Lensbaby Series: Here With Fantastic Sweet 35
For the month of March I am only going to use one lens, The Lensbaby Composer Pro Sweet 35. Limiting yourself to using just one prime lens is another way of honing your creativity. I bought this lens years ago and never really used it.
My ongoing goals for the month and year
- Improve my photography and digital photo art
- Challenge myself creatively
- See the beauty in the ordinary
- Try different techniques
- Get out of my comfort zone
- Take at least one photo daily,
- process photo in Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop,
- upload photo to social media (instagram and facebook) to share with others.
- learn camera inside/out
- setting my white balance
- getting comfortable with using high ISO
- more knowledgeable with Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop
March Lensbaby Composer Pro Sweet 35 Begins
Week 1 with the Sweet 35
03-01-2025 Yellow Flowers
Started my the month off taking a photo of yellow bush daises in the garden. This was all hand held. Wasn’t sure I was getting the focus right since I can’t keep still. The photo has a nice dreamy effect.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 80
- focal 35mm
- f/2.5
- 1/400 sec
- White Balance 4950
03-02-2025 Leaf Floating In Bird Bath
Saw this croton leaf floating in the bird bath. Love the deep read colors of the leaf against the pale green of the bird bath. I found I have to use a tripod if I want to keep the focus in the sweet spot somewhat sharp. The focus was on the leaf. Still trying to get used to this lens. Good thing I have another 29 days to master the lensbaby LOL.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 500
- focal 35mm
- f/4.0
- 1/250 sec
- White Balance 5900
03-03-2025 Cuban Tree Frog
While watering my orchids came across this Cuban tree frog which is an invasive species in Florida. This shot was hand held. I rested my elbows on the countertop in order control my movement.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 500
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/60 sec
- White Balance 5900
03-04-2025 Tea Cups
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 160
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/0.5 sec
- White Balance 4600
03-05-2025 Walking the Cat Walk
Well I am getting a bit more comfortable using the lensbaby. It is definitely a challenge. Found out yesterday I am unable to use my remote trigger release I just bought for my Nikon D850. I was just about to return it when I decided to try with my nifty fifty. The remote work. I am assuming it is because the lensbaby is a non-cpu lens. If I am wrong let me know. So for this shot I just focused on a spot, set my timer for 10sec and made sure I walked through that spot I focused on.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/6 sec
- White Balance 4600
03-06-2025 Grape Stomping
Got the idea of stomping grapes after I bought these grapes. The grapes look like they were on steroids. The bucket was big enough for me to stand in. Set the camera timer for 10 seconds which gave me time to jump on the picnic table and into the bucket.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/40 sec
- White Balance 7371
03-07-2025 Tree Hugger
In this shot I wanted to depict my love for the outdoors. Hugging a tree was the idea that popped in my head. Since I could not hold myself long enough to take the shot I used a stool.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/400 sec
- White Balance 7150
03-08-2025 Tea Anyone?
Just another shot of one of the other tea cup and saucer I have in my collection. I also do love drinking herbal tea. Especially Ginger Peach Black Tea by Republic of Tea.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 640
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/40 sec
- White Balance 3800
Week 2 Continues with the Sweet 35
03-09-2025 Deer Overlooking the Valley
Trying my hand at photographing miniature figures in real life scenery. These were taken in my front garden. I set the buck and doe on the granite rock and added a lens flare. One day I will get some human miniature figures and play around with this type of photography.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 640
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/640 sec
- White Balance 7750
03-10-2025 Miniature Bears on Red Plump Strawberry
Decided to take a photo of the miniature bear figures that I have. Bought this red plump strawberry that stood out from the green foliage and the bears dark body.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 250
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/125 sec
- White Balance 6100
03-11-2025 Hamburger and Fries
Trying my hand at some food photography. Went to a local hamburger joint where they have the best hamburger and fries. The buns are homemade. So delicious. The owners are spouses from France. The theme of the diner is the 50’s.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/60 sec
- White Balance 7771
03-12-2025 Morning Ritual
This photo of me walking into the shower to turn the water on screamed to be in black and white. Really love the creamy dreamy feel that I got from the lensbaby. It just came together nicley.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/40 sec
- White Balance 4100
03-13-2025 Drawing A Bath
Just seemed fitting to do another bathroom shot. The way the light was shining in over the tub looked like it would make for a nice shot. Added my hand testing the water to give the photo a bit more interest.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/50 sec
- White Balance 6743
03-14-2025 Game of Marbles Anyone?
Don’t know what it is but I just love having a jar of marbles around. You never know when they will become a prop.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/15 sec
- White Balance 6971
03-15-2025 Red Amaryllis
My Amaryllis bloomed again this past month. Which has never happened before. Such a pretty red.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/50 sec
- White Balance 7143
Week 3 of Lensbaby Composer Pro Sweet 35
03-16-2025 Elixir Of Awakening
Love my morning cup of coffee. This is a combination of two photos. One of me holding the mug and the other of me pouring the mug.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 500
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/20 sec
- White Balance 5550
03-17-2025 Going Out
Do enjoy combining a number of images of myself doing a different activity. Also, changed my signature mark from Bec to Becky Trist. My original signature mark didn’t feel like me.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 640
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/50 sec
- White Balance 5550
03-18-2025 Mirror Imagination
Always finding different, creative ways to incorporate a mirror into my shots. Mirror is laying on a table in entryway. I positioned so you could see the reflection of the railing. Set the timer on the camera and ran my happy butt upstairs to look down.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 500
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/25 sec
- White Balance 5550
03-19-2025 White Peace Lily
Peace Lily just recently bloomed. Figured a good time to take a photo of the flower. It screamed to be converted to black and white. It has such a classic, moody feel in black and white.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 640
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/20 sec
- White Balance 5550
03-20-2025 Mirror Mirror On The Wall...
