XBimmers.com | BMW X6 Forum X5 Forum
 
TireRack





Go Back   XBimmers.com | BMW X6 Forum X5 Forum > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > Off-Topic Discussions Board > Photography/Videography

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-05-2011, 05:55 PM   #1
Activ
First Lieutenant
Activ's Avatar
57
Rep
309
Posts

Drives: Black e92 335i
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Sacramento

iTrader: (0)

Official BimmerPost Photo Contest #37: Bokeh-licious

Official BimmerPost Photo Contest #37: Bokeh-licious

BACKGROUND:

We all know you love bokeh, so this is the time to give it some lovin'!

THEME:

This is a relatively easy theme so go crazy! I want to see your most delicious bokeh you can get. Get creative with it! Don't just put the camera out of focus and shoot, add something in the foreground that is in focus.

Have fun with it! Good luck!

IMPORTANT DATES:

Entries must be submitted to this thread no later than Monday, June 19th @ 11:59 PST. Voting begins the following day and ends on Saturday, June 24th.

RULES:

1. Any interpretation of the theme that falls within Bimmerpost.com rules is welcome.
2. You must be the person that took the photo. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image.
3. One submission per contest.
4. Images must be no larger than 800 px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 800px for the poll.
5. All contestants must host their own pictures (which includes hosting them on Bimmerpost).
6. All images must have a title.
7. While post processing in Photoshop is allowed, adding or removing parts of the picture is not. In the event a photo is suspected to be "photo-chopped," the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.
__________________
Trevor Thompson :: Activ Films
Facebook Youtube Flickr
EuroSunday :: Contributing Photographer/Videographer

Last edited by Activ; 06-15-2011 at 01:50 PM..
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 07:01 PM   #2
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
490
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

good theme Trevor... looking forward to this one.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 07:13 PM   #3
ShopVac
Not willing to take advice
ShopVac's Avatar
No_Country
4544
Rep
1,571
Posts

Drives: F82 M4 - 6MT
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
OK...I'll admit I had to look up Bokeh first (as I thought we'd be taking a picture of some type of Indian food)

So...being new to this, how would I go about getting this particular affect from the camera? It's more than just a close up or out of focus shot. I'm willing to learn...I'm willing to try...point me in the right direction.
__________________
Proud owner of 4 Turbos and 1 Supercharger
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 07:41 PM   #4
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
490
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ShopVac View Post
OK...I'll admit I had to look up Bokeh first (as I thought we'd be taking a picture of some type of Indian food)

So...being new to this, how would I go about getting this particular affect from the camera? It's more than just a close up or out of focus shot. I'm willing to learn...I'm willing to try...point me in the right direction.
The effect is essentially inherent to how images are captured through a lens by a camera. Bokeh is basically the blur that happens. It could be intentional, but generally it's what helps separate the foreground from the background (where the bokeh happens).

An easy way to do this is pick up a lens with the widest aperture you have (f/1.2, f1.8, f/2.8, etc) and focus on an object. Everything in the background (the blurriness) is bokeh. Generally people describe bokeh as being creamy, soft, smooth, etc.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 08:14 PM   #5
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
19079
Rep
7,532
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

I understand bokeh and know how to create it, but does anyone know of a good explanation for why it happens? What is it about wide apertures and close focus distance that causes the blur? And why do small apertures extend FOV?
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"Life is uncertain, eat bacon now."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 08:54 PM   #6
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
490
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Six View Post
I understand bokeh and know how to create it, but does anyone know of a good explanation for why it happens? What is it about wide apertures and close focus distance that causes the blur? And why do small apertures extend FOV?
Ken Rockwell explains it pretty well in the bottom of the first section:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 09:05 PM   #7
dcstep
Major General
United_States
1296
Rep
7,389
Posts

Drives: '09 Cpe Silverstone FR 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 M3  [8.40]
Common yellow-throat warbler:


Common yellow-throat warbler by dcstep, on Flickr

My 500mm f/4 always has smooth bokeh, but I particularly like the green background here caused by shooting in the deep woods. That's cottonwood fuzz around the bird and on the leaves that are in focus. I used the tripod and gimbal to shoot at 1/80th second, f8 and ISO 200 to get all the detail that you can see if you link to the Large or Original size over at Flickr.

I considered using another bokeh shot because bokeh is such a common technique in wild bird photography, but then I thought that just because it's common doesn't make it any less good.

Dave
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 09:18 PM   #8
TL
Brigadier General
TL's Avatar
United_States
284
Rep
3,102
Posts

Drives: Happy on H&R coil overs
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Hub

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
2008 335xi  [1.00]
Congrats on the win Trevor

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewy734 View Post
good theme Trevor... looking forward to this one.



here's mine

Brooklyn Bridge Bokeh by GQjai, on Flickr
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 09:52 PM   #9
rodi
. . .
188
Rep
2,391
Posts

Drives: your FACE!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta proper

iTrader: (-1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewy734 View Post
Ken Rockwell explains it pretty well in the bottom of the first section:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
Chewy, Nooooooooooooooooo!

