Out of focus stuff in the foreground of a shot makes some people's brains explode. It's considered bad form by some. This is another topic of debate.
well, considering bokeh is just a fancy word for depth of field, this thread lends itself very well to that kind of discussion.
Many of you are accomplished, talented and knowledgeable photographers, so I respect and look forward to discussion on this and any other aspects of photography.
I have heard that it is bad form to have out of focus stuff in the foreground(I have been told by several other hobby photographers), but I like changing things up a bit.
when the subject is in the foreground and in focus, and the background is out of focus, the eye is automatically drawn to the subject, and everything else is disregarded as background noise, perhaps it has an interesting color or texture, but it doesnt hold the eye for long.
it makes the subject pop out and lets the viewer know that this is what you are supposed to be looking at.
when the subject in focus is in a midground, with out of focus elements in the foreground, and background, I find it draws the viewer into the image. I like the effect of the eye being drawn into the image, rather than the subject leaping off the image at the viewer.
but, thats a matter taste, artistic license, intent of the photographer, the context of the image, and the subject matter.
I wouldn't do that with any portraiture, but i think it does have its place in certain nature shots so that the viewer is drawn into the image and is psychologically drawn into the subject matter.
my intent with that pic was to draw the viewer into the cluster of flowers, wrapping them in soft fuzzy flowers, bringing in the focus within the image, rather than bring the flowers to the viewer. I find the concept somewhat romantic(at least with the subject matter being flowers)
seeing my intent was it an abject failure? I dont think so, I know I have a lot to learn about composition, but I think that the "drawn in" effect I was going for worked fairly well, i could have chosen a bit of a better angle, but I was taking a walk in the woods, and had so much more to explore.
chillwolf's shots have circles and soft backgrounds. He is a Bokeh Master!!!
:thmbsp:
well, if you're following my criteria, yes, they are very pleasing shots. good angles, good depth of field, and just enough "magic" to give the images a little bit of something to give the viewer a bit of wonderment in nature.
I like how bokeh can give an image "sparkle" like as if you are looking upon something mystical out of a Tolkien or other fantasy book.
here is another attempt at that effect
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=177546&d=1257300550
attached is another example of my experimenting with middle ground focus, unfortunately the bokeh in this shot is not pleasing. its too busy and jittery. very distracting.