2019 WEEK 19: Bokeh!

Thanks to Susan Roy Nelson for suggesting this week’s theme.

This week, we’re looking to create photographs with pleasing “bokeh”. Put simply, bokeh is the soft, pleasingly-blurred portion of the photo, often in the background of the image. Bokeh can really enhance a photo by helping your crisp, well-focused subject stand out against the more blurred background.

Creating bokeh is typically accomplished by using a narrow depth of field, and keeping the background far away from the main subject. (The further “back” your background is from your main subject, the more out of focus it will be.) For more information and tips, I found this article very helpful: Bokeh for Beginners.

You are welcome to photograph most anything this week, as long as it has a strong element of bokeh. The bokeh can simply be a background element– for example, a portrait against a blurred background. Or, if you are feeling more adventuresome, you can use the bokeh itself as the subject. As always, creative or out of the box ideas are welcomed and encouraged 🙂

A Cup of Bokeh
A Cup of Bokeh – Eric Minbiole

The Challenge

  • Take a photo of anything that has strong elements of bokeh.
  • Post your photo during the week of Sunday, May 5 and Saturday, May 11.
  • Please remember to comment on at least FIVE photo submissions this week by answering the question “why?” in your comments. In other words, “why do I like (or not like) this photo?” or “why did this photo catch my eye?” Thank you!

The friendly community guidelines are pretty simple:

  • Take a new photo for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
  • Post your photo each week to our active communities on Facebook or Flickr (or both). Tag the photo:  #2019photochallenge #photochallenge #tempusaura
  • Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2019 Trevor Carpenter Photo Challenge is fun and easy.

About Eric Minbiole

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been absolutely fascinated with anything technical– electronics, computers, cameras, gadgets, etc. Growing up, I loved taking things apart to see what was inside. While I couldn’t always put things back together, I loved trying to figure out how things work. Because of my love for all things technical, I pursued a degree in Electrical Engineering, and currently work as a Software Engineer. I’ve been fascinated with photography ever since borrowing my parents 110 film camera when I was young. It’s been a great hobby ever since: I love experimenting with photos, and trying new things. I especially love technical and/or trick photography. (“Gimmicks!”, as my wife jokingly calls them 😉 ) While I’m comfortable with the technical side of how to shoot, I struggle more with the artistic side of what to shoot in the first place. This is one reason I quite enjoy this group: There are fun, interesting ideas each week. I joined PhotoChallenge as a participant in 2014, and am amazed at how much this group has helped me learn. Each week, I look forward to the fun, creative challenges that Steve, Trevor, Gary, and Jeremy put together. Most importantly, the weekly challenges give me the motivation to get out there and take photos each week. (Otherwise, I suspect my camera might be gathering dust on the shelf.) As well, interacting with the fantastic members of the group– discussing suggestions, techniques, what works, what doesn’t– has been an invaluable help. I am absolutely thrilled to join the PhotoChallenge team– I’ve learned so much from the group, and hope that I can give back a little bit. If you’d like to see some of my photos, please check out my flickr page.