All About Bokeh

What is bokeh?

This is how Wikipedia explains it:

Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light". However, differences in lens aberrations and aperture shape cause some lens designs to blur the image in a way that is pleasing to the eye, while others produce blurring that is unpleasant or distracting—"good" and "bad" bokeh, respectively. Bokeh occurs for parts of the scene that lie outside the depth of field.. Photographers sometimes deliberately use a shallow focu technique to create images with prominent out-of-focus regions.

Bokeh is often most visible around small background highlights, such as specular reflections and light sources, which is why it is often associated with such areas. However, bokeh is not limited to highlights; blur occurs in all out-of-focus regions of the image.

Another good definition comes from Photo Tips & Sips:

"Bokeh" in photography terms is basically the . . . blur in the background of an image, specifically the types of shot where you are trying to highlight a singular subject, such as a portrait or a macro.  By blurring the background and having the focus on your subject(s), you help draw attention to where you want it. 

Photographylife explains it this way:

Basically, bokeh is the quality of out-of-focus or “blurry” parts of the image rendered by a camera lens – it is NOT the blur itself or the amount of blur in the foreground or the background of a subject. The blur that you are so used to seeing in photography that separates a subject from the background is the result of shallow “DOF” and is generally simply called “background blur”. The quality and feel of the background/foreground blur and reflected points of light, however, is what photographers call Bokeh.

From SLR Photography Guide comes a more expansive explanation.

What is bokeh and DOF?

Depth of field (DOF), refers to the area of an image that is in focus. You have most likely seen images where the main subject is in focus, while the background is out of focus or totally blurred  The area that covers the focused area is the DOF (depth of field). Bokeh on the other hand, refers to the appearance of the light that is seen within the blurred part of the photograph. Bokeh and DOF are important to consider for photographs when you need the main subject to stand out on its own and not be lost in background distractions.

Aren't  Bokeh and DOF the same thing?

No, bokeh and depth of field are not the same thing, although they do work together.

• DOF is seen in a photograph where there is an obvious focus area, set against a blurred background or foreground. 
• Bokeh on the other hand, refers to how your camera lens renders the light that is seen within the blurred parts of the image. Sometimes this can be soft or harsh circular shapes, or look like hexagons, depending on your lens design and aperture settings.

Digital SLR Camera settings for bokeh and DOF

Important steps to achieving blurred backgrounds with good bokeh in most circumstances, is to have:

• start with a low aperture or f number as it's also known
• if you're using a telephoto lens, zoom it out toa longer length
• move in so your physically as close to the subject as your lens will allow you to be, yet still focus properly
• photograph subjects where the background objects aren't too close behind

How do you pronounce bokeh?

Here is the best example I found from professional photographer, Matt Laur:

'Bow' (like a bow-tie, not a bow-wow from a dog), and 'keh' (rhymes with the "eh!" you say when you shrug your shoulders, not "ay" as in bouquet).

Personal comment: However, in my research, I found a common pronunciation is “boca” as in “Boca Raton” and, admittedly, this is easier than the above pronunciation although the one by Laur is considered more accurate.

In understanding bokeh, it is helpful to see examples of good and bad bokeh:

The following photos illustrate good bokeh because the effect is soft, pleasant and enhances the subject.

The photos below are illustrate bad bokeh because it is harsh, distracting and draw your attention from the subject.

Personal comment: For a number of reasons, point-and-shoot cameras are not able to produce good bokeh. After using point-and-shoots I got my first interchangeable lens camera a couple years ago and was blown away by the bokeh. If you are acquiring a new lens, you can research on the internet the quality of bokeh that particular lens produces. It might be something worth investigating before buying.

Wishing you delightful bokeh.