Bokeh

[oldmacman]

I'm just curious as to why two posters would feel it is necessary for a semantics lesson. Is it really so wrong to indicate you are trying to "achieve" something? You can make conscious decisions to improve the quality of your bokeh, even if it is as simple as changing your lens. To me, it's kind of like the photogs that get their knickers in a twist because someone wants to know the "ISO setting" and five people jump in to say "ISO is not a setting it's a parameter".

 

[Kerbouchard]

Of course it can be controlled. Like I said, there are 5 factors. Sensor size is only one of them. The other four parts of it are easily within your control and there is no reason it needs to be an accident.

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

 

[KmH]

Of course it can be controlled. Like I said, there are 5 factors. Sensor size is only one of them. The other four parts of it are easily within your control and there is no reason it needs to be an accident.

Absolutely. Because of the small image sensor in your camera it won't be as easy as with a DSLR but with a bit of technical understanding and familiarity with your camera's lens specifications you should be able to blur the background when ever you want to.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

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

Might be a great day to go camera shopping!?

 

[tirediron]

I'm just curious as to why two posters would feel it is necessary for a semantics lesson. Is it really so wrong to indicate you are trying to "achieve" something?

I'll assume, for the sake of argument, that I am one of the two to whom you refer. The information provided was most certainly not intended as a lesson in semantics, rather it was intended as an explanation of what "bokeh" is, and what factors contribute to it. The intent being, that once the OP was on possession of these facts, she would have sufficient understanding of the variables to allow her to acheive the desired result again in the future.

 

[tirediron]

Might be a great day to go camera shopping!?

Is there a bad day to go camera shopping??????

 

[mrstravis]

Absolutely. Because of the small image sensor in your camera it won't be as easy as with a DSLR but with a bit of technical understanding and familiarity with your camera's lens specifications you should be able to blur the background when ever you want to.

Ok thanks! I'm still learning my camera but now that I know it's possible and within my control I have hope!

 

[mrstravis]

Of course it can be controlled. Like I said, there are 5 factors. Sensor size is only one of them. The other four parts of it are easily within your control and there is no reason it needs to be an accident.

Ok great. I think I get so caught up in my camera not being a dslr that I put limitations on it. Thanks guys for all of your help and for not treating it as a dumb question.

 

[gsgary]

It's no good blurring the background and getting your subject out of focus

 

[KmH]

Most digital photos need to be sharpened to one extetnt or another, post process, because an anti-aliasing (AA) filter has to be in front of the image sensor. The AA filter softens the focus by an amount that varies by camera make and model.

 

[mrstravis]

It's no good blurring the background and getting your subject out of focus

The picture above, is it out of focus or were you speaking generally?

 

[KmH]

It's no good blurring the background and getting your subject out of focus

The picture above, is it out of focus or were you speaking generally?

The focus in the photo you posted is not as sharp as it could be.

 

[mrstravis]

The focus in the photo you posted is not as sharp as it could be.

Oh ok, thanks for the c&c.