need photo help

[wave5]

hi :cry
can someone tell me how to get my pictures like these:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindyprins/4551537074/in/faves-entula/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindyprins/4821844248/in/faves-entula/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darcyface/3588314434/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darcyface/3579034199/in/photostream/

i want that whole nostalgia type soft pictures but idk how to get them... :cry


so how do i achieve that?? can some1 give step by step :lust
thank you
:thumb

[Art Scott]

Really large apertures......like f2.8 to f1.........remember the smaller the F number the larger the aperture is...........but those were [rpbably shot around F4
withthe amount of DOF there seems to be.....but again that depends on the lens also.......it could also have been a lensbaby wich is a great little tool for
creating soft focus and selective focus for fine art work like this.........

also soft lighting...using portable hommade lighting tens can be a huge help also......................

it also takes lots of practice....practice.....practice................. ...........

[Toshido]

Took a shot at this using light room post processing.

Original, well at least what I started with.
http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/photos/1064434757_RHkBA-L.jpg

Processed.
http://tag-photos.smugmug.com/photos/1065283215_EVW7n-XL.jpg

I think this might in the ballpark of what you are looking for.

If you do like it and want a starting point to try it here is what I did.

Reduce vibrance, clarity, black point, saturation, and contrast. Increased the brightness a little bit, and also exposure a touch.
Added a small white vignette to brighten the corners. Finally added a little grain to it.

[Qarik]

for vintage type shots, the keys to post-processing typically include:

1) lower contrast and or weak black point

2) slightly over exposed to the eye

3) decreased saturation

4) adding some kind of color cast..slightly green or magenta seems popular

[wave5]

thanks 4 tips and nice example toshido