lensbaby love

Lensbaby kindly offered us at Camp Shutter Sisters a chance to play with the Lensbaby Composer Pro and one of my highlights of camp was hosting a walk down to the beach to experiment with these babies. I had been playing and learning the joys and difficulties of the Lensbaby Composer Pro before I arrived at camp, hoping to impart some knowledge or tips once we were there.

What I have discovered is that playing is the best way to approach this lens. It’s kinda like going back to basics, like when we first learnt how to use our cameras. You have to focus manually, find the “sweet spot”, maybe bend the lens to create some movement and find peace with the dreamy effect and what lands in your camera.

Some people get it right away, some get frustrated, some enjoy the challenge, some have patience to wait and discover something special and some do not. Sometimes working hard for an image makes it extra special. Thankfully many of the campers surrendered to the beauty of what was happening and some magic ensued.....

Beautiful fun moments, carefully crafted portraits, and breathtaking views of the surroundings.

Thank you Lensbaby for giving us the opportunity to play and create on camp.

We wanted to keep the Lensbaby love flowing, so please leave a comment today for a chance to win a Lensbaby Composer Pro of your very own, how exciting! You have until midnight Thursday night EST to leave a comment for your chance to win!

Congratulations to Kimberly Bowler for winning the Lensbaby and thanks to all of you for your comments!

Comments

[Samantha]

I would love to have a Lensbaby! Wonderful giveaway! Thank you!

[Kimberly]

OMG! OMG! I am jumping in my seat I want one so bad! I just love the effects these little babies create and I want and learn and play and create my own!

[Liz]

I have a lensbaby muse- and am slowly gaining patience to use it ;) I'd LOVE the Composer Pro I think it would fit my style a bit more!

[Juli I]

Oh WOW! I'm so excited! I've been wanting a lensbaby for a while but couldn't justify the purchase. I would love to win one! Thanks for the opportunity. Yipppy!

[Kirsten Michelle]

Coveting...because play is important ;)
Lensbaby & Shutter Sisters...love & gratitude.

[sferka]

Looking through the Lensbaby is like peeping through the keyhole. Behind the magic door appears different reality. Lensbaby let you catch everyday stories to discern fabulous world in them. They let you, maybe let me too.

[sarah w.]

Ooh ooh ooh! Lensbaby's are so much fun! I would LOVE one as I was really just discovering them at camp and did really well with it. :)

[Linda]

Oh what fun it must have been to walk with a group of like-minded ladies and play with a Lensbaby! I have seen some of the lovely shots taken with that lens and would love to try it!

[Corinna]

I will say that I was so frustrated when I was on the beach, trying to figure that lens out. But then when I uploaded I FELL IN LOVE. This was probably my favorite lensbaby shot that I made there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdwannawhistle/6274834031/in/photostream

Now I would love to have one of my own to create that magic all the time!

[Tracy K.]

It was so fun to be able to experiment with the Lensbaby...I'd love to be able to keep playing!

[kerin rose]

wow! what a great fun tool this would be! am really working on improving my own photos from a creative standpoint...its this years 'goal'!

[Kathy]

Those images are gorgeous--and it looks like everyone had a great time playing with the lenses.

[Jeanine]

I love trying new stuff, for me experimenting with photography NEVER gets old.

[Bettina]

Oh, the lensbaby is on my WISH LIST!!!! I would love to have one! thanks for the opportunity!

[Andrea]

Oh! A Lensbaby would be so much fun to play around with & learn to use! I've been loving seeing all the photos from Camp. :)

[Meg - Tea & Bris]

Yeeeees!!! Loooove Lensbaby! *fingers crossed*

[Hannah Mayo]

Oh how I've wanted one of these! Such gorgeous, dreamy images!

[kelly letky]

looks like something that would be great fun to play with! thanks for sharing such a great giveaway.

[Carol E.]

Such awesome imagines ... I'd love to have that lens to play with!

[Kris]

I always love the look of photos taken with these! Gotta love creative genius!

[Laurie]

I was just gawking at one of these in the camera store the other day. Fun. :)

[Debbie Ealer]

ooooh so enter me id love this little guy to add to my collection :D

[2DogStudio]

Would love to play with this lens! Thank you!!

[WhenToyzAttack]

I get all weak in the knees looking at the Lensbaby website and making my dream list of all the things I want to buy! And, photos from from camp are just heavenly....could look at those all day!

[AndreaKP]

Awesome! I've been thinking about getting a lensbaby for awhile now.

[Leigh]

I would love to play around with a Lensbaby!

[stefanie renee]

I didn't get a chance to play with it at Camp but seeing the photos from the other gals makes me want to play with one too! bring it on Lensbaby :)

[pictress]

That's a pretty cool baby! ;)

[urban muser]

that lens takes some seriously awesome photos! wish i had been there SO much.

[vivienne]

I've been dreaming of creating whimsical photos through a lensbaby for a long time. Thanks for offering this giveaway!

[darlene]

i have a much older lensbaby ... they are so fabulous but i can only imagine how much more lovely the newer model is. swoon.

[heather bowes]

nobody does a lensbaby like Deb does ;-). Amazing what magic it can make with the right photographer.

[Ariane]

Even hearing the word Lensbaby makes me intimidated lol! But I would love to try it and create something new! thanks for the opportunity :)!

[D. van der Veen]

I think it's great to play with a lens baby. The focal point where you want to submit and the blur around it.
I would love to endlessly play with a lens baby.
And making great shots.

[Barbara]

oh lensbaby! come to mama, please!!

[Esther]

I really wish I had a Lensbaby. Love the photos!

[Jennifer]

Very cool! Go Lensbaby!

[Kay Pickens]

I just love the look on lensbaby shots! So creative and fun! Glad you all got to play with the Lensbabies. Fun!

[rachaelmarie]

oooh...what a beautiful gift! i would love the chance to create and to be challenged!

[stacy (the aunt with gum)]

love love love the possibilities Lensbaby creates! Such a fantastic giveaway!

[Tracy]

oh my goodness, so many beautiful images! i love dreamy looking photos so having a lensbaby would be heaven.

[Chelsea]

I had so much fun playing, it was so addicting! The photos I got feel like a I am in a dream world. Would love to add one to my camera bag!

[chris]

Love the lensbabies. I used to have one several years ago - the original version. Wished I never got rid of it!

[~Kristina]

That looks like so much fun to play with. The shot that was snapped for "portrait" is stunning.

[Jess]

Would LOVE to play around with a Composer Pro! I bet you ladies had a blast.

[shelbi]

so bummed that i missed the camp out with all the sisters, maybe next year? at any rate, this is a rock'in giveaway - i have had the lensbaby on my wish list since 2008! :)
xo

[mae]

i had so much fun with this little lens. definitely took some getting used to but i did manage to get a few nice shots! would love to have one of my own. two hours just wasn't enough! thanks to the kind folks at Lensbaby!

[Jade]

Ahhh! I wish with all my heart that I would have been able to be there. I've been dying to get my hands on a lensbaby! Crossing my fingers :D

[mama-pan | mary frances]

it would be so cool to try one of these!

[Sally Sloley]

Oh, I'd love to win a LensBaby Pro!