Bokeh Studies: Kelly Sereda

Spring III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:45:46 GMT

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Lens: Topcon 1.4/58 Topcor
Plant: Hepatica x media 'Ballardii'

Among the first tiny bloomers of early spring in Calgary, Hepatica - as they are commonly referred to - seen here at Reader's rock garden.

Seen often throughout this gallery, the Voigtlander Nokton is based in fact on this lens, the Topcon Topcor. They do share an almost pillowy bokeh with a balance between smoothness and edge lit highlights. The Topcor's bokeh stands apart from it's newer relative with a hint of vintage swirl.

Spring X

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:40:06 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 1.8/50 Oreston
Plant: Spirea japonica - Spirea Bush

These flaming red new leaves, coupled with last seasons old growth render this scene entirely autumn-like in appearance, but it is the early entrance of spring nonetheless.

Like its brothers and sisters in the Meyer family, the Oreston shows sharply lit highlights creating a very textured background. Also offering a class beating .33" minimum focus distance, the Oreston's seperation of in-focus plane from background can be made to seem even greater than it's pedestrian aperture would reveal.

Spring IV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:45:18 GMT

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Lens: Topcon 1.4/58 Topcor

Spring XI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:56:45 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'

Coming to represent the core of my bokeh arsenal since moving to the larger sensor of the A900, short teles have become my weapon of choice. Among them, Zeiss Planars in various forms have featured prominently. My interest in them has taken me through four versions and as of spring 2011, the esoteric 60th anniversary edition (commemorating Contax 60th year in 1992) has become the latest to draw in the gallery.

Offering the widest aperture of all the Planars and IQ from wide open to rival even the newest versions (and indeed, any short tele) this Planar presents an opportunity to resolve finer details at an even shallower depth of field. While rendition of out of focus area highlights smooths out when closer in to ones subject, standing back against more distant backgrounds tends to render a slight Nisen (two-line) effect, creating more texture.

Also, more than any other Planar I've experienced, the anniversary model exhibits a hint of vortexing when presented with so many highlights to show around the edges of the frame.

Spring V

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:42:13 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar

Meet the Biotar. Its immediate appeal is its signature vortexed background highlighting - swirly bokeh. Optically, this lens remained virtually unchanged from its introduction in the 1930's though its production into the 70's. It is still in use by afficianados of its distinctive rendering.

Biotar Blossoms

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:31:52 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar

The Biotar again, doing what it does best. This image takes on a life of its own when viewed much larger. There is an added border texture overlay of a gritty viewfinder, provided by Flickr member Nesster which adds a little framing and additional vintage feel. Its possible to note a bit of a 3D pop to that center branch, a result of using the Biotar at its swirliest which really distinguishes its sharp in-focus plane from its strong, vortexed oof.

Come Forth, Spirits

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:35:20 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'

It seemed almost as though there were an ethereal glow spreading forth from behind an unseen corner and the Planar's gentle swirl helped twist reality into fantasy.

Spring XIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:57:31 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'
Plant: Scilla sibirica - Siberian Squill

Another strength of this edition of the Planar is it's capacity to handle contrasting light. Not unlike the 35/1.4 Distagon, this Planar helps retain highlights and saturation in tricky circumstances very well.

Spring VI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:45:14 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar
Plant: Scilla sibirica - Siberian Squill

Early on the spring scene at Reader's Rock garden, in Calgary, Alberta.

It is worthy to note that there is a sweet spot for the swirliest performance from the Biotar. In this case, being near its minimum focus distance increases the size of bokeh highlights, generally decreasing the number visible thus making the swirl harder to read and less prevalent. It is still possible to note the shape of highlights are more distorted toward the edge of the frame.

Spring VII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:42:00 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar
Plant: Tulipa turkestanica - Turkestan Tulip

Untended growth heralding spring at the Reader Rock Garden in Calgary.

Shades of Spring I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:50:32 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK
Plant: Taraxacum - Dandelion

For a time, I had felt only a lens' superior magnification ratio allowed me to create the images of plants I wished to see - close-up with rich detail and strong seperation from it's background (ie macro). I was in the process of deciding to sell the Nokton in favor of the Zeiss Makro-Planar 50/2 (1:2), but testing the Nokton at its comparatively modest 1:5 ratio yielded a surprise - a characteristic, painterly bokeh which set my interest aflame.

