Soft-Focus Lens Examples

[SergeiR]

8x10, 360mm Imagon with green filter on and 7.7 center hole disk (not one that is with radial open ones, if i remember right). Some extra downward tilting

Touch by Sergei Rodionov, on Flickr

[Tin Can]

Yes!

I also like the compact mirror one, a very steady pose.

[SergeiR]

Yes!

I also like the compact mirror one, a very steady pose.

Thanks, Randy. Compact mirror is Vitax, which i wouldn't call truly soft focus. All softness in it comes from offsetting focal length, so if you refocus its damn sharp again Imagon, on other hand - is pretty much it. Specially while you balancing below f8.

[cowanw]

Karl Isaac also went to Alberta at the same time as Ray,
These are done with the Cooke 13 inch portrait at f 5.6.
sharp setting

and soft

[tgtaylor]

Here’s an example of a print of a negative taken with a 250mm Imagon on a Toyo 45cf camera:



A couple of years back I participated in an employee “gift exchange” and I drew an Asian employee’s name and, instead of buying some non-descript gift I decided to give a mounted but not framed print instead. This negative seemed appropriate and I made two prints of it: one on Ilford 300 Art and a second, the one above, on Bergger warm tone. Both were toned in Nelson’s Gold toner but only the Bergger took the tone well. After the prints were dry I set them up side by side for a couple of days in the kitchen to decide which one was the best. Because of the coloration of the of the Bergger print I decided that the Ilford print was the better so I mounted and gave that print.

In the aftermath the Bergger print lay covered with other items that I keep on the enlarging table with other items that I am reluctant to throw away. Then one day this print caught my attention and it suddenly looked much better than I remembered. So I placed it in the kitchen and after a couple of days became quite impressed with it. How could I have possibly have chosen the Ilford print over this one?

This print now hangs on the kitchen wall framed using anti-glare acrylic which I don’t like and now use clear museum grade OP3-AR acrylic. The snap is take from the side to avoid the glare.

Thomas

[cowanw]

I am sure your fellow worker was pleased; it's very nice.

[gbogatko]

SergeIR -- envy.. envy..

[cowanw]

This photograph was one that I acquired as an example of a platinum portrait.
It came with the following inscription
"This photograph won the Prize for Photography at "Chicago World's Fair, 1893, of Henry Farny By "Benjamin" A Cincinnati, O. Photographer" Probably Isaac Benjamin of Cincinnati
Turns out Henry François Farny (15 July 1847 Ribeauvillé - 23 December 1916) was a French-born United States painter and illustrator, notably of North American Natives.

This is my interpretation of this photograph
With a 15 inch Unar first on sharp

And then on soft; both at f5.6

[SergeiR]

This is my interpretation of this photograph
With a 15 inch Unar first on sharp
And then on soft; both at f5.6

Your light source was either too far or too small (harsher shadow line) to match shadow line in original. Otherwise its a very cool take , very cool indeed.

[SergeiR]

SergeIR -- envy.. envy..

I been stalking imagon auctions for like 2 years to get that one for decent price.