Lensbaby at Dallas Arboretum

[AlanSmith]

I decided to challenge myself and allow myself to only use the lensbaby (2.0 on a 20D) on my last trip to the Dallas Arboretum.

It was MUCH harder than I expected and I am nowhere near proficient. However, I thought I would share a few here.











For the whole gallery, you can go to:
http://alansmith.smugmug.com/gallery/2597304

(For a bonus, identify the other TPF member that is at the end of the gallery)

I hope you enjoyed them.

--Alan

[Namie]

Thanks for posting these! I've really really been thinking about buying a lensbaby....these made me want it all the more.

I wanted to go to the arboroteum but ended up not being free to go. Hubby's promising me a trip this weekend.

Thanks for sharing! Your pictures are very pretty. I particularly like the tulip with red streaks and the white flower next to the blue hyacinths (at least that's what I think it is).

[bradh]

Honestly the one with the sidewalk path is pretty badass I think... oddly neat to me for some reason!

[AlanSmith]

Originally Posted by Namie

Thanks for posting these! I've really really been thinking about buying a lensbaby....these made me want it all the more.

It is fun, although very frustrating at the same time. And quite freeing from the feeling that if it isn't in sharp focus then it isn't any good.

Originally Posted by Namie

I wanted to go to the arboroteum but ended up not being free to go. Hubby's promising me a trip this weekend.

While I love the arboretum (I have been a member for several years), I encourage photographers to NOT go on the weekend during Dallas Blooms (the spring festival). There are just too many people there then. Take a half-day or full day off work and go during the week instead. You will have a much better time.

Thanks for sharing! Your pictures are very pretty. I particularly like the tulip with red streaks and the white flower next to the blue hyacinths (at least that's what I think it is).

Thanks!!

--Alan

[AlanSmith]

Thanks, bradh. I really liked that path. I probably took 10 different shots with the focus in different places. This was my favorite of the set.

--Alan

[*~Karena~*]

I have been to Arboretum just past Saturday too! I agree, there are tons of ppl...when I was ready to leave, they even closed the on-site parking lot cause it's full...

Here's one of my pic...

[AlanSmith]

Glad you had a good time, Karena! Thanks for sharing your photos.

If you are interested, you can go to
http://alansmith.smugmug.com/gallery/1276728 for a gallery from 2006 not using the lensbaby. Here is a sample below....

[boxofrocks]

Q about lensbabies:

Do you have to shoot is full manual all the time? On some cameras (like the D200), you can use a full manual lens (like an old Nikkoe AI), and a ring on the camera body can still "tell" the camera what f/stop you are on (after you tell the camera what the min f/stop is for that particular lens). This way, you can still meter in camera.

Can you use a lensbaby this way?

[AlanSmith]

Sadly, no you can't tell the camera what f-stop you are on. You can set the camera to Aperture preferred and have it set the shutter speed. This works by using the built in meter. I have found it to work ok, but not perfect. I generally see what it gets, check the histogram and modify the shutter speed in full manual if needed.

The hardest part for me with the lensbaby is getting the area you want in focus and having the out of focus look artistic instead of stupid. (you may disagree with my choices :-) )

[Serenity]

Awesome job! I've seen those and it was great to get a visual of what the lensbabies could do. I must have a list of stuff for my camera a mile long at this point.

[AlanSmith]

Thanks, Serenity!

[pippin]

Looks like tom or bill....

[AlanSmith]

Nope, guess again....