Since we're so familiar with the sharp, high contrast, saturated and very vivid photos, here's another sharing thread but this time SOFT FOCUS.

Soft focus is the deliberate blurring of an image while retaining sharp edges. This is totally different from an out-of-focus image.

These are photos we usually call dreamy-like, most of the time with very shallow depth of field (but not always), usually pastel'ly.

Let's start the ball rolling...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2645602588_cb6aa91af4_o.jpg

Please feel free to post your soft-focus photos here.

Another one...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2644603778_5aa8722d78_o.jpg

my share...http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2534321132_97ab064a2a.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerrylimlee/http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2308359491_6e2714874b_b.jpg

Nice photos, guys!!!

@Jerry

Macro-abstract-dreamy all rolled into one.


Here's another one from me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2579027148_4c32bab342_o.jpg

Hi dindin. I am a fan of this style of photography. I hope it's ok to repost some shots from other threads. Here goes:

Emerald Crawler
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2543396922_e6f398ca53.jpg

Sun Worshiper
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2566324422_33c04d1b09.jpg

At Day's End
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2452613311_66940bb10d.jpg

Afternoon Repose
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2454967491_06896bce0a.jpg

Nothing (In Pastel)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2647761815_fd626e3aea.jpg

Hi Francis,

You're more than welcome.

I am so fascinated with this style now that's why I decided to start a thread. It's a good way of seeing other photos and studying how they were shot.

thank you Mam Dindin,

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2651677356_2303eb6a23_o.jpg

Hi Dindin aka supermom, care to share your PP workflow for these kind of shots? (if there are any, thanks!)

Nice photos, guys!!!

@Jerry

Macro-abstract-dreamy all rolled into one.


Here's another one from me.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2579027148_4c32bab342_o.jpg

hi din,
i really love this shot!!!


my attempt

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2609962857_0a052ab28c.jpg

Can you also share the EXIF specifications?

Thanks.

I found the EXIF specs in your flickr site.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5354/dsc2323bp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2437958401_331a47f47e_o.jpg





http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2417781553_434f5f3463_o.jpg





http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2417782677_d4ccb739d4_o.jpg

poster worthy shot... i just love it !
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2651677356_2303eb6a23_o.jpg

pa-share po..:)





http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2651293407_3a1f92dc8b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grazzzi11/2651293407/)



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2648776754_d2de81fcde.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grazzzi11/2648776754/)

does this qualify ? :)
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/cristeenquezon/IMG_3574.jpg
http://cristeenquezon.multiply.com/

Coincidence? The ladies' shots are very feminine and "gentle" to the eyes :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerrylimlee/http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2591465669_73514bcb6e_b.jpg

here's another :)
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll170/cristeenquezon/IMG_0625square.jpg

http://cristeenquezon.multiply.com/

An old Sicor M42 macro lens with slight fungus... very soft and diffused unless stopped down to f/8

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2657594723_b8e044958f.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2617930018_06481fbb9d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/2660376308_86f649ff00_o.jpg

http://cristeenquezon.multiply.com/

I love your dreamy flower photos Din... will find some in my vault:D

Blessed sunday to everyone :)

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm133/ickhoy/GLC1.jpg

Pa-post din po... Here's my try.

"sawsawan"
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6789/sawsawanet8.jpg

is this shot considered as a soft focus photo?

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i122/kitchup/sisters/IMG_2461copylow.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2670589672_f5ab6b694e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grazzzi11/2670589672/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2670589672_f5ab6b694e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grazzzi11/2670589672/)
i'm sorry but I don't get this photo because only the leg is in focus.. so does this mean that the subject is the leg of the insect? can someone enlighten me? :) thanks

i'm sorry but I don't get this photo because only the leg is in focus.. so does this mean that the subject is the leg of the insect? can someone enlighten me? :) thanks

subject is the pollen all around the bee's leg.:Grin:... but then again, the subject depends on the eye of the beholder. :)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2678137807_3bd16c9309.jpg

subject is the pollen all around the bee's leg.:Grin:... but then again, the subject depends on the eye of the beholder. :)


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2678137807_3bd16c9309.jpg
i still don't get soft focus photography :(

is this a soft focus pic?

Hi Dindin aka supermom, care to share your PP workflow for these kind of shots? (if there are any, thanks!)

Sorry for the long absence, I really didn't think this thread would progress...


In the 4 weeks I've been trying to shoot soft focus, here are what I've learnt:

Most of the time, my subjects are either children, flower or light colored objects.

Shooting:
I shoot at the biggest opening, 1.4 to 2.8... will try it with a smaller opening next time and see if it will still give me a decent bokeh.

Post Processing:
I adjust the brightness and contrast a little bit. Contrast definitely not high or this will deepen the shadows as well.

Another thing you can do to add more to the dreaminess is... duplicate your layer, then apply gaussian blur (to taste) to the upper layer... then just erase the parts where you want to keep sharp. Then flatten.

I guess that's about it!!!

hi din,
i really love this shot!!!


my attempt

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2609962857_0a052ab28c.jpg

Hi Don!!! Nice Image...

Soften some parts a little bit more to give the dreamy feel. But hey, this a great high key photo!!! So love it!

@Cristeen

Thank you!!! #18 posted photo is nice... macro shoot, right?

@Grace

Your second photo is very nice!!!

thanks ma'am dindin :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2648776754_d2de81fcde.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grazzzi11/2648776754/)

yes, thank you ! :)

@Cristeen

Thank you!!! #18 posted photo is nice... macro shoot, right?

@Grace

Your second photo is very nice!!!

Soft focus birding? :)

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/336572845_g9huL-L.jpg

Soft focus birding? :)

http://zandy.smugmug.com/photos/336572845_g9huL-L.jpg


Very nice shot! Nice focus on the bird and the dreamy surrounding. It is really eye catching.

Very nice shot! Nice focus on the bird and the dreamy surrounding. It is really eye catching.

Thanks Joanne.

Here's my try at soft focus photography:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2728179408_6100a0b9ea.jpg

Followed Miss Dindin's instructions (brightness/contrast and gaussian blur). I feel i may have brightened the picture a bit too much... :D

Here's what the non-PP'ed photo looks like:

http://alky-holic.deviantart.com/art/Baby-s-first-teeth-86123652

@Zandy

Soft focus birding indeed!!! HAhahahahahha

@Nino

Lessen the contrast a bit... :-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2761918700_55a7647d24_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2761918700_55a7647d24_o.jpg


this is really cute!! would your mind sharing your workflow? TIA :) btw, i love your website! TFS :)

not sure if this falls under soft focus...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2764678683_a096826839.jpg