RE: [Leica] Bokeh - OT Long

["Bill" <bnelsch@qwest.net>]

To see Vermeer's prints side by side go to
http://www.ccsf.caltech.edu/~roy/vermeer/thumb.html

Bill in Denver

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Ron Schwarz
> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 2:40 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Bokeh - OT Long
>
>
> My (possibly faulty) understanding has been that the "camera
> obscura" was a
> darkened room with one wall holding the image formed by a pinhole
> "lens" in
> the opposite wall.
>
> If so, then the "clue" is mistaken, because there's no such thing as "out
> of focus" with a pinhole "lens".  A pinhole -- in addition to having
> complete absence of distortion and flare, and perfect color correction --
> has infinite "depth of field".  When the distance between the objective
> (the pinhole) and the focal plane changes, focal *length*
> changes.  IOW, it
> becomes a zoom lens.  But focus remains infinite.
>
> Of course if he used an actual lens in his C/O then the clue
> remains valid.
>
>
> At 10:25 AM 6/1/01 -0700, you wrote:
> >>Mystery of Vermeer's technique uncovered...
> >
> >
> >I for one will be very interested to see the book - I am a big fan of
> >Vermeer's work and over the years have amassed a small library of titles
> >related to "the Master of Delft."
> >
> >His use of a camera obscura has been debated for years, and while many
> >scholars believe Vermeer did use one to make his pictures (the tell-tale
> >blurs [particularly visible in "The Lace Maker" and "Girl with a
> Red Hat"]
> >and unusual perspectives being the usual "clues" given), many others
> >disagree.
> >
> >Whatever the case may be, there has never been any concrete proof that he
> >used one. I'm not sure if such a thing can be proved - mathematically or
> >otherwise - but it is sure to keep many a tongue-wagging and
> generate a few
> >more books that - fool that I am - I run out and buy.
> >
> >Guy
> >
> >
>