My crystal ball won’t tell the future, but it sure is fun to take on a photo outing. After trying a couple of my photo buddies’ crystal balls, I decided to get one. They are fun, but my 4.2 inch is heavy and bulky to carry around. I found an old point and shoot camera bag that it could fit into, and it helped to carry it over my shoulder during a July 4 morning shoot at Gibson Ranch with Laura.

If you’re thinking of buying a crystal ball/orb, don’t go bigger than mine. Photo buddy Karen has a 4″ and 3″. She prefers the 3″ because it fits into a jacket pocket and is lighter to carry. I find the smaller orb more difficult to shoot through and to get some of the background identifiable in the background. One recommendation is to get one that sits on a crystal base rather than a wood base.

If you haven’t shot through a crystal ball, it gives an upside down image of what you’re shooting and looks almost like a fish-eye effect. Here’s one:

Of course, you can right side up the image and have the background upside down. In this picture, the blurred background is what you see in the ball. My goal is to learn how to crop out the ball’s base. Just another challenge.

Speaking of challenges, I have been attacking  Photoshop, but not on Mondays. We can schedule, but things do come up. Last week I broke open “Photoshop for Lightroom Users” by Scott Kelby. I’m learning some of the tools and to do little things right now. I’ve also investigated some of the other software I have as I edit.

So gaze into my crystal ball, enjoy and have fun!

The pond at Gibson Ranch is great for young fishermen.

I got closer as he walked.

I enjoy the pond’s still water.

We met an Appaloosa and her owner.

She just had her bangs combed, and I couldn’t resist!

Many horse owners board their horses here. This is a hay barn.

The hay barn through the ball.

A horse and rider.

You can also get to Dry Creek at Gibson Ranch.

We took turns holding the ball. I need to turn a tripod into a ball stand.

I love the creek. So serene.

Back at Gibson Ranch. Here’s a view of the pond through the ball.

Pardon me, just walking through! The ball image is right sided and the barn is upside down.

This horse owner posed for us. I left her upside down.

Another right sided barn image.