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CREATIVE ACTIVITY CARDS

Get Creative! Here are five activity cards involving background blur that
you can use to boost your creative juices. Each card contains a shooting
challenge and some will have an extra shooting challenge.
Example photos are provided to give you ideas about each activity.

PHO T Z Y.C O M If you’re on Facebook, I’d like to encourage you to visit the Photzy page
and share the results of any of your shooting challenges with us.

1. UNUSUALLY OUT OF FOCUS

Out-of-focus blur is usually used to blur the background or foreground to give emphasis to a
sharp subject. This has become, in a way, the norm. But as photographers, we can stretch our
creativity to do just the opposite, just like the photo examples on this card.

https://pixabay.com/en/adult-blur-concert-fashion-2179168/ https://pixabay.com/en/blur-shrubs-photographer-560819/ https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-men-fight-challenge-650/ https://pixabay.com/en/basketball-sport-children-field-605956/

SHOOTING CHALLENGE
Conceptualize a photograph where you’re able to take a subject and use out-of-focus blur to add blur
to the subject while keeping other elements in the scene sharp.
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CREATIVE ACTIVITY CARDS P HOT Z Y.C O M

2. DAYTIME LIGHT CIRCLES

It’s easy to create light circles at night where small light sources are easy to find. During the day,
it will be quite a challenge.

https://pixabay.com/en/tea-tea-party-pink-party-teapot-2107191/ https://pixabay.com/en/beautiful-blur-blurry-bokeh-1867111/ https://pixabay.com/en/bokeh-water-drops-macro-wet-nature-2128498/

SHOOTING CHALLENGE
Create a background blur shot during the day that shows light circles within the out-of-focus blur.
You may use any type of light source. The photos on this card should give you some ideas.

3. BACKGROUND BLUR SELF-PORTRAIT

Most new photographers find it challenging to create portraits of themselves, let alone use a
new creative technique.

https://pixabay.com/en/person-woman-wristwatch-girl-lips-1281748/ https://pixabay.com/en/boy-winter-snow-smoke-girl-white-1275645/ https://pixabay.com/en/smile-portrait-beauty-girl-joy-1275668/

SHOOTING CHALLENGE
Create a self-portrait with background blur, this time including light circles in the shot.
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CREATIVE ACTIVITY CARDS P HOT Z Y.C O M

4. REPETITION - EXTRA
One of the best ways to use background blur is with patterns or repetition. It creates a focal point
that makes an image compositionally balanced.

https://pixabay.com/en/money-bank-note-euro-banknote-1005477/ https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-clothes-hanging-in-store-334979/ https://pixabay.com/en/apple-road-summer-countryside-1629134/

SHOOTING CHALLENGE
For this particular shooting challenge, create a series of five photographs showing repetition but where
background blur is used. Each photograph should feature a different subject. You may use things that
you find in nature (e.g. tree lines, flowers), or you may use inanimate objects. You may also either set it
up manually or simply look for what’s already available in your environment.
EXTRA CHALLENGE
Try to replicate the photographs on this card. It doesn’t have to be exact, but the look has to be the same.

5. FULLY OUT-OF-FOCUS BLUR

Out-of-focus blur is beautiful. It creates a sense of drama and emotion that gives a feeling that
something is about to step into a scene.

https://pixabay.com/en/bokeh-forest-background-light-443121/ https://www.pexels.com/photo/scrabble-game-28838/ https://www.pexels.com/photo/outdoor-defocused-aerial-urban-30732/

SHOOTING CHALLENGE
Create an out-of-focus blur creative shot like the example photos on this card.
EXTRA CHALLENGE
Create an abstract photograph using some of the out-of-focus blur techniques you’ve learned.