When I visited Paris, I knew I wanted to capture more than landmarks—I wanted to photograph a feeling. I had signed up for La Vie Enchantée, a creative photography workshop led by Catherine Just, and spent five dreamy days immersed in light, movement, café culture, and community. Paris invited me to slow down. The lens I chose for this experience—the Lensbaby Twist 60—felt well suited to the slower, more intentional way I wanted to work.
A note on context
This article grew out of a period when I was a Lensbaby ambassador and my work was featured on the company’s blog. That relationship has since ended. I continue to use some Lensbaby tools independently because they remain part of my creative practice. The reflections shared here are entirely my own.
A Different Approach to Street Photography
Most people associate street photography with fast-paced observation—reacting quickly, catching fleeting moments. But that’s never been my way. I prefer to move slowly, to absorb the energy of a place before lifting my camera.
Using a manual lens like the Twist 60 adds to this approach. There's no autofocus to rush you along. Instead, every frame requires presence. You dial in your settings, turn the focus ring with intention, and wait for the moment to unfold.
What interested me most was how its circular bokeh gathered around the subject, pulling my attention inward. In those Paris photographs, the effect became part of the feeling I was trying to hold: the stillness I found inside a city full of motion.
Wandering the Streets with Purpose
As I wandered through the autumn-colored streets, I found myself seeing differently. The narrow alleyways, café tables, reflections in shop windows—each moment became more meaningful when captured with care.
Instead of chasing action, I waited. Instead of clicking quickly, I lingered. The manual focus slowed me down just enough to see. Not just look, but see. And in doing so, I began to feel as if I was dancing through the city with my camera—light became music, and I was listening with my lens.
How the Twist 60 Shaped the Images
What interested me was not simply the blur, but the way the swirling background pulled the edges inward and gave my subjects a sense of stillness within a busy city. In these photographs, that effect became part of how I experienced Paris: layered, atmospheric, and slightly dreamlike.
The Twist 60 has a bolder, more graphic character than the softer Velvet lenses I had used. I found it especially expressive for street portraits and layered scenes, where the background could carry emotion without competing with the subject.
Sharing the Work
After returning home, I shared my reflections and images from Paris on the Lensbaby blog as part of my ambassador role at the time. Being featured there gave the work a wider audience, but what stayed with me most was what the photographs revealed: not only the images we create, but the way they reflect who we are and how we see the world.
Final Thoughts
I no longer think of this experience as being about one particular lens. What stayed with me was the way manual focus changed my pace. It asked me to pause, move with intention, and allow imperfection into the frame. Whether I am photographing the streets of Paris or simply wandering through my own neighborhood, that slower way of working continues to help me notice beauty in the waiting.
Keep Exploring
Looking to continue exploring slower, more intuitive ways of seeing? Here are a few reflections and practices you might enjoy:
Slow Shutter Photography: A Gentle Reset for Creative Eyes
Explore how a slower shutter can loosen control, invite movement, and make room for surprise.
Color and Emotion in Photography
Learn how your emotional state can guide your photography through color, composition, and intuitive choices.
Photography for Mindfulness and Healing
Discover how a quiet, creative practice with your camera can become a personal and reflective journey.