Last year, I purchased a fisheye (Sigma 15mm) lens. This is a specialized lens with limited application. I probably only use the fisheye for 1 or 2 shots out of 100 frames. However, certain scenes just call for a fisheye. So, I'm glad that I have one in my bag when I need it.

Click here to view samples of images that I've captured using a fisheye lens over the past several months.

Earlier this week, the fisheye came in handy. I took a tour of Wrigley Field. While waiting for the tour to start, I captured an image of the outside of the ballpark. The entrance is decorated to celebrate the 100th anniversary of baseball at Wrigley Field. Here's the photograph using the Sigma 15mm fisheye lens with my Nikon D800:

Wrigley FieldCelebrating 100 years at Wrigley Field on the corner of Clark and Addison Streets in Chicago, Illinois on September 8, 2014

As a perspective, I captured a similar photo from the same vantage point four years ago. This next photo was taken at an ultra-wide 14mm focal length:

Wrigley FieldWrigley Field from the corner of Clark & Addison in Chicago, Illinois on April 23, 2009 Although I like both photos, the only way to include the entire stadium in the frame is by using the fisheye lens. In certain situations (like this one), I also like using the distortion that the fisheye provides to bring more curvature into the building.

I've found the fisheye to be particularly effective when shooting circular subjects such as the inner dome of a State Capitol. With circular subjects, it's nearly impossible to detect any fisheye distortion, yet the fisheye is often the only way to include the entire dome in the frame.

Arkansas DomeInner dome from the rotunda floor of the Arkansas State Capitol building at 500 Woodlane Drive in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 15, 2014. This photograph consists of five exposures blended together to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.

The distortion of the fisheye can also make certain scenes look strange or quirky. I used this feature to help make my neighbor's Christmas decorations look a little more whacky. Note that the curvature of the sidewalk is entirely the product of fisheye distortion.

Crazy ChristmasHoliday decorations at 15441 Sunset Ridge Drive in Orland Park, Illinois on December 14, 2013. This photograph consists of five exposures blended together to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.

The more I use the lens, the more I learn how to see things from a fisheye's perspective.