Sam Abell and the "full-frame aesthetics"

Bush, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Berries, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

After wrting so much about small-sensor cameras vs. full-frame I suddenly realized something about the favorite photographer of mine, Sam Abell: although he is most certainly using full-frame (35 mm film) cameras, it doesn't dominate the look of his images. In fact, they are quite modest in using such "special effects" such as shallow depth of field.

Mostly, he captures what is in front of the camera, and doesn't point to it heavy-handed. In fact, some of his images are so natural that they seem to be taken the first thing after walking out of the door. But that is of course the skill of the artist.

But why then has "bokeh look" become so common in photography? Is it a fashion thing?

Maybe related to this, Paul Lester has got his hands on the Canon S90, an advanced small-sensor camera. He managed to take impressive photographs at first try, even without reading the manual. Which shows that when you have the skills, the camera doesn't matter so much.

As a different kind of example, there was a review of the Samsung EX1/TL500, which had lots of measurements etc., but was somewhat spoiled by the following: "The large front element is protected by a clip-on lens cap, which is a bit of a let-down, being not up to the quality standard set by the camera and, in addition, a nuisance to use. No tether was supplied with the review camera, although the user manual indicates one should come in the box. However, it looks like being quite tricky to fit."

Well, what can you say? I haven't had any trouble with the lens cap of the LX3, but then I have used an SLR previously. And on the Canon Ixus 400 the built-in lens cover got stuck and I didn't manage to get it repaired.

Beautiful bokeh - or not!?

Colors, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

I noticed a collection of photographs titled (More) Beautiful & Captivating Examples of Bokeh Photography, which reminded me of the bokeh posting and discussion here a while ago.

But what is remarkable about this collection of photographs is that it made be go "yack". (I'm not sure what it the right translation for the Finnish word "yäk", which means a vomiting-like feeling.)

Why is that? Is it because going overboard with something - whatever it is - make you nauseated? Or is there something specific about these photographs?

Maybe it is the collection. A single photograph like these may be ok, but when you put so many of them together, it causes an overload.

The endless search for the perfect bokeh - is the LX3 any good?

Holes, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Berry, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Brown, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

The good folks at Serious Compacts have tested the Panasonic LX3 against the Samsung EX1/TL500 in terms of bokeh, or out-of-focus blur (to define it in a bit simplistic way). I couldn't help thinking that perhaps it would be more worthwhile to search for better photographs than for better bokeh, but who am I to say to anyone else what to do.

In any case, I'm as fond of using out-of-focus blur as anyone else, to the degree a small-sensor compact such as the LX3 can do it. Here are three examples from today, in each of which bokeh is used in a bit different manner.

In fact, in the last photograph you may say that it would be better to have everything in sharp focus. There is a part of image where the bokeh is quite strong but it may be difficult even to notice it is there.