Hearts Bokeh

[photonutter]

Stumbled on an old technique to change the shape of bokeh in your shots. It involves a piece of card at the front of the lens with a hole cut in the shape desired. Has anyone here heard or done this before?

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/data/510/thumbs/2096013873_bdd60e05c4.jpg (http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1027)

[Nick Temple-Fry]

Stunning image, I can see why the technique might work (it's only a little different from the shaped filters you can still buy)

But...?

Nick

[PeterD]

Stumbled on an old technique to change the shape of bokeh in your shots. It involves a piece of card at the front of the lens with a hole cut in the shape desired. Has anyone here heard or done this before?

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/data/510/thumbs/2096013873_bdd60e05c4.jpg (http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1027)

Looks interesting. Never come across this before. Can you clarify or point me to a source of further info?

Thanks

PeteD

[photonutter]

Here's the link http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh
Must say I had my doubts too, but after giving it a go with some vignette cards it obviously works though I do need a little practice.

[PeterD]

Here's the link http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh
Must say I had my doubts too, but after giving it a go with some vignette cards it obviously works though I do need a little practice.

Thanks for the link & info. I think I might give it a whirl in the Xmas break period. Saved the link so that I can visit again.

PeterD

[ianc]

Cokin used to make sets of different shaped cards that you could do this with. I'm not sure if they still do them.
Ian C.

[PeterD]

Cokin used to make sets of different shaped cards that you could do this with. I'm not sure if they still do them.
Ian C.

Thanks Ian. I shall have look. If all else fails, the website link gives some reasonable instructions for making the cards. By way of experiment it might be fun to try to create the effect from scratch.

PeterD

[photonutter]

Stunning image, I can see why the technique might work (it's only a little different from the shaped filters you can still buy)

But...?

Nick

But?.... Go on.

[photonutter]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/9-PIECE-VIGNETTER-MASK-SET-IN-BLACK-PLASTIC-WALLET_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ160170635138

There's a set the same as the one I used for sale here.

[Andre Wilkinson]

I got a set of these thingys free on a photo mag. nack in the eighties and never used them as i didn't know what they were. Now i do thanks. I'll give them a try and see how they work.

André

[Nick Temple-Fry]

But?.... Go on.

Oh – just general incredulity really.

COKIN still do these kind of effects – see link, but for some reason do not recommend for use with Digital.

http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/filters8.htm

[beardedwombat]

The Cokin filters and the Ebay cheapies are designed for vignettes using a small aperture but presumably would work just as well for bokeh effects.

[photonutter]

Just finished making a snowflake, I'll put a shot up when I can get somewhere to control the light a bit more.
Going on asumption and a bit of practice, the best size to use is roughly equal to the diameter of your front element, then zoom through, so no vignette.
There also seems to be an optimal distance, depending on which lens and focal point you use, for the clearest defined bokeh .