Free Lensing

Free Lensing :

Free Lensing

What is free lensing?

Luke Roberts gave a pretty straight forward definition.

“ Photos taken with the lens detached from the camera but held in place and moved around to focus. This also lets extra light in sometimes causing light leaks and giving a vintage look and feel.

Also:
* Gives extra bokeh by shrinking the area in focus (aperture is 0)
* Allows for super macro shots
* Delicious light leaks
* Tilt-shift effects “

I've been wanting to play around with free lensing for a while...so today I took the time to play. Both with free lensing and free lensing backwards. Free lensing backwards, it making a photo with the lens off AND held backwards.

This is not as easy as it sounds, nor is always safe for your camera body, your sensor or your lenses. It's very difficult to hold that lens still, let alone your camera body (tripod may make it easier). With the lens off you are risking dirt, dust and other debris getting onto your sensor, also..it's risky that you might drop your lens.

I dared it, I had fun.

Lenses used for this little project: 50mm 1.8 and kit lens 18-55 mm.

I will keep trying this, I am thinking it will take a lot of practice to perfect the technique...though part of the charm (for me) in free lensing is the imperfections themselves.

Here is a free lensing collage of the images I made today.