A shy Prairie Crocus in the golden hour

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:18 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 1.8/50 Oreston
Plant: Pulsatilla patens - Prairie Crocus

The Oreston is easy to bring to highlight. It is possible to note the poignant presence of it's bokeh, attributed to it's strongly lit outer edges, defining and texturing oof areas. Termed 'Nisen' (Japanese for two-line (or two-thousand)) for the appearance of solid lines of light at the edges of an otherwise blurred object, this effect is widely panned on the internet as inferior to smooth bokeh.

In the end however, there is no right or wrong, good or bad. It's simply a matter of taste.

Tree O Plan

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:35:25 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

Play on words, an homage to the subject and lens.

As per the Oreston introduced earlier in this gallery, it is clear to note the strongly edge lit highlights this Meyer also produces resulting in a textured and present bokeh.

Barb Dwyer

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:32:04 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

The Trioplan demonstrating strong Nisen bokeh. Note the two-line effect in the barbed wire, preventing it from slipping quietly into the oblivion. Instead, it appears almost as though the lines remain in the foreground and bend off the side of frame. To the user who would like his background to be just that, the Trioplan may prove a difficult lens to tame, yet to the light painter, I believe the Trioplan is one of the unique characters to bring to bear.

Barbed Wire - Razor dof

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:25:18 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'

After 2 years of vetting the big anniversary edition Planar and kvetching over its expense, I finally dug deep and took one down. This was among my first test samples examining its shallow depth of field.

I found the contrast to the previous image in this gallery produced with the Trioplan an interesting study in the differences of character between the two lenses.

Light and Shade XVIX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:36:41 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 1.8/50 Oreston

Shades of Spring III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:15:06 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

On this day, our family got together to help with the yard work for our grandfather. He kept a garden of various flowers including these Poppies. Over time, some of them had migrated lower into the yard. This image is taken looking up from a remote patch, while in the background the main bunch glow gently in the afternoon sun.

Poppy, nude

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:34:32 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

This exhibitionist is early to seed.

Planar Poppies

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:57:27 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZA
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

Caught a bit of sun on an otherwise cool, wet and even snowy JUNE day. Sigh...

Alone in a crowd

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:17:14 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

Drumstick Thrift

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:28:27 GMT

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Lens: Minolta RF 5.6/250 Rokkor-X
Plant: Armeria pseudarmeria - Joystick Thrift

I was lucky to meet a fellow locally who has kept his classic Minolta lenses in immaculate shape. Further, he was supportive of keeping them in use and passed this Rokkor along at a very fair price - thanks Bennet, hope you'll enjoy to see it in use over time.

The bokeh highlights of a catadioptric lens reflect the mirror found in the center of the front element, creating a doughnut effect. Bokeh purists call it bad, I call it another tool in my bag of brushes. Further, this 250mm telephoto is as small and light as any lens in my bag - a handy thing to have such reach at so little expense in burden. In fact, at 250mm, not many mirror lenses (are there any?) come shorter in focal length, making the Rokkor a high quality example of the closest thing to a 'normal' mirror - perhaps the essential mirror lens for the bokeh fan.

Snowdrop Anemone

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:03:34 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/35 Distagon C/Y
Plant: Anemone sylvestris - Snowdrop Anemone

Upon entering Reader's rock garden in June, one is greeted by a cheerful patch of bright Anemone. Apparently they love to spread, but if you have the room, it is a wonderful sight, caught in the light in full bloom.

The Zeiss 35/1.4 for me was a bit of an enigma. I had other lenses I liked just a little more for each of its strengths, but it did present a convenient package. If I were to go somewhere with a single lens, this lens might have been it, but in my situation, I finally let it go to chase a different dream.

