Competition: 2025-12 - Bokeh

Competition Type:NWPC Themes
Competition Date:January 10, 2026
Status:Closed
 
Opens for submissions:December 1, 2025 12:30 AM
Closes:December 31, 2025 11:30 PM
Member Voting Opens:December 31, 2025 11:30 PM
Member Voting Closes:January 7, 2026 11:30 PM

Maximum pixel width for images: 1920
Maximum pixel height for images: 1080

Maximum title length: 50 characters.
Image Sequences are not permitted.

Competition Definition

Themes are in-house monthly competitions open to members only.

Comments for this Competition

December is a month full of twinkling lights and soft glows, which makes it perfect for experimenting with bokeh. Bokeh is the dreamy blur you get in the out-of-focus parts of a photo, especially when small points of light turn into glowing shapes. You’ll get it by using a shallow depth of field (a wide aperture) and letting your background fall away.
Try photographing candles, holiday lights, reflections on wet streets, or even sunlight filtering through trees. Play with different distances and see how the background changes. Bokeh isn’t just about making things blurry—it’s about using focus and light creatively to bring atmosphere and emotion into your images.

Inspiration & Learning Resources. Copy and paste the link into a new tab or window.
1. What Is Bokeh? The Art of Beautiful Background Blur
https://photographylife.com/what-is-bokeh
2. Bokeh Photography Tips for the Holidays
https://www.diyphotography.net/here-are-six-ideas-to-use-christmas-lights-for-dreamy-photos/
3. How to Create Custom-Shaped Bokeh
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/creative-photography-create-custom-shaped-bokeh
4. How to Take Beautiful Bokeh Christmas Images [With 39 Stunning Examples]
https://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-take-beautiful-bokeh-christmas-images-with-31-stunning-examples/


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