Introducing Year of the Alpha – 365 Days of Sony Alpha

[Kalainen]

Thanks for the kind words, Sury and Birma! It sure gives a nice bokeh (mainly because of tilting the flat focus plane). With APS-C sensor it gives nice possiabilities to introduce smooth out-of-focus areas in pictures (and more so with full frame). Really a new tool in a toolbox, since it can be used to make visuality that isn't possible with normal 'straight' lenses. I already like it a lot, but I need to get used to it a bit more to really learn what I can do with it. Still adjusting myself, I guess.

Sury, Edge 80 certainly is a kind of tilt/shift lens offered by Lensbaby. Since you ask about it, I makes me think you haven't read the post I've made so far. In my 'Season of Tilt', I'm also introducing Lensbaby lenses and if you want, you can start reading from here (I add to it day by day with new post).

-Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Season of Tilt
Week 12, Wednesday - Tic-Toc
"I must say I really like the smooth out-of-focus character which Edge 80 gives for this picture. It adds just right amount of visual interest in picture and doesn't come out as a too obvious effect. However, I must say that coming from OSS and autofocus equipped Sony lenses, there is a bit of learning curve with Lensbaby. [...]"

Read full post at my blog: http://www.yearofthealpha.com

Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Birma]

I love that portrait Toni. I'm not sure if it is the lighting, or the slim dof, but it is a very appealing shot.

[Kalainen]

I love that portrait Toni. I'm not sure if it is the lighting, or the slim dof, but it is a very appealing shot.

I'm so glad to hear someone likes it, because it's a very important photograph to me. I had possiability to take this shot already earlier, but I waited for the right mood and moment quite long. In some ways it exemplifyis the potraits I would like to take more with people close to me. Thank you for taking time to comment it, I really appreciate it.

-Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Dr. Harout]

I like that shot too!

[sury]

Toni,
Excellent capture of the subject. But... somehow the asymmetry is not working for me.
The blur on left and the sharpness of wood on the right are seem to be fighting with
each other, IMHO. As far as subject goes, no two ways about it. There is a certain
intensity in the looks that adds depth and conveys an emotion of intense pondering
(as interpreted by yours truly). I am just conveying my reactions and not critiquing
the composition or technique.

Sury

[Kalainen]

I like that shot too!

Thanks for the kind comment Doc!

-Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Toni,
Excellent capture of the subject. But... somehow the asymmetry is not working for me.
The blur on left and the sharpness of wood on the right are seem to be fighting with
each other, IMHO. As far as subject goes, no two ways about it. There is a certain
intensity in the looks that adds depth and conveys an emotion of intense pondering
(as interpreted by yours truly). I am just conveying my reactions and not critiquing
the composition or technique.

This is a good critique Sury and it made me think that shot would (indeed) be better I the out of focus area had reached to woods as well. For this kind of shots I should push it a bit more, though I'm pretty happy for this one too. Thanks for mentioning it, I appreciate your comment.

-Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Season of Tilt
Week 12, Saturday - Raindrops
"The power socket on the wall looked a bit like this when I was three or four years old and was playing with it at home. At those days my uncle was a repair man for all things electric and I had watched him fixing all kinds of stuff. I must have been inspired by him when I thought the power outlet on the wall needed some fixing as well. I took a workbench and carried it next to wall. With couple of screwdrivers and other tools in my hand I climbed to the chair. [...]"

Read full post at my blog: http://www.yearofthealpha.com

Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Season of Tilt
Week 13, Wednesday - New possibilities
"No dreams or memories to share today. Instead I'm posting another nice example of Lensbaby Edge 80 optic. Using the tilt I've introduced just a little bit of blur on top this image, while keeping the human figure sharp. Now that I've learned to expect a certain possibilities with Edge 80, I'm starting to find regular 'straight lenses' a bit boring. Couple of days ago I had to use my kit lens (SEL1855) for some family pictures and while it felt almost too easy with AF and OSS, I felt something was missing. [...]"

Read full post at my blog: http://www.yearofthealpha.com

Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[sury]

Toni,
It could be my monitor, or my imagination but the blurring does not seem to be seamless.
It looks very quantized. It could be image too. It looks as if each floor has been blurred
separately in post processing. I have a feeling a similar quantization was at work on your
week 12 image where I found the blurring fighting with sharpness.

On the other hand, the concept of controlled blurring in a seamless fashion seems to be
more interesting, come to think of it.

Sury

[Kalainen]

Toni,
It could be my monitor, or my imagination but the blurring does not seem to be seamless.
It looks very quantized. It could be image too. It looks as if each floor has been blurred
separately in post processing. I have a feeling a similar quantization was at work on your
week 12 image where I found the blurring fighting with sharpness.

On the other hand, the concept of controlled blurring in a seamless fashion seems to be
more interesting, come to think of it.

Thanks for your comment Sury. The Blur works very smoothly with Lensbaby. For all I know the size of the non-blurred area and transtion-speed between blurred and non-blurred area is determined by 3 things: aperture size, amount of tilt and sensor size. It's an optical effect, so it's really smooth without quantization. Perception of such might come from the picture, because blurring isn't so easily seen betweet the floors. But yes, it's a nice thing to have in control (sort of like depth of field), but I must admit I'm still searching best ways to use it.

-Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Season of Tilt
Week 13, Saturday - Lookalike
"Me and Aura have a similar facial features. It's not very surprising considering that she is my offspring and we share some of the same genes. Looking at her I sometimes think if she is actually me. Maybe I laughed and run about the same way when I was two years old. It gets even more comparable if I set her on table sitting sideways so that I can only see her side profile and some of her face is left hidden. She looks identical to me as same age. Same side profile, hair and posture. Even the clothes look the same as in some of my early childhood pictures. In short, this photograph here shows both me and Aura at the same time. Aura some days ago and me from 35 years ago. I could easily fool my mother with this photograph. [...]"

Read full post at my blog: http://www.yearofthealpha.com

Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[Kalainen]

Season of Tilt
Week 15, Wednesday - Visions
"Lensbaby lenses are extraordinary for what they do. I like them, but to be honest, I also need to bring up the fact that they don't fit everywhere and every situation. If one considers them for casual shooting and snapshots, I wouldn't recommend to get Lensbaby just for that. Effects you get with these lenses are quite strong [...]"

Read full post at my blog: http://www.yearofthealpha.com

Toni

--
Toni Ahvenainen (1976)
Year of the Alpha - 52 Weeks of Sony Alpha Photography: http://www.yearofthealpha.com
Flickr-account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/109262328@N06/

[sury]

Toni,
You are right about Lensbaby not fit for everything and for everyone.
If I were to compare the last two images (Aura and the building), I have
two different reactions. The gradual blurring on the building has a nice
effect whereas the blurring made Aura's legs visually thinner in proportion
than the upper torso and face that is in sharp focus. That did not sit well
with me. My lesson learned is that when it comes to human beings, you don't
want disproportionate body parts, they somehow visually deform the person.

Sury