How to Create Custom Bokeh Shapes in Your Photos

Bokeh, or the quality of the out of focus area in a photograph is an easy way to add interest to your images. By making a bokeh filter for your camera, you can have more control of your photograph by giving the out of focus lights in the image almost any shape that you wish. The filter is easy to make and chances are you probably have most of the supplies you’ll need laying around the house. Take a look at the following instructional video for a detailed look at how you can make your own:

Here are the supplies you will need: Camera, black construction paper, scissors, craft knife, ruler, & protractor.

Measure the width of the glass on your lens and use the protractor to draw circles of the same size onto the paper.

Cut out the circle, leaving a small tab for easy removal of the filter like in the image below.

Use the pencil to draw your desired shape onto the center of the circle. Using the craft knife, carefully cut out the shape from the paper.

Stick the filter onto the front of the lens and you’re ready to go!

Below is an example of a heart shaped bokeh:

It is recommended to set your aperture to it’s widest setting, since the bokeh filter will block a lot of the light. You’ll also want to use a longer shutter speed than you normally would, which means you should also use a tripod to eliminate camera shake. Other than that, the possibilities with these fun and inexpensive filters are endless. Be sure to share your links to your bokeh images in the comments below!

For Further Training on Photography Tricks:

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