I’m always looking for new tools and techniques to use in creating images. Sometimes it is learning a new technique, other times a new piece of gear allows me to do things I haven’t done in the past. I recently bought a Nikon 45mm PC-E lens to add some selective blur to my shots. Tilt shift lenses allow you to tilt the front focus plane which allows you to get incredible depth of field, or silky soft focus. My interest in this lens is more towards portraits and distant landscapes. I love the soft mysterious look this lens creates, it gives me a new tool in creating the mood I want in an image. One bonus feature of this lens I didn’t realize is how close it focuses…you can focus down to about 8 inches from your subject with macro like effects. Recently I went to the zoo and photographed this Lorakeet using the tilt feature of this lens. Tech: Nikon D3, 45mm PC-E lens, 1/800 at F3.3, ISO 200.