Bokeh, a term rooted in Japanese aesthetics, refers to the out-of-focus blur in photography that transforms ordinary light into dreamlike orbs and streaks. This visual phenomenon occurs when a lens renders background highlights into soft, delicate shapes—often resembling glowing circles or streaks. It's a hallmark of high-end portraiture and often sought after in lifestyle and fashion imagery. While traditionally created with specific camera lenses, you can convincingly recreate this magical blur using Adobe Photoshop. In this detailed tutorial, you’ll learn to craft a bokeh effect in Photoshop that gives your photographs the allure of professional-grade depth and softness.
Photoshop’s robust toolset allows photographers and digital artists to sculpt focus, blur distractions, and add ethereal light spots to accentuate the subject. Whether you're working with portraits, product photos, or creative composites, this guide will walk you through a methodical, flexible way to create and enhance a bokeh background—even if the original photo lacks one.
Step 1: Open Your Image in Photoshop and Prepare the Canvas
Crafting a visually compelling bokeh effect in Photoshop begins with the fundamental step of selecting the right photograph and properly preparing your digital workspace. This stage sets the groundwork for all the intricate edits to follow. By starting with a strong image and ensuring it is compositionally ready, you maximize the realism and impact of your bokeh enhancement. Whether you're editing a professional portrait, a lifestyle capture, or a candid outdoor shot, the quality of your setup will directly influence the final outcome.
Select the Ideal Image with a Clear Focal Point
The first consideration in creating a successful bokeh effect in Photoshop is the image itself. Ideally, you should work with a photograph that has a clearly defined subject, preferably situated in the foreground with visible separation from the background. This spatial differentiation is essential for simulating depth of field, which is at the heart of a believable bokeh effect. When the subject is in sharp focus and the background contains varying tones, lighting, or minor textures, the final result will have more dimension and realism.
Photos captured with directional lighting, natural highlights, or reflective surfaces in the backdrop are perfect for creating bokeh. Light peeking through foliage, urban lights at dusk, sun filtering through windows, or even shimmering street scenes at night all make for prime candidates. Even if you’re working with an image that lacks ideal lighting, Photoshop’s extensive editing capabilities can help introduce those ethereal orbs of light that are characteristic of a traditional bokeh style.
Open Photoshop and begin by loading your chosen image. Go to the top navigation bar and select File > Open, then locate and open the image you want to work on. Once the image is visible on the screen, take a few moments to inspect its layout. Pay attention to where the subject is positioned—centered or offset—as well as the quality and structure of the background. Evaluate if there are areas that would benefit from visual softening and determine whether certain zones might be ideal for generating digital bokeh spots. Identifying these regions early helps guide your later steps more intentionally.
Duplicate the Background Layer and Organize Your Workspace
Once the image is open, immediately duplicate the background layer. This is a best practice in non-destructive editing. It allows you to preserve the integrity of the original photo while making alterations on a separate copy. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac). The newly created layer will appear above your original background in the Layers Panel. Rename it to something clear, like "Base Edit" or "Bokeh Canvas," so that you can track your workflow more efficiently.
Before moving forward, streamline your workspace for optimal editing. Photoshop offers several customizable panels and tools, but for this task, you'll primarily be working with the Layers Panel, Properties Panel, and Adjustments Panel. If any of these are hidden, go to Window in the top menu and activate them individually. Keeping your workspace clean and focused ensures that you can work efficiently and with minimal distraction.
Zoom in and closely observe the subject. Ensure that the primary object in the image—whether a person, pet, product, or architectural detail—is sharply defined. A high-clarity subject provides strong contrast when the surrounding environment is blurred. This helps draw the viewer’s eye where you want it and reinforces the illusion of depth. It also mimics the characteristics of lens bokeh captured with a wide aperture, giving your final result a photographic authenticity that’s both convincing and artistic.
If needed, make minor composition tweaks before proceeding. This could involve cropping out extraneous edges or gently repositioning the frame to better center the subject or adhere to the rule of thirds. The Crop Tool is ideal for this task. Ensure your aspect ratio remains appropriate for your final use—be it web, print, or social media. Just a small adjustment in framing can dramatically affect how the bokeh integrates into the image later.
