Custom Bokeh

I did this picture:

And a friend of mine (whom the picture was inspired by)

asked me how I did it..

so this tutorial, is basically for her..

Enjoy:

~

First of all.. you have to understand how this happens..

bokeh (the blurry blobs in a picture) 

manifest from the aperture shape.

This is why when you have a smaller aperture

f/8 or f/10, you get geometric shapes,

these are the aperture blades integrating.

wikipedia.

click for reference.

I Think this diagram describes it very well..

the bigger the aperture (f/1.2 or f/1.4)

the more circular the bokeh will be..

the smaller (f/10 or f/15)

 the more sharp edges you will get.

For these images I am using a 

50mm f/1.4

The digital picture

click for reference.

which is really nifty and big enough to do this

because what we want to do is:

create an aperture shape smaller than the lens's.

So here we go:

For the previous picture I used this:

I didn't use a puncture because I didn't want it to be perfect

I wanted some wonkiness to it.

Here is what you will need:

construction paper (Black or white) - I am using red because I wanted a red tint.

pen

scissors

tape - using electrical because I think is more flexible and I prefer it to regular tape, you can just use whatever you like.

puncture / or a carving knife - or scissors would do.

Flip your lens on the paper and draw around it.

Cut it out

Fit the cutout on your lens,

some lenses have a little lip with rings all around..

if your lens has that, you may be able to fit it on your lens like this:

(Sorry these are dark.. they are all SOOC, 

and I can't be bothered lighting them up..

well, you get the point)

if that fits skip this and go down..

if not:

draw over the lens again, but then draw a larger circle

cutout the larger circle and cut out a long strip 

that is equal in diameter and hight to your lens

Cut some strips along the outside

Fold them in

then cut the shape you want in the center 

and start taping the cutouts to the long strip

making a cap

IF THE PAPER FIT INTO YOUR LENS START HERE:

Make a hole (or cut it out)

I'm using a foot cause my little sister asked me to :)

It should look something like this:

And some test shots:

and you could chose any shape you want:

Clouds Jar.

A tutorial for how I did my Clouds Jar picture.

This image is a composite of 21 separate images..

the fluffy white thing is gauze bandage.

So here is my base image.

First I cleaned up the image, removing the distractions on the sides

Then I added the gauze in the first jar and the ladder

Some cleaning up..

Then the gauze in all the jars..

Then the clouds..

Crop

Alittle editing:

light.

Contrast/desaturation:

B&W Gradient map set to multiply.

Duplication of previous step

Texture

Curves / Colour balance

Desaturation

Lightning..

And there you have it..

your own little

Clouds Jar.

Thanks for making it this far

xx

Celine

So Finally.. at long last 

my cousin

Celine's 

photoshoot 

I ADORE baby hands and feet..

I see a ballerina in her future :')

That Santa hat looked adorable on her..

Baby with a hoodie !!

And a lovely hat

and whenever I do a photoshoot, I look around 

and shoot stuff that, well, aren't the model..

I have SO much more..

for next time :)

email me if you want me to put up another Celine blogpost.

till we meet again

Shaunie xx