Tag Archives: lights

Mysteries of bokeh

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Bokeh defined: a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image

Today’s challenge: bokeh

I thought it would be cool to try my hand at some of the DIY bokeh lenses I’ve seen around the internet, so I got out my black construction paper and scissors and set to work.

Unfortunately my lens largest aperture is just 3.5, which made it harder (note to self, save up money for 1.8 lens AND that tripod…) I ended up using my 55-200mm lens with the 36mm extension tube for the majority of these.

In most of my photos the bokeh cover I made was visible. I have read in the DIY tutorials that it shouldn’t be, and I’m thinking it’s because my lens aperture isn’t large enough.

Here is a smattering of examples from today’s attempt:

It’s kind of random, a mini cilantro plant in front of colorful Christmas lights, but it’s what I had to work with, under the circumstances! :)

Long Exposure

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Okay okay, so I’m already off schedule on posting! Gah!

My task yesterday was to use a longer exposure time than normal. When I tried to get Isaac running, around 4pm, it was still way to light out, so I decided to wait until later and try on some cars, maybe with the city view in the background.

In my dreams, it looked something like this or this. Wow.

Unfortunately, I didn’t plan ahead, and for example, KNOW where this particular shot was taken, so I could at least try to recreate it. So, we drove around a bit, looking for a potential spot. The closest I came was this:

Which is a far cry from this.I see now that I needed to be further from the freeway itself. And it probably wouldn’t have hurt to try a little earlier than midnight, some time when more cars were on the road.

I also took a couple from the Aurora Bridge, which don’t have the city in them, but I love what the long exposure (1 second) did to the street lights. Coool.

Anyway, now that I know where I need to go  (Dr Jose Rizal park) I want a do-over!