Marble stare-case: Teen schoolboy creates breathtaking images... by photographing using a clear marble

By Oliver Pickup

Last updated at 3:41 PM on 14th March 2011

A teenager has come up with an extraordinary way of taking interesting photographs - but he has not lost his marbles, indeed he is instead using a clear marble as his point of focus, and the bizarre technique has led to some breath-taking images.

Caleb Tenenbaum, a 16-year-old from New Jersey, only took up photography last August after seeing a photographic exhibition in which the snapper had used a crystal ball to create a similar effect.

The teen has entitled a collection of his photographs 'Life Through a Marble' where he has used a 1cm marble as a view finder on the landscape around where he lives.

Novel idea: The 16-year-old used a 1cm marble to create these breath-taking images

Tenenbaum dreamt up the idea after seeing other snappers produce similar collections, but with much larger crystal balls.

He said: 'I saw a few pictures taken of flowers in water drops or scenes in giant crystal balls and I thought I could take the idea of refractions and reflections, innovate it, and make it my own.

'I realised I had discovered something pretty special when I took the first picture. Before even processing it I realised it all worked perfectly.

'The focus was superb, the composition was right on, and it was eye-catching.'

Breath-taking: Caleb Tenenbaum holds the marble between two fingers and the view is focused in the little clear marble

Ice cool: This image shows the marble nestled into some frozen ground, creating an eerie photograph

Tenenbaum is still at school and does not possess any training in photography, but he is determined to turn his hobby into full-time work once he has finished his schooling.

So far he has created around 30 of these images - but hopes to make hundreds more.

He added: 'The idea is quite simple - but to master it takes a lot of work. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and new compositions.

'In my most recent shot I rested the marble on my friends mouth while his head was completely tilted back. I took a picture capturing the marble, everything in it, and even my friend's chin too.

'Like anything, it takes practice and the feedback I get from my friends, family, and online helps my confidence and encourages me to work harder and produce the best photos that I can.'