bokeh
noun
bo·keh ˈbō-kā 
-kə
: the blurred quality or effect seen in the out-of-focus portion of a photograph taken with a narrow depth of field
Good bokeh is smooth and pleasing, whereas bad bokeh produces a jagged and discordant effect. … The quality of bokeh is largely dependent on the construction of the lens. For this reason, lenses that provide high-quality bokeh are prized.
Harold Davis
Harold Davis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Portrait mode that improves the bokeh effect by adding artificial blur to the foreground as well as the background. Paul Monckton, Forbes, 10 June 2022 At ƒ/2, the lens also creates a beautiful, consistent bokeh effect. Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 5 May 2021 While the Duo 2 uses its depth sensor to synthesise a fake 'bokeh', focussed on me and with the wood (only 0.6m) behind me completely out of focus. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 And because of the all-powerful 5nm Apple silicon, the digital bokeh and focus points can be adjusted after the fact. Ben Sin, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021 Shooting a 360-degree view of the landscape, or getting the shallow depth of field bokeh effect, all without a big fancy camera, are good examples of what computational photography can do. Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 18 Jan. 2022 Over the past year, Apple has stepped up its computational photography game; its sensors perform better in low light, color accuracy is incredible, and features like bokeh and auto-enhancements are much improved. Steven Winkelman, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2022 Roxanne’s whimsical radiance with the cinematographer turning to long lenses, flares and a blooming bokeh blur to illuminate the transcendent feeling of being swept off her feet. Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2021 The big upgrade this year, at least for me, is Cinematic mode, which adds semi-convincing bokeh (the blurred background effect) to videos. Ben Sin, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021 See More
Paul Monckton, Forbes, 10 June 2022 At ƒ/2, the lens also creates a beautiful, consistent bokeh effect. Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 5 May 2021 While the Duo 2 uses its depth sensor to synthesise a fake 'bokeh', focussed on me and with the wood (only 0.6m) behind me completely out of focus. Ewan Spence, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 And because of the all-powerful 5nm Apple silicon, the digital bokeh and focus points can be adjusted after the fact. Ben Sin, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021 Shooting a 360-degree view of the landscape, or getting the shallow depth of field bokeh effect, all without a big fancy camera, are good examples of what computational photography can do. Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 18 Jan. 2022 Over the past year, Apple has stepped up its computational photography game; its sensors perform better in low light, color accuracy is incredible, and features like bokeh and auto-enhancements are much improved. Steven Winkelman, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2022 Roxanne’s whimsical radiance with the cinematographer turning to long lenses, flares and a blooming bokeh blur to illuminate the transcendent feeling of being swept off her feet. Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2021 The big upgrade this year, at least for me, is Cinematic mode, which adds semi-convincing bokeh (the blurred background effect) to videos. Ben Sin, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Japanese boke "blur, haziness"
First Known Use
1997, in the meaning defined above