Sofia has charge of the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week and adds a little something to a close-up photo – a blurry background. Thanks for the great lesson, Sofia.
Two Ways to Blurry in a Hurry
Sofia works with the aperture, but I took these photos with an iPhone, so the backgrounds are blurry only because I got close to the plant.
I never realized how many of my close-up photos don’t have a blurry background. One of the reasons for that lapse is that some of my close-ups are made by cropping a distance picture to bring one item into focus. The rest remain in focus if there’s anything left after cropping.
Weeds Made More Beautiful by Bokeh
I think maybe my pictures may be too busy even with the bokeh. Most of them I took with my iPhone while I was out on a walk. One was taken in my backyard during a rainstorm – a rare opportunity to capture plants with water on them.
Statuesque Bokeh
#Thursday Doors, Sorry, No Bokeh
The first picture is weird enough without the addition of bokeh. I wished I could have blurred the person in the foreground. Vince did most of that for me. Dan Antion hosts Thursday Doors. He has opened my eyes to the beauty of doors.
Now it’s your turn.
Have fun with challenges today!
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
31 responses to “LAPC: Bokeh – How to Blurry in a Hurry”
Wow! Still catching up on my blog reading! I love that collection of weeds, Marsha!
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Great weeds Marsha! 👍
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LOL John.
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I like the blurred backgrounds and will have to learn how to do this. Two fantastic doors, Marsha.
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I think Sofia gives a great lesson, Robbie. I just did the weeds by getting close with my cell phone. For the statue, I used my Sony camera and could play around with the aperture. I enjoy learning a new technique, don’t you?
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Yes, I always enjoy learning new things.
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Me too!
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Although I often forget to use it, if you have a newer iPhone with the Portrait setting, it will bokeh the background to some extent. Also, pro tip (and by “pro”, I mean that I also live where there is little rain), try using a spray bottle with water in it to get the same effect as rain.
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The rain drops photo is my favourite, they really enhance plant and flower shots 🙂 But I guess you don’t get that many showers where you are? Of course you can always cheat and spray the plants before shooting!
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Very beautiful shots Marsha!I especially loved the weeds series, they are absolutely looked extraordinary.
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Thanks so much!
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The droplets are a wonderful capture. Having a good lens helps but these days mobile phones do a decent job too, the trick being the distance between your focused and out-of-focused areas, as you shown. The bokehs you find too busy are probably still to close, increasing the distance will help.
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So what you are saying is to back up and increase the zoom to the max? My iPhone will go up to 5X zoom. I know that when I get too close to the item, the photo doesn’t come out at all.
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In theory, the bigger the distance between your subject and the background, the better the bokeh. Light is also important, but distance is key. So you physically can be close to what you’re photographing and that should be at a distance from the background.
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That makes perfect sense, Sofia. I really enjoyed your challenge for lots of reasons. I love the challenge anyway, I love learning about photography, and I learned a new word. All excellent.
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I find it hard to explain things, I’m thrilled it made any sense at all 😀
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If you’ve ever tried writing a “how to” manual, you will understand why. It is one of the hardest kind of writing there is.
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I sometimes have to leave instructions at work on what needs to be done and how… nightmare!
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Your photos are just amazing Marsha!
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Thank you so much, Aletta. That means a lot. 🙂
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You’re welcome
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Lovely photos. I like your closer up photo of the Pismo Hotel door. I posted one for Thursday Doors recently after visiting for my bday.
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Love the water droplets 💦 click
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Thanks so much!
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Love that hotel door, Marsha.
janet
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Isn’t that a beauty. I’ve never stayed there, but The courtyard and the door are fabulous for taking pictures. I’m sure there have been tons of weddings there.
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These are great doors, and I really like your blurry photos. The focus brings such attention to your subject.
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I’m so glad you like them, Dan. I never knew that word or technique. I’ve definitely added it to my vocabulary.
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I like any photo that conveys a message. I don’t care if it’s clear or blurry. It’s all about the vibe.
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So how was my vibe, Ally? I wasn’t trying for any message here, that I know of, I was only trying my hand at a technique. 🙂
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Your vibe in these practice photos was/is upbeat, focusing on what its important.
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