Swirling in Bokeh: Ines Rehberger Tests the New Petzval Art Lens

In spite of being a trained photographer, Ines quit her job and continued with photography only as a hobby. She still finds time to create beautiful, expressive portraits, which she recently did this in her hometown, Brunswick, and transformed the city into a quintessential dream setting with a unique swirly bokeh effect. Her weapon of choice? The New Petzval Art Lens, of course!

Name: Ines Rehberger
City: Braunschweig
Job: Waitress
Links: Flickr, Facebook

Hi Ines! Please introduce yourself to the Lomography Community.

Hi! My name is Ines Rehberger. I’m 21 years old and live in Braunschweig, Germany. I’m a trained photographer but I decided not do this as my profession. So currently I’m only working as a waitress. However, I still take photos when there is enough time for it. Photography and I are one and I love everything about it. So I was very happy when I got the chance to test the Petzval Lens.

How did you like testing the Petzval Art Lens? What is so special about it?

Testing the Petzval Lens was fantastic. It was so much fun to engage myself in its mechanics and trying different apertures and possibilities. For me, the Petzval is special because of its beautiful optics. The golden lens with its retro steampunk style is a real eye-catcher. And, of course, the swirly bokeh and the nice quality of the images are very special.

Which camera did you use and where did you take the shots?

I used my Canon EOS 5D Mark I. There were different places in Braunschweig [I had] as locations, from small riverbanks to the topmost deck of a car park with a great view over the city.

Which shot do you like best and why?

My favorite is the last photo from the previous gallery. Here you can see the wonderful swirly bokeh [that] I really looked forward to.

The Petzval is suited for portraits. What is a perfect portrait, in your opinion?

A good portrait is a cooperation of everything: sharpness, blurring, expression, a story, a beautiful moment—all that is important. It should look natural, just like an accidental moment. It should bring the observer to pause for a moment and think about it. Then there is color or the adequate black and white transformation which is important for the impact of a photo.

Do you have any advice on how to handle this lens, something that could be important for beginners? Also referring to portrait photography.

I would say one should engage in it [for] one or two days and try, try, try until one is able to handle it. It needs some time getting used to, focusing and getting a sharp image only with your eyes without any additional help from your camera. That is challenging in the beginning but it gets easier with time.

Are there any projects you would like to do? Who or what would you like to photograph with this lens and why?

Oh yes, there are some. [Working] with the Petzval Lens was so much fun. I would like to use it [at] sunset in a forest or during a road trip through the mountains. I feel like I didn’t try out all possibilities yet and I want to have my own Petzval one day and change that.

Thank you for the interview!

You’re welcome!

Find out more about Ines Rehberger in our “5 Questions on Analogue Photography Interview” (in German) and have a look at her work on Flickr or on Facebook.

The New Petzval Art Lens is a reinvention of the famous Petzval Lens from the 19th century that made photography history. It’s available in the standard brass or in black finish and can be used with Nikon and Canon cameras. Enjoy the amazing swirly effect wherever and whenever! You can order the New Petzval Art Lens from the Online Shop.

written by zonderbar on 2015-05-06 #people #germany #lomoamigos #lomoamigo #petzval #petzval-art-lens #ines-rehberger