The theme for this week’s #52Snapshots of Life photo challenge is “Bokeh“. For those that may not know, bokeh is the quality of out of focus or blurred parts of a photograph. I honestly had to look it up to understand it exactly. I knew it had to do with depth of field or background blur, but apparently it is more the quality or feel of that blur and the resulting points of light that makes good bokeh (if you are really interested I found the best explanation here: Photography Life – What is Bokeh?)
Anyway, for the first time I wanted to really use the manual options on my new camera to achieve this effect. That part of my plans went OK, but nothing else did! So the photo I ended up with is not what I had planned. If we had just gotten the snow I was hoping for, I probably would have gotten the outdoor photo of Luke I really wanted.
You know, the best laid plans and all that. What also doesn’t help me is that I’m always doing everything at the last minute! As it turns out, Luke’s head was too big for my 4 foot Christmas tree to make a good background, and the lighting on our porch was just not right for his mostly black face. After working with Luke, Cricket wandered into the room smelling the treats, and I messed around with her and actually had better luck (maybe because her head is smaller and her face is white?).
I’m not sure if this would be considered “good bokeh” or not, but it’s the best I could do! 🙂 I think the soft focus of the lights is correct, but ideally the tree with lights would fill the whole background. If only I had put up a full size tree this year – but with our house for sale we had to keep it simple. I also wish I had put an extra string of lights on the tree, but I didn’t think of that until just now!
Strangely, Cricket has been a good little model lately, and I wanted to share one other cute shot that I got.
Tomorrow I’ll have an update on Sheba’s surgery – she is doing well now, but we’re not sure how good her long term prognosis is going to be. On the better news side, I’ll share about Samantha’s recent checkup, which was more promising news.
We will also have a giveaway this week (postponed from last week due to my stress level when Sheba was in surgery), and another the following week, so stay tuned for those and some other fun stuff!
Thank you to the The Lazy Pit Bull for hosting the #52Snapshots of Life photo challenge. Are you joining in the fun? Photos can be shared via blog or social media, just use the hashtags #52Snapshots and #PBSG. Only a few weeks left! You can also visit other participants through the links below.
Wow the holiday season is busy every year, but to have your house up for sale and your dog recuperating from surgery must be overwhelming. Yet here you are with a pair of adorable photos of Cricket featuring bokeh! Well done, and best wishes for Sheba.
Good job. I’d have had to look it up too. :-0
Yes it is good bokeh and both are very nice photos.
Wow! I learned something here. I always loved photos like that but had no clue what it was called or how to do it. You’ve done a marvelous job with yours! Way to go girl…
I love the pictures. I don’t care if its text book bokeh or not, I love that sweet face and the lights!
Good job of showing bokeh and great pictures of Sheba! Love Dolly
Oh these are fantastic!!!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Great photos! We are just learning about bokeh as well.
Great photos, no matter what “Bokeh” is-lol! But I think just by seeing the pics and hearing what you describe, it has to be close-the first one is a great shot of Cricket, and behind her the tree is blurred, but nicely so….not just an out of focus thing you don’t notice-and the lights come out too. Oh-oh, Luke, watch out, you might havta be fired on the photo shoot, Cricket is taking over the modeling jobs!! Just kidding, Mom can use you both for sure! As well as beauty Sheba when she is feeling better! Love you all, Jan-
Cricket has really been such a good little model lately. Luke has been less than cooperative. We may have to threaten him with losing his job if he doesn’t straighten up! LOL Love you too, Lynny!
I think your photos came out great. I had to look up boken too and I didn’t quite get it right.
We think you did a great job! Though we’re only learning what bokeh is too. 🙂
Oh my goodness, those are such beautiful photos!!!
I think they’re both great pix!!
Thank you, Sue!!
Cool pictures!! There is so much to photography.
Thank you! I actually studied photography some when I was younger. It seemed easier back then….I find it much more challenging now (must be my old and slower brain…LOL).
You bokeh came out really nice. My photographer always thinks of changes after the fact too, which is why photography is a never ending process! Hope Sheba will be alright. The way you mentioned it, it doesn’t sound so positive.
Thank you!
Sheba is doing well right now and that gives me hope. But what he had to remove from her, it was all pretty scary. The vet feels strongly it was cancer, and can only hope he got it all. But I worry about it showing up in other places now too, and that also concerns him. We’ll know more when we get the lab results later this week. If it is the same cancer as earlier this year, there aren’t many treatment options available.
You did a great job on the photos! Such happy faces in both. I hope that Sheba is going to be fine. Two contests in tow weeks?!? WooHoo!
I think the pictures turned out great! Hope you have some good news on the results on Sheba. Glad to hear Sam is doing well.
Oh you really have the light of Christmas in your eye, Cricket… I hope that’s a sign that Santa brings the eggs-tra big stocking to you this year :o)
I sure hope so too, Easy!!
Love, Cricket