Pixiq

And now for something completely different!

Over the past ten years, I have experimented with a number of unorthodox methods for making images. One of my favorites is a technique that when used with certain precautions, makes for some amazing imagery.

This is not an article to get a FREE anything except for a very interesting technique.

Free Lens is a wild and crazy photographic technique. Free Lens or sometimes referred to as Free-lensing is accomplished by using a lens in front of the camera but without actually mounting the lens. Thus the term free lens. The main idea is to allow the lens to be swiveled and shifted. The act of swiveling and shifting the lens will give you the opportunity to have a unique type of selective focus similar to a tilt shift effect.

Warning:  I am not responsible for your use of this procedure.  nor is the publisher of this blog. You do so at your own risk to your camera Lens and or sensor.

Caution: The main thing you should be aware is the potential for damaging your lens mount and/or the possibility of any dust or moisture that might enter into the camera while you photograph. This  is a procedure that many photographers already practice but they usually are extremely careful to take the precautions necessary to protect their equipment.

I am one of those photographers who love to push the envelope and therefore I take some chances. However, like a good stuntman, I also take precautions.

Although you can use just about any focal length lens, the best lenses for this purpose would be lenses made for larger format cameras.  These lenses have a longer focal length and a greater lens to focal plane distance. Larger format lenses allow you to hold the lens a bit further away from the front of your DSLR or a film SLR making it less likely to do damage to your camera lens mount. I use older cameras that I am not that concerned about. This technique works best on DSLR cameras such as those made by Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony and similar cameras.

You may simply remove your lens and hold it in front of the camera in such a way as to allow the image to form on the camera sensor while at the same time blocking as much of the ambient light as possible. Many photographers like the flair and the light leaks. I personally do not like the leaks so I have a solution that you will need to find in my book.

Read about this and many other wild techniques in my-new-book and purchase it using the links on the post.

If you decide to use the lens from your DSLR or SLR, you will find that it is nearly impossible to focus on infinity. This is due to the flange to sensor distance. Only when the lens is mounted can you focus on infinity. Once removed you can focus but only on close objects.

This is a fun way to take pictures and can give you the same kinds of effects that you can get by spending a lot of your hard earned money on a pricey Lens baby. It also provides a huge amount of personal satisfaction once you get the hang of it! How did you do that? I did it with my DSLR lens. : )

Please read more of my posts regarding Digital and Analog Photography on Pixiq. 

Read about my-new-book and purchase it using the links on the post.

Warning:  am not responsible for your use of this procedure. You do so at your own risk. Not taking precautions could damage your equipment.

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THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND GALLERY IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT - © JOHN NEEL AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PUPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR PIXIQ.