Christmas Tree Bokeh 2

This image has some rights reserved under the creative commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike license. Basically you can use it, but don't make money from it. If you do use it, provide attribution to me by linking directly to this page on flickr. Thanks.

Wow, 3000+ views!!! Thank you all. Please leave a note if you come by and enjoy this photo.

Playing around again with the Christmas Tree template I made to fit over my 50mm f/1.8 for this photo. This time with a tree with coloured lights.

I prefer this one, probably because there are more colours, and the tree shape.

This effect is achieved by using a peice of card infront of the lens with a shape cut out of it. I basically cut a circle the same size as the end of the lens out of a cereal packet, then cut the shape of a Christmas Tree out of the middle. Next I cut a long peice of card about 4cm wide and as long as the circumference of the circle. Roll it into a cylinder and tape it to the circle so that it makes a 'cup' with the circular card with the shape in as the base. This can then be attached over the lens.

Put your camera into manual focus and aperture priority modes. Point the camera at the subject (something with fairy lights works pretty well, but anything with point sources of light will do) and throw the focus way out, you should start to see this effect. The worse the focus, the bigger the shapes. Now make sure that you are using the highest aperture that your lens will achieve (lowest f number). I used a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D lens which has a relatively large aperture, but you should be able to get this effect on all D-SLR lenses really, to a lesser or greater degree.

Now shoot the picture! You may need a tripod if the shutter speed is long, this shot was hand held.

That's it! I'll post pics of the cardboard 'template' attachment when I can.
*** UPDATE - pics now in comments. ***

I really can take no credit for the idea, I first saw it here, but there are plenty of other examples on flickr.

Have fun! I'd love to see what effects other people can create! Either post them here or send me a flickrmail!