Through a kaleidoscope

This photo is a perfect example of the kaleidoscopic effect in photography. This touch is a unique way of picture making as it requires a special equipment. In this picture we can see an unrepeatable photo that is the result of the difference between the axis of the lens and the axis of the kaleidoscope. The soft edges and transitions make this shot especially remarkable. It's also gratifying to see the wide range of viewpoints and the grey-blue sky dissolving into nothingness.

A great choice of subject: a classical crystal like material in the middle of our view. The photographer put the main subject on the kaleidoscope's back plane. Therefore, the mirrored subject appears on the mirror's inner side. The perfect background light is also highly commendable. Nonetheless, this work completely corresponds with the brief. All in all, the overall impact of this photo is stunning.

It's great to see that some kept to the brief. The photographer made a real discovery at depicting more points of view within one exposition using the homemade kaleidoscope body. The refraction due to the rugged edges gives a kind of inner frame to the pieces. The strongly separated parts show the camelia from different angles. As a result of the distortion of straight lines we can see a clear-cut inner unity and dynamism created by using a wide-angle lens. The photo also visualizes the optical illusion of light and the philosophical meaning of the part-whole concept, just like a futuristic piece of art. The flower is a great choice of subject, however, picking a modern object could have made the shot even more exquisite.

Even though this photo was not made exactly according to the brief, we still appreciate that it was taken using a special lense filter, not computer editing. The multiplication of the main theme actually creates a kaleidoscope-like effect. Its curiosity lies in the fact that the repetitions do not appear in different angles but are parallel to each other. The main theme in the middle is highlighted by its sharpness, while on its concentric copies the chromatic aberration at the edges gives a kind of graphic effect to the background. The unconventional composition is a great touch! This shot resembles the '60s in its colour scheme and thus can also be seen as a link between times bygone, the recent past and the present.

There were a lot of excellent entries in this contest that were made by photo-editing using different kaleidoscopic after effects. In the brief it was specified that taking the photos through a kaleidoscope body is a requirement. Nevertheless, the best effects deserve some commendation. Infinity of sound is one of these works. Though it's a little alternative, the meaning remains uncomplicated. The arrangement and repetition of the precisely fitted parts create balance and harmony. The aesthetics of the picture lies in its warmth, the impact of which is enhanced by the intensifying light at the joint corners.

These leaves have never seen a kaleidoscope, still the neatly fitted joints and the strive for simplicity bore their fruit. Here we can see a well-made artificial work similar to a real kaleidoscope-effect. The secret lies in the excellent raw material: the back-lit leaf veins. The black background highlights the design and gives elegance to the whole. Due to the concept of symmetric composition, we can also see the solidity and balance of this photo. At a long glance and some minor head movements, the picture's even capable of becoming alive and making a motion. This visual magic helps us forget about the slight sense of artificiality.