Creating a blurred background, also known as bokeh, makes your subject stand out and adds a professional touch to your photos. Here’s how to achieve that beautiful background blur:
1. Use a Wide Aperture
Aperture controls the amount of light entering your lens and affects depth of field.
Wide Aperture (e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8) creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background.
- How To: Set your camera to aperture priority mode (A or Av) and select a small f-number.
Tip: Use the widest aperture your lens offers for maximum blur.
2. Choose a Longer Focal Length
Focal Length affects how much of the background is visible and its blur level.
- Longer Lenses (e.g., 85mm, 200mm) compress the background and enhance blur.
- How To: Zoom in with a telephoto lens or use a prime lens with a longer focal length.
Tip: Combine a wide aperture with a longer focal length for a more pronounced blur.
3. Increase the Distance Between Subject and Background
Subject Distance: Placing your subject farther from the background enhances the blur effect.
- How To: Position your subject several feet in front of the background.
Tip: Move your subject away from walls or other background elements to maximize blur.
4. Get Close to Your Subject
Subject Proximity: The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth of field, increasing background blur.
- How To: Move closer to your subject or use a macro lens for extreme close-ups.
Tip: Use caution with close-ups to maintain focus on your subject’s important features, like the eyes in a portrait.
5. Use a Fast Prime Lens
Prime Lenses: Fixed focal length lenses often have wider apertures than zoom lenses, creating better bokeh.
- Examples: 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.4
Tip: Prime lenses are excellent for portraits due to their wide apertures and sharpness.
6. Choose a Background with Depth
Background Elements: A background with multiple layers or objects at varying distances will blur more beautifully.
- How To: Look for backgrounds with depth, such as trees, lights, or urban scenes.
Tip: Avoid flat, plain backgrounds for a more interesting bokeh.
7. Use Background Lighting Creatively
Lighting: Background lights, such as fairy lights or city lights, can create attractive, circular bokeh effects.
- How To: Position lights behind your subject to catch and blur them.
Tip: Experiment with different light sources to see how they affect the blur.
8. Try Portrait Mode or Aperture Simulation on Smartphones
Smartphones: Use portrait mode or aperture simulation features available on many modern smartphones.
- How To: Activate portrait mode and tap to focus on your subject.
Tip: Adjust the background blur level in the settings if available.
Conclusion
Creating beautiful blurred backgrounds enhances your subject and adds a professional look to your photos. Use a wide aperture, long focal length, and appropriate distance settings. Combine these techniques for stunning background blur, whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or smartphone. Happy shooting!
