Help With Bokeh for Portraits

[kencaleno]

Several ways to create bokeh in post processing-just select subject, using lasso tool at 30 pixel feathering-Select>inverse-then use smart blur or gaussian blur-then deselect. regards, Ken

[Eberbachl]

Originally Posted by inkista

• Zoom in - a longer focal length exaggerates out of focus blur (footnote: it does not decrease the DOF).

Changing only the focal length here:

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

And keeping all of the other attributes the same, the depth of field decreases.

I'm confused.



If the focal length changes and the aperture and subject distance remains the same, the depth of field will be different - surely.

Sure, you can manipulate the subject distance so that the longer focal length gives the same depth of field as the wider focal length, but if all else stays the same, then a change of focal length will change the depth of field.

Therefore, simply zooming in (and not changing anything else) will change the depth of field.

Right?

[shujashakir]

True, you a point n shoot won't give you the kind of bookeh effect a dslr can, but doesn't mean a point n shoot is incapable of that. I can manage to get that effect from my kodak z712 whenever I want. I think it's a matter of practice more than anything else.

[lexymeliss26]

thanks for this advice I actually used it and set my camera to portrait macro and the background did blur. It doesnt quite look as wonderful as the images i see in the magazines but i have to work with what I got for now.. The couple was happy with their pictures..
Thanks so much