Journey Story: Nuno Caldeira

Welcome to Lensbaby Journeys. We have asked photographers to write about their journey with photography and with Lensbaby, however they want to approach it. Each piece will come directly from an individual photographer in their own words, accompanied by their photographs. Our hope is that these journey stories will resonate with you, inspire you, and push you forward on your own path.

What is your Lensbaby journey, Nuno?

I started doing photography with an HP point and shoot when I ended up at college in 2008. After getting a proper job ($$$ payout) I bought my first DSLR early 2011 with the standard 18-55mm lens plus a Samyang 8mm fisheye.

One month after getting it I started searching for a Holga type of lens on eBay and got to know what a Lensbaby is. It was the Muse - it's weird vacuum tube look and the photo samples I saw caught my eye. I ended up bidding on a used one on eBay. When it arrived I loved it so much and the week after I was ordering the Composer and the Optic Kit. Intense shooting, having fun and discovering what each optic was able to deliver was a journey that shaped what I wanted in photography.

Nuno Caldeira with Composer Pro with Edge 80 Optic

Another milestone was when Lensbaby introduced the Edge 80 - in 2012, if my memory is correct. I loved the sample photos but waited a couple of months to save up, and for it to be available in Europe. Bought it and it was my way to be able to do (and get addicted to) the miniature effect look. It allowed me to show my hometown in a different way - either in photography or time lapse video. (Yeah my Lensbaby tilt shift on YouTube has a proud 17k views, it was months of shooting around my city in a low time of my life when I was unemployed but it kept me focused on something to do and that gave me so much pleasure...thinking of it I should add Edge 50 footage, the thought of it makes me smile...I just need to find the time!)

Nuno Caldeira with Composer Pro with Edge 80 Optic

From there I kept collecting other optics and decided to create the Lensbaby Lovers website to share tips and tricks of how to use Lensbaby with others. I value free knowledge and data (I'm a supporter and contributor of OpenStreetMap and Mapillary) and I thought it was a good way to show and help others understand Lensbaby products that I love so much and that are often incorrectly labeled as gimmicks or toys.

After getting lovely feedback from Flickr and the Lensbaby Artistry Facebook group, Keri asked me if I could send few photos to be used on the Lensbaby website and was asked if I would beta test a new lens they were announcing in the following months...it was the Circular Fisheye. I felt so honored and excited to do that and it was really great to do some photos with it, trying to show the outdoors activities I love to do in my homeland. A great relationship with Lensbaby kept on going from then until today.

Nuno Caldeira with Composer Pro with Double Glass Optic

I shoot with Lensbaby 90% of the time. It's a extension of how I like to capture the world, my experiences, and the places I visit that I have seen sooo many photos of that all look the same. Lensbaby allowed me to show familiar views in a fresh and unique way, with a wide, creative, Sweet, or Edge look. The bokeh, the movement, slice of focus, sweet spot of focus, became common words that I use often. Its always great when new members ask for advice at Lensbaby Artistry and I can explain these concepts to them: how they can get the most out of lenses or optics, and which settings they should be using while starting out so they can be happy with the initial results and keep on improving from there.

Nuno Caldeira with Composer Pro with Edge 80 Optic

Some say it's not easy to shoot with Lensbaby and it's true - it requires dedication and trial and error, but it's a fun ride. I now look goofy when using autofocus lenses since I'm too used to Lensbaby! No painter paints easily without training and dedication and the same applies with Lensbaby. Lensbaby is a tool that needs to be mastered but once you get the hang of it, you won't let go and it becomes second nature.

Nuno Caldeira with Composer Pro with Double Glass Optic

Seeing my photos on the Lensbaby website and products is such an honor and keeps me hungry to shoot more and more. So thank you Lensbaby for the products you guys do and how lovely you have always been when we get in touch. Looking forward to continuing seeing our world in a new way!

Read more about Nuno and see more photos on his website, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Do you have a Lensbaby journey story? Share it with us for your very own feature! Email us at journey@lensbaby.com.