I chose the theme this month with the criteria that the level of {Out of Focus} could vary. That said I have chosen some images that are my favorites from the archives and some that are more recent. I will say I kind of went overboard a little, but I hope you enjoy.

When I looked at the theme, I broke it down into a number of categories, elements, nature, lenses, and my favorite style of shooting images, that isn’t travel.

With the elements I found two images that reminded me of what days in Florida can be like, hot, humid with the occasional fog,

Nature, particularly sunsets, when using the Lensbaby lens, can create unique out of focus images. Here are a few taken at one of my favorite sunset spots. 

Using lenses to create different styles of out of focus is a fun way to experiment. In the days before I had a macro lens, I discovered the reverse ring method. It’s hard I am not going to lie. Its kind of like free lensing with a reverse lens. At the time I could not afford a macro lens, and this was my best option. It was definitely fun, until the day I could not get the reverse lens off my camera and I panicked. I did get it off but that made me more determined to get a macro lens.

At one stage I got into all the different types of Lensbaby optics. I have a huge variety of them, but I constantly forget to use them. My favorite is the sweet 35, but I also have the double glass, plastic, sweet 50, twist, pinhole, single focus, and soft focus. I will confess that the soft focus messes with my eyes. When you are used to sharp images the Lensbaby optics will cause you to do a double take. Below are a few of the images I have taken with the different optics.

The images below were taken with the Lensbaby sweet 35. This is probably my favorite of the Lensbaby optics and if I am going to pack one, this typically finds its way in. My problem is that for the most part I am using my zoom lens and I definitely forget to pull the Sweet 35 out. 

Macro lens are super fun. The focus in on the main area and leave the rest out of focus. We have these plants in the garden that are really great with water drops and dependent on the light can give a nice hazy effect.

My favorite style of photography by far, is done with the 70-300mm lens, and my 150-600mm lens. This requires me to get down level with the critter or leaf that I want to shoot and just getting that tiny sliver of focus while the rest are out of focus. This I broke down into two areas, critters and still life.

Critters are a lot harder as they move, but here are a few examples of the out of focus with the attempts at in focus. What I love about these photo’s is the creamy out of focus feel with just an element that is in focus.

Leaves are still life and don’t jump on me and using the same concept of getting low and level with the object, and having people look at me as if I am weird, and wondering what the heck I am taking photographs of, I continue to take my photo’s of leaves or something that catches my attention. Of course, there are ants on the board walk and Florida loves fire ants. I got bitten once and those critters are nasty.

Again I love the sliver of focus with the balance of the image being a creamy out of focus. Dependent on the leaves, you can get some really interesting colors. One of my favorites was a boardwalk that had moss on it, and it gave off this blurry greenish creamy color.

Another images that captured my attention that were not leaves, was this feather that clearly someone had picked up and stuck in the groove sometime before I walked along. It just looked really neat sticking up and so I snapped a shot. 

Last but not least I came across two other images that were experimental that can create a beautiful out of focus effect. 

Out of focus is fun and I am expecting to see some stunning images from my fellow blog contributors. Some of them specialize in the Lensbaby and ICM effects and I can’t wait to see them. Which reminds me, this is a circle blog and as I mentioned, we have some very talented artists in the group. Take some time to follow the links and see what they have for you this month. My incredibly talented friend  Janet from @wiredtothemoon_ is up next. I can’t wait to see what she has to share. You can see more of his work by clicking on her and Instagram page.

Don’t forget to share your photos on the theme {Out of Focus} Tag us #sharesix_outoffocus

I have struggled since Covid to pick up my camera. The combination of covid, Richard getting sick, a new baby on my days off, and just a lack of desire to pick up the camera has made it harder. I am seriously considering doing another 365 just so that I pick up my camera everyday. 

I’ve also noticed that I have struggled to edit as well. I am sitting with unedited images from Macedonia. Unedited images from Australia, and in 4 weeks we are heading to Phoenix for 10 days. I have been doing some research and the images I have seen from Antelope Canyon and Sedona blow me away and so I know I am going to come home with a million images to edit. I need to stop doing other things and settle down and get these pictures done.

Until we share again, stay well