In black-and-white films in the forties and fifties, whenever there's a closeup shot of an actress, the edges are blurred ever so slightly, which creates sort of a glowing, almost dreamlike look. I'm guessing they do something different with the lighting as well. What is this technique called? Or does it even have a name?
And I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find any examples right now. If I find some, I'll add them in later.
2006-07-16 08:26:19 · 4 answers · asked by Qchan05 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
It's called 'soft focus'. Although, strictly speaking, soft focus is a technical flaw in the lens itself, it is sometimes deliberately introduced into a lens as a gimmick or special effect. The resulting soft focus lens is used as an effect for "glamour" portrait photography, because the lack of sharp focus eliminates blemishes, and in atmospheric photography to produce a dream-like image. Equally, the effect of a soft focus lens is sometimes approximated by the use of diffusion filters or reproduced by post-processing procedures.
For day to day work, or, if you want to experiment, a tiny smear of Vaseline around the periphery of the camera lens will achieve the same effect.
2006-07-16 08:31:54 · answer #1 · answered by Superdog 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is often called a Haloing Effect, like an angel. Or they just say we used a softening lens. You got to love those close ups.
2006-07-16 16:23:25 · answer #2 · answered by Kellie M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a filter, sometimes it was nylon stretched tight over the lens of the camera, or some other material. FUnny how they always did it for female close ups...
2006-07-16 15:29:42 · answer #3 · answered by KB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they acutally used to even use petroleum jelly to blur images. gels? maybe?
2006-07-16 15:31:41 · answer #4 · answered by La la la la D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