Super shallow Dof and bokeh just a fad?

[runnah]

And adding to what KMH said, the title of this thread is somewhat incorrect. Super OOF shots can be a fad, but not bokeh. If bokeh is a fad, then high quality lenses are a fad.

Incorrect? I prefer to think of it as misdirection.

Not sure I agree. For some folks bokeh is the #1 thing on the list when buying a lens. I for example don't really care so it's down the list after things like sharpness and contrast.

Good point, many do over analyze it. I think most of the large aperture lenses are very sharp and contrasty and all have good bokeh. Some do get nit picky with it.

Well for example I know that the Canon 85 1.2L is much sought after by bokeh fiends but most others avoid it.

 

[MichaelHenson]

Seems like this would be the right place to ask a question...

"I have a 50mm/1.8 and when I take pictures I can make the background super blurry (and I like it a lot) but my pictures just aren't sharp. How can I make my pictures more sharper? If I can't without unblurrying the background then I don't care because it's all about that bokeh, 'bout that bokeh, no DOF..."

 

[jaomul]

Not to disrespect OP but I know you own a 5d3, which is ff, or more to point the type of camera that can do oof type shots easier than a p+s or m4/3 or crop camera. So these shots being easy for you may be the type of shots that others find harder to do. As a result many want to emulate the look, and when perfect it try other things. You on the other hand probably just ticked it off your list as done

I didn't always own a FF camera. Besides it's only marginally harder on smaller sensors.

Yes, but you are only asking this question now

 

[imagemaker46]

Shooting at 2.8 has been my way of life for decades. It all depends on the light. It's hardly a fad.

 

[robbins.photo]

People need to learn that just because you bought a lens that can shoot f1.4 doesn't mean you HAVE to shoot at f1.4!

Huh. Well, maybe they could start marking that on the lens itself. Warning to Consumer, F1.4 is not a required setting for use of this lens

 

[runnah]

Shooting at 2.8 has been my way of life for decades. It all depends on the light. It's hardly a fad.

Psh, you might as well use a pin hole. sub 1.8 or nothing!

 

[jowensphoto]

There's an ass for every seat. Some photographers like it, some consumers like it. I don't think it's fair to say that liking super shallow DoF is a mark of less experience or class or whatever. Just like selective color, when used properly, shallow DoF and "bokeh" can be fantastic.


My personal preference, for portrait work, is between 5.6 and 7.1. I also shoot with longer focal lengths, so I suppose this makes me more of a traditionalist.

 

[JacaRanda]

At the beginning of my dslr life, it seemed everything I read or watched on a youtube video was about bokeh; what it was and how to say it.
Battle of the bokeh!!!! Canon, Nikon, Sigma 1.4. I ate, slept, and dreamt of bokeh for at least a few months.

Things may have been different if I had found TPF first.

 

[astroNikon]

At the beginning of my dslr life, it seemed everything I read or watched on a youtube video was about bokeh; what is was and how to say it.
Battle of the bokeh!!!! Canon, Nikon, Sigma 1.4. I ate, slept, and dreamt of bokeh for at least a few months.

Things may have been different if I had found TPF first.

At the beginning .. middle and sometime in the future .. it's all about BOKEH !! ==>

 

[photoguy99]

To say it's a fad it's not to say it's going away. Of course the look will always be with us. It simply won't be the dominant one any more.

 

[astroNikon]

here's the one I wanted to find .. funny but tells about how and not to use it .. kinda ==>

 

[Didereaux]

I realize that shallow DOF has been and always will be a crucial part of Photography but it seems as if late that it's become so prevalent that it's almost becoming underwhelming. Portraits are the worst offenders as if they don't have a super bokeh background people aren't happy. It's as if people don't shoot above f/2.8 anymore.

While I enjoy a nice creamy background as much as the next person I also think that it should be used sparingly otherwise the effect is lost.

Nothing really anymore than a reflection on the huge number of new snapshooters. They all stampede this way and that following some 'leader'. Hopefully a few will actually learn something along the way, and the rest will put their 'toys' in the closet and chase some other Pet rock!

 

[astroNikon]

.... and chase some other Pet rock!

How does one chase a Pet Rock ??

If you keep a leash on it then it's not going to go far !!

 

[Didereaux]

.... and chase some other Pet rock!

How does one chase a Pet Rock ??

lol! your going to have to ask someone who has one, I guess.

 

[Didereaux]

And adding to what KMH said, the title of this thread is somewhat incorrect. Super OOF shots can be a fad, but not bokeh. If bokeh is a fad, then high quality lenses are a fad.

Incorrect? I prefer to think of it as misdirection.

Not sure I agree. For some folks bokeh is the #1 thing on the list when buying a lens. I for example don't really care so it's down the list after things like sharpness and contrast.

Good point, many do over analyze it. I think most of the large aperture lenses are very sharp and contrasty and all have good bokeh. Some do get nit picky with it.

Well for example I know that the Canon 85 1.2L is much sought after by bokeh fiends but most others avoid it.

One aspect that influences the quality of the bokeh is the number of leafs in the iris of the lens. ...more leaves translate to softer rounder, blurred. The primary 'cause' is DOF, which is a function of aperture.