August Monthly Photography Challenge - Bokeh - Discussion

[londonagent]

This thread is for discussion of the monthly challenge.

This description may help:

Bokeh - "Bokeh describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light.

Bokeh is different from sharpness. Sharpness is what happens at the point of best focus. Bokeh is what happens away from the point of best focus.

Bokeh describes the appearance, or "feel," of out-of-focus areas. Bokeh is not how far something is out-of-focus, bokeh is the character of whatever blur is there."

Good luck, I am looking forward to seeing all the entries

[RobDickinson]

I had a bunch of shots from last month!!


A Fence Post by robjdickinson, on Flickr


17-524 by robjdickinson, on Flickr



Drop Abstract by robjdickinson, on Flickr


Rope light by robjdickinson, on Flickr


Guitar in B&W by robjdickinson, on Flickr


Brownies pad 7 by robjdickinson, on Flickr

[HoHoHo]

So is this Bokeh?


Bokeh by Martin_Bennett, on Flickr

[Rich K]

this was taken last month so not an eligible entry
sunlight dancing upon ripples on shallow water

[londonagent]

I was kind of thinking along the lines of Rob's rope light and Rich_K's pictures. A not great example from me:

Houses of Parliament Bokeh by iainsr, on Flickr

Edited by londonagent on Friday 5th August 18:42

[Robbie B]

I've never entered the challenge before. I've only got 1 Bokeh shot though and it just happened to be taken this month I'm not sure it's quite up to the standard above though!

[darkcat]

londonagent said:

I was kind of thinking along the lines of Rob's rope light and Rich_K's pictures. A not great example from me:

Houses of Parliament Bokeh by iainsr, on Flickr

Edited by londonagent on Friday 5th August 18:42

actually makes my eyes hurt trying to focus!!!!

[londonagent]

darkcat said:

actually makes my eyes hurt trying to focus!!!!

I did say it wasn't a very good example.

[pphillpot]

Hmm, I got a few shots at the recent Goodwood Breakfast Club that might fit the bill this month


Ford Rat Rod by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Ferrari 365 GTC by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Jaguar MKII by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Porsche 911T by paul_phillpot, on Flickr

[londonagent]

pphillpot said:

Hmm, I got a few shots at the recent Goodwood Breakfast Club that might fit the bill this month


Ford Rat Rod by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Ferrari 365 GTC by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Jaguar MKII by paul_phillpot, on Flickr


Porsche 911T by paul_phillpot, on Flickr

Some crackers there, won't say which is my favourite, but some contenders definately. Good Luck!

[Dogsey]

Rosebay Willowherb by dogsey, on Flickr

Taken on: August 13, 2011 at 2.59pm BST

Exif data
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[Skaffen]

Too many Lamborghinis at Wilton (as usual) made it tricky to get a clean shot of this piece of tarmac:

Piece Of Tarmac

(I'd remembered this month's challenge )

[Skaffen]

Another one from wilton:

Fountain

[jr502]

This one was a little too early.

Taken from on stage at Blickling hall, crowd probably around 6000 at this time, everything was going well and then after the band finished performing (Missing Andy), I realised my flies were undone! Hopefully people were more interested in the band!


MA_Blickling_025.jpg by J A Richardson Photography, on Flickr

[pphillpot]

Don't think I'll be submitting this one, but here's another recent shot that fits the bill quite wel:


Sony NEX 5 with Canon FD 50mm 1.8 by paul_phillpot, on Flickr

[Skaffen]

I tried a few different angles, focal points and differing DoF on this fan - still not totally happy with it, but this felt the most pleasing out of what I got:

Fan

[mattdaniels]

I know it's subjective but to me a lot of these shots aren't bokeh they are just shallow depth of field. With bokeh you are trying to get smooth soft discs of bright light in the out of focus parts of the image.

[HoHoHo]

mattdaniels said:

I know it's subjective but to me a lot of these shots aren't bokeh they are just shallow depth of field. With bokeh you are trying to get smooth soft discs of bright light in the out of focus parts of the image.

A bit like Robbie's for example?

[Dogsey]

mattdaniels said:

I know it's subjective but to me a lot of these shots aren't bokeh they are just shallow depth of field. With bokeh you are trying to get smooth soft discs of bright light in the out of focus parts of the image.

From the OP:

londonagent said:

Bokeh - "Bokeh describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light.

Bokeh is different from sharpness. Sharpness is what happens at the point of best focus. Bokeh is what happens away from the point of best focus.

Bokeh describes the appearance, or "feel," of out-of-focus areas. Bokeh is not how far something is out-of-focus, bokeh is the character of whatever blur is there."

The last line in particular is the definition of bokeh as I understand it.

[Skaffen]

mattdaniels said:

I know it's subjective but to me a lot of these shots aren't bokeh they are just shallow depth of field. With bokeh you are trying to get smooth soft discs of bright light in the out of focus parts of the image.

I concur with what Dogsey said - what you're talking about is bokeh of highlights and I believe bokeh is not just about out of focus highlights. I think that's a common association, as the bokeh of a lens is most clearly demonstrated with how the highlights appear (and out of focus highlights are very distinctive so have an obvious contribution to an image as a whole), but bokeh isn't restricted to that.

My interpretation of the challenge was that the image should include out of focus elements, and those elements should be an important part of the image as a whole, and the feel of them is key.