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<p>My wife, Edith, and I just got back from a Christmas visit to the home of our son-in-law and daughter in the Ohio countryside.  They have a small parcel of land (compared to some of their neighbors) with trees, a pond, and some animals (cats, dogs, goats, turkey, ducks, chickens, and rabbits). They also have six children and are expecting their seventh. They also have a plot of cultivated land with all kinds of vegetable. It's a well-run operation. They are also very involved in their local Orthodox Church (if you call a 55-minute drive "local") and a home-school group.</p>
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<p>I have found that my Lensbaby Spark 2 lens is great for domestic images rendered in black and white.  The removal of color simplifies, and the blur in the image keeps the focus on what interests me (and presumably the viewer, too).  While cameras and lenses are made to be sharp, the Spark is not: even in the in-focus part of the image, it is sub-standard in comparison to professional lenses. The upside is that expression</p>
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