The Bokeh Effect

The bokeh effect is the quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens but you can also make it using your computer screen. Bokeh has been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light”.

(Spider Man Bokeh, by Axel Santiago, License CC)

How to do it?

1- Use the right lens ( Use a fast lens, since aperture impacts the depth of field. The best lenses for beautiful bokeh are portrait lenses such as 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/2.8

2 – Set your camera on M (Manual Mode)

3 – Select a small aperture

4- Get close to your subject

5 – Focus on what you want to be sharp

6 – Place your subject far from the background you want blurred out.

7 – Take the shot

(Bokeh by Axel Santiago, License CC)

Tips for an excellent bokeh:

1- You can experiment bokeh at your home. But, if you want to be a different photographer and impress with yours pictures, grab your gear and head out on the streets

2- Night is the best time to shoots bokeh, there is no rule that bokehs should not be shot during the day. but, it’s more fun to shoot bokehs at night, the colors are better, the  patterns look beautiful when shot at night.

3- Make sure your find a place with a proper light, Light is the most important factor for photography and shooting bokeh is not the exceptions . When the background has a good light it’s easier to get those perfect patterned bokehs. If the light is insufficient bokehs maybe will not turn out well.

4- Manual Focus is a good tool, shooting bokehs with the focus in auto mode can be quite a pain. Focusing, adjusting, refocusing you will end up doing repeatedly. Manual focus works best.

(Photo by Shilpa Venkat, License CC)

(Photo by burakbulut.net, License CC)

(Photos by Drew Gurian, License CC)