Bokeh is a term in photography, taken from Japanese word, it means blur. Usually you see bokeh when your camera focus isn’t on the right position or if the focus distance is shorter than your object. However, the ability of good camera lens can turn the non-focus image into something pretty called bokeh. Still got no clue? Let me show you what bokeh is by using a building object as an example:

Not bokeh. This night scene building picture is captured with focus on the building itself. So we get clear object on the picture.

Bokeh. If the focus distance is changed to something shorter, the previous building will become the background and look blur. Instead, the lights on that building will turn into some nice lighting effects. This is what we call as bokeh.

Bokeh isn’t always for night scene pictures btw, we can also take bokeh pictures during daylight.

The easiest (or might be the foolest) way to take bokeh pictures by using Lumix LX3:

• Set the camera mode to intelligent auto (iA).
• Set the lens to automatic focus with macro.
• Point the camera to a background object.
• Fool the lens focus by using your palm. Place your palm in front of the lens.
• Half-press the shutter release button to get close focus.
• Still half-pressing, move your hands from the front of the lens. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a blur background.
• Now hurry up! Press the button fully, capture that bokeh background.

Sorry, no step-by-step pictures. But hope you get the idea. If you don’t get it, well that’s too bad. Cause you need to figure the steps out by yourself. =P