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15 votes
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Is this "tack sharp with blurred background" look done with Photoshop?

No photoshop necessary for that background. That's simply what happens when shooting a telephoto lens, f/2.8 or larger, and having the subject closer to the camera and much further from the background....
OnBreak.'s user avatar
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15 votes
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How to do smoky bokeh

The non uniformity of the bokeh leads me to believe that the background has been Photoshopped. Exactly how it was done is anyone's guess - but the sharp lines through the bokeh may indicate a liquify ...
OnBreak.'s user avatar
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13 votes
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Is there any Photoshop effect that can create vertically distorted bokeh as one sometimes sees in film and video?

I was always wondering if theres anyway to get bokeh that looks something like this (vertically distorted bokeh). This vertically-oval bokeh is the result of an anamorphic lens, which "squeezes" an ...
scottbb's user avatar
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11 votes
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Maximizing bokeh in the foreground?

From the other question: Here's the list of things that influence depth of field the most (in this particular order): Subject distance, the closer the subject is, the shallower the DOF (think of ...
10 Replies's user avatar
11 votes
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What can cause double-vision effect in slightly out of focus areas?

A cheap filter (uncoated or poor coatings) can reflect some of the light which is always reflected off of the front element surfaces. The primary reflection (blue in the drawing) will be stronger than ...
Steven Kersting's user avatar
10 votes

Besides mirror lenses, what can cause ring-shaped bokeh?

The doughnut bokeh of catadioptric ("mirror") lenses is not caused by the rear mirror or long focal length, but by the obstruction (front mirror actually) on the front element. You can achieve it ...
Jindra Lacko's user avatar
  • 6,010
10 votes

What is the bokeh difference between 1/2.3" f/0.95 cell phone and 1" f/1.8 compact camera?

You appear to be seeking to maximize the amount of background blur. Factors that increase background blur are: Distance to subject (closer) Distance to background (farther) Focal length (longer) ...
xiota's user avatar
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9 votes
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Scratchy bokeh - do I have a problem with my lens?

In trying to take a suitable image to use as a full example, I removed the UV filter I have on the end to act as protector - problem apparently solved. Lesson learnt: cheap glass is cheap for a ...
Mr_Thyroid's user avatar
9 votes
Accepted

Besides mirror lenses, what can cause ring-shaped bokeh?

This bokeh effect is known as (soap) bubble bokeh. Along with a "glowing" look, this type of bokeh is seen in lenses that have over-corrected spherical aberration. It is associated with Cooke Triplet ...
xiota's user avatar
  • 26.9k
8 votes

Why does electronic first curtain shutter affect rendering of blurred backgrounds?

The reason for the phenomenon is that at wide apertures in good light necessitating a fast shutter speed, most of the exposure is coming from a very narrow traveling slit between the first and second ...
juhist's user avatar
  • 6,598
7 votes

Why do out of focus elements in a photograph increase in apparent brightness?

I assume you mean the "bokeh balls" phenomenon, where out-of-focus highlights become large, bright circles: The answer to this is simple: the non-bright areas are also diffused into large circles, ...
mattdm's user avatar
  • 143k
7 votes

How can I take pictures with extreme bokeh with an in-focus subject nearby?

For the first photo example: Longer focal length and/or wider aperture are needed. 50mm and f/2.8, especially if used on an APS-C camera, won't give that kind of bokeh that close to the focus distance....
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
7 votes

What is the cause of inclusions in my bokeh?

Probably the dots are dried water specs. Definitely the unsightly rings are from the glass polishing process. Zeiss Batis 2.8/135 See this Imaging-Resource article: "The end of onion-ring bokeh? ...
Rob's user avatar
  • 1,813
7 votes

In photo taken with a prime lens, what is the cause of the "zoomed" bokeh appearance?

This is just an educated guess that I've never tested or seen specifically tested with lenses that have been highly corrected for field curvature and astigmatism, which are intimately related. Most ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
7 votes

What affects DOF more...distance to subject or focal length?

