This is another Lensbaby shot, of Harmony (our six year old) and her 'baby born' up at Fleetwood beach. I had hoped that one of the shots of her teaching her 'baby' to paddle would have worked, but I didn't get the focus right on any of them so you'll have to settle for this one instead.
From a technical point of view I think I would have preferred a slightly larger sweet spot, i.e. more of the image in focus, but I'd switched to using the f/8.0 aperture as it wasn't as bright as when I shot the one I posted a few days ago. In other words, I personally feel that this one is either a bit too 'dreamy', in which case a smaller aperture would have worked better, or maybe not 'dreamy' enough; i.e. I should have used a larger aperture. Either way though, I'm reasonably happy with how it turned out, and she does look cute. More importantly though, she likes this one, but I'd also be interested to hear what you think.
And on the subject of Lensbabies (and if you're a subscriber to our tutorials) I just posted the details of our latest competition in the forum. The first prize is a Lensbaby Composer and Lensbaby Optic Kit, while the second and third place prizes are Lensbaby vouchers, worth $150.00 and $100.00 respectively.
On a totally different matter, and I promise not to mention this more than a couple of times, voting has just opened for the 2009 Photoblog Awards. Any votes for chromasia would be very much appreciated :)
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
15.34pm on 13/2/09
Canon 1Ds Mark II Lensbaby Composer (double glass optic)
60mm
f/8.0
1/25
Aperture Priority
+2/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
comment byIlan at 07:53 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
I disagree - I don't think it's too dreamy or not 'dreamy' enough - I think it's perfect (well, I know it sounds TOO flattery, but in this case, it's really my genuine opinion :))
There is a precise focus on her eyes, and the smooth "surrounding" makes the photo look almost like a painting. Wendy from Peter Pan maybe?
I like it. One of the best Lensbaby results I've seen for quite some time :)
comment byMirko Herzner at 08:01 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
A cute shot for sure. And if she likes it herself... The toning is amazing. Your experiments with Lensbabies work out nicely...
comment byLaurie at 08:40 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
So beautiful. Wonderful portrait
comment byJennifer at 09:09 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
You are being too critical it's beautiful :-)
comment byCarlos Garcia at 09:12 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
Wow. What an angelic countenance. Everything else is blurry next to her beauty. You didn't even need the Lensbaby. Wonderful portrait.
Carlos
comment byBriony at 09:52 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
i love the soft focus! perfect for such an innocent face :)
comment byMayuresh Patil at 11:22 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
That's a prize winning shot. I can't stop looking at the photograph.
comment byAlan at 11:26 PM (GMT) on 16 February, 2009
I don't want to sound critical but I agree with you David, in that I would have preferred to have seen more of the portrait in focus. I find all the out of focus parts a bit too overwhelming and it spoils it for me, I find it distracting.
On the plus side it's a very cute shot with a really lovely expression and her eyes are really connecting with the camera. Very photogenic!
comment bySoe at 06:03 AM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
Very Nice Shot; lovely expression, cute kid..
comment byAdam Stevens at 07:38 AM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
David, Wonderful sweet spot, I have to agree with the other commenters! The more I see frames from it the more I want one! (composer) Your little gal looks like a sweetheart, a couple of years older than mine. I love the treatment to this too, would have picked it out as one of yours in a blind jury! Love to see more!
-Adam
comment bywill pattison at 10:39 AM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
i just voted!!
wp.
comment by Justin Photis at 12:32 PM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
I quite like the fact that the sweet spot is so small on this one actually, it makes here eyes REALLY pop out at you and is almost hypnotic the more you look at it. In fact, and this goes abck to our conversation yesterday David, it almost looks like the whole of the shot has had a blur filter applied and you've just allowed the eyes to appear focused.
And I think you're gonna have trouble with that one when she grows up David. :)
comment by Lon Green at 01:44 PM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
Cute child, but the photo is not my cup of tea. Too much blur and a too sharp contrast from the tack sharp eyes to the blurred hair.
comment byDan Kaufman at 03:18 PM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
It's ALWAYS in the EYES. They're magnetic; I'm riveted...and nothing else matters. I don't "see" the blurry parts. Subjectively they play only a supporting role.
And excellent, of course, monochromatic processing. Two thumbs up.
comment byKristian at 04:28 PM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
What a sweetheart. Won't be long until you'll be keeping the boys back with your tripod. Wonderful eyes and smile. Great work.
comment byJason Wall at 04:33 PM (GMT) on 17 February, 2009
I'm finding it challenging to come up with new and unique comments. ;)
Harmony is cute as always.
