Welcome to Lensbaby Journeys. We've asked photographers to write about their journey with photography and with Lensbaby, in any way they want to approach it. Each piece comes 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.
Amy, what is your Lensbaby journey?
I purchased my first Lensbaby, a Composer Pro with the Edge 80 Optic, about 4 years ago, after being inspired by my now-good-friend Caroline Jenson's photography. I loved the way her images were so timeless and soft. I knew that I needed to try these lenses out.
The first images I shot were pretty awful, to be honest. I wasnt used to manually focusing, and the tilt was tricky to master. I remember looking through my images in Lightroom and not even keeping one of them. The next evening, I gave it another try and kept about three images out of the hundreds I shot. After learning more from practicing daily, I really began to love these lenses and the surprises that came from the imperfection I was seeking. They cause me to slow down and compose each image mindfully before pressing the shutter. They give me the freedom to be as creative as I want to be.
Lensbaby gives me the ability to step away from perfect and embrace my inner artist who loves to come out and play. I love the feelings I can evoke with the tilt. Its almost like Im capturing part of a dream or memory. I guess thats what images actually are, as soon as the shutter clicks. I've started exploring light and shadow like I never have before. After falling for the Edge 80, I knew I needed more, so the last few years Ive added the Sweet 35 and Sweet 50, as well as the Twist 60 to my collection. I really love them all and will be adding more to my collection soon.
A year or so ago, my daughter Charlotte, who is 11, expressed an interest in photography and asked for her own camera for Christmas. I found her an inexpensive DSLR on Craigslist that she's been using to learn the basics. The lens I chose to teach her with was my first Lensbaby, the Composer Pro with the Edge 80 Optic. It's the perfect tool to help her understand how aperture and focus affect each image. My daughter's favorite subjects are flowers and animals, and I love the images shes been able to capture using this lens. Charlotte also loves using the Macro Convertersand finds some amazing details to photograph in nature. One of her images of a tulip even received a champion ribbon at our county fair. Yep, Im a very proud momma!
These days, my business partner Kim and I shoot photography sessions, teach video through Click Photo School, and offer beginner photography classes online and at our studio in Holton, Kansas. We also just started inviting different types of artists to our studio to lead classes on everything from soap making and cupcake decorating to macrame.and of course, our own mom and kids photography classes where I always bring out my Lensbaby lenses. We are excited to be makers and love encouraging creativity more than anything.
Lensbaby lenses line my desk, even as I type this. Which one should I shoot today?
Thats my Lensbaby journey and where Im at now. Its far from over. I cant wait to keep exploring, trying new things, and inspiring others to get out and be creative!
To see more of Amy's work, visit her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Do you have a Lensbaby journey story? Share it with us for your very own feature! Email us at journey@lensbaby.com.
