Wood

Still learning what a lensbaby can do. I wish I'd taken some more of this now as I rather like the effect. It's not sharp enough at the top.




Mike

Not convinced this is the best subject to use a lensbaby on, Mike. Would be interested to see other experiments with the lens though.

Have a look in my flickr site (as below) and there's a set there called lensbaby. It's an interesting tool but I'm struggling to use it well. It needs bright sparkly things to work best.

I think this one might have worked with some sunlight and better focus at the top.

Don't suppose you're a member of a local club are you? I intend to join one this autumn. Lilly suggests the RPS but that's in Bat or Birmingham.

Mike

Not sure what you guys are talking about...anyway keep shoting...

Darlene - a lensbaby is a sqiffly wobbly lens that you can attach to replace a normal lens. Best to look at examples - try http://www.lensbaby.com/gallery-photo.php[/link] and I'm trying to get the best from the one I bought.

Mike

A friend of mine has just bought one of these and is a tad puzzled as to what to do with it, think it is a winters day toy myself and I am sure it will bring out the imagination of all who have one - me - I am having enough problems with my 12-24 thanks.

I have had one or two good results but it needs to show off to be effective I think. I'd like to use it with people but I don't 'do' people! I have used it with extension tubes and it's quite good (in fact I bought the tubes to use with it).

There was scooter rally today that I missed now that would have worked all those mirrors and all that chrome!

Mike

Have seem so good and interesting results and I bet it can be great fun to use but I think it may be beyond me - will sit here and enjoy your and my friends efforts.

PS your wood looks good viewed from the bottom up perhaps a flip may give the shot that bit extra, I like wood and rusty bits so I am open to being pleased.

I hadn't thought of a flip - I'll try it!

Missed this thread, I've posted on Flickr Mike.

I don't think it's working too well with your usual approach to detail shots. You've spoiled us with beautifully sharp images of this style so it's jarring toi see the LB effect in these. If you can combine a detail in plane of focus, against a smoothed out background I think you may find your niche with the LB.

Plus it's getting darker earlier, the LB effect on highlights is its best attribute for me.

I tried this afternoon (slow day at the office) with the LB to catch some of the raindrop sparkle but it was a dead loss. I think you're right the broader picture will work better.

Mike

The spider's web shots look good, and the flower shots show promise. For me, they're too similar to a 50mm lens wide open though... I want lensbaby shots to look a bit psychedelic and really blurred/distorted at the edges of the frame.

I like your graffiti shots very much Mike.

No, I'm not a member of a camera club... might be interested in the Brum one though, particularly if they have a darkroom...

I agree with you about the LB shots.

As for clubs I'm trying closer to home. Possibly Kidderminster, Stourport - very small- or Droitwich or indeed Worcester. Darkroom! You might consider a course at Worcester Tech who had a very good darkroom when I worked there some 20+ years ago.

Mike

Mike, the RPS isn't a camera club, it's a national society with international members. The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain, PAGB, has lists of camera clubs affiliated to it, region by region. If you google PAGB you'll find all the camera clubs in the West Midlands listed. The most notable, because they are nationally famous with photographers who have huge reputations, are Smethwick and Solihull. Don't make the mistake of joining a small camera club just because its nearby, you'll get a much bigger buzz joining up with top class photgraphers in a large membership society.
david

David thanks for the suggestion but Smethwick and Solihull are miles away for me, at least mentally but I'll see what turns up. I take your point about smaller clubs not offering the same breadth of skills and I guess I'm more likely to make some like minded friends there too. Trouble is I am very, very lazy and any excuse not to travel is a good one.

Mike