Bokeh is the term used to describe the appearance of the out-of-focus areas in a foto, particularly the background.

You've probably seen portraits where the subject is beautifully sharp, but the background is soft and blurry. That's often the result of using a wide aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8.

Bokeh isn't simply about how blurry the background is. It's also about the quality and appearance of that blur, which can vary depending on the lens you're using.

Creating bokeh is easier than you might think.

Here are a few simple techniques to try.

1. Use a wide aperture

Select a low F-stop number, such as f/1.8, f/2.8 or f/4. This helps create a shallow depth of field, making the background softer.

2. Move closer to your subject

The closer you focus on your subject, the easier it becomes to blur the background.

3. Keep your subject away from the background

Ask your subject to move further away from whatever is behind them. This can make a big difference to the background blur.

4. Try a longer focal length

A portrait lens, such as an 85mm, can help produce beautifully soft backgrounds.

5. Look for interesting background lights

Small lights, reflections and sunlight filtering through leaves can create attractive out-of-focus highlights.

Does Better Bokeh Mean a Better Foto?

Not necessarily!

A blurry background can look fantastic, but it doesn't automatically make a foto better.

Sometimes you want everything sharp, especially when photographing landscapes, architecture or groups of people.

The trick is knowing when to use a shallow depth of field and when to keep more of the scene in focus.

Remember, bokeh is just another creative tool. Once you understand how aperture, distance and your choice of lens affect the background, you can decide how you want your fotos to look.

Want to learn more?

At SmarterDigital, I offer personalised one-on-one fotography lessons where we can explore aperture, depth of field and creative camera techniques at your own pace.