Lensbaby lenses reintroduce imperfections as artistic elements, adding character and life to photographs.
Lensbaby lenses provide photographers with a different perspective by prioritizing unique and compelling images over sterile perfection.
Deep dives
Craig Strong's Journey: From Photojournalist to Lensbaby Founder
Craig Strong, former photojournalist and professional photographer, shares his journey of transitioning from traditional photography to founding Lensbaby. He traces his inspiration back to National Geographic and his desire to capture images with edge-to-edge sharpness. However, after experimenting with non-traditional lenses, he discovered a whole new world of artistic photography. The demand for his unique lenses from fellow photographers led him to start Lensbaby as a business, creating lenses that reintroduce imperfections as artistic features. Strong recommends the Lensbaby Sol 45 as a beginner's lens and the Edge 50 for street photography, as it allows users to create a slice of focus when tilted. He also touches on the importance of building rapport with subjects in street photography and the need for personal discomfort to achieve creative breakthroughs.
The Lensbaby Vision: Organic and Creative Photography
Craig Strong, the Chief Creative Officer of Lensbaby, discusses how their lenses provide a different perspective on photography by reintroducing imperfections as artistic elements. He believes that conventional lenses, which prioritize edge-to-edge sharpness, often make images appear sterile. Instead, Lensbaby lenses add character and life to photographs, allowing photographers to capture unique and compelling images. Strong also emphasizes the versatility of Lensbaby lenses, such as the Velvet 85, which provides sharp underlying detail along with a soft glow. He suggests that adding imperfections, such as film grain, can enhance the overall aesthetic and make images more engaging. Strong encourages photographers to embrace dissatisfaction with their work as a sign of needing to push boundaries and explore new creative territory.
The Challenges of Manufacturing Lenses
Craig Strong discusses the challenges of lens manufacturing and the global landscape of lens production. While Lensbaby assembles their lenses in Portland, Oregon, Strong acknowledges that optics and components ultimately come from Asia. He mentions the efficiency and subsidies provided by the Chinese government that contribute to their robust manufacturing capabilities. Strong also expresses his desire to create a lens entirely manufactured in Portland, but acknowledges the difficulties of doing so. He highlights the importance of working with suppliers who treat their workers ethically and ensures good working conditions. Additionally, Strong points out the constraints that US manufacturers face when competing with companies overseas, which often offer similar quality products at lower costs.
Lessons in Creativity and Reinvention
Craig Strong shares his insights and advice for photographers who experience creative blocks or dissatisfaction with their work. He believes that feeling unsatisfied is a positive sign that can lead to breakthroughs and innovation. Strong draws from his own experience of being a photojournalist and constantly developing his skills through trial and error. He advises photographers to push their comfort zones and explore uncomfortable situations to capture unique perspectives. Strong also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and acquiring business knowledge to support creative endeavors. He concludes by encouraging photographers to embrace the discomfort and use it as motivation to improve and evolve.
Craig Strong, photojournalist, commercial photographer, founder of Lensbaby and its Chief Creative Officer has mastered the art of reinventing himself over the years. Along the way he has pushed the envelope in both his businesss and personal creativity.
As a wedding photographer in the early 2000s Craig create the original Lensbaby to give his photos a more organic look to the images created by sterile digital cameras. After making similar lenses for other photographers he and his partner Sam Pardue introduced the Original Lensbaby at WPPI in 2004. Today Lensbaby makes a variety of creative lenses, and optics forseveral popular mounts.
In our convresation Craig shares his personal journey with some suggestions to help you spark your own creativity and inspiration.
