Custom Holiday Bokeh 12.28.11

It has been rainy, windy and stormy in Astoria where I am visiting my dad. We still spent some time at the beach and exploring the area, which I plan to post in the next few days. But until then, I decided to experiment with some custom bokeh I have been seeing everywhere. The perfect rainy day project. I followed this tutorial and this tutorial and had to experiment with the size of the cut out because my kit lens only goes down to 3.5 in aperture. I ended up with a star stencil (the second to the smallest size) and black construction paper. I found it worked best when I manually focused without the construction paper cover, then put it on top and turned it until I liked the look. I also found that the less in focus, the bigger the bokeh and the bigger the shapes. Here are my results, taken into a mirror with the reflection of the tree in the mirror and the window. Processed in Lightroom with a clean edit and some cropping. I can't decide if I like the shapes bigger or smaller. What do you think?

Settings: ISO 1600, 50mm, ss1/8, f/5.6 (full manual, tungsten wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 46mm, ss3.2sec, f/5.0 (full manual, on tripod, tungsten wb)

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." - Hal Borland

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a look at the other amazing photos and enjoy the end of 2011!

      

Project 64: Merry Christmas Green 12.23.2011 and Good to Wow SOOC: Happy New Year! 12.25.11

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! This is my first Christmas as a blogger and I must say I have never experienced a holiday quite like this one. The past couple of Christmases have been tough for me and have left me with some ba-hum-bug feelings that did not have me all too enthusiastic about this holiday. Then I stepped into the holiday as photographed by the most amazing photographers! I was inspired and awed and dare I say anticipating the Christmas season :o). The photos and ideas and sharing that happened in this community are just amazing. So let me say thank you for helping to get me in the holiday spirit and thank you for sharing your talent. I hope the new year finds you and yours happy and healthy. I cannot wait to see what I can learn from you in 2012!

I hope these two photos give back a little of what you have given me! This first one is from a local house that sets lights to music that my family and I decided might have to be a new holiday tradition. It is such a fun experience! I only brought the point and shoot, set on auto, as I wanted to focus on the experience and being with my family. It felt strange to shoot without my DSLR, but it was worth it :o). After opening this in Lightroom and doing a clean edit and a crop I realized it was a great match for the Project 64 color of the week - green.

Settings: ISO 200, 7.7mm, ss1/8, f/2.8 (point and shoot, auto)

This second photo was shot with my homemade bokeh set-up and some pieces from an amazingly fun game I got the family for Christmas (another tradition we have). The game is called Konexi and it a cross between Scrabble and Jenga. Not only is it a fun game, but it makes a great photography prop! I chose to do the word "LOVE" to represent my wish for the new year. I wish that you have love, share love freely and find something you love!

Settings: ISO 800, 28mm, ss1/20, f/4.0 (full manual, tripod, tungsten wb)

"A new beginning is perhaps the best time to say…
It’s so nice to know you…
And here’s wishing our friendship
continues to grow in the days to come." - Author Unknown