Sample images made w/ soft focus filters anyone?

japmula · Aug 12, 2004

Hiya!

Does anyone have any sample images made with soft focus filters? And which filters, exactly?

I am interested in creating like a soft romantic feel, so would like to find out what kinds of filters I would want to buy.

Thanks!!!

Artemis · Aug 13, 2004

Usually mate...youll see some on the filter packet.
And generally you cant see the difference...they just soften everything a tiny bit...to make it more...magical...and not...so harsh...you get me?

drlynn · Aug 13, 2004

Experiment with a piece of nylon pantyhose over your portrait lens. That works really well for most soft-focus shots.

My portrait lens (Canon 135mm f/2.8 ) has a built-in soft-focus which is adjustable and works pretty well.

photogoddess · Aug 13, 2004

My personal favorite is a Pro Mist filter. I use it for weddings and it just softens things up a bit. You probably could make one out of a UV filter and some black spray paint since they look like a clear filter that has a fine mist of black paint on it.

drlynn · Aug 13, 2004

I think I have heard someone say they made one with a UV filter and hairspray. You just wash the filter after use so it doesn't get sticky.

voodoocat · Aug 14, 2004

I did a slight soft focus on this print in the darkroom. Definately has a different feel than a filter used on the camera.

Digital Matt · Aug 14, 2004

If you are shooting digital, it's really easy to add a soft focus in Photoshop. Duplicate your background layer, run a gaussian blur at 6 pixels, and then set the layer opacity to 50%. Adjust it from there. It works quite well.

japmula · Aug 15, 2004

drlynn said:
Experiment with a piece of nylon pantyhose over your portrait lens. That works really well for most soft-focus shots.

My portrait lens (Canon 135mm f/2.8 ) has a built-in soft-focus which is adjustable and works pretty well.

Thanks to everyone for the advice, but hmmm....this sounds very interesting. I think I will try this. Do you have any sample shots?

Alright!

photong · Aug 15, 2004

White Nylon (I have pink but I haven't trried it yet)

With Hole(s) (You cant see them through the lens just in he photo)

Without holes

Having holes is a lot better, or else everything will be fuzzy. It has mroe of a smoky effect than anything.

I put mine on by screwing my UV filter over top. I think an eleastic band will help just as well.

Sash[DSL] · Aug 15, 2004

drlynn, would you mind posting some samples of soft focussed shots? Id really like to see what theyre like.

photong
This isnt really what I expected soft focus to look like... Has anyone tried shooting with an actual soft focus filter screwed on the camera? Id buy one but theyre really expensive...

japmula · Aug 16, 2004

Thanks photong....that is very interesting.

I put mine on by screwing my UV filter over top. I think an eleastic band will help just as well.

I was shooting yesterday and tried the nylon (silky sheer in 'buff')...but might have only gotten 1 or 2 shots, b/c i wasn't prepared and it was too difficult to keep the nylon outstretched.....thanks! i will try that next time.

Cuervo79 · Aug 16, 2004

The best way to have that "romantic look" is to use 2 filters, the soft filter (whatever you call it), a warm filter, and try to get allot of contrast wich in term gets softened by the filter that way you get the most out of both and get the look... I tried this with a pic I took of a canon in a castle in cuba, but because it was indoors and not contrasty enought it just looks bad, try to use available sunlight if you have the chance to take it near a window, it looks great. also you can use a champange filter (all the filters I´m talking about ar kokin filters, dunno their names in other brands, anyway the champange filter is like the combination of the softener and warm but there isn´t any blur in the center, most use this filter in whedings to get the person infocus but the surroundings blured.... hope it helped