Anemone in Dappled Sun

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:32:26 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Anemone sylvestris - Snowdrop Anemone

Anemone in Light & Shadow

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:39:54 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Anemone sylvestris - Snowdrop Anemone

Androspace

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:03:29 GMT

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Lens: 1.5/85 Helios 40-2
Plant: Androsace lactiflora - Annual Rock Jasmine

Familiar Place

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:55:37 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

I've started to get to know the resident plant life through Reader's Rock Garden here in Calgary. I move instinctively to known habitats and hope to see the plants as glorious as they've been before and usually am surprised by something new that's popped up along the way. As much as it changes each year, it's a familiar place and a welcome respite from the city that surrounds it.

-o-

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:36:17 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/35 Distagon C/Y
Plant: Antennaria neglecta - Field Pussytoe

This Distagon for decades had been almost alone in it's class, an SLR lens offering wide angle, extreme aperture and high quality. With the 2010's seeing a rising demand for quality 'full frame' lenses, this Distagon has not only held it's value, but seen it rise and be joined with a host of new competition, including a reissue from Zeiss themselves.

It's bokeh is perhaps the smoothest of Zeiss' wide aperture Contax offerings with the slightest hint of 'exploding' bokeh seen in wide aperture, wide angle lenses. I also found the lens strong at preserving highlights.

The Heart of Chawberry Wood

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:51:57 GMT

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Lens: Helios 1.5/85 40-2

From a series of books I read as a youth, Chawberry wood was a place where my imagination filled in the details. Armed with this framework, my camera and lenses I am able to realize portraits of this fantasy into life from abstract situations all around me.

A Thimble full of Sunshine

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:15:15 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 1.8/50 Oreston
Plant: Aquilegia chrysantha - Golden Spur Columbine

A volunteer in my garden and doing very well!

The Poppy Patch

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:22:25 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

Yesterday

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:45:28 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2/24 Distagon
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

Essence of Summer II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:26:18 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SL 2.5/125 Lanthar macro PK

Nearing 1:1 macro here, this tiny beetle barely registers to the naked eye.

Essence of Summer I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:19:48 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK
Plant: Viola x wittrockiana - Pansy

A solitary Pansy, alone in a crowd.

Essence of Summer VI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:58:27 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SL 2.5/125 Lanthar macro PK
Plant: Allium schoenoprasum - Chives

A trait of all the Lanthar series of lenses is their ability to retain an absolutely crystal sharp image right from wide open. The 125 with its close-focus abilities combined with a wide aperture and longer focal length is able to isolate its subjects with any amount of detail in its smooth and relaxed out of focus areas.

Essence of Summer VII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:14:43 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

Summer II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:41:43 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG
Plant: Aquilegia - Columbine

Sundown at the Reader's rock garden.

With a minimum focus distance (MFD) of 0.6m at its 58mm focal length, subject magnification is fairly low with this incarnation of the Rokkor. It reminded me of the experience of shooting the ZK Planar 85, with its 1:10 magnification ratio. Essentially, these lenses don't allow for very close focusing, but have sufficiently wide apertures that 'extreme' bokeh can still be generated on larger or more distant subjects.

Wide open at MFD, the Rokkor PG presents a radiant diffusion which can completely obscure the focus plane, given the right amount of light. I can see why there are stories of its 'unsharpness' out there. Standing back from its MFD or stopping down will snap things more clearly into focus - if desired. This is another trait shared with the ZK version of the Planar I had, though the Rokkor is more extreme in this regard.

Further similarities include strong natural contrast and color reproduction (if the front element is shielded from sunlight) and a notably subdued specular highlighting. The highlights are clipped slightly at maximum aperture with the Rokkor however and with the proper distance can show a mild vortexing.

A lens shade would be a recommended addition as with its large front element, the Rokkor is fairly prone to flare, easily robbing its pleasing contrast.

Purple Haze

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:16:45 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SL 2.5/125 Lanthar macro PK
Plant: Thalictrum aquilegiifolium - Meadow Rue

Summer's Embrace

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:28:35 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SL 2.5/125 Lanthar macro PK

Light & Shade VII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:29:06 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

The Nokton can be easily mistaken for being soft wide open. On either side of its narrow blade of focus at this aperture can be noted a gentle diffusion of contrast. Both its sharpness wide open and the diffusion can be noted over the thickness of a leaf as seen here.

