Understanding the Challenge
Bokeh, the pleasing out-of-focus blur in the background, is typically achieved with a wide aperture lens (f/1.8, f/2.8, etc.). Smartphone cameras have fixed apertures, and they're usually quite small. Therefore, we need to simulate the effect through distance and creative hacks.
Methods
Here are a few approaches you can take, combining them often yields the best results:
1. The Distance Trick (Free!)
* Technique: Maximize the distance between your subject and the background. This is the foundation of all the other tricks.
* How it Works: The farther the background is, the more blurred it will naturally appear in relation to your sharply focused subject.
* Steps:
1. Find a Suitable Location: Look for a spot where your subject can stand several feet (5-10 feet is a good starting point) in front of a visually interesting background. Things like trees, foliage, city lights, or even a brightly colored wall can work.
2. Position Your Subject: Have your subject stand where you want them.
3. Move Back: You, the photographer, need to move back too. Zoom in with your phone.
4. Focus: Tap on your phone screen to focus on your subject's face.
5. Take the Photo: Experiment with different distances between the subject and the background.
2. The Water Droplet Lens (Free!)
* Technique: Creates a makeshift macro lens to shrink the focal plane.
* How it Works: The surface tension of water acts as a tiny magnifying glass when adhered to your camera lens, creating a wide-aperture effect.
* Materials: Water, eye dropper or small syringe (optional), clear adhesive tape.
* Steps:
1. Put a small droplet of water directly on your phones camera lens.
2. Use tape to hold it in place.
3. Shoot up close to your subject to get a shallow depth of field.
3. Bokeh Filter (Under $10)
* Technique: Create a custom lens filter using cardboard and some simple craft supplies.
* How it Works: A shaped hole in a dark piece of cardboard placed over your lens will project that shape in the out-of-focus areas of the background, creating custom bokeh shapes.
* Materials:
* Black construction paper or thin cardboard (free or very cheap)
* Scissors or a craft knife (already owned, assumed)
* Tape (already owned, assumed)
* Small decorative paper punch (star, heart, etc.) - *Less than $5* from a craft store or online. Alternatively, you can very carefully cut shapes by hand, but a punch is easier and more consistent. Consider recycling cardboard and using what you already have to keep costs down.
* Steps:
1. Cut a Cardboard/Paper Circle: Cut a circle slightly larger than the lens area of your smartphone camera.
2. Center Hole: Cut a small hole (maybe 1/4 inch diameter) in the *center* of the circle.
3. Punch/Cut Your Shape: Use your paper punch to create your desired shape in the *center* of the circle. If you're cutting by hand, be very precise. Smaller is better.
4. Attach to Phone: Tape the cardboard circle securely over your phone's camera lens. Make sure the punched shape is directly in front of the lens.
5. Take the Photo: Use the distance trick (subject far from background). The farther away the background is and the closer the lens is, the better.
4. The Plastic Wrap / Vaseline Diffusion (Free or Very Cheap)
* Technique: Creates a dreamy, soft-focus effect that enhances the bokeh.
* How it Works: A thin layer of a translucent material diffuses the light, softening the image and making out-of-focus areas appear more pronounced.
* Materials:
* Clear plastic wrap (kitchen wrap is fine - already owned) *or*
* A tiny dab of Vaseline or petroleum jelly (already owned)
* Tape (already owned)
* Steps:
* Plastic Wrap Method: Stretch a small piece of plastic wrap over your phone's camera lens. Secure it with tape around the edges, leaving the center slightly loose. Optionally, you can poke tiny holes in the plastic wrap with a pin for a slightly different effect.
* Vaseline Method: *Very carefully* and sparingly, apply a *tiny* dab of Vaseline to the *edges* of your phone's lens. Do *NOT* get it on the center of the lens, or you'll ruin the photo. Wipe away any excess. The goal is just a thin film around the edges.
* Take the Photo: Use the distance trick.
Smartphone Camera Settings to Check
* Portrait Mode (If Available): Many smartphones have a "Portrait Mode" that attempts to simulate a shallow depth of field. Experiment with it, but don't rely on it solely. Combine it with the other techniques.
* Manual Mode (If Available): If your phone has a manual mode, you might be able to adjust the focus to manually blur the background. However, aperture control is usually not available.
* HDR (High Dynamic Range): Enable HDR mode for better detail in both the subject and the background.
Tips for Success
* Lighting: Good lighting is crucial. Golden hour (shortly after sunrise and before sunset) provides warm, flattering light. Overcast days can also work well, as the light is softer and more even.
* Experiment: Try different backgrounds, subject positions, and techniques.
* Clean Your Lens: Ensure your smartphone lens is clean and free of smudges.
* Editing: Use a photo editing app (Snapseed, VSCO, etc.) to fine-tune your image. You can slightly increase the blur in the background, adjust the colors, and add sharpness to the subject.
* Stability: Use a tripod or prop your phone against something for sharper images, especially in low light.
* Practice: The more you experiment, the better you'll become at creating beautiful bokeh portraits with your smartphone.
Summary of Cost
* Distance Trick: $0
* Water Droplet Lens: $0
* Bokeh Filter: $0 - $5 (if you buy a paper punch)
* Plastic Wrap/Vaseline Diffusion: $0
By combining these techniques, you can definitely create impressive bokeh portraits with your smartphone for under $10 (or even free!). Good luck and have fun experimenting!