What Is Bokeh and How to Use It

Bokeh is a photography term for a specific kind of out-of-focus quality. It's what creates those soft, smooth backgrounds that make your subject stand out. In short, bokeh is about the aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus parts of an image.

How bokeh works

When a camera is focused on a particular subject, anything that isn't in the focal plane becomes blurred. That blur is known as bokeh, a term borrowed from the Japanese word "boke" (ボケ), which means "blur" or "haze."

Bokeh isn't just any random blur. It's the specific look of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph, and how out-of-focus points of light appear depends on the lens's design, especially the shape and configuration of its aperture blades. Here's a closer look:

• Aperture shape: A lens's aperture is made of several blades that open and close to control how much light enters the camera. Their shape affects the shape of the bokeh. Lenses with more blades, or with rounded blades, produce smoother, more circular highlights; lenses with fewer or straight blades create more polygonal shapes in the blur.
• Lens design: The overall optical design of a lens, including its elements and how they're arranged, influences the final look. High-quality (and often expensive) lenses use complex designs and coatings that make bokeh look more pleasant and natural, while cheaper lenses can produce harsher or more distracting bokeh.
• Out-of-focus areas: Bokeh is most noticeable in parts of the image that are well out of focus. How those areas look can strongly affect the mood and composition of a photo. A portrait with a smoothly blurred background, for example, makes the subject stand out and adds a sense of depth.

In other words, bokeh is an artistic tool photographers use to shape the look of their images. Its shape and softness help define a photo's mood and can be a big part of the overall composition.

Bokeh: a simple guide

1. Use a large aperture. The larger the aperture (the smaller the f-number, like f/1.8), the more pronounced the bokeh. Lower f-stop means more bokeh.
2. Get close to your subject. The closer you are to your subject, and the farther away the background is, the more noticeable the bokeh. Get really close, but be careful not to scratch your lens on the subject. A filter can help protect it.
3. Play with lights. Bokeh often looks best with lights in the background, which turn into soft, glowing circles. They can be light sources or even coloured surfaces that reflect light. Mix them for all kinds of results and experiment.

More tips

1. Experiment with different lenses. Not all lenses are equal when it comes to bokeh. A high-quality lens with a rounded aperture gives those creamy bokeh effects. I once had an old lens that I dropped in a river; afterwards it produced a very interesting bokeh smear. Interesting, but still too bad about the lens.
2. Adjust the distance. Vary the distance between your subject and the background. It can dramatically change the shape and intensity of the bokeh. You're the director, so create a scene.
3. Shape the bokeh. Some photographers use special filters or lens attachments to shape bokeh into stars or hearts, which adds a little extra whimsy.

Bokeh is a basic concept you'll see everywhere in photography. Using it well is a small step on the way to becoming a great photographer.