Here’s a super quick experimentation I did with aperture & bokeh. Learn how to add a special flare onto your photos to make them even more beautiful!
How to Get The Best Bokeh Lens Reaction
When Jenny and I were taking pictures of cupcakes at Disney, we grabbed a table by the giant Christmas tree and positioned the cupcakes so the beautiful tree lights & decorations were the background for our photos.
Below is a quick comparison of the different apertures we used and the different types of bokeh it produced.
Photo via Jenny
First, here’s the Christmas tree we used as our background.
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
f/2.8
1/160 sec
ISO 100
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
f/4.5
1/125 sec
ISO 200
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens
f/5.6
1/125 sec
ISO 200
Which one do you prefer? I normally prefer shooting at 2.8 or below, but I really like how the tree turned out in the third picture, at 5.6.
Give this a try with your Christmas tree! :) Experiment with your aperture and see how the bokeh changes. Here are a couple of photography tutorials to get you started.
A Quick Guide to Understanding Your DSLR Camera
Get Beautiful Background Bokeh with your Christmas Tree
How far were you from the tree?
Great tips! I have read few of your articles today and already learned a lot. Thanks a millionnnn….
I have the exact same thoughts. Generally like to shoot with F2.8 or lower. But love the bokeh that f5.6 gives in the last photo.
Hi Amanda, I have a question about the lighting indoors. Did you use the flash from the camera to compensate? or did you use other additional lighting? also, I’ve tried bokeh but like another person posted I get blurry subject, what are your suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Love thoes earrings with the bows, so simple, yet elegant. Love unique pieces
These photos are incredible! I especially love the color in them, and I have a question about that. How did you get the tree to look like pastel colors (pink, turquoise, & blue) behind the cupcake when it looks like the tree ornaments are actually primary colors (red, blue, and green)? Do you need a special setting or lighting for that?
Your pictures are always awesome! I love how you use actual photographs when explaining what you are doing (whether it’s photography or cooking) I am a visual person so you are one of my favorite go-to blogs for information.
I like the third the best! But… I also liked one and two, that is until I saw 3! ;0)
I agree. I prefer the last one with the 5.6
I feel the same as you. I prefer 2.8, but love how the photo came out with the 5.6. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda, I love this technique! I’ve been using it like crazy lately! Thanks for sharing the “how to” instructions. If you’d like to see there’s a few on my blog above, and more on my 365 blog… http://lorrieslifedaybyday.blogspot.com
The 3rd one was my favorite too but all 3 were great!
I love the third as well! And I LOVE your site!!!!!!! Thanks for all the great stuff! So fun! Can you tell me about how far away from the tree you were?? Can’t wait to try this!! :o) Thank you!
I love the third image. It really gives the picture some life in the background!
Once again, awesome pictures! I’m counting my calories and all I can think about is cupcakes! :-)
I loooove all of your pictures. I am studying photography in school. I like the third one, but because the background dots so-to-speak are larger, it almost distracts from the cupcakes. It leads the eye from the sprinkles on the cupcake to the background ‘dots’ or lights. I think the second picture at 4.5 is my favorite. I guess it all depends on what you are trying to say with your photos. All are great as always!
I enjoy looking at your website! I’m really interested in photography and these photos are great!
Take a peak at my blog:
http://lifeasyouknowit.blog.com/
Who cares about the bokeh, I want the CUPCAKE! Just kidding, the photos look great. I prefer the last one, myself.
Thanks for posting such good information! I look forward to reading your blog because I always learn something new!
I like the last one the best, too.
I agree that the third shot is the best. All have the same basic characteristic near object focus, background blur. But the 5.6 aperture setting gave the crispest focus with the optimal effect of the lights in the background. The overall balance of objects is better in the third photo. This is proof that a “rule” for aperture settings is not always ironclad. In the digital age when wasting film is not a consideration, it’s well worthwhile to experiment with multiple settings to get the best overall composition and effect.
The third pic is my favorite – maybe because it mimics the confetti on the cupcake?!! I found your tutorial on Christmas trees and bokehs yesterday. Is this at all achievable with basically point-and-shoot? I have a Nikon L110. I tried most of yesterday afternoon and never could get it!! Thanks for all the info.
The 3rd one – the x-mas tree in the background isn’t too blurry. On the other ones my focus goes to the blurriness.
I like the 5.6 too…just because it adds a little more color to the image. Great pics. :)
Great photos, I like the 5.6 one best too. Thanks for the info – I love your turorials they’re always easy to understand.
If you’re obsessed with bokeh like me… you should get the Bokeh Masters Kit. Makes shaped bokeh – SO CUTE! – especially perfect for this time of year when twinkle lights are everywhere!!
Try it – You’ll love it! (if you haven’t already done so)
http://www.bokehmasterskit.com/
Love all the pictures, but the 5.6 one is awesome. I have to start playing around with my Canon camera more. I have to read up on your site more and start to test different settings out. I recently borrowed someone’s macro lens and I’m in love. I don’t remember the exact lens, but it took some amazing pictures and that was just on the auto setting. ;) Thanks for always sharing such great posts.
I love your blog. Thanks for the links for the photography tips.
Thanks for posting this, Amanda! Number three is my favorite! Definitely.
that is awesome! i love experimenting and trying new things on my camera…. :)
The 3rd one for sure…Beautiful. It’s so colorful and dreamy it almost magicaly brings out the inticing flavor all by itself…”awww I gotta have this yummy goodness” kinda effect.
