This is hard for me to explain so please hang in there. I currently pushing myself not to overuse DOF / Bokeh in my photography. I see a lot of shooters using great fast glass at 1.4, 1.8 to get that creamy Bokeh in order to separate themselves apart from the typical iPhone user.
Maybe it is just me but I see many wedding and portrait photographers using these techniques to almost an extreme level without much creativity. Is this due to the huge influx of iPhone shooters and cheap dslr owner, I do not know ? Maybe the client wants that ??
So for my purpose I am trying to simplify my gear (think Bridge Cameras) and get away from expensive gear and go low tech high concept if that makes any sense ?
So are there any famous photographers that really tried to stay away from DOF, Bokeh or better know as that blurry background ?
I have a few techniques such as using front lights and a darken backgrounds, or getting the subject against walls as to not be a distracting backdrop.
I feel like some of the old masters of photography probably had a slew of methods. The last 10 years of photography seems like a rapid arms race to get the latest camera bodies and fastest glass. Adjust wide open an let it rip.
Thanks
Jay