The odd focusing effect of the lens baby creates a dreamy sort of effect in photos. Gauzey, which seems to evoke pleasant thoughts when used in this context. I like it. its soft which compliments Harmony's baby like features.
Sweet portrait. Personally, I'm not convinced about the need for a lensbaby. The facial expression, the posture, the connection between the subject and the camera, or perhaps more correctly the person behind the camera, those are the things that make the shot so good.
This is another Lensbaby shot, of Harmony (our six year old) and her 'baby born' up at Fleetwood beach. I had hoped that one of the shots of her teaching her 'baby' to paddle would have worked, but I didn't get the focus right on any of them so you'll have to settle for this one instead.
From a technical point of view I think I would have preferred a slightly larger sweet spot, i.e. more of the image in focus, but I'd switched to using the f/8.0 aperture as it wasn't as bright as when I shot the one I posted a few days ago. In other words, I personally feel that this one is either a bit too 'dreamy', in which case a smaller aperture would have worked better, or maybe not 'dreamy' enough; i.e. I should have used a larger aperture. Either way though, I'm reasonably happy with how it turned out, and she does look cute. More importantly though, she likes this one, but I'd also be interested to hear what you think.
And on the subject of Lensbabies (and if you're a subscriber to our tutorials) I just posted the details of our latest competition in the forum. The first prize is a Lensbaby Composer and Lensbaby Optic Kit, while the second and third place prizes are Lensbaby vouchers, worth $150.00 and $100.00 respectively.
On a totally different matter, and I promise not to mention this more than a couple of times, voting has just opened for the 2009 Photoblog Awards. Any votes for chromasia would be very much appreciated :)
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/8.0
1/25
Aperture Priority
+2/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
ACR
1x1
I disagree - I don't think it's too dreamy or not 'dreamy' enough - I think it's perfect (well, I know it sounds TOO flattery, but in this case, it's really my genuine opinion :))
There is a precise focus on her eyes, and the smooth "surrounding" makes the photo look almost like a painting. Wendy from Peter Pan maybe?
I like it. One of the best Lensbaby results I've seen for quite some time :)
A cute shot for sure. And if she likes it herself... The toning is amazing. Your experiments with Lensbabies work out nicely...
So beautiful. Wonderful portrait
You are being too critical it's beautiful :-)
Wow. What an angelic countenance. Everything else is blurry next to her beauty. You didn't even need the Lensbaby. Wonderful portrait.
Carlos
i love the soft focus! perfect for such an innocent face :)
That's a prize winning shot. I can't stop looking at the photograph.
I don't want to sound critical but I agree with you David, in that I would have preferred to have seen more of the portrait in focus. I find all the out of focus parts a bit too overwhelming and it spoils it for me, I find it distracting.
On the plus side it's a very cute shot with a really lovely expression and her eyes are really connecting with the camera. Very photogenic!
Very Nice Shot; lovely expression, cute kid..
David, Wonderful sweet spot, I have to agree with the other commenters! The more I see frames from it the more I want one! (composer) Your little gal looks like a sweetheart, a couple of years older than mine. I love the treatment to this too, would have picked it out as one of yours in a blind jury! Love to see more!
-Adam
i just voted!!
wp.
I quite like the fact that the sweet spot is so small on this one actually, it makes here eyes REALLY pop out at you and is almost hypnotic the more you look at it. In fact, and this goes abck to our conversation yesterday David, it almost looks like the whole of the shot has had a blur filter applied and you've just allowed the eyes to appear focused.
And I think you're gonna have trouble with that one when she grows up David. :)
Cute child, but the photo is not my cup of tea. Too much blur and a too sharp contrast from the tack sharp eyes to the blurred hair.
It's ALWAYS in the EYES. They're magnetic; I'm riveted...and nothing else matters. I don't "see" the blurry parts. Subjectively they play only a supporting role.
And excellent, of course, monochromatic processing. Two thumbs up.
What a sweetheart. Won't be long until you'll be keeping the boys back with your tripod. Wonderful eyes and smile. Great work.
I'm finding it challenging to come up with new and unique comments. ;)
Harmony is cute as always.
The odd focusing effect of the lens baby creates a dreamy sort of effect in photos. Gauzey, which seems to evoke pleasant thoughts when used in this context. I like it. its soft which compliments Harmony's baby like features.
Lovely picture, The black and white shot gives an artistic touch, you capture the sweetness of childhood.
hehe..wonderful portrait!!!
So cute... great portrait...
nice portrait and effect!
What a cutie!
Sweet portrait. Personally, I'm not convinced about the need for a lensbaby. The facial expression, the posture, the connection between the subject and the camera, or perhaps more correctly the person behind the camera, those are the things that make the shot so good.