Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/31

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Subject: Re: [Leica] two sample images of great bokeh
From: "Julian Koplen" <jkoplen@mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 18:58:02 -0500
References: <NBBBIDNIGLFOKNLJCPLHMEEPFAAA.ddh@home.com> <3A4F9FF1.4D14E10C@home.com>

Without going into theory, I gotta tell you my experience.  I clicked on the
URL specifically to see the bokeh described in Don's message.  When I saw
the picture, I admired it and then went back to the LUG.  Only when I read
Ted's reaction did I realize that I never even looked at the bokeh.  The
subject model had captured my whole attention.  Would ugly bokeh have
distracted me?  I don't know.

Julian
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ted <tedgrant@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] two sample images of great bokeh


But Dan who the hell looks at the background? My eyes didn't go beyond the
Russian model!!!

I'm mean lets get real here as to what's really important in the picture!
Is
it all the out of focus background of people etc. or the beautiful eyes and
face of the model? Hell she just pops of the screen simply because she is
sharply in focus where the picture should be in focus and the back ground is
just all out of focus simply because it's out of focus due to how close he
was
to the model and the technical aspect of the lens being wide open!  This
bokeh
stuff is just too much esoteric nonsense!

Does it make the picture great? Or once again,  is it the models eyes and
face
that make it a wonderful facial photograph?

Lets face it, I suppose some guys get all hully gully over this stuff,  but
let
me ask you how much bokeh influence do you or anyone else think I was
influenced in shooting the medical profession book? Hell it never entered my
mind simply because technically the background just goes out of  focus at
anytime one is working wide open or nearly so and the subject is usually
close
to the lens!

Nor at anytime did it cross my mind in the OR to use a particular lens
because
the background would look cutesy nice behind the concentrating surgeon!

Sorry to go out on the last day of the year a tad off, but out of focus
background is just that.......out of focus background!
ted



Dan Honemann wrote:

> Browsing Kirk Tuck's site (www.kirktuck.com), I came across two of my
> favorite b&w images, both stellar examples of great bokeh (fg & bg):
>
> http://www.kirktuck.com/Portfolios/FunStuff/3-2.html
> http://www.kirktuck.com/Portfolios/Streetshots/5-3.html
>
> Not sure what lens(es) Kirk used to shoot these, but they are both
standout
> images.
>
> Dan

In reply to: Message from "Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com> ([Leica] two sample images of great bokeh)
Message from Ted <tedgrant@home.com> (Re: [Leica] two sample images of great bokeh)