Imitation LensBaby look

[jerryph]

I was facinated with the recent posts of pics taken with a lensbaby lens. I was really curious to see if this could be somehow recreated in post process using Adobe Photoshop.

Here are my results:

The Before shot:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2263/2358495619_ddf5122c0e.jpg

The LensBably look:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2358495559_3112cb3b53.jpg

How close do you think I got it?

Personally, I think I missed the mark, but I did learn a new trick on how to isolate one or more people in a picture. :D

[coffee]

Wow. By the looks of it, and some time, you should be able to mimick it almost exactly.. You came very close on that attemp. Very cool.

[LensBaby]

Great job. Please tell us how you did it. I like the effect.

[dkippen]

Okay Jerry - spill the beans. How did you do it??

[jerryph]

lol @ spill the beans. :D

Its a radial blur in Photoshop CS3 and 2 layers... I did it in about 2 minutes, but I think I could do better with some more playing and a little less aggressive amount of the blur.

[dkippen]

Okay - I did a little research and based a different technique, here's my try at a lensbaby effect.

[jerryph]

Debbie, your gaussian blur seems to be closer to the real effect than mine in many ways. It seems that the lens baby lenses have a very focused area of clarity that is adjustable to anywhere in the picture and the rest of it gets gradually fades into the bokeh.

I'll have more time to play with it this weekend, so I'll try again then.

I've tried a directional motion blur once before while playing but though interesting, the effect was quite different from the lens baby effect.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/2212624523_27aae3eb7f.jpg

[ladyups]

Since I'm not familiar with the lensbaby, I'm not a good judge as to how much you missed the mark but I like the effect. I love blurred backgrounds on lots of my images but will have to try your technique, Jerry, the next time.