The Great Bokeh Controversy: Snare or Delusion?

Bokeh is a Japanese word that refers to the subjective visual impression of the out of focus areas of an image. Just because bokeh isn't objectively measurable doesn't mean it's BS, but there's certainly been a lot of BS written about it. What imaging characteristics contribute to beautiful bokeh? What kind of lenses that are most likely to be "bokeh monsters?"? Which vintage and contemporary lenses should bokeh fanatics go for? Just ask me and I'll give you my arrogant but educated opinions-:)
 
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Personal preferences play a lot here. I like the swirly, crazy bokeh. Ha, ha, good metaphor for my life. Others like more sedate, uniform. Really, there is no bad bokeh out there. Well, maybe I've seen a few examples of bad bokeh, but definitely in the minority.
 
gelatin silver print (summar 50mm f2) leica III

Erik.

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As Newst said "In my personal opinion, the bokeh is best as a complement to the image, not the reason for the image."

I like pleasing out of focus rendering that doesn't distract. Most times achieved at smaller apertures in large format images.
 
peterm1 said:
While there are many kinds of bokeh, some good, some bad, much middling, I have grown rather partial to this look which I have seen described as "wet on wet bokeh" as in it is slightly reminiscent of water color painting where wet paint is overlaid on previous, still damp colors causing thme to bleed into each other in an attractive manner.
I first heard this expression courtesy of the folks on the Vintage Lens Podcast. ( #53 Wet on Wet Bokeh! – Classic Lenses Podcast – Podcast – Podtail ).
We also had an earlier discussion on this in RFF, for anyone who might be interested in checking it out, as a number of people posted examples they felt matched this type of bokeh. And there ae some quite nice samples of bokeh there, though not all are of this type. "Wet on wet" Bokeh - Rangefinderforum.com

The following image was made with a Rokinon 85mm f1.4 (an inexpensive but very nicely performing lens).

Reserved for Lunch by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
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To me that is a fantastic example of bokeh adding to an image - it's helping to create atmosphere, it makes me wonder what's going on in the background, it draws me in - even though there is still subject isolation through the main characters being in focus, I find my eye drawn all around the image and back again. I guess it's the interaction between bokeh and the composition that's doing it for me, but either way I think it's a brilliant picture.
 
besk said:
As Newst said "In my personal opinion, the bokeh is best as a complement to the image, not the reason for the image."

I like pleasing out of focus rendering that doesn't distract. Most times achieved at smaller apertures in large format images.
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Worth repeating. Just because the shot was taken with a Noctilux is not enough reason to think it’s good and worth sharing. I enjoy looking at photography but must say the absolute worst photos I have seen so far are posts from any Leica fan club whether on FB, YouTube or elsewhere. Hey here’s a shot of my Summicron taken with my Summilux!
 
A maybe new aspect: In color photography bokeh is much more important than it is in b/w.
Distracting color background is better blurred out in a smooth and unobtrusive way. Lacking color, background is not so distracting, so bokeh is not so important.
What do you think?
 
Harry the K said:
A maybe new aspect: In color photography bokeh is much more important than it is in b/w.
Distracting color background is better blurred out in a smooth and unobtrusive way. Lacking color, background is not so distracting, so bokeh is not so important.
What do you think?
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Bokeh can help manage distracting color in the background, but so can B&W. I like some bokeh for B&W or color because it also separates the subject form the background, and can help create a more 3D look for the subject. Both of these can be accomplished by good old fashioned DOF, but having good bokeh adds an additional element.
 
A mistake I often see is thinking that just because something is out of focus you don't have to take it into account in your composition. Something bright and colourful will still be bright and colourful when out of focus. Strong lines in the background can still be lines when thrown out of focus.
 
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