How are intentional hazey effects used?

Mike Chalmers · Apr 1, 2022

I like this look which I believe is created in the enlarging stage and I see a different photographers utilising.

It's almost like a soft filter (but I know that these images did not use an on-camera soft filter) and was told it was done in the dark room.

Can anyone explain or point me towards resources (or the correct term) for this effect? Thanks!

ic-racer · Apr 1, 2022

Stocking stretched over a frame, cellophane and hazy lenses wide open have worked for me.

Saganich · Apr 1, 2022

Funny these look just like the images from my Summar that has most of the internal black paint missing and hazy rear element. So I would think the effect is a combination of diffusion and/or scatter, like thin nylon over the lens

AgX · Apr 1, 2022

Mike, what makes you think this effect was achieved at the printing stage and not already at taking?

jeffreyg · Apr 1, 2022

You can make your own adjustable filter. Two pieces of 1/4 inch glass (tape the edges so you don't get cut) and place a small amount of baby oil between them. You can control the amount and rotate them over each other to get the desired amount of diffusion. Focus to have a sharp image the hold the "filter" under the enlarging lens and move it around until you see what you want. This way you preserve your well focused negative and can have as much diffusion as you want.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Molli · Apr 1, 2022

@AgX if you use a diffusing filter on the camera, it spreads the highlights, giving a light glow to an image. Using a diffusing filter beneath your enlarging lens spreads the shadows, giving the effect seen above in Mr. Chalners' examples.
I've read a post from Mr. Bob Carnie stating that using a diffusing filter whilst enlarging during use of a very low contrast (00,0,½) filter will spread the highlights, whilst doing so during use of a high contrast filter (4,5) will show the above effect. I haven't tried that for myself, but I can definitely confirm the effect a diffusing filter has during 'normal, non-split' enlarging.

AgX · Apr 1, 2022

Thank you. But it is a bit more complicated, as there are for instance white and black diffusor nettings or in general a variety of diffusion means. But I shall give those photographs above a second look/thought on your aspect.

By the way, has anyone of you actually diffused same subject alternatively at taking and at printing to see what effect pleases more?

Mike Chalmers · Apr 1, 2022

One thing I did think about was exposing for part of the time slightly unfocussed (and mostly properly focussed) - anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?

ic-racer said:
Stocking stretched over a frame, cellophane and hazy lenses wide open have worked for me.

Nice, will give this a go.

Saganich said:
Funny these look just like the images from my Summar that has most of the internal black paint missing and hazy rear element. So I would think the effect is a combination of diffusion and/or scatter, like thin nylon over the lens

Cool, another nylon vote, thanks.

AgX said:
Mike, what makes you think this effect was achieved at the printing stage and not already at taking?

I've done a bit of research but in this instance I asked the photographer at what stage it was achieved. Also, I own a few diffusion filters like Black Pro Mist etc. so have a bit of an understanding of the effects of filters at shooting stage.

jeffreyg said:
You can make your own adjustable filter. Two pieces of 1/4 inch glass (tape the edges so you don't get cut) and place a small amount of baby oil between them. You can control the amount and rotate them over each other to get the desired amount of diffusion. Focus to have a sharp image the hold the "filter" under the enlarging lens and move it around until you see what you want. This way you preserve your well focused negative and can have as much diffusion as you want.

Thanks, Jeffrey - I'll try this too!

Molli said:
@AgX if you use a diffusing filter on the camera, it spreads the highlights, giving a light glow to an image. Using a diffusing filter beneath your enlarging lens spreads the shadows, giving the effect seen above in Mr. Chalners' examples.
I've read a post from Mr. Bob Carnie stating that using a diffusing filter whilst enlarging during use of a very low contrast (00,0,½) filter will spread the highlights, whilst doing so during use of a high contrast filter (4,5) will show the above effect. I haven't tried that for myself, but I can definitely confirm the effect a diffusing filter has during 'normal, non-split' enlarging.

Oh fascinating - I'll see if I can find that post!

Arthurwg · Apr 1, 2022

OP mentions the Black Pro-Mist filter. That's what I thought when I saw these pictures. Just wondering how you use it, and what do you get? Thanks.

pentaxuser · Apr 1, 2022

Whatever he used, it has had a very subtle effect. I suspect that it may have taken a while to get the right combination of material etc to get it right. Likely to be harder to do correctly than you might think at first

pentaxuser

Mike Chalmers · Apr 1, 2022

Arthurwg said:
OP mentions the Black Pro-Mist filter. That's what I thought when I saw these pictures. Just wondering how you use it, and what do you get? Thanks.

It's a standard filter you screw to front of your camera lens. It comes in different sizes and strengths. It softens highlights and is meant to soften skin without losing skin tone, but is meant to look a little dreamy.

