It really irritates me when someone, seeing my images for the first time, says oh you must have a good lens - followed by - do you use photoshop? Maybe I’m intolerant but inwardly I bristle!
Of course I use software to tweak my images but I don’t ever take a bad image into LR or PS. I didn’t cheat in my latin exam, back in the day, why would I cheat with my photography?
I love, love, love being creative - I am known primarily for my macro work but I enjoy all genres of photography - street, architecture, sport, travel - you name it! When travelling with my camera I become delirious, almost off the scale happy! And I save a fortune because I’m not interested in shopping - i just want to take my camera to see people, architecture, culture.
A side to photography which I love is the challenge - I see things with my unique eye and so my goal is to produce unique photos, with my ever-evolving style. Let’s not talk about the percentage of images which don’t work when I push myself out of my comfort zone - let’s talk about the images which do work, which make my heart palpitate! Taking myself out of my comfort zone incites my creative juices, but, more importantly - it is this very challenge which channels my growth
Really using my camera, its twiddly dials and my accessories (such as LB Omni and the Double Glass lens’ magnetic bokeh filters) takes me to another level. Some days I feel lazy and I just want to use a fixed aperture lens, auto ISO - and head off to see what I can achieve (Sol 45 is always a good go-to), but many a day……….. I want to push for the extraordinary! Trust me, it doesn’t always happen, but I know that if I try, at some point it will work. And the more I try, the more often my reflexes reward me and I see the beauty in ordinary things: the fish market, a music console and I even get excited by what I can achieve with my LB Double Glass focused on the cars’ break lights!
And when my camera is not in my hand, I relax by watching photography videos on YouTube. I know, it’s like a maladie - but my Dr. said I’m fine, not to worry!! And it was on
one of these videos that I came across Lensbaby - that was just 2 years ago and life has truly never been the same since. At the same time I changed to a mirrorless camera - which is not really relevant except that my camera, forever with me, is lighter these days.
Talking of lighter- the LB Trio Lens has done more for me than my osteopath ever could! I can venture out, just with the Trio lens and voila, I have the Twist, Velvet and Sweet at my finger tips. This, I can tell you, has been a game changer for my street and travel projects. Aside from the reduced weight, when I’m rushing out of the door, I don’t lose time troubling over which lenses to slide into my bag.
Already in love with all of my LB lenses, this month I bought the Double Glass optic - oh wow! The paperwork on my desk is going to have to wait because I just can’t stop playing with this lens and its magnetic bokeh blades. Even the first day with the lens, the magnetic bokeh disk in place, and a string of fairy lights- nothing else, I started to achieve magic - OK so the images weren’t extraordinary, but they did demonstrate the creative potential. Then I took the lens out with me and even car brake lights were suddenly a creative opportunity
You can certainly achieve perfect images with LB, as you can with a million other lenses, but my aim is to make my images touch me, excite me, and hopefully this intent will lead my images to touch others too- and how the LB lenses fuel my creative DNA like they’ve never been fuelled before. With them I am starting to achieve art that really comes from my soul. Who wants perfection when we can have magic?
Lensbaby lenses are created to satisfy your creativity, to fill your soul and to assist in your visual intent. From the outset you’ll take crazy creative, beautiful images but their scope is so great that you will be hooked and you will push yourself to further realise your potential and the of the lenses. We are so privileged to live in the digital age: there’s nothing stopping us from practicing: experiment, shoot and advance - in every sense! So if you’re as touchy, touchy, as me, I suggest those around you don’t suggest that it’s all down to the lens. We fellow passionate photographers know the truth
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Alys Tinson
Bonjour! I am Alys Tinson, a British photographer who, for more than 20 years, has had the good fortune to live in France, on the beautiful Mediterranean coastline, an area known for its historical culture which is reflected in some of my local photos.
Photography is an absolute passion for me and I never leave home without a camera. Whilst most genres of photography interest me, I am most notably known for my macro work. I have been shortlisted twice for the internationally renowned CUPOTY competition, most recently in 2022. I unashamedly embrace colour, which, combined with the striking clarity of my subjects results in my unique contemporary art.