• Members 1737 posts
    June 11, 2023, 9:49 p.m.

    With Waterhouse stops, the point spread function for far out of focus lights can be whatever shape you want.

  • Members 1662 posts
    June 11, 2023, 10:43 p.m.

    I honestly like all three of these! Great color-combinations and nice shots apart from that as well.

    My only suggestion: perhaps there's a possibility to crop the first one without the thing on the left, which I find somewhat distracting.

  • Members 1662 posts
    June 11, 2023, 10:59 p.m.

    Thank you very much @minniev, @PeteS, @MikeFewster, @LindaS, @RoelHendrickx, @LouHolland and @ChrisOly for your nice feedback and interesting interpretations. It's great to read about different views, particularly about the mood an image conveys - helps me a lot!

    While that is absolutely true, there actually are a couple of lenses with triangular bokeh shapes created by three blades. This one is a modified lens though, where the (six) aperture blades were rearranged).

    There are also lenses with slots for filters etc. which allow for experiments with aperture shapes:

    live.staticflickr.com/65535/52926070088_cc4cf0ffe2_b.jpg
    M for mystery
    by simple.joy, on Flickr

    And as mentioned before, if anyone is interested in some adapted lenses with different geometric aperture shapes I've created a thread here:
    dprevived.com/t/adapted-lenses-with-interesting-bokeh-shapes/3094/

    Please feel invited to add your bokeh experiments, if you've ever started some. While the thread was mainly about "adapted lenses" initially, I'm always curious about any creative approach, no matter the technique or tools behind it.👍

  • Members 701 posts
    June 12, 2023, 1:39 a.m.

    Thank you, Pete

    Yes, these mean a lot to us. I have a 16 x 20 print of these in my office.

  • Members 701 posts
    June 12, 2023, 1:54 a.m.

    I had never heard the Verve song before. I like it.

    I knew ELP's song well from the Viet Nam era. (I was in the Navy). I was neither a fan nor did I dislike their music or the song. It came on the radio frequently, and I listened when it played, but never really paid attention to it. It was very obviously meant to be a bitter condemnation of war and killing. I firmly agreed with the meaning.

    But I listened to it today, and some of their other work, due to these messages. I must say, they were excellent musicians. That was lost on the younger me. I never knew they did a cover of Aaron Copeland's Fanfare for The Common Man. Copeland is one of my favorite composers. I could spend a solid 24 hours listening to his works. And have.

    Like the work of so many great composers, I think their version is the definitive work and can't be improved by anyone, other than playing, exactly as intended by the master. Of course, we never have such access to Bach, Mozart and Beethoven (we can get close, I think), but with modern composers, we do have have their actual recordings.

    I wouldn't listen to ELP's Fanfare more than once or twice. But the musicianship certainly is there.

    Rich

  • Members 782 posts
    June 12, 2023, 10:01 a.m.

    Just making sure that the red lantern (ALWAYS full of symbolism in China!) is highlighted more, would be enough.
    It would become a point of attention that draws the eye towards that second scene in the background.
    But I am searching no excuses for my blatant failure to enlarge your image and explore it more thoroughly.

    Interesting backstory of your process. Thanks.
    Roel

  • Members 861 posts
    June 12, 2023, 3:21 p.m.

    Warhol would be proud, Bubblicious still mad about the nature of their product. 😜 I remain absolutely fascinated by how one image can be perceived so differently. Simply delightful.

    PP?

  • Members 1662 posts
    June 12, 2023, 9:33 p.m.

    live.staticflickr.com/65535/52969831650_ecda9de3dd_b.jpg
    A spoonful of bokeh!
    by simple.joy, on Flickr

    I usually try to change lenses very often, which helps me not falling into a rut of creating the same things over and over... and of course also in order to give all of my experimental/enlarging/industrial lenses a fair shake! Sometimes it can be very nice to get back to one of my favorites. The image above was created with one of those for sure - an unnamed Agfa enlarging/macro prototype lens - in my opinion one of the finest triplets ever made.

  • Members 1363 posts
    June 13, 2023, 7:21 a.m.

    Likewise. This is the case in all art., music, literature images...Every receiver brings their own experiences to the way they respond to the piece. The power of any piece, IMNHO, is in its capacity to provoke those responses. It's a two way process. It's why in this forum we encourage discussion of images rather than just "likes".

  • Members 782 posts
    June 13, 2023, 9:31 a.m.

    I really like this.
    It gives me a sense of airy playfulness.
    The creativity is crackling.
    I'll have a spoonful of that: I'm sure it works in much the same way as magic mushrooms (not that I would know...)

  • Members 782 posts
    June 13, 2023, 2:55 p.m.

    Dear all,

    As it is Tuesday and nearing the evening hours (in Belgium), we are slowly winding down after another succesful week.
    The trend of enjoyable, creative images and productive discussion, continues. Very good.

    Tuesday is often a slower day for comments and replies.
    Everybody is gearing up of tomorrow's new edition.

    Obviously, it is still allowed (and encouraged to continue commenting on photos, and replying to comments).

    But please be advised that if you want to post another image, it is often better to wait until the new edition on Wednesday.
    This is good for the poster in order to get more traffic. And also for the group, in order not to confuse the different sequential weekly threads

    I will take care of starting the new edition tomorrow. Usually I manage to do that before 12.00 noon (Brussels time).
    See you then.

  • Members 1363 posts
    June 14, 2023, 6:27 a.m.

    A photograph that is a joke for photographers.
    It's clever and a visual treat as well.
    The close up makes a bowl of the spoon and the rounded shapes of both form repeating patterns.
    Just great.

  • Members 132 posts
    June 14, 2023, 8:09 a.m.

    Hello PeteS

    I read your comment with a smile and it ends with a reference to another Dutchman whose first name was Vincent.

    Now a reference to a celebrity and whether in photography or painting the purpose of a compliment is something that happens quite often in threads like this and on one hand I'm happy about it and on the other hand my consciousness sees its relativity. Simply because it's my effort and no one else, like the spoonful of bokeh by simplejoy. His work is so unique that I enjoy it.

    Anyway thanks again PeteS