Capturing BOKEH - The Right Camera Settings

This is the fourth idea in a series of eight for a small-town photo tour, and it focuses on capturing photos with blurred backgrounds (Bokeh). Bokeh is a common effect for portrait photography and helps make your subject pop. You have most definitely observed photos with bokeh where the lights in the background appear as blurred orbs of light.

For bokeh photos, find areas that are not too busy or cluttered with junk in the background. Streetlights and ornamental lights help enhance the bokeh in the background.

Bokeh

Here are some ideas for your next bokeh photos:

1. Flowers are a popular subject for bokeh photography, as they can be captured in a variety of ways and create beautiful, colorful backgrounds.

2. Christmas lights are a popular subject for bokeh photography, as they create a festive, twinkling background that can be used to highlight a subject.

3. Bokeh can be used to create a shallow depth of field in portrait photography, helping to blur the background and draw attention to the subject's face.

4. Bokeh can also be used to create a dreamy, ethereal effect in nature scenes, such as sunsets or forests.

5. Street photography is good when photoing people with some city scenes in the background.

6. Bokeh can be used to create a magical, sparkling effect in nighttime cityscapes, with the bright lights of the city blurred into a beautiful background.

Mode:
It is all about controlling the aperture, so only two options: 1) Aperture priority or 2) Manual mode

Aperture:
As low as possible. Try to get 2.4 or lower.

ISO:
Try to keep the ISO low for better color and avoid noise that is present in photos shot with a high ISO.

Shutter Speed:
Choose a shutter speed to ensure a sharp subject and sufficient light is available.

Focal Length:
Your choice to frame the composition to include telling a story with the subject