Bokeh

[Stephanie]

I have a Nikon D60 - what are your recommendations for achieving Bokeh shots?
Can this be done through photo editing software as well?

Thanks!

[Naomi]

I put mine on manual and move the lens until it's out of focus :p I have absolutely no idea if this is the teccy way of doing it but it works! xD

[Danielle Starr]

@naomi same :D

[Jaydee]

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh

i hope this helps .... ♥

[Jeff Drongowski]

I get the best bokeh from my macro lenses when I'm focused up close, but any lens with an aperture of 2.8 or less will do it pretty easily once you play around. Long lenses are the easiest (85mm and up) but I just got great bokeh from a 24mm 1.8 Sigma.

Two simple suggestions: open up your aperture as wide as it will go, zoom in.

[Stephanie]

What does everyone usually use for the background lighting? Christmas lights all year? :P

[Lynn M. Watson]

@drongo3 Me too . . . macro with close focus and lighting in the background gives nice background bokeh!

[Vikdaddy]

just point it at some bright lights and de-focus - simple!

[Kim E]

i used to have the d60.. i would get alot of bokeh with my 35 mm lens.

You dont need christmas light.. natural light .. as well

[Stacy ♥ DOF]

@vikdaddy That's my favorite way of getting traffic bokeh - the only time traffic is beautiful! I haven't posted any yet...I take too many damned pictures, I think. So hard to just pick one per day.

[Jordan Anderson (icywarm)]

Ok I will save my rant on Bokeh vs Point of light vs OOF Area...

Mathmatics would show you... The longer your lens ie 300 > 150 > 50 and the smaller the app 1.2 > 2.8 > 5 and the great the distance of 'space' behind your subject to the 'light point' or Back Ground the more blurry your shots OOF (Out of Focus) area will be... add a light point in the OOF and you get on of those nice 'roundish' highlights...

To set it up... A nice long lens... 135ish... at 2.8ish... your subject the the min focus distance... say 5 feet... and the background being 30 feet behind and you will get 'bokeh'

here is bokey with a 500mm lens from 200 yards...


and here is some from a 90mm on 120 film... f/5.6





The key is get as close to your subject as possible and make the distance behind them as far as possible....

add lights if you like highlights... personally I find them distracting...

[Jordan Anderson (icywarm)]

There is software that will make them too...

Now did you mean the little shapes of light in the photo or the nice creamy background in a shot?

Also ment to add the larger the film/sensor the easier it is... I can quote the math for those that are interested...

[Stephanie]

Thank you very much everyone for your help, I appreciate it and I'll try some of these techniques.

[Luca Bonora]

it's not so difficult :)
open the diaphragm,
get closer to the subject and/or use a long lens
better use a fast lens.. :)

canon 50 1.4:

[Carlita Edwardo]

@icywarm Software! NOooooo, don't tell them that! Me thinks get the technique right before 'cheating'.