Published in Amateur Photographer : Beautiful bokeh
Like every photographer newly bitten by the photography bug, I read voraciously about my new hobby – although I think in recent years Youtube has become the main source of info for photographers. One of the magazines I would devour every week, was Amateur Photographer. It is incredible to think this magazine has been going since 1884. Incredible longevity.
And with that, it was quite an honor when the team at AP asked if I wanted to contribute an article on bokeh. It’s one of my pet hates in photography when people interchange ‘shallow depth of field’ for ‘bokeh’. There’s a relationship, but not that direct equivalence. So I am particular about using the phrase ‘bokeh’, defined as the subjective quality of (usually) the foreground blur. I’m very specific about distinguishing it from shallow depth of field.
In this article, I used images shown in articles on using vintage lenses. That’s the specific appeal for me in using vintage lenses – their often unique rendering of the out of focus background. ie, the bokeh of the lenses. So in the article I use these as examples of interesting bokeh, extending it further than the usual desire for “smooth” bokeh.
For example, as in this photo (not shown in the article in Amateur Photographer) of Anastasiya in Times Square, photographed in Times Square with the legendary Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 lens (affiliate). The bokeh certainly isn’t harsh with a jittery edge to it. But neither is it smooth. There’s an interesting structure to it. And that is what I love about using vintage lenses – they all have different characteristics.
Related articles
- More articles on Bokeh
- More articles on using vintage lenses / classic lenses
Gosh, with all the crap happening in the world over the past couple of years, I confess that I haven’t checked out the site of my guru anywhere near like I used to. Indeed, its been the recent (and perhaps problematic) relaxation of Covid restrictions here in Australia that has finally seen the drought broken and the photography work start to come in again.
And with the renewed engagements comes the renewed interest in honing my skills and reacquainting myself with things I might have forgotten. A couple of days ago my workhorse – the Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS USM (and Bar) – finally gave up the ghost after 11 years of sterling hard work, and I recently acquired another 6D body after my original caved in to the impact of humidity and whatever else one might associate with wildlife photography. The bloke from who I bought the 6D was slow in posting it to me so included a 75-300mm Canon lens by way of atonement. Noisy as screeching Banshees on a night out and slow to focus as an 89 year-old without his monocle, I’ve no desire to engage this lens in any paying job but…my recent testing shows it to be extremely sharp!
Neil, I hope you and your family are doing well in these difficult times (still) and that you and yours continue to prosper. I’ve never forgot the insight and learning that you provided, that made all the difference to the quality of my creative output. On another point, I’m sure that – like you – I lament the passing of Desmond Tutu. Some human beings live their lives in such exemplary fashion that it truly sets them apart the hordes and you wonder, perhaps, if they were indeed human.
Love and best wishes
Roy Barnes (in Austyralia)
Yeah, unfortunately I have been a bit slow with this blog. 2020 was a dead year for me with very little work – hence not much to post about. Then 2021 exploded, and it was as if 2020 wanted to catch up as well, and I was overwhelmed with work – hence not much time to update. But that’ll change because I fully intend this site to keep running.
And agreed on the persistent impact that Desmond Tutu had on this world.
Neil.
Always a pleasure to receive new content.
Best,
William Perrelli