Trying to learn (Bokeh in dim area)

[JWellman]

Hey everyone...My apologies in advance for the length of this post!

I’m trying to work with using Bokeh in a dim situation but I have no idea what I’m doing. I took numerous shots last night using different f stops and ISO ranges just to see what I could come up with. After seeing DBJ’s photo I wish I had used more mini lights (Post #637 Click here to see his set up).

Last night I was using the Canon 85mm lens - f3.5, 1/100, ISO 400. Unlike DBJ I hung my lights approximately four feet behind the bottle on a black drop cloth. Comparing to DBJ, I also lacked the use of a softbox. I do not have one, nor have I tried to create one. Looking on line I could probably make one using the equipment I have.

I want to try the shot again but was looking for a little help first. I only used one light on the bottle and feel certain I needed more. My husband bought me a starter lighting kit back in June but I haven’t played with it much. I do have two other lights though. I was tired last night and it was late so I basically gave up on the project.

My biggest frustration is the lighting and what I’m supposed to do. If I created too much light, or increased the ISO, I could see the backdrop and strands of lights in the background…which wasn't correct. Increasing ISO also caused the bokeh to be overexposed. If I decreased the ISO then the bottle was under exposed. The bottle and glass are also too soft, probably due to lack of lighting or motion on my part.

I want to try this whole set-up again. Can you guys offer advice? I have other lenses but didn't try any of them. Perhaps the 50mm would work better? And also, what shape should my bokeh be if done correctly? With this image I see hexagons beginning to form but I'm not sure if they are as sharp as they should be.

And just so you know, if you ask a question and I don’t reply, I’ll be back this evening. I won’t go into all the long terminology but in a nutshell my husband had a stroke in his right eye this past weekend. He lost a significant amount of vision and we will be with specialists the majority of the day.

Jess

 

[Robin Usagani]

First of all, sorry about your husband. I hope he will get most of his vision back.


Regarding the shot, put the glass directly next to the bottle so you dont require deeper DOF. I would open up the aperture as much as possible? Im guessing your lens can go up to f/1.8? You can also put the lights even farther in the back if you want the circles to be bigger. Did you crop this photo at all? I would try my best to be as close to the bottle as possible and fit the subject tightly into the frame.

 

[earthmanbuck]

I would think a 50mm would be okay for a shot that's this close. I only say that because I use my 50mm for most things and it works out alright for me. I'm curious to hear what the folks who actually know what they're talking about will have to say, though.

Sorry about your husband, that's really rough. I hope everything works out and he gets his vision back.

 

[JWellman]

Thanks for the comments on my husband. :hug::

For Bitter Butter look-a-like :lmao: No, I didn't crop this one and I tried to butt the glass up as close to the bottle as possible. And you are correct, the 1.8 would make either the bottle blurry or the glass blurry. The only way to get both focused was increasing to 3.5.

 

[tirediron]

Set up the bottle and glass so that they are on the same plain relative to the lens axis, this will eliminate DoF issues. Use small, bright lights (Christmas bulbs work well) well back from the bottle/glass. Light the bottle/glass with a single, diffuse light source (the lighting on it doesn't look bad as-is), and start with an aperture of f8 and work up/down from there to acheive the desired effect. Check out the DoF tables here to help determine what will be in and out of focus given the distances and gear you're using.

 

[KmH]

If you want the background lights to be big blurs, use a longer focal length (up to 200 mm) instead of the 50. Keep the glass and bottle the same size (scale) in the frame but use the same lens aperture.

The DOF will be the same, but the longer focal length will magnify the background lights making them appear as bigger rounded blurs.

To make the glass of beer better defined, cut a piece of white paper the same shape as the part of the glass the holds the beer and tape it to the side of the glass opposite the camera.

 

[chaosrealm93]

looks pretty good, a bit underexposed for me though.

 

[g-fi]

Just regarding the shape of your bokeh, your lens and your aperture have a lot to do with whether it's circular or polygonal. As far as I know, the more you stop down your lens, the harder the edges of your bokeh shapes, to get that rounder bokeh you need to shoot wide open. But don't think you're limited to round! Google DIY Bokeh and you'll find a ton of resources on how to create shaped bokeh super easy.