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El Bokeh Wall!

Dec 4, 2013 by Laya Gerlock 27 Comments

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I started my first 365 project in flickr with a 365 Days Bokeh Project.  After awhile playing with Christmas lights with bokeh, I tried thinking of a new bokeh background.

I tried using plastic bottles and different reflective materials for the background until I ended up with using a very simple material found in the kitchen which gave such an amazing result. Aluminum foil.

I have seen many people also using this technique but I just wanted to share how I do mine. I call it “The El Bokeh Wall”

El bokeh Wall

What You Need

  • Aluminum Foil
  • Prime Lens(For best bokeh result)
  • Lights (Continuos or Flash)

How To

Step 1: Get as many aluminum foil you will need for covering the background

Step 1

Step 2: Crumple the foil together and make a ball

Step 2

Step 3: Lay the foil flat again without removing the crumples – the crumples will provide the specular highlights which in turn create the magnificent bokeh.

step 3

Step 4: Stick the foil to the background

step 4

Final Setup

setup

BG Focus

  • Being a a “Strobist” I normally shoot this at ISO 200, 1/160, f1.4 (using a 50mm 1.4 lens – which gives a great bokeh).
  • Depending on the distance and the speedlight I use, normally the power of my flash will be around 1/32-1/64 on my subject.
  • Then I will have my background light on the floor pointing at the “El Bokeh Wall” @ around 1/16 -1/8 power.
  • Lastly, I put gels on my background flash to change the color of the El Bokeh Wall.

Plain and Simple

sample 2

sample 3

sample 4

sample 6

sample 3

sample 7

 

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Filed Under: Tutorials

Laya Gerlock: from diyphotography.net

About Laya Gerlock

Laya Gerlock is a Portrait and Product photographer based in the Philippines. His passion is teaching and sharing his knowledge in Photograpy and has been doing this for 6 years. You can follow his work on his web page, follow him on Flickr and if you happen to come by Cubao, Quezon City (To Manila, Philippines) he gives a great workshop!

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