June 2012 Portraits

[cowanw]

Your view of soft focus for men may have merit and be worthy of discussion, but your examples, suggesting Gay portraits may benefit from SF, are poor examples.
Rock Hudson's portraiture typified sharp chiseled clarity and both Liberace and Elton John require clear specular highlights to emphasize the jeweled apparel.
Society has moved on.
Putting a smiley behind a gay slur does not make it an acceptable joke any more.

I don't precisely know what bothers me about SF lenses for men but... it just bothers me. Shallow DOF is fine but SF... not so much. I guess its okay for Liberace or Elton John or Rock Hudson.

[Old-N-Feeble]

Bill... point well-taken. I'm just "old-school"... not that this is any excuse. I don't dislike anyone in the least... but this doesn't mean I understand their lifestyles either. I like my ladies soft... and my male friends tough. I can't help who I am or what I think. I never intended to slur anyone... just express my opinion. I don't know... maybe it's the same thing... and maybe it's why I choose to be alone in today's "open-minded" world.

[Ramiro Elena]

I think they're two of your best Scott, specially the second one. I like how you've moved on from the more static portraits of your son a year ago. I love the look of this lens. Nicely sharp in the center and smooth at the same time. Is this a whole lens?

[Richard Rankin]

I think Scott's shot of his son is terrific.

Richard

[Scott --]

Thanks, Ramiro - very nice words to hear.

The lens is a Grubb aplanatic mensicus. Two cemented elements. I've removed the lens from the mount and have it attached to the rear of the lensboard, with the Packard mounted to the front. So, it's the whole lens, but uncorked from the otherwise-restrictive ~f/20 mount. The glass is around f/4.6 by itself.

Again, thanks for your kind words.

Richard, I always appreciate your input, as you know.

[Mark Sawyer]

My compliments as well, Scott. Your way with portraiture, always good, has become quite excellent. Very classical, but still very much your own...

[Frank Petronio]

Wow. To each his own, I guess. Better not look at this one, then.

Another shot with the Grubb 12" meniscus uncorked. 10x12 FP4+ in HC-110 dil H.

Learning... by Scott --, on Flickr

Jealous ;-p great photo

[Yef]

symmar 240 XL, Chamonix 4x5 , tmax 400

[Frank Petronio]

That's a good way to get them to pose!

[Scott --]

Jealous ;-p great photo

Thanks Frank!