Like most people, every now and again you look at the photos you have taken and feel like there is something missing, you might want to take a more creative image but are not too sure how to do it or what you need?
This was how I was feeling late last year, I attempted taking photos of things I normally wouldn’t, played around with my editing but still wasn’t happy so I thought about the photos that I had seen on Clickin’ Moms recently that had inspired me and realized they were all taken with a Lensbaby.
I felt so drawn to the images a Lensbaby produced but at the same time had read reviews and was worried that I might buy one, not get on with it as some people find the manual focus difficult and it would end up at the bottom of my camera bag never being used!
Luckily, I meet up with a fellow CM member and friend and she had the Composer Pro with Sweet 35 and offered to let me have a play and it was instant love.
This is the photo I took that day:
Lensbaby Learning curve:
I then looked into the different types of Lensbaby’s you can buy and they have an amazing amount of different optics available and decided to buy the Composer with Double Glass Optic, this is a 50mm lens that creates a spot in focus surrounded by blur and I also purchased a set of macro filters as macro is a love of mine.
Straight after getting my Lensbaby I started a CM Workshop called “Finding Your Style” and made the brave decision to use only my Lensbaby for the 4 weeks that the course was on – this made me get used to using the lens quickly but also really pushed me creatively.
Learning to use the Lensbaby is very much trial and error to start with especially being manual focus, I quickly found out that it was best to start with the aperture disc of 5.6 and keep the Lensbaby body straight, getting more confident and more keepers I moved onto the 4 aperture disc and started to move the body around to move the area of focus and create different affects. I now tend to use the 2.8 unless I’m taking a macro.
These are some of my favorite photos taken during the workshop:
Lensbaby Love
Since the workshop has finished, my love of the Lensbaby has grown more and more. If I ever feel that I need some inspiration or to just have fun the first thing I reach for is the Lensbaby. I have added to my collection of optics too and now have the Single Glass optic, the Pinhole/Zone optic and have recently purchased the Edge 80, which is an amazing optic that creates a line in focus, this can also be used to create the miniature effect on towns, cars etc but I’m yet to try that.
I have recently started a personal project and it involves just using my Lensbaby and am hoping it pushes me to think outside the box a little more and try some new things.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading about the Lensbaby and seeing my photos and that maybe I might have inspired a few of you to buy one to have a play and see how much you enjoy it too.
Tracy Brabury-Guest Post
I’m a single SAHM bringing up 3 children ages 21, 17 and 3. I started my photography journey in 2008 and became a member of Clickin’ Moms in Oct 2010 and am also a CMpro. I love taking my childrens, macros, black &white and low light photography the most and my favorite things are the smell of vanilla, Latte and being near the sea. My work has been described as retro, classic with a film finish.
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what a coincidence – I was at Imaging 2013 in Atlanta and spent a long time at the Lensbaby counter – I feel in love and plan on getting one soon – i just cant decide between the 35 or the 80 which does the slice of focus but they are both so cool – and I’m yearning to learn something new!
How exciting you got to go to Imaging!! It bet they were fun to play with! Good luck deciding which to get :)
Yeah I’ve seen those shots on CM too! I have been using manual focus for a while since my 50 mm does not auto focus with my d5100 at all. I think it’s a older model of lens. I think I might consider a lensbaby after I get that 35 mm I’ve been eyeing. Great article thank you!
New lenses are so fun…and addicting :) Enjoy your new 35mm :)
Thank you for this! I bought the Lensbaby composer two weeks ago, and while I do love it, it’s a difficult lens to get used to! I will follow your suggestion and start with the 5.6 and keep it straight forward and then work from there.
One question though- I have been keeping it on the 2.8 and even so, 90% of my images come out dark. So much so that I have to use exposure compensation to get a decent shot. Do you know why this is or what I can do to help get a properly exposed pic? Thanks!
i have been contemplating spending my amazon gift cards on the lensbaby now versus saving longer for a new 85mm lens. i, too, have been seeing all of the lensbaby images on CM- and i’m very intrigued! decisions! love, love, love your last image by the way! thanks for the write-up- it’s pushing me into a spend now mode!
Sounds like deciding on which lens to buy is a good problem to have :) Good luck!
Hi ive been thinking about the composer pro now but wondering if it works with the 5d mark ii,someone told me it wont !
but i still cant stopp thinking about it :)
love youre images you seem to have a gotten used to it pretty well
Hi Valeria, as long as you make sure you get a Canon fit one it will work fine on your 5d Mark ii and thank you :)
I had not seen this! Thank you so much for sharing and showing the beautiful photos it can take! I love the miniature city photo I saw on Amazon for the Edge 80.
Isn’t that a cool shot! Just think of all the cool stuff you could capture with that lens :)
Love your Lensbaby shots Tracy!!! <3
Thank you Allison <3
Me too :)
OOOOOOOhhh I may have to invest in this as well! I love these images!
Such beautiful images and definitely and inspiration to me as a very new lensbaby owner. I have wanted one for so long, dithered because of the manual focus but finally asked for one for Christmas and here I am. It will be a learning curve for sure but I know the results will be worth it.