Bokeh and Vintage Lenses: Capture timeless beauty in photography

Being a typical wildlife photographer for decades, with some creative twists and journeys into other subjects, I found myself changing during the COVID years. I started experimenting much more and, little did I know, I went down a path with no return. After years of experimenting, trial, and error, and searching for the right “glass”, this page shows some of the results from my ever-growing archive, taken with vintage lenses. There are plenty of other examples in the other galleries, as my main photography is now primarily done with old glass. Below are the reasons why I'm hooked:

In the world of photography, two elements that have received considerable attention and admiration are bokeh and vintage lenses. Both of these elements contribute to creating captivating images with a touch of timeless beauty. Let's delve into the enchanting world of bokeh and vintage lenses and explore how they have become prized tools for photographers.

Bokeh, derived from the Japanese word meaning "blur" or "haze", refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph. It is often characterized by smooth, soft, and pleasantly blurred backgrounds, which serve to highlight the main subject and add depth and visual interest to the image. Bokeh is created by using a shallow depth of field, achieved by using wide-aperture lenses.

Now, when it comes to capturing bokeh, vintage lenses have a special place. Typically produced from the beginning to the mid-20th century, these lenses possess various optical properties that differ from modern lenses. They often exhibit unique reproduction qualities, including subtle aberrations, lens flare, and vignetting, which contribute to an image's overall vintage look and feel. These imperfections, rather than being flaws, are giving the images dreamlike qualities. In my opinion, these lenses should be used for these qualities and not used in the same way as modern lenses where they optically are inferior.

One of the most remarkable aspects of vintage lenses is their ability to give photographs a distinct character. Each lens has its own optical signature, which can be described as combining its unique sharpness, color reproduction, and bokeh reproduction. This individuality allows photographers to infuse their images with a sense of personality and artistic expression, creating a visual narrative that transcends the boundaries of time.

The images below are made with a mix of camera, projector, medical, and film- lenses dating from 1910 to around 1960, with glass from the former USSR, DDR, Germany, UK, France, and Japan. Many of the lenses I’m using I have either adapted or built myself.