Saganich · Apr 1, 2022

Molli said:
@AgX if you use a diffusing filter on the camera, it spreads the highlights, giving a light glow to an image. Using a diffusing filter beneath your enlarging lens spreads the shadows, giving the effect seen above in Mr. Chalners' examples.
I've read a post from Mr. Bob Carnie stating that using a diffusing filter whilst enlarging during use of a very low contrast (00,0,½) filter will spread the highlights, whilst doing so during use of a high contrast filter (4,5) will show the above effect. I haven't tried that for myself, but I can definitely confirm the effect a diffusing filter has during 'normal, non-split' enlarging.

Yes, highlight spread is the effect of a foggy rear element, whereas the images above have shadow spread. nice insight.

jeffreyg · Apr 1, 2022

here are two examples of using the home made diffuser I mentioned above. It was used under the enlarger lens. These are phone photos of the prints which are too large to fit my scanner.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://sculptureandphotography.com/

MattKing · Apr 1, 2022

Mike Chalmers said:
It's a standard filter you screw to front of your camera lens. It comes in different sizes and strengths. It softens highlights and is meant to soften skin without losing skin tone, but is meant to look a little dreamy.

Which would give a very different result than the examples. Those examples have shadows migrating into the highlights, rather than the reverse. The query about the filter name was probably inspired by the fact that "Black" is part of the name.

Sirius Glass · Apr 1, 2022

Single layer of stocking, multiple layers, different weaves, different colors, ... just for starters.

Mike Chalmers · Apr 1, 2022

jeffreyg said:
here are two examples of using the home made diffuser I mentioned above. It was used under the enlarger lens. These are phone photos of the prints which are too large to fit my scanner.

Great stuff Jeffrey, thanks for the examples! Do you happen to have a photo of your DIY baby oil tool?

MattKing said:
Which would give a very different result than the examples. Those examples have shadows migrating into the highlights, rather than the reverse. The query about the filter name was probably inspired by the fact that "Black" is part of the name.

Yeah good point - and thank you for clearly articulating the effect!

jeffreyg · Apr 1, 2022

Mike,
I don't have a picture. It's just two thick square pieces of glass 6 inches x 6 inches with black tape covering the sharp edges. Put a small amount of baby oil between them. You can rotate them over each other after previously sharp focusing. Hold the "sandwich" under the lens. Once you like what you see, make a test print as usual. Note the position the glass was in relation to the enlarging lens to make the final prints. It's cheap, easy and will last. I made mine 40 years ago. Just change the oil from time to time.

Mike Chalmers · Apr 2, 2022

jeffreyg said:
Mike,
I don't have a picture. It's just two thick square pieces of glass 6 inches x 6 inches with black tape covering the sharp edges. Put a small amount of baby oil between them. You can rotate them over each other after previously sharp focusing. Hold the "sandwich" under the lens. Once you like what you see, make a test print as usual. Note the position the glass was in relation to the enlarging lens to make the final prints. It's cheap, easy and will last. I made mine 40 years ago. Just change the oil from time to time.

Thanks Jeffrey, will let you know how I get on.

ic-racer · Apr 2, 2022

This is an example using some cellophane under the enlarger lens.

ic-racer · Apr 2, 2022

This is an example zooming the enlarger lens during exposure, which is a different effect than zooming the camera lens.

Mike Chalmers · Apr 2, 2022

ic-racer said:
This is an example using some cellophane under the enlarger lens.

Ah yeah I can see how this would create the effect! Thanks for the example - and good to see the zoom too, I had just read abut this in a darkroom experimentation article!

NB23 · Apr 2, 2022

Well, there are “fog1”, “fog2” and “fog3” filters available. Fog1 is quite nice

NB23 · Apr 2, 2022

Printing stage, there is the stockings trick.

Also, you can defocus your lens for 1/2 the printing time. This will create a sharp and yet soft print. The more you defocus, the more diffuse the look.
Obviously, there is a difference in the look wether you defocus in front or back.

Paul Howell · Apr 2, 2022

In the 70s, one of the Photographers I knew, Mike Carmicle, who had a studio in Sacramento he took an Kodak 3 element 80 or 75mm and used a light, very light sand paper, maybe an Emory pad and in very light moves treated the front element. From I recall he treated the out side so it had more of a diffusion effect. Not sure how many passes he made, he told he did a bit, then tested until he the effect he wanted. I have a still life he did stashed in storage, I'll see if I can pull it and scan it.

David Lingham · Apr 3, 2022

I’ve created something similar printing in B&W by split grading and using a homemade black stocking diffuser for just the G5 exposure.

How are intentional hazey effects used?

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