Lensbaby wedding

I had the honor of being the second shooter for a friends wedding. Being the second shooter, you get to have more fun. So I pulled out the Lensbaby 2.0 and gave it a good run.

I have to say i'm dissapointed with the keeper rate. Maybe 1 out to every 10 were acceptable. Maybe stopping down to get a bit more DOF would have helped. It's definitely more hassle to shoot with the LB than getting the same effect in post.

These images are pretty much straight out of the camera. Haven't processed them yet.

Have a look, Comments always welcomed.

1.

Here's a few more

9.

I agree with you about second shooting! Love it, less pressure and there's a chance to be creative for sure!

Did you only shoot with lensbaby? I can see it work on some of the shots (like 6 and the cake shots), but not all...It leaves very little area in focus and honestly I got dizzy after looking at all of the shots...Did you process the photos? They look SOOC, I'd boost contrast a bit to make them pop more.

very creative and unique. good job!

It is a very interesting effect, and I can see how it would be difficult to weild it. #6, 11, 12 I think are wonderful.

-Diana

unique

Svetlana wrote in post #8165266
I agree with you about second shooting! Love it, less pressure and there's a chance to be creative for sure!

Did you only shoot with lensbaby? I can see it work on some of the shots (like 6 and the cake shots), but not all...It leaves very little area in focus and honestly I got dizzy after looking at all of the shots...Did you process the photos? They look SOOC, I'd boost contrast a bit to make them pop more.

Agreed with the dizzyness. I think the lensbaby could work for a couple shots here and there, but when you see one after the other after the other, etc. the effect gets tiring. I also think it only works with certain types of shots--creative or artistic ones. But I don't think it's a good choice for standard documentary type shots--walking down the aisle, ceremony, formals, etc. Maybe that's just my preference though.

Thanks for all you comments. These shots are right out of the camera. I didn't want to shot what the hired guy was shooting. I also wanted a broad sample of where it could be used. They are more for album garnish.

... different - some have good promise, but others may give me motion sickness. Used with discretion it can be effective, creative and very enjoyable. Over used, it becomes tiresome and a cliche. But, it's always good to experiment. Thank you for sharing.

I like the effect a lot too, but have the same trouble with focus. Which aperture ring do you have in? I'm too nervous to use mine much in a wedding for fear of missing an important picture. I use it sometimes for the ring shot. I enjoyed the composition of many of these.

Don't know if you have a second body, but maybe have it "standing by" in that fashion. This way you don't miss critical coverage during a lens switch.

tnicol wrote in post #8166795
I like the effect a lot too, but have the same trouble with focus. Which aperture ring do you have in? I'm too nervous to use mine much in a wedding for fear of missing an important picture. I use it sometimes for the ring shot. I enjoyed the composition of many of these.

sorry, do not understand why you would ever want to use a lensbaby, especially at a wedding. Every effect that you got could be easily attained in photoshop. The blur in all of these photos make my head hurt.

If you really want selected blur use a tilt shift. If you want motion blur in a still setting, take the picture with a good lens first, and photoshop later.

You composition and exposure look good, but the lens really hinders everything IMO.

tnicol wrote in post #8166795
I like the effect a lot too, but have the same trouble with focus. Which aperture ring do you have in? I'm too nervous to use mine much in a wedding for fear of missing an important picture. I use it sometimes for the ring shot. I enjoyed the composition of many of these.

I think I used the F2.8 ring. Stopping down a bit might be better for next time. The LB was mounted on a second body. It was swapped between the LB and 70-200 F2.8 IS. My primary body was a 30D with 17-55 F2.8 IS. I wasn't the primary shooter so the important shots were covered already.

gmacmt wrote in post #8167269
sorry, do not understand why you would ever want to use a lensbaby, especially at a wedding. Every effect that you got could be easily attained in photoshop. The blur in all of these photos make my head hurt.

If you really want selected blur use a tilt shift. If you want motion blur in a still setting, take the picture with a good lens first, and photoshop later.

You composition and exposure look good, but the lens really hinders everything IMO.

You are right. For me, the jury is still out on it's usefullness.

Lensbaby is like the sprinkles of a cake. Too much and it starts to take away from the cake.