:: PhotoMatrix ::

Just got a Lensbaby 2.0 and the first few images were amazing already! A real fun lens to use. A bit difficult initially, as the rubber bellow has to be controlled for focus and tilt using two [steady!] fingers - this definitely will take a bit of getting used to before I have control over the lens. The focus «sweet spot» shifts very quickly if the focus is not held properly while releasing the shutter.... 

Here is the first one -

A nice abstract of Cornflower and Star of Bethlehem  done by using the lens wide open and tilting the lens quite a bit. There are a couple of other images from the first test session.

USING and ABUSING the Lensbaby:
The Lensbaby focuses on just a small circular area of the entire scene and blurs out [beautifully!] the rest - either toward or away from the center of focus depending on how you bend it.  This  selective focus lens can be controlled as to what extent and which area of the scene is to be in focus. The focus distance is changed by squeezing or extending the bellows. Extending makes it focus closer and squeezing it focuses farther. Bend the flexible extension and you can move the focus «sweet spot» pretty much anywhere around the frame of the scene. Changing the f/stop [which also changes the size of the «sweet spot»] is done by changing the drop-in aperture washers - these are metallic discs which «float» above the front lens element with the help of 3 tiny magnets. The aperture washers can be pulled out with a small plastic tool that comes with the Lensbaby.

Simple and brilliant!

Here is what's in the LB2 box.