I came accross these today, I think im going to give one a try, they look like fun... Im sure they will have their practical uses too.

http://www.lensbabies.com


Doug

Looks interesting but at $150 (for LB2) I'd want to be sure I'd use it a lot - and I probably wouldn't.

...though it looks like fun :lol:

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150! Thats alot of sales!"


I didnt notice the price, I was thinking that it wont be long before someone develops a plugin for photoshop that soes the same effects


Doug

well, you can get a very similar effect in PS by using radial blur.

copy the item you want to remain focused to a new layer, then go to the background layer and give a radial blur. On the new layer with the focused item erase any remaining background. It's not exactly the same, but it's a lot cheaper, and I think it would be close. I've used that effect on some of my event photos.

I can also get a pretty similar effect by using my 70-300mm lens - zoomed out to 300mm and use a wide fstop like f4.5. About the only thing that will be focused is the main item I'm focused on, though you can't get as close as 1", which I think you can with lens babies.

Might be able to get it to work with a macro ring though, and they are a lot cheaper than a true macro lens.

Just thought of something else...I've done a couple of convergence photos, but they are very hit and miss. Two ways to do that - I usually set the timer and use a tripod and a longer shutter time - focus on the object, hit the shutter and when it goes off twist the lens - not so fast that you are done before the shutter closes and not so slow that you aren't done by the time it closes. Alternatively, you can do the same thing but twist the camera instead (can't use a tripod for that). It's actually a very old technique but you don't see much of it anymore. Probably worked better with film, for all I know.

I've done this for a couple of images but had to take a lot of shots to get the result I was looking for. One of them was a christmas image that SS accepted, much to my surprise.

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I have one, it was my Christmas present, I have been so busy with model shoots I have not given it a whirl yet.

It's very well made & is similar in cult following to "Lomo". I don't think it will be viable for stock though.

Hey pichunter, when you do, please could you post up some of the results, I would be interested to see

Looks like fun.


Doug

Hi Doug

Some interesting galleries on the lensbaby website:

http://www.lensbabies.com/

I bought one from Laurin earlier this year, and although I've only used it a few times, I love it. Just keep forgetting I have it, because it's so small. Best portrait I've ever shot was with my Lens Baby.

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The photos look pretty impressive, but I'll wait till they drop in price before considering buying one. Thanks for the photoshop tip Gracey :P

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