Check Image Settings and Evaluate Background Potential
It’s also important to verify the image mode settings. Navigate to Image > Mode and ensure the image is set to RGB Color with either 8 Bits/Channel or 16 Bits/Channel selected. These settings allow for broader tonal range and smoother transitions, especially critical when applying soft gradients and blur filters. Images in CMYK or Grayscale modes may not support certain effects and could compromise the quality of the bokeh you aim to achieve.
As part of your setup, observe the background for natural points of light, contrast, and texture. Even seemingly insignificant details like tree branches, blurred traffic lights, or a series of shop windows can evolve into beautiful glowing accents once filtered through Photoshop’s Field Blur tool. These background features will become the raw material for generating soft-focus lighting elements, so consider them creatively.
For instance, if your image has small light reflections or subtle glare on glass, these can be amplified and stylized into rich, dreamy bokeh. Similarly, scattered sunspots on the ground or light filtering through fabric can provide depth and visual rhythm once processed correctly. The goal is to identify and mentally map out potential bokeh anchors in your scene before you start editing.
At this stage, you might also want to run a basic Levels or Curves adjustment to balance your photo’s tonal range. This isn’t mandatory but can help enhance contrast in the background, which will later help the light spots stand out when you introduce the blur. Go to Image > Adjustments > Levels or Curves and make subtle tweaks, paying attention to the highlights. Avoid over-editing—just enough to enhance detail and help the bokeh shine later on.
By carefully analyzing and preparing your image at the outset, you lay the groundwork for a highly effective and aesthetically pleasing bokeh edit. This preparatory phase ensures that once you move into the actual blurring and light manipulation processes, everything aligns with your creative intent and technical precision.
Step 2: Duplicate the Original Layer for Non-Destructive Editing
In any professional image editing workflow, preserving the integrity of your original photograph is paramount. When working in Photoshop, one of the most crucial habits to develop is practicing non-destructive editing. This principle involves working on copies or layers of your original image rather than directly altering the source file. Not only does this approach offer flexibility, but it also provides the safety net of being able to return to an untouched state at any point during your creative process.
Once you’ve opened your selected image, the first actionable step is to create a duplicate of your background layer. This can be done by navigating to the Layers Panel, right-clicking on the Background layer, and selecting "Duplicate Layer." Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl+J on Windows or Command+J on macOS to quickly duplicate the selected layer. Immediately rename this layer to something purposeful, such as "Blur Layer" or "Background Copy." Assigning meaningful names to your layers enhances workflow efficiency, especially as your project becomes more complex with multiple adjustments.
The duplicated layer will serve as the canvas for applying background enhancements, including the bokeh effect. By working on this separate layer, you can manipulate blur, brightness, color, and contrast without risking the loss of original details. This method also enables comparison between edited and original versions, which is useful for fine-tuning the visual balance of your composition.
Moreover, retaining the original layer allows you to revert to the raw state if something unexpected occurs during editing. It ensures you can redo selections, test different effects, or create alternate versions of your image—all without starting from scratch. In essence, duplicating the background layer gives you a sandbox to experiment freely, a key component of creative exploration within Photoshop.
Beyond duplication, consider locking the original background layer. Doing so prevents accidental changes or missteps during the editing process. As your layers increase in number, this precaution will become even more valuable, allowing you to work with confidence and precision.
In this step, you're laying the groundwork for what will become a multi-layered project. Each future enhancement—whether it’s masking, retouching, or adding lighting effects—will build upon this duplicated layer. By adhering to non-destructive editing principles from the outset, you equip yourself with the flexibility to evolve your creative vision fluidly and without compromise.
Step 3: Isolate the Subject with Precision for a Controlled Bokeh Effect
Now that you have your duplicate background layer ready, the next essential task is to separate the subject from the background. Since the bokeh effect is meant to be applied only to the background, this segmentation enables you to preserve the clarity of your primary subject while freely blurring and enhancing the surrounding area. This technique gives your final image a refined depth-of-field appearance, mimicking the selective focus produced by high-end camera lenses.
Begin by selecting the Quick Selection Tool from Photoshop’s left-hand toolbar. Once activated, look to the top menu bar and click on Select Subject. This feature leverages Adobe’s artificial intelligence engine to automatically identify and outline the most prominent object in the frame, whether that be a person, animal, or object. The selection will be displayed with a moving dashed line, often referred to as “marching ants.”
