Bokeh

Tips For Better Holiday Pictures
photography

12 Days of Geek Tips: Take the Perfect Holiday Picture

Ready for your close-up?
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Ready for your close-up? If there's one thing that can be counted on at this time of year with the parade of holiday parties and outings, it's the Kodak moments. Get the most out of your camera and save every memory with these tips for taking the perfect holiday picture.

  • All of the lights — When capturing holiday lights in a dark setting, start with a tripod to ensure the camera is steady. If the beautiful bokeh (blurred) effect is what you're after, then use a low aperture setting such as f/1.8 to keep the focus on the subject in the front of the frame, giving the lights the blurred look you're after.
  • Burst right in — When exchanging gifts or laughs, there's not a second you want to miss. Switch the camera into burst (continuous) mode, so you'll get the microseconds before and after the reveal of a big surprise.
  • Think macro — A whole lot of festive ornamentation goes into making the holiday memorable, so be sure to get up close and personal with tablescapes, ornaments, and a mistletoe or two with your camera's macro setting. On a point-and-shoot, this is usually denoted with a flower symbol, and if you have the advantage of a DSLR macro lens, then make sure to tote that in your bag. For iPhoneographers, attachable macro lenses are available, and it's a good time to get familiar with the benefits of the iPhone's HDR camera settings.
  • Capture the unposed moments — Sure, you want to put your friends' and families' best faces forward by snapping their best smiles, but more often it's the unposed moments you'll want to remember. Don't just wait for "cheese" to bring the camera out; rather, capture the teamwork required for making tamales and the impromptu Mariah Carey dance parties that happen this time of year.
    • Source: Instagram user micrometal
    Best iPhone Apps For Bokeh Effect
    photography

    5 iPhone Apps For Creating a Bokeh Photo Effect

    Boost your standard iPhone photography skills by adding the bokeh effect to your everyday snaps.
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    Boost your standard iPhone photography skills by adding the bokeh effect to your everyday snaps. What is bokeh exactly? Bokeh is the blur that appears in a picture's out-of-focus area, and it usually tends to look like a series of reflective dots. It can take a bit of practice to achieve a bokeh effect in photos, but these handy iPhone apps add it instantly. Hoping to step up your photography skills? Give one of these apps a try:

    1. LensLight ($1) — Simple and user-friendly, LensLight offers customizable lighting effects, as seen above. Add multicolored spotlights, glints, light leaks, or bokeh to boost your standard snaps.
    2. picfx ($2) — With 47 different effect and frame alternatives, 13 style choices, and an option to layer different looks, picfx offers a wide range of photography possibilites. Even better? An opacity slider allows you to control the strength of each effect.
    3. PictureShow ($2) — The options seem endless in this app: 45 preset styles, 23 frames, plus 10 light leak choices and 13 noise effects. There are five different lens choices. You can save a custom style for quick photo application, and messages can be added onto photos. Another bonus? A timer, so that you can take your time to pose or frame shots.
    4. iDarkroom ($1) — Thanks to 12 light leak and bokeh effects, this is a great option for those who love to play around with lighting. The app allows you to adjust saturation, contrast, and brightness, and 10 film paper effects offer a unique way to filter photos.
    5. Bokeh Booth ($1) — This basic, straightforward app is all about adding bokeh to your photos. It's best to do more complex editing with another app, then use Bokeh Booth to choose between hearts, stars, or basic circles for your bokeh shapes.

    Do you have any tips for adding bokeh? Share them in the comments below!

    How to Create Blurred Light Bokeh Pictures
    DIY

    How to Make Holiday-Themed Bokeh

    You probably know what bokeh is, just not what it's called.
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    You probably know what bokeh is, just not what it's called. Bokeh is the photography effect that produces a blurred background. With an SLR, you get bokeh by setting your aperture value low and then focusing on a subject. It's a beautiful photography effect and in most snappers' bag of tricks.

    The other side of bokeh is the gorgeous patterns you can create in your photographs. You can make dots, like in the picture, or you can get ambitious and make hearts or a holiday theme (like stars) with DIY Photography's bokeh instructions.

    All you need is an aperture lens and a piece of black paperboard. Follow DIY Photography's instructions and get ready to produce mesmerizing photos!

    Turn Your Words Into Bokeh Type Images
    Website of the Day

    Website of the Day: Bokeh Type

    I've already shown you how to make cool bokeh photos using your toolbox of photography skills, but can you turn your words into cool bokeh-type images?
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    I've already shown you how to make cool bokeh photos using your toolbox of photography skills, but can you turn your words into cool bokeh-type images? Oh, yes. Yes, you can.

    This website may be a time-waster, but it's a cool one. Just type some words into the middle of the screen, and Bokeh Type turns them into bokeh lights on the fly. The only downside is how quickly they disappear — I'd love to just sit and stare at the blinking colored lights. I'm easily amused.

    Have an interesting website you want to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more