Just can’t help myself with the faceless self portraits. When I can’t think of anything creative I will take a faceless self portrait. I love antiques and incorporating them into my photos when I get a chance. This is a mirror hanging in the alcove outside of my office. The couch is an antique wedding couch out of Germany. I am reading a Popular Photography book.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 2500
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/80 sec
- White Balance 3500
03-21-2025 Bonnie The Bunny
It has been 23 years since my last attempt at light painting. It was hard back then and it was hard this time too. Went into my storage closet where it is pretty dark. Set my aperture on my lensbaby really small (f/22). Really hard to focus a lensbaby in low light. So my bunny is a little soft. Still think the photo came out neat so I went with this one.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 80
- focal 35mm
- f/22
- 15 sec
- White Balance 7550
03-22-2025 Mirror Reflection In Mirror
As I mentioned earlier I am always trying to find a way to incorporate mirror(s) into to my photos. This is an antique mirror reflecting the mirror of my dresser I had as a kid. Now it sits in my daughters room.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 200
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/15 sec
- White Balance 6200
Final Week Of March Lensbaby
03-23-2025 Selene The Moon Goddess
This is a statue I set up in front of a mirror. I cropped in tight to get rid of distractions. Didn’t like the color so I converted it to black and white. Added the fog to the bottom for some interest.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 200
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/15 sec
- White Balance 6057
03-24-2025 These Boots Are Made For Walking
For our anniversary my husband gave me the go ahead to have some custom boots made. I found a custom boot guy, Steve Christo, from Gloucester, VA. The name of his company is Perrin Creek Custom Cowboy Boots. I told him I wanted the following birth flowers and our wedding date
- January: Carnation
- April: Daisy
- August: poppy
- March: Daffodil
- May: Lily Of The Valley
- June: Rose
- December: Holly
The design and color of the boots I left up to him. Flew up to meet him and to get added to his waiting list. When he was ready for me I flew back up so he could measure my feet. He spent an hour taking measurements. Then flew back up when they were done to try them on. They fit perfectly. So love my boots and he was worth it.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 1250
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/15 sec
- White Balance 4150
03-25-2025 Top Loader Abstract
Looked inside my washer and thought what a cool abstract this would make.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 1250
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/25 sec
- White Balance 4914
03-26-2025 My First Love
My love of photography started with the Nikon FM SLR that my dad bought while we lived in Seoul, Korea when I was a teenager. I was dating a guy who was into photography and he taught me how to use the camera. I have never looked back. Paused along the way but it was always there.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 1250
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/30 sec
- White Balance 7300
03-27-2025 Exploring The Unknown
Turns out I did have some miniature human figures. Took this in my garden. Stood the figure on a leaf of a birds of paradise that had some water sitting on it. Then in post processing added AI generated tenacles and made it look like nighttime. The lantern is one I took that I scaled down added the glow.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 320
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/125 sec
- White Balance 6057
03-28-2025 Beautiful Pepper
This is my daughter’s dog, Pepper. She is a beautiful dog but very skittish. Once she gets to know she is a sweet heart. She did not like me pointing a camera at her. I had to crawl around on the floor to get this shot through the glass doors to my husbands office.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 1600
- focal 35mm
- f/5.6
- 1/25 sec
- White Balance 6000
03-29-2025 Bokeh and Lens Ball
A dear friend bought me this lensball that came with an attachment so I could put it on a tripod. Sat it in my garden where my orange orchid was blooming. I just love the bokeh that was created in the background through the bush.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 1250
- focal 35mm
- f/2.5
- 1/2000 sec
- White Balance 5000
03-30-2025 Floating Daisy
Bought some daisies to plant in the garden. Thought one of the flowers would look neat floating in the bird bath. Also spritzed the flower with some water to get some droplets.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 160
- focal 35mm
- f/4
- 1/1250 sec
- White Balance 5700
03-31-2025 Stop!
Last photo of the month using the lensbaby. While running errands with husband I took photo of the traffic lights. Decided this would be the perfect segway into next months self imposed challenge. Next month is Street Photography. This should be interesting because I know nothing about Street Photography.
- Lens Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35 Optic
- ISO 80
- focal 35mm
- f/4
- 1/800 sec
- White Balance 5950
Lensbaby Composer Pro Sweet 35 series for March has come to a close
I will admit when I started this month out using only the lensbaby I honestly thought I was not going to finish. For one thing the lensbaby is a non-cpu lens, which means I have to manually focus. Starting out it was very frustrating. Was beginning to wonder why I ever bought the lens. But as the days and weeks passed I grew to love the lensbaby sweet 35. Because it is a non-cup lens it made me become more proficient with manual focus which is a game changer in my opinion. All and all it is great lens. I am keeping the lensbaby in my arsenal.
For my photo a day in April I am challenging myself tackling the genre, Street Photography. I know nothing about street photography so this should be fun and challenging month. Hope you enjoy this journey and are inspired to do your own Photo challenges. Here are links to my previous months for further inspiration.
- Complete A Visual Diary: Unexpected Daily Photos Of Anything (January)
- Complete A Self Portrait Series: Fun, Awesome and Unexpected (February)
Enjoy!
