Ralph, your images are like small spells ... soft, dreamy and poetic! Full of that tender blur where memory and light meet. Kind of surreal. I’m utterly enchanted by them, it's as if the world agreed to be seen a little more gently ... you know softer around its edges. 🙏💖
Oh my goodness you've really been tinkering this time Ralph!!😂 But what beautiful results, especially that portrait of the lovely Pippin! It looks like you've built your own version of a Lensbaby lens that's great for nature and portrait photography - I love that softening effect. Looking forward to seeing your next FOFAG adventure but you must show us a photo of the lens all taken apart too...dare I say I'm increasingly fascinated in a geeky kind of way!🤓🤣
Many thanks, Lin😊. Yes, I suppose it is a bit like a Lensbaby, just a bit more Heath Robinson. Sadly, I didn't take any photos of the 'pile o' bits' at the time. I will endeavour to record any future adventures🤓. Who knows, maybe another unusable lens of a similar ilk will drop into my lap at some point😏.
Why do I now have this picture in my head of you out in some shady den, surreptitiously asking around for any 'dodgy lenses'!🤣 In all seriousness though I think it's a great bit of experimentation, with results that are far more subtle than the Lensbaby effect.😊
No I haven't either but I think they're a bit exaggerated on their effects and a tad overpriced. Plus I think it's far more rewarding to try and get effects through your own experimentation like plastic lenses or even smearing Vaseline on a filter over the front. Messy but I used to have fun with that one!
These photos have something quite unique about them; it's as if we're seeing a very old lens with lots of aberrations but very sharp in the center, making the results have a dreamy look. I don't know if it would look good on other subjects, but it's great for flowers! I had a zoom lens break down during a holiday one, and I wasn't amused. But soon it turned out to be a decent close-up lens too.
You managed to get some very interesting results with that set up, Ralph. They remind me of photos from the 70’s and early 80’s when soft focus images were very popular. Now, of course, everyone seems to be trying to get the sharpest images possible but there’s something very dreamy about soft focus. In particular, I really like the third flower photo from the end, the one with the little yellow flowers.
Ah, yes, the little buttercups - they grew profusely in our old back lawn (we tended to let it grow wild in the spring to help the bees, etc. That photo doesshow off the lens's characteristic look quite well. Many thanks, Mark.
Gorgeous! The results remind me of the method cinematographers used in the 40’s and 50’s. Spearing Vaseline on the outside edges of a plain glass filter.
the front of a sony lens is very small so the light has to go through the glass elements and create a "larger" image capable to cover the entire surface of the sensor.
with canon, the process is exactly opposite: lens is large at the front and small at the back.
all good if used sony lens on sony camera or canon lens on canon camera.
what's happening then? we introduced the adaptor and i think that is the problem. it doesn't matter how much physics or maths the adaptor makers used, the results are not 100% right.
my plan was not to buy sony lenses but use the canon ones which i have. it's not working. so i have to sell some cameras to buy a sony lens. are you interested? 😁
Ah, no! The temptation! lol. Seriously, though, kind of you to offer, but in terms of my Canon kit, I couldn’t justify investing more in it (I don’t really use it enough as it is, as I spend more time shooting film than digital). My lenses cover from 19mm to 500mm and I have three dslrs already…. Sorry I can’t help😬🙂
Ralph, your images are like small spells ... soft, dreamy and poetic! Full of that tender blur where memory and light meet. Kind of surreal. I’m utterly enchanted by them, it's as if the world agreed to be seen a little more gently ... you know softer around its edges. 🙏💖
Many thanks for your lovely words, Deborah, much appreciated🙏☺️
Oh my goodness you've really been tinkering this time Ralph!!😂 But what beautiful results, especially that portrait of the lovely Pippin! It looks like you've built your own version of a Lensbaby lens that's great for nature and portrait photography - I love that softening effect. Looking forward to seeing your next FOFAG adventure but you must show us a photo of the lens all taken apart too...dare I say I'm increasingly fascinated in a geeky kind of way!🤓🤣
Many thanks, Lin😊. Yes, I suppose it is a bit like a Lensbaby, just a bit more Heath Robinson. Sadly, I didn't take any photos of the 'pile o' bits' at the time. I will endeavour to record any future adventures🤓. Who knows, maybe another unusable lens of a similar ilk will drop into my lap at some point😏.
