Bokeh photography is both mysterious and charming. It makes people think of things they can’t imagine. Bokeh is the look of the areas in a photo that are not in focus. It can make everyday scenes seem like they are in a dream. When done right, bokeh can turn lights into soft, glowing orbs, making them resemble stars, nebulas, or even suns. This effect blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, creating an optical illusion that feels almost magical.

How to Achieve Bokeh

Achieving beautiful bokeh is a mix of technical skill and creative vision. The effect is typically produced by using a fast lens with a wide aperture (such as f/1.4 or f/2.8). The bigger the aperture, the smaller the depth of field. This helps separate the subject from the background, creating those blurred, glowing shapes. Putting your subject close to the camera while leaving the background far away makes this effect better. Light sources in the background, such as streetlights or reflections, are particularly effective at creating stunning effect.

The Gear I Used

For these images, I used my Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D Mark III cameras, paired with two versatile lenses: the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM and the EF 35mm f/1.4L USM. These lenses are great for bokeh photography because they have the wide openings needed to create that soft, dreamy blur. The combination of good glass and precise aperture control let me capture the mysterious, wild energy that bokeh brings to a photo. It turned ordinary scenes into something out of a child’s wildest dreams.