make something monday :: bokeh filter

For months I have been trying to figure out the secret to the heart shaped bokeh that artist like Irene Suchocki are so famous for. I love the look of it and figured it was some fancy photoshop trick or something hard. And then one evening recently I happened upon this little bokeh filter kit and was shocked and thrilled to learn that it is actually a filter you can put onto the front of your lens to create the beautiful, buttery heart shapes. I wasn't sure I wanted to purchase the full kit though and of course was left wondering if I could make one myself out of black card stock. The answer is YES! I whipped this one up this morning and was literally giddy with excitement that it actually works!!! Do you want to make one too? So easy this is what I did:
Basically all you need is black card stock, tape and some scissors. I have a few large circle punches and a heart shaped punch that I thought would make it easier. You really just need to trace your lens cap onto the black paper to get the right size for your camera and then right in the center of the black circle cut out your shape. In this case a heart but you could totally put a bird on it too :).

Then you're going to want to cut a long strip of black paper about 3/4" wide and long enough to go around the circumference of your lens. Mine was about 8" long.
I wrapped the long strip around my lens and secured it with scotch tape. I then layered my flat black circle with more tape and secured that to the ring.
I got it all good and tight..when I make another one I think I will try to scrounge up some black electrical tape from Mr. Goughs supplies but the scotch tape worked fine!

Now set your camera on a low aperture in manual focus and go outside in search of some lens flare. Play around with it - seriously I am so addicted. We went on a walk to test it out and these are a few shots I got!



So be honest did you guys already know this was how heart bokeh was made? Maybe I am the slow kid but if not are you as giddy as me? Send me photos if you get anything good I would love to see!!!

HERE is a more professional tutorial on making your own bokeh filter that I found if you need more help!!! Can't wait to use mine at night!

53 comments:

  1. I've been waiting all day for this post! I have to admit that I had seen the bokeh kit before but it had never dawned on me to make my own...you're always so good at accepting those challenges and making something beautiful.

    Love your heart shaped captures...I know they'll be really awesome at night but I
    Love how subtle they are during the day!

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  2. I'm so going to try this. I love it! Thanks for posting.

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  3. so fun, rebekah! love your photos from today!

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  4. Pretty Awesome. I purchased a photo from Irene Suchocki a year or so back for Rebekah...she really nails this style. Now we can too! (Maybe...its kind of hard)

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  5. OH WOW! This is awesome. Totally awesome. Thanks for sharing this!

    Best,
    Emily from Nap Time Is My Time

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  6. this made my day!!!
    thank you...

    april

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  7. Your photos are awesome! I had been wondering how this worked too. I'm going to have to try this sometime. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. um...that is amazing and I didn't even know it what bokeh was or that heart shaped ones existed until your post. :)

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  9. doesn't even seem real, i don't really get it......... i am hugely impressed though!

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  10. this is fantastic!! i had no idea that's how it was done. i can't wait to try it!!

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  11. I'm so impressed that you just figured out how to MAKE it!! Very cool.

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  12. SO cool! You are so very talented!

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  13. So beautiful! Thanks for sharing Rebekah! I wish I could go through life looking through a heart lens...very much needed!

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  14. This is awesome. I've actually never even seen this types of pictures and still don't know entirely what the word bokeh means. But I still think it looks incredible!

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  15. I love this! I have so much to learn. One of the best feelings in the world: to look forward to growth.

    Thanks for the tutorial :-)

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  16. Ok so I tried this and it didn't work. It just gave me a holga-ish look to my photos. What am I doing wrong?

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  17. love love love these. so beautiful. i just can't get enough of your blog. amazing post. Thanks so much for sharing. If you have a second I'd love if you could swing by and check out my two new post today, including my latest celebrity trend report. Thanks love. xoxo

    www.fashboulevard.blogspot.com

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  18. so neat!!! makes me want a dSLR even more now!!! :o)

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  19. Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to try it out

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  20. Ha! You just totally made my day today with this idea!!! Can't wait to try it out! Thank you!