Here is the standard Depth of Field formula for reference: DOF = 2 u2 N C / f2 N = aperture F-number C = circle of confusion u = distance to subject f = focal length When aperture and subject size ...
xiota's user avatar
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7 votes
Accepted

This photo has light dot bokeh in front of the subject, seemingly coming from the sun. How was this done, or how can the effect be achieved?

A bit of black-belt Google-fu & Google Translate found the definitive answer, from the photographer themself. It's an in-camera double exposure (proving my original theory wrong;) It was so ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 23.1k
6 votes

How can I maximize the "blurry background, sharp subject" (bokeh) effect?

To increase the effect of "bokeh blur" with thin depth of field, there are a number of things you can do in-camera. Obviously, opening up your aperture wider will decrease depth of field, but moving ...
inkista's user avatar
  • 51.4k
6 votes

How is a lens's bokeh determined by its construction?

For the most part, there is no way to predetermine the quality of a lens's bokeh simply by looking at its construction, and even if you look at sample images you may be flummoxed, because the quality ...
inkista's user avatar
  • 51.4k
6 votes

How to prevent "cats eye" bokeh?

Use a lens with a narrow enough field of view that the entire entrance pupil is visible when viewing the front of the lens from the anywhere within the field of view captured by the camera. Lenses ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
6 votes
Accepted

What causes this 'bokeh crop' effect?

It's often called "cat's eye" bokeh. Most often it is seen in fairly wide angle lenses with very wide apertures. "Cat's eye" bokeh is the result of using a very wide aperture lens where the entire ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
6 votes

Will 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 lenses produce the same bokeh, given the same framing?

if i go with Sigma 50mm F1.4 art and use it at F1.4 and shoot the subject from lesser distance than 85mm f1.8 (keeping the same field of view and frame) does 50mm f1.4 will produce the same or more ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
6 votes

How do I obtain sharp images on full body portraits?

If you want more depth of field in your subject, stand further away, &/or close the aperture. The added distance will mean the 'percentage' of distances from front to back of your subject will be ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 23.1k
6 votes

Does it make sense to buy a Sigma Art f1.4 for a crop sensor body?

However, if I understand correctly the aperture need to be multiplied as well, which results in an f2.1 and means I am losing at least an f-stop. In short: No. If you use a FF-lens with an APS-C ...
Lothar's user avatar
  • 292
6 votes

Prime lens is over-exposed fully open, when in full daylight

If you're already at your maximum shutter speed, and your lowest ISO, and you don't want to reduce your aperture, then you might try adding an ND filter. Or wait for (or create) lower-light conditions....
twalberg's user avatar
  • 5,138
5 votes

Is there any Photoshop effect that can create vertically distorted bokeh as one sometimes sees in film and video?

This effect is due to the image (likely a motion picture frame being shot with an Anamorphic Lens, which "stretches" the widescreen image to fit a normal 35mm frame. When the film is projected, a ...
cajunc2's user avatar
  • 565
5 votes

Is there any Photoshop effect that can create vertically distorted bokeh as one sometimes sees in film and video?

The oval bokeh is caused by using an anamorphic lens.
null's user avatar
  • 8,504
5 votes

Which will produce a shallower depth of field: 50mm f/1.7 or 70-210mm f/4?

Depth of field calculation depends on multiple factors: captor size focal length aperture and last but not least: subject distance Using a Depth of field simulator (http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs....
Olivier's user avatar
  • 4,163
5 votes

Does it make sense to buy a Sigma Art f1.4 for a crop sensor body?

You will never lose any transmission stops (low light ability) using a smaller sensor, unless something behind the camera mount severely constrains what reaches the sensor (unlikely with general ...
rackandboneman's user avatar
4 votes

How can I maximize the "blurry background, sharp subject" (bokeh) effect?

Here's how to make the background as blurry as possible while keeping the subject sharp. It’s the contrast between a sharp subject and a very blurry background that makes this effect stand out. ...
balazer's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes

How can I maximize the "blurry background, sharp subject" (bokeh) effect?

Depth of Field (DOF), background blur, and bokeh are related, but different concepts. There is also subject-background isolation/separation. Depth of field is based on focal length, aperture, ...
xiota's user avatar
  • 26.9k

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