Essence of Summer XXII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:06:35 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 1.8/50 Oreston
Plant: Dianthus deltoides 'Vampire' - Cheddar Pinks

In the summer of 2010, we planted one 9cm pot each of two varieties of Dianthus - one year later, each has filled the boundaries of their designated areas and have seeded starts all around them. If you're looking for a quick start with a lot of color, these guys are great. Maybe not so great if you're looking for something modest however...

Summer... on Mars?

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:49:16 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

It is worthwhile to note the contrast of the Rokkor appears very solid on the A900 when you avoid flare. I nudged the saturation in l*a*b mode here leaving luminance unscathed. Contrast was not adjusted.

Garden Painting

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:07:39 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'
Plant: Papaver nudicaule - Iceland Poppy

If you ever construct a garden, make sure to take the time to build it from the ground up on day one. A good foundation including the appropriate soil conditions can really envigorate the whimsy of the gardener/artist when the day can be spent enjoying the space instead of saving it.

I say this from the perspective of one who has learned through the opposite experience. Correcting small areas to suit new ideas a few feet at a time, carving small habitats out of the base clay I have by nature.

...and learn to love your indigenous species, you will spend a lot more time reaping the fruits of your labour than labouring.

All this said, I've made color where there was none, and my camera has not had to travel nearly as much to indulge its craving for a bright and cheerful pallette.

Essence of Summer X

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:02:32 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

It is worthwhile to mention that while enhanced here, the diffusion and lack of definitive focal plane was inspired by the Rokkor at minimum focus distance, wide-open. Brightly contrasted areas glow with spilled light, overriding the visibility of a sharp in-focus plane, but lending a gentle warmth.

Essence of Summer XII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:32:22 GMT

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Lens: Topcon 1.4/58 Topcor

Summer III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:49:03 GMT

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Lens: Topcon 1.4/58 Topcor
Plant: Viola x wittrockiana - Pansy

Something so rarely attempted in this gallery. Something that grinds my gears, but can very occasionally bring me a smile. Wasting a lot of big glass by stopping down, yet revealing a vintage style hexagon aperture :)

Spirit of the West

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:25:47 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

Sundrops

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:25:27 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

Wild flower in Kananaskis provincial park, Alberta, Canada.

Secret Life of Bokeh II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:57:10 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

A tiny stand of moss, up close courtesy of the tight 1:2.3 life scale close focusing of this Distagon.

Yarrow Bloom

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:04:27 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Achillea millefolium 'Colorado mixture' - Yarrow

Pasqueflower in Evening Light

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:59:44 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y
Plant: Pulsatilla vulgaris - Pasqueflower

Essence of Summer XX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:22:28 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

Essence of Summer XVII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:43:54 GMT

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Lens: Helios 1.5/85 40-2

The Soviets captured a lot of German engineering during WWII. Concepts garnered from the German Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle were incorporated famously into the Avtomat Kalashnikova of 1947. Similarly, the Helios 85/1.5 was created based on an optical formula proved by the Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5.

Foremost in their similarities - the Biotar's signature swirling bokeh. In addition to this trait however, the Helios also imparts a strong diffusion of its in-focus plane, increasing toward the edges of the frame. The resulting mix of aberrations culminate in a dream sequence effect when shot against the appropriate background at its wider apertures. My favorite bokeh!

Summer VI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:07:52 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

Essence of Summer IX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:26:44 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK
Plant: Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-eyed Susans

On our way back through the Alberta-B.C. Rockies, a stop at 3 Valley Gap to stretch our legs provided an opportunity to shoot. At or near wide open and closer to its minimum focus distance, the Planar in ZK form has a gently diffused haze around a narrow yet clear point of focus. Along with strong oof rendering, it seems to be capturing a warm recollection of its subject, rather than a crystalline memory of it.

Nayarit VIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:37:41 GMT

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Lens: Sigma 1.8/24 EX DG

Taken in Nayarit state, Mexico. There are are two seasons here, rainy and dry. My bokeh story would look much different with a years worth of shots from Nayarit.

