Lensbaby Makers: Janet Broughton
Lensbaby Makers is a series that looks into the world of influential Lensbaby shooters. Press play to see these photographers in action as they work through their creative process.
Meet Janet Broughton
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Shooting with Lensbaby lenses makes me take a slower, more considered approach to my craft due to the manual focus aspect. I also slow down because I prefer not to crop my Lensbaby images, not wanting to lose any of the lovely blur from around the edges. When I'm shooting with a Lensbaby, I think much more carefully about my framing and composition. I take fewer shots than I would with a "normal" lens because I'm more considerate, but I still end up with more keepers.
My Lensbaby lenses allow me to harness my imagination and the way I feel about a subject. They allow me to create photographs that reflect my own view of the world around me.
Shooting with a Lensbaby allows me to shoot with a much greater freedom. I don't feel a need to conform to any photographic rules and, because of the slower approach, I feel a deeper connection to my subject.
Watch Janet fine-tune her work in Lightroom
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Janet's Kit
Lenses
I shoot around 90% of the time with Lensbaby lenses. I have the original Composer and Velvet 85, Velvet 56, Sweet 80, Sweet 50, Twist 60, Edge 50 and Macro Converters. I will usually have the Velvets and a couple of the others with me at any one time. Which ones just depends on how I'm feeling when I pack my bag. I also have, but use less often, the Double Glass, Plastic, Soft Focus and Pinhole/Zone Plate lenses.
I have four different vintage lenses, but the Helios 44-2 is the one I use most. If I need to use an autofocus lens, it will usually be the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 or Sigma 50mm f2.8 Macro. I do have a few other lenses but they are rarely used.
Cameras & Accessories
I shoot with the Sony A99 and also have a Sony A580, which I loan to people who book Lensbaby Training Days.
I love natural light and rarely find the need to use anything else. I carry a small unbranded reflector, just in case I need it. I own but very rarely use a Sony flash, and if I'm shooting still life on a dull day I use a daylight balanced continuous light with a softbox.
I have a Slik AMT tripod, which I sometimes throw in the car but don't usually get it out. I don't like the restriction of using a tripod. I like to be free to move around my subject and explore different angles, so I feel like a tripod takes away my freedom.
Learn from Janet Broughton
Join one of Janet's upcoming workshops,or schedule a 1-2-1 Lensbaby training day.
