The Toy City by taffy

The Toy City

The sky was amazing, the fisheye was crying out to be used, and I thought it was time to brave the 'other' balcony. This is the result -- three bracketed shots combined in Photomatix and processed in LR5. I've now decided a fisheye of my own is a must!
I'll be inconsistently online for the next week -- visiting @jyokota in Poland, combining work and some photo fun. Thank you for your wonderful comments and favs for my Bean image yesterday -- it made it to PP which made me feel great.
wow, this is amazing! Spinningly cool!
March 5th, 2015  
Fav!
March 5th, 2015  
Wow, that is astonishing. Beautifully done!
March 5th, 2015  
Me too...This is just Too Cool!
March 5th, 2015  
Wonderful image! Maybe I too need a fish eye - it looks like a lot of fun! ;-)
March 5th, 2015  
I really like the lighting. Dramatic sky
March 5th, 2015  
neat shot..
March 5th, 2015  
Fisheye and HDR at it's best.The road and traffic give such a strong impression of swirl that the sky is forced to support the implied movement, hence the cityscape is surrounded by movement. A great example of the mind filling the gaps on the sides of the image because of the strong vectors at the bottom of the frame.
March 5th, 2015  
Splendid
March 5th, 2015  
Excellent
March 5th, 2015  
Wonderful. So many colours, I love the fisheye effect on this one. Another balcony? Good on you for braving it. You must know by now my feelings on balconies.
March 5th, 2015  
Superb! I love what you have done here.
March 5th, 2015  
Brilliant and beautiful! Chicago, as see through your lens, seems to be set on an island!
March 5th, 2015  
Love the fisheye effect here! Beautiful shot.
March 5th, 2015  
Stunning. Big Fav
March 5th, 2015  
WOW WOW WOW I must get myself a fish eye lens!! This is fabulous!! Well done for braving the balcony again!! Safe journey to Poland and have a great time with Junko - I am sure you will get some wonderful photos to blow our minds!! Huge Fav for this fab shot!!
March 5th, 2015  
Jo
Fabulous Taffy, what a mind bending image, the fish eye is perfect for you, I love this. Fav for sure.
March 5th, 2015  
Amazing capture...Fav
March 5th, 2015  
This looks so fabulous. I love the colours and the fisheye effect. Fav
March 5th, 2015  
Excellent use of the gorgeous sky, the skyline and the streets in the foreground, all of which forms a perfect unity.
March 5th, 2015  
Lee
Incredible shot. Fav.
March 5th, 2015  
magnificent
March 5th, 2015  
You are having a ball with this lens. Great shot.
March 5th, 2015  
The fisheye works very well here also! FAV
March 5th, 2015  
This is just amazing. A fantastic lens in the hands of a very talented photographer. That is a great combination. Fave of course.
March 5th, 2015  
Amazing effects
March 5th, 2015  
Very cool image. Fav!
March 5th, 2015  
Nice, Postcard feel!
March 5th, 2015  
Wow! 'Nuff said! No more words.
March 5th, 2015  
Awesome shot
March 5th, 2015  
No words, just fav.
March 5th, 2015  
Awesome. Fav
March 5th, 2015  
Wow...stunning...looks like the edge of the earth...great light, perspective
March 5th, 2015  
Incredible picture and perspective. Congratulations on making the Trending Page. Well deserved.
March 5th, 2015  
Wonderful shot.
March 5th, 2015  
Fantastic and big FAV for the fisheye
March 5th, 2015  
Oooh love this. Shall bill you if I end up buying a fish eye!
March 5th, 2015  
I want one too! Great work. Fav
March 5th, 2015  
Magnificent
March 5th, 2015  
@rachelwithey Heehee!!! Had to laugh as I've been busily pricing them, and Leslie just bought one -- @lesip -- that was reasonable, so I'm waiting to hear from her about how much she likes it -- the only downside is it's manual focus, but it works on DX and FX (cropped and full frame).
March 5th, 2015  
Like a toy town
March 5th, 2015  
Superb and certainly catches the hustle and bustle of city life! I can see you're having a wonderful time with your new lens!
March 5th, 2015  
oh WOW I would FAV this a thousand times over if I could ~ staggering image
March 5th, 2015  
Oh, I love this! FAV!
March 5th, 2015  
Totally awesome and love it!
March 5th, 2015  
Nicely done, you seem to be having a lot of fun with this fish eye...fav.
March 5th, 2015  
Fabulous shot, love the small world view you created here. I think you have to keep the fish-eye or if you have to return it, buy one for yourself, giving you fabulous results - fav
March 5th, 2015  
FAV.
Awesome!!!
March 5th, 2015  
Excellent!! Fisheye arrived today but it's snowing to beat the band outside. Did put it on the camera and it utilizes the full frame . Told a couple shots out the window that looked pretty interesting on the back of the camera . Haven't loaded them on the lap top yet. Lots of snow pics so probably won't may my project today, time will tell.
March 5th, 2015  
@lesip Big news is that it utilizes full frame. How did you find the manual settings -- any hassle?
March 5th, 2015  
I like this so much!
March 5th, 2015  
Very cool!! Safe travels!
March 5th, 2015  
Fantastic capture!
March 5th, 2015  
Oh I can't wait to see your Poland shots, how exciting! This shot is fantastic, so much to see down there. Love that there is some snow around too.
March 5th, 2015  
magnificent capture Taffy
fav
March 5th, 2015  
Awesome photo .... fav :)
March 5th, 2015  
Wonderful processing Taffy. I love it
March 5th, 2015  
fabulous!
