How is this aesthetic done?

[Mike Chalmers]

This slightly dream, unfocussed quality.. It's something I have achieved with instant film in the past, but I'm not sure how it's done using, say medium format.

Is this something that can be done in the darkroom?

I know that certain lenses can achieve something similar, but I'm not sure that's it - and, to be honest, I'm hoping a darkroom solution would be possible.

Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks, Mike

 

[Sirius Glass]

Use a Imagon lens.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodenstock_Imagon

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

There are lens filters that will do this. I had a few back in the 90's but ended up giving them to somebody who wanted to photograph his girlfriend in the nude...

 

[rick shaw]

OK, I had to dig into the way-back machine for this one, but back in the day, I seem to recall we stretched a single layer of pantyhose over the lens to get this effect.

 

[removed account4]

Try shooting through a dirty ziplock bag. You can also get something similar through a cheep meniscus lens. Lensbaby used to sell all sorts of funstuff that did this. The instant film you used, was it in an instant camera ( cheep plastic meniscus lens ) or was it through a fancy camera / fancy lens ? if you find an old junquey box camera or junquey folding camera you can use it’s lens on your camera or on your enlarger you might get these results as well. Works great ! ( and less $$$ then a fancy portrait lens ), you might also think of shooting those junquey cameras too .. people often times poo-poo older more "primitive" cameras like that. they take a while to learn how to best use them, but once you figure out their personalities and how to use them to your benefit you might learn that they give great results .. you might also experiment with front or back focusing your subjectand shooting wide open too ... dirty plastic bag always works good for me ( and cheep ) too. ...
good luck!!
John

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Soft focus lens purposely built so.

 

[juan]

Anybody try @jnantz ’s dirty bag on the enlarger lens rather than the camera lens? I remember the panty hose trick. Do they still make panty hose?

 

[Wayne]

Anybody try @jnantz ’s dirty bag on the enlarger lens rather than the camera lens? I remember the panty hose trick. Do they still make panty hose?

Do they still make women?

 

[bsdunek]

All of the above are good. Anybody remember nose grease on your filters? That's what I use - on a filter dedicated to that use.

 

[BrianShaw]

There are many, many diffusion filters available. Check a filter catalog for sample images because different filters render slightly different effects.

or, there is this... which was also to be used on enlargers:

http://www.thecuckoofarm.com/cuckoo/photo/lens/lensacc/pictrol/pictrol.php

 

[BrianShaw]

Do they still make women?

Nylon stockings, like women (or men), come in a wide variety of colors and densities... so experiment a lot until you find exactly what you’re looking for

 

[Wayne]

Nylon stockings, like women (or men), come in a wide variety of colors and densities... so experiment a lot until you find exactly what you’re looking for

Uh...OK...I wasn't planning any ventures in this direction but good to know. In the category of things I didn't need to know, they also apparently make them for men.

 

[voceumana]

Note it is harder to get a good soft focus effect in the darkroom as it is the shadows that become diffuse and the highlights are sharper. Because, of course, light and dark areas are reversed in the negative, and it is the light that gets diffused.

To apply to an existing negative, print the negative onto film, process, and print the resulting positive with diffusion onto film again. Easy enough to do in B&W, a bit harder with color. And, easiest with larger format just because.

 

[Kino]

On camera, the strongest Harrison Black Pro Mist filter (4X) might be close to giving you that effect; stacking two would almost certainly do the trick BUT they are rather expensive.

In the darkroom I would experiment with very lightly de-focusing the enlarger and using some form of diffusion, but as is noted above, the darker areas would tend to bloom on the diffusion...

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

You also have to be careful about lighting. All these photos used very diffuse, flat light. Use the largest softbox you have, a north-facing window, or wait for an overcast day.

This will help avoid specular highlights.

 

[summicron1]

I once said, in a brief photography column I was writing for the local paper, that this effect could be achieved by whacking the enlarger on the side during an exposure.

Never actually tried that. My brother the commercial photographer swore by the panty hose thing.

 

[wyofilm]

Try using a Holga.

 

[Helios 1984]

I remember reading that for the cover of "Between the Buttons", the photograph smeared vaseline on his lens.

 

[removedacct1]

Lenses by ZipLock

 

[Michael Firstlight]

There are a variety of ways to achieve the look already mentioned - filters and stockings over the front element of the lens, vaseline, etc. If you are lucky to have a dedicated soft-focus lens they do it the best, easiest, and most consistent without any hassle - like the Mamiya Sekor SF C 150mm f/4 that comes with several dedicated diffusion discs that actually get inserted behind the back of the front element of the lens (one of the reasons I still hang onto both of my Mamiya RB67 systems) You actually screw off the front element of the lens, insert one of the discs, focus at a smaller aperture, then open up and take the image. It was the go-to tool for countless professional portrait and fashion photographers for decades as it provide varying degrees of diffusion based on disc type + aperture, and it's design gave that soft look with a glow while still seeming appearing sharp - not out of focus.



MFL

 

[beemermark]

Nylon works, so does Vaseline. Nice thing about Vaseline is you can control the softness by the amount you smear on. Comes of easy. Another method is to use a Brillo pad to clean your lens. Or buy a lens that already has been cleaned with a Brillo bad.

 

[Kino]

I suggest that if you are going the Vaseline or nose grease route, do it on a UV filter or clear optical flat for obvious reasons.

 

[Kino]

I suggest that if you are going the Vaseline or nose grease route, do it on a UV filter or clear optical flat for obvious reasons.

 

[Kino]

I suggest that if you are going the Vaseline or nose grease route, do it on a UV filter or clear optical flat for obvious reasons.

 

[jeffreyg]

Focus to make a sharp negative. Get two pieces of quarter inch glass about 6in x 6in. Tape the edges so you don't get cut. Put a few drops of baby oil between the glass squares. Focus the negative sharp on the easel ; under the enlarger lens move the pieces of glass over each other until you see what you like. Make a test print to determine the length of exposure. I've done this with excellent results and recently digitally photographed one of the prints and had it enlarged to 6ft x 5ft for an exhibition. It came out great.
This way you have a sharp negative and can diffuse as desired. Originally a number of years ago the original silver gelatin print was selected by Cole Weston as best of show in an exhibition.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://wwwsculptureandphotography.com/