Unlock the Secrets of Bokeh Shapes
Dive into the world of bokeh, where shapes tell stories, and the background becomes a canvas of light. The shape of the bokeh, often overlooked, plays a crucial role in the mood and feel of your photographs. Let’s explore the most common bokeh shapes and uncover how they come to life.
Circular Bokeh – A Portrait’s Dream
Circular bokeh, the hallmark of open aperture shooting, offers a seamless blend of background lights into soft, round orbs. Achieve this dreamy effect by shooting wide open. Lenses with more rounded aperture blades (more than 9 blades, for instance) edge closer to perfect circles, transforming point light sources into magical globes of soft light.
Impression
Circular bokeh envelops subjects in a soft, dreamlike embrace, imbuing scenes with a magical, ethereal quality that directly draws the viewer’s attention to the focal point.
Lens Examples
- Favorite Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM. This lens is famous for its wide aperture, which creates beautiful, circular bokeh orbs, primarily when shot wide open. Its design, including the many aperture blades, contributes to a rounder bokeh, ideal for portraits. Pronounced bokeh results are produced when the lens is wide open at f/1.2 to f/2.8. A manual focus option would be the Zeiss Otus 55mm lens.
- Vintage Lens: Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2. Known for its beautiful rendering and wide aperture, this lens produces gorgeous, soft, circular bokeh. Wide open at f/1.2 its large aperture produces beautiful, soft, circular bokeh. Staying closer to the subject enhances the circular bokeh effect, ideally within a few meters.
- Modern Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G. This modern lens is lauded for its ability to render out-of-focus areas smoothly, creating circular, creamy bokeh perfect for portraits. At f/1.4 to f/2, this lens renders out-of-focus areas with a soft, circular bokeh that beautifully isolates the subject.
Ideal Situation
Portraiture in urban environments at night. The circular bokeh beautifully transforms distant city lights into soft orbs, creating a magical backdrop that emphasizes the subject without distracting. For the three lens examples, shooting from a close to medium distance (<1 to 3 meters) to the subject, with the background several meters away, maximizes the bokeh quality.
Hexagonal Bokeh – Geometry of Life
Step down the aperture, and bokeh takes on more defined shapes, like hexagons. This transformation traces back to the lens’s aperture blades. Typically, the more blades, the rounder the bokeh. Yet, with fewer blades, or when they form a more polygonal shape, your bokeh adopts the geometric silhouette of the aperture itself.
Impression
Hexagonal bokeh adds geometric intrigue to the backdrop, offering a structured contrast to the organic forms within the focus and subtly playing with the viewer’s perception of depth and space.
Lens Examples
- Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G. When stopped down, this accessible prime lens often produces hexagonal bokeh shapes due to its 7-blade aperture. It’s a clear demonstration of how aperture shape directly influences bokeh geometry. Around f/5.6 to f/8, where the aperture shape starts to influence the bokeh, creates hexagonal patterns. A medium distance (1 to 3 meters) works well, allowing the background to fall sufficiently out of focus.
- Vintage Lens: Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4. This classic lens often yields hexagonal bokeh shapes when stopped down due to its 6-blade aperture, adding a geometric aesthetic to photos. Ideally, stopping down to around f/5.6 to f/8 brings out the bokeh’s hexagonal shape, resulting from its aperture blade design. We recommend a medium distance to the subject, with a cluttered or detailed background highlighting the geometric bokeh.
- Modern Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. With a 7-blade aperture stopping down, this lens reveals hexagonal bokeh shapes, making it a great affordable option for playing with geometric bokeh. The optimal aperture is between f/5.6 and f/11, where the aperture blades shape the bokeh into more pronounced hexagonal forms. Keeping a moderate distance from the subject ensures the background elements are sufficiently out of focus to reveal the hexagonal shapes.
Ideal Situation
Abstract and artistic photography where the shape of the bokeh contributes to the composition’s geometric interest. A close-up of a dewdrop on a leaf with hexagonal bokeh shapes in the background can add a layer of complexity and intrigue, echoing the natural geometry in the scene.
Swirly Bokeh – Spiraling into Vintage
Swirly bokeh transports us back in time, adding a vintage twist to your images. This swirling effect, often found in older lenses or those with a Petzval design, results from the lens’s optical aberrations and field curvature. It’s perfect for creating portraits with depth and dynamism, as the background wraps around your subject in a light dance.
Impression
Swirly bokeh creates a dynamic, almost hypnotic background that seems to swirl around the subject, evoking a sense of vintage nostalgia and artistic flair.
Lens Examples
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2. This vintage lens, a product of Soviet-era engineering, is renowned for its unique swirly bokeh, attributable to its optical design and spherical aberrations. It’s a favorite among photographers seeking a vintage or artistic look. Wide open at f/2 to slightly stop down, maximizing the unique swirly effect. Closer subject distances (<1 to 2 meters) enhance the swirl effect, with a cluttered or textured background further away to accentuate the swirl.
