My apologies for not posting anything recently but it's been one of those weeks; i.e. too much to do, and not enough time to do it in, and despite my best efforts I don't really seem to have achieved all that much since getting back from our recent trip to Centre Parcs. Anyway, rather than spend another afternoon trying to write, and not getting anywhere, I decided to take Libby and the kids up to Fleetwood to stretch their legs. I also decided to take my new Lensbaby Composer for a spin. I've used various Lensbabies in the past, but never quite got the hang of them - the Lensbaby 2.0 was just too difficult to use, and the 3G was too fiddly - but I found the Composer much easier. You can move the sweet spot by moving the front element, as you can with all Lensbabies, but once you've moved it it stays put. The focussing is also a lot easier with this one; i.e. you focus by adjusting a ring at the front of the lens. In short, it's a lot easier to get exactly the effect you want without having to fight with the lens to achieve it.
I'll write more about it when I post my next shot, but in the meanwhile, do let me know what you think of this one.
Oh, and if you're interested, we're going to be giving away a Composer and Optic Kit in our forthcoming competition, details of which are available on our main tutorials page.
On a totally different matter: a while ago I mentioned that I'd be instructing at the Gulf Photo Plus 2009 training event in Dubai (March 30th to April 4th). If you're interested in attending they've just published the schedule as a downloadable PDF. It looks like it's going to be a great event :)
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
15.03pm on 13/2/09
Canon 1Ds Mark II Lensbaby Composer (double glass optic)
60mm
f/11.0
1/50
Aperture Priority
+1
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
comment byMirko Herzner at 10:01 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
Quite an impressive work here. The scene has some softness and such a nice toning. All warm and comfy...
comment byPhilB at 10:18 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
Very nice work Dave. Love the softness and dreamy nature. Well suited to a Lensbaby shot.
comment by613photo at 10:38 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
Beautiful. Can't really think of anything to say other than that. Very calming photograph.
comment byThatch at 10:55 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
Wonderfull image great tone and Colour.
comment byCraig at 11:10 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
This is beautiful, the golden tones are gorgeous and I like the lendbaby effect. It's amazing the totally different scene we have here compared to other shots of the same subject. I'm not expert (as I'm sure you're well aware) but whilst I like much of your work I wouldn't necessarily hang it on my wall, this I would. :)
comment byJennifer at 11:22 PM (GMT) on 13 February, 2009
Very pretty :o)
comment byBriony at 12:01 AM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
wow this is amazing! the coloring is other worldly :)
comment byIlan at 12:02 AM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
I love this kind of minimalism. It sets a certain mood.
With those yellow skies, and calm waters, there is a feeling of melancholy, sadness maybe.
Very simple, yet clever work. Love it.
comment byMichael Paulison at 02:18 AM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
Your use of color and softness is always masterful.
comment byDan Kaufman at 03:31 AM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
It was the stunning simplicity and then the golden toning that struck me. It wasn't until I read your comments that I realized the localized focus of the Lensbaby. Excellently done. I always love the skill, the technique, when "it" doesn't scream out "look at me...I'm a ____".
I've been looking to buy a Lensbaby for a while now but just haven't gotten off dead center. Maybe this one will inspire me. Two thumbs up!!
comment byAudesou at 11:56 AM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
Simply nice! ;-)
comment byatzu at 12:13 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
Hi, David !
Love the composition, and the tones,...that kind of warm light, the softness, it's a beautiful sight !
comment bye at 03:42 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
Hi David -
Good review of the new Lensbaby. Love the peacefulness of the water, and the hazy sky. More of this please (and a bit less HDR if you really want to know).
E - out
comment byCarlos Garcia at 03:45 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
You did it! You photographed peace. Beautiful.
Carlos
comment byFrida at 05:42 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
Beautiful colors and tones in this peaceful image.
comment bymicha at 06:36 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
...as everybody said before, the tones are just impressive. Love the texture, composition and colours. Have a nice weekend.
comment bybirgit at 06:45 PM (GMT) on 14 February, 2009
very unusual colors in your blog :) but nice!
comment byClaus at 12:16 PM (GMT) on 15 February, 2009
The stillness is just breathtaking here!
comment by[ PIXEL VIKING ] at 07:16 PM (GMT) on 15 February, 2009
Beautiful image. However, I'm not sure the subject is such a good choice for use with the Lensbaby. The sweet spot is less obvious here than it would have been on - say architecture. I too have a Lensbaby 2.0 and have found it somewhat difficult to use. The new models seem a bit expensive for what is basically a 'speciality lens'...
comment bydjn1 at 09:00 PM (GMT) on 15 February, 2009
Thanks everyone.
