Photo Quest competition for this week: Bokeh. Well, I learned something else. Although I have taken photos in this technique, I didn't know they were called that.
Bokeh, also known as “Boke” is one of the most popular subjects in photography. The reason why it is so popular, is because Bokeh makes photographs visually appealing, forcing us to focus our attention on a particular area of the image. The word comes from Japanese language, which literally translates as “blur”. Source
I know that this background blur effect is due to the camera lens and is achieved when the aperture is wide open and the exposure time is very short. But the photos I post below were not taken with the intention of achieving this effect, it was more of a coincidence.
Now, when I know what this effect is called and when I see how spectacular it is, I will try to practice with such photos.
Here are some photos that I think qualify for the contest.
This is my entry in the Qurator's Photo Quest | Bokeh and I invite you to participate too, there are a few days left until the end of the competition.
Of course, according to the rules, the first photo is for the competition.
Searching for matching photos I was very pleasantly surprised to find a series of photos taken late fall in my backyard, photos I thought were lost. I was very pleased, especially as many of them are Bokeh.
Then I photographed the last remaining flowers to face the winter, which thankfully, hasn't come yet.
Roses
Roses usually bloom until frost or snow sends them into hibernation.
Petunia
Plumbago
It is a climbing plant that prefers warm climates and I am trying to acclimatize it in my garden. As it does not adapt to the cold of winter, I try to protect it by covering it with special bags. I'm doing this for the first time and waiting for winter to pass to see if it has survived.
Black Eyed Susan
There are many varieties of this flower and I'm not even sure this is a Black Eyed Susan, but I like to think so. I like it a lot.
Echinacea
Another flower I like a lot. I've had some bushes for several years but this is a new plant, bought last summer from Bulgaria.
Chrysanthemum
Autumn flower, blooms until snow covers it.
My favorite color, blue. I don't know the name of the flower, I bought it from a florist but I forgot the name.
I end with a Geranium. In a pot, in the house, on the windowsill.
I think the first and last photos are the closest to the definition of bokeh, as those characteristic bokeh balls are visible in the background!