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Active Rain PhotoBlogger - Bokeh, What is it?

Bokeh, What is it?

The word 'bokeh' derives from the Japanese word boke, (bo-keh), which means blur, or fuzzy. In photography, it refers to a blurred, or out of focus background in a photograph.

To acheive bokeh in an image, you need an open aperture, f2.8 or wider with the widest aperture being the smallest number, (so, f1.2 is wider than f 2.8), and you need to get close to your subject. This is how you seperate your subject from your background.

When shooting with bokeh in mind, try to be sure you have a pleasing background to compliment your foreground.

A good examlple of bokeh will be a shot where the blurred background has no 'sharp' edges. It is soft.

Poppies - Example of Bokeh in Photography

A less pleasing example would be where there are sharp, or more defined edges in the background such as in this photograph. While beauty is subjective, IMHO the more defined background detracts from the subject in the foreground.

Poppies - Example of Bokeh in Photography

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Posted by Debi Boucher - "Realtor Showcase" Real Estate Slideshows/ Photographer on 11/07/2009 01:56 PM

Comments (34)

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34 Comments on Active Rain PhotoBlogger - Bokeh, What is it?

NOV

Debi..thanks for all the great info you have been sharing on here with us.....peace zane

The first photo is great. I love the flower in the background.... almost not there, but making such a huge difference to the subject in front.
Debi, I was trying to do that yesterday. I was trying to get really close to this beautiful bird, and he just kept moving further and further away. I couldn't use any of the photos I took, because he blended into the background, and I could never get close enough. He wouldn't fly, but he'd 'walk' really fast. :)

Debi, this shows how subjective art can be----I think both are great and different emotions are called up.

Debi,

I like both photos as well but I perfectly understand the message. The red in these photos of the poppies sure pops out!

Debi - I like these fuzzy little things and thanks for the information, great pics!

VB ;o)

That is very artistic in contrasting out of focus with in focus Debi. You are the MASTER in this area for sure. I'm kind of a warmy and fuzzy guy so that fuzzy part appealed to me LOL.

Debi, I have to say that you achieved "bokeh" very nicely!

A lot of people would think the first photo was the bad one.

Deb, I like them both...beautiful, fuzzy and colorful. It would be hard to choose.

It's funny, had I seen the second picture only, I would have loved it. But, since you used it as an example of the wrong way and showed the other picture as an example of the right way...I can really see the difference.

Hi Debi, Now go take those same pictures with an average point and shoot camera, LMAO. Voila, nothing out of focus and no blurred image . As those of us whose use SLR's would then say, "The photo is nice but you got no Bekeh." The real lesson here is if you do want Bokeh and many of us do, it costs a bit more to get it. LMAO.

Debi ~ thanks for explaing boke, (bo-keh),. My daughter is college and wants to be a photo journalist. She tried to expalain boke, (bo-keh), I just wasn't getting it. So, now when she comes home for Thanksgiving I will show her my pics too. lol

You're welcome, Zane! That's what the group is all about - learning from and sharing with each other.

Sylvie - Try paying him to pose - works everytime! LOL

Charles you're absolutely right - it is VERY subjective - Someone somewhere said 'this is the right way', and technically speaking it may be - but in art, it's what you like that matters!

Gerry- I love the poppies! This is an awesome color!

Robert, thank you! I'm glad you like them!

Gary, you certainly are LOL I love close ups, and love how the bokeh makes the subject 'pop'.

Wanda - thanks so much :)

Gene - Do you? It's all a matter of taste, so you are right!

Rebecca - Thanks - luckily you don't have to - you can look at them both! LOL!

Sharon - I'm like, you I have to see a side by side to get it :) But it's clear from the comments, as I say, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Hi William, it's true that the effect would be hard to obtain with a point and shoot. In that case, one could achieve the same effect in post processing. If anyone is interested, I'd be willing to do a tutorial on how to do it in photoshop.

Thanks for your visit everyone!

Debi

I'm not sure I understood a word I read but the poictures are wonderful. What a talent you have!

Now see, all this time I thought it was a poppy:-) I hadn't heard of a bokeh (or bouquet) before. Sorry, I'm in such a silly mood. . .I just got back from Wine Country:-)

Well I sure learn something new here everyday. Love the pics too. ~Rita (now to read your cold vs. H1N1 post as I'm sick today!)

NOV

Debi, Great explanation of the term. I like the pictures of the poppies...

Helping you live your American dream...

Hello Debi-You my friend just keep teaching us great lessons. Thank YOU. I love your Photobook in one of your previous posts. Have a super Sunday. <SMILE>

Great explanation.... it's not that the bokeh will make the picture beautiful or not.... but it sure helps to define the subject.

Hi Michael - LOL Thank you very much!

Myrl - Did you drink my share, too? Not fair! LOL

Rita - Thank you - and I hope your symptoms are all in the A column!

Michael - Thank you - Sometimes I wonder how clear I am... :)

Hi Sharon! Thanks much! Are you going to do a photobook?

Jesse & Kathy- Thank you - and yes, it really does!

Hi Debi-I will once I have a bit more time but I do need to check out how to do it. With the full time gig lasting til the end of the year plus my VA job I haven't had a chance to do much of anything besides work. Thursday and Friday I worked from 8 am-8 p.m. cause one gal was out sick so I had to fill in. So I am relaxing this weekend for the most part. Have a great week. <SMILE>

Another great tutorial Debi, this one is bookmarked for sure! Such beautiful examples you provided to go along with the explanation too, thanks!

Wow, what a lovely photo! Great explanation of the concept, too. I think I accidentally have some bokeh photos already.

Cheers,

Robin

Beautiful photos, Debi. You can also achieve the same shallow depth of field using a telephoto lens when you can't get close to your subject. Use a wide aperture, as you mention, but instead of having to get close, zoom in tight for the same effect! Be careful, though, with camera shake. It gets exaggerated the further you zoom.

NOV

Hey Sharon- Hope your weekend was as relaxing as you needed it to be! :)

Hi Cynthia- Glad you liked it, and the photos! Thanks!

Robin - Accidentally? LOL You crack me up!

Hi Deena - You're right! Just a bit harder to get that sharp photo, but CAN be done! Using a tripod would alleviate that problem. Thanks for weighing in :)

Debi

Hey Debi, Both are very nice, and I see the difference. More things to practice and learn:-) Thanks Debi!

Hey Mary - Thanks, this is actually a simple thing - doesn't take alot of practice :)

Debi

Debi, thanks for the lesson on bokeh...and thank you for the beautiful photos (especially the first, that one's magnificent!) :)

Leilani

NOV

Debi I love both shots anyway I did appreciate the lesson. Thanks so much for your attempt at making us better photographers.

Leilani - You're welcome! Thanks for the kind words!

Jennifer - You're welcome too - I appreciate your supportive comments :)

And thanks to you all for your parcipitation in the group!

Debi

I think I'm going to put a new camera on my wish list. There are so many things I'd like to be able to do that I can't with the one I have. These photos are so beautiful!

Hi Ann, Have a little chat with Santa ;) And be a VERY good girl!

Debi

NOV

Thanks so much for that definition! I have seen it used, (and did not do my usual thing, when I see a word I don't know: look it up!) Perfect illustration, and explanation of why one is more pleasing than the other. It is sort of like staging, there is a REASON one way is better than the other, but sometimes without the visual, the reasoning falls flat! Great post!

NOV

Hi Cheryl - You are so welcome! And you are right, the composition part of photography is very much like staging....

Debi

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