While the automatic selection is generally accurate, it's not infallible. For optimal results, refine the edges manually. With the Quick Selection Tool still active, hold the Alt key (on Windows) or the Option key (on macOS) to subtract from the current selection. Use the [ and ] bracket keys to adjust your brush size for precision control. Carefully paint around areas where the initial selection might have overreached, such as loose strands of hair, intricate garments, or soft edges.
For enhanced precision, especially around complex outlines like curly hair or furry textures, consider switching to Select and Mask, found in the top options bar. Within this workspace, you can use edge refinement tools and feathering options to fine-tune your selection with surgical accuracy. Feathering slightly softens the selection border, preventing harsh cut-out lines when you place the subject on a new layer.
Once you're satisfied with the selection, create a new layer containing only the subject. Do this by navigating to Layer > New > Layer via Copy, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac). The new layer will appear in your Layers Panel, showing just the isolated subject with the background removed. Rename this layer to "Main Subject" or another intuitive label to help manage your composition later.
This separation grants you full autonomy over your foreground and background. You can now apply heavy or subtle blur effects to the backdrop without altering the appearance or sharpness of your main focus. This layer-centric approach is particularly valuable when combining the bokeh effect with additional edits like color grading, lighting overlays, or digital enhancements.
Additionally, isolating the subject makes it easier to move or transform it independently, opening creative opportunities to reposition the subject within the scene or even transplant it to an entirely different background. This flexibility is a hallmark of advanced Photoshop workflows and one of the key advantages of working in layers.
Evaluating Edge Quality and Preparing for Seamless Layer Blending
Before moving to the bokeh application stage, closely examine the edges of your isolated subject. Zoom in and scrutinize the transition between the subject and the now-transparent background. Are there jagged lines? Is the edge too sharp or unnaturally defined? Poor edge quality can compromise the believability of your final composite, especially when soft, luminous effects like bokeh are added.
If necessary, apply a subtle feather to the subject layer. This can be done by right-clicking the layer mask and selecting Refine Mask or adjusting the feather slider in the Properties Panel. A feather radius of just 0.5 to 2 pixels is usually enough to ease the transition without blurring important details.
At this stage, your project should consist of at least three layers: the original background (locked and untouched), the duplicate background layer for bokeh application, and the isolated subject layer. This structure gives you full creative control and prepares the foundation for a smooth and effective bokeh effect in the next phases of your Photoshop workflow.
The care taken during this step pays off immensely during the bokeh creation process. By clearly distinguishing the subject from the background and ensuring clean edges, the glowing blur effect will wrap naturally around the subject, enhancing the overall depth and immersive quality of the image without compromising realism.
Step 4: Remove the Subject from the Background Using Content-Aware Fill
Once your subject is safely isolated on its own layer, the next critical task is to remove it from the duplicate background layer, commonly referred to here as the “Blur Layer.” This is a key step in preparing for the bokeh transformation. The idea is to blur the background independently while avoiding the creation of a visual ghosting effect—something that can happen when the same subject appears twice in a composition, once sharp and once blurred.
To initiate this process, activate the Main Subject layer by selecting it in the Layers Panel. Then, reselect the subject itself. If your previous selection has been deselected, simply click back on “Select Subject” using the Quick Selection Tool or choose Select > Reselect from the top menu. This action will outline the subject again with marching ants, making it ready for removal from the background copy.
Next, switch your active layer to the “Blur Layer.” This is the version of the original photo where you’ll be applying the bokeh effect. With the selection still active, navigate to Edit > Fill. A dialog box will appear, offering a selection of fill options. Under the Contents section, choose “Content-Aware.” Set the Blending Mode to “Normal” and the Opacity to 100%. Once you click OK, Photoshop will utilize its advanced Content-Aware Fill algorithm to analyze the surrounding pixels and intelligently fill in the selected area.
This powerful feature attempts to reconstruct the underlying background texture and patterns by sampling adjacent pixels, effectively replacing the subject with contextual visual data. The more uniform the surrounding area is, the more convincing the fill will be. For complex backgrounds, results may vary, but perfection is not essential at this stage. Small anomalies or blotchy fills are expected and will later be obscured by the heavy background blur and glowing light overlays that make up the Photoshop bokeh effect.
