What a surprise the weather brought us last weekend! Sunday’s forecast promised cloudy and partially overcast weather. The weather forecast felt a bit discouraging, especially in Finland, where autumn tends to be rainy and gloomy, making photography challenging due to limited light and everything appearing gray.

However, the weather decided to surprise me this time! I woke up to a cloudless morning, and my spirits instantly lifted. I was inspired by the weather and decided to embark on a photography adventure to the grounds of Sjundby Manor in Siuntio.

We decided to head our journey to Sjundby manor

In late October, the sun sits low in the sky, making midday photography a fantastic experience. The light is soft, unlike the harsh summer sun that can pose a challenge for photography. In the summertime, there’s often too much light, making it difficult to capture the right ambiance.

I was eager to learn a new technique, Bokeh ball photography. The idea came to me during a webinar I attended in October. A Finnish professional photographer shared insights into the world of bokeh balls and how to master the technique. I was highly inspired and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

To create those beautiful bokeh balls in your photos, you need sunlight and a reflective surface in the background. So, I suggested to Mr. H that we head to Sjundby Manor to experiment with this technique.

Sjundby manor

As for Sjundby Manor, it’s like something out of a fairytale. This historical place stretches back to the 16th century and has been part of both the Swedish kingdom and later the Grand Duchy of Russia.

Sjundby Manor is embraced by a breathtaking, history-infused setting. The rushing rapids, ancient oaks, and grand, timeworn structures paint a picturesque scene, and I find myself returning to this place time and time again for my photography endeavors.

You can catch a glimpse of the autumnal beauty from this location in the link provided HERE.

Photography expedition – bokeh balls

This photography expedition was unlike any other because I wanted to learn how to photograph bokeh balls.

Bokeh balls, also known as bokeh orbs or bokeh circles, are the out-of-focus, circular highlights of light that appear in the background of a photograph when a camera lens is set to a wide aperture (e.g., f/1.4 or f/2.8).

Bokeh balls are often used in photography to create visually appealing and artistic effects. They add a sense of depth and dimension to an image and can be used to isolate a subject from its background or to draw attention to a specific area of the photo.

Bokeh is particularly popular in portrait photography, but it can also be used in various other types of photography, such as nature, macro, and cityscape photography, to create a dreamy and visually pleasing atmosphere.

If you haven’t tried bokeh balls photography yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. It opens up a world of creative possibilities for your photos, making them unique and captivating. Explore this technique and let your imagination soar! You can find some guidelines for bokeh ball photography behind this LINK.

Capturing the unnoticed

In photography, I am eager to experiment with novel techniques, and to craft images that transcend the ordinary. I’m captivated by the kaleidoscope of colors, the intricate details found in nature, and the infinite possibilities of unique perspectives.

My goal during Sunday photo session besides bokeh ball photography was to infuse my photographs with an element that eludes the casual glance, something hidden within, waiting to be discovered by the discerning eye.

This house was reflected in the water puddle on the rock, and I wanted to experiment with how the house would look when I zoomed the lens while the camera was recording. I

n the pictures, in one I have zoomed in, and in the other, I have zoomed out. Zooming the lens while taking a photo can create an interesting and dynamic effect.

Can you guess which is which? I give you a hint. Zooming in can make the subject appear larger and more prominent, while zooming out can create a sense of depth and perspective.

The October sunlight was amazing

Above the rapids, I discovered an exceptionally beautiful landscape. The air was calm, with a temperature just below freezing at -0.5°C, and the sun was shining beautifully.

It was a perfect October afternoon.

By the riverbank, I stumbled upon a burdock bush that gleamed beautifully in the sunlight. The burdock plants caught my attention, and I decided to capture them.

The October sun cast a gentle, slanting light onto the burdock, creating a soft glow behind the plants. A tip: be careful not to get too close to burdock, as they’ll soon be clinging to your clothes everywhere!

On a Sunday afternoon in October, the sunlight was invigorating and inspiring. It felt like I was painting, but instead of using acrylic colors, I was doing it with my camera.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed reading my post of bokeh balls and zooming effect. Have you ever tried some technique to give special effect into your photos? I am happy to hear your story. Please share your photography technique with me and my followers.

Wonderful anticipation of winter, if you live in the northern hemisphere.

Minna from Finnish Nature