"Learning the Swirl" – Kerrenton Snow Reviews the Petzval 80.5 mm Art Lens

New York City based photographer Kerrenton Snow is known for capturing unique expressions and his distinctive editing style. In his work he is dedicated to exploring light, expression, and storytelling. On his YouTube channel he is also focused on helping other photographic artists understand how gear can enhance their creative expression by emphasizing real-world performance over technical specifications.

He recently tested out the Petzval 80.5 mm Bokeh Control Art Lens, utilizing it's unique functions and iconic swirly bokeh to transform his street photography and portraiture. Check out his results and read his full review of the lens below!

The following words are written by Kerrenton Snow:

Moving to New York earlier this year felt like an overdue investment in myself—perhaps an early midlife crisis, or simply a bold leap of faith. Among my personal goals was tackling two challenging photographic genres: street photography and portraiture. Each requires distinct skills, honed only through relentless practice.

Street photography demands quick reflexes and an intuitive connection with your camera. Moments are fleeting, light changes in an instant, and subjects are unpredictable. Portraiture, while offering more control, is equally demanding. It requires precision in technical choices like aperture and shutter speed, mastery of lighting to flatter your subject, and the ability to draw out genuine emotion. Both genres depend on a seamless synergy between photographer and equipment.

I immersed myself in the craft, collaborating with photographers who pushed me to leave my comfort zone behind. Yet I craved something more—a unique element to define my style. Enter the 80.5mm Petzval lens. Having enjoyed the iconic swirls of the Helios 44 for nearly a decade, I wondered how a longer, portrait-oriented lens would reinterpret that aesthetic. The Petzval, with its promise of intense subject isolation and distinctive character, seemed the perfect fit.

First Impressions

The lens itself is a work of art: solid, black lacquered metal with gold markings for distance and aperture. The rings are smooth and responsive, and the fixed lens hood—reminiscent of classic Petzval designs—helps manage flare while exuding vintage charm. When shooting backlit subjects, expect a dramatic, well-balanced flare that complements the swirling bokeh beautifully.

I paired the Petzval with my Canon R5c and set out for a test shoot. Working with Gabby in Tudor City on a serene Sunday, alongside my fashion-photographer friend Tom, I quickly became enamored with the lens. Gabby’s professionalism allowed me to focus on adapting to the lens’s unique characteristics. Its center sharpness was as expected, but the pronounced corner fall-off required a shift in approach—favoring three-quarter-length portraits and keeping key focal points near the frame's center.

Learning the Swirl

Maximizing the lens’s signature swirl required careful composition. Subject distance and background interplay are crucial. Standing too close to the subject creates a dreamy blur but loses the swirl; positioning the subject too close to the background flattens the image. The sweet spot—a dynamic background of trees, lights, or buildings—produces a magical swirl that elevates the shot.

A standout moment was shooting Gabby on the Tudor City bridge, centered against the bustling backdrop of 42nd Street. As I grew more familiar with the lens's quirks, we transitioned to an autumnal staircase surrounded by soft light and vibrant foliage. Here, I found my rhythm, letting the technical aspects fade into instinct while focusing on composition and flow. Gabby’s effortless posing combined with the lens’s character to produce some of my favorite images to date.

Final Thoughts

Will the Petzval become my everyday, walk-around lens? Probably not - it’s a specialized tool, ideal for specific moments when you seek to break free from creative stagnation. It provided the creative spark I had been searching for, enabling me to capture a long-held artistic vision. If you’re looking to reignite your passion or set your work apart, this lens is a worthwhile investment in yourself.

Thank you to Kerrenton for sharing is wonderful photos and review with us! To see more of his work check out his Instagram and Youtube channel.

written by alexgray on 2025-01-06 #gear #people #places #digital #portrait #bokeh #portrait-photography #petzval-80-5-art-lens