Adding a little sunshine during the cold winter months

This image was made with the Lensbaby Composer and 50mm double-glass element at f2.8 with an Olympus EM10. My goal was to get an image to establish the general scene. From this image, I began to move in closer and closer to create more of abstract images working with soft, delicate lines and colours.

Lensbaby takes creative flower photography to new heights

Winter has set in and taken a firm hold of the garden, but that’s no reason not to let the sunshine in.

This week I decided to pick up a bouquet of flowers so I could get back to one of my favourite pastimes – photographing flowers. Rather than shooting in the garden, I brought a little of the garden into the kitchen where a large bay window allows a lovely soft light to bathe the flowers.

Even if you have no intention of photographing the flowers, it’s never a bad idea to bring a little sunshine into our homes during the long days of winter. We could all benefit from a little happiness these days.

It turned out to be the perfect opportunity to put a few Lensbaby lenses to good use. The following images are a little taste of my morning with a trio of Lensbaby lenses.

Moving in a little closer with the Lensbaby composer creates a delicate, soft-focus image with a very graphic element to it. Perfect focus can be difficult with Lensbabies, especially in the more wide-open aperatures such as f2.8.

Getting creative with a trio of Lensbaby lenses

If you are not familiar with Lensbaby lenses, they are specially designed lenses aimed at encouraging photographers to have a little fun by adding a more creative element to their images, mostly in the form of selective and soft focus.

Unlike traditional lenses, the goal is not to attaina perfectly sharp, sterile image.

This image was taken with the Lensbaby Velvet56 on a Lumix GF7. The Velvet series of lenses are able to focus very closely making them ideal for flower photography. The Velvet series of lenses create a dreamy, more ethereal look that sports a sharp centre and soft, glowing halo around subjects. Some would say they have a vintage look to them and are ideal for flower photography and portraits. Stopped down a little at F4-8 and beyond reduces the soft-focus effect and makes them ideal for landscape images with a dreamy look.

One Youtuber describes experimenting with Lensbabies like sitting at the high school lunch table with all the artsy students complete with body piercings, vintage clothing and “interesting hair colour.” Now, while I can’t say that would describe me in high school, it sure sounds like hanging out with them would be a lot more fun than talking calculus.

Nothing wrong with perfectly sharp, perfect sterile images, but, when it comes to creative flower photography, sharp and sterile just doesn’t make the grade.

This image was made with the Lensbaby 2.0 at F2.8 on a Pentax K5 camera. Two Lensbaby macro filters – the 4X and 10X – were added to allow the extreme closeup.

For these images, I used a combination of a Lensbaby 2.0 with a double-glass element 50mm lens, a Lensbaby Velvet56, and a Lensbaby Composer with a double-glass element 50mm. In addition, I used Lensbaby’s 4X and 10X macro filters to move in extremely close for some images. The macro filters can be stacked for even closer views.

All Lensbaby lenses are manual focus and do not have electrical contacts to communicate with your camera body. As a result, settings on many cameras need to be adjusted to work with these lenses. I usually use them on aperture priority and use the +/- compensation adjustment for fine tuning the correct exposure.

There are several other Lensbaby lenses available that create a variety of different effects.

This image was made with the Velvet 56 at around F4.

For more information on Lensbaby lenses, go to the Lensbaby website here.

Here is an Amazon link to Lensbaby lenses for those interested in pursuing this very fun and rewarding form of photography.

While Lensbaby lenses can be used for any type of photography including portraiture, street photography and landscapes, they really shine when it comes to capturing soft, delicate and impressionistic images of flowers.

Capturing the flower petals in a lovely soft light with the Velvet56. The Velvet series of lenses, which include a 28mm wide angle lens, look more like traditional lenses rather than the more unique looking Muse, Composer and Spark designs.

These images are just a few examples of my recent morning with a trio of Lensbabies and a handful of flowers on a cold winter morning.

Moving in close to explore the details of a flower using the Lensbaby macro filters takes the image more into the realm of abstract. I focussed on the lines leading into the inner flower petals for this abstract image.

Again, moving in close and having fun using shapes, lines and colours helps to free your mind from trying to capture a sharp, traditional image of a flower.

