The Joy of A Challenge – Lensbaby Blog Circle

My photography challenge for this year is to take a photo every day using my Lensbaby lenses and optics. During June I only used the Pin Hole/Zone plate optic. This is one of the older optics which has two settings the Zone plate with an aperture made up of concentric circles which is approximately f/19 and the Pin Hole with an aperture f/177. Both settings require lots of light and the zone plate works best in high contrast situations.

This day was particularly dull and it felt like it was going to be a real challenge to get my photo for the day. I had a play taking shots of the flowers growing along the fence and in the bushes. The results surprised me and it reminded me that you never know how things will turn out and its always worth taking the shots …

For more great Lensbaby shots follow the links to complete the circle. The next post is from Birgit Fostervold

Seonaid Teal July 1, 2021 5 Comments

Callow End Lensbaby Lensbaby Blog Circle Malvern Hills

Flowers Old Hills Pin Hole Zone plate Zone plate/pin hole

Wild Flowers

The sun wasn’t out this morning when Splat and I headed out on the Old Hills. It was a bit overcast but warm enough for the wild flowers to have opened. So often we take for granted the flowers we pass daily.

I am enjoying playing with the zone plate optic and seem to be getting better results than previously.

Seonaid Teal June 13, 2021 No Comments

Callow End Flowers Lensbaby Old Hills

Buttercups Clover Elderflower Honeysuckle Zone plate Zone plate/pin hole

Callow End to Madresfield

Splat and I headed out this morning for our usual morning walk but it was so beautiful I decided to take advantage of it being a Saturday and not having to be back for a meeting. As we wandered around the Old Hills we found ourselves wandering along the footpath to Madresfield.

It was a great opportunity to get some different shots with the Zone Plate optic which was on my camera.

Seonaid Teal June 12, 2021 No Comments

Callow End Lensbaby Malvern Hills

Malvern Hills Zone plate Zone plate/pin hole

The Best Part of the Day

The best part of the day is definitely first thing in the morning before everyone else is up and about. This morning was especially beautiful, it wasn’t too warm and the sun was up. The Old Hills were lovely and the flowers were at their best.

I only met one other dog walker as I wandered around with my mad springer spaniel.

Seeing and smelling the elderflower always feels like summer!

I love the dreamy look created by the Lensbaby Zone Plate optic, definitely adds to the feel of summer.

Seonaid Teal June 7, 2021 No Comments

Callow End Lensbaby Old Hills

Buttercups Dog rose Elderflower Summer Zone plate Zone plate/pin hole

May Challenge

The challenge is to take a photo every day through 2021 using my different Lensbaby lenses and optics. During May I used the Burnside 35. It produces great pictures with rich colours and in some cases a lovely swirly background.

Seonaid Teal June 2, 2021 No Comments

365 Project Callow End Lensbaby Malvern Common Old Hills

Burnside 35

Trees – Lensbaby Blog Circle

Welcome back to the Lensbaby Blog Circle. It’s hard to believe its been over a year since we published our last series of posts.

Here in the UK we’ve had two lockdown periods, the first last spring and into the summer didn’t feel so bad . I think that was because we had god weather, it was light and bright and it was easy to get outside. The second period from New Year was much harder. it was cold, wet and dark most of the time. Luckily i was well throughout and during the first lockdown I did a lot of running and exploring the local countryside.

During this time and when out with my dogs I spotted a number of trees which caught my attention for various reasons, one the main trunk is split and looks dead until I looked up and there are leaves sprouting from the higher branches, there is the stark contrast between the dead tree with not foliage and its neighbour which has lots, the little tree growing underneath the bigger one and others I just like their shape. I’ve captured some of them below.

I’m sure you’ll agree trees are amazing!

To see more amazing Lensbaby photographers follow all the links to complete the circle . Next up is Birgit Fostervold who is On Top of the World

Seonaid Teal June 1, 2021 4 Comments

Callow End Lensbaby Lensbaby Blog Circle Old Hills

Black and White Burnside 35 Trees

Out in the Midday Sun

One of the challenges this week was to take a photo around midday when the sun and contrast are strongest. My challenge for June is to take a photo each day using the Lensbaby Pin Hole/Zone Plate optic.

It’s one of the older optics and when there is good contrast the zone plate optic produces a lovely glow. I had a play taking shots of the flowers in the lawn, before it was cut.

Seonaid Teal May 31, 2021 No Comments

Callow End Lensbaby

Buttercups Scarlet Pimpernel x4 macro filter Zone plate Zone plate/pin hole

April Challenge

I can’t believe we are at the end of April, that means I’m one third of the way through my Lensbaby 365 project. For the April challenge I used the Creative Bokeh Optic and the Muse.

The shots are collected together below.

Seonaid Teal April 30, 2021

365 Project Callow End Flowers Lensbaby Malvern Common Old Hills Uncategorized

An Evening Wander

I went for an early evening wander round the village. I started with a wander round the Abbey Trail, which takes me through the grounds of Stanbrook Abbey. The daffodils are passed their best but the tulips were bright and the magnolia trees are still in bloom. From there I went over and had a wander round the Old Hills.

It was a lovely warm evening and I hope I captured the best of it.

Seonaid Teal April 25, 2021 No Comments

Callow End Lensbaby

CBO Creative Bokeh Optic Old Hills Stanbrook Abbey

April Snow

It was a surprise this morning to see how much snow had fallen overnight. The Common was beautiful this morning, basking in the spring sunshine with a covering of snow. It was melting so quickly and I’m sure we were out during the best part of the day.