You may find it challenging to capture great photos without an attractive location.

It’s alright, I’ve been there too. Until I discovered the wonders of being equipped with the right gear to further my creative vision. I love bokeh, the technical term for what many know as blurry backgrounds. If you’re looking to shoot great photos in any environment, dreamy macro, or close-up photography with plenty of bokeh is a great option. Personally, a Sony Alpha camera and lens have been my go-to companions to achieve this.

Today, let’s find out how a dedicated Sony Alpha set-up empowers us to create dreamy, high-quality images in any setting – even our very own room. We’ll put the Alpha 7 IV and FE 20-70mm F4 G to the test.

The following were shot in my bedroom with ordinary houseplants.

One of the most sought-after effects in photography is elegant, dreamy bokeh. It creates pleasing separation between subject and background, drawing the viewer's attention to the focal point of the image.

• Optical bokeh: Created physically and authentically by optical properties of the lens based on the distance of objects relative to each other and the camera.
• Digital bokeh: Created by software simulating distance between objects from an image.

The Sony Alpha series allows us to use a professional grade lens with long focal length and bright aperture, essential for smooth, high quality and authentic bokeh. Below, we see how a more intense bokeh effect can make it easier to capture a dreamy aesthetic regardless of the background.

Here’s a sample shot of real optical bokeh versus the digitally created version using software.

Genuine optical bokeh doesn’t have the unusual edges that one might get from digital bokeh in simulating depth for complex areas (e.g., hair and lashes). Here, software has made a good attempt at simulating bokeh, but missed a few spots.

A dedicated camera with genuine optical zoom tends to produce higher quality results.

• Optical zoom: Lens physically zooms (e.g., from 20mm to 70mm) through mechanisms within, like a mini telescope, while the image captured by the sensor retains its size and detail.
• Digital zoom: Software digitally enlarges and crops the image captured by the sensor to create the illusion of zooming, but photos may start showing pixelation or artifacts if we zoom excessively with this.

The FE 20-70mm F4 G lens with Alpha 7 IV has a versatile optical zoom with excellent image quality.

Together with a bright aperture, this creates dense bokeh and a close-up look that makes it easier to achieve a minimalistic composition. This helps the main subject take centre stage while eliminating distractions from the frame.

Are you intrigued and ready to explore and form your own conclusions? If so, it’s time to try out an Alpha camera!

Unleash your creative potential with gear that opens up a greater realm of possibilities.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of any organization, company, or individual mentioned within. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions and consider multiple sources of information.