How can I get larger bokeh circles behind a portrait subject with a 50mm f/1.8?
Asked 12/28/2012
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I’m shooting portraits with a 50mm f/1.8 and want large, dramatic out-of-focus circles from decorative lights in the background. When I frame only the lights, I can get bigger circles, but once I include the subject, the bokeh circles look much smaller. The lights are roughly 3–5 feet behind the subject. Is this effect achievable with a 50mm lens, or do I need a longer lens? What setup changes matter most?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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It's perfectly possible to get the effect you are after with Here's a shot I produced for another question to show the depth of field possibilities of a 50 f/1.8 on APS-C:
It was shot indoors using standard fairy lights for the background. The subject (which stands about 4 foot / 1.2 meters tall) was chosen to give a good approximate for tight headshot. The background was about 8 feet / 2.5 meters from the subject.
Larger circles in the background would be possible if the lights were further away but that would require a large room or an outdoor shot.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
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Yes, you can get this effect with a 50mm f/1.8. The main factor is the distance between the subject and the background lights: the farther the lights are behind the subject, the more out of focus they become and the larger the blur circles can appear.
To maximize the effect:
- Use the lens wide open at f/1.8.
- Move the subject farther from the lights/background.
- Keep focus on the subject.
If the lights are only 3–5 feet behind the subject, the blur circles may stay relatively small. In many examples with strong light bokeh, the background is much farther away. A larger room or outdoor setup often helps.
Also, if your “lights only” shot was framed differently, the apparent size of the circles may not be directly comparable.
So: you do not necessarily need a longer lens, but you do need more subject-to-background separation and the widest aperture possible. A longer lens can help in some portrait setups, but it isn’t the core reason the circles get bigger here.
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