Important Secrets...
Whether you're using a pair of cast-off nylons, a trick filter or a special soft-focus lens, there are two basic guide-lines to follow for the best soft-focus effects. First, the optimum lens aperture settings are the wide ones. Closing-down the lens aperture by two or three stops will make the main subject progressively sharper and the desired soft- focus effect may disappear completely at the middle to minimum apertures, especially with any lens wider than standard, such as a 28mm or 24mm wide-angle.

Secondly, the subject and lighting contrast should be fairly high. Back-lit subjects lend themselves particularly well to the soft-focus treatment, especially when the rim lighting produced is diffused to create a halo around the subject. Because soft-focus attachments scatter light in all directions, cameras with built-in TTL exposure meters will tend to see too much light and give a false reading leading to under-exposure. In fact soft-focus images are best created with over-exposure by one or even two stops from the recommended meter reading... color slides which normally look washed-out when exposed to too much light will benefit from slight over-exposure in these cases.

Because the soft-focus effect can be achieved with as little as a puff of breath, a smear of Vaseline or a pair of laddered tights, it's easy to experiment without committing yourself to undue expense. The effect is personal in both rendition and appreciation. If you like what you see after your initial attempts you can invest in a proper set of Zeiss "Softar" filters or ultimately a soft-focus lens.

Manufacturers currently (or until recently) making soft-focus auto-focus lenses for 35mm systems are Canon, Sony (Minolta) and Pentax. And a new independent company has exploded on the scene with "Lensbabies" which can be adapted to fit most 35mm/digital SLR cameras. For medium-format SLR users, there were examples from Mamiya and Pentax listed in catalogs until very recently and which may still be available from professional dealer stock... or more likely from eBay at much reduced prices/winning bids.

Although some of these specialist optics are very expensive and primarily for the domain of the wedding, portrait and advertising photographer, you can find some good alternatives in your kitchen cupboard or bedroom drawer to experiment with... all it takes is a little imagination and an acceptance of pictures that aren't as pin-sharp as you would normally expect them to be. As I hinted at the start... it's not necessary to join the so-called MTF Club... doing so may stop you taking the pictures you really like best of all!

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