Bokeh?

Bokeh refers to the blur or out-of-focus areas of a picture.  All lenses produce bokeh, it is just that some produce more pleasing bokeh than others.  With regard to the amount of background blur, it is really the preference or style of the photographer, not so much right or wrong.  Personally, I am a BIG fan of shallow depth of field and buttery bokeh.  It just works for me.     

Bokeh can be good or bad.  High end glass, such as Canon “L” lenses, produce very pleasing and smooth bokeh. Generally speaking, cheaper (in terms of quality) glass produces choppier bokeh, although I would prefer poor bokeh over none at all.  The phrase, "you get what you pay for" kind of applies here.  You usually pay a higher price for more pleasing bokeh. 

How do you create intentional background blur?  Faster glass, longer focal lengths, or both!  Fast glass (f/1.2, f/2, etc) produces a very shallow depth of field, thus creating more bokeh.  Longer lenses combined with a subject far enough away from a background (trees, bushes, etc) will also create blur.  Scenario:  An elk is in a meadow eating grass.  The background is about 400 yards away.  You are also standing in the field about 150 feet away.  Since you are closer to the elk than the elk is to the background, you will produce a lot of bokeh.  Scenario 2:  An elk is in a meadow eating grass.  The background is only 10 feet behind (clump of trees in a meadow) the elk.  You are the same distance away as in scenario one.  Your bokeh will be less intense in scenario 2 than in scenario 1.  I hope that makes sense.  I think the best advice is to practice! 

Below is a photo of my beautiful wife (she loves having me take pictures of her!).  This was taken with a cheaper lens and the out-of-focus highlights produce halos.  I don’t mind this much, but it isn’t buttery smooth.  Some people would object to this quality of bokeh. 

Nikon D700 + 35 f/2

Here is a picture of my dad on his awesome tractor.  This was shot with a more expensive Canon “L” lens and the out of focus areas are very smooth.  Since he is the sharpest part of the photograph, our eyes go directly to him.

Canon 1Ds Mark II + 35 f/1.4

The 100-400L can produce good bokeh, although it isn’t going to compress the background as much as a 300 or 400 f/2.8 prime.  Below is a little bird I captured recently with the 100-400L and the background is very pleasing to me.  

Canon 1D Mark IIN + 100-400L

Now for some really good glass!  The lion was shot with the Nikon 300 2.8 VR, and my wife (again!) was shot with the Canon 135L.  Both are superb at producing extremely buttery bokeh with smooth transitions.  

Nikon D700 + 300 2.8 VR

Canon 1D Mark IIN + 135L

Can bokeh be created in post processing?  Yep!  It takes a lot of work but it can be done.  The following image was shot using the 100-400L.  Since the background was closer to the subect than I was, the bokeh isn't substantial.  I think I used the Alienskin software to create my own bokeh for the shot.  It took about an hour or so to create and the results are impressive, although my preference is to use the right lens in the field rather than creating it in post.  Nonetheless, the option does exist.  

Play around with your DOF a bit and maybe you will like the buttery goodness as much as I do :)  Be careful, as that will come at a price!