How to: the bokeh effect

Tuesday 22 January 2019, 20:40 by Michelle Peeters | 7,759 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Bokeh is the Japanese term for blurred areas in a photo with a shallow depth of field. It is therefore created by using a wide aperture (low number).

Photo: Mark Kamalov
The aperture is made up of metal plates, also called aperture blades. Together, these blades form a circular opening that you can open or close.

With a wide aperture, there is a large lens opening (low f-number, for example f/2.8), and points of light appear as blurred circles. The distance to these points of light determines the size of these circles. The further away you are from the points of light, the larger the circles become.

You can also speak of bokeh when the photo has a blurred background and a sharp foreground. The colours and shapes in the background then blend together nicely.

Photo: Gabriel Santiago

Creating creative bokeh images yourself

You can create fun and creative images with bokeh. Think, for example, of stars or hearts in the background of your photo. You need a few things for this:

• A piece of thick paper or cardboard that does not let any light through;
  
• A knife;
• A camera with a fast lens (for example, the 'plastic fantastic' 50mm f/1.8);
• White or coloured Christmas lights.

Photo: Jaizer Capangpangan
Cut a shape out of the piece of paper or cardboard and place a light in the background of the photo, outside the depth of field. Set your camera to the widest possible aperture (for example f/1.8 if your lens can handle it) and hold the piece of cardboard against your lens. This changes the points of light, or bokeh, into shapes. Good luck!

You might also like

• 

  The difference between bokeh and shallow depth of field

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Night photography tip: using bokeh rings

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Electronic First Curtain Shutter and Bokeh

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Mushrooms with bokeh

  by Erik Nevels

• 

  Low-key is an edit, not underexposure

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  When Is a Dark Photo Not Low-Key?

  by Nando Harmsen

0 comments

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.