*thanks kevin & amanda now jill is hungry for cupcakes – gawwh!*
Ok so you inspired me to play around with my camera and my tree a little. But I have an issue. I adjusted my settings on my Nikon D3000 and used a tripod to try and get a picture. Im using a Nikkor 55-200mm Lense. But my subject keeps turning out blurry. No matter how still I try and stay when I hit the shutter button. This is what I keep getting
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/ilayou777/DSC_0300.jpg
and this was the best I could get
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/ilayou777/DSC_0313.jpg
Am I missing something??
PLEASE help me Amanda!!! :)
You should increase your ISO to get a faster shutter speed or use a tripod one of your shots was taken at f9 with an ISO of only 200 resulting in a shutter speed of over half a second. Try 800 ISO and a faster exposure time of around 125/s
Thanks for posting! I was planning on giving the bokeh technique a try tonight, actually, for our christmas cards. I will give these settings a try as a start! The last one is my favorite!
Love it Amanda!!! What could be any sweeter than a cupcake with Christmas tree bokeh?!
I love the third photo as well. :)
Thank you so much for this quick tut., Amanda. I have been struggling a bit with my tree bokeh. The visuals helped a lot.
Oh, and now I want a cupcake. Somehow, when I visit your blog, I always leave wanting a cupcake.
Just sayin’.
xo*tricia
I really like the tree in the third, but I prefer the cupcake in the first. Beautiful photos – thanks for the side-by-side comparison!
I have to say, I liked the third picture the best. You’re an amazing photographer Amanda. :) That cupcake looks SO. GOOD. The ornaments kind of look like the sprinkles too!! :D
Love all your pics. What a beautiful tree. I’m not photography savy but my fave is the first one because it features the cupcake more. Yum that cupcake looks good. :) Merry Christmas by the way.
i am def. going to try this out!! thanks for always posting the BEST photo tips!!!
xoxo
I liked them all, but I think I liked the third one the best. It is always interesting to see what settings you used to get the effects.
The 1st photo is more impressionistic and I think that the cupcake really pops to the front. The middle one starts to form impressions of circles that are repeated in the sprinkles on the cupcake so it draws your eye there. The third one has strong circular shapes as well as separated colors, so you begin to take in a more formal composition of the entire photo and not concentrate on the cupcake, only. I would say then it depends on what you are trying to say with your photo.
great exercise
keep experimenting!
Hi Amanda,
My favorite is the third picture, 5.6. The colors are beautiful. I would love to learn all about photography, but need to work on getting equipment like yours first. Thanks for sharing with all of us. I really enjoy it all. :)
Artistically speaking I like the THRID best. I think the lights on the tree mimic the sprinkles on the cupcake. SUPER photo!!!
I really like the third one too. My new camera lens only goes to f/3.5 so I can’t get the first one….yet :)I like the lights better too. Cute cupcake!
Thanks for another great lesson!
I love the results at 5.6! I normally try to shoot with a lower f-stop too but I love those results! I need to put some lights up to try this out!
My fav, is the 5.6, very pretty!!
I took the most beautiful picture of my entire tree, using the bokeh effect. I stood in a lite room about 10 feet from my tree, focused on something very close to me, lifted the camera to frame the tree and fired the shot. It was beautiful. I got varying degrees of focus depending on how close I focused on the things near me. It was so fun and the picture made me smile ear to ear :)
Your cupcake bokeh is awesome!!
i’m addicted to bokeh! i love my 50mm 1.4…yet i think i have to step outside of the box a bit! great post!
either way the photos turn out incredible :)
As a photographer, I agree with you. I like the 3rd one better. I normally like a smaller apeture as well, but the bokeh effect is just right on the 3rd one! Job well done :)
Love these pictures! :) I love my Canon 50mm f/1.8, but I’m loving the look of the f/5.6 you took! It’s so pretty, brings so much more color to it, perfect! :)
all of your pictures are so beautiful (:
You are haunting me with that lens:) Great photos!
Def the third one! The cupcake is completely in focus and really pops!
I love the cupcake pictures. The christmas tree is also beautiful.I love the vivid colors in the cupcake photo.I need to learn to take better pictures. I need help with ordering pictures. Have a great day : ).
Love your ideas! I tried this when you made a post last year. Here’s how one of my pics turned out: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_usGQWGrkwS0/TPq1TalDp6I/AAAAAAAABLI/4CunKTQKstw/s1600/horse1.jpg
I love it!
Looks like we all agree on the last shot! Pretty photo!
Love the 3rd, its more popped and not blurry. Love it! keep try use more often by 5.6
5.6 for sure. The Tree really looks more ‘magical’ in that photo.
Question… Do you use a tripod when taking your photos?
What a great comparison! I too like the last one. =)
Definitely like the 5.6 shot. I love how the tree in the background has more defined spheres. For me it creates a fantasy look….and the cupcake is still the focal point of the shot.
Definitely 5.6!
Great shots! I love that the Bokeh is colorful as opposed to plain white lights!
Fantastic shots!
My favorite tree is in the third picture because it’s not too blurry. But I think the cupcake looks better in the first. It’s sligthly darker/sharper in color. Which of the three settings did that? Or is it a combination?
These pics are AMAZING! I need all the photography help I can get :)
Thanks!
The 3rd one is my favorite too. I can’t wait to take some tree pictures with bokeh, now that I have my new lens. Oh and I definitely see cupcakes in my near future now!!
I don’t know much about photography, but your pictures are outstanding. I really like the one of the tree too!