Curvature of field and architectural photography

[Drew Bedo]

Archetural photography used to be a specialty niche in commercial LF imaging. Rendering enclosed spaces without distortion or DOF issues dominated along with exposure and color balance problems.

So now I am looking at getting a petzval lens to dress up a vintage LF camera I have . . .maybe even shoot with it too. Reading about the Bokeh due to curvature of field with these lenses, in the context of portraiture got me thinking about other ways to use this characteristic as a tool instead of as a limitation.

Can curvature of field be used to better image a hallway or room?

[Jim Jones]

It might be useful to emphasize part of the image, just as shallow DOF or controlled lighting do, but not to present the subject in the most realistic way. Realism honors the subject; surrealism honors the photographer. Which is more important?

[ic-racer]

204562

[ic-racer]

Lens spacing affects field curvature. You could try altering that and see what happens.

My 210mn Angulon (not Super-Angulon) had a curved field and I experimented with lens spacing, however, the focal field seemed more like this image (exaggerated), rather than a simple concave surface.

204563