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  21. Oh my goodness. Absolutely Amazing..

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  22. Fantastic! I have been wondering how they do this, would be great for my little bros wedding!

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  23. Amazing shots, can't wait to give this a go! I've long been obsessed by all things bokeh but always found it's production quite mysterious, so thank you very much for sharing :)

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  24. Oh, my gosh!
    This is just lovely! And there are endless possibilities with this. I am sad to say that this probably won't work on my little non-SLR Nikon Coolpix.
    Poopie.
    Well, I'm still inspired nonetheless!

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  25. I had seen the kit before but never thought to try to make my own. I can't wait to try this out. Thanks for the tutorial.

    Btw, I am a new follower. Just found your blog today. But I cant wait to read more.

    Love, Shellsea Blog - Giveaway today

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  26. i adored these sorts of photos too, and i also thought it was photoshop! thank you so much for this!! you rock, you made my weekend!

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  27. I love this so much! Super cute and lovely!
    http://sarasminicreations.blogspot.com/

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  28. Absolutely amazing. You clever lady, I would not have thought to make my own...*runs off to find black paper*

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  29. Thank you thank you thank you.

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  30. Thank you so much for sharing! I find it so beautiful! Found you via Hello friend! You are so inspiering, with the most amazing blog and photos.
    So happy to be one of your followers.

    Warm hello`s from With a playful mind/ oslo, Norway.

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  31. Just can't WAIT to try this out!!!

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  32. Oh my gosh, this is simply fabby! I am totally going to try this out ASAP! Love your photos; thanks so much for sharing!

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  33. Thanks for the idea and how-to! I tried this over the weekend and couldn't get it to work! Do you use a specific lens or f-stop with yours? My heart punch was a bit smaller than the one you used I think. Any tips for me? I tried putting me lens at 50mm with my lowest f-stop of 5.6.

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  34. It is a Wide selection of Bokeh specialized disks and Laser cut technology and durable materials. I would really like it and it's really helpful in my air cleaner filter business.

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  35. Can't wait try this! Flickr does have a heart & a star shape like this, that you can place over any photo, but think this looks much better!

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  36. It really very nice bokeh filter kit. I hope it's really helpful for my Air purifier business. It provide good services.

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  37. please support mine too.(do comment,like)
    sory for the conversation.follow me back :)

    http://saffasyamimiphotography.blogspot.com/2011/11/macro-photography.html

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  41. I never thought of doing that! You are so clever! :) I loved it. Should make one sooooon!

    -Marry
    from http://ourdailyescapades.blogspot.com

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  44. Thanks for sharing this useful information about photography.. i am a admirer of unique photography..love your photographic innovations.. it's quite creative.. HVAC Baltimore

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  45. I admire your study and amazed that you adjust a filter in bokeh

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  46. I need some help with using bokeh filters. I've got one made and I tried using it but it didn't work all that happened was the picture is now in the shape of a heart not the bokeh....what am I doing wrong??

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  47. I really impressed your post. It was very amazing work done by bokeh filter. I love that!! Chicago HVAC Guy

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  48. I love the look of it and figured it was some fancy photoshop trick or something hard. your work should be amazing. Thanks a lot!! Air Conditioning Repair North Miami Beach

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  50. I dare say one could make even more complex bokeh effect shapes using something like clear acetate e.g. overhead projector film, a small art brush and some matt black paint :)

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  51. Hello there!

    :D I featured your tutorial on my blog so you might receive some traffic here:
    http://www.misanthropycreation.com/2013/05/13-adorable-diy-tutorials-roundup.html

    Please join my blog hop here:
    http://www.misanthropycreation.com/2013/04/my-first-blog-hop.html

    xo Michelle

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  52. Great tutorial. I just wanted to share my video tutorial on how to lasercut custom bokeh filters... even if you don't own your own laser cutter. I hope you like it!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F35qMEcxU8U

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