***Acurazine Photo Contest #17: BOKEH***
12-13-2007, 10:18 PM
#1
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
***Acurazine Photo Contest #17: BOKEH***
The theme for this contest is "BOKEH"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh
For good examples of photographs with bokeh, see the Flickr Group Bokeh Smooth & Silky
The contest topic could be thought of as "Limited Depth of Field," but I'd like the concentration to be on the out-of-focus portions of the photographs.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask here!
The rules for this contest are as follows:
-Any interpretation of the theme that falls within AcuraZine rules is welcome.
-You must be the person that took the photo. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image. Taking a new, contest-specific shot is encouraged.
-One submission per contest.
-Images must be no larger than 900px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 900px for the poll.
-All contestants must host their own pictures.
-All pictures must have a title.
-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 "photochopped" the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.
Important dates and poll info:
Entries must be submitted to this thread no later than January 6 @ 6pm EST. The poll will start on Jan 7th @ 6pm EST (or thereabouts). Multiple votes will be allowed. The poll will close at 6pm EST on Jan 13th. In the event of a tie, we will have a lightning round of voting from 6pm EST Jan 14 to 6pm EST Jan 15th where people get one vote.
Happy shooting!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh
For good examples of photographs with bokeh, see the Flickr Group Bokeh Smooth & Silky
The contest topic could be thought of as "Limited Depth of Field," but I'd like the concentration to be on the out-of-focus portions of the photographs.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask here!
The rules for this contest are as follows:
-Any interpretation of the theme that falls within AcuraZine rules is welcome.
-You must be the person that took the photo. Previous photos are acceptable as long as you are the one that captured the image. Taking a new, contest-specific shot is encouraged.
-One submission per contest.
-Images must be no larger than 900px in any direction. Links to larger images are allowed but you must have one that is under 900px for the poll.
-All contestants must host their own pictures.
-All pictures must have a title.
-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 "photochopped" the contestant will be asked to provide the original picture.
Important dates and poll info:
Entries must be submitted to this thread no later than January 6 @ 6pm EST. The poll will start on Jan 7th @ 6pm EST (or thereabouts). Multiple votes will be allowed. The poll will close at 6pm EST on Jan 13th. In the event of a tie, we will have a lightning round of voting from 6pm EST Jan 14 to 6pm EST Jan 15th where people get one vote.
Happy shooting!!!
Last edited by wndrlst; 12-13-2007 at 10:21 PM.
12-13-2007, 10:19 PM
#2
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
Okay, quitcher whining bizatches! 
...and thank srika for the theme
...and thank srika for the theme
12-14-2007, 12:03 AM
#5
Senior Moderator
12-14-2007, 01:11 AM
#6
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I may have something worth posting on this one, that I just shot this week.
I have to be at home on my other computer to get to the image though.
I have to be at home on my other computer to get to the image though.
12-14-2007, 05:09 AM
#7
I miss my 03 CL-S :(
I'm glad it gives us a chance to take pics over the holidays.
I'm worried that some people with P&S's may need to resort to the Lens Blur filter for lack of manual control. That should be ok, right?
I'm worried that some people with P&S's may need to resort to the Lens Blur filter for lack of manual control. That should be ok, right?
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12-14-2007, 05:59 AM
#8
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ooh, i am going to Vegas, i will see if i have time to get something there
12-14-2007, 06:33 AM
#9
The Creator
unfortunately most of my shallow DOF photos have nothing of interest in the background at all.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF. good Bokeh nonetheless.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF. good Bokeh nonetheless.
12-14-2007, 06:39 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by soopa
unfortunately most of my shallow DOF photos have nothing of interest in the background at all.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF.
are you using the auto AF point selection?
cause i turned that off and just use the center point and recompose.
never missed a focus unless I'm spamming it in sports and am not paying attention to where im spamming it and focus on the crowd rather than the player.
12-14-2007, 06:42 AM
#12
The Creator
Originally Posted by Mizouse
are you using the auto AF point selection?
cause i turned that off and just use the center point and recompose.
never missed a focus unless I'm spamming it in sports and am not paying attention to where im spamming it and focus on the crowd rather than the player.
cause i turned that off and just use the center point and recompose.
never missed a focus unless I'm spamming it in sports and am not paying attention to where im spamming it and focus on the crowd rather than the player.
i now use the center point primarily when i'm using AF which unfortunately allows for only very limited framing options, but works better.
it's amazing to me that my PowerShot is smarter about AF than the D40.
i know i know, focus manually. you try that on a squirming baby!
12-14-2007, 11:16 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by soopa
unfortunately most of my shallow DOF photos have nothing of interest in the background at all.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF. good Bokeh nonetheless.
here's a decent one. i wish the faces were the point of focus rather than grandma's hair, but that's what i get for using Canon's crappy AF. good Bokeh nonetheless.
