Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic – Family Photos

Published on December 30, 2009 in Experimental, Lensbaby and Youth. 3 Comments
Kellen - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Kellen - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

During the holidays we visited my brother-in-law and all the nieces and nephews. I took a bunch of photos mostly with the Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic. My main problem was trying to find the optimum focus point in low light with moving children, quite a challenge. All of these were shot in available light at ISO 1600 because the light was really that low. The more I use the Soft Focus Optic the more I like the effect you can get. Now if I can just learn how to manually focus quick enough to get the shot!

Here are a few more of the Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic images…

Lilly Rhys - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Lilly Rhys - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Kellen 2 - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Kellen 2 - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Lilly Rhys 2 - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Lilly Rhys 2 - Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic

Lensbaby Angel

Published on December 26, 2009 in Experimental, Flash and Lensbaby. 6 Comments
Lensbaby Angel

Lensbaby Angel - Soft Focus Optic

Christmas day and I thought I’d have some fun with the tree lights and one of our ornaments. Used the soft focus optic with a star disk from the creative aperture kit. Also used the tele converter and the +4 close up adapter. The right distance from the lights, two off camera flashes with snoots to light the angel and you have the formula for the image. Here’s another one from the session, pretty much the same formula but with a “secret” ingredient added…can’t tell you everything.

Lensbaby Angel 2

Lensbaby Angel 2 - Soft Focus Optic

Merry Christmas to All

Published on December 24, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

May you all have a healthy, happy Holiday Season…and share your joy with as many people as possible. The star was created in camera by doing a 10 shot multiple exposure, zooming a little between each exposure. You can click on the image above to view a larger version.

Longwood Christmas Lights

Published on December 21, 2009 in Architecture and Topaz. 0 Comments
Longwood Christmas Lights

Longwood Christmas Lights - D700

Since we are getting REAL close to Christmas I dug into the photo archives and found these two images from a trip to Longwood last year. There was a light rain and it gave all the lights a little extra glow, also kept the crowds down. These were both hand held shots and required a fair amount of post processing to get the feeling I wanted.

Longwood Christmas Lights Inside

Longwood Christmas Lights Inside - D700

The Angel & The Jester

Published on December 15, 2009 in Close-up, Experimental and Lensbaby. 0 Comments
SG_20091214_054+055_fused_blog

Angel LB Fisheye

Jester LB Fisheye

Jester LB Fisheye

Two Lensbaby images shot with the new Fisheye Optic. Really is a lot of fun to use. Quite a different way of seeing things.

I shot both of these using the f/11 ring and from a tripod. You definitely need to get up close and personal with your subject.  I was very close to the main subject. How close? One or two inches max…

Click on the images to view larger…I am trying out a Lightbox plug-in for Wordpress. Still having some trouble getting it to play well with my current theme…

Romeo Glowing in Sunshine

Published on December 13, 2009 in Animals and Lensbaby. 0 Comments
Romeo Glowing in Sunshine - Lensbaby SF Optic

Romeo Glowing in Sunshine - Lensbaby SF Optic

Here’s a image of Romeo glowing in the sunshine yesterday afternoon. Shot this with my Lensbaby Composer with the new Soft Focus Optic. No aperture ring was used at all. Even wide open there is still some detail in the softness. This was shot in pretty hard light and the shadows got opened up and softened pretty good. Yes, I did a little work in Photoshop, so this is NOT right out of the camera.

Visions of Sparrows & Bushy Squirrels

Published on December 9, 2009 in Animals and Topaz. 2 Comments
Romeo Dreaming of Sparrows & Bushy Squirrels

Romeo Dreaming of Sparrows & Bushy Squirrels

This is one of our cats, Romeo, sleeping in one of his favorite spots. A basket by the window and a splash of warm sun would send me into dream-land if I was a cat. I’m pretty sure he is dreaming of sparrows and bushy squirrels because that’s one of his favorite activities at the windows and doors when he’s awake…

Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic Test

Published on December 6, 2009 in Experimental and Lensbaby. 2 Comments
Lensbaby SF Optic Angel - D700

Lensbaby SF Optic Angel - D700

I was doing some testing around the house today using the new Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic. Trying to learn how it is going to react to different lighting. I was using the f/4.8 overall-f/9.5 center multi-hole aperture ring for all the images in this posting. Here’s what I found out…

On the first image you can see the nice diffused highlights coming off the angel, a little more pronounced as you get closer to the edge of the frame. This was NOT in bright sunlight, shot in a fairly flat light.

On the second image of the wreath and candles you can see another interesting diffused highlight pattern on the candles. Again, NOT in bright light, just an even flat light.

Lensbaby SF Optic Wreath - D700

Lensbaby SF Optic Wreath - D700

The image of the Santa’s was shot in total shade with a little diffused window-light coming in from the right. Has a nice softness with enough detail to the whole frame. Again, NOT in bright light…starting to see what I learned?

Lensbaby SF Optic, Santas - D700

Lensbaby SF Optic, Santas - D700

OK I did shoot one in a little brighter light, not a lot brighter, just a little. It’s a multiple exposure done in camera. Five exposures, changing the focus point on each exposure. Gives you a nice softened effect with interesting highlights.

Lensbaby SF Optic, Ornaments - D700

Lensbaby SF Optic, Ornaments - D700

Well that’s about all I have to say, just thought I’d share some of what I discovered using the Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic. Now I just have to get out of the house and put some of the info to use…

Holiday Colors – Lensbaby Time

Published on December 4, 2009 in Close-up, Flowers and Lensbaby. 0 Comments
Holiday Colors - Lensbaby 3G

Holiday Colors - D200, Lensbaby 3G

Here’s one from the files…shot this with my old D200, has since been converted to a IR dedicated camera. Was using the Lensbaby 3G at the time. I am now using  the Composer and find it much easier to use. Thought this had a real Holiday feel to it sooooo here it is. Shot wide open with no ring or the f4 ring, don’t remember for sure.