Dancing with Light: Capturing Magical Bokeh in the Garden
There’s something truly enchanting about photographing flowers bathed in warm, golden sunshine. When you turn your lens toward the light—literally—you unlock a dreamy, ethereal quality that transforms an ordinary bloom into something extraordinary. The secret? Bokeh.
Bokeh is that creamy blur in the background of an image—soft, glowing, and almost painterly. And one of the most beautiful ways to capture it is by shooting into the sun.
1. Chase the Light (But Gently)
The best bokeh appears when you have bright points of light in your background—think sunlight filtering through leaves, glinting off petals, or bouncing through water droplets. Early morning or late afternoon is your golden hour. The light is soft, low, and rich with warmth.
Stand with the sun behind your subject (or slightly off to the side) and let that backlight spill through. This not only highlights the edges of petals and leaves, but it also creates gorgeous circles of light in the blurred areas of your background. I will stand facing the sun, but the sun is filtered through something - could be a building, a tree, other plants. Early morning is the best time to make this work!
2. Choose the Right Lens
To really emphasize bokeh, use a lens with a wide aperture—something like f/2.8, f/2, or even f/1.8 if your lens allows. A macro lens works beautifully, or try a prime lens with a fast aperture. Set your aperture wide open, get in close, and focus on a single flower or petal detail.
Bonus tip: Older vintage lenses often create beautiful, unique bokeh patterns. Try adapting one and see how it behaves in the sun!
3. Watch Your Background
Make it stand out
Your background matters just as much as your subject. Look for light filtering through trees, sparkling water, or even a distant garden wall dappled with sun. These elements will blur into soft, glowing shapes, adding depth and atmosphere to your image.
4. Let Go of Perfection
Shooting into the sun can be unpredictable. You may get a little lens flare. You may lose a bit of contrast. And that’s okay. This is about creating something painterly—something that feels more like a memory than a documentary. Let the light play. Let it dance. Move around your subject to position the light around the flowers.
5. Play with Angles and Height
Try crouching low and shooting upward, so the sun filters through the petals. Or shift slightly to one side and let the rim light outline the bloom. Sometimes, just moving an inch or two makes the light flare and sparkle in magical ways. I want to frame the light with the subject so it complements it!
Final Thoughts:
Bokeh created by sunlight has a life of its own. It can turn a quiet garden moment into something radiant and emotional. So next time you're out with your camera, don’t be afraid to face the sun. Let the light guide your eye, and let the blur be part of the beauty.
Want to learn more about working with light in the garden? Join me online course, Flower Photography, from first click to final edit!
