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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Team-Up Thursday~ Bokeh

When Berta suggested "BOKEH" for this week's theme, I did a little dance. I just knew I could get a GREAT shot for the theme. While I admit I didn't KNOW KNOW exactly what bokeh was, I definitely had heard it referred to a lot, and I knew exactly what I was looking for.

Then.....my week happened. It was a CRAZY busy week, with NO daycare, Tons of meetings and stuff at work, Dance Recital, and rain, rain rain.......sigh.

So while Berta got the shot I was hoping for....I did not.

So What EXACTLY is this crazy thing called BOKEH? After spending a bit of quality time googling, I found this definition to be most common:

A Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image. To be pronounced "bo" as in bone, and "ke" as in Kenneth.

So not only is it referring to the out of focus portion of a photography, it is also referring to the QUALITY of that blurry portion. This is where it all goes confusing. The BEST quality of bokeh is a very disputed thing around the photography world. It is subjective. Good bokeh is pleasing to the eye. It does not distract from the subject of the photo.

It seems to me that there is two kinds of bokeh, then. The "hollywood style", and the "cream cheese style". Berta's shot is the hollywood style. It is flashy bokeh. The beautiful circles of light. This type of bokeh is just as much the subject of the shot as the flower in focus. It is a stunner.

My photo is more the "cream cheese style". The background is completely blurred in a smooth gradient. The purpose of the bokeh is to keep your eye on the subject in focus. It does not distract at all.

All in all, I walked away from this week just a tad more confused about what BOKEH really, truly is....but for a better appreciate for all sort of blur. It all serves a purpose, and makes photography such an interesting hobby.


bokehdipew

Be sure to sign up, if you are a Team-up Thursday participant. I want to stop by your place, and see what you have been up to this week.

16 Live It or Love It:

Autumn said...

Oh I love me some nice Bokeh!! I learned something new today too.. didn't know what they called the two different kinds. Thanks for that! What I find interesting is that in both shots the in focus subject doesn't have a lot of contrast to the Bokeh itself. The coloring is so similar between subject and background. It's so fun to see the differences and similarities in the two shots each week. :)

Stefanie said...

both are so beautiful in their own way.
Great job!

Marcelle said...

I have never heard the word Bokeh ~ so today learned something new.

Great photo's.
I wondered if Berta would be able to get her pic done with all that is going on in her life right now.

Rhian Claire said...

Just love these shots - well done girls!

Kerstin said...

Hehe - i had to check "Leos dictionary" to find a translation and they don't have but while reading though some stuff I now know what BOKEH is!!!!
So always something to learn here at a member of the team up thursday family.
Great shot - sometimes those are more puncy as the "clear" ones.
Fantastic - and the theme is crazy but fantastic

Andrea said...

Still not entirely sure I understand what Bokeh is, but it sure is beautiful....love your photos, they are both real classics.

cat said...

Oh my word, so that is what I am doing a lot of! I love it - the short field of view and detailed photography. Great pictures - both of them. I'll be showing some Bokeh tomorrow!

Tina said...

loving your pictures and loving bokeh!

Kimberly said...

I agree with Stefanie, both forms of bokeh are beautiful in their own way. And you know, the creamy bokek in your shot is precisely the reason I bought a DSLR in the first place. I just couldn't achieve that with my PAS. Great learning experience this week eh? :)

Megan said...

isn't it great when you learn a little something new in photography? i love it when that happens. these are both great examples of lovely bokeh!

Jen said...

You both created some lovely bokeh. I think it is so cool that they are totally different, but both are so brilliant.

Rose said...

Oh how I love Bokeh! I have plenty of "blur" shots! It's so much fun.

Your pictures really compliment each other!

Killlashandra said...

Wow that does sound like a hard theme. Thanks for the definition, I wasn't sure what you were referring to either. I think the combo goes well together I like her upright single bud and your blooming flowers hanging down just a tad off center.

Janet said...

Now THAT was interesting!

Megan Cobb said...

I did a little research on Bokeh a few weeks ago too and I read somewhere that you get those "hollywood lights" by putting a back cover with a shaped hole in it over your camera's lens. Is that what Berta did?

Anonymous said...

Ooooo--I think you nailed bokeh in the beach pictures you posted today!

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