DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Results >> Soft Focus Techniques Without Software
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 19 of 19, (reverse)
AuthorThread
12/08/2003 01:11:50 PM · #1
Greetings to the group...

I'm interested in seeing some of your soft focus challenge photos where you used a technique other than software. I'm always looking for new techniques... please post :)
12/08/2003 01:20:41 PM · #2
Mine was low-light and a cross screen filter.
12/08/2003 01:23:17 PM · #3
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Greetings to the group...

I'm interested in seeing some of your soft focus challenge photos where you used a technique other than software. I'm always looking for new techniques... please post :)


As I outlined in the comments on my entry, I used the cellophane wrapper from a CD. I crinkled it up and rubber banded it around the lens. I tried variations with multiple layers, which increased the effect, as did crinkling more or less, but in the end I chose the shot I did with only one layer. I would imagine that it may be the cheapest soft focus filter, since it was essentially free.



Message edited by author 2003-12-08 13:33:43.
12/08/2003 01:26:19 PM · #4
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

I would imaging that it may be the cheapest soft focus filter, since it was essentially free.



I think that one worked rather well :)
12/08/2003 01:28:09 PM · #5
Mine was an experiment in taking pictures through cloth. I used a coloured silk scarf, the object is perfectly in focus, but it looks out of focus. The picture itself is very boring - but it was interesting to experiment with various materials, distances from the lens, and light placement. I had a lot of fun experimenting that week :))
12/08/2003 01:29:14 PM · #6
I like your picture very much.

Originally posted by uabresch:

Mine was an experiment in taking pictures through cloth. I used a coloured silk scarf, the object is perfectly in focus, but it looks out of focus. The picture itself is very boring - but it was interesting to experiment with various materials, distances from the lens, and light placement. I had a lot of fun experimenting that week :))

12/08/2003 01:30:36 PM · #7
I didn't enter this challenge but I have gotten decent results with panty hose. Check out my entry for Dreams and Nightmares.



I'm talking about panty hose ON THE LENS!

Message edited by author 2003-12-08 13:47:27.
12/08/2003 01:33:36 PM · #8
Originally posted by magnetic9999:

I like your picture very much.

Originally posted by uabresch:

Mine was an experiment in taking pictures through cloth. I used a coloured silk scarf, the object is perfectly in focus, but it looks out of focus. The picture itself is very boring - but it was interesting to experiment with various materials, distances from the lens, and light placement. I had a lot of fun experimenting that week :))


Thank you! :))
12/08/2003 01:34:48 PM · #9
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Greetings to the group...

I'm interested in seeing some of your soft focus challenge photos where you used a technique other than software. I'm always looking for new techniques... please post :)


I used a nylon stocking over the lensmate adapter on my G2. My photo was:

.

I also used Neatimage on this to enhance the effect. Another attempt, which didn't use any neatimage, which I liked is:



The only trick I found is that you need low depth of field to make sure you don't get a pattern introduced by the stocking, and also not to walk by any redneck bars with a nylon over your lens ;)

Regards--Neil
12/08/2003 01:37:12 PM · #10
I think that I read that Karmat used dishsoap for her shot. I thought it was a great shot.
12/08/2003 01:43:54 PM · #11
Originally posted by nshapiro:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Greetings to the group...

I'm interested in seeing some of your soft focus challenge photos where you used a technique other than software. I'm always looking for new techniques... please post :)


I used a nylon stocking over the lensmate adapter on my G2. My photo was:

.

I also used Neatimage on this to enhance the effect. Another attempt, which didn't use any neatimage, which I liked is:



The only trick I found is that you need low depth of field to make sure you don't get a pattern introduced by the stocking, and also not to walk by any redneck bars with a nylon over your lens ;)

Regards--Neil

The first photo was great. The second was very affected by the color of your artifact, that affects the first photo too, but by the tonal range was lightened. I not enter this challenge because I can´t find any artifact to put in my lens that don´t distorted my original colors.
Thanks to Spazmo99, to your splendid idea!
12/08/2003 01:45:06 PM · #12
Originally posted by Sonifo:

I think that I read that Karmat used dishsoap for her shot. I thought it was a great shot.


Good thing she didn't put it on the camera lens :)))
12/08/2003 01:45:36 PM · #13
As a relative newbie to this type of photography, my first inclination was to soften my image with the camera settings, but I also used the old fashioned "breath on the lens". My score wasn't particularly good, but I was happy with the results.
12/08/2003 02:03:06 PM · #14
John,

Like Magnetic9999, I used panty hose over the lens. This was one of my first soft focus tries. Van

12/08/2003 02:11:39 PM · #15
stockings over the lens here - white/ivory

Large version is quite soft focus, but the main complaint seemed
to be it wasn't blurry enough. Also the stockings rendered a bit too
obviously in the flat expanse of sky.

12/08/2003 02:36:27 PM · #16
Originally posted by magnetic9999:

I didn't enter this challenge but I have gotten decent results with panty hose. Check out my entry for Dreams and Nightmares.



I'm talking about panty hose ON THE LENS!


Mag....your too funny.
12/08/2003 02:44:43 PM · #17
Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Greetings to the group...

I'm interested in seeing some of your soft focus challenge photos where you used a technique other than software. I'm always looking for new techniques... please post :)


What group are you referring to?

Are you referring to a selected group or DPC in whole?

John, I just had to ask! I'am in such a humorous mood today!

I didn't enter that challenge. I would have had to use software if I had entered it though.
12/08/2003 03:01:20 PM · #18
Congrats to the winners of the Soft Focus challenge.

As viewer I was nearly surprised to see such beautiful photos for all the three first places. I think, as top average, it is one of the best contests ever.

It is evident that you worked very hard. =)
12/09/2003 01:07:00 AM · #19
I have blown very gently on my lens and waited for a second to make the mist partially evaporate before taking the extreme closeup of a leaf frozen beneath about 1/8" of ice.


Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/08/2025 02:49:46 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/08/2025 02:49:46 AM EDT.