In the world of Lensbabies, sharpness and realism is certainly overrated. Exploring visually opens up a whole new world and creates a sense of freedom in your photography.

Small changes in perspective can take your images to a whole new level. This image, along with the one below are similar but different and allow small movements within the lens (not the camera) to change the look of the image as well as the focus.

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Luminar Neo and Lensbaby combine for the ultimate in creativity

Our spring dogwood proved to be the ideal subject for the Lensbaby Composer and Sweet 50mm lens with a macro filter attached. Combine this soft, ethereal image with two subtle textures using Luminar Neo’s layering and blend modes and the existing photograph is turned into a painterly image that I’m betting most would be proud to call their own.

Textures add painterly effects to ethereal images

Ansel Adams once said you don’t “take a photograph, you make a photograph.”

Back then, Adams used the traditional darkroom to create magnificent Black and White images of the natural world, often times spending days in the darkroom “making” these images.

Today, the traditional darkroom has been replaced with the digital darkroom, turning the concept of “making” images rather than just “taking” them accessible to every photographer who chooses to explore their creativity and take their photography to new heights.

In this post, I am going to explore how, combining the inherent creativity built into every Lensbaby lens with the creative tools available in Luminar Neo, can change how you approach garden and flower photography as well as portraiture and landscapes.

• Go to the bottom of this post for the latest HOLIDAY offering from Luminar Neo

In case readers are unaware of the magical qualities of Luminar Neo post processing software and Lensbaby’s creative line of photographic lenses, let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with these creative photography tools.

While the first image of the dogwood flower is rather subtle, this image of paperbark maple leaves in fall shows what can be achieved with heavier textures applied through Luminar Neo’s layering and blending modules. The original image was taken with the Lensbaby 2.0 and sweet 50mm lens.

Luminar Neo is a photo editing software package that combines ease of use with the power of Ai to assist photographers, who may have been hesitant to dive into more complex photo editing software in the past, to embrace the ease and convenience of a more simplified, yet powerful, editing program.

Lensbaby is a lens manufacturer that embraces and encourages photographers to push creativity by offering lenses with unique characteristics that create elegant, soft-focus effects, beautiful colour blending and soft ethereal results that enhance almost any image, especially in the garden, with flowers and portraits.

In the final days leading up to Christmas, Luminar Neo is offering a special “creative” Advent Calendar package just in time for photographers to give themselves a special gift for the season.

The lowest price is available now, but once the doors officially open, the cost will range from $119 to $159 depending on if you are a new or existing user.

The Advent Calendar includes 12 unique surprises, each hidden behind a daily window. Photographers can discover a new gift every day, such as:

🔸 Luminar license

🔸 Marketplace items (Skies, bundles and more)

🔸 X-membership subscription

🔸 Educational courses

There are different surprises depending on the Luminar Neo package you choose or currently own.

Check out the information at the end of this post for details on the special creative and educational packages.

This image was taken with the Lensbaby Composer and sweet 50. It was then brought into Luminar Neo where a number of textures were applied creating a more painterly effect. One of the textures was also used to add the lovely, subtle pink tone to the image.

Adding textures to existing images is rather simple with Luminar Neo’s intuitive photo editing program. It’s as simple as dropping a textured image on top of your main image and then choosing from a host of blend modes from a drop-down menu. Once the texture is applies and the blend mode chosen, it is up to the photographer to decide if they want to go farther using masks or a host of other editing modules within Luminar Neo.

One of my new favourite modules is Luminar Neo’s incredible “Light Depth” module that is capable of transforming flat, boring images into beautifully lit, three-dimensional images. Check out my earlier post here, for more on using the Light Depth module in Luminar Neo.

These Northern Sea Oat grasses photographed with a Lensbaby 2.0 was given added interest by using a Luminar Neo built-in golden dust texture effect. You can create your own textures, find free ones on line or purchase more professional textures through Luminar Neo. Their latest creative package might just include some of their professionally produced creative tools.

If you are interested in exploring Lensbaby lenses further, you can check prices here (Amazon.com) or here (KEH used camera exchange.) If you are interested in exploring Lensbaby lenses further, check out the offering of books available through Alibris used books here.

