how do I get the hazy / soft focus portrait effect? How do I get the hazy / soft focus effect I see others purposely use in portraiture? Seems to be more than the lighting. Is there a...

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

How do I get the hazy / soft focus effect I see others purposely use in portraiture? Seems to be more than the lighting. Is there a filter for this or is it just lighting and/or a technique?

I'm shooting with D7000, 85mm f/1.8D.

Thank you in advance for sharing.

Jeffrey

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

can you post a sample of what you are looking for? even a link to a sample?

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Finch585 wrote:

How do I get the hazy / soft focus effect I see others purposely use in portraiture? Seems to be more than the lighting. Is there a filter for this or is it just lighting and/or a technique?

I'm shooting with D7000, 85mm f/1.8D.

Thank you in advance for sharing.

Jeffrey

Yes, it can be done with a filter mounted on the front of your lens (old school with limited options).
But today most photographers use a software filter in post processing using programs like Lightroom, Photoshop, Elements, Gimp, Picassa, etc.
These allow virtually infite adjustments and effects for a soft or hazy image.

Finch585 Loc: Northern California

Annie_Girl wrote:

can you post a sample of what you are looking for? even a link to a sample?

here's one example I found quickly, but not the extreme effect I originally saw and asked about, can't locate that right now (yet).
thx
[I think the next answer to use PP may be what I needed to hear]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514591@N02/8133354610/in/faves-finch585/

tramsey Loc: Texas

I think it's ironic, you have a D7000 and an 85MM F/1.8 lens. This equipment is known for some of sharpest photos around and you are looking for soft focus. Why don't I come over and shot for you? Everything that I do is soft focus. The only thing wrong most people call it out of focus and not soft focus. Ohh well.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Festina Lente wrote:

quote=Finch585 How do I get the hazy / soft focus... (show quote)

I used to do this with the square Cokin filter holder and squares of plexiglas. A light sanding produces the diffusion. Some guys used tiny drops of superglue spaced at random intervals-- generally around the bottom.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

From my film days I've used a tiffen soft fx #3 and selected a wide apature,and this seems to work fine for digital. If you already have PP software then that is probably the way to go now.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Finch585 wrote:

How do I get the hazy / soft focus effect I see others purposely use in portraiture? Seems to be more than the lighting. Is there a filter for this or is it just lighting and/or a technique?

I'm shooting with D7000, 85mm f/1.8D.

Thank you in advance for sharing.

Jeffrey

You can do a Search for all the posts that complain about focus not being sharp. :D

Seriously, one suggestion: many cameras have a Portrait setting that gives a little less sharpness so all the pores and wrinkles don't show up. It also gives a little more blur to the background via a larger aperture.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

tramsey wrote:

I think it's ironic, you have a D7000 and an 85MM F/1.8 lens. This equipment is known for some of sharpest photos around and you are looking for soft focus. Why don't I come over and shot for you? Everything that I do is soft focus. The only thing wrong most people call it out of focus and not soft focus. Ohh well.

When someone comments that one of my images could be focused a bit sharper, I just say that I was going for the "soft focus" effect. That makes me look like a real pro. :D

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

There is a difference between soft focus and out of focus!

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

Finch585 wrote:

How do I get the hazy / soft focus effect I see others purposely use in portraiture? Seems to be more than the lighting. Is there a filter for this or is it just lighting and/or a technique?

I'm shooting with D7000, 85mm f/1.8D.

Thank you in advance for sharing.

Jeffrey

When I was in college studying electronic journalism, to set up a dream scene we used petroleum jelly on a glass filter. It worked very nicely.

Blake

wjames Loc: Australia

well im going back about 45 years,but we used to simply rub a little vaseline around the lens keeping the centre clear or fuzzy. what ever yoou prefer.....sorry no on the lens but on a uv filter or clear glass,whatever was available.
wjames

twowindsbear

The easiest way is to simply breathe on the lens & fog it up - then watch through the viewfinder and shoot when the effect is right.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

Finch585 wrote:

Annie_Girl wrote:

can you post a sample of what you are looking for? even a link to a sample?

here's one example I found quickly, but not the extreme effect I originally saw and asked about, can't locate that right now (yet).
thx
[I think the next answer to use PP may be what I needed to hear]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57514591@N02/8133354610/in/faves-finch585/

The bush or vines between the subjects are slightly out of focus, but the subjects themselves and the wall on which they are sitting look to be in focus, but with a bit of WB issue.

The best way to make an original out of focus is to use a relatively wide aperture (f/5.6 or wider), and then focus in front of or in back of your subject. Experiment a little.

With PP, however, there are many more options.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

tramsey wrote:

I think it's ironic, you have a D7000 and an 85MM F/1.8 lens. This equipment is known for some of sharpest photos around and you are looking for soft focus. Why don't I come over and shot for you? Everything that I do is soft focus. The only thing wrong most people call it out of focus and not soft focus. Ohh well.

Hey Doc ..... ha,ha,ha,ha,