Put simply, netting a lens involves taking a piece of cloth (like a stocking) and attaching it to the rear element of a lens. What this does is add diffusion to the “look” of that lens as well as some interesting effects that can add a distinct style other diffusion methods can’t replicate.
(To see how it affects an image, read Shane Hurlbut’s Diffusion for the Digital Age – Using Stockings.)
And, if done correctly, you can leave the net on the lens throughout the entire shoot. It won’t come off when storing lenses, capping them, or mounting them onto the camera.
In the video above, cameraman Mako Koiwai shows the right way to add a net to a lens (using snot tape and some precision). His technique is brief, but excellently executed.
Thank you to Mako for the tutorial and make sure you check him out on Vimeo!
