Hazy Technique - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

02/05/2007 10:23:37 AM · #1

Does anyone know how this guy gets this effect? (link below) He shoots in film, not digital, but I want to know his process for getting that blurred/defocused effect. I emailed him and he replied with a very cordial response but said he does not discuss his technique.

Ken Rosenthal

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 10:24:26.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

02/05/2007 10:27:36 AM · #2

I'm justing winging it here, but looking at those shots reminded me of something I read in an old photography book once. Apparently you can get a clear filter (UV maybe) and smear Vasoline on it to achieve a soft, diffused look.

I haven't tried it (the idea of Vasoline near my lenses scares the hell out of me), but I suspect that Rosenthal's shots may be done in a similar manner - something in front of the lens, instead of a development trick.

Edit cause I can't spell today

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 10:28:02.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/05/2007 10:27:56 AM · #3

Looks like it could be done at least in part by how he focuses the camera or how he focuses his enlarger.

Digitally it is much the same or you could apply a blur or series of blurs later.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/05/2007 10:30:34 AM · #4

You can also achieve that effect by stretching a bit of panyhose fabric over your lens. White, tan or black all give slightly different effects.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/05/2007 10:31:58 AM · #5

Originally posted by idnic:

You can also achieve that effect by stretching a bit of panyhose fabric over your lens. White, tan or black all give slightly different effects.

Do you find that works ? Whenever I've tried it doesn't give anything approaching that level of blur. There's a slight moire effect and a general softening, but nothing to the extent of the shots above.

E.g., the not particularly great shot below was done with stockings over the lens (two layers) and it is softer as a result, but nothing like the Ken Rosenthal images.

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 10:33:32.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/05/2007 10:34:30 AM · #6

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by idnic:
You can also achieve that effect by stretching a bit of panyhose fabric over your lens. White, tan or black all give slightly different effects.

Do you find that works ? Whenever I've tried it doesn't give anything approaching that level of blur. There's a slight moire effect and a general softening, but nothing to the extent of the shots above.

I've only used it for (as you say) a slight softening - I've used white for a 'glamor' look. But, I have seen it done with that level of blur - you just need to double or tripple the layers of fabric.

Edit - that shot was with doubled fabric? wow. Maybe I was lied to! lol Now I want to go experiment :P

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 10:35:42.

02/05/2007 10:39:20 AM · #7

Wow, I completely forgot about the vaseline trick. Actually, instead of using one of the screw-on filters you could probably use a piece of glass and smear it on there.

I'll have to try both the vaseline and the pantyhose and see what I get.

Thanks All.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/05/2007 10:51:11 AM · #8

Originally posted by idnic:

Edit - that shot was with doubled fabric? wow. Maybe I was lied to! lol Now I want to go experiment :P

Perhaps my hose was too shear. Now that wasn't a sentence I ever expected to type.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/05/2007 10:57:58 AM · #9

Another good diffusion/soft focus material is clear cellophane. You can crinkle it up and/or or double it to increase the effect.

That's what I used here:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/05/2007 11:00:58 AM · #10

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Another good diffusion/soft focus material is clear cellophane. You can crinkle it up and/or or double it to increase the effect.

That's what I used here:

Spazmo, I just read the notes on your pic. The real question here is "What CD was it?" LOL

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

02/05/2007 11:05:25 AM · #11

Originally posted by idnic:

You can also achieve that effect by stretching a bit of panyhose fabric over your lens. White, tan or black all give slightly different effects.

Beat me to it. Also, depending how you stretch it gives you different effects. Another way is if you have a UV filter and smear a very thin layer of Vaseline over it, and you can create a "center spot" by leaving the center unsmeared.

Dang, beat twice. I should read the whole post before responding. :-/

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 11:09:29.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/05/2007 11:07:10 AM · #12

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Originally posted by idnic:
You can also achieve that effect by stretching a bit of panyhose fabric over your lens. White, tan or black all give slightly different effects.

Beat me to it. Also, depending how you stretch it gives you different effects. Another way is if you have a UV filter and smear a very thin layer of Vaseline over it, and you can create a "center spot" by leaving the center unsmeared.

I didn't think about that. So in effect, you can smear certain sections of the glass/filter/etc. and create different effects. Very cool. I'll have to try some of this and post some pics.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

02/05/2007 11:42:31 AM · #13

Ok ... I am only an old fart black and white amateur photographer / developer in my bedroom kind of dabbling guy in my younger years ... but that technique to me does not appeal and looks simply like a way out of focus enlarger or some kind of spirit or petroleum product in the developer or fixer.

Not to mention ... you can buy several grades/strengths of diffusion filters.

Edit: Oh ... I forgot to mention that I don't like it.

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 11:44:24.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/05/2007 12:40:04 PM · #14

Originally posted by Greetmir:

Edit: Oh ... I forgot to mention that I don't like it.

Agreed. It doesn't do much for me either.

If I were to try it, though, I'd photograph and process an image with the best focus and sharpness I could get and use various digital blurring techniques to achieve the effect using one or more PS layers. Then I would use layer masks to bring back as much sharpness as I wanted, depended on my intention, in areas of interest in the composition. You can't do that with silk stockings and petroleum jelly. :)

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/05/2007 05:04:15 PM · #15

Originally posted by stdavidson:

If I were to try it, though, I'd photograph and process an image with the best focus and sharpness I could get[...] You can't do that with silk stockings and petroleum jelly. :)

That's certainly true, but it also affects how you take the picture in the first place. Just like a lensbaby can be somewhat copied in photoshop, or white balance can be fixed or set later on if you use RAW, doing those things 'in the field' changes the way you see or react to a scene.

It isn't always about what the end result looks like, the process can change where you end up as well. If I see tungsten balanced out door shots on my LCD, I'm maybe moved more towards cooler feeling images. If I see a blurry world through an out of focus lens, my composition choices may well change, than if I just blur a sharp shot later on, and so it goes on.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

02/05/2007 06:38:03 PM · #16

there is something to be said for 'field work' technique. even if it's something that you don't think you'd enjoy - it might be worth experimenting.

i'd actually likely prefer the looks i got from passers-by while i held a bandito camera to my face over the pictures i ended up with.

Originally posted by Gordon:

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/05/2007 06:40:04 PM · #17

be it's just an old camera, filthy lens and bad focus ;)

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/05/2007 06:40:46 PM · #18

i think i'll wrap my camera in pantyhose, while trying to make the lens actually as uncovered as possible without being obvious in the effort. then go out and take photos of the looks i get from the passers-by ;}

a brownie..

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 18:42:24.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/05/2007 06:46:11 PM · #19

Can you imagine how much he would of got caned if he had entered those into a challenge. I can almost see the comments now.

Do nothing for me at all.

navyasw02

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

02/09/2007 10:01:42 AM · #20

Try using a combination of the diffuse glow and blur effects in photoshop along with a sepia tone filter.