- Vintage Lens: Helios 44-2 58mm f/2. The quintessential example of swirly bokeh, this lens is famous for its unique rendering, which adds a dreamlike or vintage quality to images.
- Modern Lens: Lomography Petzval 85mm f/2.2. Designed to replicate the classic Petzval lens design, this modern lens offers pronounced swirly bokeh, bringing a vintage aesthetic to contemporary photography. When wide open at f/2.2, the lens maximizes the unique swirly bokeh characteristic of the Petzval design. We recommend positioning close to the subject, with the background at a considerable distance, to enhance the swirly effect.
Ideal Situation
Vintage or nostalgic-themed portraits, where the swirly bokeh adds a dreamlike, old-world charm to the image. Perfect for shooting in gardens or wooded areas, where the swirly effect can wrap the background around the subject, creating a sense of depth and enchantment.
Quality of Bokeh – A Spectrum of Textures
Beyond shape, the texture of bokeh – an aesthetic quality ranging from creamy to harsh – significantly impacts the visual appeal of your images.
Creamy Bokeh
Creamy bokeh is the pinnacle of background blur, offering a buttery smooth transition that makes your subject pop. Achieving this involves lenses with a wide aperture and a complex arrangement of glass elements to minimize harsh edges in out-of-focus areas. Creamy bokeh is a favorite among portrait photographers because it can isolate subjects and soften distractions. Read more about bokeh creaminess and its appraisal.
Impression
Creamy bokeh smooths out distractions into a velvety canvas, clearly highlighting the subject and making it stand out with unmatched elegance.
Lens Examples
- Zeiss Otus 55mmm f/1.4 and Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens. When shot wide open, the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 and Otus 85mm f/1.4 can produce beautiful, circular, creamy bokeh. Their large apertures and sophisticated optical designs ensure that out-of-focus light sources are rendered soft, pleasing circles, enhancing the subject’s separation from the background. The bokeh quality is exceptionally smooth and devoid of harsh edges, which is a signature of the Otus line. Both lenses, wide open at f/1.4, excel in creating a shallow depth of field with creamy bokeh, though stopping down slightly can still yield beautiful results.
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM. With an 11-blade circular aperture and meticulously designed optics, this lens can produce exceptionally smooth, creamy bokeh perfect for high-end portraiture. Shooting at f/1.4 to f/2.8 produces exceptionally creamy bokeh. Position yourself close to the subject (<1 to 2 meters), with a significant distance to the background to maximize separation and smoothness.
- Vintage Lens: Canon FD 85mm f/1.2L. A legendary lens among photographers for its wide aperture and beautiful, creamy bokeh that isolates subjects superbly. The “best” results are achieved at its widest aperture of f/1.2. Shooting close (1 meter) to your subject with a distant (3+ meters) background creates a beautifully isolated and creamy bokeh.
- Modern Lens: Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM. Known for its exceptional bokeh quality, this lens produces a very smooth, creamy blur, making it ideal for portrait photography. “Best” results at f/1.4. Closer subject distances (~1 meter) with a significantly blurred background emphasize the creaminess.
Ideal Situation
High-end fashion photography or portraiture where the subject’s separation from the background is paramount. The creamy bokeh ensures that the viewer’s focus remains on the clothing’s textures or the subject’s expressions, with a luxurious softness in the background that complements the overall aesthetic.
Why is the creamy bokeh so highly praised?
Soft Bokeh – Gently Blurring the Lines
Soft bokeh provides a subtle separation between the subject and the background. It’s less about erasing the background and more about gently diffusing it, maintaining context while keeping the focus on your subject. This softer approach works wonders in environmental portraits and macro photography, where detail in the blur adds depth and interest.
Impression
Soft bokeh gently diffuses the background, maintaining contextual harmony with the subject and setting a calm, serene atmosphere that soothes the viewer’s eye.
Lens Examples
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Known as the “nifty fifty,” this lens offers a pleasingly soft bokeh at a budget-friendly price. The bokeh quality is gentle and unobtrusive, making it versatile for various photography genres. Around f/2.8 to f/4, it maintains a soft blur while ensuring the subject is well-defined. Medium to close, depending on the desired effect, with enough separation from the background to gently blur it.
- Vintage Lens: Olympus OM Zuiko Auto-T 85mm f/2. This compact lens from the Olympus OM system is celebrated for its pleasing soft bokeh, which makes it excellent for portraits and macro photography. The aperture settings around f/2.8 to f/4 can offer a pleasingly soft bokeh, balancing subject sharpness and background blur. The medium distance to the subject allows for a gentle blur of the background elements.
