Bokeh?

[larry_g1]

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!

[jcuknz]

Soft Focus .... so I never use the silly fashionable word you mention :-)

[sattler123]

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.

[fotograaf1957]

I believe it's pronounced "boke", like broke, without the "R". The "H" is silent.

[leicaglow]

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.

[roger_smith4]

"Boke" is Japanese and pronunced "bo-ke", sort of rhymes with "okay".

[ci_p]

This is probably more than you wanted to know...

 

http://www.photojpn.org/words/len.html

[klix]

<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.

[chuck_c_charlottenc_]

Bokeh is background blur in out-of-focus areas... Not soft focus.

[chepas_nigs]

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 :-)

[maryannparrone]

a photographer with beautiful bokeh is masahisa fukase.

[larry_kincaid1]

How do you pronounce fukase? (Couldn't resist.)

[jcuknz]

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.