Snow Walking - A Lensbaby Blog Circle Post

March 1, 2019 Carol Vipperman

I live in Seattle and we rarely get much snow in the winter, but this February we had over two weeks of it! Not just a few inches, but at least a foot on my hill and much more in the outlining areas. I don’t drive when it snows, so I was on foot a lot. To make the most of it, I took my Burnside 35 and Sol45 out on several of my walks to capture the snow scenes.

Although I took my regular route around the hill, the snow transformed everything into a different place.

My favorite tree - my dancing tree - looked even more beautiful with snow on its limbs.

The western viewpoint from Queen Anne, was full of surprises.

I loved capturing the houses along my walk. This one called out to me with its red trim.

I must admit that although the snow was beautiful, it took a lot of work to make my way around the hill. After weathering our third snowstorm in a week, I was happy to see the sun come out and temperatures rise. But while the snow was here, the Burnside 35 and Sol45 were great lenses to capture images.

I love hearing from you, so please comment below, post on my Facebook page, or send me an email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com.

About Lensbaby Blog Circle: Once a month photographers who use Lensbaby lenses post their photos and comments in a blog from around the world. Take a moment and read Seonaid Teal’s blog. It is a great read and you can keep following the Lensbaby Blog Circle.

If you would like to receive my blog posts please send me your name and email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com. I would be happy to add you to my list of followers.

A Waterfront Walk - A Lensbaby Blog Circle Post

February 1, 2019 Carol Vipperman

The other day I went on a walk along Seattle’s waterfront. We are fortunate to have a park that is accessible by a footbridge across a busy street. The park is nestled between a train yard and the waterfront.

The light and sky weren’t great that morning, but with my Lensbaby Edge 50 I was able to capture some interesting shots.

I love seeing the ships come in to load with grain. They add to an already diverse waterfront.

We decided to leave the park and walk along the commercial section of the waterfront. First up was the Edgewater Hotel made famous when the Beatles stayed there many decades ago. I used Topaz’s Impression software to add a more painterly look.

What started out as a perhaps not too interesting photo walk, turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I enjoyed using the Edge 50 to capture the mood despite the lack of an interesting sky and lackluster light.

I love hearing from you, so please comment below, post on my Facebook page, or send me an email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com.

About Lensbaby Blog Circle: Once a month photographers from all over the world who use Lensbaby lenses post their photos and comments in a blog. Take a moment and read Janet Broughton’s blog. It is a great read and you can keep following the Lensbaby Blog Circle.

If you would like to receive my blog posts please send me your name and email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com. I would be happy to add you to my list of followers.

The Beauty of Winter - A Lensbaby Blog Circle Post

January 7, 2019 Carol Vipperman

It was a warm beginning to winter, but when January arrived we were greeted by colder weather (no snow so I shouldn’t complain), rain, and wind. It is the kind of weather that makes you want to stay home, but this weekend I ventured out with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens and Canon 6D to see what I could capture at one of our local lakes.

Green Lake, located in Seattle, WA, is a popular place for people to walk, ride bikes, and catch up with friends. Although it was cold and windy, I loved the winter scenes that I saw.

There is a small island in the middle of the lake and it was fun capturing images of it as I made my way around.

We were expecting the possibility of rain, however, the sun started to peek through the clouds, which was welcomed.

Green Lake is very popular year round. Kids jump off the docks, swim in the lake, and families rent boats to enjoy the lake. During the winter, however, the docks are generally clear making it easier to capture images without distractions.

I loved taking these winter images as the light changed. Although I normally go farther than a three-mile walk, this winter morning with its crisp wind and cold temperatures made me glad that it was time to go get a latte.

I love hearing from you, so please comment below, post on my Facebook page, or send me an email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com.

About Lensbaby Blog Circle: Once a month I participate in a Lensbaby Blog Circle. Photographers from all over the world who use Lensbaby lenses post their photos and comments in a blog. Take a moment and read Birgit Franik’s blog. It is a great read and you can keep following the Lensbaby Blog Circle.

If you would like to receive my blog posts please send me your name and email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com. I would be happy to add you to my list of followers.

Have a Creative Holiday Season

December 16, 2018 Carol Vipperman

This time of year is perfect for expressing our creativity. Many make gifts - I enjoy doing that with my photos - and I reach for a lens that helps me capture the magic of the season.

That lens is my Lensbaby Creative Bokeh optic. It has a set of magnetic disks that are cut out in different shapes and transforms lights into hearts, birds, and stars for example. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had so much fun walking around my neighborhood capturing the lights.

I was able to capture some fun images of the cityscape with this lens as well. The stars were out early in the morning.

And the sidewalks on my neighborhood of Queen Anne were full of stars as well.

I plan on using this lens more regularly, playing with the different aperture disks, because I enjoyed transforming my subjects into magical images. It helped me capture a bit of the spirit of the season.

I hope you have a joyous holiday season, and find ways to embrace your creativity this month. I love hearing from you, so comment below, post on our Facebook page, or send me an email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com.

If you would like to receive my blog posts please send me your name and email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com. I would be happy to add you to my list of followers.

Seattle Skies - A Lensbaby Blog Circle Post

November 30, 2018 Carol Vipperman

I walk around my neighborhood in Seattle almost everyday. It can be a bit boring walking the same route; however, when I take my camera and a different lens with me I find that each walk becomes a new experience! This past weekend was a special treat. We had great weather (hint, no rain) and the skies were magnificent! I decided to take two lenses that I haven’t used in a while - my Lensbaby Twist 60 and Edge 50 - to see what I could capture.

Although I normally use my Twist 60 for close ups, I was pleased that I could capture interesting landscape images.

I also enjoyed experimenting with my Lensbaby Edge 50. The first morning the sky was so amazing and it kept changing as I made my way around the hill.

On a different day, another story unfolded.

I came across this fellow sitting on the wall at Kerry Park. Although the park was busy, he seemed so calm that I was drawn to take these images.

I loved capturing these images of our Seattle skies. There were times that what I saw through my camera took my breath away.

One of the reasons that I was able to capture interesting images was that I used different lenses. My Twist 60 and Edge 50 made me slow down and compose with purpose. I love that and look forward to experimenting more in the future.

Take a moment and read Keri Friedman’s post. It is a great post and you can keep following the Lensbaby Blog Circle.

If you would like to receive my blog posts please send me your name and email at carol(at)carolvipperman.com. I would be happy to add you to my list of followers.