The Bokeh Club

**csa** · 11-21-2014, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by schnitzer79

sigma 24-70 f2.8

I really like this image!

Cuthbert · 11-23-2014, 07:22 AM - **1 Like**

K1000, K55 mmm f2.0, Portra 160...shot at 1/125 f2.0 I think:

Head of a viola d'amore and a viola da gamba at 1/30...I didn't expect the DOF of the 2.0 to be so shallow:

Na Horuk · 11-23-2014, 04:33 PM

Hm I took this photo some time ago, but unfortunately, bokeh is about all that it has going for it.. not enough in-focus plants. A case for AF - but Pentax doesnt make a 28mm AF lens!

**ivanvernon** · 11-23-2014, 05:39 PM

Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus?

Eagle_Friends · 11-23-2014, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus?

In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

So it depends...

---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ----------

FA 15mm f4

---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ----------

FA 77mm f1.8

Cuthbert · 11-24-2014, 02:10 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus?

It's in the eye of the beholder, I assume..some people can call them good pics, others bad ones. A lot of old school photographers I met consider "bokeh" bad pics and in one case the lab tech didn't develop two of my pics because "they were out of focus, obviously a focusing error".

Jean Poitiers · 11-24-2014, 04:42 AM

Originally posted by Cuthbert

It's in the eye of the beholder, I assume..some people can call them good pics, others bad ones. A lot of old school photographers I met consider "bokeh" bad pics and in one case the lab tech didn't develop two of my pics because "they were out of focus, obviously a focusing error".

Agreed with the idea of "eye of the beholder" ... and bokeh is quite subjective IMHO.

Where, how much, definition of OFF vs. DOF vs. subject isolation.

Rear bokeh only, front bokeh only or both; go pick, go figure.

An oldie... top maybe in focus which decreases downwards, background bokeh dominates. YMMV.

Front bokeh or OOF ... plus, darn it, the background is almost uniform which isolates the focused and OOF items ...

Reversed ... with a very thin DOF. Again, YMMV

Na Horuk · 11-24-2014, 06:21 AM

For it to be bokeh, it has to be OoF, but also has to look good. Of course, "looking good" becomes subjective. For example, some people really like swirly bokeh of the Soviet lenses, other people cannot stand it.
Bokeh doesn't have to be completely unrecognizable, but it has to be.. on purpose. Has to be part of the photo, composition. As in, if you try to take a photo and miss focus, you can't just sell it as bokeh. But we try anyway

eddie1960 · 11-24-2014, 08:12 AM

Originally posted by Eagle_Friends

In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

So it depends...

---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ----------

FA 15mm f4

---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ----------

FA 77mm f1.8

Good examples, IMO it's out of focus if there is no clear intended subject (IE it lack any composition qualities) exception being the kind of cliche Bokeh ball compositions which we should see an onslaught of in December with Xmas

I think the use of OOF to enhance a shot and isolate a subject is essentially the core of the idea. then it is down to how the lens renders (smooth swirly, creamy etc) . Like any arera of Photography it's down to composition and subject though. We all still post our mediocre shots sometime because the OOF looks so good

Jean Poitiers · 11-24-2014, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

Good examples .... We all still post our mediocre shots sometime because the OOF looks so good

Guilty as charged.

eddie1960 · 11-24-2014, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by Jean Poitiers

Guilty as charged.

no one is more guilty than me lol

Jean Poitiers · 11-24-2014, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by eddie1960

no one is more guilty than me lol

Let's start a club ... it will be just us two.

eddie1960 · 11-24-2014, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by Jean Poitiers

Let's start a club ... it will be just us two.

Ok let me just grab the DA14 and try for Bokeh

schnitzer79 · 11-24-2014, 11:00 AM - **2 Likes**

from the Helios Club

Driline · 11-24-2014, 11:34 AM - **3 Likes**

FA 31 shot down the middle of my Christmas train layout.

11-23-2014, 04:33 PM	#3483
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Hm I took this photo some time ago, but unfortunately, bokeh is about all that it has going for it.. not enough in-focus plants. A case for AF - but Pentax doesnt make a 28mm AF lens! Last edited by Na Horuk; 05-23-2017 at 11:23 AM.

