I used my lensbaby for a wider image for my 7th day of practice. Taken while waiting for our friends to arrive, and though I didn't know it at the time, taken just before I had all symptoms of a miserable cold. Sleep does not make colds go away as one can't sleep if one can't breathe! Looking forward to feeling as happy and good as I felt yesterday when I took this shot. And happy I stayed with the week of lensbaby shots. My conclusions:
1. It's quite a fun lens and totally possible to maintain your own voice and style when using it.
2. It's tricky and takes patience and practice -- and I'll need a lot more of that to really control it. Critical first step is decide on what you want in focus and be patient until you are sure it actually IS in focus (and take several initially as it's quite hard to tell on the camera live view whether the focal point is clear).
3. Look at what others have done for ideas -- google and 365 are great resources.
4. I have more control over blur with the lens than in post processing.
5. It may never be my 'go to' lens, but it's fun and I'm glad I have one.
6. If I were really serious about lensbaby use, I'd have been better of spending more and getting on that was easier to control. From what I've read, The Muse is one of the harder ones to use, but it's economical compared to the others.
I know what you mean about the focus. I took a photo yesterday that I loved the idea of but alas on the big screen none passed muster. Hope your cold is not too bad .
Stylistically I am not a huge lens baby fan but this one has turned out really well - the periphery of the shot looks really good as the colours melt into each other. Hope you shake the cold off soon
Still not sold on getting one... My impression is, from viewing yours and other posts, that the choice of subject is the most critical part of using a lensbaby (with reference again to your nest)
Wonderful capture, i have a the muse as well and although I like using it I do prefer the composer pro but all are such fun to use. Hope you feel better soon.
Your struggling with a complicated lens, I'm still trying to grasp the basics. So a lot of what you right could apply to me. The fact that I can take a good picture when everything lines up (Like not being too tired) gives me faith.
Hope your cold is better - summer colds are the worst.
The lensbaby blur goes great with the blur ....very cheerful and "by the water" tone to it. I read your things you learned about the lensbaby. If and when I ever get one, I'll remember that about the "ease of use" thing. I have a lot to learn about them before I even think of getting one....and I am saving for a trip and cannot buy one anyway...not right now. Sorry you got a cold. :0( get better!
I've loved reading about your experimentation with it, I still think I would like to try one one day, just not yet :) I really like how this turned out.
@ericdibosco That's what I've found -- it's not something general to work across the board, but when it works well (the right subject at the right distance), it's quite nice.
Congratulations on a week's worth of shots with it. Really love the blur on the water in this one but I think my favourite of yours so far is the one of the moth. I reckon you'll find some cool opportunities to take photos with it when you are back in Chicago as well - would love to see your take on some Chicago architecture with it. Hope you are feeling better.
Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly Taffy, colds are the pits!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and views on the Lensbaby, though I must confess I'm not in a hurry to get one. Today's image is interesting in terms of the way you've used the blur, but not one of my favourites.
Cool photo, Taffy. My eyes are driving me crazy, super bad flare up of this dry eye problem so forgive me for having problems looking at a blurry photo that I would normally be able to really look at without just a glance.
Hope your cold is better - summer colds are the worst.
Great shot.
Hope you have a speedy recovery.
Feel better soon!