Get creative with freelensing for cool bokeh effects
Time needed 30 minutes
Skill level Beginner
Kit needed
• Lensbaby Spark or prime lens
• A Christmassyscene
QUICK TIP
Focusing with the Lensbaby Spark 2.0 does take a little getting used to… We’d recommend playing around with the lens for a while to get used to its moving sweet spot, and bellows-like design, before embarking on a specific project. The focus and aperture are set manually, so it’s best to shoot in the Manual mode.
We have a feeling Santa will be delivering his fair share of Lensbaby Spark 2.0 lenses this Christmas. The successor to the massively popular Lensbaby Spark isn’t your normal lens, as it gives you the ability to tilt your focal plane for incredible results. We’ve seen them at around the £150 price point, which could make it the perfect Christmas present for the photography-lover in your life – or yourself of course!
This mini tiltable lens is manual focus only and features a flexible bellows-like design. You squeeze the lens in and out to adjust the focus, while tilting and rotating the optic moves the position of its sweet spot. Its aperture range is f/2.5 to f/22 and the included Lensbaby Sweet 50 (50mm) optic can be swapped out and replaced by any of the brand’s 15 Optic Swap glass.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Art of Copying Art - James Paterson shows you how to use your Canon gear to capture artwork and paintings the right way with simple camera and lighting skills
Whether you want to capture a painting like the above, digitise old prints or reproduce any kind of canvas, there's real skill in capturing artwork with your camera. Not only do you need the colours to be accurate, you also need to master the spread, angle and quality of the light to minimise glare and show the work at its best.This painting by the artist Bryan Hanlon has a wonderfully subtle colour palette. To reproduce the painting in print and digital form, it needs to be captured in the right way.
Fright night
Canon photographer and digital artist Alexander loves to craft incredible fantasy scenes with a spooky horror twist
Sharpen your shots with DPP
Sharpening a digital image also increases contrast at the edge of details
CANON ImagePrograf PRO-1100
Deeper blacks, better bronzing, greater lifespan and 5G Wi-Fi -Canon's new printer is full of new tech, says
Canon's new 'kit lens' is actually a half-price f/2.8 trinity lens!
The Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lacks a red ring, but borrows premium features from its L-series siblings
DREW GIBSON
Pro motorsports photographer Drew on why he hasn't (yet) switched to Canon's mirrorless system, why old-school techniques can be the most reliable, and the lessons learned from more than a decade shooting the world's biggest car brands
Up in smoke
Make a smoky shape in Affinity Photo and get to grips with the amazing Liquify Persona under the guidance of James Paterson
Expand your creativity with Generative Fill
Photoshop's Al-powered feature brings revolutionary new tools to image editing. James Paterson reveals all...
Turn your images into vintage postcards
Wish you were here? Sean McCormack explains how you can give your summer photographs a vintage postcard look
The Angel Malibu
Light painting an American movie producer in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan was a highly unlikely evening out for David!
