bokeh love

This is the perfect time of year to experiment with those beautiful fuzzy orbs of light we call bokeh. A string of Christmas lights is the ideal tool for creating bokeh in the background. For this photo, I setup a backdrop with strings of lights draped over top of a cream colored blanket. Then I placed my cute little subject about 10 feet in front of the backdrop and set my aperture as low as I could (f2.5 in this case). What resulted was a soft, creamy glow of bokeh in the background.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and the holiday twinkle lights are going up, get out there and play around with boheh! Show us your results, past and present so we can all get in the spirit of the season!

Comments

[Emma]

I plan on having some fun with bokeh as soon as the Christmas decorations are up. Can I just say your subject is too cute for words ♥

[Caroline Martin]

I just <3 everything about this photo. would love to see this canvas!

[Lisa Gutierrez]

I can't wait to put up my tree later this weekend!
http://flic.kr/p/92W5p8
http://flic.kr/p/8XVepY

[The F Girl]

We set up the tree after december 5, because then we celebrate Sinterklaas. I already look forward to having all those lights in the house, so lovely and dreamy!

THis photographs is adorable. Look at that litlte face!

[Clare @ cclarebear.com]

THAT'S what I've been meaning to do this holiday season!! Buy a bokeh filter. So perfect for the holidays ;)

[Marcie]

Love what you've done here. Such a wonderful way to express holiday light. Here's one of my recent 'bokeh' images:
http://marciescudderstudios.squarespace.com/home/2011/11/8/city-lights.html

[Amy]

Here is my shot with bokeh. It' is my little toy poodle named Copper. He was my model for the experiment!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69620092@N05/6404774639/in/photostream

[Jen*Murphy]

I love playing with bokeh! It' is probably my most favorite thing to do photographically speaking. :-D
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/sets/72157628158473803/detail/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/5270562921/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/5275472185/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/4186509101/

[Patti G]

I've been playing with bokeh a little bit over the last few weeks - still trying to master it and learn how to do "custom bokeh".
Here is one of my results:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22639132@N04/6405120211/in/photostream

[Heidi M]

Oh what fun!
I'm so glad you included "past" bokeh shots.
Here are two of mine from last year. I quess it's time to get out the paperpunch and try again.
I wonder if those metal inserts from a cookie press would work?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49824873@N05/5233358828/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49824873@N05/5301797034/in/photostream
Heidi

[Sylvia @ From the Heart]

This one is from my last year but it was my very first bokeh! I fell in love at first sight :)

http://sylviahall.posterous.com/may-you-have

[Valerie]

Ooo! Good idea and thanks for the how-to! I just got a telephoto lens. Such fun learning how to get bokeh! I take a lot of leaf photos and love the soft bokeh that forms between leaves.
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2011/11/silent-saturday-nov-26-2011.html

[shirley]

I haven't played with Christmas Tree bokeh this year (yet) but I had a blast with some heart shaped bokeh last year:

http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2010/12/heart-shaped-bokeh.html

[Jodi]

I learned about bokeh this year and it's now one of my favorite words (and favorite photo effect). Here's my (first) holiday light bokeh photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64098150@N08/6406775117/in/photostream

[carolyn]

I love the magical quality that bokeh creates! This photo is so adorable by the way.

I just learned the term bokeh this year from an online photo class. Here's one of mine...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyn_eicher/6336437050/in/photostream

[spread your wings]

here's one from a couple of years ago. i love the effect of bokeh in images
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4208085620/

[Valerie]

I haven't tried this, but I found a tutorial on making bokeh...
http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh

[shirley]

I just shot my first heart bokeh tree of the season. I hope to get more in the coming weeks.

http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2011/11/bokeh-christmas-tree.html

[georgia]

oh, so precious!

my first christmas tree photo of the year!...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/6417000431/in/photostream/

[Allison]

Here is my holiday bokeh experiment. my own self made hearts :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allimaass/6428674985/in/photostream

[Tiffany Outlet UK]

http://www.abercrombiesaleinuk.com/
http://www.abercrombiesaleinuk.com/men-c-45.html
http://www.abercrombiesaleinuk.com/women-c-32.html
http://www.abercrombiesaleinuk.com/couple-series-c-57.html
http://www.tiffanyjewelleryinuk.com/
http://www.tiffanyjewelleryinuk.com/tiffany-bangles-c-4.html
http://www.tiffanyjewelleryinuk.com/tiffany-bracelets-c-3.html
http://www.tiffanyjewelleryinuk.com/tiffany-cuff-link-c-8.html

[boots and handbags]

who, for the sake of pleasing the king, had been obliged to assume an amiable mien towards this whole rustic rabble of Flemish burgomasters, and to regale them at his H?tel de Bourbon, with a very "pretty morality, allegorical satire, and farce," while a driving rain drenched the magnificent tapestries at his door. http://www.digbbc.com
http://www.ukmmtv.com
http://www.kallv.com
http://www.jvavv.com

[Uggs on sale]

http://www.uggbootssalea.co.uk/
http://www.uggbootsclearance.uk.com/
http://www.uggbootsclearance.uk.com/ugg-jimmy-choo-boots
http://www.uggbootsclearance.uk.com/ugg-boots-metallic-classic-short
http://www.uggbootssaleu.uk.com/
http://www.uggbootssaleu.uk.com/ugg-boots-bailey-button
http://www.uggbootssaleu.uk.com/ugg-boots-classic-tall

[PP]

to me, It looks like a bokeh backdrop ....