Inspiration: Lensbaby
In the not too distant future, bubblers will be given the chance to win a Lensbaby Composer lens when we launch a brand new site-wide challenge. To get us in the mood, we thought we’d take a look at some work from RedBubble artists who’ve fallen in love with the charms of a Lensbaby. But first a little background info for those who aren’t familiar with these lenses.
Lensbaby lenses are used to create unique images that mimic those you get from a Holga, toy or pinhole camera. Their appeal lies in the ability to achieve these effects with a digital camera but without the need for photoshop or other post production. Images feature a sharp area of focus, contrasted with a blurred or out of focus area and with a little practice, you can control where the focused area or ‘sweet spot’ lies. They’re great for creating images with a vintage feel or experimenting with effects like tilt-shift. The following images are from our own talented Lensbaby lovers:
How do they work?: The lens is attached to your camera like any normal lens. The “Composer” design features a ball and socket so the lens can be tilted to move the sharpest area of focus to almost anywhere in the frame. You can then adjust the focus using a manual focusing ring. If you’re interested in finding out more, these links are a good start:
- Mel Brackstone on her love of Lensbaby
- Wikipedia’s Lensbaby page
- Lensbaby review from PhotographyBlog
- Lensbaby video tutorial
For more inspiration, head over to RedBubble’s own Lensbaby Group. Our challenge will be launched in the not too distant future and will be open to all artists. If you’re lucky enough to have played with one of these lenses, we’d love you to share your experiences and your favourite Lensbaby images below.
roybarry
OH-I WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring on the competition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jordan Busson
mine! mine! i tell you, i need one of those babies.
robpixaday
::happydance::
I read Mel’s post and wanted so much to try these! This morning I drove to the local camera shop and almost went in to see how much they cost, but had second thoughts because money is sooooooooo scarce…didn’t want to spend on something that I knew so little about. But I’m just about 90% convinced to scrape up the cash to buy one. I appreciate your including the review link ere: it told about the Canon I have, so I’m feeling comfy that the Lensbaby will work for me.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blamo
Yeahbaeby
marcwellman2000
would love to add that to my kit
gabryshak
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i want a lensbaby!!! the images produced are amazing!!
yaeh RB!! yaeh for our lensbaby group and whoever produced this idea!!
♥t
Matthew Walters
The lensbaby is my favourite lens, quite often to the detriment of my Nikon glass if I’m packing light. I’m thinking of getting a composer to run alongside my 3G; they’ve just launched new soft focus and fisheye optics… just as my saving were starting to recover!
My Lensbaby Portfolio
Matthew
Martyn Baker
Dear Father Christmas,
Pls, Pls,Pls can I have one for Christmas, I’ve been a good boy all year
Pretty pls
Martyn
P.S. I’ll leave extra cookies and milk out if you do
Matthew Walters
I should add – Lensbaby customer service is great (they have a ‘Director of Customer Happiness’) and they have a pretty good returns policy – if you don’t like it, return it after 30 days. You have to work at a Lensbaby – it’s a fun way of getting ‘back to basics’, but it’s not for everyone.
Matthew
(ps I’m in no way linked to Lensbaby)
F.A. Moore
Ooo, wonderful!
Helen Green
I purchased one of the first lensbabys this year, 2nd hand. I have used it once so far at a Dahlia farm, the best photos I have put in this calendar to give you an idea what they do http://www.redbubble.com/people/helengreen/calendars/3994652-2-dahlia-art – it is a different look
Stephen Vecchi...
Thanks, this is a really nice RB feature !
phlewte
WANT
Jayme Rutherford
I got the Composer Lensbaby a couple months ago and I’ve barely taken it off my camera since. I love it! They’re a lot of fun and create some interesting shots. My lensbaby photos can be seen here.
Dave Pearson
Love the Lensbaby. I shoot with a Lensbaby Muse and am still having tons of fun with it.
PS: The optional case is cute and handy
Rosemary Scott
Oooh…. very exciting!!
Peter Hill
I actually got to use one of Mel’s Lensbabies in a garden in the Blue Mountains. Then I straightaway bought a Muse, as I like the instantaneousness of it and the fact that you will never get the same photo twice. My first shoot:
It’s a fun lens, no doubt about it! But I’ll hang onto the tilt+shift lens.
Di Jenkins
ooh – these lenses look like fun!!
Adriana Glackin
I simply love the lensbaby and the effects you can achieve – I love the control – or apparent lack of – you can achieve simply by manipulating the lens. Definitely more fun than trying to achieve the effect in PP. I ♥ lenababy :)
bubblehex08
I hope that the side-wide challenge will not be for the lucky ones who have already a lensbaby! Make it a challenge WITHOUT blur! :)
community replied
The challenge will be one everyone can enter … not just those who already own a Lensbaby.
Kaylea
cant wait for the competition either! x
simplylovely183
i want one… too bad i don’t have a good enough camera for it
Nancy Vice
Finally a lens which sees the way I do!! A bit of sharp focus and blur everywhere else…terrific! I;m game!
Kim McClain
Excellent! I keep a list of things I want and it’s already on it!
Brian Downs
Bring on the competition, Lensbaby your mine, lol…
Pardus
I love my Lensbaby Composer and would recommend one to anybody. It’s not a walkaround lens… more like a toy… but given the right situation the effects can be amazing. It’s awfully fun to play with.
Melinda Kerr
Great idea RB – two thumbs up
Soxy Fleming
Mel lensbabied me ....it didn’t hurt at all!
Bryan Freeman
Ohhhhh, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want,
Tracey Mac
Drool….......thanks to Mel B….....I’ve wanted one for soooo long!
Great article…...
Mui-Ling Teh
I don’t use an SLR or a DSLR… although I have many friends who’d probably love to have one of these!
Terrapanthera
Cool!!! I’m in, like said before: bring it on, this challenge!!!
Silvia Ganora
Want one! Want one! Want the challenge! :)
Globalphotos
Wow looks like so much fun, would love to try this, great selection too :-0
Craig 'has a n...
I’ve wanted a lensbaby for years now, thats a brilliant prize for a comp!
Matthew Dawkins
Bring it on!
BlueLily
Oh I like this…got to have one!!!
midzing
I have wanted one for ages!! bring on the comp!!
Nancy Stafford
i want one of those babies they look fun.
Joanne Bradley
Ooooohhhhh this sounds like a great challenge and a fantastic prize!
EmeraldSun
awesome!!! WOW!—-I’d LOVE to have this to work with!
weestevie
I can’t believe all the gushing here. Why bother with this thing when you can get exactly the same effect in ps, with more control and subtlety? There’s some nice pictures that have been taken using it, but I haven’t seen any that couldn’t be pretty simply achieved in post. This is not to sneer at those pics because, as I said, some of them are nice, but in an era of sophisticated digital manipulation, the effect seems a bit obvious and undeserving of all this adulation.
copperhead
awww weestevie, it’s a new toy…we all love a new toy..I know I want one :)