Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/27
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on 28/8/00 1:07 AM, Krechtz@aol.com at Krechtz@aol.com wrote:
> It is a fact of photographic life that in
> many instances out of focus areas may occupy a significant amount of space
> within a frame. What that area looks like surely merits at least some
> consideration on the part of the photographer.
Some but not much: that is my point. It can become an unhealthy
preoccupation IMHO because there is no way of measuring or quantifying it in
practice, particularly with a rangefinder camera.
on 28/8/00 2:06 AM, Krechtz@aol.com at Krechtz@aol.com wrote:
> No more so than reading MTF curves or other reports based on measured or
> measurable performance characteristics or criteria, in order to choose which
> lens to purchase or use.
Hi Joe,
Firstly, any tips on how to get hold of the HCB interview video? I couldn't
find it on amazon (though I did get the earlier Sarah Moon documentary on
him: very amusing).
As for bokeh...
how many people carry MTF charts around and consult them before taking
a photo? How many 50/2 lenses do you carry with you and how many would you
carry with you in an ideal world to get the best bokeh for different
situations?
I like the overall imaging characteristics of the Leica lenses I have and
that is why I use them but like most photographers a palette of different
lenses means different focal lengths, max apertures, macro, zoom etc and not
different bokeh. Bokeh is indubitably one of those imaging characteristics
and it is interesting to know about it but nice bokeh is sufficiently low
down in my list of photo priorities to make the chances of carrying a
selection of identical focal length and max aperture lenses for use at
different distances, f-stops, lighting conditions and angles to get better
bokeh nil: the problem is that bokeh is not a constant or measurable quality
since all these factors affect each lens and image. I have never heard of
any photographer carrying a selection of lenses for their different bokeh
qualities - have you?
I use a variety of 50mm lenses but it is the focussing characteristics,
maximum aperture and weight that dictate which one I put in my bag or on the
camera. The overall look of a particular lens is something I get to know the
more I use a lens but the qualities of the in-focus part of the image (i.e.
the subject) are always (or at least 99.9% of the time) going to dominate
the attention of any viewer unless there is a serious content problem with
the photo. Whether the background is blurred or not is of course a creative
choice dictated by the aperture and focal length of the lens: the particular
characteristics of that blur with lens A vs lens B seems to me to be too
abstruse to worry about and again I ask for some evidence to show me which
photos are made or lost due to bokeh characteristics. Sure I can see a
difference in the examples people have given but never yet have I seen the
real world application of this knowledge to create or even significantly
enhance a great image. To me that is sufficient reason to not be too worried
about it.
It is a bit like arguing the merits of HP5 vs TriX: if the photo is good it
doesn't matter but if it is not good then it also doesn't matter. That is
not to say that these films are identical or one better than the other: what
matters is making a choice and getting to know what you use well and not
obsessing over the details of some Holy Grail of technical minutiae at the
expense of actual image making. I recall Mike Johnston agonising over his
role as lens connoisseur because it got in the way of picture taking: OTOH
he got the whole bokeh thing going :^)
One of the characteristics of photography is that there is always going to
be a better technical approach to any photo you take whether it is a better
tripod, a more appropriate film, a different aperture/speed combo whatever:
one tries to optimise as much as practical but the introduction of new,
unquantifiable and vague variables such as bokeh and nukeh confuses matters
needlessly IMHO. Just press the button and get the image before it is too
late!
And now to take some photos!
Bests
Adrian
- --
Adrian Bradshaw
Corporate and Editorial Photography
Beijing, China
tel/fax +86 10 6532 5112
mobile +86 139 108 22292
e-mail apbbeijing@yahoo.com
OR adrianpeterbradshaw@compuserve.com
website: http://www.apbphoto.com
Please note my new mobile number (as of August 1st)
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