The foreground bokeh

In an image, bokeh quality is more important to me than sharpness.
While most of the photographic world seems to be stuck on one single way to measure I.Q. (Image Quality) by carefully analyzing resolution of a lens, I go beyond the simple charts and brick walls test-shots.
I look for how a lens renders the areas that are out of focus.


adapted Kodak Telephoto 152mm f4.5   1/125sec

There were a few lenses that reportedly sounded absolute stunners and I was interested in them. Through sample images I found however that they displayed horribly looking (to my eyes) out of focus areas. The whole image was kind of ruined for me: my eyes were drawn away from the main subject that was in focus, there was a certain "nervous" look to the background, the bokeh was not pleasant.
I never got those lenses despite being very sharp...

From the creative point of view a lens must have a certain look, character if you want, for the areas that happened to be not in focus. I often specifically look for subjects where the areas of blurred background will add so much interest to the image to sometimes become the main point of interest.


adapted Meyer-Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  1/400sec

In my quest for creating images that are more fantasy than reality I am constantly experimenting with new optics, mostly of them are old and obscure, some never intended to used on a camera
The focus has now shifted to create images with a dual field bokeh, where the intention is to look for subjects that have a busy depth of field, often natural elements.
On my photowalks I look for vegetation that is veiling a subject that is interesting to me and then I try to photograph it. By carefully focusing and shifting my point of view I search for the angle and composition that will create that dreamy surreal look.


refitted projection lens Will-Wetzlar Maginon 85mm f2.8    1/250sec




refitted projection lens Will-Wetzlar Maginon 85mm f2.8    1/6400sec


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Little green frogs

For years I thought green frogs were some kind of myth since I could never spot one.
Then one day somebody told me that if I looked carefully in the pond I would probably spot some.
And I did.


adapted Kodak Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/200sec

Not larger than 3 cm most of them are very shy and hide under leaves or hop away if approached.
It took some patience and steady hands with my favorite Kodak Cine lenses to finally capture them.


adapted Kodak Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/500sec



adapted Kodak Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/400sec



adapted Kodak Ektanon 102mm f2.7  1/100sec


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Beach dream ride

The mesmerizing feeling of riding your horse on an empty beach at low tide; like in a dream.
Horse or horse-power; to each their own.


Steinheil Munchen Cintagon 100mm f3.5     @f5.6  1/1250sec

Dragonfly

Standing in the creek laying eggs on a log just under the water's surface.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  1/1000sec

Big boulders

Dwarfed by the sheer size of the boulders the tree looks like a bonsai.

Leaves

It has been years, actually more than a decade, that I took a visit to the botanical gardens, however I clearly remember that photographically I could not "see" the beauty around me then.
This time the shapes and light on the little things caught my eye much easier.

Blood leaf, Iresine species

Helios 44-2 50mm   f2  1/1000sec

Never Never Plant, Ctenanthe species

Zenit Helios 44-2  58mm   f4  1/180sec

Pure gold

Even the imperceptible power of water can shape pure granite, given enough time.
As it carved through thousands of years it changed its course and today it flows in a chamber much lower, leaving behind the leather-like smooth rock.
Sunlight bounces around making it appear as pure gold.


M.Zuiko 12mm  f4.5 1/8sec    (capturing this image)

Bubbles in the creek

There is a creek that I like to visit on my backpacking trips.
This time I looked closely at the bubbles formed by the cascading waters.


Meyer Optik Görlitz 50mm     f2.9  1/6000sec
 
Glistening in the afternoon sun, small and insignificant while floating by but mesmerizing nevertheless.