Bokeh

[mrstravis]

Ok, I have achieved bokeh before (as shown below), but I am not quite sure how I did it. I read the sticky of definitions for dummies, and I went into my manual to see if it gave any advice on how to do it, but I still can't figure it out. Is it really just zooming in (to get a narrow dof) and for the most part being a certain distance from the subject? or am i misinterpreting that definition?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/technical/bokeh.html


It is largely dependent on your aperture size.

 

[Kerbouchard]

It has 5 main factors. Sensor size(not readily adjustable so we'll forget that one), distance to your subject(the closer the better), focal length(200mm is much better than 20mm), distance from the subject to the background(greater the distance, the better), and aperture(larger aperture/smaller number is better).

The combination of shooting a subject close to you at a high focal length with the background a long way away with a large aperture will generally produce the most pleasing 'bokeh effect'.

You don't have to have all the pieces in place, but they all contribute.

 

[Josh66]

"Bokeh" is not a "thing" that you can achieve. It refers to the quality of the out of focus portions of the photo.

 

[Malone]

Since you're using a P&S, I'm not sure how or if this can be controlled. On DSLR's, it's done by using a shallow DOF - high aperture (low f/stop number).

 

[kwik]

Bitter Jeweler your link doesn't work

Bokeh and Background Blur - Bob Atkins Photography

 

[tirediron]

Bokeh is NOT something you achieve. It is a product of the lens and is the result of the focal length, camera-to-subject (focusing) distance, background distance, chosen aperture, number and shape of the aperture blades and some other factors of the lens' design. In other words: With a given lens, focusing on a subject at distance 'x', using aperture 'y' and with the background 'z' feet behind, the bokeh will always appear the same.

 

[tirediron]

"Bokeh" is not a "thing" that you can achieve. It refers to the quality of the out of focus portions of the photo.

Hey! Get outta my head and stop typing so fast!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Bitter Jeweler your link doesn't work Bokeh and Background Blur - Bob Atkins Photography

Weird, it works when I click on it. *shrug*

Thanks for reposting it though!

 

[Malone]

Bitter Jeweler your link doesn't work

Bokeh and Background Blur - Bob Atkins Photography

Works for me, must be you...

 

[Josh66]

Bitter Jeweler your link doesn't work

Bokeh and Background Blur - Bob Atkins Photography

Works for me, must be you...

It didn't work for me when I first tried it, but it does now...

Maybe the site was down temporarily or something...

 

[mrstravis]

"Bokeh" is not a "thing" that you can achieve. It refers to the quality of the out of focus portions of the photo.

Ah, ok. I wasn't sure, thank you.

 

[mrstravis]

Since you're using a P&S, I'm not sure how or if this can be controlled. On DSLR's, it's done by using a shallow DOF - high aperture (low f/stop number).

Ok, thank you. I think I assumed that but wanted to make sure.

 

[mrstravis]

It has 5 main factors. Sensor size(not readily adjustable so we'll forget that one), distance to your subject(the closer the better), focal length(200mm is much better than 20mm), distance from the subject to the background(greater the distance, the better), and aperture(larger aperture/smaller number is better).

The combination of shooting a subject close to you at a high focal length with the background a long way away with a large aperture will generally produce the most pleasing 'bokeh effect'.

You don't have to have all the pieces in place, but they all contribute.

Ok, thanks for the info. I'm using a Nikon Coolpix L120, not a dslr, based on yours and earlier posts, I dont think it's something that I can control but will simply continue to be an accident

 

[mrstravis]

Thanks for the link bitter jeweler!