Photo of the Week: Oh Bokeh Tree

"Oh Bokeh Tree" © Andy Marfia 2014 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w 55-200mm lens, 1/100sec at f4.5, ISO3200

Happy Holidays from Chicago!  I took this week's photo at the Daley Plaza Christkindlmarket.  The Christkindlmarket is a great place to visit for last minute Christmas presents, gluhwein (a very tasty German mulled wine) and, of course, out of focus Christmas tree photos.  I'm pretty sure I've never met an out of focus Christmas tree that I didn't like.

Photo of the Week (News Years Edition): Daley Plaza

Nikon D7000 w/ 50mm f1.8D lens, 1/60sec, f2.8 and ISO200. © Andy Marfia 2012 All Rights Reserved.

This week's photo is an abstract take on the Christmas Tree in Daley Plaza, and also the Daley Center, which is on the left.  This shot is intentionally defocused.  I always feel like I'm cheating when I create a photo like this, but every once in a while it makes for an interesting effect.

The seven sided polygons are caused by the aperture blades of the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens.  At f1.8 these would have been circular, but with this lens you start to see the shape of the aperture blades as soon as you stop down even to f2.0.  This is an older lens design-- newer Nikon models have rounded aperture blades which don't produce these sharp polygons.  Most people think that's a good thing, but I rather like this look.

I hope everyone reading had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  I still have to post my Best of 2012 photos, and then onward to 2013!