HOW TO GET A BLURRY BACKGROUND IN-CAMERA! Depth of field explained.

Summary

In this informative video, professional photographer Simone shares four key techniques to achieve blurrier backgrounds in photography, often referred to as 'bokeh.' She explains the concept of depth of field and how wider apertures, longer focal lengths, closer subject distances, and further background distances can create the desired effect. Simone also debunks the myth that larger sensors inherently produce blurrier backgrounds, clarifying that it's the combination of equipment settings and creative choices that truly make the difference.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Squarespace is the sponsor of the video and offers an all-in-one solution for websites and domains.
• 📸 The video aims to teach how to achieve blurry backgrounds in photography, often desired in portraiture and wildlife photography.
• 🌌 'Bokeh' is a Japanese term that describes the aesthetic quality of the blur in the background of a photo.
• 🔍 The blurriness of the background is primarily due to being out of focus, with a thinner depth of field leading to a blurrier background.
• 📐 Depth of field is the distance between the closest and farthest parts of a photo that are acceptably sharp.
• 🔑 Using a wider aperture (smaller f-number) on a lens can create a thinner depth of field and thus a blurrier background.
• 🔭 Prime lenses often have larger maximum apertures than zoom lenses, allowing for more pronounced background blur.
• 📷 Longer focal lengths naturally create a thinner depth of field and blurrier backgrounds when shot at similar distances.
• 👀 Increasing the magnification by using longer focal lengths or zooming in makes the background appear blurrier due to seeing a smaller slice of it.
• 🚶‍♂️ Getting physically closer to the subject can create a blurrier background by narrowing the depth of field.
• 🏞️ Placing the background further away from the subject, or changing the vantage point to increase the distance between them, results in a more blurred background.
• 📐 Contrary to a common myth, sensor size does not directly affect the blurriness of the background; it's the combination of lens aperture and distance to the subject that matters.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to teach viewers how to achieve blurry backgrounds in their photographs using various techniques and equipment settings.

What does the term 'bokeh' refer to in photography?

In photography, 'bokeh' refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus areas of an image, specifically the background.

Why are blurry backgrounds often prized in certain photography genres?

Blurry backgrounds are often prized in genres like portraiture or wildlife photography because they help to make the subject stand out by creating a smooth and soft-looking background, which contrasts with the sharp subject.

What is the 'depth of field' and why is it important for achieving a blurry background?

The 'depth of field' is the distance between the closest and farthest parts of a photo that are acceptably sharp. It is important for achieving a blurry background because a thinner depth of field means a smaller area in focus, resulting in more out-of-focus and thus blurrier backgrounds.

How does using a wider aperture setting on a lens affect the background blur?

Using a wider aperture setting (smaller F number) on a lens creates a thinner plane of acceptable focus, resulting in a shallower depth of field and thus a blurrier background.

What is the relationship between the maximum aperture of a lens and the ability to achieve a blurry background?

A lens with a larger maximum aperture can open wider, allowing more light and creating a thinner depth of field, which in turn makes it easier to achieve a blurrier background.

Why might prime lenses be preferred over zoom lenses for achieving a blurry background?

Prime lenses, which have a fixed focal length, are often offered with faster apertures than zoom lenses, allowing for a larger maximum aperture and thus the ability to create smoother, blurrier backgrounds.

How does the choice of focal length affect the depth of field and background blur?

Longer focal lengths create a thinner depth of field, resulting in a blurrier background. Additionally, the magnification effect of longer focal lengths makes the background appear blurrier even if the depth of field remains the same.

What is the effect of getting closer to the subject on the background blur?

Getting closer to the subject causes the light rays to converge more steeply, creating a thinner depth of field and a blurrier background.

How can the distance between the subject and the background impact the background blur?

The farther the background is from the subject, the more out-of-focus and blurrier it will appear, due to the gradual transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas in an image.

What myth does the video aim to dispel about sensor sizes and background blur?

The video aims to dispel the myth that larger sensors inherently create blurrier backgrounds. It explains that it is not the sensor size but the field of view and the photographer's choice to get closer to the subject that contributes to a blurrier background.

How can a photographer implement the techniques discussed in the video to achieve a blurrier background?

A photographer can implement these techniques by using a lens with a large maximum aperture set to its widest, choosing a longer focal length, getting closer to the subject, and positioning the subject with a farther background.