The following is inspired by a recent post on the most excellent “State of the Art” blog courtesy of American Photo magazine.  (If you don’t know about “State of the Art” considering subscribing or visiting often, as it is a true font of photo news.)  Honoring the Academy Awards this coming weekend, AP aptly points out that a movie camera-adapted Lensbaby was used in the Oscar-nominated film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.  Photo author and AP Editor Russell Hart has a great discussion of the mechanics of this fun photo little tool here and its new use in movies and video. If you are not familiar with the Lensbaby, it is a selective focus lens.  Think of it as your own mini bellows with a “tilt-shift” lens, but for your 35m analog or digital camera!  Read more at their web site.  I’ll be rooting for the film, director/painter Julian Schnabel, and his cinematographer this coming Sunday.  Will you? - Leslie