[Leica] out of focus objects in the foreground (was: re more on the GF-1, the finder, and a portrait of an artist)

[kcassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy)]

>From: kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney)
>
> Those are excellent portraits, whatever the camera.  I had an instructor
>once who said don't have anything in the foreground out of focus...one less
>thing to worry about now.  


>> I'm finding the GF-1 with the 20mm f 1.7 an awesome ... really, substitute
>>[snip]
>> http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2010/john-ennis-1.jpg
>> http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2010/john-ennis-2.jpg

i often find myself looking FOR something out of focus to put in the 
foreground.

http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2010/tom-purdom-3.jpg
http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2009/hhdl7.jpg

especially in "newsy" type photos I like to frame a subject with out of 
focus foreground objects. i think that, and i haven't really paused to 
consider this deeply, that it give a more 3d look -- the flat sort of 
telephoto lens 3d look, as though things are cardboard slices in a diorama 
-- i like it for some reason. it can be used to present the idea that other 
things are going on but that the subject is of paramount importance -- 
they're in the middle of whatever's going on. 


kc