Soft-focused

Describing an image or representation characterized by a lack of sharp, crisp details, resulting in a diffused and somewhat hazy appearance. This effect is often achieved through specific photographic techniques, such as using a soft-focus lens, applying Vaseline to the lens, or post-processing methods. It aims to create a gentle, romantic, or dreamlike aesthetic, often obscuring imperfections and emphasizing the subject's emotional or atmospheric qualities. It can also refer to vague or indistinct depictions beyond the visual realm, such as blurred memories or hazy concepts.

Soft-focused meaning with examples

• The portrait, rendered with a soft-focused lens, gave the actress an ethereal quality, smoothing over any minor blemishes and highlighting the beauty of her eyes. This style was perfect for the romantic melodrama. It contributed to the overall mood of nostalgia and idealized love, and was often used in fashion photography to create a timeless, graceful look.
• Looking back on her childhood, her memories were soft-focused; the details blurred, leaving her with a feeling of warmth and peace. She could recall the general scenes, like playing with her friends, but not the finer details. This soft focus made the distant past seem more gentle and perfect than the reality was.
• The director instructed the cinematographer to use a soft-focused filter during the dream sequence to give the scenes an unreal, otherworldly atmosphere. This technique heightened the sense of the characters being lost and confused, lost in a landscape that was only partly real. This added to the symbolic nature of the sequence.
• The author used soft-focused descriptions of the city's architecture, focusing on the light and shadow rather than precise outlines, to create a sense of mystery and age. This technique set the reader in the mindset of a stranger with a limited view of the location. She tried to allow them to explore the city as if they were also lost.