Bhaavya Roy -What is bokeh, and how can it be used creatively in portraits or still life photography?

Bokeh is more than blur — it’s visual poetry. Technically, bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph, especially the background. But for

Bhaavya Roy, it’s a soft whisper behind the subject that adds mood, elegance, and focus.

True bokeh is created using a wide aperture — like f/1.4 or f/2.8 — which allows for a shallow depth of field. The background melts away, and the subject emerges with clarity and emphasis. But it’s not just how much blur — it’s how the blur looks. The shape, softness, and glow of those out-of-focus highlights depend on your lens design and aperture blade structure. Some produce creamy circles; others, more geometric or dreamy patterns.

In portrait photography, Bhaavya Roy uses bokeh to isolate the model from the background — turning distracting environments into soft, artistic canvases. It helps direct the viewer’s eye exactly where the emotion lives: the face, the expression, the fabric detail. A simple urban street, when blurred just right, becomes cinematic.

In still life, bokeh can transform basic compositions into luxurious visuals. Light glints off jewelry, glassware, or reflective surfaces and forms gentle halos. It adds softness to sharp subjects and introduces a sense of atmosphere that feels intentional and refined.

Bhaavya Roy often says:
‘Bokeh is like background music in a film — when done right, you don’t notice it, but you feel everything it adds.’

That’s why in every shoot — whether it’s a fashion editorial or a moody product shot — Bhaavya Roy treats bokeh as an emotional layer. Not an accident, but an artistic choice.