Hi Everyone, how are you doing???
Today, I thought I would share some photos that I shot yesterday with a new lens. These are my first attempts using this lens, and there will definitely be a learning curve. This orchid was a gift from my cousin Linda and her little guy when they visited earlier this month.
As you know, I love shooting photos of flowers and insects, and I have always liked the soft focus images of among others, Kathleen Clemons and Anne Belmont. One is able to create dreamy images a number of ways: using certain filters, placing diffusers over the lens, even something simple such as fogging a filtered protected lens with one's breath. All these techniques work, but I was looking for more. I watched two presentations in the past few months: one by Kathleen Clemons offered by Hunts Photo and Video and one by Anne Belmont which is available on the B&H Photo site. Both are users of Lensbaby lenses. Visit their websites to see stunningly beautiful images. Both also have various short videos on Youtube.
I ordered the Lensbaby Velvet 85 several months ago, but since it had been backordered, it did not arrive until a few days ago. Yesterday, it was finally warm enough to spend an hour on my sunporch and try out my new purchase. The light kept changing, and as I said these are only my first attempts. (There were many unsuccessful shots.) It is a manual lens which presents some challenges, but it will give me something to work on in the days ahead. The images that I have posted here just hint at the potential of this lens. Hopefully, I may know what I am doing by springtime. :-)
One of the things that I did recall from the Anne Belmont presentation was her encouragement to shoot all parts of each subject, and so, taking this suggestion to heart I photographed the back of this blossom. It's one of my favorite images.
