A Quick and Easy Guide to Freelensing

Many of you know that I am in the middle of my 365 project.  That is where you create a photo every day for a full year. Welp, I am halfway done, and I have had to use some artistic experiments to keep myself creating every day. One of the things I have been experimenting with is freelensing. 

Freelensing is when you remove the lens from the camera body and select focus by holding the lens close to the sensor and gently tilting it to obtain a very small slice of focus. I have been doing it for about a full month now.  I am sure I will move on to something else soon, but I really wanted to master it. I have seen it done by others such as Lucy Ketchum, Holly Awwad, and Erica Williams, and I am so intrigued by it! Now this technique is not for the perfectionist.  Sometimes you won’t catch focus at all, but it will result in a dreamy blur. Embrace it!  

See this on the Daily Project.

You may be thinking, “can I actually take a photo with the lens removed from the body!!?” The answer is yes.  Just be careful not to do it on a windy or rainy day to ensure you do not get dirt or dust on your camera sensor.  I like to make sure my exposure settings are right before I remove my lens.  I know many people like to use the live view to help you see where you are capturing focus.  However, I personally like to use my viewfinder.  I find the little focus confirmation dot in the corner of my viewfinder really helps me to capture focus. Especially since it is lost so easily.  To obtain focus it helps to move closer and farther away from your subject.  Also twisting the focus ring in and out on your lens will help.  For this reason, I really like to use my 50mm lens.  I have tried just about all my other lenses and this one is my favorite.  It just seems to be the right focal length and the focus ring is much easier to adjust one handed than all my other lenses.  Tilting the lens side to side or up and down will also affect where your focus lands.  It will also affect how much light comes into your camera, so play around with light leaks and hazy light. For Nikon users like me you will need to prop open the aperture ring. On some Nikon lenses the default position of the aperture is closed, and you will need it to be wide open for this experiment.  If you have a manual lens (like the Lensbaby twist 60) you can open your aperture up and not have to worry about it. For Canon users, I believe you don’t have to worry about this either as the default position is wide open.  To prop the aperture open on my 50mm lens I use a small piece of Bristol board.  Card stock would work too, or you can use tape.  I have found the Bristol board to be the best method for me.  

I love using this technique for backlight.  I think it makes everything extra dreamy. I also like to use it for summery scenes like the sprinkler.  (Just make sure you stand at a distance to keep your camera dry.)  I also like to use this to emphasize that feeling of nostalgia.  It is also great for those tiny details you want to draw attention to.  It is a great technique to experiment with, so I hope you all try it out! Please tag me so I can see your freelensing creations!! And don’t be surprised if I try it at your next session with me. 

Thanks for reading!    

5 Tips for Taking Photos of Your Child at a Playground

Recently I took the kids  to Muscatatuck Park in North Vernon, Indiana. I got to thinking about all the moms who have kids and struggle to take good pictures of them having fun.  I wanted to pop on here and give you a few tips for doing that, and the park is a perfect place! What could be better than kids having a great time and completely unaware of the camera! It is a recipe for genuine smiles and fun interactions.

Tip 1: Take note of what it feels like for your child. 

Try to really portray what the park is like for your child.  What are they experiencing? Are they climbing the tallest slide ever?  Is your child conquering their fears? Is your child recovering after being plowed down by a swing? Is your child hiding and spying on other kids? This is the perfect opportunity to change your point of view to really reflect how your child is interacting with their environment.  If your kid is afraid of heights but is working hard to climb something without fear, then get low and shoot up to really reflect how high that playground equipment really is. Shoot down to emphasize their innocence when they are hurt.  Use layering when they are hiding to really emphasize how they are spying on others and you are spying on them.  

Tip 2: Children repeat their behavior. 

If you miss something, don’t worry they will come back to it, and when they do you will be ready. Your kid will likely do that jump several more times before they get tired of it.  Or perhaps they will bring in a friend and then repeat the fun.  Be patient, and work for that shot that you want.   

Tip 3: Remember the details.

I always forget this. I am a big picture person, so I have to work at what doesn’t come naturally to me. Details are one of those things.  The details really help to tell the story of what is happening! Is your kid gripping those swings so tightly their little knuckles are white? Are your child’s feet in the air when they come down the slide? Are they bouncing from activity to activity? Try to get in close and capture those little things.

Tip 4: Look for shapes

There are tons of shapes at a playground.  Circles, squares, triangles! Use these shapes for framing or incorporating some other kind of composition.  Don’t forget about your composition! It is important. To read more about composition go here.

Tip 5: Friends and Interactions

I don’t know about your kids, but mine pick up like 10 new friends every time they go to the park.  Make sure to get those cute little interactions with siblings and new found friends. Did they share their snacks? Did they swing simultaneously? Of course it goes without saying that it’s always a good idea to check with other moms before you start photographing another kid.

Happy shooting! Thanks for reading!