I was introduced to DSLR, by a very good salesman, a few years ago. I had washed and dried a nice but point and shoot Panasonic. I used it to take pictures of my wonderful dog. And he talked me into the D80.

I tried and tried to find a place for me that would click, and that I wanted to take pictures. Through a few mistakes in buying lenses, not knowing what anything did. I stuck to the auto modes. Flowers did nothing for me, I found them boring. Ha not so boring these days! Landscapes, I really limited myself, never really exploring them. Looking for places to walk my dog, away from people, I found a group of abandoned buildings. They were first built as a respite polio hospital. Then turned into a psychiatric institution. It totally supported itself, by having a fire hall, laundry facilities, and a farm, complete with schools. I was hooked. I went back there several times, always managing to leave before security could come and kick me out. I must have got the last of the old buildings, as they are now being turned into condos and homes. I saw the old becoming new.

I continued to shoot different stuff. Joined the local camera club. Was introduced to classes held by photographer, who also taught online, through PPSOP. I learned to use my manual settings, through them. And photography took on a whole new meaning for me. It provided me with an escape, as I was going through some huge personal changes and a relationship was ending badly. I made a major move, to a new Province (I'm Canadian). Again photography helped me escape, during the huge transition.

I was bored with a lot of the same photos over and over. I was still getting the newsletters from PPSOP, when a Lensbaby course was offered through them. I had heard of the company, and saw the amazing photos that that lens produced. But didn't have a clue to the concept. I received the creative kit a week before the course started. I've been hooked ever since. I now look at my old photos (lol two months ago) see the difference and value the wonderful instruction and inspiration that photographer, Kathleen Clemons offered(s). I love the challenge and hate the frustration. But I have taken photos (hundreds) every day since. Each day grasping a new tweak. Seeing things in such a different way. I don't know if I'll ever go back to my other lenses. And the lenses I want(ed) to get are diffidently on the back burner!

Want to add fun and challenge to your photography, Bend It With Lensbaby! The combinations are endless, as are the challenges and rewards.

I currently have a D80 (I still owe a great debt to that salesman) and some other Nikon point and shoot camera. I am using the lensbaby composer pro, with the creative kit, that has the double, single, plastic and pinhole optics. As well as the +4, +6, +10 and +12 macro lenses. And several sets of the F stops as I seem to lose them quite easily. I recently added the soft optic. I also have a Nikkor f/4.5 70 -300 zoom, a Nikkor 50 mm F/1.8, a Sigma macro F/3.5 18-300, and a Tokina 11-16 pro F2.8. They are now retired for the time being to my old camera bag.

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. ~Ansel Adams

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” ~Henri Cartier-Bresson