(Pic #1) Ventura County House Finch showcases “creamy bokeh” effect. Photo by Josh Kaplan
Even before photography was invented, the great masters of fine art knew the value of “forcing our focus.”
Sometimes, negative space can be just as important as the positive. Maybe even more. A subtle, but nuanced background can highlight exactly what the artist wants to feature – instantly. By watching my husband produce some stunning shots of nature (Pics #1 and #2) I’ve come to learn about “BOKEH.” In Japanese, the word literally means “blur.” The tech can be better explained by the experts here.
(Pic #2) “Mukluk” and her soft, enrobing negative space. Photo by Josh Kaplan.
To me, it’s a sensual photographic effect (rendered by the lens) that illustrates a basic principle of art: It is just as crucial to consider the quality of the background as the subject out front. Check out the paintings valium below by Rembrandt, Sargent, Klimt, and Magritte. Each oil showcases its subject (human form, nature or fantasy) by soft-focused support, created by blending, texture, and manipulation of paint.
Today’s “painters” (digital photographers) can set up their background-foreground relationship with a solid understanding of “depth of field.” And mastering “bokeh”becomes a sort of 21st century advanced painting technique that enriches that all-important interplay.
(Pic #3) “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt, 1633
(Pic #4) “The Kiss” by Gustave Klimt, 1907
(Pic #5) “Son of Man” by Rene Magritte, 1964
(Pic #6) “Portrait of Madame X” by John Singer Sargent, 1884
Dear Lonnie,
My Life as “Bokeh”, slightly out of focus, with as much going on in the background as foreground.
Love,
TL