Photographers......

[Mmiller]

Just a little suggestion that some of you, if not all, know:

When shooting weddings and portraits, I've been asked to shoot a few "soft focus" shots. I've got a soft focus screw-on filter but, I've found a piece of black fiberglass screenwire held in front of the lens works as good, if not better. It's also quicker than screwing on the filter.

Having it mounted on a small embroidery hoop really stretches it tight and is easy to hold.

Of course, as with all soft focus, the larger the aperture (F-2, F-4, etc.) the more pronounced the softness shows.

The TTL handles if great.

Any other suggestions?

(Just wanted to start something going on the "Vendor Chat").

Mike Miller

[Anonymous]

We use the cokin filter system. Works nicely and we just have to drop in the filter.

Nikki IlVento
Business Manager
On the Side Photography

[Mmiller]

Nikki,

I'd seen that system.

Do you just leave the holder on all the time?

I've also read where, if they're used on a fairly wide-angle lens, vignetting can occur.

Ever run into that?

Mike

[darling nikki]

Mike~

Yes, Joe does leave it on all the time. We did get some vignetting when he first starting using it. He doesn't anymore. He just got use to where it was I guess. He only keeps it on the 28-70mm. The 70-200mm that we use primarily in churchs has a screw on star filter.

Hope that helps!

[Mmiller]

Thanks, Nikki.

I hope you two have a prosperous 2004!

Mike

[stodola]

I have found that Danon yogurt lids work as diffusion filters as well. The lids are the ones with the clear tops on them. I'm not even sure if they continue to make them anymore, but I got the idea from another photographer friend who loves to use them. It creates a great deal of diffusion, but a cool end effect. You just have to wash it carefully so that you don't scratch it too much.

Good luck!
Heidi Stodola

[bcphoto]

I gave up on Cokin filters some years ago in favor of simply shooting two cameras during the ceremony, one with screw-in Nikon or B+W diffussion filters and one 'straight'.

The Cokin gell holders allow one to mount stocking material which is a different effect from that of the plastic Cokin I or II diffussion devices, and it'll give you a different look to add to your arsenal.

[thuffphoto]

I add my soft fcus with gaussin blur with photoshop cs

[robindepaula]

I love the soft-focus effect! Thanks for some new suggestions on how to accomplish this effect!!

Robin

[DReid]

I also soft focus in PS, that way I can get just the effect I want. There are also some good soft focus actions out there on some of the forums for Photoshop.

[831Photography]

We also do our softening in PS. We prefer to do a technique called "Porcelain Skin" instead of a blanket softening. It softens the skin while preserving the sharpness of the picture. (Sometimes soft focus filters to people look like the picture is out of focus)

We created a macro in PS to do this fairly easily. We allow our brides and grooms to tell us which pictures they want this done on. (Plus with PS, we have the original just in case that is the 1 picture that they DIDN'T want softened. Can't take the filter off as easily after the fact.)

Steph