You just have to learn to be more precise with your focusing when shooting the 40D. You can't get away with using all the focusing points simultaneously and firing away. It's going to grab the part of the pic with the most contrast. The womans hair in this case, when you probably wanted the eyes in focus. Just my
worth.Nice shot, BTW.
12-14-2007, 01:55 PM
#16
I dunno which to use 
When I went to DC I only had my 50mm so I set it to 1.8 and went to shooting, all my pics are basically bokeh but its so hard to choose!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyusf2002/1975995220/" title="Quincoffee by Michael Serrette, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/1975995220_f39697e591.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Quincoffee" /></a>
or
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyusf2002/2002175667/" title="QuinStand.jpg by Michael Serrette, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2002175667_ab4fce92f4.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="QuinStand.jpg" /></a>
When I went to DC I only had my 50mm so I set it to 1.8 and went to shooting, all my pics are basically bokeh but its so hard to choose!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyusf2002/1975995220/" title="Quincoffee by Michael Serrette, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/1975995220_f39697e591.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Quincoffee" /></a>
or
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyusf2002/2002175667/" title="QuinStand.jpg by Michael Serrette, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2002175667_ab4fce92f4.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="QuinStand.jpg" /></a>
12-14-2007, 02:28 PM
#18
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
Pick one!
12-14-2007, 02:51 PM
#21
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
That would be my pick, too. 
12-14-2007, 02:53 PM
#22
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by einsatz
I'm glad it gives us a chance to take pics over the holidays.
I'm worried that some people with P&S's may need to resort to the Lens Blur filter for lack of manual control. That should be ok, right?
I'm worried that some people with P&S's may need to resort to the Lens Blur filter for lack of manual control. That should be ok, right?
I don't think blur achieved in PS should be permissable. The point is lens bokeh - old school. If anyone disagrees, please feel free to chime in....
12-14-2007, 03:24 PM
#23
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by wndrlst
I don't think blur achieved in PS should be permissable. The point is lens bokeh - old school. If anyone disagrees, please feel free to chime in....
ps. since when do we post samples in here and ask for opinions on which one to use
... I know it's a casual contest for fun but I couldn't not say anything about it. I think part of the process of choosing an entry for a contest is your judgment in choosing that entry. Ultimately it doesn't matter to me, I just had to say something. 
12-14-2007, 03:30 PM
#24
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by srika
definitely concur - this contest, by definition, implies the bokeh should be straight out of the cam.
ps. since when do we post samples in here and ask for opinions on which one to use... I know it's a casual contest for fun but I couldn't not say anything about it. I think part of the process of choosing an entry for a contest is your judgment in choosing that entry. Ultimately it doesn't matter to me, I just had to say something.
ps. since when do we post samples in here and ask for opinions on which one to use
... I know it's a casual contest for fun but I couldn't not say anything about it. I think part of the process of choosing an entry for a contest is your judgment in choosing that entry. Ultimately it doesn't matter to me, I just had to say something. I agree w/ your ps also. That's why I didn't voice an opinion until after he picked one.
12-14-2007, 03:32 PM
#25
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I forsee a lot of portraits.
12-14-2007, 04:56 PM
#28
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12-14-2007, 05:07 PM
#29
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Turns out the recent photos I was thinking arent good enough in my eyes for a contest.
So NOW I'm having a ton of toruble figuing out which of my older photos to choose :S
So NOW I'm having a ton of toruble figuing out which of my older photos to choose :S
12-14-2007, 05:46 PM
#30
ViperrepiV, nice, but image is too big.
12-14-2007, 07:01 PM
#31
Earth-bound misfit
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by technoviking
Turns out the recent photos I was thinking arent good enough in my eyes for a contest.
So NOW I'm having a ton of toruble figuing out which of my older photos to choose :S
So NOW I'm having a ton of toruble figuing out which of my older photos to choose :S
12-14-2007, 08:26 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by ViperrepiV
here goes nothing...
cold hard cash
cold hard cash
sheeeeet, i wish i had that wad of cash where im going tonight
12-15-2007, 12:10 AM
#35
Originally Posted by jupitersolo
ViperrepiV, nice, but image is too big.
Sorry bout that...here's a link to a smaller version below 900...
http://photos.imageevent.com/viperre...mer07_1004.jpg
any way to edit the original post?
12-15-2007, 01:16 AM
#37
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Originally Posted by wndrlst
Lotsa time to go shoot something new....
12-15-2007, 02:11 PM
#40
Photography Nerd
Bokeh actually refers to out of focus points of light, not just a generally blurred background. You want to see little airy disks floating in the scene for a "true" bokeh theme. Soopa's and Beelzebub's shots demonstrate Bokeh.