Creative Bokeh

Actually the diaphragm blades form the bokeh. With this little trick You can influence the shape!

Requirements:

• A (really) thick paper and some tools: scissors and compass
• The paper should be as thick as possible, perhaps black, too.
  No light should shine through.

Some notes before You try it: The lens should not have a rotating front glass (while focusing). Otherwise Your bokeh will rotate as well. A prime lens with an aperture < f3.2 is a great lens for trying this gag. I use Canon's 50mm/1.8. If You use a zoom lens, perhaps You have to test different sizes of the form's cut-out. There are some other ways to create this "cap": diyphotography.net [1]

Instructions:

1. Cut a circle out of the paper. The diameter has to be ~1mm bigger than the filter thread of Your lens. If the circle does not fit very well and/or steady, resize the circle.
2. Cut a form in the middle of the circle. This form has to be smaller than the diaphragm opening (otherwise You won't see any changes)
3. Clip the circle in the filter thread - Have fun ;)

As usual it does not take a lot of time.

Results:

Here You see a snapshot with my "star blade". In the background I clipped fairy lights on my couch and used them as a starry sky.

The possiblilities are virtually endless: what's about a heart, a snowflake...?

 

More information:
- [1] diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh
- wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh