soft focus landscape

[tgtaylor]

I've been playing with my Imagon 200mm.

Attachment 147320
@ F8 3 sec on 20 year out of date tri x, Shen Hoa 4x5 camera.

Attachment 147321
This second image shot a few minutes apart show the scene different focal length. While a bit of a give away I find it enjoyable to see how the soft focus renders the scene and enjoy the different emotional response I get from it.

It's been fun finding a voice with this lens. I'm slowly starying to find a rendering I like.

Lee

I like the soft version of the above: for me it would be a print and mount.

The Imagon is a great SF lens (I have the 250 and now a 300mm). Unlike a lot of other SF lens, they render the subject both sharp and soft and not like you screwed-up on the focus or deliberately misfocused. But learning to focus a soft focus lens is an art in itself.

Thomas

[billie williams]

Maris, that is a wonderful way to honor your friend. I love everything about this image.

[Maris Rusis]

Backlit Weeds, Soft Focus

Gelatin-silver photograph on Fomabrom Variant III VC FB photographic paper, image size 19.3cm X 24.6cm, from a 8x10 Fomapan 200 negative exposed in a Tachihara 810HD triple extension field view camera fitted with a 300mm f7.5 Wollaston meniscus lens mounted behind a Copal #3 shutter. Signed, titled, and stamped verso.

Taking this photograph caused camera damage. The sun is just out of frame with the consequence that the sun's image fell on one of the bellows pleats and burned a neat, round, 3 mm hole in the bellows. The camera is beginning to fill with smoke at the moment of exposure.

[LeeSimmons]

Thanks for the comments Thomas.

I've never had a lens be so elusive and oddly appealing at the same time. The Imagon is my first true foray into soft focus.

The soft focus images seem to have a subconscious pull to their rendering.

I find it interesting that images produced with soft focus appear to be an acquired taste. Most people seem to gravitate towards the sharper image.

The opportunity for the final print stand strong in more manageable size is also appealing.

Any thoughts on best print presentation of soft focus prints? Big mats, small mats, act.

Have a good evening all.

Lee

[tgtaylor]

Here's an image shot with a Pentax 120mm SF:



It's soft with a halo effect in the highlights but not out of focus - note the sharpness of the fence, windows and foreground grasses. Its shown printed on FB Bergger VC warm tone glossy.

Here's one taken with a 250mm Imagon:



This is a Canon G-9 shot of a mounted and framed print on FB Oriental VC Glossy toned with Nelson's Gold.

Today was "first light" with the 300mm Imagon. I shot 4 negatives of 4 different subjects under tricky lighting. If they turn-out as I am hoping they will, I'll print them as Pt/Pd. But first I have to mix a fresh batch of Xtol and develop the negatives tomorrow.

Thomas

[LeeSimmons]

Hi Thomas,

I like the imagon image. I think they do well with objects. Do you look for dark and light "shapes" is a whole when looking for soft focus compositions? I really loke to rendering of Marius's image. The strong contrast has a wonderful effect. i look forward to continuing to learn and share within this post.

Lee

[Duyfam]

Dalat-Vietnam
Karl Struss Pictorial 9"

[Stephane]

Hamlagrø in Norway this Easter, through a Port-Land 11.5"

[Jim Galli]

Hamlagrø in Norway this Easter, through a Port-Land 11.5"

Picture Perfect. This is for the pictorialists among us to study and see why it "sings". Bravo.

[Stephane]

Thanks Jim! I used your dark slide shutter as it was very bright..