That sample shot in particular is extraordinary, IMO it exemplifies how softness vs sharpness vs focus roll-off vs illumination vs movements help to depict extraordinary depth and 3D feel. People mastering all that play in another division. That shot alone is a really advanced master class about what a portrait lens does in the right hands, it looks that at Cooke's they know what sample image they have to show.Originally Posted by Ken Lee
Thanks, Michael!
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
Thanks for all these responses. Clearly there's a lot more to the subject than simply slapping an SF lens on the lens board and firing away. Lighting, angle, subject tones, etc.
Lens fits in that list, but it's not the only one. Ken's work shows portraiture and still life just might have something in common ...I'd not exactly thought of it that way before,
but yeah... a lot more than I thought even. Thank you for all those links! and thanks to the rest of you for your contributed discussion... Pere Casals, thanks for starting with some
background regarding alternative types.
If you look through my LF Flicker pages you'll find some different SF lenses represented. Which is which is noted in the text underneath. The one I personally like the quality of best is simply the front component of a 15" Tele-Raptar. It gives a different effect depending on whether it's used on the front or the back of the shutter, but at around 180 mm it may be a bit short for some uses. The Verito and my jigged up 250mm achromat in the Fuji's shutter are my second choices. Big price difference between the two. The Wollaston is adequate, but incredibly cheap. There's a shot in the group with the Fuji SF used as intended, too.
Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear
I forgot to mention: as with ordinary lenses, we often find differences in rendition before - versus behind - the plane of focus. Each lens can be many lenses, depending on all the factors.
The distinctions we make between different kinds of still photography are often arbitrary. Landscapes can resemble nudes, nudes can look like peppers... etc.
Symmar as a non-soft-focus-control.
Imagon 57mm circular aperture
Fuji 190SF @ f/8
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
Reminded of why no real love for the Fujinon SF, disc inside or no disc. There is a distinct harshness to the softness of the Fuji SF, visible even on web transmitted data.
Bernice
Fuji 190SF @ f/8
Keep in mind, quality of light has a HUGE effect on sorta focus lenses.
For studio portraits, consider using hot lights for better control of the interaction between the directional lighting on the subject -vs- effect on lens softness-diffusion.
Apply reflectors aluminized, white or negative fill boards as needed.
If a soft box or diffusion is used as a light source, the resulting image could become smooshy mush.
This portrait example was posted years ago, since it is already public here it is again:
Hot lighting, 360mm Imagon, H7.7 disc. Sinar 5x7, Ilford FP-4+, HC110 developer (think it was)..
Sorta Focus filters tend to mush out the entire image while a GOOD sorta-focus lens produces an image area of good definition then gradually falling off with a very smooth visual transition from definition to diffused focus.
Do spend some time William Russell Young, III Ph.D thesis on Pictorialism and Soft Focus lenses.
https://www.largeformatphotography.i...oft-focus-read
Bernice
Right, which is why I posted it....
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
Could you point to an area where you see this harsh softness please ? Are you talking about the lack of halos ?
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