Really great website. Has anyone tried a little vaseline around the edge of your lens. Go ahead and laugh, but I either heard this suggestion or was dreaming it and I sure would like an answer, what effect did it have on the image? Also, looking for sites which have dreamlike/fantasy (no porn plz). Suggest?

-- Red Spirit (nagiluta@netscape.net), April 25, 1999

Answers

Vaseline on a UV filter (do not put it directly on your lens) is a cheap way of getting a soft focus effect. Putting it around the periphery of the filter leaving the central area uncoated will give you a central area that is not softened and the center of interest will be sharp while the peripheral background will be soft. This is a fairly common portrait technique (a little over used in my opinion). Don't glob on too much vaseline. Just a dab will do ya.

-- Fritz M. Brown (brownf@idhw.state.id.us), April 26, 1999.

Vaseline on a UV filter

I seem to remember that the "Just a dab will do ya" advice applied to Brillcream not Vaseline :).

-- gerald whyte (gwhyte@ibm.net), April 27, 1999.

It's not a technique I've used, but a friend has had great success. Try it in areas other than the edges, or leave one side clear, or a strip through the middle. It can have an effect similar to veiw camera movements, in that you can through specific areas out of "focus"...t

-- tom meyer (twm@meteor.com), April 30, 1999.

the old vaseline trick, coat-hanger frame and panty hose works ok too also doubles as a scrim. I've even used vaseline on black and white printing paper to keep developer from reaching certain areas. Why? I have no earthly idea! just for fun I guess?

-- Trib (linhof6@hotmail.com), May 07, 1999.