This week’s challenge is Bokeh.

From Wiki: “Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field. Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas.  However, bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.”  Bokeh is not just for DSLRs with fast lenses.  While bokeh is easiest to create with a DSLR due to their larger sensors, it is not impossible to do with a point & shoot.

Bokeh is created in one of two ways. A short focal length between the camera and the subject and wide aperture (small number, i.e. f/2.8 if your lens will open that wide) while keeping the background as far away as possible.  A long focal length between the camera and subject, and the widest corresponding focal length while still keeping the distance between the subject and background as large as possible.  A longer focal length will increase the depth of field – a larger focus plain – so the background would have to be farther away than with short focal lengths, otherwise it will all be in focus!

So I looked through my archives for some pictures which I hope qualify.

Check out more offerings.  Here.

50 thoughts on “Sunday Stills-Bokeh”

    1. beautiful! thanks for the prayers. sounds like he’ll be home late this morning! he’ll still have some things attached to him, but he’ll be home. so we’ll take it! my SIL organized a photo banner for him involving each of his kids’ kids (one word of the banner per grouping). together the photos made out: “get well soon, grandpa. we love you!” this was no small feet since all the grandkids are spread across many different ages, “coolness levels” & the U.S. lol. but it brought a ginormous smile to his face. so we’re giving the kids all the credit for him being considered well enough to be released today! thanks again. ::hugs::

  4. They are all beautiful. It’s funny how someone can explain a technique and suddenly my crappy pictures would become Bokeh! LOL Great job on the challenge, I love your photos.

  6. That was well done, like them all but quite partial to that second one.

  8. I really like the last photo. It has an old-timey feel. I understand what Bokeh is but not necessarily how to get it. Once the explanation gets all technical-speak my eyes glaze over. ha, ha. I am learning what works on my camera but for now it is just accident 🙂

    1. I am in the same boat. I got the effect by using my zoom on my point and shoot and so it is the distance to the subject rather than the lens that is creating the effect…I think. 🙂

  12. i think i learned something new here, thanks!

    especially lovin’ the photos of the long grasses….beautiful:)

  21. I had no idea photos were so complex – Mum just points the camera at me and so begins the game where I try not to look at it!! Tee Hee

    Wonderful shots! 🙂

    Hope you’re all having a fun weekend,

    Your pal Snoopy 🙂

  22. I found some tutorials for creating bokeh backgrounds in Photoshop and had lots of fun with it. I had no idea it was an actual photo technique. Great shots.

    1. Maybe you can try it out? I really just used the zoom on my point and shoot and it was the distance from the subject that created the effect.

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