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08/20/2006 08:39:00 AM · #1 |
| you can also use a clear sandwich bag or ziplock bag (thicker a little better) to get a nice effect. I used a blue freezer bag before and got some interesting effects. Saves a filter too. :) |
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08/20/2006 08:33:20 AM · #2 |
| Applying a few drops of clear nail polish to an old UV or skylight filter works quite well. Different configurations such as center clear, etc. can be made, all without the mess of Vaseline. Of course the change is permanent. |
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08/20/2006 08:21:00 AM · #3 |
Adding to the idea of vaseline on a UV filter: back in the day, we used to add a ring of vaseline around the perimeter of the filter. The "wider" the ring, the greater the soft focus effect. It's usually not a good idea to smear vaseline over the entire filter; you need to leave some amount of clear space in the center.
R.
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08/20/2006 04:37:37 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by gooc:
Originally posted by pigsoink:
I am new at all of this and I am reading on what the soft focus is, I get that now, but how do I convey a message with my soft focus photo? |
... with clever photo naming you can convey a message with your soft focus photo ! :-) |
Okay, naming the photo is the key!!
Message edited by author 2006-08-20 04:38:26. |
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08/20/2006 04:36:26 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Originally posted by pigsoink:
I am new at all of this and I am reading on what the soft focus is, I get that now, but how do I convey a message with my soft focus photo? |
Without giving out too much info, certain types of subjects or scenes may lend itself to soft focus. |
So, it doesn't have to be a world message or statement, just something I find dear to me? |
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08/20/2006 04:34:48 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by pigsoink:
I am new at all of this and I am reading on what the soft focus is, I get that now, but how do I convey a message with my soft focus photo? |
... with clever photo naming you can convey a message with your soft focus photo ! :-) |
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08/20/2006 04:29:41 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by pigsoink:
I am new at all of this and I am reading on what the soft focus is, I get that now, but how do I convey a message with my soft focus photo? |
Without giving out too much info, certain types of subjects or scenes may lend itself to soft focus.
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08/20/2006 04:26:40 AM · #8 |
| I am new at all of this and I am reading on what the soft focus is, I get that now, but how do I convey a message with my soft focus photo? |
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08/18/2006 11:13:45 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by moniepenny:
My lens is too little to put pantyhose over. :( |
Just put the whole camera in. :P |
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08/18/2006 11:05:41 PM · #10 |
My lens is too little to put pantyhose over. :(
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08/18/2006 10:57:44 PM · #11 |
I tried the panty hose thing today and it was way too blurred. I don't think I had it stretched enough. I remember my uncle, in the 35mm days, spreading Vaseline round the edge of a filter atop the lens, but leaving the center clear, for more of a glow around the subject.
I think fotoman described it aptly when he talked about diffused not blurred.
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08/18/2006 04:20:34 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by gooc:
so basicaly soft focus is achieved trough the camera with just slight out of focus subject ? for example i manually focus on flower and the turn it just slightly to either side and than take a photo ? ... or as kirbic mentioned via postprocessing ... huh ? |
No, not at all! Think of it as being more diffused than being out of focus...
Filters are available as are soft-focus lenses.
But, as mentioned there are quite a few ways to achieve soft-focus in camera. Nylons (pantyhose) in front of the lens, the finer the better. Preferably "nude" but black works well too.
Vaseline on a UV filter, smeared lightly and evenly.
Thin tissue paper in front of the lens.
Cellophane in front of the lens, yes a single cheese wrapper will work. :-)
Funny example, but a condom over the lens would probably work, never tried it, but worth experimenting. LOL
I could keep going, but basically you want to find something to shoot through to diffuse the light reaching the sensor.
Message edited by author 2006-08-18 16:21:02.
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08/18/2006 03:34:13 PM · #13 |
holy crud, i was about to post a tread about the same subject. well, at least i'm not the only one that thinks this is a nice way to add blur:D
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08/18/2006 03:10:48 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by gooc:
so basicaly soft focus is achieved trough the camera with just slight out of focus subject ? for example i manually focus on flower and the turn it just slightly to either side and than take a photo ?... |
Noooooooooo! "Soft focus" is very different from "out of focus." A soft focus shot should have sharp details, but they should be surrounded by gentle "glow" from whatever filter or post processing is used. Low contrast details will become much less visible. Contrast and saturation are typically a little lower in soft-focus images. |
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08/18/2006 02:51:22 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by apaul:
Can you use the nylons with the line up the back? |
You can do anything you want. ;~D
Just played around with one using a previously mentioned method. Just wish I had a different model. |
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08/18/2006 07:43:59 AM · #16 |
Can you use the nylons with the line up the back?
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08/18/2006 03:29:44 AM · #17 |
| so basicaly soft focus is achieved trough the camera with just slight out of focus subject ? for example i manually focus on flower and the turn it just slightly to either side and than take a photo ? ... or as kirbic mentioned via postprocessing ... huh ? |
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08/17/2006 05:35:37 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by sangeeth:
anyone got soft focus examples plz .. |
Soft Focus (1)
I also heard another cheap way is to apply a thin layer of vaseline on your UV Filter if you use one (not directly on lens of course).
I've never tried this method though..
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08/17/2006 05:29:07 PM · #19 |
| anyone got soft focus examples plz .. |
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08/17/2006 04:59:33 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Soft focus and bad focus are two different things :P |
Depends on how much you are able to sharpen the latter :-)
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08/17/2006 04:44:20 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by gooc:
ooohhh. the topic goes in the wrong way ... i mean it was okay when i tought there was something about sex in this thread :-)
LOL
edit: just wanna say i will enter soft focus challenge 100% since 98% of my photos are soft-focus :-), so i'll prolly find something WOW ...
LOL 2X |
Soft focus and bad focus are two different things :P |
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08/17/2006 04:43:20 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by dgpilot:
is there anyway to photoshop it within the rules? |
Yes. For Basic Editing (steps assume Photoshop as the editor):
- Apply Gaussian blur, approx. 3-6px radius (maybe a bit more for very large images)
- Immediately after applying the blur, select Edit>Fade Gaussian Blur and adjust opacity down to 25-40% as desired. Don't change the blend mode since that's not legal in Basic.
The above works best if you start with an image that is carefully sharpened to the point of being a little sharpen than you'd normally go, and with contrast adjusted a little higher than you want in the final image. Experiment! |
I would also include Neatimage. Steve Davidson used it to great effect in his Soft Focus I entry.
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08/17/2006 04:16:18 PM · #23 |
ooohhh. the topic goes in the wrong way ... i mean it was okay when i tought there was something about sex in this thread :-)
LOL
edit: just wanna say i will enter soft focus challenge 100% since 98% of my photos are soft-focus :-), so i'll prolly find something WOW ...
LOL 2X
Message edited by author 2006-08-17 16:18:33. |
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08/17/2006 03:42:43 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by dgpilot:
is there anyway to photoshop it within the rules? |
Yes. For Basic Editing (steps assume Photoshop as the editor):
- Apply Gaussian blur, approx. 3-6px radius (maybe a bit more for very large images)
- Immediately after applying the blur, select Edit>Fade Gaussian Blur and adjust opacity down to 25-40% as desired. Don't change the blend mode since that's not legal in Basic.
The above works best if you start with an image that is carefully sharpened to the point of being a little sharpen than you'd normally go, and with contrast adjusted a little higher than you want in the final image. Experiment! |
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08/17/2006 03:40:20 PM · #25 |
according to some of the comments I have been getting lately, I have the soft focus down to a science but in these cases it is apparently a bad thing.
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