Picture This

Our Picture This! assignment this month was “Soft Effects,” using various techniques to get an ethereal look that matches and enhances subject matter. While members of the f/64 club might wince at the thought, adding soft effects through filters (lens or computer) is part of a long-standing tradition among a certain romantic tradition of the craft. Readers sent in a wide variety of images, with florals being in the majority, which show how adding a bit of softness to an image can be a good thing.

A Child’s Hand

Geri Bragg used Tiffen’s DX software to add a very pleasing soft effect. She photographed with a Nikon D300 and a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens; exposure was f/5.6 at 1⁄2500 sec at ISO 800. © 2009, Geri Bragg, All Rights Reserved

Travelers

Irwin H. Segel sent us a twist on the assignment using subject motion for the softening touch. He photographed with a Nikon D200 and a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens with an exposure of f/8 at 1⁄8 sec at ISO 400. © 2009, Irwin H. Segel, All Rights Reserved

Dreamscapes #3

Howard Grill worked with a Lensbaby Composer and a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II to make this self-portrait. Exposure at ISO 100 was 1.3 seconds. © 2009, Howard Grill, All Rights Reserved

In Flight

Camera and subject motion combined for a magical effect in this photo by Michael Eurbin. Exposure with a Nikon D300 at ISO 200 was f/5.6 at 1⁄6 sec. © 2009, Michael Eurbin, All Rights Reserved

Smoky Mountains

Bob Wells used a Singh-Ray diffusion filter on his Sigma 17-35mm lens for this early morning image. Exposure with his Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II was f/11 at 1⁄25 sec. © 2009, Bob Wells, All Rights Reserved

In Camera

Stan Patz used this image for a promotional card for his studio. He photographed with a Calumet 8x10 camera with a reducing back on 4x5 Ektachrome E100S film. © 2009, Stan Patz, All Rights Reserved

Child With Puppy

Bob Hawkins made this loving photo of his great-granddaughter and her new puppy with an Olympus E-510 camera and a Zuiko 50mm lens. The effects were added using Corel’s Paint Shop Pro. © 2009, Bob Hawkins, All Rights Reserved

Diffusion Glass

Robert K. Bailey used a classic soft focus prop—a bathroom shower door—to get this shot of a vase and flowers. Exposure with a Canon EOS 50D was f/16 at 0.6 seconds at ISO 400. © 2009, Robert K. Bailey, All Rights Reserved

Floral Play

Randy Ryan used shallow depth of field and planes of light and dark for a soft touch on these delicate flowers. Exposure with a Canon EOS 40D and a Canon 100mm macro lens was f/3.5 at 1⁄2000 sec. © 2009, Randy Ryan, All Rights Reserved

Yellow Flower

Very selective focus gave this photo just the right feel. Donald F. Biresch made the photo with a Nikon D3 and a Nikkor 200mm macro lens; exposure at ISO 200 was f/4.5 at 1⁄125 sec. © 2009, Donald F. Biresch, All Rights Reserved

Tamarack Cones

Ronald Plonka caught all the design and color of these pine cones with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and a Sigma 400mm lens. He added the soft focus effect using Photoshop’s Blur filter. © 2009, Ronald Plonka, All Rights Reserved