The Mission
– Turn fairy lights into brilliant discs of bokeh
Time – 30 minutes
Skill level
– Beginner
Kit needed
– Tripod
– Fast lens
– Black card
Fast lenses are often considered expensive premium products, but affordable Nikon DSLR and mirrorless lenses with superwide apertures do exist. APS-C and full-frame users can make use of the Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G (£149/$160) and 50mm f/1.8G (£209/$217) respectively, while Z mirrorless owners can pick up the Samyang MF 85mm f/1.4 for under £300/$400.
If you’re lucky enough to find one of the above under the Christmas tree, or if you just want to pass the time while the turkey roasts, this Christmas-themed project is a fun way to put a fast lens through its paces.
A wide aperture produces a shallower depth of field, so much of the image beyond the point of focus will appear blurry. A narrow aperture produces a larger depth of field, meaning a greater portion of the image will appear sharp. One of the most attractive by-products of a shallow depth of field is the blurring of light sources into large, round discs of bokeh. It is possible to capture bokeh at narrower apertures, but the super-shallow depths of field produced by a fast lens will exaggerate these attractive spherical highlights.
Bu hikaye N-Photo: the Nikon magazine dergisinin January 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye N-Photo: the Nikon magazine dergisinin January 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD G2
The original version broke the mould for ‘trinity' standard zooms. The G2 enhances handling and performance further still
Nikon D500
Nikon's flagship DX-format DSLR is a modern classic. And while it hasn't been out of production for long, it left a hole in Nikon's camera line-up that's never been filled
Laurence Griffiths
With so much sporting action this summer, Laurence Griffiths of Getty Images reveals how to catch every goal at the Euros, details Getty Images' 24/7 Olympics coverage and why he always has a wide-angle ready. Keith Wilson managed to grab him before kick-off...
Ghost town
Adam Waring uses ND filters to subdue the hustle and bustle when shooting busy cities
Creative cities
Experienced travel photographer Matt Higgs provides top tips for stunning shots of city sights
If at first you don't succeed...
Tom travels to the other side of the world to have another go at shooting an elusive image and displays the power of his perseverance
Shoot the summer of sports
Have the Olympics and Euros inspired you to photograph sport? Mike Harris shows you how to score a portfolio of top shots
Osprey & prey
Birds of a feather Gary Jones and Leigh Pugh photograph ospreys from a purpose-built hide
Superzoom lenses
These lenses will have you in for a long stretch, some more than others in the wide-angle to telephoto stakes
Nikon Z 6III
With a revolutionary 'partially stacked' full-frame sensor, the Z 6III fits flagship camera features in an compact enthusiast-level body