My earlier posts on Luminar Neo

Adding textures, manipulating lighting, or even repairing old family photos are just a few of the incredible bonus features offered by Luminar Neo’s comprehensive editing software. For more of my posts on the benefits of exploring Luminar Neo, I encourage you to check out the following posts.

• Exploring Luminar Neo mobile for your phone: click here.

• Exploring Luminar’s incredible photo restoration module: Click here.

• Can Luminar Neo act as your only photo editing program. Click here

Subtle textures were added to this macro image of a Hydrangea blossom taken with the Lensbaby composer fitted with a Lensbaby macro filter.

Of course, garden flowers are not the only subject for Lensbaby lenses and Luminar Neo textured effects. Below is an image taken recently of our new flat Coated retreiver, Colby. This image was taken with the Lensbaby Velvet 56. The Velvet series of lenses are capable of truly beautiful results with an ethereal glow that is magnified depending on the f-stop used (from quite sharp at f5.6 through f16 and getting softer from F5.6 through to F2.

Two B&W textures were added to the original image to maintain the overall B&W, painterly effect.

The image below and the above images represent just a few of the creative approaches available to photographers using special effect lenses and/or filters, and combining them with the creative effects available through Luminar Neo. Please explore the links provided for my earlier posts on Luminar Neo and be sure to click below to check out all of the special deals on creative assets, tools and educational resource materials Luminar Neo is adding for their “creative advent calendar.”

Our rescue Flat-Coated Retriever with his baseball stuffy taken with the Lensbaby Velvet 56 with two textures added for a painterly effect.

Luminar Neo’s holiday calendar of gifts explained

From December 13th to 24th, open a new surprise every day and discover creative tools, content, and inspiration worth more than $1000.

The calendar can also be gifted to friends, family, or photography enthusiasts, making it a thoughtful and creative holiday present.

Here’s what all the excitement is about. Unlock your treats every day leading up to the big day.

 Calendar Timeline:

• December 10: Presale begins with lower prices

• December 13–24: Daily windows open (one per day)

• December 16–25: Calendar available at full price

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Embracing the beauty of the fall woodland garden

The native grass Northern Sea Oats is a favourite of mine to photograph in fall. The lovely warm colours include beiges and muted purples. The lovely arc of the branches add to the effect and the small zone of sharpness from the Lensbaby adds to the delicateness of the overall image. Northern Sea Oats is an important food source for birds throughout the winter months. Last winter, they proved to be a favourite food source for our wild turkeys that visited on a daily basis.

Focus on plants for best fall colour

Full fall colour can be so fleeting.

If you’re not paying attention, all those beautiful reds, yellows and burnt oranges disappear into mounds of dried, crunchy leaves on the garden floor.

And that’s okay. The leaves carpeting the woodland floor provide a home for overwintering insects and their future offspring, as well as foraging birds looking to supplement their diet of seeds and berries.

Too many of us choose to stay inside at this time of year thinking the garden is all tucked in for the season. Experiencing late fall in the woodland, however, can be an extremely satisfying experience. Just breathing in the earthy aromas and the cool autumn air is a real joy. Add a hot chocolate or a large mug of coffee and your best four-legged friend at your side, and it’s hard not to appreciate our change of seasons.

Even in early November there are still flowers remaining on our Hydrangeas. These warm pinkish/purple tones give way to paper-thin beige flowers later in fall and through the winter months. Even as the last remaining colours fade, the plants continue to be impressive. The soft, ethereal look that the Lensbaby Composer lens provided here creates a lovely, delicate late fall image.

Now, if experiencing late fall in the woodland garden is a real joy, capturing beautiful fall images takes the enjoyment to an all new level.

I experienced that enjoyment this week (early November) when I decided to pull out the Lensbaby Composer lens to give it a much-needed workout to capture the delicate tones of the late fall woodland garden.

The Lensbaby Composer lens. Notice how the lens swivels on the ball socket. This gives the photographer the ability to move the focus point around the image.

