Top 10 WeeklyFstops: Bokeh

This week's theme "bokeh" had me very excited. After loving all the dreamy photos I'd see online with a sharp foreground and a blurry background, I finally learned and mastered the art of achieving maximum bokeh. The real trick seems to be all about the point of view and distance from your subject. Our readers appeared to be well versed in the art of bokeh hunting and they managed to wrangle up another awesome list I hope you'll enjoy.

There are a number of great lenses out there that help you capture beautiful bokeh. My favorite of all of them is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. My wife and I only have one to share when shooting weddings. I often whimper when it is time to share, but luckily I know the sheer weight of the lens will cause it to be sent back my way soon enough.

My obsession with photographing bokeh followed a similar path to my venture into the world of HDR photography. Namely, my early work wasn't very good. If I was able to capture a few spheres of light which are probably the most recognizable and popular form of bokeh I was happy and loved the shot. Later on, I learned that by mixing a sharp fairground object with a sea of blurry goodness in the background you can create a visually pleasing photo. I even wrote an article about utilizing morning dew to capture magical looking shots by getting low to the ground.

I'm once again blown away by the submissions. The end result of people's different styles and interpretations of the theme makes the time and effort required from my end more than worth it. You guys rock. Let's get to the list!

Honorable Mentions:

Euphoric Visuals (Posted by model Chloe Saez)

Jacob Bentzinger

Chris Dikos

Pablo Villarroel Rojas

Clayton Northrup

TT Sherman

This Week's Top 10:

#10

Jonathan Bruck

#9

Fadi Dalati

#8

John Crisp

#7

Kathleen

#6

Duke Nguyen

#5

Mike Schultz

#4

NightOwlVisuals

#3

Pedro Pulido

#2

Uldis Plinte

#1

Evan Mann

Great moment captured here. I love the gentleman's face. The background is at maximum bokeh. And the timing and crispness of the bird really pull it all together well. Great shot Evan, thank you for joining in and congrats on being this week's top pick.

Be sure to check out our ever-growing list of entries here: #weeklyFstop on Instagram A big thank you to everyone for joining in.

What is This Week's Theme?

Something big is happening today. I'm going to see a movie in a theater. I don't get a chance to do this too often these days. But this isn't just any movie. I actually bought tickets for the family over a month ago. The movie is of course Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Taking my two boys to see a movie from the franchise that dared us all to dream beyond the cosmos as kids brings me right back to my childhood.

Remembering all my Star Wars guys, G.I. Joe action figures, Legos, Hot Wheels, Wrestlers, and Transformers makes me want to go back and play! So either find some old toys in the attic or borrow some from your little ones. This week's theme is officially:

"Toys"

Don't let my limited boy-centric, American toy selection skew your ideas. The world of toys is vast and wise. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. Good luck!

The hashtag to use is #weeklyFstop. If you are tagging an old shot that is fine, but please try and keep it to one shot picked for the theme per week.

Here are the previous week's results for anyone who may have missed:

1. Leading Lines
2. Bold
3. Color
4. Yours
5. Simplicity
6. Monochrome
7. Music
8. Light
9. Action
10. Thankful

Remember, there is no guarantee posting a photo will result in it being featured. If we get going and you fall short, keep shooting and try and learn from the photos that are selected. We can all learn to like our work a little less sometimes in order to grow. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas feel free to contribute in the comments.

Before you run off to get your next #weeklyFstop submission ready, are you all aware of the ongoing Fstoppers Photographer of the Month contest leading up to the Fstoppers Community Photographer of the Year? Alex Cooke covers how to be selected at the bottom of the above post.

Speaking of the Fstoppers community are you part of it? Did you know you can have your own portfolio here with chances to be featured on the homepage as Photo of the Day? If not be sure to check it out. If you already comment then you have an account. If not, use the sign-up button and upload some work! Besides uploading your own work and having a portfolio on Fstoppers, making an account allows you to follow your favorite writers and artists so you will be notified every time they publish new photos or articles.