Freelensing is a photography technique used with
interchangeable lens
A lens mount is an interface – mechanical and often also electrical – between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is a feature of camera systems where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the rangefinder camera, sing ...
cameras in both film-based and digital photography. The lens is detached from the camera and held in front of the lens mount by hand during exposure. This allows the lens to be tilted or shifted creating a similar effect to a perspective control or "Tilt-Shift" lens, only with a lower degree of fidelity. The result is a combination of selective focus and light leakage which are used creatively to create surreal imagery. Because of the increase in
flange focal distance
For an interchangeable lens camera, the flange focal distance (FFD) (also known as the flange-to-film distance, flange focal depth, flange back distance (FBD), flange focal length (FFL), back focus or register, depending on the usage and source ...
, this technique is most successful with closeup or macro photography, where
infinity focus
In optics and photography, infinity focus is the state where a lens or other optical system forms an image of an object an infinite distance away. This corresponds to the point of focus for parallel rays. The image is formed at the focal point ...
is not essential.
The lens used does not necessarily have to be native to the brand of camera, since it is not physically attached to it. In addition, the lens may also be reversed for
macro photography
Macro photography (or photomacrography or macrography, and sometimes macrophotography) is extreme close-up photography, usually of very small subjects and living organisms like insects, in which the size of the subject in the photograph is g ...
. By shooting through a normal to wide-angle lens backwards, increased magnification can be achieved. One of the by-products of freelensing is the introduction of "light leaks" which can be controlled to some degree and produce toy-camera like effects similar to those achieved with a
Holga
The Holga is a Medium format (film), medium format 120 film camera, made in Hong Kong, known for its Lo-fi photography, low-fidelity Aesthetics, aesthetic.
The Holga's low-cost construction and simple meniscus lens often yields pictures that dis ...
or
Diana camera.
The process is facilitated by use of an
SLR,
DSLR
A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that combines the optics and mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a solid-state image sensor and digitally records the images from the sensor.
The reflex des ...
or
MILC, in which the focus, and to a lesser degree the composition of the image, can be previewed prior to capture. In the case of a rangefinder or similar non-reflex or non live-view camera, the resulting focus would be unpredictable enough to be impractical, and yet not impossible to achieve.
Freelensing is best accomplished in a relatively dry, dust-free environment due to exposure of the mirror box, and the dust-attracting sensor, to the elements. Once the photos have been captured, the lens should be remounted or a body cap installed to protect the mirror and sensor from dust or moisture. Frequent use of a bulb blower or electronic cleaning are recommended. Sensor cleaning requires special care so as to not damage components.
Photographic techniques
{{Photo-stub