How to Pronounce Bokeh: I live in a rural area and there aren't too many photographers around. The few of us who take photography seriously wondered how "bokeh" is pronounced.

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How to Pronounce Bokeh

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Mar 1, 2013 12:55:13 #

dalematt Loc: Goderich, Ontario, Canada

I live in a rural area and there aren't too many photographers around. The few of us who take photography seriously wondered how "bokeh" is pronounced. According to www.picturecorrect.com, we were all wrong. Following is a short discussion from their newsletter.

"Bokeh means fuzzy or out of focus. It is an effect in photography used to optimize the aesthetic quality of the blur.

How NOT to pronounce Bokeh:
Bo-Kay
Bo-Kuh
The correct way to pronounce Bokeh, is Bo-Ke. Firstly, the bo is like bow, as in bow and arrow, not take a bow. Now, youre probably saying wait, what? You just said it is not pronounced Bo-Kay! Isnt Bo-Ke the same thing? No, its not! The ke is like the sound at the beginning of the word kettle. Ke-ttle. Not kay. The H is completely silent and serves no purpose, least of all to create a long eh at the end. Were not in Canada anymore, eh?

Now that is cleared up, have fun with your bo-ke!"

Mar 1, 2013 13:39:08 #

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

dalematt wrote:

I live in a rural area and there aren't too many p... (show quote)

You have to YELL it like Kai does...BOKEH!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edJStBgM6GQ

Mar 1, 2013 13:42:05 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I pronounced it, Bo-kuh. And for a long time, too! (not in public and no one to correct me).
Well, it's in my mind now.
Personally, I've just decided to not use that word.
I just call it blurry background......

Pat
Snap Shot Guy

Mar 1, 2013 13:49:48 #

cockney greg Loc: London E17

Is this a jo-keh?

Mar 1, 2013 13:56:02 #

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Jay Pat wrote:

Personally, I've just decided to not use that word.
I just call it blurry background......

I'm with ya on that, I seriously detest that dopey Japanese term.

Mar 1, 2013 15:23:45 #

nviaches Loc: Brighton, MI

I thought it was just a silly term for Depth of Field. Isn't that kind of the same thing?

Mar 1, 2013 15:33:11 #

Nikonista Loc: England

It's completely unknown in the UK, apart from those of us who inhabit Yankee websites - and we ignore it! :roll:

Mar 1, 2013 15:39:34 #

Onquest Loc: Just Wandering

I have always rhymed it with 'poke'.

Mar 1, 2013 15:50:07 #

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

nviaches wrote:

I thought it was just a silly term for Depth of Field. Isn't that kind of the same thing?

No, bokeh is not the same as depth of field.
Bokeh, for those who care to use the term correctly, refers to the quality or character of the blur in the out of focus areas, both behind and in front of the focused area.
Ever see the doughnut-shaped highlights in a shot with a mirror lens?
That's bokeh.
It's a good or bad thing, a pleasing or distracting thing.
Not a more or less thing.

If you want more or less, describe it as depth of field or selective focus.

Bokeh is taken.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm

This is how I pronounce bokeh: with the b and the o and the k and the e and the h all silent.

Mar 1, 2013 16:52:23 #

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Who cares? You say tomato. - I say tomarto.

Mar 1, 2013 17:39:33 #

DaryleH Loc: Mount Vernon, WA

Depth of field, I don't think Mr. Adams ever heard of the Japanese term

Mar 1, 2013 17:41:32 #

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

DOOK wrote:

Who cares? You say tomato. - I say tomarto.

DOOK, you don't really say tomarto, do you??

Mar 1, 2013 17:48:41 #

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Hi Sharpie. Living in AU & having lived in the US for 10 years, I am comfy with either. Tomato is the American way. Tomarto is the British way. As we are neither British or American, we say either.

Mar 1, 2013 17:50:38 #

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

As long as you know what you are talking about who cares what the pronunciation is.

Mar 1, 2013 18:37:50 #

ArnieA Loc: BC,Canada

all to create a long eh at the end. Were not in Canada anymore, eh?

Now that is cleared up, have fun with your bo-ke!"[/quote]

I thought only the Yanks used it

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