I am always on the lookout to add some creative ways to add some spark to my images. The other day I was in the dollar tree and found this bag with 6 small bags of Sequins Pailettes. I figured they could make some amazing Bokeh to the right light one day.
Well, today was the day. The last few days while walking my dog I picked up here and there some leaves I found on the floor because I knew I wanted to create some sort of still life images with them since we have not much fall colors here in Houston. A red leaf on the floor feels like Christmas for a Photographer living in the south.
I created my set up which is somewhat always the same my self-made wooden table some paper with the Pailettes sprinkled wildly over my set up.
Here is what they look like just tossed on my Papers, as you can see the back Pailettes already create a bokeh.
Same Image, only now I place a subject in the center that I will focus on.
And voila we got ourselves some amazing Bokeh light!
Next, I placed a glass filled with water and some dying flowers inside which I focused on.
Yes, I save all kinds of glass jars that used to be something to cook with!
Moving on to the leaves I collected the past few days while walking my dog. Finding a red leaf in Houston is as rare as finding a hundred dollar bill on the floor. To this day everything is still green and lush with butterflies still making the rounds. I collected about 30 in one week and kept them a little moist until I had enough.
The struggles shooting Autumn when there isn't one is definitely very real in south Texas.
The image below was shot with the Lensbaby Double glass which turned my Paistelles completely into Bokeh.
When using the little Pailettes make sure they not in the front of your image but rather in the back or side where the sun will reflect them.
The image below was shot with the Lensbaby sweet 50 and my little bokeh wonders are still visible.
The next image was shot with Lensbaby Velvet 56 at F.1.6
As you can see with the velvet 56, even at F1.6 you can see some of the Paistelles as I have not moved them backward. Still, love both images.
When I try new ways to play with the light I go through most of my lenses to see which one works best. Trying all of them today I ended up loving the Free-lensed images the most since I can shift my lens anyway I like while playing with the light ( Bokeh) to find the right combination.
When I free-lens I use mainly my Sigma art 50 mm F1.4 for this, no lensbender or any other tools I simply detach the lens and hold it in front of my camera zooming it in or out to get my desired focal length and once I have that I tilt away until I see something I like. There is truly no right way to do this other than just do it.
When I free-lens I do not worry about composition, DOF, or even my subject I am only chasing light - finding the light combo that speaks to me one way or another. I think there is not one single rule when free-lensing other than to create magic you see fit.
There are so many ways you can do this and even if somewhat blurry I love the mysterious look and feel of it. I create my own Presets, therefore, all my images have some grain to them adding a vintage feel which I personally like. But no need to stop here add texture or another cool overlay like a postcard makes these type of images romantic and nostalgic at the same time. That is if you going for this kind of look.
If you know me then you know I am not American so as a German I tend to write as I think and sometimes my grammar is not the best but if you want to understand me I am sure you will and are able to hop over the little mistakes I make and if you find something that inspires you please feel free to recreate in your way and don't forget to share with me your creation.
XOXO Anja
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