Bokeh is the focus - Open thread

[sury]

Thanks Andy and honestly I did not realize the transition till you mentioned. I thank
you for pointing it to me.

Sury

[sury]

Trying bokeh and panorama combined... Just started and ways to go
Daughter is at college and mom could not be convinced to model. So
went with flowers.

The very first attempt:

[aster]

Flowers are good subjects for bokeh, Sury. : )

I personally find the second one more pleasing to the eye; no distracting out-of-focus subjects and a smoother, blurry background in the distance.
As for the first and the third; the in-focus flowers would have been more appealing had the bokeh in front and behind the subjects been less distracting and smoother. Trying in panoramic works nicely though, has a cinematographic appeal...


My humble opinion would be thus.

Thanks for sharing.

Yildiz

[sury]

Thank you Yildiz. Your comments are much appreciated. Since these are the first
three of the technique, I very much appreciate your input. Good points about the
foreground blur being a distraction. I need to choose my subjects more judiciously.

Managed to convince the missus to stand still for few seconds so that I can try it
with a person as well. Not quite the effect I was imagining but I did learn few more
things about the composition. Like it should have been a square one with a 2D panorama
rather than a single sweep. For example the second one is a two row 15 col. panorama.
Does not have quite the effect I was hoping but again this is just a beginning of a practice of new technique.

[CharlieWebster]

Reaching Branches by unoh7, Leica 75/1.4 WO on M9.

same setup:

Bliss Not Butts by unoh7, on Flickr

Probably my most famous "bokeh" lens above.

I have a very wide tolerance for bokeh, from just cream, like the RX1, to just wild, like the 1950s Nikon 50/1.4 RF lens. When artifacts go completely 3D, that's usually the line for me.

[CharlieWebster]

Here is a lens not noted for great bokeh:

DSC01842 by elleliv, ZM 35/2 Biogon on Sony A7.mod

Yet to my eye the crazy bokeh enhances the shot.

[aster]

Hi CharlieWebster;

Those are some nice compositions and bokeh studies. The background subjects with a slight blur work to complement the subjects in the foreground, that is, the tree branches, the wooden fence, and the action inducing blur in the skier's snow goggles.

Thanks for sharing. : )

-------------------------------------------

Hi again Sury; : )

You're too kind. Thanks for tolerating receiving so many views.

I think the lens and its capabilities have a lot to do with the background blur, as you probably are very well aware of. I like the shot where you actually placed your wife to the far right, all that space to the left enables the inclusion of many meaningful subjects. It's a "cool" shot type. In a better setting like in one of your travels to the national parks like to UTAH this portrait of your wife would have worked timelessly and majestically, with lots of wonderful rock formations and dramatic colours. : )
I think the second needs some more thinking with the usage of frame estate proportions and subject placements.

Which lens did you mount for the latest shots?

I like where you're heading with these new aspirations though.

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[ValeryD]

Really interesting topic. Basically I don't have a good bokeh in my pictures...
Maybe these pictures...

[sury]

Charlie and Valery, nice shots.
Charlie, the crazy bokeh as you termed it certainly did enhance the shot.
Valery, love the monkey shot a lot.

Yildiz,
The lens used was a Rokinon 85/1.4 A mount MF lens. I think Doc may have
suggested it a while ago, if I remember correctly. I was a tad disappointed
initially but realized it is crazy sharp in good light.

Sury

[aster]

Thank you for the lens info, Sury.

Somehow for an f1.4 lens the background isn't as creamy with the Rokinon. I'd have imagined that both the foreground and the background would be very creamy like in Valery's shots while the in-focus subjects remained the sharpest. Maybe it's because yours are not close ups but rather wide shots with a greater depth of field. The colour deliverance is nice though and sharp where required. Good lens and I believe it also is within budget. Doc is good in finding gems like that.


Valery, beautiful bokeh featured in your shots. : ) All are nice but I like the monkey and the butterfly the most for the subject matter. Very vivid colours too.

Thanks for sharing.

Yildiz

[RareTA]

Does this one qualify? Still learning this kind of stuff.

[sury]

Thank you for the lens info, Sury.

Somehow for an f1.4 lens the background isn't as creamy with the Rokinon. I'd have imagined that both the foreground and the background would be very creamy like in Valery's shots while the in-focus subjects remained the sharpest. Maybe it's because yours are not close ups but rather wide shots with a greater depth of field. The colour deliverance is nice though and sharp where required. Good lens and I believe it also is within budget. Doc is good in finding gems like that.


Valery, beautiful bokeh featured in your shots. : ) All are nice but I like the monkey and the butterfly the most for the subject matter. Very vivid colours too.

Thanks for sharing.

Yildiz

Good point Yildiz. I am still figuring out so your input is quite insightful to keep in mind.

Sury

[sury]

Ken,
Absolutely it will fit with the category. An interesting composition
and I like it for the novelty of it. Something to keep in mind. I learned
something new in terms of composition and manipulation of focus.
The obvious thing would have been to have horse in focus. Perhaps
a life lesson too. Sometimes de-focusing on obvious can open up
other paths. Waxing my Monday morning blues...

Sury

[RareTA]

I'll have to admit I was trying to focus on the horse but when It grabbed the grass I though this might be OK. Personally I like the way it came out. I did get plenty of the horse but I liked this one better.

[RareTA]

Really interesting topic. Basically I don't have a good bokeh in my pictures...
Maybe these pictures...

I really like the third one with the butterfly.