Temporarily hide the “Main Subject” layer by clicking the eye icon beside it in the Layers Panel. This allows you to assess the effectiveness of the fill and confirm that the subject is no longer present in the background. While some ghosting or mismatched textures may still be faintly visible, rest assured they will be masked by the depth-of-field blur to follow. If necessary, you can repeat the fill process in smaller parts, or use the Clone Stamp Tool and Healing Brush Tool to refine the fill area manually.
This method ensures that your subject stands isolated and the background is cleared for transformation, avoiding duplication or visual confusion when the blur is applied. It's a deceptively simple but vital maneuver in preparing the canvas for a realistic, layered bokeh effect in Photoshop.
Step 5: Convert the Background Layer into a Smart Object for Editable Effects
Once the subject has been cleanly removed from the background layer, and the background is ready for stylization, it’s time to take a strategic step that will make the entire editing process far more flexible: converting the background to a Smart Object. This often-overlooked feature is essential when applying advanced filters and non-destructive enhancements like Photoshop’s Field Blur, which you’ll use to generate the bokeh illusion.
To convert the Blur Layer into a Smart Object, select it in the Layers Panel. Then navigate to Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object. Photoshop will encapsulate the layer, enabling all subsequent changes—such as blur intensity, lighting adjustments, and masking effects—to be fully reversible. You’ll notice a small icon appear in the bottom-right corner of the layer thumbnail, indicating that the conversion has been completed successfully.
Using a Smart Object acts like placing your layer inside a protective shell. When you later apply a filter, Photoshop stores the transformation as a Smart Filter, rather than permanently altering the pixels. This gives you the power to tweak, disable, or remove any changes at any time during your workflow. If you’re experimenting with different types of bokeh or multiple intensities of background blur, this flexibility is invaluable.
For users creating Photoshop bokeh overlays or applying glow enhancements, the ability to iterate is crucial. Sometimes an effect looks great in preview, but once applied, might overpower your subject or seem unnatural. With a Smart Object, you don’t have to delete your progress or redo selections; simply double-click the filter name listed beneath your Smart Object to reopen the settings and refine the effect.
Moreover, Smart Objects allow for layering additional effects such as Curves Adjustments, Hue/Saturation changes, and Blending Modes while keeping the underlying structure of the image intact. This adaptability becomes especially beneficial when combining multiple filters or using a layered approach to depth simulation.
Before proceeding to the actual blur and bokeh creation, take a moment to ensure your file structure is clear and your layers are named logically. At this point, your Photoshop file should contain the original locked background layer, the “Main Subject” layer on top, and the “Blur Layer” converted into a Smart Object. This organized structure enables seamless integration of the dreamy, glowing background elements without interfering with the isolated clarity of your subject.
Why These Steps Are Critical for a Seamless Bokeh Transformation
These two preparatory stages—removing the subject from the duplicated background layer and converting that layer into a Smart Object—might seem technical, but they form the backbone of a professional-grade bokeh workflow. Without removing the subject, your bokeh blur would overlap the figure unnaturally, diminishing the sense of realism and making the image appear carelessly edited. Without a Smart Object, your creative process would become linear and destructive, preventing you from adapting the look and feel of the bokeh effect as your vision evolves.
Together, these steps ensure that your edits are not only visually stunning but technically sound. They grant you full control over your image’s depth and light dynamics, allowing you to sculpt the background independently from the subject, and apply changes with finesse rather than brute force. The ability to return to a point in your editing timeline and adjust a filter or fill area empowers you to refine your work to near perfection, regardless of the complexity of the scene.
By now, your project is poised for the exciting part: the actual bokeh effect. With the background cleaned and smartly packaged into a non-destructive format, you’re ready to dive into the artistic process of blurring the backdrop and injecting it with luminous, lens-like bokeh that draws attention, adds emotion, and elevates your photo from flat to cinematic.
Step 6: Bring the Scene to Life with Field Blur and Artistic Bokeh Accents
With all the foundational edits complete—your subject cleanly isolated, the background prepared, and the Blur Layer converted into a Smart Object—it’s time to step into the most visually transformative part of the process: creating a bokeh-inspired background using Field Blur. This is where your image begins to evolve from ordinary to visually arresting, acquiring the dreamy quality typically reserved for high-end camera lenses and large-aperture photography.