- Modern Lens: Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R. Offering a soft, gentle bokeh that complements its sharp in-focus rendering, this lens is a favorite among Fujifilm shooters for portrait work. When wide open at f/1.2, the XF 56mm produces beautifully soft bokeh, enhancing portraits with a subtle separation from the background.
Ideal Situation
Macro photography of flowers or insects, where a gentle blur maintains the context of the surroundings without overpowering the delicate details of the subject. A soft bokeh ensures that the viewer can still sense the environment’s texture and color, enriching the subject’s story.
Harsh Bokeh – When Clarity Becomes Distraction
Harsh bokeh, characterized by more pronounced edges and shapes in the blur, can sometimes distract from the main subject. It often results from cheaper lenses or challenging lighting conditions. However, when used intentionally, it can add character and an edgy feel to your shots.
Impression
Harsh bokeh introduces a stark, vivid backdrop that commands attention, creating an edgy, dynamic tension that reflects the chaotic essence of the scene.
Lens Example
- Older or budget telephoto zoom lenses often exhibit this trait when shooting complex backgrounds, due to simpler optical designs and fewer aperture blades. A specific example might be older versions of the Tamron 70-300mm lens without modern coatings and optical improvements. Optimal aperture varies – sometimes stopping down slightly (e.g., f/8) can mitigate overly harsh bokeh by reducing lens aberrations. Medium to far distance (>3 meters) from the subject is optimal for this lens. Harsh bokeh is often more about the complex, distracting backgrounds than the distance to the subject.
- Vintage Lens: Older mirror lenses, such as the Tamron SP 500mm f/8 (Model 55BB). Mirror lenses are known for their distinctive, sometimes harsh bokeh, characterized by doughnut-shaped highlights.
- Modern Lens: Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM. While versatile, superzoom lenses like this can produce more defined and sometimes harsher bokeh under certain conditions, due to compromises made for the zoom range.
Ideal Situation
Urban and street photography, where the harsher quality of bokeh mirrors the raw, edgy energy of the city. A photo capturing a moment on a busy street, with traffic lights and signage creating a dynamic, somewhat distracting background, can convey the chaos and vibrancy of urban life.
Busy Bokeh – A Symphony of Chaos
Busy bokeh occurs in cluttered environments, where multiple elements and light sources compete for attention. It can overwhelm the subject but also create a lively, dynamic backdrop. Mastering busy bokeh involves balancing the chaos with compositional techniques to direct the viewer’s focus.
Impression
Busy bokeh weaves a complex tapestry of lights and shapes, enveloping the subject in a lively, energetic context that mirrors the vibrancy of life itself.
Lens Examples
- Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art. While this lens is sharp and highly regarded, like many zoom lenses, it can produce busier bokeh in certain conditions due to its wide zoom range and complex background elements being brought into the composition. Wide open at f/1.8 to f/2.8, where the depth of field is shallowest, emphasizing the busy characteristics of the bokeh. Close to medium distance is optimal, ensuring the background elements are numerous and out of focus to create a busy effect.
- Vintage Lens: Jupiter-9 85mm f/2. This lens can produce busy bokeh in complex backgrounds, typical of many vintage lenses that were optimized for different aspects of image quality.
- Modern Lens: Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD. Zoom lenses, especially those with a wide focal range, can sometimes render busier backgrounds due to their complex optical formulas designed to provide flexibility.
Ideal Situation
Dynamic event photography, such as concerts or festivals, where the busy bokeh captures the lively, chaotic atmosphere. The multitude of lights and movements in the background, rendered as a busy bokeh, adds to the sense of excitement and energy of the event, enveloping the subject in the context of the celebration.
The Art of Bokeh: Embrace the Blur
Bokeh, in its myriad forms, offers photographers a powerful tool to shape the visual narrative of their images. From the ethereal quality of creamy bokeh to the energetic backdrop of busy bokeh, understanding and mastering these effects allows you to control focus and feeling. Experiment, explore, and let bokeh elevate your photographic expression.
Disclaimer
It’s important to note that while these lenses are known for producing the mentioned types of bokeh under typical conditions, the exact appearance of bokeh can vary based on numerous factors, including aperture setting, distance to the subject, background complexity, and lighting conditions. Experimentation and practice with your specific lens will be key to mastering bokeh effects in your photography.
Each bokeh type has its unique charm and can be leveraged to tell different stories through your images. The choice of bokeh should align with the narrative you wish to convey, the mood you aim to evoke, and the subject you intend to highlight, making your photography not just seen but felt.
These examples illustrate the wide range of bokeh effects photographers can explore, from the classic look of vintage lenses to the refined bokeh of modern optics. Each lens brings its own character to the table, offering creative possibilities for photographers to experiment with and find their preferred style.
