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09/22/2003 03:06:38 PM · #1 |
| Have we tried a soft focus challenge? If not, why not? |
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09/22/2003 03:31:06 PM · #2 |
| Probably because the high score would be up around 4.3 |
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09/22/2003 03:33:26 PM · #3 |
true dat. Would be interesting, actually. Would love to go over a bunch of out of focus artsy shots.
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09/22/2003 03:34:27 PM · #4 |
| I had estimated low scores, too, but if we don't push ourselves, how can we grow? |
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09/22/2003 03:39:51 PM · #5 |
I would enjoy a soft focus challenge but I'm afraid that a lot of people confuse soft focus with out of focus. Many people, in their attempts to be artsy and trying to push the envelope, would create some very blurry photos. It would be a good learning experience though and that is a major part of this site.
T |
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09/22/2003 03:39:54 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by jgal76:
Probably because the high score would be up around 4.3 |
Well, maybe that wouldn't be soooo bad :)
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09/22/2003 03:44:45 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by timj351:
I would enjoy a soft focus challenge but I'm afraid that a lot of people confuse soft focus with out of focus.
T |
What would you say the difference was, other than perhaps intent and degree? |
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09/22/2003 04:51:55 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by timj351:
I would enjoy a soft focus challenge but I'm afraid that a lot of people confuse soft focus with out of focus.
T |
What would you say the difference was, other than perhaps intent and degree? |
I think there are two types of soft focus. The first one is the classic style where a softening filter is used or is mimicked in an editing program. This is where the highlights are diffused and blurred lightly to create tht beautiful glowy effect but you will notice that beneath that softness is the photo that is still reasonbly sharp. Not all the edges where blurred, just the highlights. It's obviously a great effect for portraiture. The other soft focus technique is where a filter is not used but rather the photographer keeps the image just slightly soft but not blurry and than often utilizes a shallower depth of field to enhance the effect even more. I think when it is used well there are still some edges that can ground the photo and give the viewer, at least, a small area to lock on to.
T
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09/22/2003 04:53:56 PM · #9 |
Tim, exactly my thinking... I would definitely work with a filter on the camera for a challenge like this. :)
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09/22/2003 04:55:32 PM · #10 |
I think you are right that shallow DoF and soft focus are often lumped together, as they tend to produce an initially similar effect, though the concept of some sharpeness, particularly as a means to direct focus is only apparent in those with really sharp depth of field. The general soft focus effect has a different feel to it.
Something that is particularly effective for certain images is a multiple exposure with varied focus - one sharp, one maybe 25% closer to produce that glow you mention, overlaid upon a sharp core.
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09/22/2003 04:56:21 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Tim, exactly my thinking... I would definitely work with a filter on the camera for a challenge like this. :) |
What kind of filter? I have to make my own .... |
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09/22/2003 05:00:18 PM · #12 |
stockings are supposed to work well.
You can also smear vaseline onto a UV filter (not straight onto the lens!)
or a sheet of glass that you shoot through.
Breathing on a clear filter can also work, shooting through the condensation.
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09/22/2003 05:32:07 PM · #13 |
Some pantyhose filter test shots:
Unfiltered
First Attempt
Second Attempt
I believe the direction of the light source is critical for this homemade filter :) In the third shot, I blocked the light from hitting the surface of the filter directly...
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09/22/2003 05:35:17 PM · #14 |
its a general rule that if you are trying to shoot through something, you don't want direct light on it creating highlights - this is as true for fencing in a zoo as it probably is for stockings over a lens...
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09/22/2003 05:37:22 PM · #15 |
| How close is the mesh to the lens? Do you focus-lock first, focus through the mesh, or manually focus? |
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09/22/2003 05:42:47 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
How close is the mesh to the lens? Do you focus-lock first, focus through the mesh, or manually focus? |
I set my exposure and focus first.. the filter is right on the lens.. almost touching it...
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09/22/2003 05:48:42 PM · #17 |
| Many thanks -- got a couple of things to try now! |
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09/22/2003 05:52:10 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Many thanks -- got a couple of things to try now! |
Based on these first test shots, i think the exposure is gonna have to be adjusted for the filter. Maybe +0.3 or +0.7 to correct for it.. dunno yet...
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09/22/2003 07:04:38 PM · #19 |
Here's a little trick you can try in Photoshop (or equiv). Open up an image that you would like to apply a softening filter effect to. Go to Select>Color Range then in the Select drop down menu select Highlights and choose Ok. Now press Control+J to copy that selection to a new layer. On that new layer apply a pretty agressive Gaussean Bur (somewhere between 25 and 60)and then adjust the Opacity of the layer (around 50% to start) to get a nice glowy soft filter effect. This is just softening the highlights, which I like, but you can also choose Shadows and Reverse in the Color range menue to select the mid and highlight range to apply the effect to.
T
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09/22/2003 07:24:03 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by timj351:
Here's a little trick you can try in Photoshop (or equiv). Open up an image that you would like to apply a softening filter effect to. Go to Select>Color Range then in the Select drop down menu select Highlights and choose Ok. Now press Control+J to copy that selection to a new layer. On that new layer apply a pretty agressive Gaussean Bur (somewhere between 25 and 60)and then adjust the Opacity of the layer (around 50% to start) to get a nice glowy soft filter effect. This is just softening the highlights, which I like, but you can also choose Shadows and Reverse in the Color range menue to select the mid and highlight range to apply the effect to.
T |
I have done similar photos by duplicating the entire layer and applying gaussian blur and changing the opacity...
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09/22/2003 07:48:28 PM · #21 |
If all shots were done this way then voters wouldn't assume they were done by mistake. I think this would be a good idea.
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09/22/2003 07:52:12 PM · #22 |
Very neat affect with the panty hose John. I have done some simular with a filter and using Photoshop but never tried the panty hose. I have a drawer full to use. Hum, fishnet?
John where does a single guy like you get panty hose? ;-) |
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09/22/2003 08:03:37 PM · #23 |
Many people, me included, would rather apply the effect in our editors so we can control the effect precisely. Also many people do not have softening filters or their cameras making it difficult to use filters. This would require the use of layers and or area selections thus making this effect illegal for DPC :-( I have a softening filter that I used for a wedding and it worked out beautifully but it was a more subtle effect that was appropriate for wedding photos but I would prefer a more pronounced effect on many other types of shots. I have no intentions of buying many different ranges of these filters when I can just as easily aply the same effect in PS. with greater control. I don't feel this way with all filters, however (before the purists jump on my case), there are some filters like the polarizer who's effects can't easily be duplicated in PS, particularily when it comes to removing unwanted reflections.
T
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09/22/2003 08:04:03 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by justine:
Very neat affect with the panty hose John. I have done some simular with a filter and using Photoshop but never tried the panty hose. I have a drawer full to use. Hum, fishnet?
John where does a single guy like you get panty hose? ;-) |
I knew that was gonna come up :) Here's what I did...
I went to walmart to get some pantyhose and an embroidery hoop. I stretched the hose through the embroidery hoop to expand them and make them as translucent as possible. However, I did buy a quart of motor oil while at walmart so not to create too much suspicion :)
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09/22/2003 08:43:50 PM · #25 |
i didnt think you could duplicate layres for entries here?
soup
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