larry_g1 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 OK, this has got to be the most trivial question to ever appear on this forum. But . . . . I don't care. I just have to know: How do you pronounce BOKEH? And while I'm asking such low-level questions, I'll also add this one: Is it a recent term, or has it always been around? I've been involved in photography for about 40 years, and I've only recently heard it. Thanks, and now you get back to the real purpose of this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcuknz Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Soft Focus .... so I never use the silly fashionable word you mention :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sattler123 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 this is not such a trivial question- can't tell you how it is pronounced, but if memory serves right, this is a Japanese word for out of focus qualities of a lens and it has been around for quite some time. Leica lenses are famous for their bokeh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotograaf1957 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I believe it's pronounced "boke", like broke, without the "R". The "H" is silent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaglow Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh. While it gives a description of bokeh (I pronounce it "bo-ku"), it is the quality of bokeh that tends to get discussed most on these boards. The term has been around a long time, but I believe used with regards to photography, mainly as advances in lens design improved from the mid-20th century. I think the reason you've only recently heard it is because it's overused and misunderstood by too many people that want to seem smart because they've used it. That said, I don't know of another term to describe the appearance of out of focus subjects in an image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_smith4 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 "Boke" is Japanese and pronunced "bo-ke", sort of rhymes with "okay". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ci_p Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 This is probably more than you wanted to know... http://www.photojpn.org/words/len.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klix Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 <i>"Boke" is Japanese and pronunced "bo-ke", sort of rhymes with "okay". - Roger Smith</i> <p><p> NO, it does NOT. The elongated "o" and "kay" sounds are western pronunciations. <p><p> The "bo" in bokeh sounds like the "boh" in "ball" without the ll. The "keh" in bokeh sounds like the "ke" in "ken without the n. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_c_charlottenc_ Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Bokeh is background blur in out-of-focus areas... Not soft focus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepas_nigs Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 It's funny that when I consult by Japanese-English Dictionary (The New Anchor - Gakken) there is no mention of bokeh. There is a "bokeru" (verb, formal - "bokemasu") though which means (1) to become senile and (2) out of focus (i.e. "boketeiru"). There is no h in Japanese but there is a ha. But it's a good marketing ploy though :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryannparrone Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 a photographer with beautiful bokeh is masahisa fukase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry_kincaid1 Posted February 19, 2007 Share Posted February 19, 2007 How do you pronounce fukase? (Couldn't resist.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcuknz Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Sorry Chuck>>Bokeh is background blur in out-of-focus areas... Not soft focus.<< I should have said 'soft focus in background' :-) But my amusement at westerners who use the word continues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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