The Soft Place: Post Your Soft Focus Images

JMR · 04-21-2009, 08:16 PM

Some older and recent additions. Of course the soft focus look can be achieved in more ways than one. You can do double exposures, layering, defocusing, shallow depth of field, Blurring (gausian and others), panning, subject and camera movement, and so on.

JMR

JMR · 04-22-2009, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by MRRiley

...
For my contribution to the thead I submit the following shot. It's not strictly "soft focus" but has that effect by doing a digital version of "the orton effect" using photoshop.

Mike...

Mike, here is a tip for doing the Orton technique if you think the colours are overpowering when the layers are combined: turn one layer into BW. If you leave the soft layer darker than the untouched layer, the soft effect will be greater than the other way around. Of course, you must still adjust both layers to get one reasonably accurate exposure.

JMR

JMR · 04-22-2009, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by jeffkpotter

The Soft Garden. Dallas Arboretum.

I really like the blue statuette. Looks timeless and dreamy and reminds me of the statues in the movie "the Time machine." I also like the last flower image, because the pattern combined with the monotone treatment enhances the ethereal quality of the flowers.

JMR

mikeSF · 04-22-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by JMR

Some older and recent additions. Of course the soft focus look can be achieved in more ways than one. You can do double exposures, layering, defocusing, shallow depth of field, Blurring (gausian and others), panning, subject and camera movement, and so on.

JMR

JMR,
those are amazing. might you share some insight on how to perform the technique you used for the #1 photo (B&W landscape) above? did you stack a lens blur layer in there?
thanks

JMR · 04-22-2009, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by mikeSF

JMR,
those are amazing. might you share some insight on how to perform the technique you used for the #1 photo (B&W landscape) above? did you stack a lens blur layer in there?
thanks

Exactly. Duplicate a layer, and apply Gausian blur to one of them. Adjust levels and contrast on both layers, convert to BW. You may choose to leave each layer separate and convert separately and adjust that way, if you prefer. For BW, there is the added bonus that if a given coloured image is not balanced, you can make it so by converting to BW. One note, gausian blur is not a panacea for bad images, and should be judicially applied where you think the image can benefit from a softer look.

If you use a tripod, you can also do double or multiple exposures. The trick is take one at half exposure in focus at desired aperture, and the second half exposure and out of focus using minimum depth of field (shallow, like 2.8-5.6).

Thanks for the comments and your interest.

JMR

jeffkpotter · 04-22-2009, 07:03 PM

I really love that set JMR, and it's great how you generously share your techniques.

metroeloise · 04-22-2009, 07:09 PM

metroeloise · 04-23-2009, 09:04 PM

Damn Brit · 05-25-2009, 09:35 PM

I've been meaning to post in this thread for a while, finally got round to it.

Damn Brit · 05-25-2009, 09:37 PM

This one I took yesterday. My first shot with a reversing adapter and FA 50 f/1.4

Bramela · 05-25-2009, 11:49 PM

Here is one I took today. I felt this touch of softness in this created a very nice result

PINK AZALEA

Sorry it is another flower, Garry!)

mikeSF · 05-26-2009, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

This one I took yesterday. My first shot with a reversing adapter and FA 50 f/1.4

very artistic art gallery look.

dayah · 05-26-2009, 03:01 AM

one more flower...
taken with k100d + sears 135mm f/2.8

ll_coffee_lP · 05-26-2009, 07:48 AM

Not normally my forte (soft focus, or flowers), but here's a recent soft image shot that I took:

c[_]

MrApollinax · 05-26-2009, 08:05 AM

Here is an old shot of my beagle. A50 1:2 wide open

04-21-2009, 08:16 PM	#16
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	My contribution Some older and recent additions. Of course the soft focus look can be achieved in more ways than one. You can do double exposures, layering, defocusing, shallow depth of field, Blurring (gausian and others), panning, subject and camera movement, and so on. JMR

04-22-2009, 07:09 PM	#22
metroeloise Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 958	Just a moment to share

04-23-2009, 09:04 PM	#23
metroeloise Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 958	Recent soft focus

05-25-2009, 09:35 PM	#24
Damn Brit Guest	I've been meaning to post in this thread for a while, finally got round to it. Last edited by Damn Brit; 12-27-2009 at 12:31 AM.

05-25-2009, 09:37 PM	#25
Damn Brit Guest	This one I took yesterday. My first shot with a reversing adapter and FA 50 f/1.4 Last edited by Damn Brit; 12-27-2009 at 12:31 AM.

04-22-2009, 06:47 AM	#17
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by MRRiley ... For my contribution to the thead I submit the following shot. It's not strictly "soft focus" but has that effect by doing a digital version of "the orton effect" using photoshop. Mike... Mike, here is a tip for doing the Orton technique if you think the colours are overpowering when the layers are combined: turn one layer into BW. If you leave the soft layer darker than the untouched layer, the soft effect will be greater than the other way around. Of course, you must still adjust both layers to get one reasonably accurate exposure. JMR

04-22-2009, 07:02 AM	#18
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by jeffkpotter The Soft Garden. Dallas Arboretum. I really like the blue statuette. Looks timeless and dreamy and reminds me of the statues in the movie "the Time machine." I also like the last flower image, because the pattern combined with the monotone treatment enhances the ethereal quality of the flowers. JMR

04-22-2009, 08:26 AM	#19
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by JMR Some older and recent additions. Of course the soft focus look can be achieved in more ways than one. You can do double exposures, layering, defocusing, shallow depth of field, Blurring (gausian and others), panning, subject and camera movement, and so on. JMR JMR, those are amazing. might you share some insight on how to perform the technique you used for the #1 photo (B&W landscape) above? did you stack a lens blur layer in there? thanks

04-22-2009, 09:10 AM	#20
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by mikeSF JMR, those are amazing. might you share some insight on how to perform the technique you used for the #1 photo (B&W landscape) above? did you stack a lens blur layer in there? thanks Exactly. Duplicate a layer, and apply Gausian blur to one of them. Adjust levels and contrast on both layers, convert to BW. You may choose to leave each layer separate and convert separately and adjust that way, if you prefer. For BW, there is the added bonus that if a given coloured image is not balanced, you can make it so by converting to BW. One note, gausian blur is not a panacea for bad images, and should be judicially applied where you think the image can benefit from a softer look. If you use a tripod, you can also do double or multiple exposures. The trick is take one at half exposure in focus at desired aperture, and the second half exposure and out of focus using minimum depth of field (shallow, like 2.8-5.6). Thanks for the comments and your interest. JMR

04-22-2009, 07:03 PM	#21
jeffkpotter Guest	I really love that set JMR, and it's great how you generously share your techniques.

05-25-2009, 11:49 PM	#26
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	Here is one I took today. I felt this touch of softness in this created a very nice result PINK AZALEA Sorry it is another flower, Garry!)

05-26-2009, 12:23 AM	#27
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by Damn Brit This one I took yesterday. My first shot with a reversing adapter and FA 50 f/1.4 very artistic art gallery look.

05-26-2009, 03:01 AM	#28
dayah Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Photos: Albums Posts: 56	one more flower... taken with k100d + sears 135mm f/2.8

05-26-2009, 07:48 AM	#29
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	Not normally my forte (soft focus, or flowers), but here's a recent soft image shot that I took: c[_]

05-26-2009, 08:05 AM	#30
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	Here is an old shot of my beagle. A50 1:2 wide open

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