Planar Tree I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:35:41 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK

Planar Tree II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:37:55 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK

The Zeiss 85 was a break from the norm for me. It is designed primarily as a portrait lens and is not corrected for close-in work. Its extreme aperture, coupled with its short telephoto range allow bokeh isolation shooting on larger subjects from longer ranges which I've been slowly adding uses for since acquiring the lens.

A path less travelled.jpg

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:38:46 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

August Bell Flower

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:33:04 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG
Plant: Campanula rapunculoides - Creeping Bell Flower

Although an invasive alien to North America (classified as a noxious weed in many areas) it is both edible and attractive. I try to appreciate it where I cannot control it, but man, is it a tough plant to be rid of.

Planar Bokeh I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:52:30 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK
Plant: Veronica spicata 'Blue Form' - Spike Speedwell

The Zeiss T*85/1.4 Planar ZK produces a characteristic bokeh I would describe as smudgy, mottled and oily. Often seems oil painted. It was a good variation and contrast to the Noktons water-color feel among the fast lenses I used with the Pentax system. The Planars I've used all strongly resist highlighting, leaving the dim, evenly lit specular highlights to texturize the oof. Its worthwhile to note that the the ZA is perhaps smoother than the ZK in my use in this regard, for better or worse.

On the last day of summer II.jpg

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:53:13 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

Autumn Blooms

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:05:41 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plants: Echinops bannaticus 'Blue Glow' - Globe Thistle (foreground); Rudbeckia fulgida v. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' - Black-eyed Susans (background)

Mid summer hail knocked this Echinops plant back, but it's blooming now anyways - if a little worse for wear - against a lush backdrop of Black-eyed Susans.

Things are filling-in in my 2nd year garden and I'm told this Thistle does best at it's third year. Barring vicious hail again next year, I am cautiously optimistic I'll have more to shoot of it 12 months from now.

Regarding the lens choice, the Trioplan has a knack for imparting strong highlight rings in favorable light conditions which allow for poignant and sometimes unpredictable bokeh even with its moderate max aperture and close proximity of background to subject. It's certainly not a lens easily pegged by it's stats on paper.

Essence of Autumn II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:24:55 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK
Plant: Rudbeckia fulgida - Black-eyed Susans

Fall Colors XVIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:38:17 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

There is one maple tree in front of the Fairmont hotsprings that turns a rich beautiful red in fall. Its the only red tree in the area and stands out like a beacon. The leaves it lets fall are just as dynamic against the mostly green backdrop.

Autumn Echinacea

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:55:53 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'
Plant: Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

While not every day can be swathed in glorious natural light, our technology is getting better at making the most of middling pixels to show what did exist in front of our lens in its 'best light'. This image represents a trial use of an additional software package - DxO Optic Pro to take the RAW data from 0-60 before handing off to PS and LR.

Secret Path

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:28:57 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK
Plant: Sedum telephium 'Autumn Joy' - Autumn Stonecrop

Autumn's Canvas

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:50:17 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK

Autumn, finding Summers back gate open - wanders in and redecorates.

The Winding Road

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:06:17 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.2/85 Planar '60 years'

At this point as my first full growing season using the big Planar draws to a close, I've gained some insight into it's use. Its sweet spot for my purposes is quite far off the intended subject, where its bokeh size is reduced and character is given more intensity. In tighter quarters, the bokeh is very smooth and obliterating and its mild swirl is not readily apparent (wide open of course). It shares a lot of similarity in its use to the Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor, which is something like its more diffusive, smaller brother. I'd drawn this conclusion earlier to other Planars - which share a soft, diffusive glow under f2 - but I believe it's the shared aperture of the Rokkor and anniversary Planar that produces the clipped and radiating/swirl bokeh style that ties them most closesly in use and result.

Perhaps something that is lost in this technique when viewed at web sizes is the amount of detail the Planar actually captures in it's in focus plane however. Impressive micro contrast from wide open assure the prints from this lens are rich with information.

Autumn III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:49:38 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Rudbeckia occidentalis 'Green Wizard' - Western Coneflower

The seed head of a Western Coneflower drying off in some warm, early autumn sun.