Why do I now have this picture in my head of you out in some shady den, surreptitiously asking around for any 'dodgy lenses'!🤣 In all seriousness though I think it's a great bit of experimentation, with results that are far more subtle than the Lensbaby effect.😊
Lol I wondered why my eye had suddenly developed a nervous twitch🤔🤣
I appreciate your comment regarding the Lensbaby effect. I've never actually tried tried one of those, though I have seen pics taken using them.
No I haven't either but I think they're a bit exaggerated on their effects and a tad overpriced. Plus I think it's far more rewarding to try and get effects through your own experimentation like plastic lenses or even smearing Vaseline on a filter over the front. Messy but I used to have fun with that one!
These photos have something quite unique about them; it's as if we're seeing a very old lens with lots of aberrations but very sharp in the center, making the results have a dreamy look. I don't know if it would look good on other subjects, but it's great for flowers! I had a zoom lens break down during a holiday one, and I wasn't amused. But soon it turned out to be a decent close-up lens too.
Thanks, Vincent. It does have that kind of look, though perhaps, a touch more exaggerated, here. All good fun🙂
These are beautiful dreamy photos, Ralph.
Thanks, Jim, much appreciated🙂
Well that looks super interesting!
Thanks, Alex. Yes, it's an enjoyable bit of fun. I ought to have another play with it at some point.
You managed to get some very interesting results with that set up, Ralph. They remind me of photos from the 70’s and early 80’s when soft focus images were very popular. Now, of course, everyone seems to be trying to get the sharpest images possible but there’s something very dreamy about soft focus. In particular, I really like the third flower photo from the end, the one with the little yellow flowers.
Ah, yes, the little buttercups - they grew profusely in our old back lawn (we tended to let it grow wild in the spring to help the bees, etc. That photo doesshow off the lens's characteristic look quite well. Many thanks, Mark.
That’s pretty neat!
Thanks, KB, much appreciated🙂
Gorgeous! The results remind me of the method cinematographers used in the 40’s and 50’s. Spearing Vaseline on the outside edges of a plain glass filter.
Many thanks, Paul, much appreciated. It's an interesting and quite appealing effect.
You have yourself a nice lomography set up now. Fun!!
Thanks, Paul! Long live lomo! 😄
This is wonderful: both the end results and your ingenuity! I am extremely impressed!
Thank you! Much sppreciated😊
that result (not that strong tho) i get from using canon ef lenses on a sony camera via an adaptor
It's strange how that happens. Do you have any thoughts on why it does that?
yes, i might be wrong but ...
the front of a sony lens is very small so the light has to go through the glass elements and create a "larger" image capable to cover the entire surface of the sensor.
with canon, the process is exactly opposite: lens is large at the front and small at the back.
all good if used sony lens on sony camera or canon lens on canon camera.
what's happening then? we introduced the adaptor and i think that is the problem. it doesn't matter how much physics or maths the adaptor makers used, the results are not 100% right.
my plan was not to buy sony lenses but use the canon ones which i have. it's not working. so i have to sell some cameras to buy a sony lens. are you interested? 😁
Ah, no! The temptation! lol. Seriously, though, kind of you to offer, but in terms of my Canon kit, I couldn’t justify investing more in it (I don’t really use it enough as it is, as I spend more time shooting film than digital). My lenses cover from 19mm to 500mm and I have three dslrs already…. Sorry I can’t help😬🙂
I love this series. Dreamlike indeed.
Thank you, Paul, I appreciate it.