Now that spring is just arriving in our area, it might be fun to use some of our favorite flower images and Photoshop to create orbs. First select one of your favorite flower/garden images and crop it into a square with the flower fairly centered.
Next, convert the image to 8 bits. In Photoshop: Image > Mode > 8bits
From the filter menu: Go to Distort > Polar Coordinates
When the Polar Coordinates dialogue appears, choose Polar Rectangular as the method, and click OK.
Next from the main Photoshop menu go to Image > Image Rotation > Flip Canvas Vertical
Now go back to Filter Menu: Go to Distort > Polar Coordinates
This time in the Polar Coordinates dialogue, select Rectangular to Polar as the method, and click ok.
Viola, you have an orb. Play with different images until you get a feel for which images work best.
Equipment & Settings:
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 100-400, F5.6
Gitzo Tripod, Really Right Stuff ball head