Light & Shade X

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:55:14 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

Light & Shade XI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:23:05 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

Rokkor Glow

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:12:30 GMT

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Fall Colors XIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:28:58 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

Fall Colors XIV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:31:01 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

Autumn Fire

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:28:50 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 2.8/25 Distagon ZK

Light & Shade XIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:14:06 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

Autumn IV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:04:29 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

Light & Shade XIV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:12:37 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

Herbst I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:06:06 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZK
Plant: Sorbus americana - Mountain Ash

I intentionally attempted to highlight the bokeh by selecting a branch not in direct light against a background of leaves that were. Not sure if its especially interesting because of it, but as always, the Planar brings the warmth of autumns colors out in the oof area.

Herbst II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:20:02 GMT

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Lens: Super-Takumar 1.4/50

Fallen Roses

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:18:57 GMT

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Lens: Tomioka Yashinon 1.2/55

Light & Shade XV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:57:39 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

Fall Colors XIX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:10:10 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

Astral Dreams

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:43:01 GMT

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Lens: Meyer Oreston 1.8/50

Essence of Autumn III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:55:53 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

Essence of Autumn IV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:58:29 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

In my days shooting Pentax, the Nokton prevailed as my favourite bokeh lens. It's rendering is both clear and gentle with a very pleasing, natural contrast. Here, a dried fluff ball fades into creamy bokeh as some afternoon sunlight trickles through its fine hairs.

Winter Tones II

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:49:55 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

While summer of '09 finished with record high tempuratures, fall began with a mid-winter style cold snap of sub-zero temperatures that turned everything from green to dead in a matter of days. Once the weather had let up a bit, a venture into woods revealed a lot to shoot in the resulting twisted forms. While were robbed of a beautiful fall pallette, out in the woods, in the silence, the beauty was still palpable.

Winter Tones IV

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:06:49 GMT

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Lens: Minolta 1.2/58 Rokkor PG

Winter I

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:15:52 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar (w/Heliopan KR3)

Even the mighty swirl of the Biotar can be muted without the prevalence of edge lit background material. I think even the smooth bokeh crowd may be pleased by the Biotar, with leash on.

Winter VII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:54:59 GMT

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Lens: Voigtlander SLII 1.4/58 Nokton PK

Winter III

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:30:21 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar

Winter IXX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:03:11 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZA

Fallen Roses in Autumn Light

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:24:50 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

Winter XI

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:28:23 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss Jena 1.5/75 Biotar

Winter XIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:33:06 GMT

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Lens: Sony 2.8[T4.5]/135 STF

Winter IX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:42:56 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan

Winter XXIX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:05:50 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

Winter Tones V

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:32:21 GMT

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Lens: Meyer 2.8/100 Trioplan
Plant: Rudbeckia occidentalis "Green Wizard" - Western Coneflower

Winter XX

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:57:54 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZA

Winter Birch

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:05:25 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar ZA

The specular highlighting of the Planar in ZA form is evenly lit and tends to become almost entirely invisible as a seperate entity from the rest of the oof area. The result is a smooth, even background that completely submits to the point of focus. With it's mix of Minolta/Sony and Zeiss Planar lineage, it is in fact quite different to the 'truer' Contax C/Y and Zeiss direct PK versions.

Memories of Summer

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:04:45 GMT

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Lens: Super Takumar 1.4/50

Winter XXIII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:08:45 GMT

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Lens: Super Takumar 1.4/50

Light & Shade XVII

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:49:43 GMT

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Lens: Topcon 1.4/58 Topcor

Early spring warmth melting away the remnants of winter.

Lightest

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:51:12 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

Planar Light

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:48:04 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

Fiery

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:18:43 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

Consumed by flame, the bug flailed its appendages as it reared back and let out one last fiery breath before collapsing into the embers.

Along the way

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:05:35 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

Evening on a warm winters day

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:44:56 GMT

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Lens: Porst 1.2/55 Color Reflex

The Path to Chawberry Wood

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:28:53 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y

Burning Bokeh

controlvoltage@hotmail.com (Kelly Sereda) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:53:32 GMT

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Lens: Zeiss T* 1.4/85 Planar C/Y