For those who may not know about the Lensbaby line of lenses (Amazon link), you can check out their informative website here. If you are looking for a great deal on a large selection of Lensbaby lenses and accessories, be sure to check out the used options on MPB.com

In a nutshell, the minds behind Lensbaby, unlike most lens manufacturers, are not concerned about achieving extreme sharpness throughout the image. In fact, their focus is on creating soft, ethereal images where the photographer takes control of narrow bands of sharpness while the surrounding areas of the image is allowed to go soft. Depending on the f-stop chosen, the depth of sharpness increases or narrows.

Strong fall colours can still be found in the garden in November. Here, a trio of leaves from our Japanese Maple (Moonglow) show off their fall colour. It’s hard to imagine these leaves earlier in the year sporting their vibrant spring chartreuse colouring. This rather expensive, slow-growing Japanese Maple performs from early spring through late fall and is certainly one to consider for your woodland garden, especially if it is on the smaller side. Notice how the Lensbaby Composer’s sharpness is so restricted that only half the leaf in the front is sharp while the remaining half is rather soft.

Lensbabies are ideal lenses for creative flower photography as well as portraiture, but they have their place in landscape images especially fall landscapes.

The Lensbaby Composer is a completely manual lens and requires a little work getting the focus the way you want it. I like to use a combination of a sturdy tripod and a Hoodman Loop to nail the narrow band of focus. The Hoodman Loop also helps me see the image on the back of the LCD screen, especially in bright lighting conditions.

The following are just a few images of my favourite fall-colour woodland garden plants taken this fall with the Lensbaby Composer.

More information about the subject is included below each image. If you are looking to add fall colour to your garden, you could do worse than putting these plants on your list of purchases in the spring. Of course, there are many other plants that offer bold fall colour to our landscapes, but these plants are sure winners in our garden.

Even in November, there is still plenty of colour in the garden. These American Viburnum leaves can be showstoppers in late fall. Although the birds and other garden wildlife already devoured the bright red berries, the leaves continue to put on quite the show. If you are looking to add late fall colour, this native, berry-producing shrub that wildlife love is an excellent choice.

If you are looking to add a punch of purple to your garden, consider the beautyberry bush with its outstanding late fall crop of purple, pearl-like berries that provide backyard wildlife with another winter food source. Not only are the abundant berries an exciting addition to the fall garden, the leaves, with their purple veining, add their own hit of purple to the garden’s pallete.

Another Hydrangea shows off its mauve fall colour and small berries.

The delicate branch of another Japanese Maple is captured here with the Lensbaby Composer. Notice how the focus of the lens is not to capture the scene in ultimate sharpness, but to create a softness that is particularly appropriate for this scene. The out-of-focus background, with hints of pastel greens, add to the overall mood. This is the more common Japanese Bloodgood Maple. One of its fall features is that it drops almost all its leaves in a single day and creates a carpet of bright red leaves as a natural ground cover.

Don’t forget to look on the forest floor for lovely fall colour at this time of year. Larger maples, oaks and tulip trees provide fall colour in both the upper canopy and later when they drop to the forest floor. I captured this lovely native Sycamore tree leaf among the ferns and other leaves. Whether you choose to just experience the fall garden, or capture it with your camera, the potential to squeeze just a little more out of fall in the garden can be a rewarding experience.

How can we forget the colours of our Dogwoods in fall? This Cornus Florida leaf is another standout in the late fall garden adding to the trees’ year-round interest beginning in spring with its incredible flower bracts, through early fall with its red berries and rounding out the year with its spectacular fall colours. The native dogwoods as a group are an excellent addition to any fall woodland garden.

One last image I wanted to show readers. Although it was not taken in the garden, it shows the interesting effects possible with the Lensbaby Composer in more of a landscape image. Lensbaby chose to feature my image on its website to illustrate how the Lensbaby can take a more traditional image and help the photographer obtain a more creative one.

MPB.com is an excellent place to either trade in your previously used photo equipment or purchase dependable used camera gear, whether it’s your dream camera or lens. For a great selection of Lensbaby lenses from MPB, click here.

Image shows a Japanese Maple covered in a late fall snowfall. This image was not taken with the Lensbaby but I could not resist adding to it.

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