Bouquet? Bokeh? Bokah? Smokah! (Page 2): Hmmm. Unable to grasp the intent of an article describing what bokeh is intended to do, vs. recommending it. Unable to make a reasoned...

Hank Radt

graybeard wrote:

I see you are skilled in using published sources to support your argument, and after reading the definition I agree that I am snarky. However, I consider it a compliment rather than an insult. I do have 2 degrees, but they are old like me, so perhaps they don't count. But thanks for the compliment, and keep ignoring the subjects and praising the backgrounds, oops Bokah! of your photos!

Hmmm. Unable to grasp the intent of an article describing what bokeh is intended to do, vs. recommending it. Unable to make a reasoned inference regarding my preference for bokeh, given that I provided zero indication of which way I lean.

Be proud of your two degrees.

graybeard

Swede wrote:

Is that a good thing- hope so img src="https://st... (show quote)

Nope sorry, not generally a compliment. Philistines are either A. the bad guys in the Samson and Delilah story in the Bible. See the book of Judges. or B. a person of unrefined tastes. A slob. A dolt who wouldn't know art if he was hit over the head with it. A person who does not appreciate Bokeh!

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

I would say in this case, philistines are those who glom onto to trends without questioning or growing out of them. An addition to this would be those who never investigate the history and depth of the photographic medium.

graybeard

Hank Radt wrote:

Hmmm. Unable to grasp the intent of an article describing what bokeh is intended to do, vs. recommending it. Unable to make a reasoned inference regarding my preference for bokeh, given that I provided zero indication of which way I lean.

Be proud of your two degrees.

Yes, I got that you were trying to enlighten me about Bokeh! You implied, and I inferred. My 1979 B.S. degree in computer science taught me to read an abacus well, and my degree in history means I am informed on everything that happened prior to my getting the degree. As you have correctly inferred,guessed,determined, I am snarky or as I prefer to think of myself, a smart ass. Let us give each other mutual respect, as you look at the backgrounds and I will look at the foregrounds.

graybeard

Darkroom317 wrote:

I would say in this case, philistines are those who glom onto to trends without questioning or growing out of them. An addition to this would be those who never investigate the history and depth of the photographic medium.

Well then I guess that leaves no doubt about it. I must be descended from those 12th century B.C. enemies of Israel. See any golden images around ??

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

Well let's see the "warden" (girl friend) uses slob a lot more than she should. especially talking about me, been called a dolt more than once, by the same science teacher in the 70's I might add.

So if being a "Philistine" means couldn't not care less about "bokeh", I guess a Philistien I'll be.

Swede

graybeard

Swede wrote:

Well let's see the "warden" (girl friend) uses slob a lot more than she should. especially talking about me, been called a dolt more than once, by the same science teacher in the 70's I might add.

So if being a "Philistine" means couldn't not care less about "bokeh", I guess a Philistien I'll be.

Swede

I didn't realize so many people would be up this late, and willing to talk about such an esoteric subject as Bokah!

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

graybeard wrote:

Well then I guess that leaves no doubt about it. I must be descended from those 12th century B.C. enemies of Israel. See any golden images around ??

Think you missed the point. I was calling those obsessed with bokeh and other trends, philistines.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Back to subject of out of focus areas and blur. Some of the best lenses for this are actually not modern lenses but rather old Petzvals and lenses like the 178mm Aero-Ektar

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=4x5%20petzval%20portrait

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=aero%20ektar

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

graybeard wrote:

So what am I missing here?

To judge a lens, one must look not only at how it renders elements in the scene that are in focus, but also the elements which are not in focus. In other words, how the lens effects the image throughout!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

graybeard wrote:

Well we know I have a thick skin, I see you have a thin one. Snarky? Is that a new word (like Bokah!) or is that a word so old it was even before my time ?

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/snarky

Word Origin and History for snarky Expand
adj.
"irritable, short-tempered," 1906, from snark (v.) "to find fault with, nag" (1882), literally "to snort" (1866), from an imitative source akin to Low German snarken, North Frisian snarke, Swedish snarka ; and cf. snarl (v.2), sneer (v.). Related: Snarkily ; snarkiness.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

graybeard wrote:

Nope sorry, not generally a compliment. Philistines are either A. the bad guys in the Samson and Delilah story in the Bible. See the book of Judges. or B. a person of unrefined tastes. A slob. A dolt who wouldn't know art if he was hit over the head with it. A person who does not appreciate Bokeh!

I suggest a bit more research. Google David, Goliath, Saul or just read the Old Testament.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

graybeard wrote:

My senility shows again. All I see in lens reviews... (show quote)

It's not even close to being a new concept. It's only a new word for something that has been there all along.

Certain large format and 220 roll film camera lenses have been praised for how the rendered out of focus elements in an image. And this includes foreground as well. Many, but not all, Leitz lenses share these qualities too.

While, like sharpness, it is a subjective and difficult to quantify characteristic, it is easy to recognize good and bad bokeh. If is distracting your attention from the main subject, it's usually bad bokeh.

If you want insults, you can always go to the attic. There are more than enough to go around. 😉

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

graybeard wrote:

My senility shows again. All I see in lens reviews... (show quote)

Greybeard, No need to insult you, you've insulted yourself enough already!!! LoL
Bokah...., nawww, you been smokah to much!!!

SS

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

For all of the years I've been 'into' photography (started 1947) 'Bokeh' (as it is now called) has been around. It used to be created by the lens (Make-up /construction), and 'Differential-Focus'. Now the 'Word' of Japanese origin, has been tagged on to all sorts of 'out-of-focus' areas in a photograph. Another Marketing Buzz-Phrase, like Nifty-Fifty. Yuk!!