I think this picture would be a lot better if it were all in focus. It takes the viewers attention away from well designed structure in the background. What flag is that?

Dave, welcome to the world of Scheimphlug...it's a lot of fun, even if it's hard to pronounce. Interesting to see how you have posted two new picture formats since getting this new lens kit. I preferred yesterday's - though it did remind me of a library shot from a government health advisory about pregnancy (no offence meant, it was a nicely composed image).

Dav'd: I guess I've taken enough 'straight' shots of Blackpool Tower so wanted to do this one differently. As for the flag: I don't think it has any significance. It's just a red flag.

fraxinus: yeah, I suspect I'll bore everyone to death with the various effects ;-) Seriously though, I can now see why advocates of view cameras are so passionate about them. My verison lacks anything that you might call sophistication, but I can already see that it has the potential to produce some interesting shots (though probably not quite as radical as the last couple I've put up).

Interesting shot and lens. I quite like the effect. Must be fun to play. Are these the first shots on your site that are not framed horizontally in 35mm dimensions? I think that the tower is unfocused actually brings more balance to the photo. If it were all in focus, I think the composition would feel too skewed to the structure on the right.

Ted: a lot of the early shots on chromasia were in portrait format, there are a few square cropped shots here and there, a couple of semi-panaromic shots and a lot of 4x3 shots taken with my G5. Most of my recent stuff (taken with the 20D) has been in 3x2 horizontal format mostly because it's suited to this form or presentation.

You're just getting carried away with the expensive technology now, aren't ya? :-)

So far this is my favorite with the TS lens. So much so that i've begin the first stages of trying to figure out how to do it myself....

I've already spent $219 because of you with the peleng fisheye and all!!! AND I LOVE IT!!

Now you have to go and get another cool item!

I'm with Mark: my favorite with the TS lens!

I wonder how many people notice that the plane of focus is literally cutting through the shot and not perpendicular?

Oh, and I should have noticed sooner that you kept the aperature wide open to affect the smallest dof. Very interesting how tight f2.8 really is.

Whoa cool. Tilt shift, that's an interesting concept. I kinda would've like to have seen the tower in focus, but that's just me. Anyways, I was just wondering, do you use Flickr? And if not, would you want one?

Speaking as a longtime plungercam fan and current Lensbaby addict I thoroughly approve. Sometimes those pin sharp all over pics are just so boring! There are times when only a bit of Impressionism does the job. Keep it up, Dave!

Hmmm... There was supposed to be link there to:

http://www.marktucker.com/plungercam/

Dave, you are a master an I won't critize the wisdom of your creativity as such. But don't you think this kind of partial irregular blurring is much easier and more selectively done with simple post processing ... ?

I've got a lensbaby, and have been reasonably happy with it, but am starting to wonder why not just take a picture in focus and use the lens blur in Photoshop?

http://learningtosee.org/?image=_DSC8909
http://learningtosee.org/?image=_DSC8933

The lensblur masks are really capable, and you get to use all of your normal lenses...

what a boring shot..

I think this is one of my first posts this month (which is good!) but I couldn't keep in a good "lol" at Heather's comment..

Also I second that motion.

gotta love Zeiss, i know i do.

i've been shooting with the Canon 24 tilt shift TSE lately. you can see some recent examples on my photoblog at:

tristan.net/photolog

Dave, I have been following your pics over some time and want to say thanks for the some of the inspiration you have given me. i have even started to shape up my shots and started my own posts.

Thanks everyone.

mark: in total this one cost me about 25 pounds, so this one's a bit cheaper than the fisheye ;-)

Thinh: I've thought about using Flickr but I'm not sure that I have enough time or extra images to make it worthwhile. Thanks though.

TravellingLight: I've added your link and Mark Tucker's to the page describing this lens.

dragonfly and Michael: yes, possibly, but this way is definitely more fun ;-)

Michael: I particularly like the portrait of your daughter.

Heather: nope, it's not the most exciting of shots, but I like it nonetheless.

tristan: cool, I'll check them out.

Juan: you're welcome.