Bokeh photography is a term where, when shooting bokeh, the background becomes blurred while the subject remains sharp. In conventional portrait photography, photographers often use the bokeh feature on their cameras to emphasize the main subject. Keep reading RuudNguyen.com article to find the answer together.
What is bokeh photography?
Bokeh photography is considered one of the commonly used techniques (Collected Photo)
Bokeh photography is regarded as one of the terms in photography. When capturing bokeh photos, the background becomes blurred, while the subject remains sharp. Bokeh photography showcases the depth of the image and provides an impressive experience. This brings out the subject in the photo, making it stand out more to the viewer.
The main factors affecting bokeh
The larger the aperture, the stronger the bokeh effect (Collected Photo)
For professional cameras that use interchangeable lenses, the key factors affecting bokeh are aperture, focal length, background distance, and sensor size. The main factors can be listed as follows:
- The larger the aperture, the stronger the bokeh effect. For example, with an aperture of f/x, a smaller x indicates a larger aperture, e.g., f/1.8 > f/2.
- Longer focal lengths enhance the bokeh effect.
- A farther background distance from the subject results in better bokeh.
- A larger sensor size also contributes to more effective bokeh.
Bokeh, as described, is often referred to as the bokeh effect (blurring and softening). However, achieving a beautiful bokeh effect is not necessarily easy, especially for newcomers to photography. This is primarily true when using cameras with larger sensor sizes, while smartphones generally have much smaller sensors.
In smartphone specifications, the equivalent of focal length often falls below 30mm when switching to a professional camera, typically around 24mm, 26mm, or 28mm. With a larger sensor camera, the emphasis shifts from achieving a shallow depth of field (reducing bokeh) to allowing more light in, which is especially beneficial for low-light photography.
To capture bokeh photos on Android
If the phone has a dual-camera setup, achieving bokeh becomes simpler (Collected Photo)
For Android smartphones, there are various products, each with different aperture settings. Therefore, the simplest way to capture bokeh photos is to get close to the subject, focus on the subject, and take the shot. This method will naturally blur the background to some extent. The most common way to capture bokeh on Android smartphones is by using specialized apps.
Additionally, you can add lighting effects to enhance the image and make it more impressive. However, when using this software-based blurring method, the edges of the image may not be as sharp as true bokeh, as seen in DSLR photos.
To capture bokeh photos on iOS
Capturing bokeh on your phone, especially if you’re using the iOS operating system, can be simpler if your phone has a dual-camera setup. Those with a basic understanding of photography will recognize that this is essentially a background-blurring algorithm.
One term commonly used for this effect is ‘Blur,’ which means to make something appear blurry or out of focus. In reality, there are many software applications and editing apps available on smartphones that can achieve this effect.
In fact, there are numerous software applications and editing apps available on smartphones that have this capability. While there are many diverse and exciting software and apps for capturing bokeh photos available today, Apple’s offerings tend to stand out and excel.
Tips for Capturing Bokeh Photos While Traveling with Your Phone
Adjusting the Shooting Distance
Accurate Distance Is Needed When Capturing Bokeh Photos (Collected Photo)
The correct distance when capturing bokeh photos is about adjusting the distance correctly between the subject and the background. That’s why, out of the four factors that affect whether a bokeh photo turns out beautifully or not, only the background factor can be adjusted.
Adding Additional Accessories
There are various types of lenses available on the market for you to choose from (Collected Photo)
Currently, the market offers a wide range of detachable lenses designed by manufacturers specifically for smartphones, including macro lenses, telephoto lenses, and more. There are also separate sets of detachable lenses designed for phones that you can use. You can explore these options on Google or various e-commerce websites for purchase.
Using Apps on Your Phone
Using software is a very common method (Collected Photo)
On some devices, the camera app itself is equipped with a portrait mode, such as on the HTC M8, Sony, and others. Additionally, users can utilize third-party apps like AfterFocus on Android or Tadaa SLR on iOS. Some photo editing apps like Snapseed, Camera 360, or Instagram also have the ability to create background blur effects.
However, when it comes to blurring the background using software, the edges of the subject may not be as sharp (depending on the software’s capabilities or the user’s precision). It’s not possible to create bokeh photos as impressive as those from a DSLR camera.
If the device is capable of saving RAW photos and with a bit of editing in Photoshop, it’s possible to achieve more intricate background blur effects.
See more: Top Techniques for Capturing Beautiful Backlit Photos
See more: Basic Photography Skills Every Traveler Should Know
See more: How to Master Film Photography During Your Travels
Discussion about this post