March 5th, 2015  
Wonderful shot. Looking at all these pictures of yours is making me want to go try out my camera's fish-eye option.
March 6th, 2015  
Tom
Love this, great capture and processing
March 6th, 2015  
Now that's a cityscape - phenomenal
March 6th, 2015  
Gorgeous shot!
March 6th, 2015  
Splendid capture.
March 6th, 2015  
Wow - this is fantastic - those colors and the processing are terrific.
March 6th, 2015  
What a lovely shot. Brilliant processing.Have fun in Poland...my grandparents was from Poland. Looking toward to your photos from there.
March 6th, 2015  
Awesome. Enjoy your trip
March 6th, 2015  
Congratulations on making the PP. Well deserved.
March 6th, 2015  
Fabulous shot! Fisheye put it over the top! Fav
March 6th, 2015  
WOW!
March 6th, 2015  
@mzzhope Thanks Hope!!
March 6th, 2015  
Stunning shot, the lens looks amazing..........fav :)
March 6th, 2015  
This is an awesome shot, Taffy. I love what you are getting in your photos using this fisheye lens. You are sure getting brave to step outside too. FAV
March 6th, 2015  
Hi @lesip . Taffy mentioned that you'd bought a fisheye lens. Can I ask which one you bought and how much you paid? If you'd rather do that by e-mail I can let you have my e-mail address. Taffy - which one have you been using?
March 6th, 2015  
Ooooo! That's awesome.
March 6th, 2015  
60 faves tell their own story - here's one more.
March 6th, 2015  
Fantastic fish eye of Chicago!
March 6th, 2015  
@rachelwithey @lesip
Hi Rachel -- I noticed you use a Canon, so this won't help directly, but the one I've been using is a Nikon DX AF Firsheye Nikkor 10.5mm/f2.8. It's about 3-4' long, fairly lightweight, and for a crop sensor camera. I have no idea of cost, but I always check for a used lens before buying a new one. I usually can save about 30% when I do that. There are some new ones out there for under $400 or even less for a Canon that I saw when I was searching. Have fun!
March 6th, 2015  
wow that is a marvelous effect of the fish eye!! Love it! have fun in Poland!
March 6th, 2015  
@taffy thanks Taffy - I'm going to save up and have a look I think. I've wondered about getting a wide angle lens but I don't really take the kind of photos that need one but this would give me the distortion as well that I think I'd enjoy. Have fun in Poland
March 6th, 2015  
fabulous!!
March 7th, 2015  
and a wonderful outcome!!
March 7th, 2015  
Amazing shot!
March 7th, 2015  
Standing O !!!
March 7th, 2015  
Love your toy!! Fav!
March 7th, 2015  
Very cool image Taffy. Enjoy your time away. Congrats on PP
March 7th, 2015  
Just curious at this point, where do you search for used lenses?
March 7th, 2015  
Oh soooo sorry to miss this fantastic shot!! WOWzie. Super FAV
March 8th, 2015  
Pea
Amazing image Taffy!
March 9th, 2015  
This is really cool!
March 12th, 2015  
@bill_fe I've gotten a 50mm from eBay, and a few others from Calumet. I'd just check a reputable camera store -- not a chain. Since lenses don't really wear out, you can save a ton. They will buy back lenses too, but I don't find the pricing very enticing. For example, I have another 50mm that works on the Nikon models up to the D610 (an FX version so it acts as a 70mm on a DX frame) but they will give me so little for it, that I figure someone I know may end up wanting one and I could then give them a great price instead. But for buying, camera stores are a great option.
March 13th, 2015  
Congrats TT taffy. Well deserved.
March 13th, 2015  
And no 1 at that! That lens has served you well.
March 13th, 2015  
Wow, 2 TT's this week! You are on fire. Well done!
March 13th, 2015  
wow!
March 13th, 2015  
Congrats on top spot Taffy, love it!
March 13th, 2015  
Fantastic Taffy the detail is so good and that effect works so well with the subject matter, fav.
March 13th, 2015  
Congrats on number one for the week!
March 14th, 2015  
I seem to have missed TT this week and was just browsing and saw you at number one and then again lower down the rankings. Another double Taffy! Well done and so well deserved with these fab fish eye lens shots!
March 14th, 2015  
fantastic. I love what you have done here. congratulations on TT.
March 14th, 2015  
How did I miss this? it's FAB Taffy :) and obviously a FAV
March 14th, 2015  
Top of the TT! Good for you.
March 14th, 2015  
Bit late, but a fav nonetheless! Well done on TT x2!
March 14th, 2015  
Wow! I just gave you your 80th fav! Missed this till now. This is amazing, to say the least. Congrats on the number one, and well deserved, spot on the TT, Taffy.
March 16th, 2015  
@taffy Thanks Taffy. Is Calumet any good now? It was purchased by the same group that owns Ritz, Wolf, and several more.
March 16th, 2015  
Congratulations Taffy on another TT finish! Well deserved!
March 16th, 2015  
@bill_fe It's hard to tell. The 'old' Calumet had a person I worked with throughout. He knew what I did and would occasionally alert me when a lens came in that I was looking for. The 'new' Calumet isn't set up yet in a way that I can tell with much used inventory, but I can see they are doing fairs, etc. to bring it in. And I'm not looking for anything at the moment so am out of touch (except maybe a full-frame fisheye!).
March 16th, 2015  
@taffy Thanks
March 16th, 2015  
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