To start, ensure the Blur Layer (which is now a Smart Object) is selected in the Layers Panel. Navigate to the top menu and choose Filter > Blur Gallery > Field Blur. This action opens Photoshop’s intuitive blur control interface. The Field Blur tool gives you precise manipulation over blur intensity in different parts of the image by placing customizable “pins,” but more importantly for our purposes, it unlocks the hidden gem: Photoshop’s dedicated bokeh generator located in the Effects panel.
Once inside the Field Blur workspace, you’ll see a pin automatically placed at the center of the image. Use the blur dial or slider on the right-hand side to increase the Blur value. A range between 100 and 200 pixels typically works well, depending on your image resolution. At this level, the background becomes richly diffused, closely resembling the soft focus created by shallow depth-of-field photography. This blurring creates separation and gives space for the subject to visually “pop” in the frame.
Next, expand the Effects tab in the right-hand properties panel. This is where Photoshop reveals its artistic side. Begin with the Light Bokeh slider. Drag it to the right until delicate, glowing orbs of light begin to shimmer across the background. These luminous elements simulate the kind of optical highlights seen in out-of-focus lights or reflective surfaces in real-life bokeh. Their distribution is tied to the brightest zones in your image, making the interplay between existing highlights and the effect deeply organic.
To enhance the mood, play with the Bokeh Color slider. This adds color richness to the bokeh orbs, intensifying any hues already present. For example, if your original image includes warm tones—like sunset glows, holiday lights, or neon reflections—this adjustment will enrich those tones with subtle rainbow-like gradients. The result is a painterly, almost magical atmosphere that adds dimension and narrative depth to the scene.
Finally, refine the appearance of your bokeh lights by adjusting the Light Range sliders. This feature allows you to set luminance thresholds for which areas are transformed into bokeh. Sliding the minimum and maximum handles helps isolate only the brightest highlights, preventing midtones and shadows from being affected. The goal is to distill and emphasize the most luminous elements in the image without overwhelming it with artificial light blobs.
After fine-tuning these parameters—Blur, Light Bokeh, Bokeh Color, and Light Range—review the overall aesthetic. The transformation should feel elegant, immersive, and balanced. When you're satisfied with the blend of diffusion and sparkle, press OK to apply the effect. Because you're working with a Smart Object, all these settings will remain editable, meaning you can revisit and adjust them later if necessary.
Enhancing Atmosphere: Subtle Adjustments to Curves for Dimensional Contrast
Now that your image boasts a soft, glowing background filled with painterly light effects, it’s important to guide the viewer’s focus by strengthening the visual contrast between subject and background. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to do this is by darkening the backdrop slightly. This step helps reinforce the foreground focus while making the bokeh accents feel more pronounced and radiant.
To begin this adjustment, select the Blur Layer in the Layers Panel if it’s not already active. Navigate to Image > Adjustments > Curves, or use the shortcut Ctrl+M (Windows) or Command+M (Mac). This opens the Curves interface, a powerful tonal control tool that lets you manipulate the brightness and contrast of specific ranges within the image.
Focus on the lower third of the diagonal line inside the Curves graph. This section represents the shadows and midtones, which are crucial for establishing depth. Click to create a point here, then drag it slightly downward. This gentle darkening of midtones enhances the contrast between the vibrant bokeh and the more subdued background textures, effectively adding dimensional layering to your scene.
If needed, you can add another point toward the upper-right of the curve, which controls the highlights. Move this point upward just a little to retain the luminosity of the bokeh orbs. The key is subtlety—you don’t want to flatten or overly darken the image, but rather introduce nuanced shifts in light that give your composition an atmospheric quality.
Because the background layer is a Smart Object, the Curves adjustment will be applied as a Smart Filter. This means you can return to this setting and revise it at any time, a critical advantage for fine-tuning the image once other layers and elements are added. It also allows for mask-based adjustments, meaning you can target specific areas for more localized contrast work if needed.
This controlled dimming not only elevates the bokeh but also pushes the visual weight of the image toward your isolated subject. The interplay of brightness and blur in the background against the sharpness of the foreground directs the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go—enhancing both the narrative and aesthetic value of the final image.
