post "in Galli style"

[Steve M Hostetter]

new scan of an old image, 16" Kodak @f4.5 efke25 in D-76 cropped neg scan

[csant]

Feeble attempt #1 at this. And I don't even have a SF lens - so a magnifying glass helps out… (200mm focal length, aperture f/2.6!). But it was fun, and makes me wonder how I can put this thing to better use (it has potential, I actually like how it retains some details). Probably I might also have to learn how to focus soft focus "lenses" better. A larger image is available over at Flickr. Charten 5x7, magnifying glass, Fomapan 100.

[Jim Galli]

McCormick Deering, Benton Hot Springs, Ca.

8X10, 14" Pinkham & Smith Series IV Visual Quality, f5

[Mark Sawyer]

Csant ~ Having played around with magnifying glasses a bit, I'd suggest a longer focal length for 5x7, maybe something in the 10 to 12 inch range. Those short ones just get too wild at the corners, (though the effect works well on that particular image!).

You can also calm them down a bit with an aperture added right in front of the lens, though I like them wide open, (mine are all around f/3.8). After all, more is better!

[Jim Graves]

Csant ... Very nice effect.

Here is another magnifying glass image using one of Mark Sawyer's smaller 49-cent lens ... I just cut off the handle and glued the lens (retaining rim and all) to a regular graflex lens board.

Take a look at Jim Galli's website for a good number of different soft-focus effects (and subjects.) ... also, if you can find a copy, Mark and his class had a really nice spread in the May/June 2008 issue of View Camera magazine ... portraits taken with a magnifying glass lens using a strobe in a dark studio. The same issue has an interesting selective focus portfolio by Dirk McDonnell using swing/tilt/etc. to attain the desired in-focus/out-of-focus areas:


(4x5 Speed Graphic, ~f 3.8, 1/250 sec, Acros 100, HC-110 (dilution h))

[Blueberrydesk]

Beautiful shot, Jim. I've managed to buy the magnifiers, now I just need to glue them onto a lensboard. I really love that look...

[csant]

Jim and Mark, thanks for the nice words. As a matter of fact I got inspired to playing with a magnifying lens after reading the thread Mark started about the portrait shots he did at school with such glasses. Mark, thanks for the suggestion for a longer FL, I will try finding something - was also considering of moving in closer with this one.

And as far as SF is concerned, I know Jim's website well - and really like the work he does (chapeaux!). Have also been reading all info on SF lenses and photography I could get my hands on (including Dr Russ Young's excellent dissertation on the matter). I still have a lot to learn…

[Jan Pedersen]

Got the Verito out of the bag on Memorial day and thought this one would fit in the Jim Galli thread.
Brownsville, OR
Laymans Pinkham aka Verito 8 3/4 on 8x10 Orientals new WT paper

[csant]

A different, early way of trying soft focus was by means of double exposure - once stopped down to give the sharpness in details, and once again wide open…



A larger version of the shot is available over at Flickr.

[Steve M Hostetter]

Purple Lilac, deardorff/8x10 Tmax400 405mm 4.5 @4.5 D-76 bellows factor of 4-1/3