Winter Sun – Lensbaby Blog Circle

It was the shortest day of the year. The sun was coming out after what seemed like endless rain.

It feels like its been raining forever. The Old Hills at Callow End are sodden and the mud just sticks to the dogs so we’ve been going back to Malvern Common to walk them. Its still muddy, not as bad as the Old Hills, and there’s bracken, which when the dogs run through it, the mud drops off. It’s a simple but very effective trick for keeping them clean.

I had my Sweet 35 optics with me and my Velvet 56. It was lovely to see the sun shining through the cloud. The softness of the Velvet 56 accentuates the misty mood.

Wishing everyone all the best for 2020.

Follow the links to complete the circle. Up next is Birgit Franik.

Seonaid Teal January 1, 2020 8 Comments

Lensbaby Blog Circle Malvern Common Uncategorized

Sweet 35 Velvet 56

Misty Mornings – Lensbaby Blog Circle

It was a cold misty morning today. There has been so much rain this month everywhere is wet and muddy. Despite this I did take my camera with me and had a play with the Sweet 35 and Sweet 80 optics.

I used the Sweet 35 for the close up shots.

Click here to see the next post from Kleine Fotokiste

Seonaid Teal December 1, 2019 5 Comments

Lensbaby Blog Circle Malvern Hills

Autumn Fungi Landscpe Malvern Common Misty Sweet 35 Sweet 80 Winter

Firework Chrysanthemum – Lensbaby Blog Circle

When I am the town running errands I like to look at the flowers in the supermarket and florists. Last week I found something I thought was a bit different, a Firework Chrysanthemum. It struck me as being very seasonal and I thought I could have fun with it.

The shots below were taken with the Lensbaby Velvet 56 or Sweet 35 (with macro converters).

Follow this link to see Janet Broughton’s Halloween Still Life post

Seonaid Teal November 1, 2019 3 Comments

Flowers Lensbaby Lensbaby Blog Circle

Firework chrysanthemum Macro Convertors Sweet 35 Velvet 56

Calla Lily

I’ve seen great shots of Calla Lilies and was thrilled to see some when I was in town last week. I thought it would be fun to play with my Lensbabies. I chose a pink one and brought it home. I’ve played over the last week or so and here are the best shots.

They were taken with the Edge 35. Velvet56 or Sweet 35, all with extension tubes.

Seonaid Teal April 28, 2019 No Comments

Flowers Lensbaby

Calla Lily Edge 35 Extension tubes Sweet 35 Velvet 56

Winter Walks – Lensbaby Blog Circle

Happy new year and welcome to the Lensbaby Blog Circle latest selection of posts.

The best thing about the holidays is that I get to walk the dogs every morning.

I’m still exploring the Old Hills and finding the best places to take photos. It’s strange looking across the valley and seeing the Malvern Hills, where we used to do all our walking. The weather hasn’t been great for photography, its it’s mainly been mild and grey. The few frosty sunny days we’ve had were days I had to work.

I tried using different lenses and optics. It was fun playing with the single glass optic, it’s been a very long time since I had a play with that one. The shots below were taken with my Burnside 35, Sweet 80, Sweet 35 or Single Glass Optic.

To see more great Lensbaby shots follow the link to see Janet Broughton’s Graveyard Wanderings

Seonaid Teal January 7, 2019 10 Comments

Lensbaby Lensbaby Blog Circle Old Hills

Burnside 35 Callow End Single Glass optic Sweet 35 Sweet 80

Bokeh and Blur

Last week I took a few shots with my Lensbaby Sweet 35. I’d put on on my camera to take a shot for my Project 52 and that’s what was still on my camera when we went out. With such a great range of creative lenses I hadn’t used this one for a while. It was one of the first Lensbabies I bought and I love the bokeh and blur it creates. So today I wanted to have a play.

It was a beautiful sunny summer morning on the common. We weren’t out early but as the sun is rising later I still got some great light. When I’m out with the dogs its not possible to take as much time as I sometimes want or need to frame my shots. Not having used this lens for a while I was out of practice so I played with taking some out of focus shots. I like the effect, particularly in the woods where the bokeh was strong.

What do you think?

Seonaid Teal August 11, 2018 1 Comment

Lensbaby Malvern Common Photography

Blur Bokeh Sweet 35

Primroses – Lensbaby Blog Circle

Welcome to the third post in our Lensbaby Circle Blog.

Primroses are a flower I’ve always struggled to get good photos of so I thought I’d have a play using different Lensbaby optics and lenses. Their delicate colour is difficult to capture and when I try post processing the results the colour doesn’t seem to look real. I got my tripod out along with my macro converters and lenses enabling me to get really close. The colours are straight out of the camera. Despite taking notes I still managed to mix up which lenses and optics I used. I need to get more organised.

I am pleased with the results below, I hope you enjoy them.

I did have the Sweet 80, Plastic optic, Single glass optic, Soft focus optic, Edge 80, Twist 60 and Sweet 35 out.

For more great Lensbaby Images follow the link to Stephanie’s blog and the others til you’ve completed the circle.

seonaidtealphotography April 1, 2018 6 Comments

Flowers Lensbaby Lensbaby Blog Circle

Edge 80 Plastic Optic Primrose Single Glass optic Soft Focus optic Sweet 35 Sweet 80 twist 60

Tristan and Tyke

I don’t remember how I found out about Lensbaby lenses but I do remember the first time a got great results with some of the optics for the first time. Two of my favourites are below. They are old favourites.

The first photo was my first success with bending the sweet 35. We were both tired out after a long walk along the Malvern Hills. We’d met A friend and walked from the Wyche Cutting to Hollybush and back. It must be at least 10 miles. Tristan looked so peaceful sleeping on the sofa so I got the camera out. It didn’t work in colour but I love the black and white version. This is the background photo on my iPad and the only photo on my desk. Over the years a Tristan and I must have spent hundreds of hours and walked hundreds of miles on the hills.

The second photo was taken with the edge 80 and this was the first time I felt I’d got the focus where I wanted it to be. This shot was taken in the morning before we went out for a walk. Tyke was just lying looking at us, in the most beautiful morning light, as if he was saying “get a move on”.

Sadly both have gone, which is why these shots are so special. I now have another GSD and spaniel which have yet to calm down and learn that when I get the camera out they just have to lie down and stay out of the way. They are still mad keen to see what I’m doing, and frequently scare off or trample all over my subject.

seonaidtealphotography August 18, 2017 No Comments

Dogs Photography

Edge 80 English Springer Spaniel German Shepherd Lensbaby Sweet 35

Playing with poppies

I spotted some red colour in amongst a patch of weeds, when I looked closer I discovered a beautiful red poppy. It was an unusual variety which I haven’t seen before and I wanted to get my camera out and have a play before they were cut down.

I took shots with the Velvet 56. Sweet 35 and Twist 60. The best are shown below.