The "softfocus" thread

f6cvalkyrie · Feb 24, 2011

Hi,

we have many very interesting thread about sharp lenses, and sharper lenses, and how sharp a lens can be,
but a search for "softfocus" did not come up with anything.

So, I decided to start this open topic, for us to share our techniques and pictures where we did not strive for sharpness,
but want to show off softness.

I'll start showing you some shots I recently made with a little known lens, the Seibolt "DREAMAGON" 90/4.

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You're invited to comment and participate !

C U
Rafael

Gwendal · Feb 24, 2011

Hi - interesting effect ! Could it be possible to know what apertures you used, I've read that the effect varies greatly ?

f6cvalkyrie · Feb 24, 2011

Hi, Gwendal,

If I remember well, both were shot "wide open" @ f4

C U,
Rafael

Brianetta · Feb 24, 2011

The E-P1 has a soft focus art filter, which I've used from time to time (here is one). Cling film over the lens is a trick my mum taught me after she bought me my first SLR. Vaseline on a clear filter is one I had shared with me by a guy in the office.

Then again, opening my Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 as wide as it can go in good light results in a softness and coma which can be quite pleasing, or upsetting, depending on whether I wanted that.

Streetshooter · Feb 24, 2011

Beautiful my friend.
That's more about vision than anything else....

Streetshooter · Feb 24, 2011

Frankford Elevated Train, Phila Pa

Rafael,
Good thread. I was on the train going home with so many thoughts of the day. I looked at this guy in front of me and thought, he seems mindless. He seems without any thoughts at all. He seems so detached from the shared reality. I thought that I woud try to capture that feeling.
Well, after I made the exposure, I looked at the image on the screen and quickly realized....

I made a self portrait...

f6cvalkyrie · Feb 25, 2011

Very nice, Don !
And a very nice ballerina, Brianetta !

Here's another one I shot a few days ago in my garden (Dreamagon also).

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C U,
Rafael

f6cvalkyrie · Mar 2, 2011

Here's one I shot with my G1 and Dreamagon 90/4 combo today.

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C U,
Rafael

Timm · Mar 2, 2011

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"1024" height="768" alt="P1010187" /></a>

This was taken with the Lensbaby Composer with Double Glass Optic. They actually have a Soft-Focus Optic you can swap in as well as a Plastic Optic that give their own unique looks.

So far with the lens being manual focus and my eyes being what they are, I have had no problem getting unintentional soft focus effects.

Slosync · Mar 3, 2011

Soft Focus

While I was sitting at my PC taking "test" images using a 25mm f/1.4 Pentax TV lens I had just purchased, my grandaughter (Lily) happened by and asked what I was doing. Aha..... A Kodak moment! I quickly focused and took a picture. I'm not exactly certain what to attribute all the softness to, obviously most from shallow dof, some perhaps from camera shake and some from moving back slightly after I focused. In any event the picture turned out to be one of my favorites...:smile:

Hand held, G1, 25mm, f/1.4, 1/30sec, ISO100

2009-04-02The%20many%20faces%20of%20Lily_006.jpg

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BrianK · Mar 3, 2011

Timm said:
This was taken with the Lensbaby Composer with Double Glass Optic.

Love this one, I thought I had seen it before, its already marked as one of my Flickr favs.

BK

Timm · Mar 3, 2011

This one was intentional.

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"1024" height="768" alt="P1010182" /></a>

Iconindustries · Mar 3, 2011

Panny 20mm, with glad wrap (cling wrap) over the lens. I had to do two layers and make it a bit crinkly to get the soft look. Manually focused and black and whited in silver efex. Ran a border around it in borderFX

I like your second picture Rafael

Thanks for the glad wrap idea Brian, it works good. I wasn't planning on messing up my filter with vaseline haha, so glad wrap made me glad.:smile:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50527022@N02/5495444352/" title="Soft focus... by iconindustries, on Flickr"> View attachment 158746 "1024" height="697" alt="Soft focus..." /></a>

Ihavenewfs · Mar 3, 2011

Don, Lovely image...I can see why this is one of your favorites.

Brianetta · Mar 3, 2011

Iconindustries said:
Thanks for the glad wrap idea Brian, it works good. I wasn't planning on messing up my filter with vaseline haha, so glad wrap made me glad.:smile:

Tips like these need to be shared! You're welcome.

Slosync · Mar 3, 2011

Ihavenewfs said:
Don, Lovely image...I can see why this is one of your favorites.

Thank you Marie!

I wish you all the best with your new Oly Pen. I noticed you were/are shooting with a Nikon D300. That will be a significant change in cameras. I have a Nikon D200 I still lug around to birding events and such. I'm to addicted to the AF performance of the Nikon to part with it for now. I use a GF1 and G1 for around the home and neighborhood.

Good luck and good shooting, :2thumbs: