f/4.5 @1/6 42mm Photo by Angelina Valtierra, Dripping Springs High School (Texas)
BOKEH
The term “bokeh” comes from the Japanese word boke, which means “blur” or “haze.” The English spelling bokeh was popularized in 1997 in Photo Techniques magazine, when Mike Johnston, the editor, altered the spelling to suggest the correct pronunciation to English speakers.
In photography, BOKEH is the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. “The way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.” A Q&A WITH JESSICA STAMP IN YOUR WORDS, WHAT IS BOKEH? Bokeh is an effect where lights are out of focus creating globules instead of sharp defined bulbs. The same idea can apply to other objects, such as dew on grass, that reflect or emit light. WHEN DO YOU TEACH THIS IN YOUR CLASSROOM? WHY? I’ve varied when I have taught this technique since I only spend a day on the concept. Most recently, I taught it after their final projects for the semester were due in December. We used the lights and trees in the library as practice. I have lights in the classroom year round so I can do the lesson whenever.
f/2.8 most light least depth of field SUMMER 2019
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WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE WHEN TEACHING THIS? We have nine Canon DSLRs. They vary in model from SL1, XS to a Mark III. Students pair up and share one to practice. They have their own SD cards so they can submit their photos afterward. HOW DO YOU TEACH THIS? WHY? I simply demo it in my classroom by using a DSLR and pictures of the settings on the projector. As I explain how to widen the aperture or lower the f/stop on the camera, I point to the buttons and menu selections on the projector screens. Students do it with me to get the set-
JESSICA STAMP Dripping Springs High School (Texas)
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