Welcome to our blog all about capturing more creative photos! If you’re looking to add that extra touch of artistic flair to your photography, then you’ve come to the right place. Today, we delve into the Mura Masa “What If I Go” effect, combined with the popular photography accessory – the Lensball. This unique combination of tools and techniques allows you to transform your ordinary images into stunning visual masterpieces. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, we’ve got tips, tricks, and all the inspiration you need to take your creativity to the next level. So grab your camera and Lensball, and get ready to explore the endless possibilities of creating mesmerizing photos!
Get More Creative Photos! Mura Masa What If I Go Effect w/ Lensball
What is up people? It is a beautiful Thursday afternoon (well, it’s actually still morning) and I’m out here just outside of downtown Edmonton. Megan had an appointment, so I figured I would come out and try to get some cool shots. I need something to fill up my Instagram, so I thought, how can I make this creative? How can I do something a little bit different?
Recently, Conch, who we’ve met in the vlog before, showed me this cool effect that’s happening right now in a lot of music videos. It’s an effect that’s seen in Mura Masa’s music video for “What If I Go” or, if you prefer to watch a music video with a whole lot more butts in it, then you can watch “Broccoli” by DRAM. So, me and Conch the other day tried to shoot one of these, but without the actual equipment that is typically used for this, and this is how it turned out:
(Insert video link of the experiment)
As you can see, the general idea is that your subject is kind of staying still, and it’s almost like the bullet time from The Matrix, where the camera is kind of moving around the subject, but because they’re still, it looks like time is kind of frozen. And then it’s also got the kind of boomerang thing that we see a lot on Instagram, where it’s an animated thing going back and forth. So, I found a cool way that I can do that without actually having the original equipment that it required. So, I figured I’d double up on creativity. I came out downtown to try and get some shots like that, but then also add the Lensball into it. Last week, I posted my first photo using the Lensball and people were really loving it, so I thought there’s got to be a way that I can combine the Mura Masa 3D picture effect with the Lensball. So, that’s what we’re gonna try today, but before we do any of that, we gotta get breakfast.
Breakfast and Photography
We’re just chilling in the car before Megan’s hair appointment. She is tiny and fits with her feet up on the dash. How was breakfast anyway? Back to the photography stuff. When Conch showed me that effect, of course, I did what any sane person would do and I went straight to YouTube to figure out how the heck it was done. I found this video that was a Justin Odisho show video where he explained that it’s actually a specific camera. It’s an old film camera from the 80s, then it’s got four different exposures on the piece of film. So, it’s actually taking four side-by-side pictures at the same time. And when you take those pictures and you put them in sequence in a video sequence or an animated GIF sequence, then you get that cool effect where it kind of has like this parallax. So the subject in the foreground isn’t moving, but the whole background kind of feels like it is, a little tough to explain, but it feels like 3D space.
So, what I hope to accomplish is to actually get that same effect but with the Lensball, ’cause you see all sorts of Lensball photos, so I just kind of wanted to try and get a little bit more creative with the Lensball effect. So, first I’m going to try and get a shot of Wayne here with the effect before I introduce the Lensball. So, the way that I do this is that I try and mimic the four shots that you would get with the old 80s camera. The beauty of the 80s camera is that it takes the four shots at exactly the same time. So, you’re actually totally freezing time. So, if you have something that’s moving fast, it’s gonna totally freeze it. In my case, I can’t quite get that same effect, but what I can do is if I have a subject that’s standing still, like, I don’t know, a statue or something like that, or like in the example of Conch, I just got him to stand really still, and so it kind of looks like you’re getting the four shots at the same time. Then I set my camera to high-speed shooting, so I think it takes like 11 frames per second or something like that. Once you set your camera to take the shots in succession like that, you just have to move your camera slightly so that it looks like the four different shots that it would be taking with that old camera.
