Recently, I visited my dear friend Sarah of Arrow and Apple Photography for a few days. We had a few photo adventures together and she shared a super fun technique with me that I invited her to share with you on the blog too! Enjoy...
Free-lensing is a fun technique to try if you have a camera with a removable lens! It's a method of shooting with your lens detached from the camera- but still held very closely. Holding your lens up to the camera (instead of attaching it) allows you to create a tilt-shift effect in your photos. With a LOT of practice, you can even learn how to selectively focus on one thing, while everything else becomes blurred! But don't be discouraged if you feel like nothing is focusing how you would like at first. It really takes a lot of practice. Practice photographing objects around your house before you try this on people! It's much harder to focus when your subject is a moving object.
Note: Before you get started, you have to know that as soon as you take the lens off of your camera and use it, there is a chance that dust can get into your camera. Please don't try this if the thought makes you uncomfortable! However, if you're not in a dusty area, you shouldn't have much cause for concern at all. When I free-lens, I hold my lens close to my camera body, and I try to use my hand to cup around the lens so as to shield the camera from bringing in dust, and from preventing too much light leak.
If you'd like to try it, here are a few tips!
1. Select your lens. Free-lensing isn't as effective with a wide-angle lens, because it's MUCH harder to get anything in focus! If you have several lenses to choose from, I would start with a 50mm or higher. If you have a zoom lens that came with your camera, you might want to make sure the lens is zoomed in to at least a 50mm range, if possible.
2. Before you detach your lens from your camera, set your exposure. Auto-exposure won't work correctly if your lens isn't connected to your camera.
3. Take off your lens, hold it very closely to your camera, and move it around a little! You get some really beautiful effects the more angles you try to hold it at. For instance, if the left side of your lens is touching your camera still, angle it so that the right side of your lens is pulled away from the camera. Try taking a few photos, and see how you like them! It's pretty exciting, right? (NOTE: Nikon users will need to set their camera to manual mode before removing the lens)
4. Practice! Practice, practice, I can't overemphasize this: Practice! This might not be something you will pick up right away, but if you love the effect, then it's definitely worth the time to shoot 100 photos before you like one. :)
5. Set the focus ring to "infinity" before you take your lens off.
Here are a few examples of photos that Sarah took with this free-lensing technique...
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this lovely technique! xo. elsie
Thanks for this post guys.
And for pushing us to try new things with our photographs. :)
xoxo
http://natashafatah.com
Posted by: Natasha Fatah | April 30, 2012 at 11:12 PM
How fun! I had never even heard of this technique before, thanks for the tutorial!
- Angela Marie @ http://sunkissedivory.blogspot.com
Posted by: Angela Marie | April 30, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Really interesting! Thanks for the advice.
xO, vicky
http://somehowlovely.blogspot.com
Posted by: Vicky | April 30, 2012 at 11:17 PM
this is such a fun idea! can't wait to try!
Posted by: chelsea | April 30, 2012 at 11:20 PM
Wow. I've never heard of this one! Thank you.
Posted by: Kate @ Songs Kate Sang | April 30, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Woah...such an awesome idea that I had never heard of. Totally trying this out soon! :)
Posted by: Carrie Rosalind | April 30, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Had some trouble leaving a comment!! I just wanted to say I am a little excited about trying this. I just tried a technique where you hold up the lens backwards to the camera to get close ups.
Posted by: Emma | April 30, 2012 at 11:35 PM
I love when you guys teach me about photography - favorite lessons!
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Posted by: grace | April 30, 2012 at 11:39 PM
the black and white portrait is just gorgeous!
Posted by: deerdonna | April 30, 2012 at 11:43 PM
Wonderful photos!)
Posted by: Ksenia | April 30, 2012 at 11:47 PM
I'm excited to try this! Thanks for sharing. Amazing photos!
Posted by: rachel | April 30, 2012 at 11:48 PM
great post,i tried and some worked out ok but definately needs heaps of practise!
Posted by: michelle | April 30, 2012 at 11:52 PM
Are there some cameras that this won't work with? I have a Nikon D3000, and I can't find a way around the "no lens is attached" issue... I will try with my film camera too, this looks awesome. I really hope I can get it to work! Thanks!
Jennybodell.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jenny Stokes | May 01, 2012 at 12:00 AM
The Photos look great! I have to try this technique out very soon
Thanks your this tutorial!
Posted by: annemie | May 01, 2012 at 12:15 AM
Thanks for the tutorial! I've always wanted to try this! x
http://thedamselinadress.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Jeline | May 01, 2012 at 12:17 AM
awesome tutorial!
thank you so much,
i'm going to try it this week!
Posted by: cheyenne | May 01, 2012 at 12:26 AM
SUPER awesome! *getting her camera out*
Posted by: Rima | May 01, 2012 at 12:27 AM
First time I read about free lensing. The photos look great!
Posted by: Miss K | May 01, 2012 at 12:38 AM
This is so cool! Love the effects. And the portrait pictures are wonderful!
http://stainsofpaint.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Viveca Johansen | May 01, 2012 at 01:03 AM
I love free lensing! Also be sure to take your time with it. I know when I'm shooting models, sometimes I get flustered when I'm taking a while to get the focus right, so you just have to use patience and not fret. Focus on the eyes too, as that is the most important aspect of (most) portrait photos. As always it's just trial and error, and even still I get unfocused photos, but the more your practice the more comfortable you get, and that's the important part.
Posted by: Lauren | May 01, 2012 at 01:23 AM