11-23-2014, 05:39 PM	#3484
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Is it bokeh? Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DA* Club	MCR	Lens Clubs	5906	8 Hours Ago 07:30 AM
The F Club!	jsherman999	Lens Clubs	1237	04-12-2024 04:04 PM
D-FA WR Club	Rico	Lens Clubs	671	03-10-2024 03:17 AM
Bokina versus Bokeh Monster, which bokeh you prefer?	Pentaxor	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	3	04-21-2010 01:50 AM
In the club again	metroeloise	Post Your Photos!	4	10-20-2008 08:59 AM

11-21-2014, 09:45 AM	#3481
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Originally posted by schnitzer79 sigma 24-70 f2.8 I really like this image!

11-23-2014, 07:22 AM - 1 Like	#3482
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	K1000, K55 mmm f2.0, Portra 160...shot at 1/125 f2.0 I think: Head of a viola d'amore and a viola da gamba at 1/30...I didn't expect the DOF of the 2.0 to be so shallow:

11-23-2014, 11:29 PM	#3485
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971 Original Poster	Originally posted by ivanvernon Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus? In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light". So it depends... ---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ---------- FA 15mm f4 ---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ---------- FA 77mm f1.8

11-24-2014, 02:10 AM	#3486
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Originally posted by ivanvernon Dear bokeh experts, I have a question . . . if you can tell what it is, is it still bokeh or just out of focus? It's in the eye of the beholder, I assume..some people can call them good pics, others bad ones. A lot of old school photographers I met consider "bokeh" bad pics and in one case the lab tech didn't develop two of my pics because "they were out of focus, obviously a focusing error".

11-24-2014, 04:42 AM	#3487
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by Cuthbert It's in the eye of the beholder, I assume..some people can call them good pics, others bad ones. A lot of old school photographers I met consider "bokeh" bad pics and in one case the lab tech didn't develop two of my pics because "they were out of focus, obviously a focusing error". Agreed with the idea of "eye of the beholder" ... and bokeh is quite subjective IMHO. Where, how much, definition of OFF vs. DOF vs. subject isolation. Rear bokeh only, front bokeh only or both; go pick, go figure. An oldie... top maybe in focus which decreases downwards, background bokeh dominates. YMMV. Front bokeh or OOF ... plus, darn it, the background is almost uniform which isolates the focused and OOF items ... Reversed ... with a very thin DOF. Again, YMMV

11-24-2014, 06:21 AM	#3488
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	For it to be bokeh, it has to be OoF, but also has to look good. Of course, "looking good" becomes subjective. For example, some people really like swirly bokeh of the Soviet lenses, other people cannot stand it. Bokeh doesn't have to be completely unrecognizable, but it has to be.. on purpose. Has to be part of the photo, composition. As in, if you try to take a photo and miss focus, you can't just sell it as bokeh. But we try anyway

11-24-2014, 08:12 AM	#3489
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Eagle_Friends In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light". So it depends... ---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ---------- FA 15mm f4 ---------- Post added 11-23-14 at 10:34 PM ---------- FA 77mm f1.8 Good examples, IMO it's out of focus if there is no clear intended subject (IE it lack any composition qualities) exception being the kind of cliche Bokeh ball compositions which we should see an onslaught of in December with Xmas I think the use of OOF to enhance a shot and isolate a subject is essentially the core of the idea. then it is down to how the lens renders (smooth swirly, creamy etc) . Like any arera of Photography it's down to composition and subject though. We all still post our mediocre shots sometime because the OOF looks so good

11-24-2014, 10:04 AM	#3490
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by eddie1960 Good examples .... We all still post our mediocre shots sometime because the OOF looks so good Guilty as charged.

11-24-2014, 10:10 AM	#3491
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Jean Poitiers Guilty as charged. no one is more guilty than me lol

11-24-2014, 10:12 AM	#3492
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by eddie1960 no one is more guilty than me lol Let's start a club ... it will be just us two.

11-24-2014, 10:22 AM	#3493
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Jean Poitiers Let's start a club ... it will be just us two. Ok let me just grab the DA14 and try for Bokeh

11-24-2014, 11:00 AM - 2 Likes	#3494
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	from the Helios Club

11-24-2014, 11:34 AM - 3 Likes	#3495
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	FA 31 shot down the middle of my Christmas train layout.