__________________
2009 135i | space grey | sport | navi | hifi | heated
dinan stage 2 software | bmw performance exhaust
kw v2 | hotchkis front sway | vmr v710

Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 09:52 PM   #10
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
490
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 10:08 PM   #11
rodi
. . .
188
Rep
2,391
Posts

Drives: your FACE!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta proper

iTrader: (-1)

"sideways bokeh okay?"
__________________
2009 135i | space grey | sport | navi | hifi | heated
dinan stage 2 software | bmw performance exhaust
kw v2 | hotchkis front sway | vmr v710

Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 10:17 PM   #12
skinrock
Agent Smith
skinrock's Avatar
275
Rep
3,344
Posts

Drives: 2016 i8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: The Matrix

iTrader: (9)

Garage List
2016 BMW i8  [10.00]
Tough choice, but I like the transition in this one. Sharp focus on the subject, then smooth bokeh to the rear


Guitar Bridge by skinrock
__________________
The i8 needs a V8 amirite?
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 10:35 PM   #13
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
19079
Rep
7,532
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewy734 View Post
Ken Rockwell explains it pretty well in the bottom of the first section:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm
Thanks, Chewy. Rockwell explains the facts of DOF and bokeh, but not the physics behind it. It's like someone explaining that a heavenly body of X mass will have a gravity of Y. The moon is 1/6th the mass of Earth, so the gravity is 1/6th. But no one can explain why any given object has gravity.

But the Zeiss article he links to does a better job of explaining the actual physics. It's a little hard to slog through, though, because of its technical nature and because it is translated from German. Still, the article has some very good points to consider, most of which are conveniently printed in bold.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"Life is uncertain, eat bacon now."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 10:36 PM   #14
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
19079
Rep
7,532
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

And I can see already this is going to be a very tough competition. The first few entries are all excellent.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"Life is uncertain, eat bacon now."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 10:45 PM   #15
dcstep
Major General
United_States
1296
Rep
7,389
Posts

Drives: '09 Cpe Silverstone FR 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 M3  [8.40]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rodi View Post
"sideways bokeh okay?"
Love it!

Tilt-shift lens?
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 11:28 PM   #16
Litos
Banned
United_States
222
Rep
2,991
Posts

Drives: 2012 Challenger RT Junk
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Houston/Pearland

iTrader: (1)

wow - looks like i made it just in time.


here's mine


"Feeding Time"



Last edited by Litos; 06-13-2011 at 10:24 PM..
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2011, 11:28 PM   #17
rodi
. . .
188
Rep
2,391
Posts

Drives: your FACE!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta proper

iTrader: (-1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcstep View Post
Love it!

Tilt-shift lens?
yep. thanks!

Guys, check out this dude on flickr, he does a good job at this bokeh stuff. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbokeh...7600057720789/
__________________
2009 135i | space grey | sport | navi | hifi | heated
dinan stage 2 software | bmw performance exhaust
kw v2 | hotchkis front sway | vmr v710

Appreciate 0
      06-06-2011, 07:27 AM   #18
Chewy734
Major General
United_States
490
Rep
6,798
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (15)

mrbokeh?
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2011, 08:27 AM   #19
dcstep
Major General
United_States
1296
Rep
7,389
Posts

Drives: '09 Cpe Silverstone FR 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2009 M3  [8.40]
Quote:
Originally Posted by rodi View Post
Guys, check out this dude on flickr, he does a good job at this bokeh stuff. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbokeh...7600057720789/
Now you did it. You gave them all kinds of great ideas.

That's the kind of stuff I was thinking about when I hesitated to use one of my very "traditional" bird with bokeh. Still, I'll leave the bird in as an example of bokeh at work without calling attention to itself.

Dave
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2011, 10:28 AM   #20
FStop7
I like cars
FStop7's Avatar
Vatican City State
338
Rep
5,051
Posts

Drives: M6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Newbury Park, CA

iTrader: (3)

updated my entry
__________________

Last edited by FStop7; 06-13-2011 at 11:53 PM..
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2011, 11:16 AM   #21
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
19079
Rep
7,532
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

From what I've been reading, there is a difference between bokeh and out-of-focus (OOF) areas. Bokeh should have minimal, if any, straight lines showing. Or in other words, straight lines, even if they're fuzzy, indicate "bad" bokeh. Dave's bird pic is what would be considered awesome bokeh as the trees in the background show no definition whatsoever. The "mrbokeh" site has some shots, like the subway station, that really aren't bokeh at all; just OOF areas.

For the purpose of this contest, it probably doesn't matter. But hard core bokeh fans will argue the point to death. And as bokeh is really in the eye of the beholder, I guess there is no true standard.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"Life is uncertain, eat bacon now."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2011, 11:41 AM   #22
rodi
. . .
188
Rep
2,391
Posts

Drives: your FACE!
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta proper

iTrader: (-1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcstep View Post
Now you did it. You gave them all kinds of great ideas.

That's the kind of stuff I was thinking about when I hesitated to use one of my very "traditional" bird with bokeh. Still, I'll leave the bird in as an example of bokeh at work without calling attention to itself.

Dave
oops. sorry.
__________________
2009 135i | space grey | sport | navi | hifi | heated
dinan stage 2 software | bmw performance exhaust
kw v2 | hotchkis front sway | vmr v710

Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:26 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST