How was this bokeh effect achieved?

[andytakeone]

Shot from 2015's Carol:

How was this bokeh achieved? My beginner's understanding is that you need out of focus sources of light, like lights in the distance or even raindrops on glass panes.

http://static.filmmakermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/6-15B-2B-R-copy.jpg

Thanks.

 

[Vtec44]

Looks like some far away lights.

 

[KC1]

Light sources that are beyond the field of focus.

 

[Braineack]

close light source between camera and subject:


DSC_7960-7 by The Braineack, on Flickr

Here, I was shooting through a candelabra center-piece with a long lens.

 

[DeadEye]

Thats a mix. Flare and out of focus light. The lens has a very round iris as well.

 

[dennybeall]

DOF - X to Y, -X or +Y Not In Focus

 

[DeadEye]

To answer the OP original question though. Most of time when making an image such as this I will FLAG out the light source . Flag can be as simple as your hand partly into the frame. If you point directly into a light source there will be effect like this. Simple as putting a light source into the frame. The resulting flare can be artistic . The blade shape of the Aperture can often be clearly seen

 

[Designer]

It could also be a composite.

 

[astroNikon]

No one's gonna mention the aperture and number & design of aperture blades ?

 

[Braineack]

you can see it here at the 5 second mark. I'm sticking with my guess: long lens shooting through something.


sidenote: looks like a horrendously awful movie.

 

[Designer]

No one's gonna mention the aperture and number & design of aperture blades ?

Post #7, last sentence.

 

[andytakeone]

Thanks all for your replies!

Yes, it seems it might be shooting through something since in the scene she is inside and there are no distant light sources, nor is there a light close to the camera, like a candle.

P.S. Yeah the movie is pretty bad, but the photography is amazing.