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Bokeh: The blurred effect and isolation of a photographic subject. It is this effect that causes a subject to literally leap off of an image. In some cases you want to limit this effect but if done correctly the Bokeh effect can be used to transform what would have been a snapshot into a work of Art.

The image above was taken on a quiet country road, the Doe just appeared walking slowly across, my camera was set at f6.3, the focal length 600mm with an ISO of 2500, the shutter speed also at 1/2500.

The Doe and the fence post are almost equal distance from me and are perfectly focused, the rock under the doe about 8 feet behind her, the mail box another 10 feet further back. the tree and bush as far back as 65 feet, you can see how these objects lose their edge and become blurred.

Some lenses at f6.3  would be closed down enough to allow that these background features to be more focused, however the longer the focal length the more compressed the images appear, this lens also has a nine bladed diaphragm with rounded blades allowing softer edges and greater isolation.

Having the camera set to a spot focus, ensures that a single area is precisely in focus before the shutter is released as opposed to an area focus where the camera will check and recheck to ensure that the image is focused (with a moving subject this slows down the cameras ability to fire the shutter) so there is a bell curve with precision, speed and effect anyone of the three can change the end results.

The downside to spot focus is with a moving image, you can miss the shot easily, cameras today have sophisticated capability some have facial recognition for metering many of these are good attributes for snapshots but can also get in the way of executing a precise image.

There are other methods of isolating an image with artificial means, but those are not available out in the field (and look fake) using software to attain a similar effect gives the appearance of an unreal image.

A photographer has to learn the correct way to hold a camera, have the ability to limit body movement, many lenses have vibration controls, but these too slow down the ability to fire the shutter, as the camera won’t release the shutter if the lens is moving about steadying itself.

Some Cameras do have an override that allow the shutter to release before optimal focus has been reached, journalists may use that kind of setting as “getting the photo” is more important than an artistic set up.

In todays photographic arena knowing how to use your camera is the difference between a snapshot and an image, of course being in the right place at the right time also helps.

(To see the full image go to the Animal Kingdom Gallery in the menu.)