Bokeh or DOF?

I used to use the terms Bokeh and Depth of Field interchangeably until one day I realized that I was wrong.  Maybe you can relate,
or maybe I am just a slow learner 😉

Bokeh best describes the out of focus area of an image, and good bokeh is when those areas are smooth and silky
with no sharp edges.

Depth of field (DOF) is the amount of the picture that is in focus, as opposed to bokeh which is the amount out of focus.

While depth of field does cause bokeh, bokeh does NOT cause depth of Field.

Bokeh and depth of field can work together.  Some lenses have a better quality of bokeh  than others and
some lenses provide a more shallow depth of field with result in better bokeh to begin with.
How much of that effect you are trying to achieve depends on your depth of field.

I believe bokeh is a matter of preference.
Much of photography is a matter of personal preference, and it’s a fine line between an image
being simple and simply breathtaking.

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Break Photographer’s Block

Nothing can be more frustrating than when you can’t find anything new exciting to photograph.
If you find yourself saying “I need to get my mojo back”, then you might possibly need to kick yourself
in the hiney and find things to be excited about.  It doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal, just find something
that sparks your interest and shoot it.  Start with no particular reason, and then refine your details by focusing
on the minor details that can make an image simply beautiful.

Let’s look at 5 ways to help you break photographer’s block

1).  Just Shoot.
instead of waiting for that perfect shot, just start shooting.  Look at the thins around you and pick something.
2).  Get Out.
Seriously, get outside and enjoy the world around you.  It’s amazing what you can see when you are really looking!
Find one thing that sparks your interest and shoot it for half an hour.  Play with depth of field and really learn how your equipment
works.

3).  Step out of the box.
Always shooting people?  Try something new.  Go to the beach or maybe a local scenic park and try your eye for landscape shooting.
Always shooting landscapes?  Put a person in front of that mountain and figure out how to make that photo work with a new element.

4).  Tell a story.
Decide on a theme and make it speak without words.  Tell a story using your images.
Remember, if you have to describe in writing what is going on, you’ve missed the point.

5).  Change is good.
Sometimes we just get tired of shooting for no particular reason.  Walk away.
Come back another day and maybe shoot something familiar but from a different perspective
or many different angles.  It forces you to think creatively without a lot of effort.

I’m sorry. Is your camera still in the case or on a shelf?
Don’t just sit there. Go get it and start shooting, that’s what I’ll be doing,… and have fun while you’re at it!

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