We’re gonna try that now. I can’t feel my fingers. It’s so friggin’ cold out here, like minus 12 degrees Celsius, and I didn’t bring gloves, like a genius. So, I think I got my shot of Wayne. Next, I’m gonna try and get this cool background here. I’ve used it before for another photo shoot that I’m gonna try and bust out the Lensball, see if I can get something. My plan was definitely to be out here a little bit longer, get a couple more shots, but that’s gonna have to do because I actually can’t feel my hands right now. So, okay, so the bad news is that I might lose a finger or two from freezing, but the good news is that I’m now inside Rogers Place, the arena here, and things are warming up a little bit, and I found a cool spot to try and take another set of photos. So, I’m gonna try and get one more Lensball 3D thing here, and then I’m gonna head back.
All right, I think I got some cool shots, some of Wayne here, a couple of the cool overpass thing, and then some from inside. So, let’s head back home and I’ll tell you guys how I edit these up.
Editing and Animation
And we’re back, cleaned myself up a little bit, ready to go. I have the files all imported into the computer, so now it’s just a matter of actually taking them and making that animation out of them. Step number one is going to be to edit them however you want. So, if you’re happy with the files the way that they came out of the camera, great. If not, then pull them into Lightroom or whatever editing software you use, edit them up, just make sure that you don’t crop anything differently from one photo to the next in the sequence, and try and edit them all the same too. The way that I do that is in Lightroom, I’ll edit one of the photos in the sequence, and then I’ll just sync the settings across the whole sequence so they all have the same thing. I export all of them in the sequence, even though there’s like 20 of them, we’re only gonna end up using probably four or five of them. I’ll export all of them, put them in a folder, and then we’re gonna pull them into Adobe Premiere to do the actual animation of it.
Assuming that you’ve got the editing side of it done, let’s go into Adobe Premiere and I’ll show you how this is done. (Insert remaining instructions on how to edit and animate the sequence using Adobe Premiere.)
FAQ – Get More Creative Photos! Mura Masa What If I Go Effect w/ Lensball
1. What is the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect?
The Mura Masa What If I Go Effect is a popular photography technique inspired by the music video of the song “What If I Go” by Mura Masa. It involves capturing creative and dreamy photos using a reflective glass ball called Lensball.
2. What is a Lensball?
Lensball is a perfectly round, crystal-clear glass ball that acts as a unique photography tool. Its highly transparent surface refracts light in unusual ways, creating captivating and distorted reflections that enhance the overall composition of photos.
3. How do I achieve the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect?
To achieve the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect, you need to follow these steps:
- Find a visually interesting subject or scene to photograph.
- Place the Lensball in front of your camera lens, making sure it acts as a secondary focal point.
- Compose your photo in a way that captures both the subject and the Lensball’s reflection.
- Experiment with different angles, distances, and lighting conditions to create unique effects.
- Capture the photo and adjust settings as needed.
4. What types of subjects work well with this effect?
Almost any subject can work well with the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect! However, landscapes, cityscapes, nature scenes, portraits, and architectural structures tend to produce stunning and artistic results when combined with the Lensball’s reflection.
5. What camera equipment do I need?
You can achieve the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect with any camera, including smartphones. However, having a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings gives you more control and flexibility in capturing the desired effect. A tripod may also be helpful to keep your camera steady while shooting.
6. Are there any tips for beginners?
Absolutely! Here are a few tips for beginners:
- Start with simple compositions and gradually experiment with more complex scenes.
- Pay attention to your surroundings and look for interesting reflections or elements to incorporate.
- Experiment with different focal lengths and apertures to achieve various levels of bokeh and sharpness.
- Consider using manual focus to ensure both the subject and the Lensball’s reflection are in focus.
7. Where can I buy a Lensball?
Lensballs are available for purchase online through various retailers. You can find them on dedicated photography websites or popular e-commerce platforms.
8. Can I edit my photos afterwards?
Absolutely! Editing your photos using photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or smartphone apps can enhance and refine the Mura Masa What If I Go Effect. Adjusting colors, contrast, and sharpening can help bring out the best in your creative photos.
Remember, practice and experimentation are key to mastering this photography technique. Have fun and let your creativity shine!
I hope you find useful my article Get More Creative Photos! Mura Masa What If I Go Effect w/ Lensball, I also recommend you to read my other posts in my blog at this link.
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Best of luck! and follow your passion.
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