Christmas bokeh
This is the photo I used to illustrate A Librarian’s Tips for Healthy Holiday Parties that originally appeared in The Huffington Post. One of the reasons the editor liked my submission was this photo. It’s all thanks to Trish’s Pin It and Do It Challenge to actually do some of the things we pin on Pinterest.
I saw this cute pin of a dog in front of a Christmas tree: How to take christmas tree pics with lights in background. The tree lights are out of focus — that effect is called bokeh. The pin takes you to this blog post on Kevin & Amanda from December 2009: Must-Get Christmas Pictures Before the Tree Comes Down! It’s a tutorial, so it’s pretty much all you need to know. I got a darker background than in her photos by lighting up my foreground with a work lamp. I was very pleased to get just the sort of thing that I had pictured in my mind! Check out the tutorial because she does some really amazing things with shapes as well.
Besides Pin It and Do It, I’m also posting this as my Saturday Snapshot and I have a question for all of you shutterbugs. I’m running a challenge of my own called the New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge. What books would you recommend for people whose resolution is improve my photography? If I get enough responses, I’ll write a round-up post next week so we can all benefit!
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. Check her post today for more links of photos around the web.
Pin It and Do It is hosted by Trish of Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity. The challenge link-up is here: Pin it and Do It: Pinterest Challenge Link Up.
That is a superb shot! I really need to start doing the Pin it and Do it; love the idea. I’ll have to ask my sister on which photography books are the best as she’s a photographer with her own business so I’m sure she’d be the right expert to ask for book recommendations!
I have been enjoying Pinterest, but haven’t yet tried Pin it and Do it. Thanks for sharing!
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
Love it! The lights in the background are fabulous!! Happy holidays, Joy!
I love this effect! I think it looks better with the multicolor lights like what you have.
I somehow got sidetracked from Pin it and Do It, sadly. That’s a great shot though, I want to take photos like that!
I have saved the article and will read it, Joy. Being a Weight Watchers Lifetime member at goal…I Love holiday tips!
This is a fantastic photo. I love the colored lights and such a creative way to highlight the books. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate
How clever Joy – guess what I’m doing tonight??
Merry Christmas
Bear With Me…love learning new photo techniques, thanks♫ HappyMerryChristmasHoliday♥
That’s very nice! Now that I’ve seen your photo I want to try it too.
Thanks for sharing the link to the tutorial.
Love the Christmas Lights in the backgrounds. And, yes, time to review my “diet books” once again for Jan 1st
I love your photo! We tried to take a bokeh picture of our tree last year with very little success.
This is the best time of year for bokeh shots. I’ll have to remember to take a few before it’s too late.
The photography book that helped me the most is the Digital Field Guide for my model Canon EOS. It’s from Wiley Publishing. They write them for many of the popular brands of DSLRs.
I’ve heard the term bokeh before, but had forgotten it. I love your bokeh effect there, it’s looks fabulous, and makes a fun picture.
That’s killing two birds with one post! Fabulous shot – the concept is new to me. Thanks for the intro!
When I first started in photography many years ago there were so many good how-to books, and I devoured them all. But now they are out of date, and it seems the best information is online. Check out Bryan Peterson’s tips called “You Keep Shooting” on AdoramaTV: http://www.adorama.com/alc/category/AdoramaTV-You-Keep-Shooting
btw, I love your bokeh shot, too.
Good point! I hadn’t thought about that the best photography information may be on-line now.
Pingback:Head Shot | Joy's Book Blog
I love this shot! Now I need to go look over that tutorial. I’ve wanted to know how to do this for ever so long.