# Photographer Uses Glass Vase as Lens

> Photographer Pavel Mamontov creates otherworldly abstracts by shining light through a glass vase.
- Title: Photographer Uses Glass Vase as Lens · Digital Camera World
- Summary: Photographer Pavel Mamontov creates otherworldly abstracts by shining light through a glass vase. Photographer Pavel Mamontov uses a glass vase as a…
- Keywords: pavel mamontov, lensevision, glass vase, camera lens, abstract photography, photomicrography, Digital Camera World
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/photography/photo-technique/this-photographer-used-a-glass-vase-as-a-camera-lens-the-results-are-otherworldly
- Published: 2026-11-03T16:00:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pavel mamontov, lensevision, glass vase, camera lens, abstract photography, photomicrography
## Photographer Experiment
Pavel Mamontov uses a glass vase as a makeshift camera lens to create abstract images.
## Vase as Lens Technique
Shining light through a glass vase produces patterns that resemble microscopic images.
## Historical Connection
Commenter @uninitializedvariable noted this technique was used in early 1980s visual effects.

> This was one of the ways we created elements for visual effects in the early 80s; by sitting in a dark room and shining light through practically everything transparent we could get our hands on, projecting the result against a matte wall and filming it on 16 or 35mm Arriflex.
## Resulting Images
The technique creates ethereal abstracts that look like microscopic worlds or 1980s VFX shots.
## Key takeaway

Photographer Pavel Mamontov uses a glass vase as a makeshift camera lens to capture ethereal abstract images.