p.1 #1 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
So I've been keeping this particular photo from Danielle's session under wraps as the lens release date wasn't until today, but I'm free to share now! This was taken with the new Lensbaby Edge 80...it gives a look VERY similar to a tilt shift. I have both and REALLY love this lens...way easier to use than an actual tilt shift.
And in b&w (which I think is even more haunting)...
p.1 #2 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
These are nice, I know some people dislike the lensbaby look but I think its great to mix things up. You couldn't do every shot with one, but these are a nice departure from the norm. They do look very much like a tilt/shift, how does the lens perform when shot straight on in normal configuration.
p.1 #4 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
I'm one of the ones that dislike the lensbaby. It's likely because I see the bizarre OOF areas and my mind digests that instead of good the lens can do. Sorry.
p.1 #7 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
I think this is an interesting possibility. If you're in the market for a T/S lens, this could probably be a very good, affordable alternative. I prefer the cleaner oof margins of this optic compared to the sloppier OOF almost motion blur feel of the regular lensbaby.
You could probably get a pretty similar effect in PS, but it just always looks a little faker to me.
p.1 #9 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
This, unfortunately, is another example of how focus planes can screw with an otherwise very nice image. The very first thing my eye goes to are the hard lines in the background and not her beautiful, and beautifully lit face. In a location like this, there's almost no good option for focus plane manipulation without something coming objectionably into focus just where you don't want it.
p.1 #11 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
They might work better with a less distracting background. My eyes are drawn away from the model and right onto the house. Thanks for sharing your samples with this new gear and for all your other great posts.
p.1 #13 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
Lisa - You've got a great location here, and all too often people get obsessed with blowing their backgrounds out to a meaningless blur, leaving the viewer with only half the story, but here is a case where you could actually benefit from a 200 1.8 or 2.0 - where that little added bit of blur would help your separation but wouldn't so obliterate that it wouldn't have mattered where you were. Conversely - and I don't really need to tell you how to shoot, as you're obviously quite accomplished, moving further away perhaps with a longer lens would do the trick. For me, both the LensBaby and Canon zoom versions are close but not quite up to the standards you usually set for yourself.
p.1 #15 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
The fact that her hands are blurred beyond recognition yet parts of the house 15 feet behind her is sharp messes with my head. I think I would like it more if her hands were more in focus and the background less so, maybe a less extreme tilt would have done the trick.
I went to the Lensbaby site and looked at the Edge examples there. Frankly, none made me want to put one in the cart. Perhaps it's so new that folks are still learning how to fully exploit its capabilities.
The good news is that you aren't timid about trying different tools and techniques. I'm sure you'll dial in the Edge and come up with some great photos.
p.1 #17 · Perfectly Haunting - Taken With the New Lensbaby 'Edge 80'...
Lisa:
Your posts are the ones I look for first in this forum. You have an innate skill in this business and IMO don't need these types of gimmicks. I know I'm in the minority, but I don't see where this adds whatsoever to the presentation. I could pick your images out of a stack of 100 from all over this site. I don't see your trademark "look" to these.
As you said, different strokes for different folks. We all strived for years to acquire that element of sharpness and clarity and lack of grain. Now people are introducing out-of-focus and grain where they don't need it . . . I just don't get it.