Balancing Visual Impact: Review, Adjust, and Prepare for Final Blending
With your Field Blur and bokeh enhancements in place, along with tonal adjustments through the Curves tool, take a few minutes to carefully review your progress. Toggle the visibility of the “Main Subject” layer on and off to evaluate how the subject interacts with the transformed background. Is there enough separation? Do the bokeh lights feel integrated, or do they compete for attention? These questions help you determine whether further refinements are necessary before blending everything together in the next steps.
Zoom in and pan across the image to check for unwanted artifacts or unnatural transitions. Sometimes, the content-aware fill from earlier steps may show through the bokeh in ways that distract from the overall aesthetic. If so, consider re-masking those areas or lowering the opacity of particularly intense bokeh lights with a brush on a layer mask.
Also, consider duplicating your bokeh-enhanced Blur Layer and applying different Blending Modes such as Screen, Overlay, or Soft Light to create unique atmospheric variations. You can adjust the opacity of these layers or mask out portions where the light may be too intense.
This balancing act ensures that the background not only supports the subject but elevates the entire visual story. Whether you're creating digital portraits, editorial pieces, or conceptual composites, these fine-tuning techniques give your work that elusive, professional polish.
At this point, your canvas is alive with light, blur, and depth. The scene has been transformed from a flat, ordinary image into an emotive composition where the subject breathes, and the background glows with immersive warmth. With the heavy lifting done in these steps, you're now ready to bring all layers into harmony in the final stages of your Photoshop bokeh workflow.
Step 8: Change the Blending Mode to Soften Integration
In your Layers Panel, select the Blur Layer and change its blending mode to “Screen.” This blending mode allows only the lighter pixels of the layer to remain visible, effectively dissolving darker regions and emphasizing bright elements like the bokeh spots. The result is a more ethereal and believable light overlay that integrates seamlessly into the original photo.
Step 9: Adjust Bokeh Placement and Opacity
At this point, you can fine-tune the bokeh’s placement, size, and intensity to better fit your composition. Use the Transform Tool (Ctrl/Command + T) to scale, rotate, or move the Blur Layer. If the effect feels overwhelming or unnatural, simply lower the layer's opacity in the Layers Panel.
For more control, add a Layer Mask to the Blur Layer. Select a soft brush with black color and gently paint on the mask to hide unwanted areas of bokeh. This technique helps clean up areas near facial features or edges where the light might not realistically fall.
You can even duplicate the Blur Layer and apply separate transformations or blend modes to add complexity and dimension to the light effects.
Step 10: Reveal the Foreground Subject
Turn the Main Subject layer back on by clicking the eye icon. The isolated subject should now sit cleanly above your transformed background, giving the photo a striking, cinematic depth. At this stage, you can enhance the subject further—adjust brightness, apply sharpening filters, or even color grade it differently to make it pop against the soft, glowing backdrop.
If you want to experiment creatively, try placing a softened duplicate of the bokeh overlay above the subject layer using a lower opacity or overlay blend mode. This can evoke the feeling of light surrounding or spilling over the subject for a more immersive look.
Optional Enhancement: Apply Gradual Depth Blur for Realism
If your photo would benefit from more nuanced background blur, you can apply a gradient-style Field Blur. Duplicate the original background again, convert it to a Smart Object, and re-enter the Field Blur interface. Place a pin on the subject and set its blur to 0. Add additional pins across the image and increase the blur progressively as you move away from the center. This emulates the natural falloff of depth in camera lenses and enhances the realism of your digital bokeh.
Final Thoughts on Mastering the Bokeh Look
By utilizing Photoshop's advanced blur tools and layering techniques, you can infuse any photo with the charm and subtle elegance of bokeh. This effect is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical—it simplifies distracting backdrops, draws attention to the main subject, and adds a touch of enchantment to otherwise ordinary shots.
The synthetic bokeh you create using Field Blur and Content-Aware Fill can be saved and repurposed as overlays on other images, making your workflow faster and more efficient in future projects. This makes the process especially valuable for photographers and content creators who work in batches or across multiple platforms.
Understanding how to create a bokeh effect in Photoshop opens up vast creative possibilities. You’re not limited by your lens or lighting conditions—you have complete control over visual ambiance and narrative. With patience and a touch of experimentation, you can turn even the most mundane background into a beautifully blurred masterpiece that highlights your subject with grace and elegance.
