate and I'm sure you will hit a real winner soon 
Bruce
how very interesting ...
I find all 3 worthy of a good look.
In my eye experimentation with the camera is so very important.
go for it .....
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