Nightski

Lensbaby Velvet 56
F/1.6

(Download)

jayway55 Loc: Philadelphia Area - USA

Simply stunning, Sandra! I love the effect of the Velvet. It's definitely on my wish list. The download is really special, showing gorgeous detail.
Jane

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

I see that you are fascinated by the bokeh that the Lensbaby produces. I have a number of idiosyncratic older lenses that produce interesting results especially when used outside of their "comfort" zone. This pic, as well as your yesterday's posting do indeed demonstrate a nicely creamy oof but as you stated yesterday, is sharper when stopped down, but for me the overall effect as is, is a pic that is just not focused on the subject correctly. Consider a bit more creative thinking here by taking the shot again, (or similar) using a tripod, exposing once wide open for the creamy bokeh and again stopped down to get a crisp shot of the foreground subject then combining in PP to get the best of both words......Rob.

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I love the softness of this photo!! I don't see it as a photo out of focus; I see it as something I might see in a dream. Beautiful!!! I will try to remember this when I get all hung up on the sharpness of a camera and lens.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Vaseline on rose colored glasses works quite well too....

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

You had no camera data in the download? I checked the histogram and found flat lines on bright and dark side. When pulled in the flower "popped", for me. I believe you prefer the faded, dull exposure, but others can judge. David

Nightski

That is because Lensbaby lenses are manual focus, manual aperture lenses that do not talk to the camera. I am not able to focus in live view with this lens at the proper exposure.

Nightski

Yes, Rob. I agree with you somewhat. I don't think I nailed this. I'm not sure that a different setting would help though. This is why. Let me know where I'm going wrong.
1. I'm not willing to crop my flower shots. I either nail them in the camera, or they hit the delete bin.
2. This is a very small flower. I think what I really need is a longer focal length, though I am considering a Lensbaby macro converter. I'm a little unsure of this point. What I need is to get more DOF on the one blossom that I choose for a subject and at the same time blur the background distractions. The Velvet 56 is a macro lens and I can focus 5" away, but maybe the focal length is just too wide to isolate my subject. What I really want is the Canon 180mm macro, but what I have is the Canon 100mm macro. Maybe what I need is a converter to take my 100mm to a longer focal length.

I will be posting a shot I did this morning with the 100mm if you care to look. Now don't give me any grief about Canon. I'm in way too deep to switch to Nikon.

... oh .. yes I am fascinated with the lens baby. I have the composer pro with the sweet 35 and sweet 50 as well. I'm having a terrible time with that. I like challenges.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I'm not much of a flower photographer but I'd say this is beautiful. Shots like this aren't about pulling out maximum detail or contrast. Perhaps the central blossom could be slightly more clearly defined, but only if you can keep most of the softness. Sharp edges would go against the overall look. My only suggestion is to soften the outlying area of the shot a bit more (contrast-wise).

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Your EXIF data isn't very useful; what camera are you using??

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

In this case the softness of the foreground subject is probably due to your lens' natural characteristic softness at f1.8 rather than imperfect focus.

But were you to stop down to f8 to take advantage of a sharper shot you would lose that nice creamy bokeh.

Why not try taking two exposures, one wide open, the other stopped down, and in PP, placing the sharp layer under and the f1.8 shot on top, carefully erase the subject in the top layer with a feathered brush to reveal the sharper version beneath, then flatten.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Even though it is stated as having that capability, one who is serious about shooting macro would not consider the Lensbaby for that purpose.

Most like to experiment with these lenses for their idiosyncrasies such as that creamy bokeh.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

"I am not able to focus in live view with this lens at the proper exposure"?

Not sure what you mean there......

Nightski

Well, the live view shows up with the lens on. But if I shoot at what looks like a reasonable exposure in live view the picture will be completely blown. I have to change the exposure to look very dark in live view to get the proper exposure. It's much easier to use manual focus through the viewfinder.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Am I correct in thinking you have a Canon camera of some kind?