Tried to do my first bokeh picture today and I'm not sure on whether it turned out good or bad...Let me know what you think of mine...please post some pictures of your own...Also if you could let me know how you did it, and what kind of camera can get the best bokeh pictures (or any camera that takes good pictures of everything, bokeh or not) that would be awesome, so I know what kind of camera to ask for for Christmas :) Thanks!
I think yours turned out fine. If you were a few feet farther from the tree, I think it would be more of what you were going for, it would blur the tree even more and the lights would be a little bigger, (but less intense). It's not the camera that makes the bokeh, but the lens. If you or your parents can find a used DSLR to get into for fairly inexpensive, it would be a start. That being said, there are some bridge cameras (features like a DSLR but still a lot like a pocket camera) that might be affordable too. If you are going to get a used DSLR I say Nikon for one reason. The old manual focus lenses still fit on any Nikon body and they are being sold fairly cheaply on line and at camera stores. There are pros and cons to it (like absolutely no Auto focus), but weigh your options. You MAY find a used Nikon DSLR and a few older lenses for around the same price as a new bridge or even pocket camera. I don't have a 50mm, which is ideal for bokeh, but I have an old 28mm that I made work and took these:
I used a Canon 1000D and found the best advice to move the light source for the bokeh pretty far away from the subject in the foreground plus use some lamp to light up the foreground. Hope that helps.
Its a great attempt at bokeh, I agree with Shades of Grey if you would have scooted back just a bit more and you would got the bokeh you were looking for. @lorihiro is a bokeh lover! For this photo of mine of bokeh I had a strand of lights all balled up and i put my camera lens on manual then zoomed in until I got the bokeh big. :)
@emilymarieley
In addition to what's already been said, if you find a flashlight to shine on the ornament and expose for that you may get a much better result. I suggest an older (non LED) flashlight since most use an incandescent bulb and will give you the warm effect you'd want, and a small enough beam (play with it till you get it right) that should illuminate just the ornament. I've used a similar trick to expose caves, after all photography is 'painting with light'
For me, it's been trying to get the distance right between the object and the bokeh. Have a play around with it. I also used a large aperture and used manual focus to work out the best effect.
Just took this tonight. I have a Nikon D5100 and love it. Best thing to do is head to a camera store and test a few out. I was torn between Canon and Nikon on paper, but KNEW the Nikon was right for me once I touched it.
These are all amazing. What I want to know is how to say it - is it bokeh as in bouquet or bokeh as in hockey or something in-between? I can't do it but I might as well try to say it correctly!! :)
Your bokeh looks good Emily. Sorrry I can't give you more information on how to do bokeh as I haven't had much experience with it myself. Here is one of mine with bokeh in it but the bokeh part was accidental. :) I'd like to learn more, too.
my previous efforts were all created accidentally...this is my first effort at creating bokeh for it's own sake...I'm hooked and will be doing lots more, if only to try to get an image I'm proud of...
My scarf. My camera usually produces pretty "good" bokeh. (My DSLR I mean) I read an article that if it has a circle eding the outside or even circles showing inside like a bullseye, that is less than desirable. but not sure if that is true. On this one, they are slightly rimmed by an outline....but I still like it.
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I used a Canon 1000D and found the best advice to move the light source for the bokeh pretty far away from the subject in the foreground plus use some lamp to light up the foreground. Hope that helps.
Its a great attempt at bokeh, I agree with Shades of Grey if you would have scooted back just a bit more and you would got the bokeh you were looking for. @lorihiro is a bokeh lover! For this photo of mine of bokeh I had a strand of lights all balled up and i put my camera lens on manual then zoomed in until I got the bokeh big. :)
In addition to what's already been said, if you find a flashlight to shine on the ornament and expose for that you may get a much better result. I suggest an older (non LED) flashlight since most use an incandescent bulb and will give you the warm effect you'd want, and a small enough beam (play with it till you get it right) that should illuminate just the ornament. I've used a similar trick to expose caves, after all photography is 'painting with light'
For me, it's been trying to get the distance right between the object and the bokeh. Have a play around with it. I also used a large aperture and used manual focus to work out the best effect.
A little in this one.
I think usually use the latter, guess I better start using the more widely boh-kay
christmas lights are good for this
my previous efforts were all created accidentally...this is my first effort at creating bokeh for it's own sake...I'm hooked and will be doing lots more, if only to try to get an image I'm proud of...