Dan: they're fun, and I'd definitely recommend you give one a try.
e: don't worry, I"m a bit bored with HDR stuff too :)
[ PIXEL VIKING ]: that was kind of the point with this one; i.e. I didn't want it to look like a typical Lensbaby shot :)
comment byKristian at 09:53 PM (GMT) on 15 February, 2009
Impressive shot with the composer. I find my own very hard to focus, perhaps a symptom of using a very wide aperture. This capture is excellent as always. Love the orange and yellow tones you're showing.
comment by Justin Photis at 10:34 AM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
ok, I like the above shot for its simplicity and lovely tone, but this Lensbaby thing ? I just don't really 'get it'. We all know you're a Photoshop expert David, so isn't what the lensbaby does simply to replicate with a blur filter or two in post production ? That way you wouldn't have to carry or buy an extra lens.
comment bydjn1 at 10:39 AM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
Justin: that's very true, but it's not as much fun doing it that way :)
comment byRobbie Veldwijk at 08:03 PM (GMT) on 18 February, 2009
Very empty but also so full...
comment byDenis at 05:16 PM (GMT) on 21 February, 2009
Simply beautiful and beautifully simple. A great one as usual
comment byo&o at 08:19 PM (GMT) on 26 February, 2009
Super.
comment bydesfocado at 09:02 PM (GMT) on 27 February, 2009
Very nice and peaceful shot.
comment byaurore at 12:37 PM (GMT) on 28 February, 2009
My apologies for not posting anything recently but it's been one of those weeks; i.e. too much to do, and not enough time to do it in, and despite my best efforts I don't really seem to have achieved all that much since getting back from our recent trip to Centre Parcs. Anyway, rather than spend another afternoon trying to write, and not getting anywhere, I decided to take Libby and the kids up to Fleetwood to stretch their legs. I also decided to take my new Lensbaby Composer for a spin. I've used various Lensbabies in the past, but never quite got the hang of them - the Lensbaby 2.0 was just too difficult to use, and the 3G was too fiddly - but I found the Composer much easier. You can move the sweet spot by moving the front element, as you can with all Lensbabies, but once you've moved it it stays put. The focussing is also a lot easier with this one; i.e. you focus by adjusting a ring at the front of the lens. In short, it's a lot easier to get exactly the effect you want without having to fight with the lens to achieve it.
I'll write more about it when I post my next shot, but in the meanwhile, do let me know what you think of this one.
Oh, and if you're interested, we're going to be giving away a Composer and Optic Kit in our forthcoming competition, details of which are available on our main tutorials page.
On a totally different matter: a while ago I mentioned that I'd be instructing at the Gulf Photo Plus 2009 training event in Dubai (March 30th to April 4th). If you're interested in attending they've just published the schedule as a downloadable PDF. It looks like it's going to be a great event :)
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 1Ds Mark II
Lensbaby Composer (double glass optic)
60mm
f/11.0
1/50
Aperture Priority
+1
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
Quite an impressive work here. The scene has some softness and such a nice toning. All warm and comfy...
Very nice work Dave. Love the softness and dreamy nature. Well suited to a Lensbaby shot.
Beautiful. Can't really think of anything to say other than that. Very calming photograph.
Wonderfull image great tone and Colour.
This is beautiful, the golden tones are gorgeous and I like the lendbaby effect. It's amazing the totally different scene we have here compared to other shots of the same subject. I'm not expert (as I'm sure you're well aware) but whilst I like much of your work I wouldn't necessarily hang it on my wall, this I would. :)
Very pretty :o)
wow this is amazing! the coloring is other worldly :)
I love this kind of minimalism. It sets a certain mood.
With those yellow skies, and calm waters, there is a feeling of melancholy, sadness maybe.
Very simple, yet clever work. Love it.
Your use of color and softness is always masterful.
It was the stunning simplicity and then the golden toning that struck me. It wasn't until I read your comments that I realized the localized focus of the Lensbaby. Excellently done. I always love the skill, the technique, when "it" doesn't scream out "look at me...I'm a ____".
I've been looking to buy a Lensbaby for a while now but just haven't gotten off dead center. Maybe this one will inspire me. Two thumbs up!!
Simply nice! ;-)
Hi, David !
Love the composition, and the tones,...that kind of warm light, the softness, it's a beautiful sight !
Hi David -
Good review of the new Lensbaby. Love the peacefulness of the water, and the hazy sky. More of this please (and a bit less HDR if you really want to know).
E - out
You did it! You photographed peace. Beautiful.
Carlos
Beautiful colors and tones in this peaceful image.
...as everybody said before, the tones are just impressive. Love the texture, composition and colours. Have a nice weekend.
very unusual colors in your blog :) but nice!
The stillness is just breathtaking here!
Beautiful image. However, I'm not sure the subject is such a good choice for use with the Lensbaby. The sweet spot is less obvious here than it would have been on - say architecture. I too have a Lensbaby 2.0 and have found it somewhat difficult to use. The new models seem a bit expensive for what is basically a 'speciality lens'...
Thanks everyone.
Dan: they're fun, and I'd definitely recommend you give one a try.
e: don't worry, I"m a bit bored with HDR stuff too :)
[ PIXEL VIKING ]: that was kind of the point with this one; i.e. I didn't want it to look like a typical Lensbaby shot :)
Impressive shot with the composer. I find my own very hard to focus, perhaps a symptom of using a very wide aperture. This capture is excellent as always. Love the orange and yellow tones you're showing.
ok, I like the above shot for its simplicity and lovely tone, but this Lensbaby thing ? I just don't really 'get it'. We all know you're a Photoshop expert David, so isn't what the lensbaby does simply to replicate with a blur filter or two in post production ? That way you wouldn't have to carry or buy an extra lens.
Justin: that's very true, but it's not as much fun doing it that way :)
Very empty but also so full...
Simply beautiful and beautifully simple. A great one as usual
Super.
Very nice and peaceful shot.
c'est absolument magnifique!