[Leica] IMG: Bokeh?

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Tina showed and asked:

Subject: [Leica] IMG: Bokeh?

>>>A question about bokeh in two photos.  These are straight out of the 

camera with just levels adjusted.  Is the bokeh too distracting?  I 

deliberately shot wide open to throw the background and foreground 

out and emphasize the girl on these.  I have others that are stopped down
more.<<<<<<<

 

http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/image/110355394

 

http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/image/110355396

 

OK  here goes:

First things first, bokeh or whatever you want to call it is irrelevant, as
quite simply the back ground isn't far enough out of focus, period! And the
lens is too short.

Call it what it is, that's the bottom line it's just plain old fashion out
of focus!  Not far enough out of focus!

 

In the first picture, the Llama is far more distracting than the background
because it's almost like it was an after thought stick it in to fill the
space. If it weren't there and the picture was still a horizontal it
would've been the better of the two pictures. Sure the background is a
distraction, but not quite as bad as in the vertical photograph. Moving
closer to subject and the background would've been almost visually
acceptable. 

 

The vertical photo should've been shot with a longer lens, actually they
both should've been shot with a longer lens or move closer and it would've
blown the backgrd completely out. Certainly moving closer and shot
horizontally eliminating the huge waste space of distracting background. not
because it's bokeh, but because it isn't far enough out of focus and our
eyes are trying to push it into focus.

 

If one is going to shoot like this, go wide open and use a longer lens. Then
the background wont appear as a badly focused photograph! But a pleasant
completely out of focus where you, CAN NOT MAKE OUT ANYTHING !!  But a
pleasant mass of indistinguishable colours supporting the main subject. It's
the masses of people in semi-distracting semi-outfocus that's the problem.
A much longer lens... or if this is the only lens available, move in tighter
to the subject and the semi-recognizable background will be nothing but a
beautiful blur of colours.

 

The lens is the problem in creating the distracting background than anything
else. Or bokeh if it makes you all feel better! ;-) 

 

I may have repeated myself also.

 

Dr. ted